This scene did not appear in the original play, but Chu Xinian was not too alarmed. After all, the dead person had nothing to do with him, and Xie Jingyuan was sitting quietly beside him.
However, it seemed that today it would be easy to enter this gathering of talents, but difficult to leave.
The Crown Prince was smart and stood directly beside Xie Jingyuan. After all, everyone present was nothing more than a bunch of weak scholars. If a real fight broke out, he would be safer on Xie Jingyuan’s side.
The Crown Prince reminded, “Xie Jingyuan, don’t forget to protect me.”
Xie Jingyuan’s eyes turned deep. He had been so engrossed in talking to Chu Xinian earlier that he hadn’t even realized that someone had died. It was quite embarrassing. But then he thought, it wouldn’t be bad to see the commotion.
He grabbed Chu Xinian’s wrist from under the table and smirked, “Don’t walk around. If you get stabbed like that Young Master Jin, I won’t be the one to pick up your corpse.”
The Crown Prince thought Xie Jingyuan was talking to him and nodded earnestly from behind, “Don’t worry, I won’t walk away.”
“…” Xie Jingyuan’s face darkened.
Chu Xinian couldn’t help but laugh, but quickly realized that it was inappropriate. He coughed slightly to hide his laughter and said softly, “General, rest assured that I will remain by your side every step of the way.”
He took Xie Jingyuan’s hand and lightly patted it.
At that moment, the scene had already turned into chaos. Prince Guangping was so disturbed by the painting he cherished it so much that he didn’t even care about the corpse. At this critical moment, it was the white-haired Yan Qinghe who stepped forward to stabilize the situation. His voice was solemn as he said, “Don’t panic. Let’s wait for the authorities to arrive. If anyone leaves the Golden Scale Pavilion recklessly, they will only draw suspicion on themselves. Let us wait here quietly and refrain from any rash action.”
Someone immediately echoed, “Senior Yan’s words make sense. No one should touch the young master’s body until the officials come to investigate.”
Finally coming to his senses, Prince Guangping plucked up his courage and took control of the situation, “Spread the order. The guards must come quickly and protect the Golden Scale Pavilion. No one may leave the mansion.”
Chu Xinian looked at the Crown Prince and suggested, “Your Highness, why don’t you go out first?”
The Crown Prince’s status was extraordinary, and his identity was prestigious. No one would suspect him and he had no reason to commit such a crime. Even if he left first, no one would say anything.
The Crown Prince wanted to see the commotion, but he couldn’t show it openly, “Why?”
Chu Xinian looked at the various expressions of the people in the hall and gently waved the cup in his hand, implying something, “Because the murderer is still here, he hasn’t left yet…”
The Golden Scale Pavilion was surrounded by water on all sides, with a single path leading to the heavily guarded shore. Young Master Jin was discovered within one tea ceremony of his death. The killer had not yet escaped and was now hiding in the crowd.
It didn’t matter if others died, but if the Crown Prince died, it would cause a stir in the Court and the public. So the most important thing now was to protect the Crown Prince’s safety and quickly send him out of the Guangping Residence, rather than looking for the culprit.
Xie Jingyuan frowned and said, “This is not the time to watch the show. You should leave quickly.”
The Crown Prince looked at Chu Xinian and then at Xie Jingyuan, without saying a word. After a moment, he suddenly laughed, “Look, those people haven’t said a word yet, but you two are worried about my life and death.”
Although the Crown Prince held an important position, he was not highly respected. The guests in the hall were either in panic or deep in thought, no one paid any attention to him.
“Don’t worry, I am not afraid of death.” Suddenly, the Crown Prince grabbed Chu Xinian’s shoulder, lowered his voice, and laughed, “Chu Xinian, it is said that those who are extraordinary in the Golden Scale Pavilion will inevitably become influential figures who will shake the world in the future. You have exceptional talent and wisdom, isn’t it a pity that you just sit far away and watch the show?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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The Crown Prince wanted to say more, but his wrist was suddenly grabbed by Xie Jingyuan and pulled away from Chu Xinian’s shoulder. Xie Jingyuan looked at the Crown Prince with a gloomy expression, wishing to shut his mouth.
Meanwhile, the situation in the hall was already heated due to another matter.
They had no authority to investigate the dead, but they could inquire about the missing painting. Yan Qinghe, seeing the puzzled expression on Prince Guangping’s face, stroked his beard and furrowed his brow, “May I ask the Prince what’s wrong with the painting ‘The Banquet of King Chen’? Could it be that it was a fake?”
When he finished speaking, he looked thoughtfully at Chu Xinian. If he remembered correctly, it had been this young man who had first revealed the truth.
“Yes, could it be true that the painting is fake, as Chu Xinian said?”
“Why would the Prince use a fake painting to deceive us, could it be an intentional insult!”
The scholars were known for their eloquence, and as the discussion grew, the situation became more chaotic. Prince Guangping stood up with an embarrassed expression and bowed to everyone, “I am ashamed to admit this matter. I apologize to all of you. That painting… indeed, as Mr. Chu said, is fake…”
As his words fell, it was like throwing a stone into the water, causing ripples to spread. People looked at each other, unable to believe that the painting was fake. They recalled the scene where they praised endlessly, and their faces reddened with shame.
Prince Guangping approached Chu Xinian and, half with admiration, half with embarrassment, made a gesture of respect, “Mr. Chu, your keen eyes saw through the mystery of this painting at a glance. I admire you.”
Chu Xinian stood up and returned the courtesy, speaking confidently, “Prince, you appreciate the painting, so it is not surprising that you took such action. It was my impulsive behavior that disrupted your plans”.
Their conversation left everyone perplexed. The old scholar who had challenged Chu Xinian earlier turned red with embarrassment and stammered, “Prince, what… what… what does it all mean?”
Prince Guangping had no choice but to explain the situation, “I received a letter from the thief that made me uneasy. I could not bear to part with the painting. To deceive him, I commissioned an expert artist to copy it. However, due to the haste, it may have had flaws, which Mr.Chu pointed out.”
He looked at Chu Xinian doubtfully and asked, “I dare not presume, but that skilled artist has mastered the essence of Meng Xiting’s brushwork. The forgery was very convincing, how could he see through the fake painting? Please enlighten me.”
Under everyone’s gaze, Chu Xinian paused for a moment and revealed the flaw, “The skillful artist’s technique was indeed exceptional, but the Prince overlooked one detail. The fake painting was done on a type of Yanzheng silk that was only made eighty years ago, and the carvings on the ivory scroll were of the phoenix and magpie patterns popular in our dynasty, which does not match the time of the original painting.”
Meng Xiting’s paintings enjoyed great fame, but they have been lost over several dynasties, and few people have seen the authentic works. Moreover, since it was Prince Guangping himself who presented the painting, no one dared to doubt its authenticity.
Prince Guangping shook his head and sighed, “The technique of using Qingjiang silk has long been lost. In my haste, it was difficult to find it. I was too clever. Chu Gongzi is exceptionally perceptive, and I admire him.”
Chu Xinian nodded, “Prince, you flatter me.”
At this point, the old scholar who had challenged Chu Xinian realized that it had all been a misunderstanding and apologized with a reddened face, “I was foolish and made sarcastic remarks earlier. I hope Mr. Chu can forgive me”.
There were both mediocre individuals and true scholarly characters in the Golden Scale Pavilion. It was not easy for someone of his age to lower his head and apologize.
Chu Xinian reached out and helped him up, “You give me too much credit, Senior. I was just guessing, and naturally, I can’t be sure.”
The Marquis of Quyang Mansion had already gained notoriety because of Chu Jiaoping, so much so that everyone overlooked the fact that he had a younger brother. At first, they thought Chu Xinian was a good-for-nothing, but today’s meeting revealed him to be an elegant and talented young man of extraordinary charm. His attention to detail, correctness, and understanding of etiquette eclipsed Chu Jiaoping.
Some sighed inwardly. After today, the ranking of the Capital’s noble sons and daughters would probably see the addition of another talented individual.
Yan Qinghe frowned and stroked his beard, finding it hard to believe Prince Guangping’s clumsiness. In a voice tinged with regret, he said, “I thought I would finally have the opportunity to witness Meng Xiting’s work in my lifetime. I never expected it to fall into the hands of thieves. It is a hidden jewel in the wrong hands.”
At the mention of this matter, Prince Guangping could not bear the pain in his heart and angrily pointed at his servant, saying, “Tell me in detail how the painting was lost!”
The terrified servant knelt on the ground, hitting his head hard, “Please forgive me, Your Highness! I was carrying the box when I tripped and fell a few steps from here. The secret compartment of the box opened and was empty. Only then did I realize that the painting had disappeared.”
It turned out that Prince Guangping had made a clever move by placing both paintings in the same box. The only difference was that the fake one was placed on the top layer, while the real one was hidden in a secret compartment at the bottom.
After publicly smashing the fake painting, Prince Guangping thought he had fooled the thief. He then ordered his trusted servant to take the box away and keep it in a safe place. However, the servant accidentally dropped the box and broke it, revealing that the real one had been stolen.
Hearing this, Prince Guangping seemed to lose all his strength and slumped in his chair as if deeply grieved. He muttered to himself, “It seems that the painting can never be recovered…”
The young nobles and ladies covered their faces in dismay, but Chu Xinian, self-absorbed, shook his folding fan and spoke suddenly, “Perhaps not necessarily…”
Prince Guangping was momentarily stupefied at these words, but then his eyes lit up and he eagerly grasped Chu Xinian’s hand, saying, “You don’t happen to have a way to get it back, Mr. Chu?”
Xie Jingyuan, standing silently, gritted his teeth, thinking that having an attractive appearance could easily captivate people, as one by one, they all flocked to Chu Xinian, seeking his company.
Chu Xinian only speculated. He looked at the servant kneeling on the ground, his head bleeding from the blows, and it seemed to him that the servant’s words were not false. He asked, “When you first brought the box to the Golden Scale Pavilion, was it still inside?”
Before the servant could reply, Prince Guangping hastened to say, “Yes! When I opened the box, I checked, and the real painting was still inside!”
Chu Xinian nodded and then asked the servant, “Where did you find out that the real one had been stolen?”
The servant pointed to a spot a few steps away, in the outer area, and stammered, “Sir, I had just left the entrance of the Golden Scale Pavilion, without even reaching the hallway, when I tripped and fell. It was at that moment that I realized that the real one was missing.”
Chu Xinian thoughtfully shook his fan and said, “That means the painting was stolen inside the Golden Scale Pavilion. After the banquet began, did anyone leave the Golden Scale Pavilion?”
Prince Guangping immediately sent guards to inquire and received the reply that no one had left.
“The royal painting is still inside the Golden Scale Pavilion.”
Chu Xinian surveyed the surroundings, calmly searching for clues. Valuable ancient paintings were not meant to be exposed to water, so the thief would not risk hiding them underwater. It was also unlikely that they would carry it on them, as a search would easily uncover it. Similarly, it could not be hidden in the corners of the floor.
That left only one possibility… above.
Chu Xinian took a few steps back and looked up at the beam structure inside the Golden Scale Pavilion. He noticed a faint white reflection in the far corner. He looked at Xie Jingyuan and gestured toward that spot, saying, “General, could you come up and take a look?”
Xie Jingyuan covered his lips with a handkerchief, coughed twice, and thought to himself that Chu Xinian finally remembered him at that moment. He closed his eyes slightly and replied in a cold tone, “Why should I go?”
Chu Xinian smiled, as if coaxing a child, and lowered his voice as he chuckled softly, “If the General is willing to come up and take a look, I’ll grant you a favor. How about it?”
For someone as cautious as him, offering such a condition was quite rare. Although Xie Jingyuan had not figured out what he wanted Chu Xinian to do, he thought it would not hurt to accept this opportunity. Reluctantly, he agreed.
Instead of going straight up, Xie Jingyuan took a date from a fruit plate and knocked hard towards the corner. With a faint metallic sound, a white scroll fell from the beam, landing precisely in the arms of a green-robed scholar.
The green-robed scholar was startled, but before he could react, the painting in his arms was snatched away by Prince Guangping. Trembling, he unfolded the scroll and exclaimed with joy, “It’s the real one! It’s the real one!”
The crowd immediately gathered around, wanting to have a look at the famous painting. However, Prince Guangping, holding the scroll, did not allow anyone to touch it. He quickly approached Chu Xinian, full of gratitude, and bowed, saying, “Mr. Chu, I am truly grateful. Thanks to your help, I have regained my beloved possession.”
Chu Xinian returned the gesture and said, “Losing and regaining something is a great fortune in life. It is wonderful that you have regained your precious object.”
Xie Jingyuan raised his eyelids and thought that there was no reason to be so happy. The thief had not been caught, and if it happened once, it might happen again. Prince Guangping seemed to rejoice too soon.
Just as people were talking, a commotion was heard from outside. A middle-aged man in a scarlet robe suddenly rushed into the Golden Scale Pavilion. He looked around and, upon discovering that Young Master Jin had long since died, his face paled. He was about to rush forward, grief-stricken, crying out, “My son!”
This man was Jin Ru Hai, Young Master Jin’s father, and an official in the Ministry of Finance. Although his rank was not high, he controlled the trade of the whole country and was an object of interest to several princes. On learning of the news of his only son’s misfortune, he rushed out of Court as soon as he heard, not expecting that his beloved son had suffered an accident.
When the white-haired one sends the black-haired one away, it is natural for him to lose control of his emotions. However, the others feared that he would disturb the scene of the crime and quickly pulled him back, urgently telling him, “Mr. Jin, you must not go! The officials are about to arrive. We must not move Young Master Jin now. If something goes wrong and the culprit is not found, it will be an injustice to him even dead!”
“Lord Jin, please calm down!”
Jin Hai’s eyes reddened with anger, and it took the collective efforts of the crowd to calm him down. His chest heaved uncontrollably as he looked at Prince Guangping and said gratefully, “Prince, I thank you sincerely. You have brought me back to my senses, thanks to your help.”
Prince Guangping should not have spoken, as he would have been partly responsible for this incident. However, until the authorities arrived, no one dared to make rash judgments. He could only try to appease Jin Hai, “Lord Jin, I will certainly give you a satisfactory explanation. But for now, please mourn. Wait for the officials from the Ministry of Justice to arrive…”
Jin Hai interrupted coldly, “The Ministry of Justice?! Last time they couldn’t solve the case of the female corpse outside the Capital. How can I trust them to clear my son’s name? Please, Prince, tell me everything that happened today. I will petition the Emperor and investigate personally.”
He scanned the crowd with his red eyes, suspecting that they were the culprits. Once Prince Guangping explained the situation, he would begin a thorough interrogation.
Prince Guangping had no choice but to relate the facts, “…The matter is as follows, Mr. Jin. Each official has his duties at the Court, and the investigation of high-profile cases is usually handled by the Ministry of Justice. It is best not to interfere.”
An enraged father, whose judgment was clouded by anger, could hardly be expected to discover the truth. Prince Guangping expected the Ministry of Justice, which was responsible for such cases, to handle them more effectively than an official who dealt mainly with finances.
Jin Hai caught the undertone of his words and was on the verge of exploding. Since the Crown Prince was present at the Talent Banquet, he directly lifted his robe and knelt heavily, “Please, Your Highness, help an old servant! My only son has died under unclear circumstances. If we cannot find the truth, he will be wronged even in death. Your Highness, please be my son’s supporter!”
The Crown Prince, momentarily stunned, quickly helped him to his feet. However, Jin Hai clung to his legs, shouting, “I have only one son. Today, he died due to mysterious circumstances, and the truth is obstructed at every turn. Your Highness, you must do justice for my son.”
The Crown Prince struggled to free his legs, assuring him, “Lord Jin, you are a loyal subject of our dynasty. I will personally deal with this matter for your sake. If you do not trust the Ministry of Justice, then…”
He paused and pointed to Chu Xinian, who was standing nearby, “Why don’t you let Chu Xinian investigate for Young Master Jin? He is very clever and has a reputation for solving cases. He can bring justice to your son.”
The Crown Prince, like Xie Jingyuan, had little regard for scholars. He preferred these cases to be solved by someone like Chu Xinian to gain fame, rather than relying on the supposedly inept Minister of Justice.
Jin Hai’s face stiffened at the unexpected suggestion, “This… this…”
Yan Qinghe, the senior and highly respected among them, frowned and said, “Nonsense! Dealing with criminal cases is the job of the authorities. Even if Chu Xinian is somewhat clever, he may not be competent in this matter. Human lives are of great importance; Your Highness, you must not treat this as a trivial matter!”
What the hell is wrong with the Crown Prince? Even if he’s pretending to be dumb to be safe, there must be a limit!
Thank you for the chapter.
I don’t think he’s pretending 😭
💖💖💖💖
I think the crown prince wants chu xinian to be in the limelight for a reason. Let’s hope the killer won’t harm our dear mc in the process..
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