Ch. 544 - Untitled

Qiu Yunfei was summoned and accompanied by the Eunuch to the outside of the flower hall.

"Inspector, wait a moment, let me go in and report."

The Eunuch gave an explanation, arched his body, opened a gap in the curtain, dodged, and squeezed in. Soon, he lifted the door curtain from inside and asked Qiu Yunfei to enter.

Qiu Yunfei quickly picked up the package and walked into the flower hall with small steps. He saluted and said, "Qiu Yunfei respectfully greets Your Highness, wishing you to be safe."

"Please rise."

The Crown Prince gave a weak hand across the distance, while Qiu Yunfei was about to get up when he suddenly smelled a foul smell of urine. He wrinkled his nose and looked around with suspicion.

"What are you looking at?"

Sun Shaozong saw Qiu Yunfei shrug his nose vigorously, afraid that he might accidentally offend the Crown Prince. He quickly shouted and asked, "Didn't you say there's something urgent that needs to be reported to me?"

As soon as Sun Shaozong brought up the matter, Qiu Yunfei quickly spread out the package on the ground and took out the spiritual treasure from his sleeve, then recounted the process of discovering it.

"According to the results of the on-site inspection, the ashes inside this incense burner were originally written on rice paper, but unfortunately, they were destroyed by a big fire..."

"Lord Qiu."

Before Qiu Yunfei could finish speaking, the Crown Prince couldn't help but wonder, "How did you know that the ashes had been burned so thoroughly?"

"Report to Your Highness."

Qiu Yunfei pointed to the dust inside the incense burner and explained, "When I first discovered it, there were still some pieces of paper dust on the lower layer. Although they were all burnt, I could still vaguely distinguish the color difference—that is, the areas with different colors. That's why I humbly concluded that there was handwriting written on them."

As he spoke, he spread his hands again. He said helplessly, "Unfortunately, those paper ashes are nothing more than nail covers, and they are not connected, so it is impossible to distinguish what is written on them."

He felt remorseful here, but the Crown Prince repeatedly praised him, saying that there were no weak soldiers under a strong general.

"Your Highness praised falsely."

Sun Shaozong casually humbled Qiu Yunfei, but his gaze fell on the piece of jade; regardless of what was once written on the paper ash, it was now impossible to verify. Therefore, the major clues discovered by Qiu Yunfei must be related to this piece of jade.

At this moment, Qiu Yunfei started a nice saying and finally changed his tone. He lifted the spiritual treasure jade and said, "Fortunately, I found a spiritual treasure jade engraved with twenty-four words  in the interlayer of this incense burner, and what's even more coincidental is that this jade..."

"Bring it to me for a look."

Sun Shaozong suddenly interrupted him and asked for the jade. He seriously commented, "The texture is exquisite, warm, and smooth, and the whole body is crystal clear. Although it is not rare, it is also a rare thing for ordinary people; however, the words carved on it are crooked, but it seems to be written by laymen."

The Crown Prince listened and didn't think anything was wrong.

Upon hearing these words, Qiu Yunfei's eyes widened instantly. He and Jia Baoyu were just casual acquaintances, and they could both think of the text engraved on it, which was no different from the one next to Jia Baoyu and had a marriage relationship with the Rongguo Mansion. However, how could Sun Shaozong, who had no knowledge of this object, knew on the contrary?

"My Lord, you..."

He was about to ask when Sun Shaozong gave him a sharp gaze, although silent, full of the words *'shut up.'*

Sun Shaozong rubbed the jade again and checked it, saying, "However, there are traces of re-polishing around this jade. It seems that it was once inlaid on some object and later removed, but whether it is inlaid or re-polished, it is not something that laypeople can do."

"Since it was entrusted to a jewelry store, but the character is carved so strangely and awkwardly, it is obvious that the person who carved it does not want to fake it. There must be some allusion behind it."

"Moreover, considering the hidden nature of this item, if we can trace its source along the way, it should help solve the case."

Qiu Yunfei didn't really notice this at all—mainly because when he saw the twenty-four characters there, his mind was full of thoughts about Rongguo Mansion, so why bother to take a closer look?

Subconsciously wanting to claim the jade, Sun Shaozong carefully examined it a few more times, but he had already taken it into his pocket and turned his head to bow to the Crown Prince, saying, "Your Highness, this case involves seven lives, which can’t be delayed. Please let Inspector Qiu and I leave first."

The Crown Prince wanted to take the opportunity to get closer to the Qiu family, but seeing Sun Shaozong's dignified demeanor, he couldn't think of any reason to stop him, so he had no choice but to watch the two of them fly away.

Not to mention how the Crown Prince went to the inner courtyard to change his pants.

Qiu Yunfei followed Sun Shaozong out of the flower hall and saw no one around. He couldn't help but approach him and ask in a low voice, "My Lord, the text engraved on the jade..."

"Same as Brother Baoyu’s piece, right?"

In fact, just now, when he heard the name *'supernatural jade,'* Qiu Yunfei deliberately emphasized that there were twenty-four words engraved on it. Sun Shaozong had already thought of Jia Baoyu, and this was also the reason why he stopped Qiu Yunfei from continuing.

Sun Shaozong kept walking forward without looking askance as he whispered, "That's why I dare not let you say everything. Don't forget, the young lady of Rongguo Mansion lives in Jingren Palace now."

What was the big deal of staying in Jingren Palace?

Qiu Yunfei pondered in confusion until he walked a few dozen steps further before finally realizing the details of this matter. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Does the Crown Prince hold resentment towards His Majesty's selection of concubines and preparation for pregnancy?"

"What are you shouting about?!"

Sun Shaozong turned around and glared at him, neither affirming nor denying.

Qiu Yunfei shrank his neck and didn’t dare to speak for a moment until he walked out of the gate of the Crown Prince's Residence. Only then did he develop a wicked aura and sneered to thank Sun Shaozong.

Since the Crown Prince harbored resentment towards Emperor Guangde's selection of concubines and preparation for pregnancy, it was important to know that this major case of human life was related to the younger brother of Imperial Concubine Xiande, and he might not easily let it go.

At that time, regardless of the final outcome, the Qiu family would inevitably fall out with Rongguo Mansion. If one accidentally implicated Imperial Concubine Xiande out of Jingren Palace, it would be an irreparable grudge!

"I, Qiu Yi, have met Lord Sun."

"I, Qiu..."

"Xiao..."

At this moment, the four family generals outside the door had already welcomed Sun Shaozong and greeted him, leaving the young master Qiu Yunfei aside.

This respect was not for Sun Shaozong's official position but for his title as the top general in the Capital.

Fortunately, Qiu Yunfei was fortunate enough to have escaped a calamity; the Rongguo Mansion might not be able to do anything to him, but his father's whip had always been unwilling to show mercy, so he did not care about these trivial matters. He only waited for Qiu Yi and others to show their hospitality before asking Sun Shaozong for his next move.

Sun Shaozong rubbed the spiritual treasure and pondered for a while before saying, "Let's go to the Rongguo Mansion first."

The appearance of this jade was actually quite different from that of Jia Baoyu, but with its precise 24 characters, it was worth visiting Rongguo Mansion.

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