Her Entire Court Reborn with Her in the Modern World

Chapter 45: Chapter 44: Shi Changying: Could What I Saw With My Own Eyes Be Fake?

Hearing her words, Ming Chengli’s expression gradually grew serious.

He didn’t dismiss Shi Changying’s words just because she had never been exposed to archaeology or antiquities. Instead, he pulled up the pictures of the two Green Lotus Jade Pendants currently housed in the Linsu Museum.

After comparing the two images, Ming Chengli also noticed the discrepancy.

"From the texture of the jade, one is green nephrite, and the other is jadeite. Both are white with a hint of green, so they can be easily confused at first glance," Ming Chengli said, his excitement growing. "But from the patterns, one is a cloud motif, and the other is a water motif!"

Shi Changying raised an eyebrow. "My dad certainly has a sharp eye."

"If you’re in a profession, you must understand its expertise," Ming Chengli jumped up happily. "Changying, you really are your dad’s little lucky star!"

This was another major discovery! Ming Chengli couldn’t wait to pick up his phone and contact the middle-aged man.

The phone rang four times before it was answered.

The middle-aged man’s voice was somewhat exhausted. "I’m telling you, old classmate, I’ve been working around the clock for a week. I’m not made of steel like you—I need to sleep!"

"Sleep, sleep, sleep, that’s all you know!" Ming Chengli raised his voice. "It’s because you slept too much that you failed your classes in school!"

The middle-aged man was speechless. Why the sudden personal attack out of nowhere? His sleepiness was scolded right out of him. "It’s late at night. What exactly do you want?"

Ming Chengli triumphantly relayed the new discovery he had just made. "Can you still sleep now?"

"What did you say?" At this, the middle-aged man was completely wide awake. Startled, he hastily pulled up the pictures of the two Green Lotus Jade Pendants.

After a meticulous comparison, the middle-aged man couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. "Chengli, it’s exactly as you said!"

Ming Chengli continued to show off. "It’s all thanks to my daughter’s sharp eyes, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed it at all."

"Good, this is excellent!" After his initial excitement, the middle-aged man raised a question. "The Green Lotus Jade Pendant brought by Mr. Xie Lin is indeed made of jadeite, which is more valuable than green nephrite, but how are you certain that it’s the one belonging to the Young Master of the Xie Family?"

Reminded by this, Ming Chengli smacked his forehead. "That’s right! Changying, how are you so sure?"

"What’s so hard to be sure about?" Shi Changying lifted her chin. "The jade quality is superior, and the pattern is more noble. Naturally, only the Young Master could use it."

She had seen it with her own eyes—how could it be fake?

"Daughter, the logic checks out, but we definitely need to find corresponding historical records to corroborate it. Leave this matter to the professionals," Ming Chengli once again emphasized the rigor of archaeology, then spoke into the phone. "Hurry up and get to work. Stop sleeping."

The middle-aged man hung up the phone, grumbling curses.

Shi Changying suddenly spoke, "Papa."

This affectionate address actually sounded somewhat obedient to Ming Chengli, but it made him feel apprehensive instead. "Hey, sweetie, what’s wrong?"

"Dad, don’t be nervous." Shi Changying took in his expression and raised an eyebrow. "I just wanted to ask you to tell me about Xie Qingshi’s past, because I haven’t read the history concerning him yet."

Ming Chengli breathed a sigh of relief. That scared him half to death.

"Alas, the life of the handsome Xie Lang can be described as extremely tumultuous," Ming Chengli sighed softly. "Due to his physical disability as a child, he wasn’t favored by his mother. It wasn’t until he turned eighteen that Empress Taichu took notice of him and appointed him as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Only then did he have a place to put his talents to use."

Shi Changying said coolly, "I want to know what happened to him later."

"Later?" Ming Chengli paused, pursing his lips. "The city of Linsu was located in Ningzhou. By the time the Hong Clan arrived there, the fires of war had already been burning across the Jiuzhou Continent for two years. The title of one of the Four Great Young Masters was both a blessing and a curse to him. The invaders had long heard of his great reputation in music. They abducted him and demanded that he perform for the King of Hong."

Shi Changying asked, "Did he perform?"

"I’m not sure." Ming Chengli shook his head, then spoke slowly. "Because on that day, he died along with the sound of his zither."

These simple words jolted Shi Changying’s heart. It took her a long moment to speak. "He was blind and couldn’t see."

"Yes, it was such a blind man who refused to yield until his dying breath," Ming Chengli said in a low voice. "The Linsu Xie Family was a family of loyal martyrs. The Linsu Governor, Xie Nanshan, slit his own throat while defending the city, and his wife, Ruan Anning, threw herself into a river to maintain her integrity."

As he spoke, his voice grew increasingly choked and difficult. "His eldest son, Xie Xuan, was killed while resisting the enemy, and his second son, Xie Feng—"

Shi Changying closed her eyes. She said softly, "Say no more..."

Through Ming Chengli’s description, she felt as if she had already seen that scene. Yet no matter how many words were used to describe it, they could never recreate the scene of the past. Clearly... they were people of the same era, yet she could only catch glimpses of their subsequent lives through the pages of history books.

"Sigh, blame your old man for getting carried away and telling you such a heavy story so late at night." Ming Chengli wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and patted her shoulder. "Go to sleep, Changying. You still have classes tomorrow."

The next morning, inside a private coffee shop.

Xu Zhao Yu sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, her face devoid of expression, lost in thought.

TAP TAP TAP. The sound of high heels echoed.

Xu Zhao Yu looked up and greeted the newcomer affectionately. "Mrs. Huo, please take a seat."

"It’s been a while since we last met, Zhao Yu. You look as radiant as ever." Mrs. Huo sat down opposite her, a guilty look on her face. "I’ve been so busy with company affairs lately that I haven’t had the time to visit you in the hospital."

Xu Zhao Yu shook her head. "It’s just a minor illness. I’m used to it."

"Falling ill and being angered are two completely different things. You absolutely must take care of yourself," Mrs. Huo said. "Don’t worry, Zhao Yu, I’ve already scolded my brat. He said those were all rumors and that he absolutely didn’t get into a fight with his friends over treating someone to a meal."

"Look at what you’re saying. I never believed it to begin with," Xu Zhao Yu smiled. "Yun Xing has always been highly disciplined. How could he possibly get into a street fight?"

Seeing that she truly didn’t take it to heart, Mrs. Huo also breathed a sigh of relief. "Indeed. Yun Xing might have a bit of a temper, but he would never do such a thing."

"How much truth can there be in rumors these days?" Xu Zhao Yu said, seemingly casually. "But when you hear enough of them, they’ll inevitably sow seeds of doubt."

Mrs. Huo frowned. "What other rumors have been going around?"

"It’s that boy Shuyan spouting nonsense. He happened to run into Yun Xing yesterday and actually told me that Yun Xing is very attentive toward Changying." Xu Zhao Yu sighed. "I don’t believe it at all. Yun Xing and Changying haven’t even formally met, so how could he be attentive?"

Mrs. Huo remained silent.

"Please don’t take it to heart," Xu Zhao Yu said. "The ones to blame are the rumor-mongers. Who knows what ulterior motives they harbor."

Mrs. Huo suddenly sneered. "What ulterior motives? To climb the social ladder and become a phoenix, of course—without even looking in the mirror to see if she’s worthy!"