"Grandpa..." Jiang Tao’s scalp prickled.
Li Chonglou was right; this Ru porcelain tri-footed pedestal wasn't the real one, but a high-quality replica he’d commissioned.
The genuine piece had already been pawned to cover his gambling debts.
However, the debt was too substantial, and the creditor had proposed a proposition: if he let them have their way with Jiang Yuxin, the remaining debt would be cleared.
He had no choice but to agree.
He had planned to take advantage of the elder’s absence to completely ruin Li Chonglou, killing two birds with one stone.
He hadn't expected things to unfold contrary to his plans.
Li Chonglou, having inexplicably acquired all sorts of knowledge, had immediately declared the pedestal a fake.
If the old man found out, he’d be beaten to death.
"How is it that this Ru porcelain pedestal is in your hands?" The old man glanced at the assembled guests, his gaze settling on the tri-footed pedestal in Li Chonglou’s hand.
His brows furrowed, a glint of sharp insight flashing in his cloudy eyes.
"Grandpa, Li Chonglou says this pedestal is fake..." Before Jiang Tao could speak, Jiang Yuxin interjected.
Li Chonglou’s earlier words had shaken her.
Though she didn't know how he knew such things, her mind had cleared considerably.
There seemed to be more to this matter than met the eye.
Despite her anger, upon reflection, Li Chonglou was her husband, after all.
If he were to be officially accused, she would be implicated and humiliated alongside him.
"Is that so?"
The old man’s face darkened as he asked in a deep voice, "How did you discern it was fake?"
"First, the color, then the inscription!"
Li Chonglou met his gaze, unyielding, and stated neither subserviently nor obsequiously, "Ru porcelain incorporated natural agate powder into its coloring, giving the glaze a jewel-like luminescence."
"While this pedestal is exquisitely crafted, and the crackle glaze treatment appears exceptionally natural, it was made using artificial pigments."
"The entire piece emits a gaudy sheen. Perhaps you don't grasp the concept."
"Then let's look at the inscription!"
Saying this, he flipped the base of the pedestal and read aloud, "A tri-footed vessel of purple earth, its iron feet a metaphor, containing hidden wisdom. The 'Yi' text aligns with retreat and concealment, a royal decree of Song, praising what is truly spoken."
"Below it is inscribed, 'Emperor's Inscription, Summer of Ding Wei, Qianlong Reign.'"
"This poem was penned by Qianlong, and carved by imperial artisans."
"The calligraphy is excellent, with a dynamic, flowing style reminiscent of a master, but look at the brushwork here!"
As he spoke, he displayed the underside of the pedestal to the assembled guests.
"These are... pen strokes..."
"Where did pens come from during the Qianlong era?"
"Shouldn't artisans use carving knives for inscriptions? This..."
...
Upon examining the inscription, everyone present, including those with a keen eye for calligraphy, exchanged bewildered glances.
Even the laymen at the scene now understood.
This was an outright fake.
In an instant, everyone's gaze shifted to Li Chonglou, filled with shock and disbelief.
The Jiang family's good-for-nothing son-in-law possessed such keen eyesight to identify the pedestal's authenticity at a single glance.
But if he knew it was fake, why steal it? Wasn't that foolish?
Could it be...
As he claimed, Jiang Tao was behind this scheme?
All eyes turned to Jiang Tao, as if illuminated by spotlights, scorching him.
Jiang Tao was sweating profusely, his legs feeling weak, his complexion unnaturally pale.
"Grandpa..." His heart pounded like a war drum. Without confessing, he knelt and begged for mercy.
Before he could utter a word, the old man interrupted him, glaring at Li Chonglou, he said indifferently, "I never expected this old man to be fooled and buy a replica."
"However, even if it's a replica, it's not something you can simply touch."
"For the sake of all the friends and family here today, I will not pursue your responsibility in this matter."
"From now on, conduct yourself properly!"
With that, he turned and left the hall.
Suddenly, many who had begun to change their opinion of Li Chonglou now displayed expressions of contempt and disdain once more.
Indeed, it was the useless fellow who had stolen the item, and then attempted to frame Jiang Tao.
He had almost gotten away with it!
Liu Zhiru, Jiang Yuxin’s mother, stood by the door, her face as cold as frost, her eyes murderous.
Hmm?
Li Chonglou's brow twitched slightly.
He had expected the old man to erupt in fury upon learning the truth.
Seeing this reaction, he immediately realized he had underestimated the situation.
What kind of occasion was this?
A birthday banquet, with relatives and friends gathered, concerning the Jiang family's reputation.
Even if he had exposed the truth, what difference would it make?
A man who married into the family, compared to his own grandson, there was no contest.
The old man had spoken falsehoods with open eyes, clearly and unmistakably protecting Jiang Tao.
Jiang Yuxin looked stunned but quickly understood.
From an outsider's perspective, she knew her grandfather's temper well. Normally, if he discovered he had bought a fake, he would be furious.
But today, he was so calm, or rather, he was deliberately feigning calmness.
When things are out of the ordinary, there must be a reason!
There was definitely a hidden agenda behind this matter.
Jiang Tao stood in stunned silence for a moment, the panic in his eyes quickly receding. Feeling as if he had been granted amnesty, his face was filled with immense joy.
Even if he were slower-witted, he would have realized his grandfather was protecting him.
He immediately changed his demeanor, approaching Li Chonglou and leaning in to whisper menacingly, "Useless fool, this is the Jiang family. What are you? Do you think you can compete with me?"
"Even if Grandpa knew it was fake, he still sided with me."
"Just you wait, it won't be long before I make you leave the Jiang family!"
After displaying his dominance, he swaggered past Jiang Yuxin.
This infuriated Jiang Yuxin, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger, wanting to erupt but mindful of the guests present.
She could only suppress her rage.
"You two, come out with me!" At this moment, Liu Zhiru, her face pale and ashen, commanded coldly.
As the three reached the garden.
Liu Zhiru immediately exploded, "Li Chonglou, you utterly uncivilized good-for-nothing, what good have you done for our family in the three years since you joined us?"
"You stole from Grandpa and were caught red-handed. How are you making our mother and daughter lose face?"
"The old man might not hold it against you, but I'm not so magnanimous."
"After the banquet, you will divorce Yuxin immediately!"
Jiang Yuxin's pretty face changed slightly, saying, "Mom, this matter is not actually yours..."
Before she could finish, Liu Zhiru interrupted her, "Shut up."
"If it weren't for your stubborn insistence on marrying this useless man years ago, would your father have been transferred abroad?"
"How much suffering have we, mother and daughter, endured because of him?"
"I will never allow a thief to remain in the Jiang family."
"This marriage must end!"
Jiang Yuxin was reprimanded into silence, her expression troubled, unsure of what to say.
She knew her mother had always looked down on Li Chonglou, and after this incident, she couldn't tolerate him any longer.
Just as she was thinking about how to gloss over the situation.
Li Chonglou, however, remained unfazed, stating calmly, "I can divorce, but only after my mother's illness is cured."
Three years ago, when his mother fell ill, Jiang Yuxin had contributed two hundred thousand yuan, saving her mother's life.
Although he had worked tirelessly and paid off the debt over the years, he had never forgotten her kindness.
If they divorced now, Jiang Yuxin would inevitably be forced into another marriage, leading to a tragic end, just like in his past life.
Furthermore, he hadn't settled the score for Jiang Tao's harm, both in his past life and this one, so how could he leave the Jiang family so easily?
However, Liu Zhiru, with her preconceived notions, found any explanation useless.
Her words were merely a delaying tactic.
But to Liu Zhiru, it meant something else entirely.
She believed Li Chonglou was using the divorce to extort money from her to pay for his mother's medical treatment.
She immediately sneered, "Hmph, truly, poverty breeds a narrow mind. You don't forget to seek benefits even when divorcing!"
"Let me tell you, whether your mother lives or dies, don't expect the Jiang family to contribute a single cent."
"The divorce is not up to you; I have plenty of ways!"
With that, she turned and left.