Qin He sat on the bed with mixed feelings after her call with Gu Qichen.
Unable to take a nap now, she got up and went to the small study.
Qin He opened her computer and logged into Qingyan Fu. She posted a mission on Qingyan Fu, commissioning someone to investigate the background of "Lin Xiaoya."
If it could be proven that Lin Xiaoya was Song Nuan, then she could use the previous evidence to sue, and also prove Fang Yaozu's crime of helping Song Nuan obtain a fake identity.
Qin He frowned. Lin Xiaoya had been quite active in Qingcheng recently, attending every banquet invitation from any family.
Her good personality and gentle temper had also earned her a lot of favor, and most people had truly come to believe that she only resembled Song Nuan.
In short, Lin Xiaoya had been well-received in Qingcheng lately, and many wealthy wives were fond of her.
After Qin He posted the mission, she quickly received a private message from Shen Ruiyi.
Bu San Dao: "Boss, why didn't you notify me and Qi Zhen directly when you had a mission?"
Qin He chuckled: "I thought Qi Zhen had been investigating the Lev organization recently, and you have to protect my master. You two should be busy."
Bu San Dao: "There haven't been any leads recently. Boss, please cancel the mission, I'll take it."
Having Shen Ruiyi investigate was indeed more reassuring.
Qin He canceled the mission and went back to her room for a nap.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Qin He got up.
When she went downstairs, Mrs. Xu had already arrived. She was playing mahjong with Ming Yuzhu and Di Shishi, accompanying Xu Wanwan.
Qin He leaned over to take a look. Di Shishi only had beginner-level skills in mahjong.
Up against the three people who had been immersed in mahjong for months, she was now losing miserably.
Qin He felt like she was seeing herself from not long ago.
Xu Wanwan was in a good mood from winning. Mrs. Xu looked at her belly.
"Play a few rounds and then go for a walk in the garden. It's not good to sit for so long."
Xu Wanwan got up, and Qin He took her place.
Then, two people started losing.
At four-thirty in the afternoon, Qin He had finished playing a few rounds of mahjong. She sat behind Di Shishi, holding a plate of fruit, acting as her "master strategist."
But she was still losing badly.
Aunt Xu covered her mouth and laughed: "People say three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang, but how could you two still be losing like this?"
Qin He retorted indignantly: "We'll definitely win the next round."
Di Shishi glared at her: "I told you not to play the two of bamboo, but you insisted I play it."
Qin He immediately shot back: "You didn't listen to me when I told you not to play the four of characters. If you hadn't played the four of characters, we wouldn't have lost!"
The two argued, and Mrs. Xu watched them with amusement, looking at Ming Yuzhu with some envy.
"Your home is truly lively. My home has been much quieter since Wanwan got married. I even regret not having another son back then, at least one more could have been brought back."
Xu Wanwan ate a kiwi on the side: "Mom, if you had a son, you might have had more to worry about."
Ming Yuzhu also smiled: "It's inconvenient for Wanwan to move around now. After she gives birth and the child is a bit older, let her take Qin Yun to stay at the Xu family's for half a year to a year."
Mrs. Xu quickly said: "Then I'll probably find Wanwan annoying. She was always so rambunctious when she was at home."
As they were chatting, Qin He's phone in her pocket rang.
She paused her "strategist" work, picked up her phone, and went to the living room.
It was Liu Xing'an calling.
Qin He answered and smiled: "Master, are you missing me?"
"Hmph, I wouldn't miss you even if you didn't visit me for eight years!" Liu Xing'an was as contradictory as ever.
Qin He didn't mind: "It's the weekend today, and I don't have anything else this afternoon. I'll come see you later."
Liu Xing'an's voice became serious: "You do need to come over."
Qin He was slightly taken aback, hearing the gravity in Liu Xing'an's voice: "What's wrong, Master?"
"When you were at my place last time, you copied some patterns. Where did those patterns come from?"
Qin He immediately thought of the time at Liu Xing'an's place when she received the golden thread patterns from Gu Qichen.
They were patterns within the Wanfang Lun. At the time, she found them unclear, so she specifically drew them out and took a picture for Qian Zimo.
Those papers with the drawings were left at her master's.
Qin He's expression became serious: "Master, do you recognize those patterns?"
"Come over and we'll talk," Liu Xing'an said.
Qin He felt a bit nervous. For so long, ever since she and Gu Qichen discovered the golden threads in the interlayer, they had tried to investigate through many people.
She had also consulted numerous classical texts, but had not figured out what those patterns represented.
Qin He went to the side hall and informed Ming Yuzhu, who was playing mahjong, that she was going to her master's house.
Then she drove out.
On the way, Qin He felt as though she was nearing the truth.
The closer she got to the truth, the more nervous she became. She called Gu Qichen.
It was already five o'clock. Gu's Group would close at five-thirty.
Gu Qichen answered quickly: "He'er."
Qin He's expression was serious: "Gu Qichen, do you have time now?"
"Yes."
"Come to Master's house. " Qin He explained about her copying the patterns last time and leaving the drawings there.
"From the tone of Master's call, it seems he recognizes those patterns."
Gu Qichen's voice was deep: "Okay, I'll be right there."
Half an hour later, Qin He's car stopped at the entrance of the alley of the Siheyuan. She got out of the car and immediately went to the door.
Gu's Group was closer to the Siheyuan than Qin's family. As Qin He was knocking, she saw Gu Qichen's car pull up not far away.
After Gu Qichen got out of the car, he saw her and walked over quickly.
They exchanged a glance, and Qin He continued to knock.
Soon, the door opened. Liu Xing'an had a grim expression: "Come in."
They followed Liu Xing'an to the living room. Qin He pressed: "Master, do you recognize the patterns I copied last time?"
Liu Xing'an nodded: "But I want to know where you got those patterns from."
Qin He pursed her lips: "They were tucked inside an ancient book. I don't know what they're for; I just thought it was interesting and decided to investigate."
Liu Xing'an sighed: "That day, I thought you were just doodling. After you left, I planned to throw away those drawings. However, those patterns seemed familiar, and it reminded me of a rumor."
"Rumor?" Qin He's expression became serious.
Liu Xing'an frowned: "It's been a long time, and I don't remember clearly. I happened to visit a museum back then and saw similar images. Below the images, there was an explanation..."
Qin He was listening intently, but as Liu Xing'an described the museum exhibit, she found it increasingly unbelievable.
It was roughly about how these patterns were related to a lost ancient kingdom, which was a small country on the periphery of Hua Guo, but extremely wealthy.
It had palaces of white jade, and the floors in the halls were paved with gold bricks.