Chapter 238: The True Treasure Lies with Emperor Shunwu

Chapter 238: The True Treasure Lies with Emperor Shunwu

After recounting his ordeal, Mo Zhongyuan felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders, and the pained expression on his face vanished.

Old Lady Mo wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and said, "As the saying goes, those who survive great calamities are destined for good fortune. Zhongyuan has already endured his share of suffering in this life, and things will only get better from now on.

I am old now, and all I wish for is that our family can live in peace and safety."

"Mother, it will be so. Eighth Brother, Ninth Brother, and I will take good care of you from now on."

As he spoke, Mo Zhongyuan got up from the bed and knelt solemnly before his mother.

"In the past, it was your son's filial piety that was lacking, causing you worry."

Seeing her son like this, Old Lady Mo's tears flowed uncontrollably again, prompting the other women to dab at their own eyes.

He Zhiran was also a woman, and although she was tougher than her sisters-in-law and Mo Hanyue, she had to admit that she was made of water too.

She couldn't bear to see such a scene, and seeing everyone sobbing loudly, she knew it wouldn't end anytime soon and might even stir up other sad memories.

So, she wiped her slightly swollen eyes and said, "Mother, sisters-in-law, it's a good thing that Fifth Brother has regained his memory. Didn't Mother want him to paint the image of the Kitchen God? It's already high noon, what are we waiting for?"

Old Lady Mo understood her ninth daughter-in-law's intentions and led the way in drying her tears, beckoning Mo Zhongyuan to paint the image of the Kitchen God.

Indeed, Mo Zhongyuan's literary talent was impressive, and the image of the Kitchen God he painted was truly masterful.

He Zhiran even thought about having him paint some others to sell in her Taobao shop.

Speaking of the Taobao shop, she hadn't tended to it for a long time, usually just checking casually if there was any increase in income.

Also, Little Antique Collector hadn't come to buy anything recently, disappearing as if into thin air.

He Zhiran wasn't very familiar with these New Year customs, but she and Mo Jiuye had taken care of all the necessary food items after going out yesterday.

Nowadays, all the meat came from the space, and they had bought large quantities of seafood from the fishing village. They had also prepared several varieties of vegetables that could pass muster.

With all the ingredients ready at home, her sisters-in-law didn't need He Zhiran to manage anything. She only needed to step in to cook the special dishes.

Taking advantage of this free time, He Zhiran returned to her room and slipped into the space.

There were still many items she had taken from Magistrate Cui's residence stored in the warehouse, not as precious as those in the imperial treasury, but still antiques when hung in the shop.

To avoid having these things clutter the warehouse, He Zhiran took photos of everything and uploaded them to the shop for sale.

Just as she finished organizing these, an avatar shook below her phone screen.

This avatar was no stranger to He Zhiran; it was none other than the long-missing Little Antique Collector.

Little Antique Collector: "Boss, you're really something. You've added new items to the shop."

He Zhiran: "They're just some worthless trinkets."

Little Antique Collector: "Boss is too modest. When it comes to antiques, which one can be called a worthless trinket?"

He Zhiran: "It's just relative."

This was true. When she took photos and uploaded them, for example, those few jade decorations, their prices were set at less than half of those in the imperial treasury.

This indicated that Magistrate Cui was merely a wealthy local, and the true treasures lay with Emperor Shunwu.

Little Antique Collector: "Boss, the antiques sold in your shop are genuine. If my funds could be liquidated soon, I would definitely buy everything here."

He Zhiran: "Did something happen?"

She was just casually concerned about an old customer, but unexpectedly, Little Antique Collector replied seriously:

"My family has always been in the antique business and has never struggled with funds. But recently, I partnered with a friend to purchase a ten-centimeter-diameter South Pearl, which was stolen while I was arranging for its exhibition.

This South Pearl is extremely valuable, using up almost half of my wealth. Since it was lost under my watch, I have to compensate my friend with another portion of money."

The South Pearl was no stranger to He Zhiran, and its value varied widely.

At this moment, she was very curious about the quality of the South Pearl that Little Antique Collector had lost:

"What kind of South Pearl are you talking about?"

Little Antique Collector: "That South Pearl was very special, ten centimeters in diameter, and completely black without a single flaw. After being appraised by multiple experts, it was determined that this South Pearl originated from the Great Shun Dynasty, a rare antique-level item."

He Zhiran had seen South Pearls before, but she had never seen a black one, let alone one with a ten-centimeter diameter.

The clam that produced this South Pearl must have become a spirit...

Because Little Antique Collector mentioned that the South Pearl originated from the Great Shun Dynasty, it sparked He Zhiran's interest:

"You said this South Pearl originated from the Great Shun Dynasty?"

Little Antique Collector: "Yes, after expert appraisal, it was confirmed that this South Pearl originated from the Great Shun Dynasty. It's said that this South Pearl has some historical significance."

He Zhiran became increasingly interested: "What historical significance?"

Little Antique Collector: "I heard that this South Pearl came from Nanjiang. At that time, the emperor of Nanjiang suffered a defeat, and Emperor Shunwu proposed that he use that South Pearl as part of the compensation. The emperor of Nanjiang firmly refused.

That South Pearl was the favorite possession of Empress Yun Li of Nanjiang, and the emperor doted on his wife. Therefore, he was willing to cede a city as compensation rather than part with that South Pearl."

Speaking of this history, He Zhiran really didn't know much about it.

After all, descendants learned about Central Plains culture, and for ancient frontier states, only historians would delve into detailed research.

Therefore, the history books she had purchased did not record this section.

Speaking of Yun Li, it's likely that she has altered this part of history as well.

If she hadn't time-traveled to this era, Mo Jiuye would have had little chance of survival, let alone capturing and killing Yun Li and Nan Heng at the Salt Lake.

However, thinking about what Xiao Xiao, the miniature collector, said about the South Pearl, there's a high probability that it still resides within the treasury or palace of the Southern Frontier.

What He Zhiran is contemplating now is whether, when she goes to the Southern Frontier, she could help Xiao Xiao, the miniature collector, locate the black South Pearl that exists in this era. Then, she could hang it up for sale in her shop. Would this be a mutually beneficial action for both parties?

With this thought in mind, she tentatively asks, "If I have a chance of finding that South Pearl, would you want it?"

Waiting for nearly a minute without a response from Xiao Xiao, the miniature collector, He Zhiran assumes he has gone offline or isn't looking at his phone at the moment.

Regardless, it was an offhand gesture, so she plans to set her phone aside and attend to other matters.

Unexpectedly, before her fingers even touch the phone screen, Xiao Xiao replies.

"A South Pearl of such rarity, despite exhausting all my resources and even involving the authorities, I couldn't find it. Could it be that the theft of the South Pearl is somehow connected to you?"

His question is direct, for only someone involved in the theft could possibly know the whereabouts of the South Pearl.