Chapter 269: Chapter 255: The Poisonous Scheme That Kills Four Birds with One Stone (8k, Subscription Request) (3)
"General, Brother Xiao, Lord Shen, Commissioner of Canal Transport Mr. Chu, have a seat."
Tang Xuan warmly greeted and arranged for everyone to be seated.
"So many dishes, it must have cost a lot of silver, right?"
Shen Yu glanced over, his tone somewhat strange.
There was more to his words.
A fleeting hint of gloom crossed Tang Xuan’s eyes, but he remained enthusiastic on the surface.
"Lord Shen, rest assured, it definitely didn’t exceed the budget."
Shen Yu looked at Chu Ming and Xiao Wen, and said nothing further after sitting down.
Although he disliked Tang Xuan, the River Transport Headquarters’ chief was Xiao Wen’s friend after all, so he couldn’t be too disrespectful.
"Brother Tang, come, let’s not leave tonight until we’re drunk," Xiao Wen immediately poured a cup of wine in salute.
"No, no, Brother Xiao came to Shan County, it’s only right I salute Brother Xiao first."
"County Magistrate Zhang, County Magistrate Wang, and everyone, let us all toast Festival Envoy Xiao, the two generals, and Lord Shen."
"To Festival Envoy Xiao and the two generals."
All the officials in Shan County stood up to toast.
With the wine and meat passed around, the atmosphere gradually improved.
"Brother Xiao, I recently acquired something good," Tang Xuan took a sip of his wine, suddenly speaking with some mystery.
"What good thing is it?" Xiao Wen’s interest was immediately piqued.
"Brother Xiao, would you care to take a look?" Tang Xuan’s eyes signaled as someone quickly brought something up.
A red silk cloth was draped over it, obscuring what lay beneath.
"Isn’t Brother Tang asking me to look? Why is it still covered?" Xiao Wen glanced at the red silk cloth.
"Unveil it, let Festival Envoy Xiao take a look."
"Yes."
The red silk cloth was lifted, revealing a dark purple sculpture before everyone.
"Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood!" Xiao Wen instantly recognized the sculpture’s material, a look of surprise flashing across his face.
Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood was an extremely rare material; even thumb-sized pieces were hard to come by. A sculpture of this size might not have a second one in the entire Great Qin Dynasty.
"Brother Tang, you were hiding such a treasure." Xiao Wen’s eyes locked onto the sculpture, unwilling to look away.
"Impressive, impressive, I didn’t expect Brother Xiao to recognize it immediately." Tang Xuan picked up the sculpture, looked at Xiao Wen and continued, "But, recognizing the Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood is nothing special."
"Oh? What do you mean, Brother Tang?" Xiao Wen’s eyes lit up.
"Although Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood is rare, the fact that Brother Xiao could recognize it means he’s seen quite a few." Tang Xuan placed the sculpture on the table, "But the true rarity of this piece lies not in the Spirit Wood, but in the sculpture itself."
"The sculpture itself?" Xiao Wen looked closely, increasingly feeling that something was off.
"Brother Xiao, take a good look at this sculpture. If you can identify what it depicts, I’ll let Brother Xiao take it home and play with it for a few days." Tang Xuan raised his wine glass with a smile.
"Really?"
"Absolutely, but you must recognize it here. Once the banquet ends, the offer won’t stand."
"No problem."
Xiao Wen stood up directly, walking closer to the dark purple sculpture for inspection.
On this side.
"That Tang Xuan isn’t really hosting us; he’s just showing off his prize to Xiao Wen."
"But, such a large piece of Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood carved into a likeness is indeed a good thing."
Shen Yu curled his lips, scrutinized the sculpture for a while, shook his head, and said, "That sculpture is carved very strangely, neither human nor ghost, and it’s holding a basin-like thing with both hands... Chu Ming, do you recognize it?"
Chu Ming glanced at it, a peculiar expression flickered deep within his eyes.
He did not recognize what the Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood was carved into, but he knew what was hidden within the Spirit Wood!
Within the Spirit Wood was a secret compartment containing a crown, and the pattern of that crown closely resembled the Wolf Pattern Crown he acquired from the Wolf Race, albeit lacking Qi Blood Sensing; thus, it must be a replica.
But even as a replica, it is considered a Forbidden Object.
The boast about the treasure was false; framing was true!
If Xiao Wen takes it, he would essentially be concealing the Wolf Race’s tribal item.
Tribal items of the Wolf Race, even replicas, are listed as Forbidden Objects under the dynasty’s law and are highly sensitive.
And that replica crown, disguised with Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood, would leave Xiao Wen with no defense if discovered.
Not only Xiao Wen, but perhaps the entire Xiao family would be implicated.
Chu Ming withdrew his gaze after a few looks at the sculpture.
His mentor Xiang Yue had said before leaving that Grand General Xiao Yu of the Xiao family was brother to him.
If trouble befell the Xiao family, his mentor’s position in the Qin Capital would likely become even more precarious.
With a little thought, he reached a decision.
On the other side.
Xiao Wen held the Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood sculpture, scrutinizing it.
"Brother Xiao, the Spirit Wood doesn’t indicate what the sculpture is," Tang Xuan swirled his wine glass, already assuming Xiao Wen couldn’t identify it.
Xiao Wen seemed oblivious to this, continuing his examination.
After some time had passed, everyone had mostly finished eating and drinking.
"It seems this item is unrelated to Brother Xiao," Tang Xuan got up to take the sculpture.
"Why so hasty, Brother Tang," Xiao Wen raised his arm to block Tang Xuan, then a confident smile appeared on his face, "Actually, I recognized it the moment I saw it."
"Recognized it immediately?" Tang Xuan smiled, "Brother Xiao, if you truly can identify it, I won’t just let you take it back for a few days, I’ll gift it to you outright."
"That’s what Brother Tang said." Xiao Wen’s eyes gleamed with cunning, looking as though his plan had succeeded.
"..." Tang Xuan froze for a moment, his expression changing as he looked at Xiao Wen, "Brother Xiao, you did it deliberately?"
"Hehe, Brother Tang, once spoken, words of gold and jade should hold; if I recognize it, the item is mine."
"...Fine." Tang Xuan seemed somewhat frustrated.
"This sculpture depicts the ceremonial statue of the Luoyu Tribe, one of the Hundred Great Clans under the Great Qin Dynasty’s governance." Xiao Wen confidently gazed at Tang Xuan, "Brother Tang, am I right or not?"
