And now the only question is, who confird that the Blue and White Three-legged Cauldron is authentic, and who is the person who reported it?
What makes this person convinced that it’s the real Blue and White Three-legged Cauldron?
This should be considered classified information.
Just like last ti when Gu Qiaoqiao pretended soone reported a body under the flower rack in Boss Qian’s backyard, Captain Choo just asked a few questions and let it go.
It’s essential to protect the identity of the whistleblower.
So, now they know such a person exists, but they won’t know any detailed information about them. Otherwise, who would dare to be a brave whistleblower, reporting misconduct and illegal activities?
However, Gu Qiaoqiao could ascertain one thing: this whistleblower is definitely in cahoots with the person who set up this trap.
This is a chain of traps.
To say it’s brilliant, it is quite brilliant; to say it’s ordinary, it’s just so-so. The key is the right timing, place, and people; missing any part wouldn’t work.
Therefore, there must be an internal mole here.
Thinking of this, Gu Qiaoqiao pondered for a mont, then said to Gu Qingfeng beside her, "Great Grandfather, investigate the current employees at Yubao Square; there must be soone colluding from the inside."
Gu Qingfeng hadn’t thought of this, but after hearing Gu Qiaoqiao’s analysis, he nodded in agreent, "Qiaoqiao, your analysis is correct. Soone must have leaked the movents of Gu Lei and your uncle and second uncle; otherwise, it wouldn’t be this coincidental. If Gu Lei had gone to collect it, this wouldn’t have happened."
The driver, Uncle Gu, also agreed, saying, "When we go back, I’ll have the third brother and Gu Lei check everyone at Yubao Square, leaving no one unchecked."
After returning, the mbers of the Gu Family imdiately began the investigation. This process wasn’t quick; it needed to be done one by one. According to internal information, the people tasked with capturing Zhang Xiaoming had already set off, but it was uncertain whether this trip would be fruitless.
Gu Qiaoqiao thought, if Zhang Xiaoming was just a pawn among these people, at this mont, unless he was killed to silence him, he would have already fled far away, making it difficult to find him.
No news had co yet about the confiscated dozen or so antiques. Gu Qiaoqiao felt that since this was a setup, how could they all be genuine? Moreover, at such a cheap price, they were practically giving them away. Who would have such grand sches?
Everyone was now waiting for the final appraisal results. If the Old Patriarch were to appraise them personally, it would be much faster, but currently, they couldn’t get in touch with the relevant departnts.
At this mont, Qin Yize, who had spoken to Gu Qiaoqiao on the phone, hurriedly arrived in Jinling City from the Imperial Capital.
Coincidentally, he knew soone in charge of one of the departnts, and matters like this couldn’t be clearly explained over a phone call; visiting in person shows sincerity, and the matter becos easier to resolve.
Upon arriving in Jinling City, Qin Yize took Gu Qingfeng and Gu Qiaoqiao out.
They t an old man.
He was a friend of Qin Yize, whom he had saved during a mission.
For such things, Qin Yize never took it to heart. He hadn’t just saved this one person; over the years, during missions, he had rescued many important people. It was his duty, so even when coming to Jinling City, he wouldn’t disturb him.
But this ti, he had no choice but to visit.
Upon eting, there was naturally so small talk. The old man looked very strict, wearing thick glasses, but he was very enthusiastic upon seeing Qin Yize. He only hesitated a mont over Qin Yize’s request before readily agreeing.
Moreover, in his heart, he knew what kind of person the old man across from him was.
The two had no direct contact, but he had indeed heard of Gu Qingfeng.
Although their work natures differed, they dealt with similar things. In so respects, Gu Qingfeng was much more professional than he was.
However, due to the circumstances at the ti, by procedure, it had to be handled by them. Obviously, they couldn’t hand the artifacts back to Yubao Square for appraisal.
But this ti, with Qin Yize diating, Elder Sun felt compelled to give him face.
When Gu Qingfeng saw the fourteen items, he frowned deeply, then took out a magnifying glass from his bag and began inspecting each item. Gu Qiaoqiao also followed suit. The items were mixed; there was a jade pendant, jade thumb ring, incense burner, teapot, and several large furniture pieces.
In total, there were fourteen items.
Gu Zhixing and the others collected fifteen, one got away, and the rest were placed here. There were two people in the room appraising them, and they had determined three were counterfeits.
When Gu Qingfeng and the others arrived in the morning, they imdiately started working. Gu Qiaoqiao helped alongside; unknowingly, it was already noon, and Qin Yize took everyone to a nearby restaurant for a al.
During eating and drinking, relationships beca closer. Moreover, with the special status of the Imperial Capital’s Gu Family and Qin Family, by afternoon, everyone was casually chatting and joking together.
And the appraisal speed increased significantly.
By evening, under the starry sky lit by city lights, all results were out. Except for the Eight Immortals table, everything else was counterfeit.
But the counterfeits were done so skillfully, nearly indistinguishable from real ones. The person making them was very skilled, evidently soone who regularly makes forgeries.
This appraisal was also fair and open. Gu Qingfeng wasn’t one to misrepresent the truth; what’s real is real, and what’s fake is fake. His theories and experience earned the respect of the young appraisers.
However, the final signatures naturally belonged to the few of them, and they earnestly signed their nas, after which Elder Sun submitted the report.
Still, this matter wasn’t trivial.
If the remaining fourteen items were all counterfeits, then the probability of the sole Blue and White Three-legged Cauldron being a fake becos significantly higher.
But regrettably, there was still one genuine piece, though from a recent period and not valuable, it was indeed authentic. Consequently, whether that Blue and White Three-legged Cauldron is genuine remains inconclusive, requiring patience and waiting.
And Gu Qingfeng instructed Uncle Gu to investigate who made the forgeries.
They were acquainted with many such people.
Jinling City’s heavy snow persisted for three days and nights, starting the day Gu Qiaoqiao and the others arrived and finally stopping.
Qin Yize wasn’t so busy lately and planned to stay with Gu Qiaoqiao for a few days.
Now, with a major part resolved, the Gu Family mbers looked much more relaxed. Had all those antiques been genuine, the severity of this situation would have escalated several notches.
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