"What are you saying!"
Seeing that Wan Suizhou's expression was not good, Zhang Xiu smacked Wan Yuekui on the head and said, "You're just a kid, what do you know!"
After being hit, Wan Yuekui pursed his lips and didn't dare to say anything more.
But Baili Wanwan, who was standing to the side, obediently asked him, "Grandpa, what's so good about this? Tell us quickly..."
After listening to Baili Wanwan's words, Wan Suizhou carefully placed the porcelain vase on the table, stroked his beard, and sighed, "Look at this vase, this double-eared vase, it's a style popular in the previous dynasty, and the poppies on the vase are so lifelike, most people couldn't paint them like that. Plus the seal on the vase, it reminds me of a master... It's a pity he died young, and the works he left behind are only a handful..."
"So this porcelain vase was left by that master?" Baili Wanwan asked in a low voice.
Wan Suizhou frowned, but said, "Not only that, this porcelain vase reminds me of something else..."
"What?" everyone asked.
Wan Suizhou raised his eyes, his gaze becoming unfocused and dazed, as if searching for distant memories.
"That was a hundred years ago, during the reign of a previous dynasty. I can't remember which emperor it was, but he sent an army out to sea to transport a mysterious treasure..."
It is said that the emperor obtained a treasure map from somewhere and went through many hardships to find this treasure that could support several countries.
It was the last dynasty of the previous era, a critical moment when the country was facing decline. With this treasure, the country could be saved from its peril.
"Unexpectedly, the army transporting the treasure encountered something at sea, and both the soldiers and the treasure sank to the bottom of the sea..."
If you were in the capital, more people would know this story, but in the remote and secluded Hailan Village, almost no one knows about it.
"Since it sank to the bottom of the sea, didn't the emperor at the time lead people to retrieve it?" Baili Wanwan asked with a question in her mind.
Wan Suizhou said, "Of course, we sent people to salvage it, but perhaps the exact location of the sunken ship has shifted. The emperor at the time sent people several times, but they still couldn't find it."
The emperor at the time, having lost this treasure, struggled to maintain the country for a period of time before the nation was destroyed and the dynasty was overthrown.
Wan Suizhou snapped out of his thoughts, then looked at the porcelain bottle on the table and said calmly, "Now it seems that the ship may have sunk in the waters near Hailan Village. After the ebb and flow of the tide, it was washed into shallow waters, which is why Wanwan found it."
"So, do we've struck it rich?!"
Wan Yuekui listened silently for a long time before finally speaking up, somewhat excitedly.
Wan Suizhou then shot him a look, which frightened him so much that he immediately shut his mouth.
He glanced around the room and lowered his voice, saying to everyone, "Until this is confirmed, no one is allowed to say a word! If this gets out, you'll all lose your heads!"
Wan Suizhou gave Wan Yuekui a few important reminders, and although Wan Yuekui was not very happy, he still repeatedly assured him that he would not tell anyone.
After giving his instructions, Wan Suizhou chased everyone out, then wrapped the porcelain bottle in several layers of cloth and hid it in the cabinet.
Then, looking preoccupied, he walked out.
"Grandpa, where are you going?"
In the courtyard, Wanwan followed and asked obediently.
“Let’s go to town,” Wan Suizhou said.
"Can Wanwan come along?"
Wanwan's eyes held a hint of anticipation; she hadn't been to town in a long time and wanted to go and have some fun!
Wan Suizhou remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
The two hitched a ride on an oxcart at the crossroads. When they arrived in town, Wan Suizhou first led Baili Wanwan to the post station.
He asked the person at the counter for pen and ink, and while no one was around, he hastily wrote a few lines, put them in an envelope, sealed it with wax, and then gave the shopkeeper inside an address.
Baili Wanwan waited obediently beside her, but she couldn't resist her curiosity and stood on tiptoe to crane her neck to see.
Wan Suizhou, who was standing nearby, saw this, grabbed her shoulder, and turned her head back.
Only after the two of them came out of the post station did Baili Wanwan finally ask, "Who was Grandpa sending a letter to?"
Wan Suizhou didn't want to tell her, nor did he want to lie to her.
So he coaxed her and changed the subject, saying, "There's a place selling candied hawthorns up ahead, let's go buy you a skewer."
When Baili Wanwan heard that she wanted to eat candied hawthorns, she immediately agreed.
This back and forth really made her forget what had just happened.
Wan Suizhou breathed a sigh of relief, took her hand, and readily agreed.
Little did they know that they would unexpectedly run into a servant of the Lin family.
The servant recognized Baili Wanwan, but did not greet her. He simply bought the things for his master and then left in a hurry.
Upon returning to the manor, they encountered Lin Lan leaving. The servant greeted him politely and casually mentioned that he had met Baili Wanwan.
"Is it true? Wanwan is at the market?" Lin Lan asked again, still not entirely convinced.
The servant nodded.
Lin Lan left the mansion with great joy.
At that time, Wan Suizhou bought Wanwan candied hawthorns and some snacks, and the two were preparing to go home.
Before they could take two steps, they were blocked by the servants of the Lin family.
"Young master! We've found them! Miss Wanwan and Mr. Wan are here!"
The servants shouted and waved loudly into the crowd, startling Baili Wanwan so much that she almost dropped her candied hawthorn.
A short while later, Lin Lan arrived, panting heavily.
He wore a long silk robe, and although his black hair was tied up with a jade crown, it had become somewhat loose due to running for a long time.
A few strands of hair fell across her face.
But he didn't care at all.
Upon seeing the winding road, a bright smile appeared on his face.
"Little sister, now that we're all here, why don't you invite Grandpa Wan into your home for a visit?"
His cheerful voice reached Baili Wanwan's ears, making her unable to help but smile back.
“Young master, Wanwan came out with me on some business this time and did not intend to visit in advance.”
Wan Suizhou spoke first, explaining the reason behind it.
Lin Lan looked at Wanwan with a skeptical expression, as if asking a question.
"Um!"
Baili Wanwan, who was standing to the side, nodded while munching on a candied hawthorn.
Seeing that Baili Wanwan's mouth was full and she was chewing on the candied hawthorn in her hand, Lin Lan didn't suspect anything.
With a slight smile, he said to the two men, "Since we're here, there's no reason to leave so soon. The Qunyinglou Restaurant is right across the street. Today, I'll treat you to a meal. How about you come with me?"
Qunyinglou is a restaurant owned by the Lin family, and it has a fairly good business and reputation in the town.
Wan Suizhou had no intention of taking advantage of anyone.
Before he could refuse, Lin Lan had already led Baili Wanwan into the restaurant.
Wan Suizhou had no choice but to follow them inside.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
