Chapter 354 355. Treasure Identification
When Ning Yuchen saw Gu Wenheng and He Nan coming out together, his expression changed slightly, then returned to normal in an instant.
"Master Gu, I see your carriage is already waiting in front."
Gu Wenheng, "Master Ning, you should find another master to take a ride with you! My carriage cannot travel today."
"What? Didn't we agree on this before?" Ning Yuchen looked surprised.
Seeing his serious look, Gu Wenheng's face darkened, "Master Ning, please be careful with your words. I don't remember when I told you that.
When you came to my room before, I told you that I had another appointment today."
"You don't want to accept the invitation?"
He Nan, "Master Gu's carriage will not go, because my sister-in-law needs to use the carriage. He is using my carriage today."
Gu Wenheng ignored Ning Yuchen whose expression was still changing. He stretched out his hand to call Hong Da to give him some instructions. He Nan also asked Hong Da to take a letter to the He family. Then he took Mingfeng directly to the He family's carriage.
"You didn't see the look on Ning's face just now. He could open a dyeing room." When He Nan entered the carriage, he saw Ning Yuchen still standing at the gate and sneered.
Gu Wenheng, "Don't you think it's strange that we're having a banquet so suddenly, and at such a short notice?"
The three of them are just young guys who have just entered the officialdom. They can't be added in at the last minute, right?
As the carriage started moving, He Nan whispered, "I asked around and heard from An Shidu that Master Huang recently got some rare treasure, but he didn't know what it was, so he wanted everyone to come over and help him appreciate it. Several other masters had already received invitations, and there were many more who were notified at short notice like us."
"There's no need to make it so mysterious," Gu Wenheng was not curious about the so-called rare treasure. "What if no one knows what the treasure is?"
And if you have a treasure, shouldn't you keep it hidden? Is it really okay to publicize it so much?
"Anyway, let's just go over to join in the fun. We probably won't be able to get to the front, so we should be able to leave after going through the motions." He Nan guessed that the Huang family was so high-profile, either for some other purpose, or they were taking the opportunity to highlight the value of the treasure they had obtained.
"In that case, we'll go in and out together, and you'll be responsible for sending me back." Gu Wenheng lifted the curtain and looked at the convoy in front. So many people were heading to the same place.
He Nan, "Of course. I guess Ning Yuchen's hitchhiking this time was fake, but he really wanted to rely on you."
Gu Wenheng, "..."
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Huang Mansion
Gu Wenheng followed the servant to a side hall, where some officials from other departments were already waiting.
Some were acquaintances and some were strangers. Everyone introduced each other and chatted casually.
"Our Lord Shangshu and his men have gone to the main hall. The rare treasure that Lord Huang obtained this time is being placed there for everyone to see. If its origin can be confirmed, Lord Huang is ready to present it to the palace." The officials from the Ministry of Revenue showed off their first-hand information.
"Wouldn't it be better to offer it directly to the Heavenly Family? Now let the treasure be known to everyone, and then offer it up when the time comes, wouldn't that be..."
"Don't talk nonsense," the man from the Ministry of Justice immediately retorted, "How can you send something of unknown origin directly?"
“…”
Gu Wenheng and He Nan stood quietly by and listened to these people arguing.
The servants and maids serving on the side were well-trained and would add tea and pastries to the adults present from time to time.
Faced with all kinds of inquiries, he just smiled and said nothing.
Ning Yuchen also came here on a ride with the others. As soon as he entered the hall, he sat directly next to the two of them.
"Master Gu, I am not too late."
Gu Wenheng turned and looked at him, "It's not too late, everything hasn't started yet."
Ning Yuchen looked at the lively side hall and asked, "Master Gu, why don't you go and talk to them?"
He Nan, "Before you came over, we had already greeted each other. Do you want to go over and get to know everyone?"
"But I don't know any of these people, and no one can introduce them to me."
When Ning Yuchen said this, his eyes were fixed on Gu Wenheng, which made He Nan, who was giving the kind suggestion, feel a little bored. He slapped himself in his heart and said, "You are so mean."
Gu Wenheng did not respond, but lowered his head to play with the teacup in his hand.
After about a quarter of an hour, the Huang residence's butler invited everyone to the main hall next door. When they entered, they found that officials of the first and second ranks were already sitting there sipping tea.
"The masters are here," Huang Jin stroked his beard and smiled with great pride, "Please go over there and identify the treasure. If anyone can tell me where it came from, I will reward you handsomely."
Gu Wenheng followed the team slowly into a small cubicle and waited for the people in front to finish watching before it was their turn.
Gu Wenheng breathed a sigh of relief. The colorful stone in front of him, which was the size of a foot basin, should be a stone from a certain continent in later generations. The colorful stone was dazzling to him.
"This should be a gem, right? I've never seen so many colors gathered together." He Nan was a little disappointed when he saw the stone. Although the gem was beautiful, it was not as attractive to him as an ancient book.
"Such a big stone is made up of so many gems. How much silver will it cost to buy it?" Ning Yuchen smacked his lips and was about to reach out to touch it, but was stopped by the guard standing by.
"You can look, but you can't move."
"I just want to confirm whether it is a stone?" Ning Yuchen had just finished speaking when he was glared at by a young man in fancy clothes next to him.
Gu Wenheng turned and walked to the door. "I am a lowly official with limited knowledge and I don't know the origin of this treasure."
He Nan followed closely behind, bringing this treasure identification trip to an end.
Ning Yuchen followed closely behind them, shaking his head and chasing after them, "How much silver do you think it would cost to buy that gem? Who can guess the origin of a stone like this?"
He Nan, "No matter what kind of stone it is, isn't it dug out of the ground? It was born and raised by nature, so what origin can it have?"
Gu Wenheng stopped and reminded him, "...Don't talk nonsense."
All the old men present are shrewd people. This gold has caused such a big fuss, and now we just have to wait and see who will jump out first.
By the time the banquet began, various versions had already emerged.
A good omen from heaven, a good omen for a prosperous age, a gift from God... Anyway, as long as it sounds nice and has a good meaning, it will be picked out and praised by people.
Ning Yuchen also said some nice words, which earned him an admiring look from Huang Jin, and he proudly raised his head towards Gu Wenheng and the others.
Minister Huang achieved his goal and began to show his loyalty in front of everyone, saying that he would present the treasure to the palace tomorrow. He received a lot of praise again, which attracted everyone to the table.
According to his rank, Gu Wenheng naturally led him to where he should be, temporarily separating him from He Nan and the others.
After three rounds of drinking, some officials who were good at socializing could no longer sit still and started to toast and build relationships with people everywhere with their glasses in hand.
(End of this chapter)
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