Duan Lan took the handkerchief and looked at it carefully before saying, "The craftsmanship of this handkerchief is excellent. It must have been made by a skilled artisan and is very delicate."
Ji Xinhe nodded, "I picked up this handkerchief by chance, not knowing whose it was. I just thought it was pretty and kept it."
Ji Xinhe instinctively concealed the origin of the handkerchief. After all, she had only met Duan Lan a few times, and he had a connection with the Wang Family, so she couldn’t trust him completely. Her subconscious told her that the matter involving the handkerchief was not simple and couldn’t be casually shared with others.
Duan Lan looked at the handkerchief and frowned, shaking his head, "I’m afraid it’s difficult to buy a handkerchief like this in a small town like this."
Looking at Duan Lan’s expression, Ji Xinhe felt that something was not quite right, and her heart tightened.
"Where did you find it? The origin of this handkerchief must be extraordinary; how could you have picked up such a valuable item in Lian’an Town?"
Ji Xinhe quickly asked, "Did you find out anything about this handkerchief?"
Duan Lan spread the handkerchief out on the table, "Just look at the fabric of this handkerchief, it’s soft and smooth, with a delicate sheen. This is not just any ordinary Suzhou embroidery, but a high-quality silk fabric art piece. This silk fabric is extremely expensive and generally not sold in ordinary places, only supplied to the Palace from the weaving workshops of Jiangnan. Because the cost is very high and the fabrication is very laborious, only a few pieces are produced each year, most of which are given as gifts by the Emperor to the concubines in the Palace."
Ji Xinhe’s eyes widened, "The Palace?"
Duan Lan paused before saying, "It’s also possible that the Emperor gave it as a gift to the wives of courtiers. In any case, it’s a very valuable item. As far as I know, there aren’t many families in the capital that could casually use such valuable fabric and gold thread to make a handkerchief. It’s strange that you found it in Lian’an Town."
Ji Xinhe’s heart suddenly sank; it would be even more difficult than reaching the sky for her to obtain such an item, yet the second elder of the Wang Family said it was a concubine who gave it to her mother. A concubine of the Wang Family was merely a half-servant in plain terms. How could someone of that status give away such a precious handkerchief?
Moreover, more than ten years ago, before the Wang Family became royal merchants, they were just a common wealthy family in Lian’an Town. How could they have possibly had such a good handkerchief, let alone giving it as a gift to a servant? Even now, the madam of the Wang Family might not be able to get her hands on such a valuable item.
A royal merchant, after all, was still just a businessman in the eyes of the famous nobility in the capital.
She had guessed that the Wang Family was hiding something, but she didn’t expect that there was such a big secret behind the handkerchief.
"Miss Ji?"
Ji Xinhe returned to her senses and pursed her lips before saying, "Please continue."
Duan Lan then pointed out, "Look at the embroidered peonies on this handkerchief. At first glance, it may seem ordinary, but if you look closely, the silk thread is wrapped around gold thread. The exquisite craftsmanship aside, this gold thread is not something that ordinary wealthy families can afford to use. Because the fabrication of gold thread is very difficult, it’s expensive, and few wealthy families in a small place like Lian’an Town have it." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Ji Xinhe’s heart skipped a beat, and her eyes, hooded by her lashes, trembled slightly, "So are you saying that the origin of this handkerchief may not be Lian’an Town?"
Duan Lan said, "This kind of handkerchief can only be owned by the high-ranking nobles in the capital or those in the Palace."
The expression on Ji Xinhe’s face gradually became somber. A simple handkerchief had somehow involved so many matters. She had inadvertently exposed the handkerchief in front of the Wang Family, and they developed murderous intentions towards her. Asking about the true origin of the handkerchief, she learned that it must have either come from the Palace or from a noble family.
But how could such a handkerchief so out of place appear in a small town like Lian’an? And how did it end up in her mother’s hands?
Her brother had told her that before her mother died, she had instructed that the handkerchief must be kept as a dowry, intending to be carefully preserved for generations. What was the mystery behind all this?
For a moment, Ji Xinhe was somewhat confused. It seemed that a huge secret, or even a conspiracy, had been partially revealed. She didn’t know how to face it if it was fully uncovered.
As if suddenly remembering something, Duan Lan said, "I heard that Mu Xiang, the prime minister, visited Lanshan City recently. With his position and power, it would be easy for him to obtain such a handkerchief, but perhaps he doesn’t like these things..."
Ji Xinhe’s face stiffened for a moment, and she forced a smile, "Who would have a man carry a handkerchief?"
Since she was hiding the true origin of the handkerchief, Duan Lan would naturally have wild guesses.
Duan Lan tentatively asked, "Is the assassin from last night related to this handkerchief?"
Ji Xinhe shook her head, "I don’t know, maybe."
"Since this handkerchief is something that can bring disaster, it’s best to throw it away as soon as possible or hide it at home to avoid any trouble." Duan Lan said.
"It’s too late now. They’ve already set their sights on me, and now this hot potato is in my hands." Ji Xinhe’s eyes deepened a bit, and her retreat was cut off. The Wang Family saw the handkerchief and was determined to kill her. How could she just sit idly by and await her fate?
Even if she didn’t want to investigate further, she had no choice but to do so. Only by uncovering the veil of darkness could she see the real situation clearly. Otherwise, with the enemy hidden and her exposed, she might be killed one day without even knowing it.
Ji Xinhe made up her mind, and her expression darkened even more. However, where should she start her investigation?
"I want to find the true owner of this handkerchief," Ji Xinhe declared resolutely, "I want to know everything behind it. I can’t let this matter go so easily."
Not only for her own safety but also for her mother’s sake. Since she had taken over Ji Xinhe’s body, she should rightfully do something within her responsibility for Ji Xinhe and her mother.
After pondering for a moment, Duan Lan agreed, "You’re right. If the assassins can come once, they can come again. If you don’t know what’s going on, and are suddenly dragged into such muddy waters, you need to investigate for the sake of self-preservation. Otherwise, with everything shrouded in darkness, nothing will be easy to handle. However, to investigate this handkerchief..."
Duan Lan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I’m afraid it’s difficult."
While they were talking, Shopkeeper Wu and a servant came in with the dishes. Wu Zhanggui personally carried a pot of grape wine and said cheerfully, "Since Miss Ji is treating, the wine and dishes are free today. I’ve even specially saved this grape wine for her. We only sell ten jugs a day, and those who come late don’t get anything!"
Duan Lan laughed and thanked him, "Thank you for the grape wine, Shopkeeper Wu."
"What’s there to thank? The grapes for the wine supplied to our Gui Lin Residence are provided by Miss Ji herself. She’s not short of it."
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