Finest Servant

Chapter 482 Framed

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "What's so alarming? Do you really need to be this flustered? What exactly happened?"

Xu Zhen's face was flushed with excitement as he panted for a few moments, his voice trembling, "I, I dare not say!"

"You dare not say?" Lord Lin looked surprised and signaled for Qin Xian'er to push his wheelchair forward a couple of steps. "General Xu, you were personally appointed by the Emperor to oversee the city's defenses. Every minor and major issue in the capital, especially those concerning its safety, falls under your jurisdiction. What could you possibly dare not say?"

Xu Zhen hesitated for a while before saying, "My Lord, I am but a low-ranking official, unworthy to speak of it. I'd rather you see for yourself."

He waved his hand, and two soldiers approached, holding up a tray. On the tray was a thin, satin yellow robe. The fabric was as smooth as water and glittered with a golden sheen. The robe was adorned with a black silk hat, featuring a Mandarin collar and narrow sleeves. Embroidered on the shoulders were golden dragons, and the robe itself was decorated with various dragon and phoenix patterns.

Upon closer inspection, the dragons on the robe had the head of a bull, the body of a snake, antlers like a deer, and eyes like a shrimp. With different types such as winged dragons, cloud dragons, and coiled dragons, each was unique in its pose, majestic and awe-inspiring. That such a delicate piece of clothing required two soldiers to present it indicated its immense value.

Lin Wanrong looked amazed, "Ah, what a beautiful robe! It's golden and embroidered with so many dragons; it looks awfully familiar—"

Xu Zhen gave him a glance, hesitant to speak, when Lin Wanrong suddenly exclaimed, "I remember now, this, this is the Emperor's dragon robe!"

Among those present, he was the last to realize. Who else but the Emperor would dare to embroider golden dragons on such a robe? Xu Zhen nodded gravely, "Indeed, my Lord, it is the dragon robe."

"A dragon robe?" Lord Lin furrowed his brows, puzzled, "Xu Zhen, this robe is only fit for the Emperor. Where did you find it?"

Xu Zhen quickly bowed, "I dare not deceive you, my Lord. This dragon robe was found under a large tree in the royal mansion garden. Many witnesses saw it there."

"A large tree in the royal mansion garden?" Lin Wanrong expressed his bewilderment, "That is truly strange. Why would the Prince bury a dragon robe? He can't even wear it."

Gu Bingyan, who had been listening, suddenly blurted out, "You mustn't make baseless claims! This dragon robe is not the Prince's."

"I am fully aware that the dragon robe belongs to the Emperor, not the Prince. I'm just puzzled why a robe that should only be worn by the Emperor was buried under a tree in the Prince's garden," Lin Wanrong mused aloud, then turned to Gu Bingyan and asked, "Mr. Gu, do you know why?"

Gu Bingyan roared angrily, "Someone is deliberately framing and setting up the Prince. The Prince would never do such a thing."

"Framing and setting up?" Lin Wanrong let out a cold chuckle, "I hope that is the case. However, what puzzles me is why no one has tried to frame me in the same manner? Mr. Gu, this dragon robe was unearthed from the Prince's estate, witnessed by many. Do you admit that?"

"Yes, but—"

"Sigh—" Lin Wanrong waved his hand, interrupting him with a smile. "Mr. Gu, this matter is of great importance. When I ask you a question, you only need to answer 'yes' or 'no'. No further commentary is required. General Xu, please arrange for a clerk to record Mr. Gu's responses. When we're finished, have him sign and seal the document."

"I won't sign!" Gu Bingyan sneered. "You're taking things out of context to deceive the listeners. I will never sign such a document."

"Not signing?" Lin Wanrong chuckled heartily, spreading his hands in a show of indifference. "No matter, I can hardly manage a case like this myself. I just happened to be on the scene. Ah, what could Prince Cheng be doing burying a dragon robe beneath that tree? Let me ponder—could it be for a play? Ah, how puzzling. General Xu, what do you think?"

General Xu Zhen stifled a laugh and shook his head. "I'm as puzzled as you are, sir. I suppose we can only solve this mystery by questioning Prince Cheng himself. Sir, what should be our next step?"

Lin Wanrong laughed uproariously. "General Xu, you are the commander of the city's defense; this matter falls under your jurisdiction. As far as I can tell, Prince Cheng must be putting on some kind of performance. I doubt anything else of value is buried in this garden! — Ah, just forget I said anything. Handle it as you see fit, General Xu!"

Xu Zhen's eyes lit up, and he immediately commanded his men, "Continue the search, dig up this entire garden. Report any abnormalities immediately, and don't slack off!"

The soldiers had been eager to begin. At Xu Zhen's command, they quickly went to work, their spades and pickaxes striking the ground with a clangor. It didn't take long before another startled cry rang out. "Sir, we've found something unusual!"

This time, something was discovered beneath a peony bush in the garden—a golden bundle deeply buried under the flowering branches. It would have been almost impossible to find had it not been for Lin Wanrong's "helpful" hint.

Xu Zhen quickly had it brought over. The small bundle was somewhat heavy, its contents unknown.

"Open it!" Lin Wanrong commanded, squinting his eyes. Two soldiers cautiously placed the bundle on a garden table and slowly unwrapped it.

"Ah—" The sight that met everyone's eyes drew gasps of astonishment. Inside the bundle was a magnificent crown, woven from fine gold thread into the shape of mythical creatures. On each side, golden dragons, crafted from the same thread, faced each other. At the crown's center was a fiery red gemstone. The crown weighed almost two pounds, with the golden dragons appearing to be in flight—majestic and fierce. The craftsmanship was unparalleled, the colors pure, and the design opulent.

"Wow, what a big golden dragon hat!" Lin Wanrong exclaimed.

Qin Xian'er couldn't help but laugh, giving him a disapproving look. "It's not a golden dragon hat. It's called a Golden Silk Crown, also known as Winged Crown. The gemstone in the middle is known as the Flame Pearl. This is the golden crown of our Great Hua Emperor."

"The Emperor's golden crown?" Lin Wanrong let out a prolonged 'oh', as if he had just understood. Then he blinked a few times. "Princess, if I understand correctly, only the Emperor can wear this crown. Is that right?"

"Of course," Qin Xian'er nodded, "If anyone else wears them, it would be considered treason, and they'd be executed."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Now I understand. Ah, the prince really has quite a collection, doesn't he? Aside from the dragon robe, there's also the golden crown. It's enough to make my heart race! Mr. Gu, you've seen these treasures before, haven't you?"

"You're framing me," Gu Bingyan's face turned pale as he urgently responded, "I have never seen these items in the prince's mansion—"

"What?!" Lin Wanrong's expression changed dramatically. He pointed at Gu Bingyan's nose and said, "Mr. Gu, you're very bold to say these dragon robes and golden crowns are mere 'items.' So what are they then?"

Gu Bingyan was startled, instantly regretting his choice of words. Caught in his blunder, he hurriedly tried to explain, "No, no, they are not 'items'—"

"What?!" Lin Wanrong inhaled sharply, pointing at Gu Bingyan's nose again. "Mr. Gu, I thought I was daring, but I have to admit you surpass me! You could actually utter such treacherous words. Very good, very good! General Xu, did you take note of this?"

Xu Zhen chuckled, "Rest assured, my lord. I've taken note of everyone's actions and words here. No one can deny it."

Caught off guard, Gu Bingyan was no match for Lin Wanrong's cunning. Realizing his mistake had been seized upon, he clenched his teeth, his face flushed. "Lin San, are you intending to carry out a literary inquisition? I am not afraid of you. You're framing the prince and harming the loyal and good. I will never let you off."

Lin Wanrong blinked and smiled, "Mr. Gu, you keep saying I'm framing and deceiving. What proof do you have? These dragon robes and golden crowns were unearthed from the prince's mansion, witnessed by everyone here. How can you blame it on me? Mr. Gu, you should be fair. Whether or not I'm framing someone is up for debate, but your crime of defamation cannot be escaped."

"What do I have to fear? My family has been loyal for generations, and my father serves as the Emperor's teacher. I have the favor and grace of the Emperor; whom should I fear?" Gu Bingyan declared defiantly, "Although this dragon robe and golden crown were found in the prince's mansion, where is your evidence that the prince buried them himself? As far as I can see, someone is trying to frame him. I will inform the Emperor and thoroughly investigate this, punishing the villain responsible."

"Mr. Gu is indeed resolute; I admire that," Lin Wanrong sneered dismissively. "While you're investigating, please also find out who the lowbred cur is that wants to harm me. Goddamn it, may that cur have a son whose head is bigger than his own!"

Caught up in his emotion, the pain throughout his body surged again. He spat vehemently, his eyes bloodshot as he burst into curses, as though ready to kill. Qin Xian'er chuckled and gave him a few glances, "You, you're just a rogue!"

Seeing Lin Wanrong cursing like a ruffian, Gu Bingyan trembled with anger, unable to utter a single word.

"Sir, another significant discovery!" Xu Zhen hurriedly ran over, holding a dark green bundle in his hands. His face was visibly elated as he handled the package with extreme care.

"What discovery?" Lin Wanrong's spirits lifted instantly. He twisted his neck to loosen up and said, "Do tell."

"Sir, look—" Xu Zhen carefully unfolded the small bundle with trembling hands. A mysterious glow emanated from it. Everyone present was stunned, their eyes fixated on the phosphorescent object before them.

It was a square piece of green jade, about the size of an adult's palm. The jade was smooth and exquisitely crafted, its dark green hue glowing faintly under the dim light, giving off an aura of warmth. Engraved on the jade were two golden dragons coiled together. Their heads looked back, their bellies touched, and their tails were tightly intertwined. Their whiskers bristled and claws extended, conveying an air of majestic might.

Upon hearing of another discovery, Gu Bingyan had initially shown disdain. However, seeing the jade in Xu Zhen's hands, his face changed dramatically. "Impossible, how can this be?" he murmured.

Lin Wanrong didn't care about what was or wasn't possible. He had seen many fine jades before, but never such a rare treasure. After staring at it for a long time, he cautiously asked, "What is this?"

Qin Xian'er took the jade from Xu Zhen, her face a mix of sorrow and joy. She whispered, "This is the imperial jade seal of our Great Hua Dynasty. It disappeared the night before my father ascended the throne twenty years ago. For all these years, there was no news of it, and my father has always felt ashamed. I can't believe that this symbol of our nation was stolen by these treacherous people—"

"The missing imperial jade seal?" Lin Wanrong gasped, covering his mouth. "My goodness, this is extremely valuable. Let me touch it a hundred times before you put it away—Mr. Gu, what do you say? Is someone still framing this?"

Gu Bingyan seemed lost in his thoughts, murmuring to himself with a disbelieving expression. The imperial jade seal was such a priceless object that not just anyone could bring it out as a set-up.

Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, "Ah, truly astonishing. Dragon robe, golden crown, and now the jade seal—one could lose their head several times over for just one of these items. To think that they were all collected by one person is beyond belief. I've lived a long time, but today I've truly seen it all. General Xu, gather these items and present them to the Emperor. Make sure you note everyone's contributions. It's no small feat for everyone to forgo rest and patrol in this cold weather."

Hearing this, Xu Zhen chuckled inwardly but maintained a serious face, "As you command, General. And what shall we do with Mr. Gu?"

After glancing at Gu Bingyan, Lin Wanrong nodded, "Well, as you know, I'm a man of integrity. Let's hand him over to the court. Whatever the Emperor decides to do, we have no say."

The blaze had been extinguished, but the commotion had left three-quarters of the royal residence in ruins. All the servants and maids were detained. The once bustling and prosperous residence had, in a single night, turned into a scene of desolation and decay.

Xu Zhen left some men behind to put out the fire, then took Gu Bingyan and the others away. Before leaving, Gu Bingyan shot Lin Wanrong a piercing glance. "Lin San, I will never let you go. We'll meet in the Golden Hall!"

"It's better to be missed than met. Farewell, Brother Gu!" Lin Wanrong waved cheerfully, watching as Xu Zhen took him away.

Qin Xian'er stared at the rising plumes of smoke, the charred wooden beams, and the shattered roof tiles scattered everywhere. Her face grew somber, and she sighed softly. "How difficult it was to build this mansion, and yet it was destroyed in a blink. Wealth and status are as fleeting as clouds. Wake up one day, and it all scatters with the wind."

"Why such melancholy?" Lin Wanrong grasped her small hand and smiled. "Where there's destruction, there's also construction. That's the law of societal change, inevitable for anyone."

Xian'er hummed in agreement, slowly resting her head on his shoulder. "Husband, do you think our Lin family might also face such decline one day?"

Lin Wanrong was taken aback; the question was profoundly difficult, rendering him unable to answer.

"Don't worry," he said, stealing a kiss on Xian'er's cheek, not taking it too seriously. "The Lin family has produced talents for generations and led in various fields for centuries. As long as you help our family branch out, one of our descendants will surely inherit my style. No worries, no worries!"

Qin Xian'er smiled sweetly, planting a soft kiss on his lips. "Husband, I love listening to you. When I'm by your side, it seems I can't feel any sorrow. No wonder my master—"

"Sister An? What happened to her?" Lin Wanrong was suddenly alarmed.

"Nothing." Xian'er playfully stuck out her tongue and swallowed her words, giggling. "Husband, where did you find that imperial robe, golden crown, and jade seal? They gave me quite a fright! Those aren't trivial matters, you know."

"Ah, don't make assumptions. I had nothing to do with it," Lord Lin insisted solemnly, putting on a straight face.

Miss Qin playfully scolded, "Stop it, you had Gao Qiu do your bidding, and you think I don't know? Where did you get these three items?"

"Really, it wasn't me," Lord Lin shrugged innocently. "These items were sourced by Xu Wei, and Gao Qiu executed it. I had nothing to do with it, I knew nothing."

Qin Xian'er chuckled and pinched him. "Mr Xu is quite resourceful. All these items are genuine. It would take years to prepare them. Did he start waiting for this day many years ago?"

Lin Wanrong pondered briefly, then slapped his forehead, breaking into an enlightened smile. "I get it now—no wonder Old Xu prepared everything so quickly. Xian'er, my father-in-law is truly the greatest man in the world. Even someone as clever as me has become a pawn in his game!"

"Only now you realize?" Xian'er giggled. "As the revered Emperor of Great Hua, if he didn't have such skills, how could he rule the nation?"

After acknowledging her lineage, her sense of identity with her father had become much stronger. Lin Wanrong nodded and smiled. However, Xian'er sighed again, "Today's affairs may have framed them with crimes, but it allowed the father and son to escape. I fear Great Hua will have much trouble in the future."

"Don't be disheartened," Lin Wanrong said with a mysterious smile, no longer able to hide his satisfaction. "Who says they escaped?"

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