In the main hall of the Jiang family villa in Qin Province.
Today was the birthday of the elder Mr. Jiang Weiguo. Guests filled the house, and celebratory banners hung everywhere.
However, the hall, which should have been lively, was now filled with a stifling atmosphere, utterly silent.
"Li Chonglou, you daredevil."
Jiang Tao, the eldest grandson of the Jiang family, broke the silence, his face contorted with sarcasm. "You dare steal Grandpa's treasured collection today, and tomorrow you'll dare to seize the Jiang family's assets."
Before Jiang Tao stood a slender young man with a calm demeanor, his eyes like stars gathering the moon.
His gaze was fixed on a celadon three-footed plate on the coffee table before him.
The plate was rounded, covered in fine patterns like fish scales, shallow in shape like a fruit dish.
"Jiang Tao, before you've clarified things, stop spewing baseless accusations!" Standing beside the youth was a beauty with hair like a waterfall and exquisite features.
She wore an off-white evening gown and light makeup.
Her flawless face was cold, her beautiful eyes harboring simmering anger, exuding an aloof and unapproachable aura.
"Jiang Yuxin, you still dare to defend him? Look at the useless man you chose to marry into your family."
Jiang Tao's eyes gleamed with malice, his smile twisted as he spoke. "This uncouth fellow you chose has truly disgraced the Jiang family."
"Three years ago, you defied the family's opposition and insisted on this loser marrying into our family, making the Jiangs a laughingstock throughout Qin Province."
"I suspect this matter might have something to do with you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang family relatives and many guests chimed in with agreement.
"Jiang Tao is right. Didn't I say it before? This kind of low-class loser marrying into the family would eventually cause trouble, and now it's happened."
"Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes. Rats' offspring naturally dig holes, wouldn't you say? Otherwise, why would he become a live-in son-in-law?"
"What a pity for Yuxin's reputation as one of Qin Province's three beauties, to find such a heartless, ungrateful beast."
...
Many guests jeered and joined the barrage of insults, their schadenfreude evident.
Hearing this, Jiang Yuxin's face turned pale, her beautiful eyes flashing with a furious purple lightning. "All of you, shut up!"
Three years ago, as soon as she returned from studying abroad, she was forced into a marriage by her family. Coincidentally, her college classmate Li Chonglou's mother was hospitalized, and they reached an agreement.
In exchange for a twenty thousand yuan gift, Li Chonglou would enter a fake marriage with the Jiang family.
For the past three years, although Li Chonglou was useless, he had been obedient and had never done anything inappropriate.
Today, she brought him to the birthday celebration, intending for him to pick out a gift and please her grandfather. Yet, he had only bought two bottles of wine.
Being ridiculed by relatives and friends was one thing.
Now, he was caught stealing her grandfather's treasured Ru ware celadon three-footed vase stand.
It had completely shamed her as well.
Jiang Yuxin looked at Li Chonglou, suppressing her anger, and asked, "Did you do this?"
Only then did Li Chonglou look up and calmly state, "It has nothing to do with me."
"Caught red-handed, and you still dare to deny it!"
Jiang Tao sneered. "I heard your mother is gravely ill again and has been hospitalized, awaiting surgery."
"Haven't you gathered the surgery fees yet?"
"You leeching good-for-nothing, what wouldn't you do for money?"
"With so many witnesses, there's no denying it. Clean yourself up and get ready for jail."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuxin's face turned ashen.
Lightning flashed in her beautiful eyes, and her anger erupted uncontrollably.
Slap!
She slapped Li Chonglou hard across the face and gritted her teeth, "You have no backbone!"
Li Chonglou's face flushed red, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. He asked, "Even you don't believe me?"
"Have you ever done anything to make me believe you?" Jiang Yuxin's face was filled with disgust.
She knew Li Chonglou's mother had been seriously ill a few days ago and had even called her to borrow money.
At the time, she was out of town on a business trip to finalize a major contract and had impatiently hung up.
Now, she thought, given Li Chonglou's concern for his mother, it was entirely possible he was driven to such a desperate act.
But even with the greatest of reasons, it was no excuse.
"If I were to steal, I wouldn't steal a fake!"
Li Chonglou's eyes blazed with cold intent. He turned to face Jiang Tao, speaking word by word, "Jiang Tao, you indulge in drinking, gambling, and prostitution, accumulating massive gambling debts."
"You stole the real artifact to pay them off and framed me."
"You seized this opportunity to drive away Jiang Yuxin and take over the company; it was you who meticulously planned this!"
This scene was etched into his memory, vivid even after decades.
It was identical to this day in his previous life.
Jiang Tao, in his pursuit of family wealth, had framed him on the elder's birthday, leading to his imprisonment.
His mother, awaiting surgery, heard the news, was heartbroken, and passed away.
Jiang Yuxin was also transferred away from Qin Province due to this incident, and worse, was forced to become a tool for Jiang Tao to curry favor with the powerful, remarrying a pervert.
Not long after, unable to bear the humiliation, she committed suicide.
He, on the other hand, benefited from misfortune. In prison, he met a remarkable individual and learned the art of treasure appraisal.
After his release, he dedicated himself to antiques, diligently studying for decades to become a master.
However, due to a priceless treasure from the Qin Dynasty, he was reborn to this moment of profound change in his fate.
It had happened again.
But he was no longer the Li Chonglou of the past.
Jiang Tao, old grievances and new ones, all will be settled!
Hiss...
As soon as the words fell, gasps of astonishment echoed through the hall.
The Jiang family members wore expressions of shock.
Was this still the docile, useless son-in-law of the Jiang family?
He seemed to have transformed into someone entirely different.
He dared to turn the tables and accuse Jiang Tao.
Insubordinate, utterly insubordinate!
Even Jiang Yuxin couldn't hide the astonishment in her beautiful eyes.
Having been married for three years and classmates, although they had no physical intimacy, she understood Li Chonglou clearly.
At this moment, the demeanor he displayed was completely different from his usual self.
Even his words were forceful, each one striking to the core.
What was going on?
"You... you're talking nonsense."
Jiang Tao's expression flickered, his eyes betraying a hint of panic. He blustered, "On the brink of death, you still dare to slander me!"
"I'm talking nonsense?"
Li Chonglou sneered, "I will make you understand your demise clearly in front of all the guests."
Saying this, he reached out, picked up the celadon plate, and spoke calmly, "Ru ware originated in the Song Dynasty, one of the five great kilns of that era."
"Its glaze color is as blue as the sky, its surface like jade, with sparse, morning star-like craquelure, thin as cicada wings."
"These four characteristics made it a rare treasure."
"The reason for this is that its glaze color is made by grinding natural agate into color, with a juice-like thickness resembling congealed fat."
"Its brown eye specks are hidden like crab claws, with variations in color from celadon, pale celadon, emerald green, to sky blue."
"It possesses the beauty of 'after rain, the sky clears, and clouds break apart,' making it the pinnacle of celadon throughout the ages!"
"This celadon three-footed vase stand, with its round mouth, shallow belly, and flat base, supported by three feet, was inscribed with a poem by Emperor Qianlong, carved by imperial jade craftsmen in regular script on the exterior bottom of the artifact."
"Based on these characteristics alone, there are at least two points that do not match the genuine article!"
Whoosh...
His speech caused the entire villa hall to erupt.
The guests exchanged bewildered glances, immensely shocked.
Who would have thought that the Jiang family's notorious useless live-in son-in-law could speak with such professional expertise?
It indicated that he at least understood the field.
Could it be...
That what he said was true?
Jiang Tao's eyes darted nervously, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Just as he was about to retort,
A deep, aged voice echoed from the staircase, "Why is it so noisy outside? What are you all arguing about?"
The elder Mr. has arrived!