What the expert sees is the essence, what the layman sees is the spectacle. Regarding this Golden Branch Jade Leaf, Wang Guan could glean some insight from the jade leaf, but on the golden cicada, he was completely in the dark.

However, heaven does not fail the diligent. After careful observation, Wang Guan did spot a potentially rather peculiar feature on the golden cicada. As mentioned before, the entire cicada was rendered with lifelike verisimilitude, perfectly matching the size of a real one.

Viewing it from top to bottom, the piece seemed exquisitely ingenious, revealing nothing untoward. But by adjusting his angle, especially scrutinizing the tips of the cicada's wings, Wang Guan discovered a pin-sized aperture.

"Strange."

Seeing this, Wang Guan was perplexed. He had assumed the golden cicada was solid; what then was the purpose of this tiny hole? Was it perhaps a remnant of the crafting process?

After a moment of consideration, Wang Guan weighed the object again, detecting no unusual difference in heft. Although both the golden cicada and the jade leaf appeared delicate, gold and jade were inherently substantial materials. Combined, the piece should certainly have a certain satisfying weight.

Judging by the feel, the object must be solid. Yet, the superfluous pinhole continued to pique his curiosity. He studied it for a long time, still unable to decipher it. Driven by sheer curiosity, he finally brought his special ability to bear.

Under Wang Guan's focused gaze, the golden cicada instantly became translucent, and all its secrets were laid bare.

"So that's how it is…"

In an instant, Wang Guan’s face shifted between surprise and elation. He realized he hadn't just stumbled upon a minor bargain; he had struck absolute gold.

"Wang Guan, did you find something?"

Yu Wei remained thoughtful, but Fang Mingsheng, a master at reading expressions, immediately pressed him upon seeing Wang Guan's delighted countenance: "Do you know the origin of the piece?"

"Close enough."

At this point, Wang Guan withdrew his ability and took a sip from his cup, finally steadying his burgeoning excitement, though a smile refused to leave his face: "There is absolutely no doubt this is a Ming Dynasty piece."

"That certain?" Yu Wei asked, more out of casual curiosity than doubt, as he specialized in porcelain and knew little of gold and jade artifacts.

"You can tell from the overall style…" Wang Guan gave a vague answer; he certainly couldn't admit he saw the color of auspicious light that revealed the exact era.

Since Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei weren't experts, they listened with rapt attention, raising no suspicions. Moreover, what Wang Guan said about Ming Dynasty gold and silverwork characteristics was largely accurate, even if generalized—he wasn't deliberately misleading them.

"However, those aren't the main point."

After his digression, Wang Guan chuckled, perhaps to compensate, "The main point is that this golden cicada is far more complex than it appears on the surface."

"What do you mean?" Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei were naturally taken aback, unable to see anything special beyond its hyper-realistic appearance.

Wang Guan smiled mysteriously and asked, "Do you happen to have a needle?"

"A needle?"

The others paused, either not hearing clearly or questioning the disparity between what they heard and what they imagined, as they couldn't fathom why Wang Guan would suddenly need a needle.

"A sewing needle, or perhaps a brooch or a safety pin would do," Wang Guan clarified. "Otherwise, a thin, pointed piece of wire, or at the very least, a toothpick…"

It occurred to him that Westerners relied more on dental floss and rarely kept toothpicks. In any case, a *coffee house certainly wouldn't have one. As everyone began searching, Yu Wei produced a set of keys, one of which had a small needle-like pick: "Will this work?"

"Perfectly."

Wang Guan nodded happily, took the object, and without hesitation, inserted it directly into the pinhole at the cicada's tail. The others then witnessed an astonishing sight: the seemingly sealed wings of the golden cicada actually moved. The pair of delicate, translucent wings instantly unfurled, the forelegs lifted slightly, and the hind legs rose just enough, as if preparing to soar on the breeze.

"What happened?"

In that instant, Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei’s eyes widened involuntarily, starting to doubt their sanity. Had the wings been open all along, and they had simply misremembered?

Yet, after spreading the wings, Wang Guan wasn't finished. He performed another action that stunned the onlookers: he gently wiped the golden cicada and jade leaf with a tissue, then brought the piece to his lips and began to softly blow into it.

"Ah."

At this point, the bystanders were utterly baffled, unsure what Wang Guan was attempting. But in the very next second, they distinctly heard a faint, intermittent sound—a wavering, humming murmur, like a novice musician attempting to play an unmelodic tune.

Listening closely, Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei immediately noticed that this subtle sound was emanating from within the Golden Branch Jade Leaf. Upon realizing this, they were once again shocked and filled with disbelief.

"Wang Guan, what is going on?"

After a long moment, Fang Mingsheng finally calmed down, eagerly pressing for an explanation. If the wings had unfolded due to an internal mechanism, he could be surprised without being utterly flabbergasted. But the possibility that this object was a musical instrument was far beyond his expectations.

"It really plays?"

Compared to Fang Mingsheng’s surprise, Yu Wei was profoundly shaken.

Even having witnessed it firsthand and heard the sound, he still harbored doubts, finding the object’s nature a challenge to his worldview that he couldn't immediately accept.

Wang Guan smiled, stating with absolute certainty, "This is not the Golden Branch Jade Leaf; it is the 'Golden Sound and Jade Resonance' (Jīn Shēng Yù Zhèn)."

"What? Golden Sound and Jade Resonance!"

Hearing this, the other two were stunned again, followed by a sudden flash of comprehension.

It shouldn't be surprising they were shocked, as the term 'Golden Sound and Jade Resonance' is familiar to those with some classical knowledge, stemming from Mencius's appraisal—or rather, profound respect—for Confucius.

Mencius stated that Confucius was the collector of all perfections: "He is the Golden Sound and Jade Resonance. Golden Sound refers to the beginning of order; Jade Resonance refers to the culmination of order. The beginning of order is the work of wisdom; the culmination of order is the work of sainthood."

'Golden Sound' and 'Jade Resonance' describe the entire process of playing ritual music, beginning with striking the bell (gold sound) and concluding with striking the chime stone (jade resonance).

However, 'Golden Sound' and 'Jade Resonance' also carried an extended meaning. Mencius used it to describe how Confucius synthesized the great wisdom of preceding sages, praising his immense contribution to culture. Consequently, later generations habitually named the first stone archway before Confucius's temple the 'Golden Sound and Jade Resonance Archway' as a mark of veneration.

Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei were also cultured men with studies in classical texts; they naturally grasped the implication of 'Golden Sound and Jade Resonance.' With Wang Guan's reminder, they instantly understood the artifact's ultimate meaning.

For a moment, a thread of envy flickered in their eyes.

If it were merely a Golden Branch Jade Leaf, worth perhaps a few hundred thousand, they would only express admiration, never jealousy. But upon realizing the artifact held a hidden mystery, they could no longer remain composed.

The reason antiques are so priceless, besides their intrinsic worth, is largely due to their added value. Setting aside duration and rarity, cultural value is one of the primary benchmarks for price.

It is similar to items once owned by famous people. These objects might not be rare on their own, but once imbued with the halo effect of a celebrity, their value and price immediately distinguish them from everything else. Don't dismiss this as absurd; the veneration of famous figures is itself a form of culture, and it has its reasons for value.

The Golden Cicada and Jade Leaf is a perfect example. Frankly, the piece is simply a golden cicada inlaid upon a jade leaf. Ordinarily, its value would be calculated based on the cost of the gold and jade, plus the craftsman's labor fee, yielding the final price. However, given the cultural heritage associating golden cicadas and jade leaves with auspicious meanings, the price would certainly be increased by a certain percentage.

But any increase would remain within a controllable range, unable to break a certain ceiling.

Yet, there are always exceptions. Discovering that the cicada’s wings could unfold, and that it could even produce musical tones causing the wings to vibrate in resonance with the jade leaf—this demonstrated unique ingenuity, an exceedingly rare quality. Connected to the cultural allusion of 'Golden Sound and Jade Resonance,' its value became incalculable.

At that moment, forget forty thousand pounds; Fang Mingsheng would willingly pay four hundred thousand without regret, fearing any slight delay might jeopardize the transaction.

Of course, having known Wang Guan for a year, Fang Mingsheng understood his temperament; once such a treasure fell into his hands, it would be like a Pixiu eating—all intake, no output. Thus, the thought of rushing to purchase it was instantly extinguished by his own realization, leaving him only the opportunity to watch with envious eyes.

Fang Mingsheng had learned his lesson through repeated disappointments. But others were unaware. For example, just then, a man approached, greeting them with a warm smile in English.

It was presumably a greeting, as Wang Guan didn't understand it, sighing inwardly once more—this was precisely why he disliked traveling abroad. Without his home turf, communication barriers were inherently frustrating.

Fortunately, Yu Wei handled such matters. He began chatting animatedly with the man, and from the glances exchanged and the gestures made, it seemed they were discussing the Golden Cicada and Jade Leaf.

As Wang Guan remained puzzled, Yu Wei turned and explained, "Wang Guan, he is an agent from a small auction house. He's asking if you'd like to consign the piece to his company; he believes he can manage the process and perhaps fetch a high price."

"Oh."

As expected, Wang Guan smiled knowingly and shook his head without hesitation: "Please tell him no for me."

"PK!"

Yu Wei nodded, relaying Wang Guan's message. The man looked regretful but did not press the issue, leaving a business card before departing politely… (To be continued)