Everyone should be aware that once a seal has been used, especially after being smeared with cinnabar paste, it is bound to leave traces. Over the years, these imprints accumulate, becoming increasingly noticeable, even seeping into the stone itself—marks that are utterly impossible to clean away. Furthermore, it is common knowledge that the Imperial Seal of the Realm was used not only by Qin Shi Huang but also by the succeeding dynasties of Han, Wei, and Jin, circulating for centuries; any trace left during that time would surely be indelible.

Yet, the surface of this seal was remarkably pristine, without even the faintest residue of ink paste. From this alone, one could deduce that the piece was newly carved, not the genuine Imperial Seal of the Realm. Seeing this, Yu Feibai and the others couldn't help but sigh, their faces etched with disappointment. They knew that the true Imperial Seal and a counterfeit were entirely different concepts. The genuine article represented imperial authority; the fake was just that—a meaningless imitation.

However, having said that, the Imperial Seal of the Realm had long ceased to be merely an object; it had evolved into a symbol—the accumulated awe the world held for the accumulation of power over two millennia. Over time, it transformed into a national artifact. Under these circumstances, even a young person lacking fundamental knowledge of Chinese culture should grasp the priceless nature of the Seal, let alone a group of seasoned experts who naturally understood the sensation its reappearance would cause. To put it in perspective, the revelation of the Imperial Seal could utterly eclipse everything else, overshadowing any treasures currently on display and immediately dominating the headlines.

"What a pity, such a profound pity."

At the opportune moment, Yu Feibai shook his head and sighed, "Zhu Di was truly something. If he was determined to fake it, why didn't he commit fully and make it more convincing? Why leave such a glaring flaw?"

"You still haven't given up, have you?" Old Zhou chuckled, unable to hide his amusement. "You should be relieved. Such an obvious flaw makes authentication much easier."

"He was merely greedy, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant," Old Qian said with a slight smile. "An artifact like the Golden Bi Xi alone is enough to be called a rare treasure; there's no need to crave anything more. Besides, we live in a democratic republic now. The Imperial Seal symbolizes feudal monarchy, so we shouldn't overemphasize it. Elevating it too highly sets a poor precedent."

"Mm." Wang Guan understood Old Qian's sentiment well. It was similar to the situation with the National Palace Museum in Taipei, which housed an Imperial Seal of uncertain authenticity, an item passed down from the Qing Dynasty. Even if it were a forgery, it would still hold some value. However, if one paid attention to the Taipei Palace Museum's news updates, they would know the institution rarely promoted that specific item. Thus, perhaps many people were unaware that the Taipei Palace Museum possessed one. The underlying reason was likely a deliberate downplaying of the Seal's influence to avoid conflicting with national policy.

"Got it, got it," Yu Feibai conceded with a sigh of regret, shifting his focus. "Wang Guan, besides this behemoth, are there any other treasures you brought back?"

"Of course."

As he spoke, Wang Guan proceeded to open another large crate. Inside, he revealed a length of fabric. When unfurled, it was large enough to cover almost the entire warehouse wall. Naturally, the fabric Wang Guan brought back could not be ordinary cloth; it was Qing Dynasty court brocade. Dragons soared and coiled amidst vibrant, colorful peony patterns, creating an overwhelmingly opulent display. Both the dragon and phoenix motifs and the peony designs boasted brilliant hues. Precious materials such as gold and silver threads, as well as peacock feathers, were woven into the fabric, making it an exceptionally valuable work of art, both ancient and modern.

"It looks like a palace screen..." Everyone studied it with keen interest for a moment before moving on to examine the contents of the other crates.

After inventorying everything, they discovered that the majority of the items were Qing court furnishings: large pieces like furniture and décor, down to small accessories, a folding fan, and even specially made hand warmers and braziers. Every object was crafted from carefully selected materials by master artisans, retaining a stunning beauty despite centuries of exposure to the elements. As they admired the collection, they realized that these items had likely fallen overseas during the tumultuous years of China over a century ago. To have them returned now was a form of 'fallen leaves returning to their roots.'

The collection was quite extensive, and as they slowly cataloged and admired the pieces, evening arrived. After securing the collection in storage, the group accepted Wang Guan's invitation to dine at a nearby restaurant.

Over the clinking of glasses at the dinner table, the several Palace Museum experts began to probe subtly. Their underlying intention was to borrow some of the precious artifacts for a period of research. Wang Guan responded with characteristic magnanimity, stating that not only could they borrow items, but he intended to donate some as a gesture of sincere appreciation for the experts' dedicated support over the recent period.

"Wang Guan, you are being too polite..." What had started as a small request resulted in a huge surprise, making the experts ecstatic, their faces splitting into uncontrollable smiles. The items Wang Guan intended to donate were far from ordinary; they were highly valuable cultural relics.

"It is only right, only right," Wang Guan smiled, holding firm to his decision. The experts naturally had no reason to refuse, and the atmosphere remained warm and harmonious.

Soon after, dinner concluded, and everyone departed. On the way back, Yu Feibai whispered to Wang Guan, "The items you're donating—is that hush money?"

"If you know, you know. No need to say it aloud, right?" Wang Guan chuckled. "It would only hurt feelings."

"Tsk, they probably hope you hurt their feelings a few more times," Yu Feibai scoffed. "Besides, with Old Qian overseeing things, you didn't really need to do this."

"You can't say that. We troubled them for over half a month; we should show our gratitude," Wang Guan responded lightly. "Moreover, maintaining a good cooperative relationship with the Palace Museum benefits us as well."

"That's true," Yu Feibai conceded with a nod. Then, he glanced back at Old Qian and suddenly laughed, "In comparison, I'm actually more concerned about another matter."

"What matter?" Wang Guan asked, intrigued.

"I visited Banshan Temple yesterday and found that the landscape and bird painting by Bada Shanren in the Abbot's quarters was gone." Yu Feibai stated frankly, "At first, I thought the owner had taken it back. Out of curiosity, I inquired with Master Banshan, only to find that wasn't the case..."

"What was the situation then?" Wang looked contemplative, unable to resist glancing towards Old Qian as well.

"Master Banshan said the painting was borrowed." Yu Feibai admitted, "Old Qian, you must know about this, right?"

"So what if I know? What does knowing change?" Old Qian countered impassively, leaving Yu Feibai speechless. He had hoped to pry loose some secrets, but Old Qian deftly sidestepped the inquiry with a calm dismissal.

"Old Qian," realizing his surprise tactic had failed, Yu Feibai dropped all pretense and pressed directly, "Who exactly is that He Wei? And that Bada Shanren painting—it feels like there's a secret involved."

"Why would you think so?" Old Qian remained as placid as ever, his expression unreadable.

"It's obvious," Yu Feibai shook his head. "We're not fools. We saw your expression instantly change when you heard He Wei's name, and then the painting was borrowed afterward. We can naturally surmise things."

"Then, what do you think He Wei is?" Old Qian asked with a smile.

"Uh..." Yu Feibai hesitated, speculating, "Your friend? A major collector? A deadly rival?"

"Wild guesses," Old Qian chuckled softly and shook his head. "Purely guessing in the dark."

"Can't be helped when you won't give a hint. I can only guess this far," Yu Feibai tested the waters. "How about you offer a small clue?"

Old Qian smiled and ignored him, instead turning to Wang Guan. "Wang Guan, what is your take?"

"It's hard to say..." Wang Guan also hesitated, uncertain. "I sense that Old Qian places great importance on this person... Is it related to Mr. Zhu Da in some way?"

"Huh?" Yu Feibai was momentarily stunned. "How could you think that? Don't just link every person to Mr. Zhu Da, alright?"

"That's right," Old Qian expressed surprise as well. "Why do you think He Wei is connected to Mr. Zhu Da?"

"If I dare to make such a guess, there must be some basis for it," Wang Guan paused briefly before smiling. "We're home. Everyone, let's get out of the car."

Just then, the car stopped behind the main gate of the mansion, and the three of them alighted, walking briskly towards the living room. Along the way, Yu Feibai kept urging Wang Guan to reveal his reasoning.

A moment later, the three were seated in the living room, preparing a pot of strong tea to sober up. It was then that Wang Guan began to speak again. "Actually, even if Old Qian doesn't say, I have a few ideas. They shouldn't be too far off the mark, and I was hoping to confirm them with you."

"What are your ideas?" Old Qian smiled. "Tell us, let's discuss."

Wang Guan didn't hesitate any longer and asked directly, "Is He Wei the Mr. Zhu Da from over twenty years ago?"

"Ah, really?" Upon hearing this, Yu Feibai was naturally highly attentive, quickly looking at Old Qian to gauge his reaction. Simultaneously, Old Qian's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes flickering, but he gave no confirmation. "It's the same question as before: why do you have this idea, linking He Wei with Mr. Zhu Da?"

"Before I explain..." Wang Guan seemed to be deliberately skirting the issue, changing the subject. "I’d like to ask one question. Old Qian, do you know the origin of the first Mr. Zhu Da?"

"Hmm?" Old Qian's eyes flickered again, and then he suddenly laughed. "It seems you really do have strong thoughts. Tell us everything; let's all discuss it. Whether you're right or wrong doesn't matter; the key is to be frank and open."

"The origin of the first Mr. Zhu Da?" Yu Feibai was also confused at this point. "Didn't Uncle De already tell us about the first Mr. Zhu Da? Something about being a descendant of the Ming imperial family who, dissatisfied with the Qing taking the throne, was determined to take revenge, so he created many forgeries to swindle the powerful. When the news spread, people secretly cheered him on, honoring him as Mr. Zhu Da..."

"That is surface-level information; Mr. Zhu Da is just a codename," Wang Guan interjected. "Do you know his real name, what he looked like, or where he lived?"