NFBE Chapter 226 The jade pendant is his!
Chapter 226 The jade pendant is his!
After finishing his sentence, Lord Xu frowned again, “These jade pendants were carved by the best jade carvers in Shengjing at the emperor’s order. Each prince received one, and each prince’s jade pendant has subtle differences.”
"Back then, it was you and I who carefully traced the patterns on those jade pendants, which is why we were able to spot the unusual features, but..."
He lowered his voice and whispered, "Why would His Highness Prince Xiang wear a counterfeit item?"
Upon hearing this, another senior official subconsciously glanced at Yun Shang.
Seeing that he remained calm and composed, as if he hadn't heard anything, his gaze fixed straight ahead without any sign of emotion or unusual reaction, he lowered his voice and spoke softly to Lord Xu:
"Don't talk nonsense. How could His Highness Prince Xiang wear a fake? Perhaps we are old and our eyes are failing us, and we have seen wrong."
Lord Xu thought about it and agreed.
The two exchanged a glance and then fell silent.
Yun Shang appeared calm, but in reality, he was filled with doubts.
The jade pendant that King Xiang is wearing today is indeed different from the one in Wan Yuru's hand, just as these two old ministers suspected.
It's like the difference between a fake and a genuine product.
The two senior officials of the Ministry of Rites were unaware of Wan Yuru's matter and thought they had simply misread it due to their old and failing eyesight, but Yun Shang was certain of it.
The jade pendant of the King of Xiang has probably been lost.
Since it was a gift from the Emperor, the princes were required to wear it every day. If they did not wear it, it would inevitably arouse suspicion from others. Therefore, he ordered someone to make a fake one to fill the gap.
The craftsman who carved the jade pendant back then was a top-notch artisan in Shengjing, while the person who is now making a replica for the Prince of Xiang is obviously clumsy and inexperienced, which is why the flaws can be seen at a glance.
You Lingzhou, who had previously pledged allegiance to the King of Xiang, also mentioned that the King of Xiang had recently lost something important.
Based on what he saw and heard today, he was almost certain.
The owner of the dragon-patterned jade pendant that Wan Yuru pulled off was none other than the Prince of Xiang.
But... how could it be the Prince of Xiang?!
The birth mother of the Prince of Xiang, Consort Xian, came from the Xie clan of Taixi. Their branch was a family of military generals for centuries, known for their integrity, incorruptibility, and illustrious reputation.
Not only their branch, but the entire Xie clan enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the Great Zhao territory.
Those who pursue literary careers uphold integrity and incorruptibility, have the common people at heart, and achieve remarkable political accomplishments.
Those who follow the martial path are brave and fearless, skilled in battle and valiant, and have won countless victories.
For a century, the Xie family has never been involved in any scandals.
But if the person who defiled Wan Yuru is indeed the Prince of Xiang, then this matter will truly be difficult to handle...
If this matter is investigated, it will surely cause a huge uproar in the imperial court.
Regardless of the Prince of Xiang's noble status as a prince, the powerful Xie family behind him alone is not something that can be easily dealt with.
Moreover, his mentor, Xie Qizheng, also came from the Xie clan.
But if we simply leave it alone, how can we face the injustice and endless humiliation that Wan Yuru has suffered?
……
After the officials of the Ministry of Rites followed Prince Xiang into the main hall of the government office, the atmosphere inside became somewhat heavy and oppressive.
King Xiang sat in the main seat and began to review the various documents and files of the Ministry of Rites.
He resembled the virtuous concubine in appearance, with a heroic and valiant air between his brows. His eyes were clear and upright, like the bright and clear sky, showing no sign that he would do such an immoral and beastly thing.
Yun Shang temporarily suppressed his doubts, lowered his eyes, and adopted a respectful expression.
In the main seat, King Xiang's sharp gaze swept across the words.
After a moment, he raised his head and casually asked a few of his ministers questions.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites were well-prepared, but they were still inevitably nervous and flustered. Fortunately, they managed to handle the situation with some difficulty.
King Xiang smiled slightly, seemingly quite satisfied.
His gaze slowly swept over the assembled officials, finally settling on Yun Shang. His voice was loud and clear, like a bell:
"Yun Shang, I've heard you're quite knowledgeable about etiquette and regulations. Let me ask you, if we encounter foreign envoys, what kind of ceremony should our dynasty use to treat them?"
Yun Shang stepped forward, bowed slightly, and answered calmly:
"Your Highness, if the envoy is of noble status, he should be welcomed with the highest honors. The furnishings, music and dance, and ceremonial guards should all be arranged in accordance with regulations to fully demonstrate the style and sincerity of our dynasty."
If the envoy's official rank is slightly lower, then the ceremony of the Seventh Rank Official can be used, but the solemnity must not be lost..."
King Xiang nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Yun Shang's answer.
He then looked at Wang Ling, his eyes filled with inquiry: "Wang Ling, if a foreign envoy brings rare and exotic treasures from his country as gifts, how should our dynasty reciprocate according to custom, and how should we control the value of the reciprocated gifts?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Ling felt a sudden panic.
Although he was already the Vice Minister of Rites, he only had a superficial understanding of these details!
Such a trivial matter doesn't require his attention.
Normally, his subordinates would submit the documents, and he only needed to review them once to make sure there were no problems.
When King Xiang suddenly asked them a question, they immediately lost their composure.
His eyes flickered, and he stammered, "Your Highness, this...this subject believes that we should return with a local specialty treasure of our dynasty, and as for its value, it should be roughly equivalent."
King Xiang frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with Wang Ling's vague and incoherent answer.
"Roughly the same?"
"Wang Ling, as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, you are so vague about even these basic details of returning gifts. How do you usually assist in handling the affairs of the Ministry of Rites?!"
The King of Xiang's words carried a hint of ruthlessness that chilled the heart.
Wang Ling's heart skipped a beat, and he knelt down with a thud, saying in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I have failed in my duty. I will study this carefully when I return and will never repeat this mistake."
King Xiang ignored Wang Ling's pleas for mercy and turned his gaze to Yun Shang again: "Yun Shang, you tell us."
After bowing, Yun Shang paused to think for a moment, then began to speak in a calm and composed voice:
"Your Highness, the matter of returning the gift certainly requires careful consideration."
If foreign envoys present rare treasures, our dynasty should first have the Treasurer under the Ministry of Rites select matching treasures that are unique to our dynasty in return.
For example, the exquisite silk fabrics are unique to our dynasty and their value should not be underestimated.
Or perhaps exquisite porcelain crafted by renowned artisans, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of our dynasty.
"As for the value of the return gift, it depends on a combination of factors, such as the identity of the envoy, the diplomatic relations between their country and our dynasty, and the significance of the treasures presented. They will vary, but one thing must be followed: we must not lose the grandeur and demeanor of the Great Zhao."
"At the same time, the process of returning gifts should be recorded in detail and properly kept for future verification."
After listening, King Xiang showed an approving expression.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites also showed expressions of admiration.
In fact, they had learned these things when they joined the Ministry of Rites, but they forgot them as soon as they saw them.
Who would care about such trivial details?
I never expected that the King of Xiang would ask such a question!
King Xiang laughed heartily, "You truly deserve to be the top scorer in this exam!"
"Yun Shang, you are meticulous, thoughtful, and cautious in your actions. You have truly impressed me."
The Prince of Xiang's gaze swept over the officials of the Ministry of Rites, his expression stern, and he said in a deep voice:
"Although Yun Shang has not been in the Ministry of Rites for long, his abilities are in no way inferior to yours. You should listen to his advice more often in the future."
His words were a blatant compliment to Yun Shang.
Previously, all the officials in the Ministry of Rites had Wang Ling as their leader, but after today, it is likely that the Ministry of Rites will have a new person in charge.