"Nonsense!"
Chu Junhao roared, "These ten antiques are all my grandfather's collections. He knows their authenticity best. Could my grandfather be wrong?"
"Yang Chen, I think you're just a sore loser, making trouble!"
At these words, everyone nodded in agreement, feeling that Chu Junhao had a point.
Chu Xiang also thought Yang Chen was being a sore loser. She whispered in his ear, "Yang Chen, you should have grace even when you lose. Don't make a scene."
"Miss Chu, I'm not making a scene. The two antiques Shen Sa chose are indeed fakes. If you don't believe me, I can prove it..."
"You're spouting bullshit!"
Chu Junhao shouted even louder, agitated.
"This Qianlong Twin White Glaze Vase was bought by my grandfather for thirty million at Christie's Spring Auction in Hong Kong this February. It comes with a certificate signed by ten top appraisers.
And this Daoguang Period White Jade Kylin Bowl with Gilt Flower Filling was bought in Beijing last year. Elder Yang Tianao from the Palace Museum personally authenticated it.
These are absolutely genuine. You claim they are fakes? I think you're just pretending to know what you don't. Even touching these two treasures is a desecration!"
"Something's not right. Why is he reacting so intensely when I offer to prove the authenticity of these two items?"
"Shen Sa's appraisal skills might not be as good as mine, but he's a seasoned expert with twenty years of experience. He should be able to tell the difference if he takes his time."
"But why would he be so out of character as to pick out two fakes?"
"There's something fishy going on here!"
Yang Chen suddenly realized something was wrong. His thoughts raced, and he suddenly asked, "Elder Yang, were these two items indeed genuine when you bought them?"
"Of course!"
Chu Luan thought Yang Chen was still being difficult and was about to comfort him. However, he saw a brilliant smile suddenly appear on Yang Chen's face, and he said loudly, "Then I understand what's going on."
Understand what?
Everyone was confused.
But in the next second, Yang Chen's actions shocked everyone. He reached out and pushed. With a crash, the Qianlong Twin White Glaze Vase fell to the ground, shattering into more than ten pieces.
"You bastard, what are you doing!"
As Chu Junhao roared, Yang Chen also threw the White Jade Kylin Bowl onto the ground.
He's crazy, absolutely crazy!
Everyone thought Yang Chen was being impulsive and throwing a tantrum because he couldn't handle losing. But then, a milky white liquid flowed out from the shattered White Jade Kylin Bowl.
Instantly, Chu Junhao's face turned extremely grim. He quickly shouted, "Old Niu, quickly get someone to sweep up the shards!"
"Don't move!"
Chu Luan stopped everyone, bent down, and picked up a shard of white jade. White, milk-like liquid was still flowing from it. He brought it to his nose and took a sniff. The strong smell of chemical dyes made him cough violently.
Chu Xiang stepped forward and gently rubbed his back, "Grandpa, are you alright?"
Chu Luan waved his hand, then pointed at the shards of the Twin White Glaze Vase on the ground. Yang Chen picked up a piece and placed it before him. "Elder Chu, this Twin White Glaze Vase is also a fake. However, it's a more skillful imitation than the White Jade Bowl. Its glaze doesn't directly use modern chemical dyes, but the firing technique is modern overglaze enamel."
Chu Luan looked at the white jade bowl shards in his hand and then at the twin white glaze shards in Yang Chen's hand. His face turned pale with anger. He grunted, "Old Niu, what exactly happened?"
Thump!
Butler Old Niu immediately knelt before him. "Master, this has nothing to do with me... it really has nothing to do with me. You know me, I've always been diligent and loyal. I've never stolen anything..."
"Get up!"
Chu Luan struck the ground with his cane and cursed, "Who said I suspected you? You've been with me for fifty years. Whom else can I trust if not you?"
"I'm asking you, these two items were locked in the safe in the collection room. How did they get swapped out of their packaging?"
"Think carefully, who has entered my collection room recently!"
Old Niu, supported by Chu Tiankuo, shakily stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stated with certainty, "Master, only Nian has the key to the collection room's vault. No one can enter usually. Except... except..."
"Except what? Speak quickly!"
Old Niu's gaze fell on Chu Junhao. He lowered his head and said, "Except Young Master Jun went in once just now. No one has entered since you were hospitalized half a year ago."
Although Old Niu didn't directly accuse Chu Junhao, his words implied that only Chu Junhao could have possibly swapped the Twin White Glaze Vase and the White Jade Bowl.
Everyone's gaze collectively turned to Chu Junhao.
"Grandpa!"
Chu Junhao said with a wronged expression, "I didn't... I absolutely didn't swap the antiques just now!"
"If it wasn't you..."
Yang Chen pointed at Shen Sa and said sternly, "Then the person who swapped Elder Chu's two treasures must be you!"
Shen Sa flinched and waved his hands repeatedly. "Nonsense, how could it be me!"
"Don't deny it just yet."
Yang Chen sneered. "If it wasn't you, why would you have chosen two fakes and identified them as genuine?"
"I... my eyesight failed me. I mistook them for genuine."
"Bullshit!"
Yang Chen directly exposed him. "You didn't even look at these antiques just now, and you immediately declared the Twin White Glaze Vase and the White Jade Bowl as genuine. It's obvious someone told you to pick them beforehand, to cover up the fact that they are fakes!
Of course, you can keep denying it. But I remind you, this is the Chu family, not the police station. Evidence isn't required here..."
Shen Sa's face instantly turned deathly pale. As Yang Chen said, the police need evidence to investigate. As long as Old Master Chu believed he was directly involved in the theft, with the Chu family's influence, they could make a small figure like him disappear without a trace!
"I... I confess!"
Shen Sa immediately knelt on the ground, pointing at Chu Junhao. "It... it was Young Master Chu who told me to identify the Twin White Glaze Vase and the White Jade Bowl as genuine!"