Chapter 17

Chapter 17: One Move and It Was a National Treasure-Level Antique

“Mo Er, it’s rare for you to be this thoughtful,” Old Master Su said, accepting the box with a kindly smile.

As the lid opened slowly, a Tang dynasty tri-colored horse came into view.

Its colors were rich and vivid, its posture lively, as if it might burst into motion at any moment. The room filled with amazed murmurs.

The moment the tri-colored horse appeared, it drew every eye. Guests gathered around at once, praising it nonstop.

They praised Su Mo Er for being filial and for choosing something that matched Old Master Su’s taste.

“Second Miss Su is truly thoughtful. This tri-colored horse isn’t just finely crafted-it’s also very well preserved. It’s really rare.”

“Yes, Old Master Su, look at the horse’s expression. It’s so vivid, like it could start running any second.”

“Second Miss Su has sharp taste, and her filial heart is even rarer.”

Old Master Su stroked his beard, smiling even more. “Mo Er has been clever since she was little. This gift really touched me.”

“Grandfather flatters me. On your birthday, your granddaughter naturally has to present the best,” Su Mo Er said, lifting her chin slightly, her eyes full of smug pride.

She glanced at Su Qian again, clearly showing off how outstanding her gift was.

Su Qian only gave the tri-colored horse a calm look, her expression barely changing.

“Sister, what did you prepare for Grandfather?” Su Mo Er raised her voice on purpose so the surrounding guests could hear.

Her eyes sparkled with expectation, waiting to see Su Qian embarrass herself.

The guests looked over curiously.

When Su Mo Er saw Su Qian did not answer right away, she grew even more smug and continued, “I heard Sister even went to the antique market. You didn’t just buy some replica to make do, right? Grandfather’s birthday banquet is a big deal. That wouldn’t be very respectful.”

After what happened at the auction yesterday, Su Mo Er was still angry. Now Su Qian had stolen attention again, and Su Mo Er was not willing to swallow it.

“A replica? Su Qian is the Su Family’s Eldest Miss. She wouldn’t buy a replica to fool the old master, would she?”

With Su Mo Er stirring things up, other guests began talking too.

Su Yichen frowned. Su Mo Er was going too far.

An elder from the Su Family side curled his lips into a mocking smile and added, “You don’t know this, do you? I heard Su Qian grew up outside. Messy friends wouldn’t be surprising. Buying a replica would be completely normal.”

“Not to mention, it’s possible she got tricked by some fake-seller.”

“Qian Qian, since that’s the case, take it out and let us have a look. If you were cheated, your uncle will help you get justice.”

They sounded like they had already decided, in their minds, that Su Qian was a victim who had been fooled.

Su Qian could see through Su Mo Er’s clumsy tricks easily.

She smiled slightly. “Grandfather, I heard you like tea. A few days ago, when I passed by the antique market, I bought a tea set.”

Su Mo Er snorted. What good thing could you possibly buy at an antique market?

As she spoke, Su Qian took an exquisite wooden box from a staff member nearby and slowly opened it, revealing the tea set inside.

The moment Su Mo Er saw it, she covered her mouth and laughed.

“Ha! This is your treasure? That’s obviously a replica. Sister, your taste is awful. You can’t even tell real from fake.”

She deliberately raised her voice even higher. “Grandfather, look. This is Sister’s ‘thoughtfulness.’ On your birthday, she actually gives you a fake.”

“How about this? My tri-colored horse will count as a gift from both of us sisters. It’s still better than you giving a fake,” Su Mo Er said, pretending to be generous.

“This tea set looks fake at a glance. How could it be an antique? Eldest Miss Su probably misjudged this one,” a guest with an important air said, shaking his head.

“Yeah. Look at the color and workmanship. It doesn’t look like an antique at all. Miss Su Qian was probably cheated.”

As more and more people questioned whether Su Qian’s tea set was fake, the atmosphere turned painfully awkward.

Su Yichen, Father Su, and Mother Su all felt helpless and embarrassed.

At a banquet like this, giving a replica was worse than giving nothing.

Besides, there were quite a few leading experts in antique appraisal among the guests.

Old Master Su examined the tea set curiously, then turned to Su Qian. “Qian Qian, where did you find this treasure?”

Su Qian smiled. “Grandfather, I bought it from an antique shop.”

She could not exactly say it was a gift from a friend in a faraway ancient fantasy world.

Su Mo Er immediately jumped in, shouting dramatically, “Grandfather, see? She admitted it herself! An antique shop! That’s clearly a fake!”

Su Qian’s face remained calm.

She gave Su Mo Er-one who was acting like a clown-a faint glance.

As long as Grandfather was happy with her gift, that was enough.

As for people who did not recognize value, explaining was pointless.

“As long as Qian Qian gave it to me, Grandfather likes it,” Old Master Su said firmly, looking at Su Qian with warmth.

He did not care whether the tea set was truly an antique.

To him, Su Qian’s intention was what mattered most.

Just then, Professor Zhang among the guests stared hard at the tea set, feeling it looked extremely familiar.

Then he looked at Su Qian again-and his eyes widened.

He pushed up his reading glasses, his voice trembling with excitement. “This tea set is exactly the national treasure-level antique I saw a few days ago. It’s absolutely real!”

Professor Zhang’s position in the antique appraisal world was extremely important. His judgment carried enormous authority and market influence.

The guests erupted the moment they heard him.

“Professor Zhang, are you sure? This tea set looks plain. How could it be a national treasure-level antique?”

Professor Zhang shook his head, speaking with certainty. “There’s no mistake. Do you all remember yesterday’s porcelain at Ci Hang Auction?”

Many guests nodded. Quite a few of them had attended, but in the end it had been bought by Zhou Ran.

Su Mo Er’s face turned pale.

She already knew what Professor Zhang was going to say next.

“Yesterday’s porcelain came from this Miss!”

Professor Zhang was emotional as he looked at Su Qian. “This tea set is worth the same as yesterday’s porcelain!”

His words caused another wave of shock.

Even Zhou Ran could not help looking at Su Qian, his curiosity growing even stronger.

Old Master Su also looked stunned. He gazed at Su Qian with deep affection. “Qian Qian, you really put your heart into this.”

Su Mo Er’s expression turned even uglier.

She wanted Su Qian to embarrass herself, but instead Su Qian ended up stealing the spotlight.

She bit her lip, unwillingness burning in her heart.

The banquet continued.

Unlike Su Mo Er’s frustration, Su Qian stayed in a wonderful mood and even ate a few extra bites.

Afterward, the guests gradually left.

Su Qian also planned to go, but Old Master Su called her to a stop.

“Qian Qian, move back to the Su Family to live. You’ve suffered all these years,” Old Master Su said, his eyes full of love and guilt.