Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

Marquis Anshun felt a surge of irritation. The Yu family could have easily resolved the matter by asking him for help, but instead, they came to the capital's government office to file a complaint. They were truly ungrateful.

Since the Yu family doesn't know what's good for them, he doesn't mind making them suffer a bit.

Marquis Anshun stood at the back of the crowd and did not step forward. Although he could not see from his position, he could hear what the people in the courtroom were saying.

Not to mention Marquis Anshun, even the Prefect of Jingzhao felt a headache coming on.

The discovery of contraband in the shop could be a big deal or a small one. When the yamen runners came to report it, he didn't mention the Yu family immediately out of respect for Marquis Anshun.

It was supposed to be time for the Yu family to visit the Marquis of Anshun's residence, but unexpectedly, instead of him mentioning them, the Yu family made a scene right in front of him. He was somewhat displeased with the Yu family's ungratefulness.

"Madam Yu, you say the Yu family has been framed, then you should produce evidence. You can't just talk the talk."

"Sir, could you please take out the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons that we found in the shop for a look?"

Marquis Anshun, who was listening outside, frowned. As soon as Madam Yu arrived, she asked the Prefect of the Capital to bring out the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons. Did she know something about the secrets of the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons?

That's impossible. How could the Yu family possibly know?

"Yes, go and fetch it."

The two bailiffs went to the back hall, and soon a sealed wooden box was carried into the hall.

The seal was torn open in court, and the bailiffs opened it to reveal the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons inside.

The Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons were placed in front of the Yu family. Old Madam Yu stepped forward to examine them carefully, while the onlookers outside the hall craned their necks.

During the Ming Dynasty, objects carved with dragons were exclusively for the use of the imperial family; officials, commoners, and merchants were not allowed to possess them privately.

The Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons meet the characteristics of contraband.

"Madam Yu, we have already brought you the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons you wanted to see. Do you have anything else to say now?"

Madam Yu straightened up.

"My lord, this is not the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons. Dragons have five claws, but what is carved on this is a jiao (a type of dragon), which has four claws."

Marquis Anshun suppressed the urge to rush into the courtroom. He didn't know how the Yu family could remain so composed and even notice the small details on the dragon claw.

The Prefect of the Capital did not see the items after they were brought back, so he was not very clear about them.

"Bring the items up."

Two constables stepped forward and carried the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons out of the wooden box, placing them on the table in front of the Prefect of the Capital.

The Prefect of the Capital examined it closely and found that the dragon claws on it indeed only had four claws. It was not a dragon but a jiao (a type of dragon-like creature), but it was just depicted in a way that resembled a dragon.

Dragons were contraband in the Ming Dynasty, but jiao (a type of dragon-like creature) were not.

Having confirmed that what he was looking at was not the Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons, the Prefect of the Capital looked at Constable Zhang, who had led the search of the Yu family's shop earlier that day, with some displeasure.

Officer Zhang felt uneasy. When he first saw the item, he didn't examine it closely before ordering it to be sealed up and the shopkeeper and his assistant from the Yu family's shop to be arrested. Little did he know that there were counterfeit versions of this item.

Once it was confirmed to be a misunderstanding, the Prefect of the Capital's tone softened considerably.

"This matter is due to the incompetence of the Kyoto Prefectural Government, which has caused trouble for your Yu family."

"Later, you, the Yu family, will take the shopkeeper and his staff away. I will have my constables tear off the seal on the shop."

When the onlookers heard that it was a misunderstanding, they felt there was no excitement, but they did see that many people had dispersed, with some walking slowly behind.

Marquis Anshun was not satisfied with the result. He had originally intended to control the Yu family, but in the end, all his efforts were in vain.

"My lord, this matter is not simple; someone is trying to frame my Yu family. I beg you to do the right thing."

The Prefect of the Capital, who had stood up, sat back down.

I misunderstood the Yu family earlier. Now that the Yu family wants to file a complaint, there's no reason for me to refuse.

"Madam Yu, please tell me properly, what exactly happened?"

"The old woman doesn't know the truth yet, but please ask the shopkeeper and his assistant to come forward."

"Summon the shopkeeper and his assistant from the Yu family shop to the main hall."

When some yamen runners went to take the people away, the people who were about to disperse outside the hall gathered around the hall again.

Ji Yueru, along with Shuyi and Zhiyi, arrived at the Kyoto Prefecture government office. However, Ji Yueru did not join the crowd but instead sat in the carriage and let Zhiyi go and investigate. She could watch the excitement from here.

[The court has already discussed the origins of the counterfeit Azure Dragon Nine Cauldrons. We'll soon be able to find Steward Liu. Mother, don't worry, the Yu family isn't to be trifled with either.]

"Mother is not worried at all. Madam Yu has already sent a letter. They have made thorough preparations and there will definitely be no problem."

Before long, the shopkeeper and two employees of the Yu family were brought to the courtroom. Seeing their master present, the two men immediately felt much more at ease.

"This humble subject greets Your Excellency."

The person has been brought here. The Prefect of the Capital looked at Madam Yu.

The eldest son of the Yu family stepped forward.

"My lord, each of the shops under our Yu family has its own independent account book, and the antique shop on South Street is no exception."

This antique shop is run by a commoner, and every item inside is registered, but this item isn't listed in the register.

Old Master Yu turned his head to look at Manager Feng, who was kneeling beside him.

"Manager Feng, I'm asking you, where did you get this from?"

"Sir, I remember this item very clearly. It was brought by Mr. Lei, who often comes to our antique shop."

I remember Mr. Lei saying he wanted the appraisers from our antique shop to take a look at it for him.

In Beijing, almost every antique shop has a master appraiser, and some famous appraisers are worshipped by several antique shops at the same time; this is an open secret.

The Yu family's antique shop employs three appraisers, each of whom is highly regarded in the capital, and naturally, their prices are not low.

There are also customers who come seeking expert advice on their items, and all they need to do is pay some money.

The shops would also take on jobs for the appraisers they worshipped, and the shops would give all the money earned to the appraisers without taking a penny.

"There's precedent for this in the shop, and besides, Mr. Lei is a regular customer of our shop, so I agreed without much thought."

He was referring to the bronze tripod; the key to the wooden box was in Master Lei's possession.

The servant sent someone to fetch Master Wang. Not long after the servant left, a young servant from the Lei family rushed in and said that Old Madam Lei was dying.

Master Lei simply told the shop to hold the items for two days and that he would come to pick them up once he had finished his business. After saying that, he turned around and ran off, looking very anxious.

I was going to report this to the master, but Steward Liu came looking for me at that moment, saying that the Hua family in the east of the city had acquired a valuable item that many people were eyeing.

Thinking that the items were rare, the young man followed Steward Liu to the Hua family in the east of the city.

"Sir, it's all my fault. I never expected something like this to happen in just one day."

The manager who managed to get the position in the Yu family wasn't stupid. With a little thought, he realized that the Yu family had been tricked by someone else, and he explained the matter in great detail.

"Go, take away the thunder that the shopkeeper mentioned..."

"My lord, it is Lei Qu."

"Go and bring Lei Qu and the Manager Liu he mentioned."