Chapter 17:

“Thank you.” Tang Xi hurriedly steadied her steps. “Sorry.”
She had nearly stepped on Zhou Jingchuan’s foot just now.
Zhou Jingchuan politely withdrew his hand. “You’re welcome.”
The two experts held magnifying glasses, sometimes standing, sometimes squatting, surrounding the two vases tightly, while Tang Xi could only stand outside and glance at them occasionally.
“Mr. Zhou, both of these vases are authentic.”
“I disagree.” The expert surnamed Ouyang shook his head. “One is genuine, the other is fake.”
The two argued fiercely, each voicing opposing opinions.
“Miss Tang, what do you think?” Zhou Jingchuan appeared indifferent to their quarrel, his deep gaze settling on Tang Xi’s face.
Finally given a chance to approach the vases, the two experts paused their dispute.
“Such precious items are no toys; be careful.”
“Young people really have sharp eyes, don’t even need a magnifying glass.” One of them said with a hint of sarcasm.

For the sake of convenience at work, Tang Xi wore a beige sports suit today. Her hair was tied high in a ponytail, revealing her slender figure, porcelain-white face, and rosy lips that pressed into a thin line when she concentrated.
Zhou Jingchuan stood not far off, watching her with an inscrutable expression invisible to others.
“Have you come to a conclusion after all this time?” an expert urged. “Don’t waste everyone’s time here.”
Tang Xi placed the porcelain vase back in its original spot. “My opinion differs somewhat from yours.”
“You think both vases are fake?”
Tang Xi shook her head. “To be precise, one is both real and fake.”
“What nonsense is that? Fake is fake, real is real. Both real and fake? Are you trying to fool a three-year-old?”
It was baffling where Mr. Zhou had found such an amateur—couldn’t even spin a story properly.
Tang Xi glanced at Zhou Jingchuan. “The intertwined lotus pattern was traditionally regarded as a symbol of supreme integrity. Such vases were often imperial gifts to ministers. The base with double-ringed leaf patterns and the two-tiered foot are typical of the Kangxi period.”
“We all know what you’re saying; it’s just pointless chatter.”
Tang Xi ignored them and continued, “These two vases seem like a pair, but the one on the left shows noticeably more lustrous glaze and was produced in an official kiln. The one on the right, though identical in shape and design, clearly lacks the same craftsmanship. The glaze on its neck contains ordinary yellow ochre instead of gold powder.”

“You say the one on the right is fake?”
“Not exactly.” Tang Xi shook her head. “According to unofficial historical records, Emperor Kangxi once gifted a pair of intertwined lotus-patterned vases to the esteemed minister Gao Daxue. However, one was accidentally broken by Gao’s concubine. Because of the crime of damaging an imperial gift, Gao Daxue commissioned the folk kiln to replicate an identical vase to keep at home. It’s called fake because it wasn’t the emperor’s original, but it’s still genuine in terms of historical era and its tight, glossy glaze, making it highly collectible.”
“Nonsense, when did you start trusting unofficial histories?”
“You say they didn’t come from the same official kiln—I believe that. But Gao Daxue? That’s utter fabrication.”
Facing the two experts’ skepticism, Tang Xi calmly took a probe from her bag. “The unofficial records say Gao Daxue liked to stamp private seals on his possessions. If I’m right, this vase should have his identifying mark inside.”
The two experts exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other’s eyes the words: ridiculous nonsense.
Only Zhou Jingchuan remained composed, silently allowing Tang Xi to proceed.