Chapter 6

Mr. Lang stood in front of the door, hands behind his back, and sneered, "I don't care if you search other parts of the mansion, but I will never let you enter my residence. Watermark GG test Watermark GG test"

Qin Xiao frowned slightly. At this moment, a group of people also caught up. Qin Xiao turned around and saw Zhen Yujiang following. He clasped his hands and said, "Young Master, you said I could search anywhere in the mansion, so I should be able to enter here. However, Mr. Lang seems unwilling."

Without waiting for Zhen Yujiang to speak, Qin Xiao quickly turned to Mr. Lang and said, "Mr. Lang, are you not going to heed the Young Master's orders?"

Mr. Lang's lips twitched. Zhen Yujiang hesitated for a moment, glanced at Han Yunong standing to the side, and finally said, "Mr. Lang, open the door and let him in."

Mr. Lang's face turned grim. His lips moved, but he stopped himself and finally took out the key, opened the door, and Qin Xiao entered the courtyard without a word.

Inside the courtyard were three rooms in a row. Qin Xiao walked briskly to the main door, pushed it open, and entered. In the middle was a hall, with a room on each side. Although Mr. Lang tried to remain calm, his brows betrayed his tension. Seeing Qin Xiao heading towards the room on the left, Mr. Lang quickened his steps and entered the room first, saying coldly, "This is my study, with many important documents. If you search here, be careful. If you touch something you shouldn't, the Zhen Mansion will not forgive you."

"Sir, don't worry, I'll just take a casual look," Qin Xiao smiled.

Zhen Yujiang and Han Yunong entered the study one after the other and had someone light the oil lamp.

The study was very elegant, with a bookshelf behind the desk, filled with various books, exuding a scholarly aroma, highlighting Mr. Lang's erudition.

Qin Xiao looked around and his gaze fell on a hanging scroll.

It was a landscape painting, hanging on the wall opposite the desk. The painting was skillfully executed, with mountains and water stretching to the sky, creating a majestic scene.

"You can start searching," Mr. Lang pointed to the desk and the bookshelf, saying coolly, "Qin Xiao, you'd better search carefully. If you don't find the Buddha statue within half an hour, you know the consequences."

Qin Xiao ignored him, not even looking at the desk, and walked slowly to the landscape painting.

Mr. Lang's face darkened, and he immediately blocked Qin Xiao, saying coldly, "What are you doing?"

"This painting is really well done," Qin Xiao smiled, "Did you paint it, sir?"

"This is a genuine work by Mr. Qinglian, worth a fortune," Mr. Lang blocked Qin Xiao, "I advise you to stay away from it."

Qin Xiao chuckled and raised his hand, pointing at the painting, "Sir, please step aside. I want to check if there's anything suspicious about this painting."

"How can a Buddha statue be in a painting?" Mr. Lang snorted, "You don't have the right to touch it. Get out of here."

"I won't damage the painting," Qin Xiao said.

Mr. Lang angrily said, "I said you can't touch it, you...!"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Xiao suddenly crouched and nimbly moved behind Mr. Lang. Before Mr. Lang could react, Qin Xiao grabbed the edge of the painting. Mr. Lang's face changed dramatically and he shouted, "Stop!" Without thinking, he turned to press the painting, but there was a tearing sound, and the painting was torn in half, the lower part falling into Qin Xiao's hands.

Zhen Yujiang's expression also changed.

The landscape painting was now in two pieces, revealing the wall behind it. Strangely, the wall behind the painting was not solid stone but had a wooden panel. Qin Xiao's hands moved quickly, and he forcefully pulled the panel open, revealing a hidden compartment.

Qin Xiao reached into the compartment, and Mr. Lang, having reacted, tried to grab Qin Xiao's wrist, but suddenly felt his wrist tighten. He turned to see Han Yunong, who had appeared at some point, grabbing his wrist. Han Yunong's grip was like an iron band, and Mr. Lang couldn't move.

Just as Han Yunong stopped him, Qin Xiao had already taken something from the compartment, wrapped in brocade. He quickly opened it, turned around, and held it up to Zhen Yujiang.

"Young Master, I have not failed you," Qin Xiao said, "This should be the imperial Buddha statue that was stolen from the Linghe轩."

Inside the brocade was indeed a Buddha statue, completely black, and emitting a unique fragrance.

Zhen Yujiang's lips twitched, his expression complex, neither angry nor embarrassed, and he could only say, "This... How did the Buddha statue end up here?"

Qin Xiao finding the Buddha statue here was almost miraculous, and Han Yunong found it hard to believe. But seeing the imperial Buddha statue really found, he also breathed a sigh of relief. Mr. Lang, on the other hand, was speechless, stunned.

"Young Master, since the Buddha statue is here, can it prove that Head Constable Meng was wrongly accused?" Qin Xiao said, "Young Master said there is only one Ghost Spirit Wood Buddha statue in the entire Xiling, so this one must be the one stolen from the Linghe轩. Head Constable Meng never left the Linghe轩, so he couldn't have had the opportunity to hide the Buddha statue here. As for why the Buddha statue is here...!" He glanced at Mr. Lang and sighed, "We need to ask Mr. Lang what happened."

Although Zhen Yujiang was unreasonable, he was now somewhat embarrassed and could only ask Mr. Lang with a stern face, "Mr. Lang... Why is the Buddha statue here?"

Mr. Lang's forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his mouth open, but he couldn't speak.

"Young Master, the Capital Guard is skilled in handling theft cases. Should we take over this case?" Han Yunong's expression was calm, and he said solemnly, "If other items were stolen from the mansion, we wouldn't interfere without permission, but this time it's an imperial treasure. There might be a deeper conspiracy, which needs to be investigated."

Qin Xiao added, "Young Master, if the Buddha statue was hidden here, either Mr. Lang set a trap to frame Head Constable Meng, or he wanted to keep the Buddha statue for himself. The former would implicate a government official, which should be reported, and the latter would be a case of embezzlement by a mansion official, implicating Head Constable Meng...!" He sighed, "Young Master, a thief in the house is hard to guard against. If he dared to steal the Buddha statue today, he might be even bolder tomorrow."

Zhen Yujiang's face turned green.

Qin Xiao's words were like slaps in the face.

"Qin Xiao, you found the Buddha statue, which is a great achievement," Zhen Yujiang snorted, pointing at the painting, "But you damaged the painting, how will you compensate?"

Qin Xiao inwardly sneered, knowing Zhen Yujiang was trying to change the subject.

"That's right, Young Master, this is a work by Mr. Qinglian," Mr. Lang, who had been pale, now regained his vigor, shouting, "Mr. Qinglian's works are rare, and this landscape painting is worth a fortune. Now it's destroyed by him, he must be punished."

Qin Xiao cursed inwardly, but Zhen Yujiang already shouted, "Bring this boy in. If he can't compensate for the painting, he won't leave this place."

Han Yunong's face was cold, "Young Master, if Mr. Lang hadn't pressed the painting, it wouldn't have been damaged. Even if Qin Xiao did damage it, it was to find the Buddha statue. The imperial Buddha statue is far more important than the painting."

"Han Commandant, one thing at a time. Finding the Buddha statue is one thing, but the damage to the famous painting is another," Zhen Yujiang saw Ghost Hand Three leading people in and pointed at Qin Xiao, "Take him away."

Ghost Hand Three moved forward, reaching out to grab Qin Xiao.

"Stop!" Han Yunong's face darkened, his gaze fierce, and he stepped in front.

Today, coming to rescue Meng Zimo, Han Yunong had already known the situation was dangerous. He had planned that if something happened in the mansion, even if he couldn't leave alive, he would ensure Qin Xiao's safety so that the events in the mansion could be reported.

Seeing the Zhen Mansion trying to frame Qin Xiao, he would not sit idly by.

Ghost Hand Three and his men were clearly wary of Han Yunong and didn't dare to act immediately.

Zhen Yujiang was surprised by Han Yunong's determination to protect Qin Xiao but soon gave a signal to Ghost Hand Three.

Ghost Hand Three didn't hesitate, punching at Han Yunong's chest with a powerful blow.

Han Yunong dodged the punch, and behind him was Qin Xiao. Ghost Hand Three didn't pull back, turning his punch into a grab, aiming for Qin Xiao's collar.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch Qin Xiao's collar, Han Yunong growled and grabbed Qin Xiao's shoulder, pulling him away, avoiding Ghost Hand Three's grab.

The force was strong, and Qin Xiao stumbled, turning in a circle. Han Yunong reached out and steadied him, and at that moment, something fell from Qin Xiao's body. Zhen Yujiang glanced at it and saw it was a jade pendant.

This jade pendant was the one Han Yunong had given Qin Xiao earlier.

The pendant was face up, and under the lamp, the character "生" (life) was clearly visible.

Ghost Hand Three's grab missed, and his brows furrowed, about to grab again. His two subordinates were also about to rush forward.

"Wait!" Zhen Yujiang suddenly said, and Ghost Hand Three paused, turning to look at Zhen Yujiang, who was staring at the jade pendant on the ground. He picked it up and examined it closely, his expression becoming even more inscrutable.

The room was deathly silent for a moment before Zhen Yujiang waved his hand, "Everyone, step back."

Ghost Hand Three, unsure why Zhen Yujiang had changed his mind, dared not disobey and led his men away.

Zhen Yujiang looked at Qin Xiao and suddenly smiled, "Alright, Han Commandant is right. Compared to the imperial Buddha statue, a painting is insignificant. Qin Xiao, you've done a great service today. What reward do you want?"

Qin Xiao, being very astute, knew that Zhen Yujiang's attitude had changed after seeing the jade pendant, so the pendant must be significant.

He quickly took the jade pendant from Zhen Yujiang and put it away.

"Young Master, finding the Buddha statue was to prove Head Constable Meng's innocence," Qin Xiao smiled, "If Young Master believes in Head Constable Meng's innocence, that is the greatest reward for me."

Zhen Yujiang nodded, "Head Constable Meng is indeed innocent. Everything that happened today was a misunderstanding." He glanced at Mr. Lang and then smiled at Han Yunong, "Han Commandant, I will ask Mr. Lang for an explanation, so there's no need for the Capital Guard to worry. Since you haven't eaten, stay for a meal before leaving."

"We don't want to trouble you," Han Yunong clasped his hands, "If Head Constable Meng is innocent, I hope this matter ends here."

Zhen Yujiang nodded, "It ends here." He ordered, "Release Head Constable Meng and escort Han Commandant and his men out."

Han Yunong didn't waste any words, leading Qin Xiao out. Zhen Yujiang slowly walked to the door and stared at Qin Xiao's back.

"Young Master, that jade pendant...!" Mr. Lang leaned close to Zhen Yujiang, lowering his voice.

Zhen Yujiang stared at the direction Qin Xiao had left, deep in thought. After a long while, he coldly said, "Investigate him!"