The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 131

The third day, 3 PM.

Xu Tian had already set off for Jinzhou Post Station with the antiques. Meanwhile, Sima Liang had been personally keeping an eye on the government these past few days. Seeing that Xu Tian had not gone to the government to report him, he had been relieved.

With the time fast approaching, he set off from his residence for the Jinzhou post station.

The post station was bustling with people, some from the Western Regions and others from enemy states. Goods were piled high in the backyard, a testament to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

At the post station, to avoid suspicion, Xu Tian had already instructed his guards to open several top-class rooms the day before, and had even coerced the innkeeper. Therefore, when Sima Liang arrived to investigate when Xu Tian had entered the post station, the answer he received was the day before yesterday, giving Sima Liang the false impression that he had arrived there only two days prior.

The two groups then entered a special room for the emperor, one after the other. Wine and food had already been prepared in the room, and Xu Tian was sitting in his seat, waiting for a long time.

The door opened again, and Xu Tian stood up when he saw Sima Liang arrive. He said, "I almost thought you weren't coming."

"Why wouldn't I take a profitable business?" Sima Liang sneered.

"In that case, please have a seat." Xu Tian said, taking out an antique he had prepared beforehand, as if he couldn't wait to make a deal with Sima Liang. "This is a bronze artifact from the Shang Dynasty. What do you think?"

Sima Liang had seen countless antiques from imperial tombs and bronze artifacts, so his expression remained remarkably calm. He now seemed somewhat impatient, for he had come not for the bronzes, but for the luminous stone.

He frowned, looked at Xu Tian, ​​and asked coldly, "Are you playing me?"

"How could I dare? It's just that the other antiques are priceless, and I need to see how your batch is first."

Sima Liang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze cold and sharp. "Are you perhaps setting a trap for me to fall into?"

"how can that be possible?"

"Then why did you bring so many people?" Sima Liang asked.

Xu Tian paused for a moment, then laughed. "In this line of work, it's never a bad thing to be a little cautious. What do you think, my friend?"

Upon hearing this, Sima Liang realized that he was just like that, so he stopped talking. He simply glanced at the somewhat fierce-looking guards on either side of him, his meaning clear: let them go.

Xu Tian then said to them indifferently, "You can go out first."

They nodded. "Yes."

They quickly left, leaving only Xu Tian and Sima Liang in the room.

Xu Tian looked at him and said, "Brother, could you please take out everything you've brought and let me have a look at it?"

Sima Liang retorted directly, "Do your men know that these things were stolen from the imperial tombs?"

Xu Tian lied through his teeth: "Of course they didn't know."

After staring at him for a long time, seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Sima Liang took out all the things he had brought.

Xu Tian raised an eyebrow.

Each of these items can be described as a rare treasure, and they are also magnificent and luxurious, including a royal crown.

It's quite good that the items are from an imperial tomb.

Xu Tian looked at it carefully, then pointed to the ceremonial crown and said, "I want this. I'll trade you the bronze artifact I have."

Sima Liang looked pained.

But he began to think about it.