Transmigrated into a cunning princess, she sets her sights on a celibate royal uncle.

Jiang Xi smiled without saying a word, her gaze falling on the paint on the clothes of the figure in the picture: "Just go when I tell you to, it's a fake anyway!"

Upon hearing Jiang Xi's words, Su Huanqing was even more shocked: "A fake? How could something so realistic be a fake?"

As he spoke, he leaned closer to take a look.

Jiang Xi quickly gave him a push: "Young man, don't be so curious, hurry up and go!"

"Alright, I'll go right away!" Su Huanqing rolled up the scroll, turned around, and went out.

Meanwhile, Huo Jingxuan returned to his residence and said to Bei Ying, "Go and investigate who attended the banquet with Imperial Censor Xiao a few days ago. Once you find out..."

After that, Bei Ying whispered in Huo Jingxuan's ear, and he made arrangements quietly.

"Your subordinate obeys!" After hearing this, Bei Ying solemnly took his leave.

Huo Jingxuan then beckoned to Han Chuan: "Have someone go to all the major restaurants in the capital and spread the news that Xie Qingshan, the second master of the Xie family, is about to be appointed as the Imperial Censor. Oh, and remember to mention the matter of the Xie family head!"

Although Han Chuan did not know Huo Jingxuan's purpose in doing so, he still accepted Huo Jingxuan's order and withdrew.

In the middle of the night, Jiang Cheng came to the Regent's Palace to apologize.

Jiang Cheng, dressed in heavy armor and cold clothes, knelt before Huo Jingxuan, who had changed into a black robe with intricate patterns and was sitting on a pear wood armchair, leisurely sipping a cup of flower tea.

His posture was too languid; his fingers, holding the teacup lid, were long and slender with distinct knuckles.

"You found out?" Huo Jingxuan's voice was calm, as if he had everything under control.

"I have failed in my duty. Liu Chang, the Right Envoy of the Supervisory Department, is actually Xie Zhuguo's man!" Jiang Cheng reported truthfully.

"Liu Chang?" Huo Jingxuan raised his eyes slightly when he heard this name: "Where is he?"

Jiang Cheng lowered his head even further: "I just led men to search his residence, but it was already empty. According to the garrison commander..."

"What did you say?" Huo Jingxuan was a little angry.

"It is said that Liu Chang used the excuse of having official business to take the token of the Supervisory Department and leave the city yesterday!" Jiang Cheng said in one breath.

"They ran away?" Huo Jingxuan nearly dropped his teacup.

Jiang Cheng kowtowed: "Your Highness, I have failed in my duty and beg for forgiveness!"

Huo Jingxuan coldly ordered, "I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Take your men out of the city immediately and bring Liu Chang back to me alive!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Jiang Cheng bowed and then got up to leave.

Hanmofang is a famous study in the capital. You can buy calligraphy and paintings from previous dynasties here. It is a favorite place for many literati.

Xie Qingshan especially loved coming here because the owner of Hanmofang was a renowned and talented woman named Xue Hewan.

Xue Hewan was a famous courtesan on the Qinhuai River when she was young. She was a master pipa player and later married a merchant from the Qinhuai River area.

The merchant came to the capital to do business, but later unfortunately died of illness, and his vast family business fell into Xue Hewan's hands.

Xue Hewan lost her husband at the age of eighteen and remained faithful to him for twenty years. She is now thirty-eight years old.

She struggled to support her husband's family business and also opened this calligraphy and painting studio, which doubled in business. She was also known for her kindness and gentleness.

A 38-year-old woman has shed the shyness of a young girl; every gesture exudes the graceful charm of a mature woman.

Xie Qingshan fell in love with her at first sight. The two exchanged poems and became close friends.

However, Xie Qingshan had a legal wife, and Xue Hewan was a strong-willed woman who did not want to become someone's concubine.

Therefore, Xie Qingshan never revealed his feelings, only daring to approach her occasionally under the pretext of buying books and paintings.

On this day, Xie Qingshan arrived at Hanmoxuan with his servants as usual. As soon as he entered, he saw a group of literati and scholars discussing and critiquing an ancient painting in the hands of a young man.

And this man was none other than Su Huanqing in disguise.

Su Huanqing had never appeared in the capital before, and everyone who saw him was a complete stranger.

"A genuine work, absolutely a genuine work!"

"Young master, is this painting the famous 'Night Banquet of Han Xizai'? Isn't it said that this painting has been lost for a long time?"

"I've heard that Madam Xue, the owner of Hanmoxuan, has been offering a hefty sum for this 'Night Banquet of Han Xizai' painting. You've come to the right place, young master!"

Su Huanqing listened to the praise from those around her with satisfaction, then turned to ask the waiter at Hanmoxuan.

"When will Madam Xue arrive? I'm desperately short of money, and I've heard that Madam Xue has a special fondness for this painting, which is why I thought of coming here to sell it. If you don't buy it, I'll just go somewhere else!"

"No!"

Seeing that Su Huanqing was about to leave, the waiter quickly grabbed his arm: "Wait a little longer, our Lady Xue went out of the city early this morning, she should be back soon!"

"Soon, very soon. You said the same thing two hours ago. I think you're just trying to fool me. Fine, I won't sell it!"

Su Huanqing feigned anger, packed up the scroll, and prepared to leave.

"Hey, hey, hey!" The waiter called out several times, but couldn't stop him.

"Sir, wait a minute!"

Su Huanqing was blocked by Xie Qingshan as soon as she arrived at the door.

Xie Qingshan smiled gently and asked, "Young master, may I borrow this painting to take a look?"

Su Huanqing gave Xie Qingshan a snobbish look, scrutinizing him from head to toe, before asking with disdain, "You? Can you afford it?"

Before Xie Qingshan could speak, his servant stepped forward and arrogantly shouted, "How dare you! This gentleman before you is the second young master of the Xie family!"

Su Huanqing feigned a brightening of his eyes: "The Xie residence? Is it the Xie Zhuguo residence?"

"Otherwise what?" The servant gave him a look that said, "You've seen the world."

Su Huanqing hurriedly and obsequiously opened the scroll: "Thank you, Second Young Master, please take a look!"

Xie Qingshan looked at the famous painting in Su Huanqing's hand with a serious expression.

In reality, he had no knowledge of ancient paintings. His frequent visits to Hanmoxuan were merely to cater to the tastes of literati and scholars, and to find opportunities to get close to Xue Hewan.

"Second Young Master Xie, this painting is absolutely genuine. I dare to guarantee it with my twenty years of learning!"

"Yes, yes, I think it's true too, it's exactly as described in the book!"

"Oh dear, Young Master Xie is the Censor-in-Chief, a man of great learning and profound knowledge. How could he not tell the authenticity of this painting? You should all refrain from further discussion!"

The people around them chimed in with their own opinions.

Xie Qingshan remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was secretly quite pleased with himself.

More importantly, the painting truly resembles an authentic work; there is no indication that it is a forgery.

He had been struggling to find an opportunity to express his feelings to Xue Hewan. If he bought this painting and gave it to her, he might be able to win her heart.

Thinking this, Xie Qingshan asked Su Huanqing, "Where did you get that from?"

Su Huanqing put on an embarrassed look: "To be honest, my family was once a prominent family."

By the time it was passed down to my father's generation, the family fortune had declined, and I was a gambler, so the family property was almost entirely sold off, leaving only this famous painting.

Before he died, the Family Support Center instructed that this item had been passed down from my great-grandfather's generation and must never be sold, but I...

A few days ago, I got an itch to gamble and went to the casino again. I lost three hundred taels of silver and am now heavily in debt. I had no choice but to…

He couldn't continue speaking, his expression a mixture of regret and resentment, looking utterly heartbroken.