Chapter 388: Testing the Waters 3
Lu Yan was getting more and more curious about this matter. “You really aren’t planning to let me look at those two keepsakes? The image on the jade tablet—or the jade ring that should definitely have an imprint—could probably give us a clue.”
Qi Qingyao was deep in thought for a moment before she said, “Do you know why I don’t want the Zhaixing Administration to look into these two keepsakes?”
“Why?” Lu Yan asked.
Qi Qingyao rubbed her temples. “Because, my gut tells me that the moment these two keepsakes surface, it would drive me into a position beyond salvation. I’d be killed, or have a permanent target on my back.”
“You already have a target on your back,” Lu Yan said, peeved.
Rather unruffled, Qi Qingyao said, “I’m only being targeted now because of Si Jin. Everyone is treating me like a chess piece but they’re not trying to kill me.” It was different.
“That’s also true. If your parents had been very renowned back then, your disappearance would be the best protection. If those two keepsakes are really special, then the moment they are publicly revealed, those who killed your parents back then might come and kill you.” Lu Yan thought for a moment then said, “If your parents were powerful figures, then the people who killed them might be in the same league, or even more powerful.”
“My head hurts just hearing you speak.” Qi Qingyao paused for a moment, rubbing her head. Then, her expression somewhat crestfallen, she said, “Based on what you said, let’s first investigate the powerful figures who died 20 years ago.”
Lu Yan, “…”
Both of them widened their eyes for a moment.
“Actually, I just wanted to say,” Lu Yan suddenly gulped and said in an unusually calm and profound manner, “that you can trust me.”
“…And?” Qi Qingyao somehow felt that he had something to say.
There was a faint redness in Lu Yan’s eyes and his eyelashes trembled. “If you’re insistent that I can be trusted, then I can give you a suggestion.”
“Say it.” Qi Qingyao’s feeling of dread still lingered.
“We could test the waters,” Lu Yan said.
“Be more specific.”
Lu Yan coughed lightly and said a little breathlessly, “We don’t need to use the real keepsakes to test the waters, we could make fake ones. Then, we can get someone to bring them to any pawnbroker. It can’t be a shop under me or people would suspect. So, we’ll simply look for a pawnbroker and pawn it off. If the keepsakes are really special, I think there’d be an assassin sent out after a while. Or maybe…the mastermind behind the scenes would get caught by the bait. Once the killer appears, we can follow the trail; it’s not that bad of a strategy.”
“…” Qi Qingyao admitted that Lu Yan’s suggestion had its merits, but… They probably would not be able to pawn off the fakes. A place like a pawnshop would only want actual valuables.
Lu Yan was getting so anxious his veins were popping. “I know what you’re thinking—pawn shops won’t accept items that are too fake. You just need to tell me the material of the keepsakes and I can get something similar for you. I have expert forgers, and I can introduce one to you.”
Qi Qingyao watched him with half-lidded eyes and said, “Are you not just saying that to try to see the keepsake?”
“Tsk!” Caught red-handed.
Why was this woman always so sharp?
Lu Yan left the side hall gloomily.
However, he was not aware that after he had left, Qi Qingyao sat there and started thinking about Lu Yan’s terrible suggestion from before.
Testing the waters.
It was indeed a good idea.
They just needed to reap the benefits from the confusion!
She could forge hundreds of similar keepsakes with similar materials but the image would have to be modified lest it be used to mislead others. Then, she could throw the real keepsakes in with the fakes and deliver them all to the pawnshop. When the time comes, Lu Yan might not even be able to tell which pattern was real and which was fake. However, the real instigator would definitely recognize the real twill tape.
That way, they lure out the instigator while also not letting the others learn how the real twill tape looks like.
However, Qi Qingyao had become a little…tense. Her thoughts had been flipping about a thousand times in that short period.
She seemed to be feeling anxious whenever she got a step closer to learning about her origin.
She had purposely been evading the matter about her background, evading the two keepsakes. She basically wanted to forget they existed… She was quite unwilling to investigate the motives behind the scenes.
Alas, she had no choice and was forced to investigate it this time.
Her gut was telling her that she and Mo Yang probably had no connection. However, she also had a feeling that if she did not look into it, the Qi family might someday die because of her origin…
Suppose her second intuition happens.
In that case, it was better for her to take the initiative.
To release the bait first and wait for the fish to bite it!