The Young Lady is a Bit Unruly [Fragrant Harbor] - Chapter 100: Ugly King Jade Pendant

Chapter 100: Ugly King Jade Pendant

After two rounds of quenching their long-standing drought, the rain finally ceased.

She nestled in his embrace to rest, neither rejecting nor agreeing to the matter he had brought up.

Let’s both think about it some more. We can discuss it when the time comes, alright? After saying this, she kissed his eyes, his nose, and his lips. All she wanted now was to peacefully and quietly enjoy this moment free from worries.

Ye Huaizhang didn’t dare pressure her. He captured her lips and engaged in a deep kiss with her.

After midnight, he whispered in her ear: Happy birthday, baby.

Oh, today was her birthday.

On this day last year, she had just arrived in this world for a week, still eagerly anticipating a bowl of fragrant pork knuckle and ginger stew.

So much had changed in just one year.

Ye Baoling asked with a smile: Where’s my birthday gift?

He got up and left the room, returning from the suite’s living room with a gift box.

Custom-made especially for you.

Ye Baoling unwrapped the packaging to reveal a jewelry box. Opening it, she found a complete set of ruby jewelry sparkling under the light.

He had previously given her diamonds, and now rubies. She asked teasingly: Next time, are you going to give me a set of imperial green jadeite?

Next time?

So subconsciously, she believed they would have a next time.

Suppressing his overwhelming joy, Ye Huaizhang asked: Do you like it?

I do. She smiled and kissed him. Help me put them on.

He helped her put on the necklace and earrings. Without clothes, only wrapped in a small blanket, she got up to look in the mirror.

The vibrant ruby jewelry complemented her skin tone perfectly. This was the birthday gift he had specially brought from afar. Turning around, she happened to see the I LOVE YOU arrangement made from Blue Enchantress Roses and Blue Hydrangeas in the living room.

She suddenly asked him: Do you love me?

Ye Huaizhang was taken aback. What is love?

Feeling happy when he saw her, missing her when he didn’t – did that count as love?

Having endless possessiveness, willing to give everything for her – did that count as love?

His heart having room only for her, and no one else – was this love?

I love you, he said.

Ye Baoling smiled, gently caressing his face without asking what he loved about her.

He desperately wanted to ask if she loved him too.

But he restrained himself, afraid to hear an answer he didn’t want to hear. He held back the question.

Pursing her lips, she who had never truly been cherished since childhood softly said: Thank you for loving me.

Hearing this, he felt blood rush to his head, an intense, overwhelming joy exploding in his heart. He kissed her, wanting desperately to merge her into his very bones and blood.

It was precisely this elusive, uncertain love that made him more obsessed and crazed.

Over the next few days, the two visited scenic spots in nearby cities.

Playing during the day, making love at night, communicating through physical extremes.

*

Returning to Port City, they heard immediately upon landing that the police had excavated a Japanese military secret medical base and over thirty skeletons from Silver Snake Mountain.

Currently, the entire city was abuzz with discussions about the discovery.

They returned to their respective homes.

Ye Baoling went back to the Oldest Branch. After bathing, she was eating lunch brought by Sister Ping and the maids in the sitting room when Xing Shu came looking for her.

You’re back, Miss?

Ye Baoling looked up with a smile: Is my grandfather looking for me?

Yes, the Old Master would like to have a word with you.

Understood.

After lunch, Ye Baoling went upstairs to Ye Qizu’s room.

The old man had just woken from his nap and was practicing walking with his cane in the bedroom.

Seeing his granddaughter enter, he asked, Did everything go smoothly in America?

Everything went smoothly. Ye Baoling knew her grandfather hadn’t called her here just to ask about her trip to America.

Sure enough, after exchanging a few pleasantries, the old man stopped beating around the bush.

You’ve heard that the police excavated the medical base at Silver Snake Mountain?

I’ve heard. Ye Baoling helped the old man sit in his wheelchair.

After the servant wiped Ye Qizu’s sweat and served him tea, he waved everyone out of the room.

Once the door closed, he said, Some newspapers and media are suggesting turning the medical base into a memorial hall. If Silver Snake Mountain becomes crowded with visitors in the future, that would definitely not be good for us.

Filling it with soil and completely burying the so-called medical base would be most beneficial for the Ye family.

Ye Baoling certainly understood this.

Ye Qizu continued, Our family branches, along with the Gong family, plan to use connections to have the medical base filled. Don’t you have contacts in the media? You should also get them to drum up public opinion – say the medical base might contain bacteria and viruses, and that it’s best to fill it in. Having media coordination with relevant departments will make this easier to accomplish.She had the connections and experience to manipulate public opinion, so she agreed: ‘You handle the operations first.’ I’ll find people in the media.

Surprisingly, there was no argument between grandfather and granddaughter as they shared the same goal regarding this matter.

Working with her as a partner truly saved a lot of worry.

After finishing their discussion, Ye Baoling prepared to leave, but Ye Qizu called her back.

The old man pointed to the five-drawer chest by the wall and asked, What about the Ugly King Jade Pendant? You should return it after using it.

Ye Baoling played dumb: Didn’t I already return it?

The one inside is fake. The old man wasn’t fooled.

She countered: How can you tell the difference?

It passes at a glance, but upon closer inspection, the patterns don’t match at all. Even if it’s artificially aged, it’s still fake.

Ye Baoling: Grandfather, Fang Dingkun is already dead. The Ugly King Jade Pendant has no other uses now. Why are you so concerned about it?

Ye Qizu sighed: That’s a family heirloom. Meant for the head of the Ye family.

Since it’s a family heirloom, if you’re not passing it to me, who else would you pass it to?

Ye Qizu paused slightly. Although he had already given all his shares to Ye Baoling, the old man still clung to a faint hope of retaining some control over household affairs.

I’ll give it to you when I’m about to depart.

Ye Baoling seized the opportunity to ask: Is there some secret you haven’t told me? Aren’t you afraid you might suddenly pass away before telling me?

Ye Qizu didn’t believe he would die suddenly – he had survived two strokes already.

If I really do depart suddenly, Lawyer Yang will give you a letter.

He had already prepared a backup plan.

So, did the Ugly King Jade Pendant really have other secrets?

That made her even more determined not to return it to the old man, lest it not end up in her hands and she’d have to compete with her second uncle for it.

Now that the Ugly King Jade Pendant is in my hands, I won’t be giving it up.

Ye Qizu couldn’t help scolding her: You’re like a pixiu – only taking in, never giving out.

Ye Baoling smiled, offering rare reassurance: Grandfather, don’t worry. I’ll keep it safe for you and won’t lose it. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.

She needed to go to the company, where some matters awaited her decision.

*

Over the weekend, Ye Baoling and Ye Huaizhang finally managed to meet with Fang Haiming, who had returned from the mainland.

The three arranged to meet at a teahouse in the West District.

This teahouse was owned by Fang Haiming’s family. After they settled in the innermost private room on the third floor, Ye Baoling opened a wooden box containing three pieces of the Ugly King Jade Pendant for his detailed inspection.

Fang Haiming was stunned at first sight, asking in surprise: Where did you get these?

Ye Baoling avoided specifics: We found them at home.

Putting on gloves, Fang Haiming examined them repeatedly, This is a jade ring.

Isn’t it a jade pendant?

When combined, these three pieces form a complete jade ring. This artifact of yours is over a thousand years old.

Ye Huaizhang asked: Can you identify which dynasty it’s from?

The form and craftsmanship resemble the Warring States period. Look at these three Chilong Patterns – they were popular during that era. But this Cattail Pattern here only appeared in the Western Han Dynasty… Fang Haiming sounded uncertain.

Ye Baoling inquired: So it’s from the Western Han?

Theoretically yes. But the craftsmanship doesn’t quite match Western Han standards – their work was more refined. The Warring States Chilong carvings were slightly rougher. Overall, the Chilong patterns suggest Warring States, while the Cattail patterns indicate Western Han. It’s contradictory. As Port City’s most renowned treasure appraisal expert, if Fang Haiming couldn’t be certain, no one else in the city could authenticate it.

Finally, Fang Haiming asked: May I take photographs? I’ll fax them to authoritative experts on the mainland. I met several prominent archaeology experts during my recent trip who undoubtedly know more than I do.

Of course.

Before Fang Haiming could fetch his camera, Ye Baoling produced three or four pre-taken photographs.

Fang Haiming added: Whether from Warring States or Western Han, the jade itself isn’t particularly valuable. But as an antique, it becomes priceless. At auction, it could easily fetch millions with price fluctuations.

Millions meant little to Ye Baoling.

She was more concerned about the secrets potentially associated with the Ugly King Jade Pendant itself.

After about three days, Fang Haiming called Ye Baoling.

Cousin, the mainland experts have responded.

Ye Baoling was at her grandmother’s house, watching Gu Zhen’er and the Filipino maid bathe the family cats.

Stepping onto the balcony, she asked: What did the experts say?

Fang Haiming reported: The experts said the jade ring most likely originated from the Warring States period, but underwent secondary processing during Western Han Dynasty. It was later artificially divided into three pieces. With these successive modifications, if supported by historical context, this jade ring would definitely be priceless.

A Warring States jade ring, reprocessed in Western Han, likely split into three by the Ye family decades ago.

Ye Baoling also wanted to know the historical story behind it. Unfortunately, she didn’t know either.

She asked: Did the experts mention who might have owned this jade ring during Warring States and Western Han periods?

Fang Haiming replied: They actually did. The Warring States owner remains unknown, but during Western Han, jade with such special Cattail Patterns likely belonged to feudal princes. Historical records indicate that a certain Prince of Chu during mid-Western Han particularly favored adding Cattail Pattern carvings to various jade artifacts.

A Western Han Prince of Chu?

How did her family come to possess a jade ring that belonged to a Prince of Chu?

She recalled her grandfather saying their ancestors were tomb raiders. Could this have been stolen from a Chu king’s tomb?

Their ancestors probably only knew they had robbed an ancient grand tomb, but might not have been clear about which era or whose tomb it was.

That expert was very interested in this jade ring. If you want to know more, you could visit him in Beijing. Fang Haiming was willing to make an introduction.

Ye Baoling didn’t think it necessary to make a special trip, but if she and Ye Huaizhang went to Beijing later, they could visit him then.

On the drive home, Ye Baoling kept thinking about the Ugly King Jade Pendant. As she pondered, a sudden insight struck her.

It wasn’t Ugly King Jade Pendant but Chu King Jade Ring!

The Ye family ancestor had named the Chu King Jade Ring as Ugly King Jade Pendant to conceal its true identity, not wanting people to know it was a treasure from a Chu king’s tomb.

So, their ancestor had known full well that the Ugly King Jade Pendant came from a Chu king’s tomb.

Her previous speculation had been wrong.

Upon returning home, Ye Baoling went straight upstairs to find Ye Qizu.

There were guests visiting at home. Ye Baoling returned to her room to make a long-distance call, and only went back upstairs after seeing the guests’ car leave.

She sat down opposite her grandfather: I had an expert appraise the Ugly King Jade Pendant.

Ye Qizu looked somewhat surprised. What kind of expert?

Ye Baoling replied truthfully: An archaeological expert from China.

What did the expert say?

He said it’s a Warring States period jade that later ended up with a Western Han dynasty feudal king, the Chu king. So it’s very likely a burial object from one of the mid-Western Han dynasty Chu kings.

Ye Baoling watched the expression on Ye Qizu’s face. He looked surprised, but the surprise seemed more about her discovering the origin of the Ugly King Jade Pendant rather than surprise about the jade’s background itself.

You knew about this, didn’t you? Ye Baoling asked.

Ye Qizu couldn’t well deny it: I’ll tell you later.

So the Ugly King Jade Pendant is actually the Chu King Jade Ring. Ye Baoling ignored her grandfather’s promise to tell her later. What does this have to do with the Blue Brick Tunnel?

The Western Han Chu kings’ feudal state was located in the Jiangsu area. Their burial grounds couldn’t possibly be in Port City.

Logically, the Blue Brick Tunnel definitely had no direct connection to feudal kings’ tombs.

Then what was it connected to?

Ye Qizu still said: I’ll tell you later.

Ye Baoling grew slightly impatient. What if I expose the Blue Brick Tunnel? The police are still over at Silver Snake Mountain.

Threatening him again!

This time, Ye Qizu truly wouldn’t be threatened. He didn’t believe his rational granddaughter would recklessly report it without considering family interests.

He refused to yield.

So Ye Baoling picked up the phone on the table and called Ye Huaizhang: Huaizhang, if I don’t call you back in fifteen minutes, report the Blue Brick Tunnel matter to the police station… Yes, fifteen minutes from now.

After saying this, she hung up.

She moved so fast that Ye Qizu had no time to stop her.

Instead of reporting it directly, she had passed the matter through Ye Huaizhang.

With this simple maneuver, she was free from pressure, and now all the pressure rested squarely on Ye Qizu’s shoulders.

He didn’t know whether to be angry or pleased.

After all, there weren’t many people who could outmaneuver his granddaughter.

Ye Qizu compromised: I’ll talk. Quickly tell Huaizhang not to go to the police station.

You talk first.

Only then did Ye Qizu have no choice but to tell the truth.

The Ye family’s ancestor Ye Xun was originally an advisor to Chu Jie Wang of the Western Han Dynasty. Later, when Chu Jie Wang took a fancy to Ye Xun’s newly married second wife, he schemed to have all the male members of the Ye family killed. Only a twelve-year-old boy survived because he was hidden in his stepmother’s maternal home.

The boy grew up to become a minor military officer. By then, Chu Jie Wang had already died, so he planned to desecrate Chu Jie Wang’s tomb and whip his corpse in revenge.

Unfortunately, before he could carry out his plan, Ye Xun’s sole son fell ill and passed away.

This heavy responsibility was then passed down to the next generation.

The next generation was Ye Xun’s grandson, named Ye Yan, who was a frail scholar. Knowing he lacked both the ability and financial means to desecrate the tomb, he wrote down the family’s deep-seated hatred on parchment and drew a map of Chu Jie Wang’s tomb, hoping that future descendants with the capability would carry out the revenge.

As the Ye family descendants multiplied over time, the hatred gradually faded. After several generations, no one remembered the matter anymore.

The map of Chu Jie Wang’s tomb was also lost during its transmission.

It wasn’t until the late Ming and early Qing dynasties that the Ye family produced a descendant named Ye Shier, who made a living solely from tomb raiding and trading artifacts.

Ye Shier heard that the family once possessed a map of Chu Jie Wang’s tomb. He exhausted all efforts to find it and eventually located the ancestral burial ground of the Ye family’s main lineage from the Northern Song Dynasty. He dug up several generations of his own ancestors’ graves and finally found the map of Chu Jie Wang’s tomb carved on a stone slab.

Ye Shier spent over ten years lurking in Xuzhou and successfully raided the burial complex of Chu Jie Wang and Chu Si Wang.

Ye Baoling asked, Is this Ye Shier the ancestor of our branch?

Ye Qizu nodded: Yes, it’s recorded in the family genealogy. You can check it when you have time.

The old man glanced at the wall clock and reminded her: First, call Ye Huaizhang and tell him not to go to the police station.

Ye Baoling: The number I just called was out of service.

She hadn’t actually called Ye Huaizhang at all.

The deceived Ye Qizu: …

But since the story had reached this point, he could only continue.

Ye Shier emptied the treasures from the tombs of Chu Jie Wang, Chu Si Wang, their consorts, and other accompanying burial sites.

Traveling south, he first settled in Fujian before eventually moving to the deep mountains and old forests of Guangdong to reside.

The treasures from the Chu kings’ tombs were hidden by the Ye family in the mountains. It wasn’t until the late Qing Dynasty, amid social turmoil, that they chose to move further south.

They finally arrived in Port City and settled near Emerald Snail Mountain.

The Blue Brick Tunnel was dug during that time.

Therefore, the Blue Brick Tunnel ultimately leads to the treasure chamber where the artifacts from the Chu kings’ tombs are hidden.

The Ye family refers to it as the Ugly King Tomb, meant to vilify Chu Jie Wang.

Ye Baoling questioned: Why hide them in the mountains?

Ye Qizu explained: Back then, preservation techniques were poor, and such a large quantity of treasures would attract too much attention. Without the ability to protect them, it would only invite disaster. So they simply hid them in the mountains.

They went through the trouble of stealing the treasures but didn’t use them, choosing instead to hide them—a testament to their exceptional patience.

Ye Baoling: Then weren’t all those treasures hidden in vain?

Ye Qizu: Not entirely. During the chaotic times, quite a bit of gold from the Ugly King Tomb was used. The reason Leaf Pure Tea was able to start was because my grandfather used a piece of Horseshoe Gold from the Ugly King Tomb to buy an Herbal Tea Shop, which slowly led to our family’s prosperity.

She asked where the Ugly King Tomb is located.

Ye Baoling and Ye Huaizhang had walked through the Blue Brick Tunnel countless times but still hadn’t found any trace of the Ugly King Tomb.

Ye Qizu chuckled: That’s because sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees.

Don’t keep us in suspense, Grandfather. Please tell us quickly.

It’s between the Great Bronze Door and the Small Bronze Door. That Great Bronze Door wasn’t built by us—we never had that capability. It was personally designed by your great-grandfather Ye Qingtang.

Ye Baoling suddenly understood. They had been deceived by the red lights, human skulls, and Small Bronze Door inside, completely neglecting to check the other walls.

But then she realized something didn’t add up. Didn’t you say Fang Dingkun only discovered the existence of the Blue Brick Tunnel after the Medical Base collapsed? If the Great Bronze Door had been there all along, they shouldn’t have been able to enter the Blue Brick Tunnel. Shouldn’t the collapse have occurred in front of the Great Bronze Door?

Ye Qizu sighed. The collapse happened to occur right beside the Great Bronze Door, directly exposing the Blue Brick Tunnel. A corner of the Great Bronze Door was also revealed. At the time, we explained that the bronze door served as a supporting pillar. The Japanese tried several times to take our Great Bronze Door, but they feared the Medical Base would collapse if they removed it, so they had no choice but to abandon the attempt.

Ye Baoling asked curiously, What exactly is hidden in the Ugly King Tomb? Is there an inventory?

With two Chu King tombs plus the consort’s tomb and burial pits, after over ten years of excavation, the burial goods certainly wouldn’t be few.

There is an inventory. It’s in the safe. It has been passed down through generations to the head of the Ye family.

Meaning only the clan leader would know the stories of the Ye ancestors and this inventory, handed down from generation to generation.

Ye Baoling had thoroughly searched her grandfather’s safe before but never found this inventory.

You’ll receive it eventually.

After revealing this secret, Ye Qizu actually felt relieved.

Not just Ye Qingtang—even the Ye family itself—he would withdraw from the stage of history.

By now he had completely acquiesced; there was no need to struggle anymore.

Since I’ve told you the secret of the family head, choose an auspicious day, gather your Third Granduncle, the Second Branch, and Third Branch members. You’ll offer incense at the ancestral hall. From then on, you’ll replace me as the head of our Oldest Branch, and indeed the entire Ye family.

Previously when Ye Baoling inherited the Oldest Branch shares, no one dared voice opposition.

There would certainly be objections to choosing a granddaughter as family successor, but as long as Ye Qizu insisted on selecting her, all other opposition would be invalid.

She was about to usher in an era of women serving as family heads.

This day was July 2, 1988.

Author’s note: Next book will seamlessly begin She Killed (might be renamed). This book is fully drafted and completed. Interested readers can add it to collections. [Hearts][Hearts]