Chapter 7: The Offering of Treasures
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Jiang Ye hurriedly said, “Officer, don’t panic. When someone touches the activation switch of a treasure, it automatically emits light.”
The prison guards stared uncertainly at the phone lying on the ground.
One brave guard stepped forward, picked up the glowing phone, and seeing that the treasure was harmless, finally felt at ease holding it.
“So this is an oil lamp for lighting?” one guard asked.
“Not at all. This only activates the treasure. To truly unlock it, only the treasure’s owner can do that. It requires him to open it; I cannot,” Jiang Ye replied sincerely.
The guards glanced back and forth between Jiang Ye and Li Jianguo before finally handing the phone to Li Jianguo.
“You open it,” the guard said sternly, “Don’t try any tricks, or my blade won’t be playing around.”
Threatened, Li Jianguo nodded repeatedly in assurance, “I won’t, I won’t.”
Jiang Ye reminded him, “Brother Li, first show the officers how this treasure ‘quickly’ illuminates and turns night into day.”
He stressed the word “quickly” heavily.
Li Jianguo was momentarily stunned but soon understood Jiang Ye’s hint.
Obediently, he activated the lighting function. As a beam of light burst forth from the phone, all the guards’ attention was fixed on it.
Taking advantage of the moment, Jiang Ye subtly signaled a few others nearby. Zhang Tao and the others, being sharp, immediately understood and quietly passed the phone to Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye swiftly stored the phone into the system. Li Minghui and the others breathed a sigh of relief; the phone had been saved.
Meanwhile, the guards marveled at the phone, exclaiming continuously.
“So bright!”
“It really emits light.”
“Amazing.”
After their astonishment, the chief guard curiously asked, “You said it can create lifelike images. Show us a demonstration.”
Li Jianguo turned on the camera. As the image appeared, the guards gathered around him burst into exclamations.
“Oh my heavens!”
“I—I’m actually inside it!” one guard nervously but excitedly pointed at the screen, and upon seeing the person on the screen mimicking the same gesture, the amazement grew.
Other guards crowded around, and upon witnessing the scene, each expressed astonishment.
“Just like a mirror.”
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While the guards marveled, Li Jianguo suggested, “Let me take a photo of you officers.”
“Good, good,” they responded.
The chief guard cautiously stepped back to let his men try first.
Li Jianguo took a photo of the first guard and showed it to him.
“Exactly the same, incredible,” the guard exclaimed repeatedly.
Other guards praised it as well.
“This is better than any painter on the outside.”
“This treasure is truly miraculous; with just a press, it forms an image.”
After the admiration, the chief guard squinted at the group, “What are you bringing these things to Langya for?”
“Officer, these treasures are intended as tributes to His Majesty. Just now, on the street, my brother was too nervous and accidentally triggered the light, causing this misunderstanding,” Jiang Ye explained promptly.
“Besides this treasure, we have another one, also to be presented to His Majesty.”
The chief glanced at Jiang Ye, then quickly shifted his gaze to a confiscated mineral water bottle. Holding it up, he asked, “Is this the item?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What kind of treasure is this?”
Jiang Ye smiled and introduced, “This is a portable water pouch, completely leak-proof.”
“Oh?” The chief examined the smooth plastic bottle, feeling its texture and the ridges.
Before heading to Langya, Jiang Ye had wisely ensured the advertisements on the bottle were removed; otherwise, explaining this situation would be difficult.
“I’ll demonstrate for you, officer.”
The chief signaled to his men, and a guard carefully handed the bottle to Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye took it and patiently demonstrated while explaining, “Officer, watch closely. We just gently twist this red cap to the right, and it opens.”
He held the cap, then poured water from the bottle in front of them.
“To close it is simple too. Place the cap back on, then twist it in the opposite direction to seal it completely.”
He inverted the bottle and demonstrated the sealing once more.
The guards watched with impressed murmurs.
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“This item serves the same purpose as a water pouch but is lighter, more attractive, and unique.”
The chief took the bottle from Jiang Ye, opened and closed the cap as instructed. Each time he did so, the surrounding guards expressed amazement.
“These two treasures were carefully prepared by commoners as offerings to the Emperor. We hope the officers will guard them carefully.”
The chief winked at a subordinate, who then carefully took the phone and the water bottle.
Studying Jiang Ye’s group from head to toe, the chief noted their appearances and demeanor—they didn’t look like lifelong laborers. Except for one with darkened skin, the other five appeared well cared for, not burdened by worries of basic survival.
Yet, their clothing was in stark contrast to their refined demeanor, resembling impoverished bandits.
There was a contradiction in these six men, but since they could produce such miraculous treasures, their identities must be extraordinary.
“Search them.”
At the chief’s command, the previously friendly guards began to thoroughly search Jiang Ye’s group.
The guards all spread their hands, “Boss, they have nothing on them.”
Without weapons, the chief was somewhat more convinced by their words.
Whether he believed it or not was irrelevant; the matter had to be reported to the higher-ups, whose trust was most important.
Not wanting to offend them unnecessarily—if these men were rewarded for their tribute and favored by superiors in the future, it would be unwise to antagonize them now.
Having made his decision, the chief ordered his men, “Lock them up in cell number three.”
Then he addressed Jiang Ye’s group, “We will report this matter truthfully. As for how the authorities will handle you, wait and see.”
Jiang Ye nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes.”
Once locked in the cell and after the guards left, the six gathered together.
Li Jianguo was the first to speak, eyes red as he apologized repeatedly to the others, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t realize my phone’s flashlight was still on. I—I thought it was off.”
Liu Zhendong said, “Brother Li, now isn’t the time to dwell on that.”
Zhang Minghui looked at Jiang Ye, “Director Jiang, now that we’re locked up here, can we still get out?”
Zhang Tao added, “Director Jiang, we probably can’t go back directly. We might have to return to the drop-off point first, right?”