Chapter 770: Chapter 23 Royal Family Scandal (2)_2

“They won’t mention you anymore,” the Hidden Law Master turned around, “Would you like to go to the museum or look for the so-called Crown Prince?”

Jian stood there, eyes vacant. She said nothing until the Hidden Law Master impatiently tapped her on the shoulder.

“Either is fine,” Jian muttered, “It doesn’t matter.”

·

Doves flapped their wings, flying from the rooftops to the square in front of the church. An elderly man on a bench scattered some grains, drawing the birds closer to peck. Tourists from exotic lands jostled for the best selfie spots, with the blue dome of St. George Cathedral in the background. A troop of knights in white armor walked through the center of the square, the clear sky as azure as the roof of the cathedral, a scene of peace and leisure.

Gongsun Ce walked shoulder to shoulder with Alandia in the streets of the Blue Church District, feeling as though they had stepped into a painting.

The official name of this district was actually George District, named after a renowned saint in the country’s history. However, the locals preferred to call it Blue Church, because in the era when the divine myths were hot, many churches with blue rooftop and stained glass windows were built here. Nowadays, the devout faith had long disappeared; the priests mostly relied on tourists buying souvenirs to make money, spending their leisure time telling local kids about the glorious past of Saint King Morton.

While taking photos of the cathedral with his phone, Gongsun Ce said, “You planned to come to the museum all along.”

“Why?” Alandia asked.

“When you parted with your brother and Orianna, you mentioned the museum. I don’t believe it was just then that you considered the current developments; you didn’t have sufficient intelligence. So, you originally planned to come here to do something…or investigate something.”

“That’s correct,” Dawn Knight nodded, “You are slowly getting the hang of it, Mr. Gongsun.”

Gongsun Ce wiped his nose, proudly saying, “Who do you think I am!”

The Morton Royal Museum was just a five-minute walk away from St. George Cathedral. They crossed through a crowd of tourists and soon saw the iconic front gate of the museum, columns of stone supporting a broad white stone roof, the design simple yet solemn, resembling a temple.

“The museum has collected precious artifacts from around the world, you can take this opportunity to admire them.”

Gongsun Ce straightened his collar and strode forward, swaggering as if he were a senior leader coming for inspection.

“I grew up in the capital of the skies, Mr. Gongsun. What haven’t I seen? Why would I yearn for these antiques of yours?”

·

“Wow…”

Gongsun Ce looked up unconsciously, letting out an awe-struck exclamation, his mouth agape like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time.

The museum was noisy with voices as the visitors occasionally let out exclamations of admiration. Dawn Knight coughed softly, hiding a laugh about to escape.

“What’s so funny! It’s not that amusing! Don’t laugh!”

“You have a talent for comedy, Mr. Gongsun.”

Gongsun Ce was too distracted to retort, his attention now captured by the grandeur of the place. He had assumed before entering that he would see a few broken glass cases housing old paintings or stone axes, but stepping inside, he felt as if he had entered an Illusion Realm, a world of temporal chaos.

Reminiscent of the cathedral dome above, a grand sea of religious oil paintings spread out. Various angels draped in white cloths played divine tunes around them, the supreme benevolent deity heading to earth surrounded by followers, pointing to the purest of the first humans. The tips of human and divine fingers touching, countless glimmers blooming like the birth of the universe, actual existing lights guided the visitors’ gazes, making them look beyond.

Hence, ancient myths faded from the view, and humans’ creations sprang up in the real world like bamboo after the rain. Armored knights protected the first steam engine in Morton’s history, samurai from Zero Island spectated primitive bone carvings from the Ustus tribal era, Empire’s jade-belt bamboo tube long swords and landscape paintings hung on one side, directly facing sculptures, steel swords, fancy garments, and oil paintings from the Country. One moment you might think you are in the 16th-century royal capital, the next as if you’ve reached an ancient country a thousand years ago. This place exhibited everything that once genuinely existed, yet it bloomed glamorously like a fantastical dream.

“…Not even in a glass case?” Gongsun Ce stared at the unprotected armor and muttered, “Just placed openly in the hall?”

“The museum has too many artifacts; they only tightly protect the most precious ones.”

There were too many collections, covering too broad a range. The sculptures on the stair railings were genuine works by famous ancient artists; even the wallpaper on the corridor walls was a treasure from art history. Time had accumulated this splendor, the glory left by history. Gongsun Ce looked around like a child, temporarily forgetting his purpose for coming.

He saw many tourists huddled around several large glass cases up ahead and eagerly made his way over. Inside the glass cases were dolls crafted by Morton artisans, each wearing faded lavish clothing, their expressionless faces lifelike.

Gongsun Ce involuntarily stepped back half a step; a plaque beside the cabinet recorded that these were about four hundred years old from a Duke’s private collection, yet the dolls were made so realistically it was as if a modern girl had dressed in old clothes and stood in the cabinet, contemplating who might see through her disguise.

“Hey, Knight Lady,” Gongsun Ce said, “Do you sell these dolls here?”

“Mr. Gongsun, sometimes knowingly asking does not make you seem humorous, only makes others deeply feel it’s foolish.”

“Can you not be so serious? I was just asking…”

Not for sale then, not for sale. Maybe after his brother repaired the armor, he might be able to get one from the museum… But that would also be a gift for his brother, not for him.