SBCEJM -Chapter 178 The “Number One Master Craftsman of the Capital” Turns Out to Be an Impostor!

After court was dismissed, Eunuch Laifu eagerly shuffled over.

“Prince of Zhenbei, His Majesty has ordered this servant to take you to see your new residence. We’ll check if anything needs to be adjusted.”

Feng Zhaohuan nodded slightly.
“Much appreciated, Eunuch Laifu.”

【Perfect timing. Saves me the trouble of finding the way myself.】

Eunuch Laifu led the way, chattering nonstop as they walked.

“Your Highness, this residence was built according to the standards of a princely manor! His Majesty personally supervised it—there’s not a single detail out of place.”

“That yellow poplar wood screen alone was carved by the capital’s number one master craftsman, Master Lin Yanchou!”

Before long, an imposing estate appeared ahead.

On the black lacquered gate hung a gilded plaque—“Prince Zhenbei Manor”—the four characters written with vigorous, flying brushstrokes, clearly in the emperor’s own hand.

【Host, this mansion’s total area is three times larger than the Feng family estate!】

Feng Zhaohuan stopped at the entrance.

【Good heavens… this location and scale—if it were modern times, it’d be a standalone luxury villa right in the city center!】

【What a pity my brother is still on duty. It would’ve been nice to bring him along.】

【Come to think of it… such a huge house sitting empty is still just empty space…】

【Maybe I should rent it out and become a landlord?】

【From now on, I could just lie down and collect rent—how blissful would that be!】

【Host, have you forgotten those several large chests of gold and silver in your storage space?】

The system’s voice carried a tone of disappointment.

【If you have money, you should enjoy it!】

Feng Zhaohuan thought for a moment.

【True. Life is short. Living in a mansion would make me happier—maybe even extend my lifespan a few years.】

She abandoned the idea of renting out the estate.

Eunuch Laifu pushed open the gates and led her inside.

At the center of the courtyard stood a carved wooden screen made of yellow poplar, engraved with a “Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix” design.

“Your Highness, please look!” Laifu said excitedly.

“This is Master Lin’s proudest work!”

“Look at the phoenix—every feather is so lifelike it feels like it could fly away any second!”

“And these birds, all different poses, all vivid and alive—it’s like they’re real!”

Feng Zhaohuan reached out and lightly traced the phoenix’s feathers.

The surface felt smooth and warm under her fingertips.

【Damn… this craftsmanship is insane!】

【In modern terms, he’d be a national-level intangible cultural heritage master!】

【Host!】 the system suddenly interrupted.

【There’s a huge scandal involving this Master Lin!】

Her eyes lit up.

【Oh? Tell me!】

【Lin Yanchou is indeed known as the number one craftsman in the capital…】

The system paused deliberately.

【But only in name.】

Feng Zhaohuan froze.

【What do you mean?】

【It means all his famous works—including the screen in front of you—were not made by him at all.】

【What the hell?! A ghost artisan?】

【Host, the one who actually made them is his mute and crippled apprentice—Lin Mo.】

Eunuch Laifu, who was still praising the screen, suddenly heard this thought transmission.

His entire body stiffened.

His mouth fell open wide and wouldn’t close for a long time.

The capital’s number one craftsman… is a fraud?

Then this screen… could it be an act of deceiving the emperor?!

His mind buzzed violently.

【Lin Mo was originally the son of another master woodcarver. He had immense talent from childhood.】

【At five, he could carve lifelike animals. At ten, his works were already being sold for high prices.】

【His father, Lin Qingshan, was the previous number one craftsman of the capital—his skill was godlike.】

Laifu’s mind raced.

Lin Qingshan?

He remembered!

Ten years ago, the purple sandalwood Thousand-Hand Guanyin in the palace was made by Lin Qingshan!

Even His Majesty had praised it endlessly and personally awarded him a plaque reading “Divine Craftsmanship Beyond Compare!”

【Lin Yanchou envied him and set a trap.】

Feng Zhaohuan’s heart sank.

【What trap?】

【Eight years ago, Lin Mo was seventeen, carving a Guanyin statue in his father’s workshop.】

【It was meant for the Empress to pray for blessings—extremely important.】

【While Lin Mo was working, Lin Yanchou deliberately caused the scaffolding to collapse, breaking Lin Mo’s legs.】

【Then he smashed a rolling log into his throat, leaving him mute forever.】

【What a monster!】

Feng Zhaohuan’s fists clenched tightly.

Just to steal someone’s craft—he went this far!

Laifu also remembered.

It was true—eight years ago, Lin Qingshan had indeed passed away!

At the time, the palace even granted a generous reward, praising his years of service to the royal family.

So… he was actually killed!

【Lin Yanchou publicly claimed he saved Lin Mo, and “kindly” took him in as an apprentice, earning himself a reputation for benevolence.】

【During Lin Qingshan’s illness, Lin Yanchou visited daily under the guise of concern, actually forcing him to hand over his family’s carving secrets.】

【When Lin Qingshan refused, he poisoned his medicine and slowly tortured him to death!】

Feng Zhaohuan stared at the wooden screen.

Every single carving on it was made with Lin Mo’s blood and tears.

Laifu was shaken beyond words.

A “life-saving grace”? A “master-disciple kindness”? All fake?!

This Lin Yanchou was utterly vile!

【Then what happened?】

Feng Zhaohuan took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.

【He imprisoned Lin Mo in an underground cellar behind his estate and forced him to work day and night.】

【Everything Lin Mo made was claimed under Lin Yanchou’s name, step by step elevating him to the position of “number one craftsman of the capital.”】

【Isn’t that just stealing someone else’s life?!】

Her anger surged.

【Exactly!】

The system’s voice was also filled with rage.

【Lin Mo is only twenty-five this year, but because he’s lived in darkness for years and barely eaten, he looks like he’s in his forties!】

【Lin Yanchou has built his wealth and status by sucking Lin Mo’s blood!】

【He lives in a grand three-courtyard mansion, with two wives and concubines, and many children.】

【And Lin Mo?】

【Locked in a dark underground chamber, not even given a hot meal!】

【Only two steamed buns and a bowl of cold water every day!】

【His hands are covered in wounds, some already festering, and Lin Yanchou doesn’t even give him medicine!】

Laifu recalled how he had just been praising Lin Yanchou’s craftsmanship…

He almost slapped himself twice.

“Cough…”

A faint cough sounded.

Feng Zhaohuan suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp glint flashing across them.

A middle-aged man in brocade robes with a goat beard walked over.

It was Lin Yanchou.

“I, Lin Yanchou, greet Your Highness, the Prince of Zhenbei.”

He smiled so broadly his eyes nearly vanished, then began enthusiastically pointing at the screen.

“Your Highness, look at the phoenix feathers. I used nine different carving techniques to create this layered texture…”

“I spent a full month designing the composition of the hundred birds paying homage!”

“Each bird’s posture was carefully crafted—no repetition at all!”

“I didn’t sleep properly for three months just to finish this screen!”

He spoke with excitement, gesturing wildly.

Eunuch Laifu stood nearby, looking at Lin Yanchou’s smug face.

He only felt disgust.

How can this man still have the face to boast?

【What a thick skin.】

【Stealing someone else’s work and still bragging so proudly?】

【System, should I expose him on the spot?】

【Host, it’s recommended to rescue the person first!】