My whole family is involved in diplomacy, so you dare to flex your muscles?

After reading the reply, Gu Yun sneered, pulled out his pen, added a sentence in a flamboyant style to the last line of the document, and then handed it to Li Ang.

"Reply to them with this statement: China accepts the itinerary for the archival verification, but will immediately request the return of the archives based on the facts after the verification is completed. The UK must not, in any context, interpret or imply that China's participation in the verification constitutes acceptance of the legal ownership of the existing collections."

After reading it, Li Ang's eyes lit up: "Brilliant! They've blocked their escape route of using verification as a legitimate endorsement! Trying to trick us? No way!"

"Yes." Gu Yun closed the pen cap.

Just then, Counselor Xu Jianping entered with a solemn expression, holding an encrypted fax in his hand.

"Director Gu, there's been an emergency!" Xu Jianping strode to his desk and lowered his voice. "Weren't we conducting a business stability assessment of British and American financial institutions? The domestic anti-money laundering center and several Chinese banks have detected an unusual trend while monitoring cross-border capital flows!"

Ma Weihan and Li Ang immediately stopped smiling.

"Speak." Gu Yun's eyes sharpened.

"Someone inside Britain leaked the information and knows we have that 'spoils list'," Xu Jianping said, handing the fax to Gu Yun.

"Some of the guilty old-money families on the list, upon hearing that we are going to disclose information about their private sponsors, are attempting to secretly transfer several core Dunhuang documents and Yuanmingyuan artifacts they hold in their private collections out of the country under the guise of 'pledged financial assets' through offshore trust accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands!"

"What?!" Ma Weihan jumped to his feet, trembling with rage. "These bandits! After a hundred years, they still think they can escape?!"

Gu Yun's eyes instantly turned extremely cold, as if they were covered with a layer of frost.

"Run? They can't even take a single thread with them right under my nose." Gu Yun held out his hand. "Give me that list of people we've monitored for moving."

Xu Jianping quickly handed over the documents.

Gu Yun turned to the first page, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed trust accounts and family names. Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a surname that was extremely familiar.

The Holden Family Foundation.

Holden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum.

Li Ang leaned closer for a look and immediately gasped:

"Holy crap! Holden?! No wonder he was in such a hurry to message you privately last night, no wonder he wouldn't budge on talking about returning the loot! Turns out, he had the stolen goods from back then hidden in his own house!"

"The thief steals from his own comrades, and then cries 'Stop thief!'"

Gu Yun closed the file.

"Brother Gu, this is absolutely incriminating evidence!" Li Ang rubbed his hands excitedly. "Are we getting ready for the second round of file reading? I'll contact Professor Wilson right away, and tonight we'll expose the Holden family's entire secrets! Let's see how he can continue as chairman of the council!"

"No." Gu Yun raised her hand to stop Li Ang.

Li Ang was stunned: "Huh? Such a good hand, aren't you going to play it?"

Gu Yun pulled out the document with Holden's name printed on it and placed it on the table. He then tapped it lightly twice with his slender fingers.

"It would be a waste to just throw this deadly card online." Gu Yun picked up the encrypted phone on the table, skillfully dialed a number, his eyes revealing extreme cunning and calculation. "Rather than letting him be ruined in public, I'd rather see him return the item to me in despair."

Li Ang swallowed hard: "Then now you..."

Gu Yun put the phone to her ear, listened to the dial tone, and smiled slightly.

"Let's call Chairman Holden first and have a heart-to-heart talk."

The phone was answered after only three rings.

Holden's voice, which he tried to sound calm, came through the receiver, and the sound of rain outside the London window could even be heard in the background.

"Director Gu? What brings you here so late?" Holden's tone carried the affected air of an old-fashioned British gentleman, attempting to gain the upper hand in terms of presence.

Gu Yun leaned back on the leather sofa, legs crossed, a gentle yet deadly smile playing on his lips: "Good evening, Chairman Holden. It's nothing serious, just that the rain in London is so heavy, I was worried that your family foundation's offshore trust accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands might get damp, so I called to check on things."

On the other end of the phone, the previously steady breathing stopped abruptly.

A deathly silence.

Li Ang stood to the side, covering his mouth, his shoulders shaking from trying to suppress his laughter. Gu Ge's opening remarks were like inserting a tube into someone's lungs—elegant yet malicious.

Gu Yun slowly flipped through the documents on the table, her fingertips tapping lightly on the paper in a deathly rhythm:

"In 1909, your family ancestors acquired six fragments of Dunhuang manuscripts through an academic sponsorship channel. In 1948, they were transferred to the family foundation. In 1997, an insurance valuation was applied for under the name of 'Oriental Manuscripts.' And just half an hour ago, these six stolen items, bearing the 'glorious history' of the British Empire, were being attempted to be transferred out of the country overnight under the guise of 'pledged financial assets.'"

Gu Yun paused, then casually added, "Mr. Holden, moving in the rain can easily strain your back."

"You...you were listening into my private finances?!" Holden finally broke down, his voice cracking with barely concealed terror and anger. "That's a serious crime! I can sue you!"

"Let me correct you, this is called 'cross-border capital flow anomaly monitoring' based on bilateral financial compliance, which is reasonable and legal." Gu Yun chuckled, his tone revealing the composure of a seasoned official. "Besides, you're the chairman of the museum's board of directors, responsible for reviewing the Dunhuang archives, yet you have Dunhuang documents from the time when you were part of the spoils hidden in your own home. If the reporters on Fleet Street found out about this, guess what the headline on the front page of tomorrow's *Times* will be?"

Gu Yun's voice gradually turned cold, carrying an extremely strong sense of pressure: "Is it 'The Respectable Man Who Steals from His Own Office' or 'The Thief Shareholder of the British Museum'?"

These few words, which were both hurtful and damaging, pushed Holden to the brink of despair.

Holden was breathing heavily. He had been a respectable man his entire life and knew better than anyone how much respectability was worth. If this were to be exposed, he would not only lose his position as chairman of the council, but the entire family's half-century of public reputation would be ruined.

"Director Gu..." Holden's tone finally softened, tinged with a hint of pleading, "This matter is negotiable. I can privately donate a cultural fund to China, or entrust these documents to the British Museum for long-term safekeeping and public display..."

"Mr. Holden, you don't seem to have understood me," Gu Yun interrupted him coldly. "They shouldn't be moved from one British pocket to another. What I want isn't money, it's rules."

Holden remained silent.

Gu Yun issued a final ultimatum: "You have 24 hours to make three decisions. First, proactively declare your conflict of interest to the council and resign from all positions related to the review of the Dunhuang archives; second, support the British Museum in opening its complete catalog of archives; third, have your family foundation initiate unconditional return negotiations with the Chinese side regarding those six documents."

"You want to force me to resign? That's impossible! And 24 hours is too short!" Holden gritted his teeth.

"When you stole the documents back then, you didn't give China a single second." Gu Yun's eyes were like knives. "Mr. Holden, you're like someone sitting on a powder keg smoking a cigar, trying to discuss the legality of matches with me. What's the point? Remember, dignity isn't given by others, it's something you earn yourself. Goodnight."

beep--

The phone hangs up.

Li Ang, who had been listening to the whole thing, perked up and rubbed his hands excitedly: "Brother Gu! Awesome! That boomerang went straight for his carotid artery! Holden will probably need sleeping pills to close his eyes tonight."

Counselor Xu Jianping adjusted his glasses and asked with a mature and cautious tone, "Director Gu, what if he's cornered and tries to smear us first?"

"Yes." Gu Yun tossed his phone onto the table. "So we have to follow his path and leave him with nowhere to go. Li Ang, release an unnamed teaser."

Li Ang immediately turned on his computer, his hands hovering over the keyboard: "What are you saying!"

Gu Yun recounted: "Announcement of the second phase of the Independent Archives Reading Project: We will focus on the circulation of Dunhuang documents within 'private patron networks.' We urge relevant holders to proactively disclose information to avoid conflicts of interest that could undermine the credibility of public museum reviews."

After typing the last character, Li Ang looked up and chuckled: "Send?"

"hair."

Ten minutes later, the trailer was simultaneously released on Twitter and major domestic platforms.

It's a short but significant statement, extremely damaging. No names were mentioned, but those who understand will understand.

British media outlets sprang into action instantly, like sharks smelling blood. Major news websites launched special columns overnight, wildly speculating: "Who is the private sponsor?" "Is there a conflict of interest among senior officials at the British Museum?"

Meanwhile, at the Holden family estate, the legal team was arguing fiercely.

Some suggested a strong denial, others suggested playing dead. Then the lead lawyer adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and coldly poured cold water on the idea: "The Chinese side knows everything about our 1997 insurance valuation records and the trust transfer instruction from half an hour ago. If Gu Yun releases the evidence online tomorrow, Mr. Holden will be branded a disgrace for obstructing investigation. Not only will he lose his job, but his family business will also suffer a devastating blow."

Holden sat at the end of the long table, his face ashen. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He had no time to gamble, and even less money to gamble.

At 9 a.m. the following day, a bombshell statement ignited global public opinion.

Holden issued a personal statement acknowledging that his family foundation does indeed hold six Oriental manuscripts whose provenance "requires further verification." To avoid a conflict of interest, he announced that he would temporarily recuse himself from matters related to the British Museum's review of the Dunhuang archives and expressed his willingness to initiate verification with the Chinese side.

Although the wording was extremely restrained and full of public relations rhetoric, the outside world was still in an uproar.

British netizens immediately lost their temper and started cursing:

"My God! The person in charge of the investigation had stolen goods hidden in his own home?!"

"This isn't a warehouse keeper, this is a warehouse shareholder!"

"No wonder they refused to release the files; they were protecting their own people!"

Chinese netizens have taken "Cyber ​​Court" to a whole new level, with the comments section filled with cheesy yet hilarious jokes:

Who is standing before me, accusing this official?!

[Is it alright to examine yourself like this, coming right to your own doorstep?]

[Gu Ge: Open the door and check the water meter. Holden: Wait a minute, let me move myself out from behind the door first.]

[This plot is even more outrageous than the script; even wish-fulfillment novels wouldn't dare write it like this. Brother Gu has practically stripped the villain bare and is waving it like a flag!]

Li Ang laughed so hard his stomach hurt from reading the comments.

But the atmosphere in the British Museum Council meeting room was one of profound grief.

Without Holden in charge, the conservatives were leaderless. Archivist Catherine shrewdly seized the opportunity, slamming Holden's statement on the table and coldly surveying the usually aloof board members.

"Gentlemen, we can no longer pretend this is just a 'procedural issue.' Gu Yun has a complete list of private sponsors. If we delay any longer, the next person to be publicly shamed in front of the whole world could be anyone sitting here."

That statement is incredibly damaging. Which of these wealthy British people doesn't have a dark, unsavory past?

Ultimately, driven by extreme fear of utter disgrace, the council unanimously passed a historic resolution:

The British Museum will open the complete catalog of Dunhuang-related archives to the Chinese side and the UNESCO working group within ten days, and will prioritize the verification of the first batch of documents with questionable provenance!

The news reached the Chinese Embassy in the UK.

Dean Ma Weihan stood there, his hands trembling slightly, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Li Ang's voice was hoarse with excitement: "Brother Gu! The complete catalog! They finally gave in! This is the first time in a hundred years!"

Gu Yun looked at the resolution text faxed over by the council, his expression remaining calm, not blinded by victory. "Pay attention to their wording. It's the catalog that's being released, not the return of the documents. These British are very shrewd; they'll use privacy laws or damaged files as a shield at any time."

Gu Yun handed the documents to Ma Weihan: "Dean Ma, it's your turn now. Once the table of contents is open, we need to mark out the first batch of return lists as quickly as possible."

Ma Weihan solemnly accepted the documents, his previously cloudy old eyes now shining with astonishing brilliance: "The team I brought is more than enough! As long as they dare to open the door, I dare to investigate to the end!"

Gu Yun nodded and instructed, "Don't hold back when you're checking. Verify the exhibition labels, Tibet entry registrations, private communications, and insurance records—make sure everything matches. We're not here for a visit; we're here to audit the accounts."

"Yes! Take stock of the accounts!" Ma Weihan nodded emphatically, his voice resounding.

That evening, the embassy canteen specially prepared extra food, including braised beef noodles and scrambled eggs with tomatoes to celebrate the partial victory.

Li Ang, holding a large bowl, ate with sweat pouring down his face, humming with emotion, "Brother Gu, now I feel that Michelin is all meaningless. When it comes to business trips and battles, nothing beats the taste of home."

Gu Yun picked up a piece of egg with her chopsticks and said casually, "Eat quickly, we have a meeting after you finish."

Li Ang instantly wore a pained expression: "Seriously? We just got the whole catalog; even the donkeys in the production team need a breather!"

Just then, Counselor Xu Jianping strode into the canteen, holding a top-level urgent telegram in his hand, his face grave.

"Director Gu, intelligence just came in from back home: something's happened in Switzerland!"

Gu Yun immediately put down her chopsticks, her eyes instantly sharpening.

Xu Jianping lowered his voice and reported: "Holden's statement has triggered a chain of panic. A top-tier private warehousing company in Geneva, Switzerland, suddenly received three urgent transfer requests for Oriental documents half an hour ago, one of which is highly suspected to be the core Dunhuang manuscripts we are looking for! Behind the applicants is another extremely powerful old aristocratic family in Britain."

Li Ang's chopsticks froze in mid-air as he exclaimed, "Holy crap, someone's trying to escape?!"

Ma Weihan's face also darkened: "These thieves are trying to launder their valuables on the black market before we can settle the accounts!"

Gu Yun took the urgent telegram, scanned it quickly, and then neatly folded the paper. There was no trace of panic in his eyes; instead, his gaze revealed the cold sharpness of a hunter locking onto his prey.

"Notify the Swiss Embassy to immediately verify all inbound and outbound information of that warehousing company. At the same time, contact the UNESCO working group to prepare to issue the highest risk warning for global cross-border cultural and creative goods transportation."

"What about London?" Li Ang asked hurriedly.

"London inspection, with Dean Ma leading the team, turn the British Museum upside down." Gu Yunduan picked up his bowl, finished the last mouthful of noodle soup, then stood up and grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair.

"I'll personally block the door in Switzerland." Gu Yun said, putting on her coat and walking out without looking back, her voice as cold as ice. "I want them to know that things are not like they were a hundred years ago."

He walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Ang.

"Book the earliest flight to Geneva."