Episode Summary
In "The Lost National Treasure" Episode 23, Mu Jianhui learns that in the world of high-end antiques, perception and connections are more valuable than authenticity. He applies this cynical lesson to his own ambitions, manipulating those around him. While his friend Li Yuanguang celebrates the news of his wife Wenwen's pregnancy, a dark secret looms, as it's heavily implied the child is actually Mu's. Mu coldly instructs Wenwen to raise the child as Li's. Simultaneously, Mu orchestrates a grand scheme to gain notoriety by publishing a book on valuing artifacts. He deceives the respected archaeologist Guo Shilin into appearing at his book launch, creating a false endorsement. The plan culminates in a public confrontation when Fang Kun exposes Mu's scheme, accusing him of encouraging tomb raiding. Although publicly shamed, the resulting scandal gives Mu the fame he craved.
Spoiler Alert
The Lost National Treasure: Episode 23 Recap & Spoilers
The Art of the Fake
The episode opens with Mu Jianhui, blindfolded and led into a mysterious warehouse. When the blindfold is removed, he finds himself surrounded by a vast collection of porcelain. An old man, calmly smoking a traditional pipe, watches him. Mu is put to the test. He picks up a red, long-necked vase and delivers a masterful analysis, confidently declaring it a clever imitation—a Qing dynasty piece crafted in the style of the Han era.
Impressed, the old man confirms Mu’s assessment. He confesses that his warehouse is a mix of authentic artifacts and high-quality forgeries. With a limited supply of genuine relics, he argues, masterful fakes are necessary to satisfy the insatiable demand from collectors and museums. He reveals a cynical truth: many collectors, even when aware a piece is a fake, will acquire it as if it were real. An object's value isn't inherent; it's manufactured by hype and perception. The revelation hits Mu Jianhui like a thunderbolt. Armed with this new understanding, he purchases an expensive plate, a replica identical to one owned by the influential Zhao Youlin.
Later, over a meal, a bewildered Li Yuanguang questions why Mu would waste money on a forgery. Mu explains his new philosophy: powerful figures like Zhao Youlin and other experts often know they are dealing with fakes. They don't care about authenticity. What they value are connections, resources, and the game itself. To be accepted into their circle, one must be willing to look past the truth.
A Tangled Web of Secrets
Meanwhile, Li Yuanguang arrives home to find Wenwen deeply troubled. His discovery of a pregnancy test in the bathroom leads to a doctor's visit, which confirms she is eleven weeks pregnant.
While Li grapples with impending fatherhood, Mu Jianhui sets a new plan in motion. He contacts a publisher, Peng Cheng, with a proposal to write a book on black pottery figurines. Coincidentally, Peng Cheng is a close acquaintance of the respected archaeologist Guo Shilin.
On another front, the archaeological world is buzzing. Fang Kun and Guo Shilin are in Yin Village with their superior, Zhang Fengchun, surveying a tomb site. They discover the tomb is far grander than anticipated, laid out in the "亚" shape reserved for royalty. They theorize it could be the long-lost tomb of Emperor Tai Zong of Han. This is a radical idea, as the emperor's tomb was believed to be located at Phoenix Mountain. Zhang Fengchun is taken aback by their audacity but respects their courage to challenge established history.
That evening, a joyful Li Yuanguang invites Mu Jianhui over for drinks to celebrate Wenwen's pregnancy and to thank Mu for changing his life. But the celebration is fraught with tension. While Li is ecstatic, Mu and Wenwen exchange grave looks. Wenwen fears the child is Mu's and wants an abortion. In a cold, pragmatic moment, Mu convinces her to keep the baby, insisting that regardless of biology, the child's father can only be Li Yuanguang.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, Fang Kun travels to Lüjia Village to spend the holiday with Luo Qing. Her parents also arrive from Beijing, and the family shares a New Year's Eve dinner together.
Elsewhere, Mu Jianhui attempts to mend his fractured marriage. To soothe his wife Liu Shulan's grief over the loss of their own child, he begins sponsoring an orphanage and spending time with the children. Liu Shulan, seeing this change, softens towards him, feeling that the husband she once knew is finally returning. The domestic bliss is short-lived. Li Yuanguang, bursting with fatherly pride, asks Mu to choose a name for his unborn child, a suggestion that deeply upsets Wenwen.
The Grand Deception
Mu Jianhui's ambition, however, has not waned. He pours his energy into his new book, "A Guide to Black Pottery Figurines." He decides to self-publish a massive run of 100,000 copies, distributing them to bookstores across Qinchuan. To create a major splash, he plans a book signing and asks Peng Cheng to find a respected industry figure to give the event credibility.
Peng Cheng immediately suggests Guo Shilin. He invites the archaeologist under the pretense of a "public welfare lecture" on cultural relics. Guo, believing it's for a good cause, readily agrees.
The day of the event, Guo Shilin walks into a trap. He arrives to find not a lecture hall but a promotional book launch for Mu Jianhui. He instantly realizes he has been manipulated into endorsing a notorious antiquities dealer. With cameras flashing and a crowd gathered, he is trapped.
Qi Dacang, who is also at the event, quickly calls Fang Kun. An enraged Fang Kun storms the book signing and publicly confronts Mu Jianhui. He denounces the book, arguing that by assigning monetary values to priceless artifacts, Mu is directly encouraging the tomb-raiding epidemic that plagues the country.
Though publicly humiliated and left speechless by the accusation, Mu Jianhui has won. The confrontation creates a massive scandal, generating exactly the kind of widespread publicity he craved. His name and his book are now famous, and his plan has succeeded perfectly.
