The original owner of the vase indeed dared not bluster, swallowing his loss while repeatedly and respectfully explaining.
"Your Majesty the Queen, I had no idea there was a ruby inside the vase. I certainly did not partake in any theft, and no one in our family knew. If we had known, we would never have sold it. I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!"
Ye Xinguang waved it off magnanimously. "As it was originally property of the Royal Family, it has now rightly returned to its original owner. Let us consider the matter closed."
The vase's original owner wiped the cold sweat from his brow, filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen. I will donate all of today's earnings to charity, contributing my part to the cause."
The proceeds from today's charity auction were all meant for educational institutions in remote areas, with this vase being the sole exception. Now, its owner dared not keep the money and painfully donated it.
