Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Suffering Wife vs. Homewrecker (9) Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Suffering Wife vs. Homewrecker (9) Qin Yuanzheng was drinking alone, drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
He was in a very bad mood.
Anyone forced to separate from their childhood sweetheart would feel the same.
Although Zhang Mingshu was only sent to an annex within the Prince of Zhenbei’s Mansion, Qin Yuanzheng could still visit her when he missed her, yet being forcibly separated in their most affectionate times was still incredibly painful.
As he was drinking himself into a stupor, he overheard someone next to him saying, “I heard that Mr. Han Shi’s artworks are on display at Wensong Residence today, would Brother Li care to join me later to appreciate them?”
A thought struck Qin Yuanzheng’s mind, Mr. Han Shi?
Qin Yuanzheng had two passions in life, one was painting and the other was wine.
Alas, neither of these passions were mastered by his close confidantes.
Mr. Han Shi was the most famous painter of the previous dynasty, his skills had reached a divine level, and people honored him as the “Painting Sage.”
He immediately put down his wine glass and headed towards Wensong Residence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today we are displaying Mr. Han Shi’s finest work in the ‘Secluded Bamboo Painting’. Please, everyone, take a moment to appreciate it,” a middle-aged literati clothed man announced loudly.
At the same time, he slowly unrolled a scroll.
On the scroll were dense bamboo groves with sporadic cold stones accompanied by babbling brooks; Mr. Han Shi truly deserved his reputation, with just a few strokes, he had vividly brought a secluded bamboo landscape to life in front of everyone.
Many people began to praise the painting with sighs of admiration, following which the middle-aged literati finally revealed his intention.
Essentially, his family had recently gone through a major upheaval, and he had no choice but to sell his family’s treasures, among which this painting by Mr. Han Shi was one of the most valuable, hoping someone destined would acquire it.
Such an opportunity, Qin Yuanzheng would not let pass.
He immediately made an offer, but in the Capital City, there were plenty of wealthy people, and soon enough, many started driving the price up competitively.
Qin Yuanzheng, already somewhat irritated, was about to shout out a high price, when suddenly, he smelled a faint cold fragrance at the tip of his nose.
He didn’t know what kind of spice it was made of, but it made his spirits lift as it lingered around his nose.
Then, he felt as if someone tugged lightly at his sleeve.
Turning his head, he looked into a pair of eyes as bright as cold stars.
No doubt, those eyes were breathtakingly beautiful, and Qin Yuanzheng himself was briefly entranced.
The woman, her face covered with a veil, softly said with one sentence, “My apologies for the intrusion, young master, but this painting does not seem authentic.”
Her voice was clear and crisp, sounding as delightful as the collision of gold and jade.
Attracted by her voice and the content of her statement, Qin Yuanzheng found himself unwittingly following her to an elegant room upstairs.
“May I know on what evidence the lady claims the painting to be a fake?” Qin Yuanzheng still remembered the matter at hand.
The woman, who was Gu Shengyin, chuckled lightly, “May I ask the young master, what is Mr. Han Shi’s brushwork characteristic of?”
Qin Yuanzheng answered without hesitation, “It penetrates the back of the paper, wild and unrestrained, as he was himself.”
Gu Shengyin nodded, “Then, young master, think again, was the painting we just saw like that?”
Qin Yuanzheng frowned, “I observed that the painting indeed matches Mr. Han Shi’s style, no, wait!”
His eyes suddenly brightened, “I understand now, that indeed was not Mr. Han Shi’s work!”
He turned to Gu Shengyin to thank her, “Thank you, miss, for speaking up.”
Gu Shengyin smiled slightly, “It was just a simple effort, just didn’t want the true art lovers to be deceived.”
Although she wore a veil, when she smiled, one could vaguely see the beautiful contours of her face, partially hidden and even more intriguing under the veil’s elusive cover.
At that moment, Qin Yuanzheng found himself utterly mesmerized.