Legacy of the old dynasty

Wu Xie was free that day and went to Zhang Qiling's mansion to look for him.It was the old servant who opened the door, seeing him, he silently stepped aside.

Wu Xie opened his mouth and called "Uncle Li".The old man nodded, pointed to the side yard, and said, "The young master is in the study."

A hibiscus was moved to the patio in the side yard, but last year there was no movement, but this year a tree bloomed.There is a large tank under the tree, and several goldfish are raised, and they are already cooked. When they see a figure, they float to the surface to look for food.With these flowers and trees, the yard looks much more lively.

But still it was silent.Wu Xie pushed open the door of the study room, Zhang Qiling was standing in front of the desk, and didn't look back when he heard him come in.When I got closer, I saw that it was indeed writing.

He added a few lines to the poem he sang in the tea garden that day: "Invite to accompany the bright moon after night, and meet the morning glow before morning. After washing away the tirelessness of the ancient and modern people, how can it be boasted when you are drunk." Zhang Qiling finished his pen and read it. Look, it's about to be rubbed as soon as you reach out.

Wu Xie hurriedly held him down. "You don't want me! It's well written..." Blowing on the wet ink carefully, he asked him casually, "I've been here for a long time, why is there no one in your room to bring tea and water?"

Zhang Qiling looked at him and said, "I'm afraid the water in the kitchen hasn't boiled, so just wait."

Wu Xie asked him strangely: "Why is there no hot water now? There are too few people in your yard, why is that so?"

The fire in the Wu family’s kitchen is always on all year round, and there are always several large earthen pots simmering on the stove, boiling soup or rice porridge.No matter what time of day, there is always something to eat.He couldn't believe it, Zhang Qiling did it to save some firewood.

Sure enough, after Uncle Li served the tea, Zhang Qiling slowly said, "Recently, I have to restrain myself a bit." Just this sentence, there is no further text.Wu Xie was not in a hurry, she sipped tea and waited for him to continue.

It took a long time before another sentence came: "I heard that Mr. Hai was called to be the censor of Youqian capital in Nanjing. I'm afraid he is on his way now."

Wu Xie was startled, and asked, "Master Hai? But Hai Rui who is known as 'Hai Qingtian'?"

Zhang Qiling nodded: "Who else?"

Wu Xie said "Hey", and approached him and asked him, "But Master Hai has been dismissed for more than ten years? I still heard from my father that he once went up to the court with a coffin on his back, and reported various crimes against the Emperor Shu, and was later dismissed." He was put on death row. Before he could be executed, there was news that the late emperor had passed away."

The last time Hai Rui came to Jiangnan to assume office, Wu Xie was only three years old, and all his impressions came from legends.It was widely rumored that Mr. Hai was incorruptible, and that he only bought two catties of meat for his mother's birthday, which is almost unbelievable.

"Back when Hai Rui took office in Yingtian Mansion, his benefactor, the Xu family, was the first to do the surgery. Not to mention the forced withdrawal of the land, the two sons of the Xu family were allotted. It can be seen that being honest is not straightforward..." Zhang Qiling said, and said after a while, "Who knows whose turn it will be this time."

He was still unhappy after all.As soon as Mr. Hai took office, he wanted to use them, these big families in the south of the Yangtze River, as his sons.But if there are no rich families in the south of the Yangtze River, where will the taxes be collected?Dredging and building the city every year, if there is a disaster year, it is necessary to open a warehouse to supply rice. Where will the money come from?Not to mention that in this city, building a stone bridge today and building an archway tomorrow is not due to donations from these people.How can we catch everything in one go and clean up everything.

Wu Xie sighed, and said, "No wonder the third uncle said that he would never go out to dinner from today, so it was because of this." He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him, "He said let me go , Do you think I will go or not?"

Zhang Qiling took it over and looked at it, it was an ordinary banquet, and the place was also unusual, so he asked him: "Would you like to go?"

Wu Xie said, "Will you accompany me? Look at Fat... Brother Wang, will he go?"

"If you ask him, he will naturally go."

"My third uncle is probably trying to avoid the limelight. If I go with the prince, you'd better not show your face."

"It's okay," Zhang Qiling said, "Even you said that I was kicked out by the Zhang family, what are you afraid of?"

"..."

Because of Hai Rui's relationship, Jiang Nan's voice seemed to have calmed down, and all the singing and dancing banquets were changed places.When the three of them came to the pier, they saw a painted boat, and there were already guests on the boat.There had been a young servant waiting by the side, leading the three of them onto the boat.

Probably out of fear of being ostentatious, the boat prepared was not tall and exquisite, with only one layer of red-painted railings.There are also no glazed windows, because it is transparent, but it is cool to walk on the water.This is quite what Prince Wang likes.

The guests also came one after another, but there were many people who knew Zhang Qiling and exchanged pleasantries endlessly.Wu Xie looked at it coldly for a while, then pushed the prince who was beside him.

"You said that he usually talks so little, but now he likes to talk."

Prince Wang was eating melon seeds, he looked up and said, "You haven't seen him go out to discuss business... Forget it, you just haven't seen him."

Wu Xie was choked and unable to speak for a long time.Prince Wang said: "Look at you, you are like an old lady, really..." Halfway through speaking, Zhang Qiling glanced over from a distance, and he immediately shut up.

The last time Wu Xie met the guest, he was a very elegant person.She has a beautiful beard and is extremely gorgeously dressed. Behind her are two servant girls, one of whom is holding a zither in her hand.

Seeing Qin, Wu Xie's heart skipped a beat.Sure enough, behind the three of them was a petite figure with a big cloak covering his head.After entering the cabin, he took off his hat, revealing a palm-sized face, but very generous, and looked around quietly, really looking forward to Shenghui.For a while, no one in the cabin spoke.

She obviously recognized Wu Xie, but she just smiled at him and wished him a blessing.Wu Xie's face turned red immediately.It seemed as if he heard the person next to him snort coldly, but when he turned his head to look, the person had no expression on his face.

Wang Gongzi asked him in a low voice: "Do you know this woman?" Wu Xie didn't dare to make a big move, so he could only whisper: "I don't know." Wang Gongzi didn't believe it, so he snorted coldly.

All the people here are local celebrities, and the banquet is not boring.Zhang Qiling was very talkative today, but Prince Wang remained silent.After drinking for three rounds and talking about sex, the owner of the seat took out a scroll.

The beautiful beard said fairly: "Recently I got a painting, but I'm not very good at studying art, and the research evidence is not true. Today I invite you to the banquet, one is to reminisce about the past, and the other is to invite everyone to look at my painting." Saying this, the two maids beside me went Slowly unfold the scroll.

In the middle of the picture is a couch, and a gentleman, dressed in a swallow suit, is half lying in front of the couch.The two maids on the right, one holding a burden and the other shoulder fan, have a graceful posture.The house is fully furnished, with a clump of plantains behind the couch, a landscape screen on the side, a desk with clear things on the small table, and an ice tray in front of the couch.It was originally a summer scene.There is an inscription on the picture: "Written by Liu Guandao, Zhongshan, in the 16th year of Zhiyuan".

Although it is a Yuan painting, it is Song style, and its meaning is self-evident.Someone in the seat asked: "Is it the real work?" Some people nodded, some shook their heads, only to hear the voice of the woman next to the bearded man.

"Liu Guandao is the envoy of the Yuan Yuyi Bureau, and he is famous for his meticulous and neat brushwork. Looking at the furnishings of the characters in this picture, the clothes and expressions are quite ancient, and the brushstrokes are delicate. The implication in the work, the work in the meaning, is exactly the style of the academy."

It's not bad for a woman to have such insight.After everyone listened to it, they all fell silent, but some people said: "But this painting is too full, and it seems to be piled up." It was Zhang Qiling.

The woman glanced at him.

The bearded man laughed loudly: "Mr. Zhang has really good eyesight. Liu Guandao was originally admired in the previous dynasty for his biography of the imperial appearance. The old man thinks it is very valuable to have such paintings handed down to the world."

Zhang Qiling nodded and said: "It is indeed the king of Qi and consummate, rigorous without losing rhyme."

Wu Xie was listening, and whispered to the young prince next to him who barely raised his head: "What do you think?" The man approached his ear and whispered two words: "Fake."

Wu Xie was shocked. He knew that Prince Wang was in the pawnshop business and had good eyesight, but he didn't expect it to be so vicious.He obviously didn't look at it a few times!Immediately, he wanted to ask again, only to see Mr. Wang put his finger on his lips and made a silent gesture to him.

Sure enough, someone in the seat asked: "Such a treasure, I wonder if brother is willing to part with it?"

Only then did Wu Xie realize that appreciating treasures is a fake, but selling paintings is the real thing.The owner's refusal also seemed to be a gesture of refusal to sell, but in the end, he still offered a price: "Then 150 taels of silver."

The price is fair, and someone will increase the price immediately.Ten taels and 20 taels, and they were called all the way up.Wu Xie touched Zhang Qiling to remind him.As soon as he turned around, he asked, "Do you like it?" Seeing that he didn't answer, his face seemed sullen, and he asked again, "Do you like that?"

No matter how stupid Wu Xie was, he could tell that he meant something else.At the moment, he was both angry and funny, and for some reason, he wanted to anger him, and blurted out: "That's the one I like!" Still not relieved, he also shouted a price viciously, "250 taels!"

Prince Wang hurriedly stretched out his hand to pull him, but he didn't want to make too much movement.As a result, he stopped this side, and Zhang Qiling yelled again on the other side.

"300 taels."

Prince Wang was sweating all over his face, and when he wanted to wink at Zhang Qiling, Wu Xie jumped up again: "Three hundred and two!" Quoted a price.

"400 taels."

Everyone didn't raise the price anymore, they all looked at the two of them, one blushing and the other pale.Next to him was a fat man scratching his head.The handsome bearded man smiled, but also murmured in his heart, these two clearly came together, how could they compete.Seeing that no one added more, he decided on a deal.After the banquet was over, Mr. Zhang paid the silver for delivery.

Everyone brought wine to congratulate, Zhang Qiling would not refuse anyone who came, but Wu Xie was listless.

Prince Wang looked at this and then at that.As soon as I looked up, I saw the little lady on the opposite side glanced towards this side seemingly unintentionally, and slapped her thigh suddenly, realizing it.

Although the deal was settled, because Zhang Qiling didn't bring the silver, so after the guests left, the two agreed that they would stay here three days later, hold another banquet and deliver the silver taels.

The prince shook his head while shaking his fan, and sighed: "It's really worth a thousand dollars to buy a smile, Brother Zhang, you... are so bold."

Wu Xie continued: "What do you know? It's clearly true..." He turned his head to Zhang Qiling again, "Why do you have to buy it!"

As a result, the man ignored him completely.

Prince Wang was in a hurry: "Who says I don't understand! I know it very well! You two are not jealous! You think whoever buys the painting, the little lady can favor him? I don't think so."

Seeing the two of them looking at each other, Prince Wang said again: "If you want me to tell you, why bother to hurt your peace because of this kind of thing. Although this woman is beautiful, she is not stunning. Why are you two like this?"

Wu Xie was the first to bear it, and smiled again.Wang Gongzi said seriously: "Don't laugh, look at today, you have been taken advantage of."

Wu Xie pushed Zhang Qiling: "I'm talking about you, you're being taken advantage of. Do you know the truth? You have to buy it."

"Fake." Zhang Qiling said lightly.

Both Wu Xie and Fatty stared at him with wide eyes. "You know it's a fake, why do you still have to buy it!" Wu Xie complained.

"The price you called first."

"I……"

Wu Xie was speechless, looked at Young Master Wang again, and asked, "How do you know it's a fake? What if you both miss it? If it's the real one, we're not at a loss..."

Prince Wang yelled: "Who are you and us! The painting was bought by you two, and I couldn't hold it back. To tell you the truth, when the painting was taken by Qianshan Hall of the Yan family in Jiangxi, when the property was confiscated, I was lucky enough to see this painting living among the people. It is stamped with the seal of Yan’s family, so it’s definitely not this one.”

When Wu Xie heard this, the little flame in his heart was extinguished in an instant.

After getting the painting, the two looked at it again in the study.Wu Xie seemed unhappy.Finally, draw a scroll and hand it over straight.

"Take what you like quickly."

Zhang Qiling refused to answer: "No more."

"Forget it, if you don't want it, I'll take it to my third uncle. Just say you honor him."

"Wu Xie." He frowned, but didn't know what to say, and finally just sighed.

After a while, Wu Xie laughed to himself.He looked up and saw Wu Xie looking out the window without looking back, but the words were addressed to him.

"You don't want to play dumb with me anymore. You think I'm in love with that girl? It's really..."

Zhang Qiling sat at the table, not knowing what to say for a moment.Finally, he picked up the pen, hurriedly wrote a few words on the paper, and pushed it over to show Wu Xie.

Wu Xiejue didn't expect him to be like this. He looked down at the words, then looked up at the man's serious face, and wrote two lines later.Zhang Qiling kept looking at him, only to see that after Wu Xie finished writing, he tossed the pen with pride, and the ink stained the cuffs of Zhang Qiling's white clothes, but he didn't seem to notice it.

Wu Sansheng also read the painting later.Wu Xie didn't dare to tell the whole story, only that he liked it.The third uncle didn't say anything, but later told Zhang Qiling alone that he should not be used to Wu Xie anymore.

Zhang Qiling agreed, and said: "Although this painting is an imitation, but the painting is self-contained, and the skill is not inferior to the real one. I'm afraid it was made by a famous person in the dynasty. The price is reasonable."

Wu Sansheng laughed first: "You don't have to excuse Xiao Xie, you businessmen are naturally very shrewd. Although this is a good statement, but imitation paintings have always been less natural and more restrained. Even if the brushwork is supernatural, it is still imprisoned I can't use it. In this way, the painting is naturally inferior."

Zhang Qiling bowed his head and said yes.

Wu Sanxing said with emotion: "In this world, there are more than ten million people who are good at calligraphy and painting, and those who are truly famous are very rare. It can be seen that no one appreciates it, and it is useless."

Zhang Qiling understood what Wu Sansheng was referring to.Seeing that the three-year filial piety period is about to expire, perhaps an official document will come one day.The three provinces of Wu will always continue to be ups and downs in the official sea, whether it is suffering or happiness, like a person drinking water.These have nothing to do with Zhang Qiling.

The only thing that hurt him was three years.

Now that Wu Xie is not young, it would be really outrageous not to get married.Why didn't he come here like this, although there is no high hall in the family, and he can be his own master, but he can't stop everyone's mouths.He didn't really care much about what was said about him in private.However, with Wu Xie around, he had to be cautious.

He has never been so tired.You have to be worthy of your own heart, and also worthy of his heart.

——"There is no wind and the flowers fall by themselves, I miss you and you miss me."