TGCFNM -Chapter 366 How Much Is a Painting?

At that moment, Chu Ling noticed the scroll tubes off to the side and quickly asked, “Are those paintings?”

Cui Wan nodded. “A friend heard about what happened and asked me to bring them over to see if they might be of any help.”

Chu Ling stood and walked over. After glancing at the seven scroll tubes, something suddenly occurred to her. “Brother Cui, are you free?”

Cui Wan smiled. “I am. Does Lord Chu need something?”

“Yes. Let’s take these paintings to see someone and ask him for a favor,” Chu Ling said.

Although Cui Wan had no idea who they were going to see, he readily agreed.

Thus, he was inexplicably ushered into a carriage, still unaware of their destination.

“I’ve come to the Wan residence and haven’t even sat for half a quarter of an hour. I didn’t so much as touch a sip of tea, and now I don’t even know where we’re headed?” Cui Wan braced his hands on his knees and looked at the two of them. “Your way of entertaining guests is certainly… refreshing.”

Chu Ling laughed. “Don’t worry, Brother Cui. We’re going to the Song residence. They’ll definitely serve tea there.”

“The Song residence?” Cui Wan mused, then asked suspiciously, “The same Song residence where you beat up the Imperial Guards? I heard afterward that the drill instructor lost his position, but the Song family was reinstated.”

Wan Sanjin added, “And we were detained in the Court of Judicial Review, but released soon after.”

Cui Wan burst into laughter. “You two really act on impulse. Interesting.”

Chu Ling lifted the carriage curtain for a glance outside, then suddenly turned to Wan Sanjin. “I’m worried the commoners who helped me catch those rats might get into trouble. When the time comes, send people to keep an eye on that street. If anyone in plain clothes comes snooping around looking to cause trouble, have them beaten directly. If constables come to arrest someone for questioning, stall them—say that the Court of Judicial Review will handle it. That should make them hesitate to act rashly.”

Wan Sanjin nodded. “That’s easy enough to handle.”

Cui Wan listened in utter confusion, not understanding what they were talking about. But when he eventually learned the full story and recalled this scene, he would only think that the two before him were utterly lawless madmen.

Before long, they arrived at the Song residence.

Zhang Dong jumped down from the carriage and personally knocked on the door. After speaking with the steward, he waited outside. Soon, someone came out to greet them in person.

Steward Gao gave a slight bow. “I did not know Lord Chu would be visiting. Please forgive us for not welcoming you from afar.”

Chu Ling lifted the curtain and smiled. “I apologize for the sudden visit. I have a matter to request. Might I have an audience with Old Master Song?”

Steward Gao froze for a moment. “Lord Chu has come to see our Old Master?”

Chu Ling nodded.

Steward Gao immediately cupped his hands. “For Lord Chu to visit is an honor for the Song residence. If Old Master knew you were here, he would surely be delighted.” With that, he gestured in invitation and sent someone inside to announce their arrival.

Chu Ling, Wan Sanjin, and Cui Wan stepped down from the carriage one after another, each holding a scroll tube as they waited to the side.

Steward Gao instructed a servant to take the carriage to the rear courtyard to rest, then led Chu Ling and the others through the main gate into the Song residence.

Only after entering did Cui Wan recall something. “Old Master Song… he’s a painter, isn’t he?”

Chu Ling nodded. “I remember Steward Liu mentioning it before. That’s why I brought the paintings to seek Old Master Song.”

Wan Sanjin, holding his scroll tube, asked, “Brother Cui, how much is each painting worth?”

Cui Wan shifted awkwardly with the scroll in his arms but still raised a hand to indicate the number. “Fifty thousand taels per painting. If you collect all seven, it would be eight hundred thousand taels!”

Steward Gao jumped in shock. “Eight hundred thousand taels!”

Even Chu Ling was startled. “What? Is it more expensive if the set is complete?”

Cui Wan nodded. “If it’s for collection, then of course you’d want the full set. What’s the point of a single painting? Besides, I’ve looked at them—they’re truly top-tier works. Worth collecting. If sold at the right time, they could fetch quite a profit.”

Chu Ling understood. This was the mindset of a merchant.

Wan Sanjin was also taken aback. He suddenly felt tempted to steal Qingyu’s fan.

Steward Gao was still reeling from the shock of the eight hundred thousand taels. Even after escorting them to the courtyard where the Old Master was staying, he still seemed somewhat dazed.

“Steward Gao, shall we go straight in?” Chu Ling asked.

Steward Gao snapped back to his senses and lightly knocked on the courtyard gate.

After a short while, the gate was gently pulled open. A woman dressed in a plain-colored gown slowly opened the door. Her gaze shifted slightly as she looked around, then settled on Chu Ling’s face.

“Lord Chu?”

Chu Ling’s eyes lit up. “Sister Song Lian?”

Song Lian couldn’t help but smile. “It’s me.”

Wan Sanjin leaned forward shamelessly. “Hello, Sister Song Lian, I’m Wan Sanjin.”

“Young Master Wan,” Song Lian replied with a smile.

Cui Wan, looking at the two overly familiar faces, could only hold his scroll case and offer a bow. “Miss Song, greetings. My surname is Cui, given name Wan. We have taken the liberty of disturbing you this time. Please forgive the intrusion.”

Song Lian returned the courtesy with a smile and invited the three of them inside.

“Last time, it was all thanks to you. Yet you were even dragged into the Dali Temple’s prison because of it.” Song Lian showed a look of apology. “At the time, to avoid disaster, my grandfather took me to stay at our estate. I only learned about what happened a few days after we returned.”

Holding the scroll case, Chu Ling said, “Sister Song Lian, please don’t take it to heart. Even the Grand General gave me his immunity token. I only passed along a message. Of course it would reach its destination.”

Song Lian looked slightly bashful. “At least he was of some use.”

Just as Chu Ling was about to tease her, Cui Wan jabbed her with his elbow. “Can an immunity token that’s been transferred to someone else still be used?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “No idea. We’ll try it when the time comes.”

“When the time comes?” Cui Wan’s face crumpled. Try it?

Wan Sanjin suddenly remembered something. “My lord, there’s only one immunity token. If something happens, you’d better shoulder it yourself. Perfect chance to test whether it works.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Don’t worry.”

Cui Wan stared at her in shock: Don’t worry? What is there to be reassured about?!

At that moment, Song Lian had already led them to the front hall. She ordered tea to be served and sent someone to invite Old Master Song.

The three of them set down the scroll cases and sat, shaking their somewhat sore arms.

“Sister Song Lian, we came to see the Old Master because we have a matter to discuss.” Chu Ling kneaded her arm, glancing toward the scroll cases. “They’re all paintings inside.”

Song Lian understood. “You want my grandfather to authenticate the paintings?”

Chu Ling hesitated. “Not to authenticate them—just to help us see what’s wrong with them.”

Song Lian stood. “I paint as well. Let me take a look first.” She had someone bring over one of the scroll cases, took out a painting, untied the cord, and slowly unfurled it.

“A painting of a court lady,” Song Lian said. She had a stand brought over and hung the painting up, then carefully spread it open.

It was also the first time Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin had seen Xu Shiyin’s painting of the courtesan, so they both stood and moved to Song Lian’s side to take a closer look.

“Wow, it’s truly beautiful!” Wan Sanjin exclaimed in surprise. “This Painting Sage isn’t living off a false reputation.”

Chu Ling nodded. She had stood nearby when Xu Shiyin painted that day. Fairly speaking, his technique was indeed superb, and the figures were full of spirit, as if a fairy had come to life within the painting.

Song Lian asked in astonishment, “That Painting Sage, Xu Shiyin? He actually has real skill?”

Chu Ling smiled. “With such a grand title, it seems many people don’t quite believe it.”

Song Lian looked a little embarrassed as she explained, “My grandfather once mentioned Xu Shiyin. He used to have a painting titled Ladies Admiring the Spring Mountain Scenery. It was truly excellent. But later, for some reason, his works never again possessed that same spiritual vitality, and he gradually faded into obscurity. Then, around last year, the name ‘Painting Sage’ suddenly rose out of nowhere. My grandfather, he…”

“I look down on it, so I’ve always refused to look at his paintings.”