Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 132 Painting into Reality
Zhang Bo didn't take it too seriously. He rolled up a few manuscripts and stuffed them into his arms. Then he said with a smile, "Since no one is interested in writing poetry, let's go out for a walk and show Brother Lu around Changchuan County."

Li Zhao smiled and hugged Zhang Bo, "As it should be, we should have some fun today!"

So, several people left the study excitedly.

When they came outside and were about to leave Zhang's house, the housekeeper hurried over.

The butler came closer and whispered respectfully, "Young Master, I asked around, and I'm afraid some big names are coming to this year's Qixi Literary Festival."

"Who?" Zhang Bo raised his eyebrows when he heard that.

The housekeeper said, "According to someone, the Princess of Fengcheng County is on the ship from Fengzhou..."

Anyang, the Princess of Fengcheng County, is the daughter of Prince Pingyu. Her father is the younger brother of the current Emperor of Anguo and she holds an extraordinary status.

"The Princess of Fengcheng County!" Li Zhao exclaimed in surprise. "This Princess is favored by the Emperor and is now of marriageable age. Could it be that she is here to choose a husband?"

Zhang Bo looked at Li Zhao and couldn't help but say, "The county lady wants to choose a husband, so she came to a small place like Changchuan County. She's just here for fun."

"Oh, that seems to be true..." Li Zhao scratched his head.

Princess Fengcheng is a member of the royal family. If she really wants to choose a good man, she will not come to a place like this. There are a lot of young and talented people in Tai'an Capital, so she would go there if she wants to choose.

Zhang Bo said seriously, "Don't spread such rumors. Imperial women don't necessarily have to marry. The current eldest princess is over 20 years old, but she hasn't chosen a husband yet. She even left the palace to set up her own residence..."

There are many royal descendants. If they are practitioners, they will not be forced to marry when they reach a certain age, and they can make their own choices.

"I know!" Li Zhao said with a chuckle, "We're just friends, just chatting privately. Anyway, I've never met the Princess of Fengcheng, so I don't know what a beauty she is."

Zhang Bo shook his head and said, "I don't know either, but let's not take it too seriously. Our current status doesn't allow us to have a word with the county lady."

Zhang Bo turned to look at the housekeeper and asked, "Have you heard any other news?"

The housekeeper couldn't help but say, "There's a ship coming from the Wu Kingdom. I heard it belongs to a major merchant from the Wu Kingdom. They've also brought a few of the most beautiful women in the Wu Kingdom. One of them is good at writing poetry and will be participating in the Qixi Festival."

Li Zhao reacted quickly, glaring, "What's the point? Are you asking the Wu Kingdom's top courtesan to compete with our An Kingdom's students? How can this be justified!"

The butler lowered his head and said, "I don't know the specific situation. I only heard this little bit of information, and it may not be true."

Zhang Bo heard this and said calmly, "Brother Li, this is not impossible..."

Zhang Xu paused, then smiled and said, "Come to think of that poem 'Anchored at Qinhuai' that Brother Lu brought out earlier. It's been widely circulated, and its content is quite satirical of the State of Wu. Perhaps they're here to get even."

"Ok?"

Lu Zheng blinked, thinking it was just a coincidence or misunderstanding.

Why would he satirize the Wu Kingdom, a country he had never been to?

"Of course, this is just my guess," Zhang Bo said. "We'll just be spectators at the literary gathering tonight. Let's see how the other students respond."

Li Zhao said with a smile, "Brother Zhang's poetry is quite good. He should be able to win a prize tonight. How can he be called a spectator? Speaking of which, those Wu people won't target Brother Lu, right?"

Zhang Bo looked at Lu Zheng and whispered, "Brother Lu has just become a scholar of heaven and earth. I don't think those Wu people are so shameless as to specifically cause trouble for Brother Lu."

Li Zhao nodded and said, "That's right. Brother Lu has just entered the realm of scholar, and his current literary energy is not as good as mine. If I target Brother Lu, it would be too shameless."

Lu Zheng stood aside and could only smile without saying anything.

The housekeeper said, "Master, would you like me to prepare the carriage?"

Zhang Bo waved his hand and said, "No need, we'll go out for a walk, you just stay in the mansion."

After saying that, Zhang Bo asked everyone to leave, and of course he also brought three guards with him so that they could give him instructions if there was anything.

The group slowly walked out of the city and came to the avenue by the river.

There are many stalls on both sides of the road, and all kinds of passers-by are coming and going along the way, making it very lively.

Li Zhao said, "I told you earlier that I'll treat you all this afternoon. You can take whatever you like. If you don't take anything, you're looking down on me!"

One student laughed and said, "Of course, Brother Li has to spend some money!"

Although Li Zhao spent a lot of money, no one bought anything expensive.

We visited some stalls and picked out some small items to wear with us.

Lu Zheng also asked for a blank paper fan. The workmanship and materials of the fan were good, and he spent half a tael of silver.

Li Zhao was also very generous and let Qingwan choose what she liked.

Qingwan picked out a ring, but when she put it on, it turned into a bracelet.

In return for courtesy, Lu Zheng helped Qing Wan take out some peaches and distributed them to everyone.

Li Zhao held the big peach and was amazed. "Where did you buy such big peaches?"

"In the deep mountains." Lu Zheng explained.

Everyone ate peaches as they walked, having a great time all the way.

When we arrived at a small hill, we saw a lot of people gathered there. Some of them set up stalls on the spot with a piece of cloth.

It is much simpler than the stalls I passed by before.

However, there are more people visiting here, some of whom are dressed extraordinary, including students in brocade clothes and Taoists in Taoist robes.

Zhang Bo said to Lu Zheng, "This is where cultivators come to do business. They sell techniques, elixirs, cultural treasures, talismans, and everything in between. If you're lucky, you might even find treasures."

Li Zhao coughed dryly, "Some of the things here are very expensive. If you want to buy them, I may not be able to afford them!"

Everyone laughed when they heard this. Even if they liked any spiritual item, they wouldn't ask Li Zhao to pay for it. Zhang Bo smiled and said, "I just went out and got some banknotes and spiritual stones. If you like anything but don't have enough money, you can borrow from me."

Li Zhao rubbed his hands excitedly and said with a smile: "Then we must take a good look!"

At this moment, a young man in ordinary clothes came up to the crowd and said, "Gentlemen, are you looking for a painting? I have a painting of a swordsman who has entered the realm of truth."

When the young man saw that Lu Zheng and his companions had extraordinary temperaments, he knew that they were all talented Confucian and Taoist scholars and must have a good family background, so he came to sell his things.

"The painting is in the realm of reality?" Zhang Bo's eyes lit up. "Let's see?"

Painting into the real world means that the objects in the painting can break out of the picture and seem real.

The white crane painting that Lu Zheng saw Xiao Shan take out before was a painting that had reached the realm of reality.

Unfortunately, the spiritual energy of the White Crane Picture has been exhausted and it no longer exists.

It is said that there was a painting saint in ancient times named Wu Zi, who even painted a realistic landscape that will last forever.

However, that painting of rivers and mountains has been lost and its whereabouts are unknown.

There are great painters today who can use ink to create flesh-and-blood figures. This is well known and not just a rumor.

The young man carefully took out a scroll from his arms and unfolded it halfway.

The painting shows a maid holding a sword box.

The woman was lifelike, and even though she was just in the scroll, everyone could feel a hint of sharpness between the sword servant's brows.

It seemed as if the woman would jump out of the painting in the next breath.

Zhang Bo couldn't help but ask, "What a great painting! How much is it?"

"Twenty spirit stones." The young man said in a low voice.

Ordinary talismans and cultural treasures can be purchased with gold and silver.

Spiritual objects of higher grades need to be purchased with spirit stones.

However, in Zhang Bo's opinion, such a painting is not worth so many spirit stones, and he has such collections at home.

"It's too expensive." Zhang Bo shook his head.

The young man hurriedly said, "This painting was made by my late father. Now my family is in financial difficulty. I want to study under a famous teacher and pass the imperial examination. I have no choice but to sell this painting. We are all students of Confucianism and Taoism, so please help me with some of my support..."

Li Zhao, who was standing by, asked in surprise, "What kind of famous teacher would need so many spirit stones?"

Twenty spirit stones is not a small number. Even if Li Zhao emptied himself out, he still couldn't come up with so many spirit stones.

I studied at Beishan Academy, and I paid for it with silver, not spirit stones.

What kind of famous teacher is this young man seeking? Could it be that he is much better than Dean Xiao?
Li Zhao looked at the young man with curiosity on his face.

Upon hearing this, the young man pursed his lips and said nothing.

At this time, naming someone by name is somewhat like criticizing them behind their back.

"It's still too expensive." Zhang Bo couldn't help but say, "Your painting lacks spiritual energy. I think it's been used before. Ten spirit stones, I'll buy it."

"It's too little, I can't sell it." The young man whispered.

Zhang Bo heard this and said, "Forget it then. If you really can't sell it, you can go to the riverside boat tonight. Maybe someone of noble character will take a liking to your painting."

"Thank you." The young man thanked him.

Zhang Bo said no more and went to visit other stalls.

His family is not short of money, but spirit stones cannot be squandered recklessly.

Besides, he is not a spendthrift, so he would not spend ten more spirit stones to buy a painting.

Lu Zheng and his companions had no interest in the painting of the sword servant and turned their eyes to the nearby stalls.

Under a tree, a middle-aged Taoist priest wearing an old Taoist robe leaned against the tree with his eyes closed to rest.

In front of him, there was a piece of red cloth.

The red cloth was tattered and there was nothing on it, but there were some words written on it, and the handwriting was a little blurry.

Lu Zheng stopped and looked at the contents on the red cloth.

There are dozens of things including martial arts secret manuals, elixirs, and talismans.

The Taoist opened his eyes slightly and looked at Lu Zheng with a grin, "Hey, what do you want to buy, young man? I have everything here!"

"Everything?" Lu Zheng said with a smile.

The Taoist pointed at the red cloth and said leisurely, "We have everything listed above. The prices are affordable and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"You don't have a price tag." Lu Zheng said.

On the red cloth, there were only the names of many products written, but no prices.

The Taoist said with a smile, "It's bargaining. If we like each other, we can give you a lower price. I think you are a very good young man. Whatever you want to buy, I will give you a 50% discount on the first item!"

Lu Zheng thought to himself, you haven't even given a price, so who knows if you have a discount? This is clearly a case of choosing based on the dish.

(End of this chapter)