Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 174: Approachable Gong Jixue

Zhao Yu has a profound family background in learning, and his insights are beyond the reach of ordinary Confucian and Taoist students.

When the scroll was unfolded, she could tell at a glance that it was a painting of spring mountains.

"The brushwork, the ink color..."

Could it be that Zhang Yuan obtained an unsigned authentic painting by Wang Mengxi, so Mr. Zuoqiu wanted this painting?

My second brother also wants this painting?

Zhao Yu felt that he must have thought everything through.

Whether it was Mr. Zuoqiu or his second brother, they did not value Zhang Yuan, but were attracted by the painting of spring mountains in Zhang Yuan's hand.

"You've come just in time. I promised your second brother the painting. Please bring it with you when you return."

Zhang Yuan's voice sounded behind him.

Zhao Yu turned his head and saw Zhang Yuan returning from outside the house with a scroll in his arms and a long sword hanging at his waist.

"Dragon Tooth Knife..."

This long sword is clearly a treasure from my second brother.

Second brother used this long sword to exchange for a painting?

"Zhang Yuan, the value of the Spring Mountain Painting is far greater than that of the Dragon Tooth Knife."

Zhao Yu's face was serious and he spoke in a low voice.

Zhang Yuan may not know the value of Wang Mengxi's paintings, but Zhao Yu cannot bear to see him suffer such a loss.

"Do you know how valuable the Spring Mountain Painting is?" Zhang Yuan smiled and walked towards the backyard.

Zhao Yu followed Zhang Yuan and said, "Spring Mountain Painting is the pinnacle work of the great scholar Wang Mengxi. Its brushwork and technique are of the utmost perfection. It is said that this scroll contains the meaning of the Great Dao and is priceless."

"The last time the Spring Mountain Painting appeared, it was bought by a wealthy businessman for nearly two thousand taels of gold." He took a few quick steps and stopped Zhang Yuan. "If you want to sell this Spring Mountain Painting, even if it's not that high a price, a thousand taels of gold will definitely be enough."

Zhang Yuan chuckled and took back the Spring Mountain Painting that Zhao Yu was holding. "This painting is actually worth the reward the Zhenbei Army offered for my head."

"Come on, I'm going to visit a high-ranking official in the city, and I'll take you with me."

"I gave him this painting. I'll give you another one when you come back."

Going to the study, he took out the original painting of Spring Mountain. Zhang Yuan smiled, moved closer to Zhao Yu, and whispered, "It's Wang Mengxi's original painting."

"Really?" Zhao Yu's eyes were bright.

Zhang Yuan laughed out loud.

He knew Zhao Yu's character. In order to earn the bounty, he even dared to sell his "head".

He is a money-grubber.

As Zhang Yuan left the house, they walked less than two miles before arriving at Gong Yu's residence in the city.

Zhang Yuan explained his purpose. The emperor looked at him suspiciously and took him and Zhao Yu to a side hall without even offering them a cup of tea.

"Are you going to give the painting to Gong Jixue?"

Sitting next to Zhang Yuan, Zhao Yu lowered his voice and said, "This Gong Jixue is said to be very upright. I'm afraid he won't do anything for you even if you give him a gift."

“If you really have Wang Mengxi’s authentic work in your hand, you might as well go to the martial arts school to give it to Ji Yuntang.”

Looking up at the figure walking briskly outside the side hall, Zhao Yu whispered, "Do you know this Gong Jixue? Did you hear that he likes Wang Mengxi's paintings and come to give him a gift?"

"Well, I've met him a few times. This Gong Jixue is quite approachable." Zhang Yuan nodded and stood up.

"Zhang Yuan!"

"Haha, you are finally here. I was still wondering whether I should go to Luyang Mansion to see you." Gong Yuzheng walked into the side hall and reached out to grab Zhang Yuan's sleeve, with a friendly smile on his face.

"Is he really so approachable..." Zhao Yu showed a trace of confusion on his face as he slowly stood up.

She had seen Gong Jixue of the county school, and it wasn't like that...

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Gong Yuzheng's study.

Zhao Yu stood aside with a confused look on his face.

On the desk, two paintings of spring mountains are unfolded.

Apart from one painting being signed by Wang Mengxi, she couldn't tell any difference between the two paintings.

Gong Yuzheng's face flushed, his hands trembling, as he leaned over the table, carefully examining the two paintings. "Good, really good."

"The brushwork is incredibly lifelike, and what's rare is that you can see the originality of the imitation."

"The mountains are like falling leaves, the water is like a belt, but this artistic conception is secondary."

"The most important thing is that the brushwork has the shadow of the knife technique."

Lifting his head and looking at Zhang Yuan, Gong Yu's face was full of excitement: "You have entered the Dao with the sword method. Your sword method has surpassed the level of great success and reached the state of great perfection, right?"

After all, he is a great scholar in charge of the county school, and Gong Ji's knowledge and insights are truly extraordinary.

From Zuoqiu Ren to Ji Yuntang, and then to Gong Jixue in front of him, Zhang Yuan was truly amazed by the sensitivity of these great Confucianists and Taoists to the Great Dao.

Are Confucianism and Taoism closer to the Way of Heaven?
"Zhang Yuan, if I didn't know that you were a powerful martial artist, I would have accepted you as my last disciple and let you follow the path of Confucianism."

Gong Yuzheng's face was full of regret, but also excitement.

Zhang Yuan smiled when his painting skills were recognized by Gong Yuzheng.

"You can attend the performance review in the county city. Then, I will arrange a banquet in two days and invite Ji Yuntang and Zhou Sima to come. I will personally recommend you."

Gong Yuzheng is a smart man, so of course he can't give Zhang Yuan this painting for free.

Taking Zhang Yuan's paintings, expanding Zhang Yuan's network, and helping Zhang Yuan easily pass the performance review is considered a return of favor.

Carefully putting away the scroll, Gong Yuzheng looked up at Zhao Yu standing beside him.

"Miss Zhao, I can't interfere in your family's affairs, but you can come to the banquet with Zhang Yuan."

These words made Zhao Yu look delighted.

Whether it is Ji Yuntang, the martial arts master, or Sima Zhou Zhengtong, who is in charge of the military affairs in the county, they are all important figures in the county who can provide assistance to Prince Zhao's Mansion.

Zhao Wangfu is a young elite who is trying to gather momentum, but he is not as good as this kind of person who can say a word.

Gong Yuzheng invited Zhang Yuan and Zhao Yu to have dinner at his home, which was just an ordinary meal.

Gong Yuzheng was, after all, the chief academician of the county school, a fifth-rank official, and one of the giants in the county.

In Zhengyang County, most people don’t have the opportunity to stay in his house and eat with him.

When Zhang Yuan and Zhao Yu left, Gong Yu gently reminded Zhang Yuan that although the Spring Mountain Painting was good, he should not paint too much of it. Painting a scroll with Taoist meaning like this would take up a lot of his energy.

This is true. Most Confucian and Taoist masters only paint a few Taoist paintings a year, and only a few of them can be passed down in their lifetime.

Just like Wang Mengxi, the blood and qi of his physical body cannot bear the meaning of Tao, and the power of his soul cannot suppress the invasion of the Tao, which will hurt his body and soul.

Only after watching Zhang Yuan and Zhao Yu leave did Gong Jixue rush back to the study with excitement and unfold the scroll again.

"Wang Mengxi's calligraphy, this guy Zhang Yuan is really amazing."

"Haha, those old guys, just wait to be scared silly."

Rubbing his hands, Gong Yu was eager to take the scroll to visit Ji Yuntang and others right away.

This is a rare opportunity to show off!
……

"Well, why don't you stop painting in the future?" Zhao Yu looked at Zhang Yuan and spoke in a low voice while walking back with Zhang Yuan.

"Do you think Gong Jixue really cares about me?" Zhang Yuan shook his head, a smile on his face. "I have martial arts skills. Can painting a few pictures hurt my soul?"

"He was afraid that if I painted a few more Spring Mountain paintings, the one he had wouldn't sell for a good price."

Zhang Yuan's words made Zhao Yu's eyes brighter.

"So, you can still draw?"

"How about I help you sell your paintings? We'll split the profits 30-70, no, 20-80. How about that?"

"Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you."

……

When Zhao Yu returned to the Zhao family villa with the scroll, the moon was already at its highest point in the sky.

"Did you bring back my painting?"

In front, the voice of his second brother Ying Chong rang out, causing Zhao Yu's back to stiffen.

Turning around, he saw his second brother staring at the scroll in his hands.

Zhao Yu smiled and held up the tiger scroll: "Second brother, let's make a deal. Is this a painting too much for you?"

(End of this chapter)