Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 772
Three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.Zhao Dongqin, the eunuch in charge of Dongchang, presented a painting to Emperor Wanli.

He Liu was extremely surprised!Because the painting presented by Zhao Dongqin is "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival" by Song Dynasty Zhang Zeduan!
He Liu is too familiar with "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival"!During the Jiajing period, he searched the residence of Wan Anliang, the right servant of the Ministry of Rites, and copied out a fake of "A Picture of Shanghe During the Qingming Festival".

In the early years of Wanli, Feng Bao obtained a painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" from nowhere and handed it to He Liu for appreciation.He Liu identified it as genuine.

Zhang Juzheng traveled west with a crane, Feng Bao lost power, and his family property was confiscated.The painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" was handed over to the internal transport warehouse.

However, among the calligraphy and paintings sold by He Liu in Duanguzhai, there is no "Along the River During the Qingming Festival".Zhao Dongqin is Zhang Jing's godson and has been working as a case handler in Dongchang.He has never been a eunuch who is the foreman of the library.How did he get "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival"?

Emperor Wanli's expression was flat when he saw the "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival".He only likes money, not calligraphy and painting.In his view, "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival" is nothing more than an ordinary calligraphy and painting by famous artists.

Emperor Wanli praised Zhao Dongqin symbolically, and asked Zhang Jing to throw "A Picture of Shanghe During the Qingming Festival" among the pile of calligraphy and painting birthday gifts.

He Liu asked Chen Ju on the side: "How is Zhao Dongqin's status in the East Factory these two years?"

Chen Ju replied: "Under the admiral, eunuch and deputy admiral of the East Factory, there are four major masters. Zhao Dongqin is the head of the four masters."

He Liu was surprised: "Will the prince tolerate Zhang Jing's godson as the third in the East Factory?"

Chen Ju said in a low voice: "Of course I can't bear it. However, it is the emperor's intention to let Zhao Dongqin be the third in the East Factory. It is not that you are not clear about the skills of our master. Zhang Jing took Dongchang in his hands, but he wants to keep Zhang Jing's people in Dongchang to check me and Wang Gonggong. Liu Ye, why are you so interested in Zhao Dongqin all of a sudden?"

He Liu replied: "Oh, nothing, I just asked casually."

After the birthday banquet was over, all the officials attending the banquet walked outside Yongshou Palace.

Zhao Dongqin looked sad.In order to win the favor of Emperor Wanli, he dedicated his heart and soul, the "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival" that he had treasured for six years.I never thought that Emperor Wanli only regarded it as an ordinary calligraphy and painting.Zhao Dongqin regretted it, and really should have bought a second-rate calligraphy and painting and presented it.

Heartbroken, he planned to go to the outer house to find a new companion for the night.At this moment, Hong Lang stopped him.

Zhao Dongqin looked at the flying fish suit on Hong Lang's body, and frowned: "You are from Jinyiwei? Why did you block the way of my class?"

Hong Lang said: "Master Liu wants to chat with you. Please, Eunuch Zhao."

Although Zhao Dongqin is not on the line of Wang An, Chen Ju, and He Liu.But when Jin Yiwei's sixth master asked him to "chat", he always wanted to give him three points of face.

You know, even his godfather, Zhang Jing, would give He Liu a little bit of sympathy when he saw He Liu now.

Hong Lang led Zhao Dongqin to He Liu's mansion.

In front of He Liu, a veteran of the three dynasties, Zhao Dongqin is just a junior among juniors.He hastily saluted He Liu.

He Liu asked straight to the point: "Eunuch Zhao, excuse me. I called you here this time to ask, where did you get the painting "Along the River at Qingming Festival" that you dedicated to the emperor today?"

Zhao Dongqin was momentarily at a loss for words: "Oh, that..."

He Liudao: "Grandpa Zhao, as far as I know, "A Picture of Shanghe During the Qingming Festival" should have been stored in the inner storage."

Zhao Dongqin's thoughts turned quickly: "Ah, it was sold to me by the former eunuch Xu Xiangzi, the foreman of the internal transport warehouse. I think Xu Xiangzi stole this picture from the internal transport warehouse. But is there a word 'thief' on this picture? Dirty'. I like calligraphy and painting, so I spent a lot of money to buy it from Xu Xiangzi."

Xu Xiangzi was one of the eight eunuchs who were the head eunuchs of the Neisheng Yun Depot recently executed by Jin Yiwei.Anyway, people are dead, and there is no proof of death.Zhao Dongqin can say whatever he wants.

He Liu asked: "Oh? I don't know how much money Eunuch Zhao spent to buy this painting?"

Zhao Dongqin replied: "Ah, it cost 5 taels. That's my life savings. This time the emperor celebrates his birthday, and I dedicated this painting. It's all worth it for my filial piety."

He Liudao: "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival can be sold on the market for more than 10 taels. Xu Xiangzi actually sold it to you for 5 taels?"

Zhao Dongqin replied: "Master Liu, I've heard about the robbery case that you handled in the internal transportation depot recently. "A Picture of Shanghe on the Qingming Festival" was stolen goods, so Xu Xiangzi naturally wanted to sell it quickly at a low price. Sell half of it cheaply. It's also normal."

Zhao Dongqin's answer was perfect, He Liu couldn't make things difficult for him anymore.

He Liudao: "Okay, Eunuch Zhao, I've finished all my questions. You can go."

Zhao Dongqin resigned and left if he received an amnesty.

He Liu told Hong Lang: "From tomorrow on, keep an eye on Zhao Dongqin. I have a hunch that things may not be as simple as he said."

Hong Lang cupped his hands and said, "Yes, Sixth Master."

Although Hong Lang is a member of a hundred households in Jinyiwei, the south and north governors of Weizhong, all the thousands of households now look at him highly.Who doesn't know that Hong Lang is Liu Ye's confidant?Jin Yiwei has eyes and ears all over the capital, and he can call them at will.

The words were divided into two parts, and it was said that Zhao Dongqin came out of the He Mansion, and there was sweat on his forehead.

"A Picture of Rising the River During the Qingming Festival" is actually one of a large number of calligraphy and paintings that Xu Xiangzi stole from the Inner Transport Depot.In order to stop the mouth of Zhang Jing, the governor of the East Factory at that time, Xu Xiangzi dedicated this picture to Zhang Jing.

Six years ago, Zhao Dongqin accomplished a great event for Zhang Jing.Zhang Jing knew that Zhao Dongqin loved calligraphy and painting very much, so he gave him "A Picture of Rising the River during Qingming Festival" when he was happy.

Zhao Dongqin didn't go back to the outer house, but went straight to Zhang Jing's mansion.

Back then He Liu slaughtered Zhang Jing's house.In order to appease Zhang Jing, Emperor Wanli gave him silver to rebuild a mansion.The Xinsi Lijian Zhangyin Mansion is in the Maoer Hutong in the north of the city.

The hall of the palm print mansion.

While drinking tea, Zhang Jing asked Zhao Dongqin, "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Zhao Dongqin said: "Godfather. He Liu seems to be eyeing me!"

The teacup in Zhang Jing's hand fell to the ground with a "snap": "What? He... noticed what happened six years ago?"

Zhao Dongqin shook his head: "My son doesn't know either. He called me into the He Mansion just now. He asked me about the origin of "A Picture of Shanghe During the Qingming Festival."

Zhang Jing frowned, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Don't stay in the capital anymore! The eunuch in Guangdong is vacant. Tomorrow, I will ask for this job for you in front of the emperor. If He Liu knows about the incident six years ago ...you, me, and Liu Shouyou, who is nursing at home, will all die! If Butcher He goes crazy, even the Heavenly King and I will kill him!"

Zhang Juzheng once commented that Zhang Jing was a stupid idiot before his death.This statement is true!He Liugang has his eye on Zhao Dongqin, and he will send Zhao Dongqin out of Beijing to take up his post.Isn't this clearly telling He Liu that there is something wrong with Zhao Dongqin?

(End of this chapter)