Chu Youxian waved his fan proudly and felt honored. The people in the attic of the Stone House were also sighing in admiration, especially the Tangs, who also felt honored. Some said that there had never been such a young calligrapher in the world. Some said that Mister Ning was the best calligrapher in the past thousand years. Some said that the Flower Blooming Calligraphy was the best semi-cursive calligraphy, and some said that the Chicken Soup Calligraphy was the best cursive calligraphy.
Hearing these comments, Ning Que felt uncomfortable all over. He was indeed a thick-skinned person, and he had always been very confident in his calligraphy. However, calligraphy was his true love, and he knew that he was not worthy of such an exaggerated evaluation, so he could not help but feel a little uneasy.
He knew that his calligraphy was good, and could even be said to be very good. In today's world, it was definitely top-notch. However, if it was not for the coincidence that the young man had written "Flower Blooming on the Shore Shore" in the imperial study, and the Emperor's fanatical love, and then Master Yan Se and the Academy, even if his calligraphy was praised by the calligraphers, he would not have the status he had today.
He thought back to the days when the Old Brush Pen Shop's calligraphy hung on the wall of Chang 'an City was met with disdain during the spring rain. There were no customers for several days, and only Chao Xiaoshu stood outside the door with an umbrella, smiling. He knew very well that the so-called reputation was mostly attached, like the makeup on a woman's face.
However, no matter how clear-headed Ning Que was and how calm he was after his self-reflection, the officials and nobles in the attic of the Stone House could no longer remain clear-headed and calm after hearing Zhong Li's simple words. The seemingly simple calligraphy sections were carefully sent to the stage by the most popular courtesan after Lu Xue from the House of Red Sleeves. Then, after rounds of intense bidding, they found new owners.
Hearing the increasing amount of money, Ning Que quickly calculated how much he could get. He realized that as long as he did not lose the Chicken Soup Calligraphy, he should be able to satisfy his needs. He could not help but smile, and looked forward to Lord Wang spending a lot of money later.
As long as his reputation could earn him money, he could not be bothered with how fake his reputation was. The so-called shame and uneasiness disappeared in an instant.
Chu Youxian secretly glanced at his expression and felt that his smile was a little strange. He could not help but shiver and asked in a low voice, "What are you going to do? Which one do you want to buy? Chicken Soup Calligraphy? "
He steeled his heart and said with a trembling voice, "I brought fifty thousand taels of silver today …"
Ning Que was shocked. He looked at him and asked, "50,000 taels of silver? What are you going to do with so much silver? "
Chu Youxian said, "Father gave it to me."
Ning Que was even more surprised and said, "Your father is really going to buy it? Don't, I'll just write a few paintings for him, and he'll just give me a few thousand taels of silver. "
Chu Youxian thought that he was being polite and said with a bitter face, "I only found out later that my family had sold half of their property so that I could enter the Academy. Now I really don't have any more money."
Ning Que said angrily, "How can a calligraphy section be sold for 100,000 taels of silver in the world? No matter how good the ink is, it's not made of gold. No matter how good the Huangzhou bud paper is, it's not made of jade. In the past, Wang Sheng of Calligraphy's most famous Night Writing Preface was only sold for eight thousand taels of silver. Do you think I'm a god? "
At this moment, he naturally did not know that the seller, Zhong Li, who was standing on the platform, had estimated the Chicken Soup Calligraphy to be sold at a total of 30,000 taels of silver.
The beautiful woman from the House of Red Sleeves carried the agarwood table and slowly walked up to the platform. She was extremely beautiful and made people forget about her. She walked like a willow tree on a lake. However, no one in the attic looked at her. Instead, they looked at the note on the wooden table.
Of course, the note had been carefully framed by the appraisal masters in Stone House. It was not exaggerated, but it added a sense of wonder. However, a note was still a note. It was just that in the eyes of the people, this note was no longer a note. It was a large sum of money or a small piece of land.
The beautiful woman clearly sensed that no one in Stone House was paying attention to her. They were only looking at the section she was holding. However, she did not show any annoyance or sadness. Instead, she lifted her chin slightly. Compared to her previous elegant and gentle demeanor, she seemed incomparably proud.
This was because the entire Chang 'an City knew about the relationship between Ning Que and the House of Red Sleeves. This legendary calligraphy section was written by Ning Que when he was drunk in the House of Red Sleeves.
She was a girl from the House of Red Sleeves. Of course, she had reason to be proud.
…
…
It was quiet in the attic. Only the sound of the willow tree on the lake could be heard.
Then, a few slightly heavy breathing sounds could be faintly heard.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the calligraphy section on the wooden table.
Everyone knew the origin and reputation of this Chicken Soup Calligraphy, as well as the legend related to it. In advance, they knew that the last of the seven calligraphy pieces of the Old Brush Pen Shop was the Chicken Soup Calligraphy. However, at this moment, they finally saw the authentic Chicken Soup Calligraphy, and they still could not hide their shock.
The silence continued. Compared to the intense bidding of the previous six calligraphy sections, the silence now was unusually strange. It seemed that everyone was waiting for something.
The seller, Zhong Li, stood on the platform with a calm expression. He did not say a word. He did not introduce the Chicken Soup Calligraphy, nor did he ask the previous guests for their opinion. He let the silence continue to ferment. He was not worried about the awkward silence at all.
Ning Que had never seen such a scene. He was a little worried.
He was worried that the awkward silence would last too long. He was worried that the Chicken Soup Calligraphy would not be able to sell for a high price. He had paid a great price to make up for Grand Secretary Wang's hurt feelings.
Chu Youxian had vaguely guessed Ning Que's intention. He also guessed that the theft at the Old Brush Pen Shop was purely a rumor. He asked in a low voice, "Should I try to bid first?"
Ning Que thought for a while and said, "Let's wait for a while. Even if others don't say anything, the steward of Grand Secretary Wang's Mansion will definitely bid."
He thought of something and said with a frown, "I'm just worried that His Majesty has found out about this. The palace has informed the outside world, so no one dares to bid."
Chu Youxian smiled and said, "You don't have to worry about this. I heard from Jin Wucai in the Academy yesterday that His Majesty did mention about today's auction after the court meeting. He said that it was related to theft and asked the imperial court to pay attention to the situation. However, Grand Secretary Wang reprimanded him."
Ning Que only then knew that there was such a story. He could not help but laugh, "His Majesty wants to find a way to sneak my things into the palace. He doesn't even think about whether the officials will be happy about it."
Chu Youxian said, "Yes, and I heard that Grand Secretary Wang and Old Chancellor made things difficult at the same time. In the end, they forced His Majesty to promise not to use the palace treasury to buy the calligraphy."
Hearing this, Ning Que felt even more gratified.
Chu Youxian said again, "But I heard that Grand Secretary Wang's Mansion has said that whoever dares to snatch the Chicken Soup Calligraphy will be against Grand Secretary Wang. Now that everyone is so quiet and no one has bid, it must be because of this."
Hearing this, Ning Que was furious. He said angrily, "This old man, I have already given him so many things, and he still dares to play this trick on me! Later, when his steward bids, if no one bids, you will bring it up for me! "
…
…
After a long period of silence, a voice finally rang out in the pavilion of Stone House.
The voice came from the best bamboo pavilion on the east side of the third floor. Everyone knew that the steward of Grand Secretary Wang was sitting in that bamboo pavilion.
The steward's voice was calm, but the price he shouted was shocking.
"Ten thousand taels."
The entire pavilion was shocked, and then the entire pavilion fell silent.
Although everyone had vaguely guessed that this Chicken Soup Calligraphy would definitely be sold at a shocking price today, no one had expected that the first bid had already surpassed the final price of the Master of Calligraphy's Night Preface. It had set a new record for calligraphy auctions.
Ning Que's body leaned forward slightly. When he heard the voice, he immediately relaxed and leaned back in his chair. He thought to himself that Grand Secretary Wang was quite kind. Even if no one else bid against him, he probably had enough money in his hands.
Grand Secretary Wang was a senior statesman of the Tang Empire for three dynasties. Even Prince Li Peiyan had to bow to him when he entered the imperial court. Such a big shot had announced in advance, and now he bid such a high price with great sincerity. All of a sudden, the building became quiet, and it seemed that no one wanted to compete with him.
Ning Que thought so too. Then he wondered if he should ask Chu Youxian to raise the price of the Chicken Soup Calligraphy. Even if he did not raise it by too much, it would still be a good thing to have two or three thousand taels of silver.
Zhong Li, who was on the stage, looked at the pavilion on the third floor with a calm smile. He repeated the bid from the Grand Secretary Mansion. From his expression, it seemed that only he was certain that this was not the final price.
Zhong Li seemed to be waiting for something.
As expected, just when everyone thought that the calligraphy auction was coming to an end, a voice rang out in a pavilion on the west side of the third floor of Stone House.
"Fifteen thousand taels of silver."
The entire pavilion was shocked again, and then the entire pavilion fell silent again.
Chu Youxian was so nervous that he felt a little hot. He kept fanning himself and walked out of the pavilion. He wanted to see clearly who dared to bid against Grand Secretary Wang.
Ning Que's mood improved.
…
…
Even though Stone House had the responsibility to protect the identity and privacy of the bidders, and there were curtains made of bamboo in front of the pavilion to cover the movements inside, this was Chang 'an after all. There were only a few people who could afford to enter Stone House with such status. Not long after, the identity of the bidder on the west side of the third floor was found out. Immediately, there was a lot of discussion in the pavilion.
"It's a royal merchant from the South Jin Kingdom who came to Chang 'an to buy."
Chu Youxian panted as he walked back to his room. He wiped his sweat as he reported what he had just heard.
"He's actually from the South Jin Kingdom?"
Ning Que was a little shocked. Even though his calligraphy was famous in the world, the South Jin Kingdom had always been hostile to the Tang Empire. The people from the South Jin Kingdom must have looked down on him, a Tang calligrapher. Why would they choose such an occasion to buy his calligraphy? One must know that this was equivalent to raising the prestige of the Tang Empire.
Chu Youxian said, "I heard that the royal merchant from the South Jin Kingdom works for the Crown Prince."
Ning Que was even more shocked. After thinking for a while, he asked hesitantly, "The Crown Prince of the South Jin Kingdom does not like men, right?"
…
…
(I'm going to walk the dog first. The third chapter will probably come out later. There seems to be something wrong with the dog's eyes. I may take it to see a doctor tomorrow. I'll report to everyone first.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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