"..." Huang Yu felt dizzy and she nearly fainted on the spot.
You don't even know the Zhennan King? Brother, are you really from Tianxuan Kingdom? It can't be that you popped out from some random corner!
At this moment, she was starting to regret bringing this fellow here!
He doesn't know anything at all. If he were to say something wrong, she would definitely be implicated!
Actually, it wasn't that Zhang Xuan was putting on an act. He really didn't know anything about it.
His previous self was the worst teacher in the academy and he had been thinking about how to avoid being chased out of the academy. As such, he never paid attention to the affairs of the kingdom and knew very little about it. Before his transcension, he didn't even know what the Zhennan King was.
Jiya!
Just as he was about to explain the glorious achievements of the Zhennan King, the door before him creaked and opened from the middle. A butler walked up to welcome them.
"Uncle Cheng, I am ready. I hope to receive the guidance of the master once more!" The arrogance of the white-robed gongzi, Bai Xun, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he spoke respectfully.
"So it is Bai gongzi and Miss Huang! Please follow me to the guest hall! "Upon seeing the appearance of the trio, the butler bowed.
The trio followed behind him into the mansion.
Zhang Xuan quickly scanned his surroundings.
Even though the decorations of this place weren't extravagant, and it was even inferior to some of the other places in the academy, it had a unique scenery. The combination of movement and stillness created an indescribable elegance, reminiscent of a silent ink painting.
"What a natural and unadorned ink painting!"
Zhang Xuan couldn't help but compliment.
"Oh? This gongzi... is skilled in painting? "The butler, who was walking forward, heard Zhang Xuan's exclamation and turned around.
"It is just a casual remark!" Not expecting that his casual remark would attract the butler's attention, Zhang Xuan hurriedly shook his head.
In his previous life, he was a librarian and his job was elegant. Even though he had seen many paintings, he had never held a brush, needless to say, painted!
"Our old master used his heart as the brush and the courtyard as the paper to renovate the entire mansion into a painting. Gongzi is right!" The butler nodded his head and didn't say anything else.
Soon, they arrived at the guest hall.
The guest hall wasn't big, but it had an antique feel to it. There were all kinds of paintings hanging on the walls. Upon entering, one felt a sense of tranquility.
It wasn't like other places where there were stone pillars used to test one's strength, giving off the feeling that one would be eliminated if one's strength was lacking.
"I'll report this to Master!"
The butler arranged for the three of them to sit down, then turned around and left.
"You know how to paint?" After the butler left, Huang Yu looked at him strangely.
It was obvious that she had heard the conversation just now. She really didn't know anything about the young man she had brought with her.
"It's just that the layout of the courtyard looks like a painting!" Zhang Xuan said.
"Xiao Yu, don't listen to his nonsense. This guy is just putting on an act, deliberately mystifying things!" Bai Xun's eyes were about to burn.
"What do you know? This friend of mine is extremely knowledgeable and talented! Do you think that everyone is like you and likes to put on an act? "Hearing the other party insult the friend she brought, Huang Yu immediately became unhappy.
"Knowledgeable? Him? Xiao Yu, you have to be careful. I think this brat is just a good-for-nothing. He's young, but he's learning to talk nonsense to make girls happy. He really has no sense of honor, no sense of shame! "
Hearing the girl praise the other party, Bai Xun became even angrier. He gritted his teeth so hard that 'ge ge!' sounds could be heard.
"This friend of mine is proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. There's nothing he doesn't know and there's nothing he isn't proficient in. Putting aside the talents of the younger generation, even among the older generation, there aren't many who can match up to him! Unlike you, you don't know anything at all, only knowing how to fight and kill! You are the one who is truly ignorant and incompetent! "
Huang Yu refused to back down.
"Proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy and painting? Him? He doesn't look much older than me. Even if he learned from his mother's womb, how much can he know? Only you would be fooled by him! "Bai Xun glared at Zhang Xuan fiercely.
"Just because he's young, it means that he can't learn well? What if he's talented? If you don't have talent, don't doubt others! "Huang Yu continued.
"..." Hearing the words of both parties, Zhang Xuan, who was unjustly implicated, frowned.
If you all want to quarrel, just quarrel. Why did you have to drag me into it? Who did I offend?
Zither, chess, calligraphy and painting? I haven't even touched these four things before... Talented? If he is talented, how can he become the first person in the history of Hongtian Academy to score a zero in the Teacher Qualification Examination?
Bai Xun was just about to continue retorting when he heard footsteps from outside. A figure walked in.
It was an elder with white hair and a beard. He carried a unique disposition that exuded authority even without being angry.
The butler from before was following behind him.
Emperor Shen Zhui's former teacher, Lord Lu Chen!
"Paying respects to master!"
Upon seeing this person, Bai Xun and Huang Yu didn't dare to bicker and bowed simultaneously.
"I heard that someone was able to tell that the layout of my courtyard was an ink painting. It is rare for youngsters nowadays to be so refined!"
Ignoring the two who were bowing, the moment he walked in, the elder's eyes landed on Zhang Xuan. Clearly, the butler had told him about Zhang Xuan's words.
"Master, this fellow is just spouting nonsense. You don't have to bother with him. I have already revised my homework today, so master can ask him any questions you want..." Seeing that the master's attention was attracted by the lad who had just arrived, Bai Xun was displeased and hurriedly said.
"Did I allow you to speak?"
Master Lu Chen's eyebrows shot up.
"I..."
Bai Xun's face flushed red, but he didn't dare to utter a single word.
Even though his standing was high and his father was incredible, he was still a far cry from the emperor's tutor.
After berating Bai Xun, Master Lu Chen turned to Zhang Xuan and said, "Since you know how to paint, I happen to have a painting here. Help me appraise it as well!"
After which, he beckoned.
The butler walked forward and passed a painting over. Immediately, he unfurled it on the table.
It was an ink painting, simple and elegant. The moment it was unfurled, a refreshing aura gushed out. Smoke rose from the chimneys, a peaceful mountain village, and a group of children were playing. The entire painting seemed to be filled with the chirping of cicadas and dancing leaves. It was a painting of a landscape.
"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head.
He knew nothing about painting and could only tell that the painting was decent. Yet, the other party wanted him to appraise it? Appraise what?
"You have to speak properly. This is a test from the master. He... loves to test others. In any case, I was tested by him when I first arrived... If you speak well, you can borrow as many books as you want. If you speak badly, you can return immediately..."
Just as he was hesitating, Huang Yu's anxious voice sounded in his ears.
"Test?"
Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.
If only he knew that Master Lu Chen was interested in such things, he wouldn't have spoken so much nonsense in the courtyard!
Wasn't that just creating trouble for himself? However, judging from Huang Yu's tone, even if he didn't say anything, the other party would surely test him. After all, it had already become a habit and it was impossible to change it even if he wanted to!
As for appraising, what the heck is there to appraise!
He knew nothing about painting, so what could he possibly see? What could he possibly say?
The other party was the emperor's tutor, an expert in painting. If he were to spout nonsense, he might be chased out with a stick before he could finish his words.
"Why? Is there a problem? "
Seeing his expression, Master Lu Chen asked.
"Ah, there isn't!"
Zhang Xuan scratched his head. Just as he was at a loss as to how to organize his words and say something that the other party wouldn't be able to find fault with, a thought suddenly struck him.
"Since the Library of Heaven's Path is able to discern the authenticity of treasures, then … would it be able to see through the flaws of paintings?"
At this point, he couldn't help but step forward to the painting and touch it lightly with his finger.
Weng!
A light buzz sounded in his mind and a book appeared in his mind.
After reading the contents, Zhang Xuan's mood improved greatly. He lifted his head to look at Master Lu Chen, who was staring at him intently, and smiled, "Master, do you really want me to appraise it?"
Master Lu Chen didn't reply, indicating his silent approval.
"I have a comment of eight words!" Zhang Xuan said.
"I'm willing to hear it!" Master Lu Chen looked at him.
Zhang Xuan nodded his head. Looking at the painting before him, he turned it around lightly and couldn't help but shake his head, "These eight words are … nonsensical, what the heck is this!"
"Gongzi, watch your words!" Initially, the butler thought that Zhang Xuan would give a comment on the painting, but upon hearing those words, he nearly fainted on the spot. He hurriedly stopped him, "This is the painting that the master just left behind …"
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