Capítulo 774: After modification: Chapter 874 A Kind of Sin
“Everyone quiet down, can’t you listen to others before causing a commotion?” An imposing voice suppressed the chatter of dozens present, and Liu Laos glared angrily at those around.
He was a straightforward person who repaid kindness and sought revenge. Xu Yan had treated him generously, so he reciprocated. At this crucial mont, risking universal condemnation, he spoke up for Xu Yan.
Standing on the stage, Xu Yan smiled at Liu Laos, then sneered, “This inkstick was once Zhang Minzheng’s beloved item! Does this background convince everyone?”
A gleam of light flashed in Tang Li’s eyes, but he remained silent on the side.
The wealthy bidders below the stage scoffed, considering Xu Yan to be spouting nonsense.
“Oh, when did you learn the tricks of street vendors? Making up stories?” Xie Dahua laughed mockingly, eyes full of contempt as he spoke.
Who was Zhang Minzheng? In the entire 276 years of Great Ming, he stood out as a top figure. He was a truly immortal personage. If this inkstick were indeed his beloved item, forget twenty thousand, even two million might not be enough!
The wealthy businessn burst into laughter, doubling over as they regarded Xu Yan as a re clown.
Xu Yan coldly swept his gaze over everyone present. His eyes carried a hidden pressure, silencing even these experienced, weathered wealthy people, stopping their laughter.
“This inkstick was crafted by the Hanlin academic Wang Zhongshan during the Jiajing period and presented to Zhang Minzheng in the 28th year of Jiajing.”
“In the 28th year of Da Jing, Zhang Minzheng submitted a morial to Emperor Dajing, expressing his ambition to reform and strengthen the realm.”
“Unfortunately, Emperor Dajing was indifferent to state affairs, manipulating his ministers with power tactics. This grand dissertation was ignored, but Hanlin academic Wang Zhongshan deeply respected Zhang Minzheng’s reformist zeal. He specially crafted this inkstick, presenting it in hopes that Zhang Minzheng would support the state and restore order.”
Xu Yan narrated the inkstick’s history thodically, as if he had witnessed Wang Zhongshan presenting it to Zhang Minzheng.
“Without evidence, what stories are you telling? I could say this phone was once their beloved item, would you believe ?” Shen Liang shouted disdainfully, seeing Xu Yan as purely making up stories and nonsense!
At this mont, Tang Li, who had been silent, exclaid with surprise, “This inkstick was indeed entrusted to for auction by Zhang’s descendants. It is indeed ancient ink from the Da Jing period. Young friend, how did you discern this?”
With Tang Li’s repute in the collection world, his words silenced many. Only Xie Dahua was displeased, loudly stating, “Even if it’s ancient Da Jing ink, who can prove it belonged to Zhang Minzheng? Could I claim any random basin was used by Zhang Minzheng to wash his face?”
“Right, can you prove your claim? Show so evidence!”
Many wealthy individuals who disliked Xu Yan and wished to curry favor with Shen Liang echoed in agreent. Shen Liang and Xie Dahua’s faces brightened slightly.
“Oh, really?” Xu Yan touched the inkstick, a cold smile appearing on his face.
Seeing his confident deanor, Xie Dahua’s heart skipped a beat. Could this inkstick truly have such significant provenance? However, historically, scholars loved inscribing their nas on their items. This inkstick bore no na or inscription, seemingly valueless. Thinking of this, Xie Dahua’s complexion eased a bit.
“Get down!”
Shen Liang looked at Xu Yan, standing calmly on the stage, with disgust. He shouted harshly, “If this inkstick is genuine, I’ll chew it!”
A mocking smile appeared on Xu Yan’s lips, with a trace of disdain in his eyes, “Chew it? You think you’re worthy?”
Shen Liang was furious. As Shen Dalin’s son, he never tolerated insults. Especially from Xu Yan, who wasn’t from high society, just a country bumpkin. How dare he speak so arrogantly? Shen Liang already hated Xu Yan deeply. Ignoring the occasion, he shouted fiercely, “I’ll bet against you right now! Dare you?!”
The faces of everyone around changed drastically. This extre ga, a bet on the authenticity of an antique, with the loser compensating ten tis its value, had not been played in years. Yet Shen Liang now proposed it against Xu Yan.
The room held its breath, awaiting the outco.
“You can’t afford it!” Xu Yan said coldly.
Xu Yan walked to the side, poured a cup of water, gently wetted the side with the seal script, then pressed it lightly on a white paper, leaving a mark. He placed the inkstick aside and casually tossed the paper on the table, standing with hands behind his back.
“This character is… in regular script, ‘In reverence of Taiyue’!?”
“But wasn’t the inkstick inscribed with seal script? How could it print ‘In reverence of Taiyue’ in regular script?”
Wealthy attendees were shocked and murmured upon seeing the ink trace on the paper.
Zhang Minzheng’s courtesy na was Taiyue!
Seeing the bright characters on the white paper, Xie Dahua couldn’t care about decency. He rushed to the front, picked up the inkstick, and forcefully printed it on the paper again. Trembling, he lifted the paper. The bold ‘In reverence of Taiyue’ characters made his face turn ashen.
“At the ti, Yan Song controlled the court. Zhang Minzheng’s morial was obstructed by Yan Song. Wang Zhongshan, with a family to protect, dared not openly praise Zhang Minzheng. He painstakingly designed these three regular script characters within the seal script patterns, a masterful effort,”
Xu Yan’s voice resonated slowly, reaching everyone’s ears.
Witnessing this, Tang Li couldn’t help but applaud Xu Yan’s erudition. His lead prompted sporadic applause throughout the venue.
Knowing the inkstick’s profound background was one thing, but discovering such an intricate story appealed to collectors. Indulging in the sensation of eting ancients through items brought genuine enjoynt. Tang Li hadn’t felt this in years. Unexpectedly, a plainly dressed young man unearthed the fascinating tale behind this artifact.
My prospects are over. They’re entirely over.
Xie Dahua’s mind went blank. He stood dazed, fixated on this single thought.
Shen Liang stared wide-eyed at everything. Who could imagine this inkstick carried such a painstaking hidden story? It was exactly what his father Shen Dalin had recently dread of possessing. Never did he expect it to be auctioned off for twenty thousand right before his eyes. Regret and frustration overwheld him.
Wang Yong, however, was overjoyed!
“I said, you can’t afford it!” Xu Yan sneered at Shen Liang.
Ten tis the price! This inkstick was valued at least twenty million, aning two hundred million! Even with the Shen family’s vast wealth, raising two hundred million in cash imdiately wouldn’t be easy! Not to ntion Shen Fei was only Shen Dalin’s son, not yet the owner of the entire enterprise!
If his father learned he lost two billion in a bet, his position as the primary heir to the family business would definitely be in jeopardy.
With cold sweat on his forehead, Shen Liang was at a loss. Xu Yan approached, sneering, “Mr. Shen, consider this a free lesson. Next ti, I will charge you!”
Despite the arrogance, everyone found Xu Yan’s statent justified.
Shen Liang dared not argue further, stiffly nodding in reluctant agreent.
“This inkstick will provide the grand display for your patriarch’s birthday. We’ll consider ourselves even. Farewell until we et again.”
Wang Yong nodded fervently, filled with admiration for Xu Yan.
With that, Xu Yan left without looking back.
He left high society elites in silent astonishnt, unable to recover from what had just transpired.
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