The incomplete copy treasured in the Palace Museum is also incomplete. According to many historical books, the original "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" should have a section depicting distant suburban landscapes in front of it, as well as a signature in Song Huizong's thin gold script and a small double dragon seal he used for his collection. However, these are no longer available on the incomplete copy collected by the Palace Museum.

Moreover, many experts have inferred from various historical books and materials that there should be another part of the original painting, because the painting should not end at the entrance to Kaifeng City, but should end at Jinming Lake. Many experts believe that since the painting is named "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", its meaning is to go to the riverside during the Qingming Festival, and the fragment collected by the Palace Museum shows the master and servants traveling by the willow tree at the end of the painting, which can be regarded as the protagonists of the fantasy, so the meaning of the name "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" can be fully explained.

But no matter what, the incomplete copy collected by the Palace Museum is very incomplete, and historical materials also say that "five feet were lost later." Moreover, the most important five-character inscription by Song Huizong Zhao Ji and the small double dragon seal are missing. This makes it even more impossible to prove that the incomplete copy is Zhang Zeduan's authentic work.

It's just that although many people know this, no one dares to bring it up...

Suddenly, a silk scroll appeared in his eyes, and it was taken out from a scroll of paintings by Zhao Lingrang, a famous painter in the Northern Song Dynasty. Although only a small part of it was opened, the five-character inscription at the beginning and the small double dragon seal all proved the true identity of this silk scroll.

"Ding, ding, ding..." The sound of a grandfather clock suddenly rang out in the silent hall, and the time had unknowingly come to ten o'clock in the evening.

Along with the sudden ringing of these ten bells, the atmosphere, which was originally so heavy that it seemed like it was about to drip with water, suddenly relaxed.

Old Xiao raised his head, wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, and said with a wry smile: "I'm too nervous. I'm afraid I've never been so nervous in my life. He brewed it, and he's getting old, and he's actually a little bit nervous."

Several old men started laughing, and the tense atmosphere in the room faded.

Senior Brother Liu Minghan asked, "Uncle Xiao, how is your appraisal? Are this inscription and seal authentic?"

Old Xiao glared at Liu Minghan unhappily, then smiled bitterly and said, "I'm not sure. Although I am 100% sure that this five-character inscription and the double dragon seal are the authentic works of Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, I can't confirm it by myself. This involves too many things... Old Huang, why don't you come and take a look?"

Mr. Huang did not refuse. He put on gloves and reading glasses, took the magnifying glass from Mr. Xiao's hand, and moved closer.

After a long while, Huang Lao stood up with sweat on his forehead and said, "My opinion is the same as Lao Xiao's. This five-character inscription and the small double dragon seal should be authentic."

After a pause, Mr. Huang continued, "What Lao Xiao said just now is very correct. If it were another painting, Lao Xiao's appraisal would be enough. But for this painting, even if the two of us were together, we wouldn't dare to make a final decision! It would be better to organize other colleagues in the institute to take a look. If we can invite Mr. Mu to come over and give him a taste, it would be even safer."

The Mu that Mr. Huang mentioned is an older generation master who specializes in ancient calligraphy and painting at the Palace Museum. Although she is a woman, she is a top master in the field of ancient calligraphy and painting.

Old Mu also attended the apprenticeship ceremony this morning, but she went back without even attending the lunch.

Hearing what Mr. Huang said, several old men nodded. In the face of such a major event, it is very necessary to organize a considerable number of experts to appraise it together. After all, this involves "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", and it is not too important to pay too much attention to it.

Yang Jing said, "Four Masters, Mr. Huang, why don't we not talk about the appraisal for now? Let's take a look at the whole picture of this painting first."

Yang Jing's words were immediately agreed by everyone, and Mr. Guo continued to carefully open the silk scroll.

It’s true, perhaps because this silk painting has been hidden in a scroll for a long time, it has been preserved very well. Except that the color of the silk has faded a little due to time, the painting is very good in other aspects.

The beginning of the painting is indeed a landscape of the suburbs, which is similar to what many experts have inferred. Then, when it is opened, it is the content of the familiar "Along the River During the Qingming Festival". However, at the end of this scroll, there is an additional length of about 1.5 meters, which depicts the scene of the master and servants finally arriving at the river.

After the scroll is fully opened, it is seven and a half meters long, two meters longer than the fragment in the Palace Museum collection, proving the historical record that "five feet were lost later". Most importantly, the scroll in front of us is extremely complete, and the overall style, layout and painting techniques are obviously better than the fragment in the Palace Museum.

In fact, at this point, the five old men present had already determined in their hearts that this scroll was the authentic "Along the River During the Qingming Festival"...