"General Gu is so generous."
"This ancient Indian Buddhist scripture is yours."
"After this is over, please settle the money."
Wan Sanqian raised his hand with a smile.
Is this Buddhist scripture worth so much money?
To be honest, it’s not worth it at all!
While doing business in the Liao Kingdom, he encountered a group of merchants from the Western Regions, among whom was a highly accomplished monk. However, they were lost, hungry, and thirsty. Wan Sanqian had food and water prepared for them, and before they departed, he also gave them two barrels of salt. The monk then gave him Buddhist scriptures.
He has no interest in Buddhist scriptures.
It's in Sanskrit, which is completely incomprehensible.
Following Ning Que's suggestion, it was put up for auction.
Gu Yuan had a cold face and had to sit down.
Although it cost a lot of money, as long as the Queen Mother is satisfied, it is all worth it. Fortunately, Hu Feng and the others gave 50,000 taels, otherwise the Gu family really couldn't hold on.
The Gu family’s current situation is not good.
Because of Ning Que, a huge loss occurred.
He was punished by Emperor Feng again and his salary was stopped.
If not for this, he wouldn't have sold out Lin Xianhong.
Wan Sanqian paused for a moment and continued the auction.
The subsequent works are also excellent treasures.
For example, the thousand-year-old ginseng on Buxian Mountain.
Just one slice is enough to keep you breathing.
There are also beacon trees from the bottom of the sea.
The so-called beacon tree is actually coral.
It is more than two meters tall and of excellent quality.
There is also a green jade incense burner with cloud and dragon patterns.
It is decorated with swimming dragons on top and auspicious clouds below.
This piece can definitely be called a work of art.
Regardless of the material or style, they are all of high quality.
The Liao envoys also became interested.
But the others would definitely not let him buy it.
Deliberately raising prices.
The Liao envoy was so angry that he almost drew his sword.
In the end, I spent a full 50,000 taels to buy it.
It's not for Empress Dowager Dafeng.
After all, the Liao Kingdom’s birthday gifts had already been prepared.
This jade artifact was to be presented to the King of Liao.
At this moment, more than half an hour has passed.
Wan Sanqian smiled.
I have to say, Dafeng is still rich!
The money we earned tonight is much more than that of other small countries!
The cost of these treasures is actually very low.
Most of the costs are due to transportation.
"Well, the auction is almost over tonight."
"There's one last lot."
"Have you ever heard of Chen Daozi?"
"The Great Shang Painting Saint?"
"No, it should be said that he is the Painting Saint of China!"
"His painting skills are superb and incredibly lifelike." Jiang Quan stroked his beard and praised, "He loves to travel around the world. I heard he hasn't picked up a brush in several years."
Isn’t Yu Ji powerful enough?
But in terms of painting skills alone, he is far inferior to Chen Daozi.
This wasn't just someone's claim, but his own admission. Chen Daozi had previously visited Chang'an, and Yu Ji and he became friends through painting. In the Imperial Garden, the two of them each painted a picture of flowers. Yu Ji, drawing on all his life's experience, created a painting of a hundred flowers in full bloom, which still hangs in the Imperial Study.
Everyone thought that Yu Ji won.
In fact, quite the opposite...
Even Yu Ji himself admitted that his paintings were superficial. He depicted a hundred flowers in full bloom, encompassing the hundreds of exotic species in the imperial garden. Chen Daozi, on the other hand, simply painted a single peony, its vibrant color and fragrance attracting butterflies.
Yu Ji was so astonished by the beauty that he felt inferior to her. He had originally intended to destroy the painting, but the late emperor felt it was a pity and left it in the imperial study. Chen Daozi's peony painting was gifted to Yu Ji and still hangs in his bedroom today.
People often say there's no first in literature and no second in martial arts. But when it comes to painting, Chen Daozi is universally recognized as the best in China, often called the "Saint of Painting."
Ning Que smiled as he heard their praise.
Because Chen Daozi is also his senior brother.
However, Chen Daozi has been traveling extensively these days. While in Kunlun Mountain, he only attended a few classes. He enjoyed painting and even drew a group photo of his fellow apprentices, which remains in the Shenji Pavilion to this day.
Because of the upcoming auction, Wan Sanqian specifically approached Chen Daozi to request a painting. Chen Daozi had initially disagreed, having retired from painting ten years earlier, opting to travel extensively. However, after moving out of Ningque, Chen Daozi readily agreed and began painting on the spot.
…
"That's right."
"The last lot is an authentic work by Chen Daozi!"
Wan Sanqian clapped his hands.
The scroll, which was about ten feet long, slowly fell down.
There is Chen Daozi's exclusive seal in the lower right corner of the scroll.
When they saw the painting, everyone exclaimed in amazement.
This is an extremely exquisite painting of Guanyin.
Guanyin has thin eyebrows and long eyes, with her eyes slightly drooping.
His face is round and his expression is peaceful.
Dressed in heavenly clothes with smooth lines.
Use light ink to express the depth of folds in clothes.
In his hands he was holding a fat baby wearing a bellyband.
"This is a picture of Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth."
"This was painted by Chen Daozi after he was inspired by his visit to Dunhuang."
"As you all know, the Master of Painting has long since retired. My company obtained this painting after exhausting all possible means. I'm sure you all have an idea of its value. As a sign of respect for the Master of Painting, there will be no reserve price."
"Fifty thousand taels!"
Sima Changqing stood up and made an offer.
As prime minister, he also possessed considerable wealth. His family's direct descendants ran the Chang'an liquor trade, naturally reaping the rewards. The Sima family was a prominent family, with numerous descendants. For example, his cousin was the Grand Historian, responsible for compiling history. His eldest son was the governor of Handan County, and his second son was the commander of Yanmen Pass.
Such a large family would naturally have illegitimate children responsible for running some of the business. The salary provided by the emperor alone would not be enough to spend, after all, not everyone could be as frugal as Ouyang Zheng.
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