The situation on the second floor was better; at least there were a few intact benches. Mu Run walked to the window, opened it, and looked down. She could see the bustling street with people and cars coming and going.
Fu Yunchen walked to the wall, looked at the painting supported by only one nail, and exclaimed in surprise, "This painting..."
"What's wrong?" Mu Run went over to look together.
It is a painting titled "Tea Tasting Competition".
The painting is exquisite, vividly depicting the tea master's movements and solemn expression, as well as the tea enthusiasts watching. Looking at it for a while, one feels as if they themselves are there, observing the tea ceremony.
"It's a pretty nice painting." Mu Run wasn't very good at appreciating calligraphy and paintings. Besides talent, one also needs to be frequently exposed to such things, which she didn't have. But this painting gave her a very comfortable feeling, and she liked it very much.
Our gaze then turned to the signature: "Winter month of the first year of Xiaozhi reign, by Sima Xiangru of Jiangnan."
Who is Sima Xiangru of Jiangnan?
"Bai Xiangru, the court painter, painted in the countryside under the name Jiangnan Xiangru before entering the palace. Ten years ago, he accompanied the emperor to the hunting grounds and died in an accident after falling from his horse."
"What a pity." Mu Run looked at the "Tea Tasting Competition" painting again. "Is his painting valuable?"
"When he was alive, many people copied and forged his paintings."
"It seems to be quite valuable." No one would fake something worthless.
"That's why there are so many fakes on the market. It's not easy to buy a genuine one. His paintings, created before he entered the palace under the name Jiangnan Xiangru, are especially precious."
"Why?"
"Because there are few. He himself said that there were only about twenty pieces. And with the damage over the years, there are even fewer."
"Ah? Then this 'Tea Tasting Picture'..." Mu Run's eyes widened in surprise, and thinking of the many fakes on the market, she added, "Isn't this also a fake?"
Fu Yunchen pulled out the last remaining nail, took down the "Tea Tasting Picture," looked into her eyes, and smiled, "This is an authentic work."
Mu Run's eyes suddenly lit up. "How much is it worth? Five thousand taels?"
"Hehe, it'll probably double in value again." Fu Yunchen rolled up the painting and handed it to her. "My wife is very lucky."
"That's right, you've hit the jackpot by marrying me." When Mu Run is in a good mood, she has a playful side.
Fu Yunchen looked at her, holding the scroll like a precious treasure, his eyes curving into adorable crescents, and the corners of his lips involuntarily turning upwards.
After acquiring the "Tea Tasting Picture," everything about the Si Residence seemed pleasing to the eye. After viewing the entire painting, Mu Run was extremely satisfied, and a rough outline of its reconstruction began to take shape in his mind.
Fu Yunchen then took her back to the place he had wanted to bring her to as soon as he entered the capital—the Fu residence.
The brand-new vermilion gate, with a large, open space in front of it, gives a sense of sudden openness, even more spacious than the Prime Minister's residence.
Mu Run looked at the main gate of the Fu residence in surprise, "How many courtyards do you think this house has?"
"After the fifth level, there are restrictions on official rank."
"It's too big! It's all empty rooms. Haven't you heard that having too many houses and too few people is bad feng shui?"
"The feng shui is fine. This house was once home to Yun Zhongzi, a famous Confucian scholar from the previous dynasty. During Yun Zhongzi's heyday, this open space was filled with carriages, and the place was bustling with activity. As for the multiple rooms, it was more convenient for the villagers to stay when they came to the capital."
"Hmm, you've thought this through. So how much silver does this house cost?" Mu Run asked, just looking at the open space in front of the gate, it gave the impression that it wouldn't be cheap.
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