Chapter 55: The painting was given by the princess
"After all, the Shen family is cunning and treacherous. Who knows if they deliberately took a fake painting—"
"What a fake painting! What's the point of having such big eyes? This is the authentic work of Xu Yanshou!" Before Chu Yunlan could finish his dirty talk, Grand Tutor Sun interrupted him with a puff of his beard and a glare.
Chu Yunlan was stunned. Chu Xinrou also stared at the painting with wide eyes, pointing at the dents on the bottom of the scroll. "But this painting is missing a corner, how can it be an authentic work!"
Shouldn't someone who got Xu Yanshou's authentic work treasure it? Why did it get bumped and scratched? It must be fake! Can't the Grand Tutor even tell the difference?
Grand Tutor Sun angrily slapped Chu Xinrou's hand away, "Why are you touching this painting? Even a thousand taels of gold can't buy this painting. If you break it, can you afford to pay for it?"
"I've copied no fewer than ten original paintings by Xu Yanshou. Do I need a little kid like you to tell me whether it's authentic? This painting was already missing a corner when it came into Your Majesty's hands."
After saying that, he turned around and smiled, his eyes narrowed, looking at Shen Shuwei, "Miss Shen, are you really giving this painting to me, an old man?"
Chen Shuwei watched him hurriedly and carefully put the painting away, afraid that she would regret it and take it back, and couldn't help laughing, "This is a gift from your servant on behalf of your brother."
Shen Shuwei looked at Shen Heng, and Shen Heng readily handed over his scroll.
Seeing that every move of the two was as graceful and polite as a painting, unlike the two jumpy and unpresentable people beside them, Grand Tutor Sun's favorability towards Shen Shuwei and Shen Heng increased sharply.
This favorable impression reached its peak when he opened the scroll sent by Chen Heng and saw the essay he had copied.
He read through several lines with astonishment in his eyes, then carefully put Chen Heng's paper away. He reached out and patted Chen Heng's shoulder. "Excellent! Excellent! It's really well written! I will submit this paper to the chief examiner and ask him to pay close attention to you during the autumn examination."
The fact that the emperor's imperial teacher praised his writing three times in a row shows that Shen Heng's writing is excellent.
Chu Yunlan, who was standing next to him, looked at Shen Shuwei with a sour heart, his eyes gloomy and uncertain, not knowing what he was thinking.
"The Grand Tutor said that this painting was hidden in the palace. I don't know what means my sister used to get it?" Chu Xinrou spoke with a resentful look on her face.
"Could it be something you did to me? Did you pick it up from somewhere or steal it?"
Even the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jingning couldn't get the original, so how could she, Shen Shuwei, have the ability to get it? His Majesty must have given it to a senior official, and after Shen Shuwei got the news, she shamelessly exchanged her body for it.
No matter what reasons or excuses Shen Shuwei came up with next, she had to prove that Shen Shuwei had sacrificed himself to get this painting.
She wondered if the tutor could accept such a dirty painting.
Facing Chu Xinrou's resentful and expectant gaze, Chen Shuwei curled his lips and slapped her in the face.
This change happened so quickly that no one could react.
Tutor Sun subconsciously protected the painting and Shen Heng's travel notes in his arms. These were two treasures.
Chu Xinrou screamed and fell to the ground. Chu Yunlan came to his senses and hurried to help her. He raised his hand to slap Shen Shuwei in return, but was stopped by Shen Heng who was standing in front of Shen Shuwei.
"Brother! Didn't you see that Chen Shuwei hit me? You actually protected her!" Chu Xinrou was almost mad at Chen Heng's defense, and screamed without any dignity.
What kind of magic potion did Shen Shuwei feed Shen Heng and Shen Zhang? The eldest and second brothers loved her so much in the past, but now they are indifferent when they see her being beaten!
Chen Heng turned his head slightly and glanced at the red slap mark on Chu Xinrou's face. "I see. With such a strong force, my third sister's hand must have hurt."
He turned around and began to rub Shen Shuwei's hands, his voice soft and low, "Next time something like this happens, just let your brother do it for you, why bother doing it yourself."
"Girls' hands and faces are precious, they can't be bumped or scratched."
Chu Xinrou was breathless, and her heart ached again. She bent forward and coughed. Chu Yunlan hurriedly helped her breathe. "I was beaten for simply asking about the origins of this painting. This proves that this Songshan painting is indeed of illicit origin! I ask the Grand Tutor to severely punish Shen Shuwei and expel Shen Heng from the Autumn Examination. Please do this for me!"
Chu Yunlan deliberately brought up Master Sun. He didn't believe that Shen Shuwei could lie or make up any excuses in front of Master Sun.
Without waiting for Grand Tutor Sun to ask her, Shen Shuwei answered. She bowed to Grand Tutor Sun with a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.
"The reason I took action is because this painting was given by Your Majesty to Princess Rongyang, who then gave it to me. Isn't Miss Chu's description of its origin an insult to the Princess's legitimate acquisition of the painting? Or is she suggesting that the Princess gave me the painting as a despicable move?"
"Miss Chu, you know that if this statement gets to the ears of someone with ulterior motives, you will be charged with the crime of offending the royal family and defying the imperial authority."
"I'm just teaching Miss Chu a lesson on behalf of the eldest princess, so that Miss Chu will learn her lesson and know that there are some things that cannot be said carelessly."
After listening to Shen Shuwei's words, Master Sun's eyes flashed. He certainly knew that Shen Shuwei had selfish motives in her actions, but her words were not without reason.
Anyone who dares to say that Princess Rongyang's gift of the painting was a despicable act would be truly insulting to the Princess. If anyone is really calculating, who knows if they would exaggerate and say that it was an insult to the Emperor.
Chu Xinrou's head was buzzing when she heard that this painting of Mount Song was given to Chen Shuwei by Princess Rongyang.
The eldest princess gave it to her? !
Why is Chen Shuwei so lucky? First, Princess Hengyang and Princess Yongning looked at her differently, and now even Princess Rongyang is willing to give her such a precious painting!
What kind of wicked tricks did she use on them!
Chu Xinrou's body was staggering. This time she was not pretending, she was really mad.
Grand Tutor Sun glanced at Chu Xinrou, whose face was pale. "Insulting Princess Rongyang is such a serious crime. Why don't you apologize to Miss Shen quickly?"
Chu Xinrou bit her lower lip tightly, let out a soft cry, and fainted in Chu Yunlan's arms.
Who is she, who is Shen Shuwei, she deserves her apology!
Chu Yunlan also didn't want to admit his mistake. He frowned and looked at Chen Shuwei and shouted, "Since you and Princess Rongyang have known each other for a long time, why didn't you tell me earlier? Did you have to make Xinrou and me worry about you, afraid that you bought a fake painting and offended the Grand Tutor? I didn't know when you could be so calculating!"
"Now Xinrou has fainted from your anger. Since you know Princess Rongyang, go and explain to her that today's incident was a misunderstanding. Xinrou is also confused by her concern, so I don't think it's necessary for her to apologize."
After saying that, he hurriedly got into the carriage and left with Chu Xinrou in his arms.
Grand Tutor Sun looked at the two people, his eyes twitching. He turned around and told the doorman, "Don't let these two people come to our house anymore."
What a thing! Saying he can farm and raise pigs is praising him too much. He can't even raise a pig with his brain.
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