Xunyang Tower.

The hall on the first floor is reserved tonight.

A bamboo umbrella with a painting of a lady was auctioned for 6,000 yuan a day.

Prices are still climbing.

Now only the salt merchant Pei Shisanniang and the famous Kuanglu monk Sihui are left bidding uncompromisingly.

The high price has deterred other Xunyang celebrities who stood up to bid, and their faces became hesitant. After all, celebrities spend money lavishly, but they also have a certain limit.

"Amitabha, I am willing to give you six thousand two hundred taels."

Master Sihui gritted his teeth.

Pei Shisanniang said without saying a word: "Six thousand five hundred taels."

The price had just been quoted, and seeing Master Sihui about to open his mouth, Pei Shisanniang immediately made her decision:

"Seven thousand taels!"

The whole place was silent, and no one spoke for a moment.

Pei Shisanniang raised her chin slightly, and underneath the sleeves of her skirt that no one could see, there was a clenched palm filled with sweat.

With a calm expression on her face, she looked around the silent hall and smiled faintly at the guests. Her attitude was determined to win. However, from the corner of her eye, she paid close attention to Master Sihui's hesitant expression and did not relax.

"this……"

A group of Xunyang celebrities who were sitting at the same table with Master Sihui and who had not participated in the bidding before were a little confused. They glanced at Master Sihui who was struggling and hesitating, and their faces became more and more curious.

"Taoist Master Jiang, Master Sihui, why is he so persistent in buying umbrellas? You were the same just now..."

A famous man lowered his voice and asked doubtfully to the Taoist priest named Jiang who had given him the flute before.

The bidding failed and Daochang Jiang voluntarily resigned with a wry smile and shook his head:

"this……"

From the corner of his eye, he first glanced at Wang Lengran, whose face was ashen not far away from his deskmate. He paused, then carefully pointed out in a lowered voice:

"The accompanying painting on this umbrella depicts a lady with hairpins. The brush strokes are round and round, and the streamers of her skirt are fluttering in the wind. It is the "Wu Dai Dangfeng" clothing pattern painting method, which is the orchid leaf painting of the old Taoist priest in Chang'an.

A unique skill that cannot be imitated.

"I was not sure before, but looking at Master Sihui's appearance, there is no doubt that Master Sihui knows more about the immortal paintings of the Buddhist and Taoist families, and the rumored old Taoist is the best at making such murals.

…”

"Hey, Daoist Jiang is talking about the painting saint who once wandered around Dongluo?"

Exclaiming in surprise, the eyes of all the celebrities in Kuanglu suddenly opened wide. Some turned their heads and looked at the handmade umbrella in the arms of the clever maid in surprise.

When Da Qian was still there, there was an ordinary old Taoist priest who wandered around Luodu, painting murals in many temples and Taoist temples. He shocked everyone at that time, and finally alarmed Gaozong and Wei Hou, who were still in charge of the same dynasty.

.

The two sages summoned him to Chang'an, Kyoto, and worshiped him in the palace, and ordered him "not to paint unless there is an edict." During his temporary stay in the court, the old Taoist left a lot of paintings, and his name as a painting sage became famous all over the world.

It's a pity that this strange man quickly escaped from the dust, and most of his remaining works were collected by the palace. Only a few paintings can be passed down to the outside world. Except for the murals in Taoist and Buddhist temples in Chang'an and Luoyang, which are carefully protected and restricted for viewing.

"That's right."

Taoist priest Jiang, who was "short of money", nodded helplessly and sighed:

"Even if the painting on the umbrella was not written by the painting sage, it was made by a master or someone with deep connections. It has the same root and origin, and is no different from the painting sage's handwriting. If you can collect a copy..."

Daochang Jiang looked at his fellow celebrities at the table with meaningful eyes.

The latter looked at each other, and some couldn't help but said: "Seven thousand taels is not expensive!"

Soon, the celebrities at the table in Xunyang, big and small, became anxious. For a moment, they ignored the embarrassment of the governor Wang, whose face at the table became increasingly livid, and began to discuss among themselves whether they should pool their money to bid for a painting of a holy painting.

Wang Lengran was a little restless. It was clear that the attention of most people in the audience was focused on Pei Shisanniang, Master Sihui, and the oil-paper umbrella who were bidding.

But he always felt that a smiling and amused look was looking at him from somewhere.

It was like being slapped in the face in public.

Taking advantage of Master Sihui's hesitation, Pei Shisanniang immediately turned her head and spoke sincerely to Xie Xue'e. Her voice was strong enough for the young man in fox-white fur who had already walked to the gate behind her to hear:

"Mrs. Xie, can you grant me this little wish?

"Seven thousand taels, give me your love to me."

Xie Xue'e was a little silent, and Pei Shisanniang smiled and wanted to speak again.

"Eight thousand taels."

A faint old man's voice sounded.

Xie Xue'e, Pei Shisanniang and others were stunned and turned to look at the place where the voice of the strange meddler came from.

At the table closest to the table where Daochang Jiang and other celebrities from Xunyang were sitting, there was a tall, meticulously combed old man with silver hair. He smiled slightly and raised his glass to everyone:

"Young Master Ouyang, I am also very happy to see this umbrella. Mrs. Pei, can you give it to me?"

Although he asked for words, the tall old man's tone was calm and he was determined to win.

He even looked straight ahead and did not look at Pei Shisanniang.

The contemptuous attitude of the old nobles towards the businesswomen and big businessmen is palpable.

Xie Xue'e could no longer remain silent and couldn't help but said: "Uncle Qin, why don't you get involved..."

"Thank you, young lady." The tall old man of high seniority shook his head, smiled slightly apologetically, and said something unclear:

"I have no intention of disturbing Mr. Xie's arrangements tonight, I'm just trying it out... If Madam decides to part with you, please consider me. Price is never an issue."

Uncle Qin raised his glass to Xie Xue'e and everyone in the audience.

Pei Shisanniang, who was ignored and cut off, seemed to have recognized the identity of this tall old man, and remained silent, not daring to argue anymore.

Master Sihui was the same way. He took a long breath and couldn't hide the pain in his face.

Xie Xue'e didn't have to wait for many people.

"Uncle Qin, and all of you."

She looked a little apologetic and said: "This umbrella is special. It is a gift from a guest. How can it be sold lightly..."

"Thank you, Madam."

Yan Liulang, who followed Ouyang Rong to the door, suddenly turned around and interrupted loudly:

"Give me the umbrella!"

Xie Xue'e's eyebrows stood up: "What are you talking nonsense about?"

Yan Liulang tried hard to break away from Ouyang Rong's big hand behind him, holding him away, and raised his chin in public and said:

"This is what Madam said herself, saying that if it is a heavy gift, Mrs. Xie will not accept it! I am confused, I dare to ask Madam, is this umbrella made by the Ming Dynasty now a heavy gift, or a light gift?"

Mrs. Bu Yao was choked and her words were stuck.

Yan Liulang stretched out his hand carelessly, with a nonchalant look on his face:

"Bring it here, an umbrella worth 8,000 taels of silver. Will Mr. Xie and Madam refuse to accept it?"

"You!" Xie Xue'e blushed and became angry.

Yan Liulang frowned: "Then return the umbrella to Mingfu."

Xie Xue'e turned her head, suppressed her anger, and asked seriously:

"Mr. Ouyang, is this what you mean by what I said? Do you want to take the umbrella and leave?"

Ouyang Rong, who had been staying out of the situation, slowly turned around, looked around the whole place, and his eyes fell on the oil-paper umbrella in the arms of the clever maid.

He actually didn't expect that sending this umbrella would cause such a big disturbance.

I just wanted to leave quietly.

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and pursed his lips:

"Okay, stop making trouble."

He seems to be saying it to Yan Liulang, and also seems to be saying it to Wang Caozhi, Pei Shisanniang, Miss Qin and others who are helping tonight.

Ouyang Rong whispered: "Tonight is my junior sister's birthday party, so don't make it unhappy."

When Xie Xue'e heard this, her face softened a little, she suppressed some of her temper, and her harsh tone softened: "Master Ouyang..."

Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and walked towards the door without looking back:

"Come on, Rokuro, don't disturb the party again."

Xie Xue'e's originally gentle face suddenly turned red, and she shook her sleeves angrily:

"Okay, okay, let's go, right? You have a bad temper. Wan Qing, please return the umbrella! We, Mr. Xie, can't bear Mr. Ouyang's gift."

Ouyang Rong's mellow voice came: "Madam, don't be angry, just accept it. This is for my junior sister, I will not take it back."

"Okay, then let's sell it!"
To be continued...