Chapter 988:? Eleventh Brother’s Painting?
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gu Nuo’er and Gu Ziliang arrived at the busiest stall.
This place was surrounded by commoners who had stopped to watch.
In the crowd, a rich merchant with a big belly and wearing gold and silver sat on a short stool.
There were dozens of antiques of different appearances in front of him.
There were calligraphies, paintings, stationeries, jade items, and even a pair of gla.s.s cups that looked translucent.
The stall owner was a thin man with a handlebar mustache and a pair of slender eyes that looked shrewd.
He pointed at a calligraphy painting and introduced it with saliva flying everywhere.
“I spent a lot of money to buy this from a rich merchant from the south. It’s the ‘Watching the Plum Blossoms In the Snow’ painting!
“Look at whose name this is signed with. It’s a great work by our 11th prince!”
Everyone immediately let out exclamations and lowered their heads to size up the item.
The seller promoted the painting with all his might. “Everyone, take a look. In this painting, the red walls and golden tiles of the palace can’t stop its beauty even under the cover of snow.
“The lake beside this small pavilion is sparkling, and the red plum blossoms on the plum blossom trees by the sh.o.r.e are blooming in the wind. How beautiful!
“This is an one and only masterpiece in the world. If you buy it and bring it back to keep, you’ll have to frame it!”
The rich merchant was tempted by his words and quickly asked, “What’s the price?”
The stall owner chuckled and raised five fingers. He approached the rich merchant with a shifty look and said, “5,000 silver taels, but seeing that you’re a fated buyer, I’ll give you a cheap price. 3,000 silver taels. What do you think?”
Gu Nuo’er looked at the crowd for a long time and pouted.
The child looked up and said to Gu Ziliang, “Tenth Brother, this is fake. It’s not Eleventh Brother’s work.”
Gu Ziliang squatted down and asked patiently, “How does Sister know?”
“First of all, Eleventh Brother has been traveling the world for almost five years. He hasn’t returned to the palace for a long time.
“As for the painting in the vendor’s hand, the paper is brand new and there are no aging colors on it. The brush and ink are bright. It’s obvious that it’s a work done within a year.
“But wasn’t Eleventh Brother’s goal in leaving the palace back then to paint all the good rivers and mountains in the world? Why would he produce another painting of the beautiful scenery in the palace?
“Even if this really might be drawn by him, the seal that was signed off isn’t right. Eleventh Brother’s name is ‘Gu Zihe’. That signature is actually ‘Gu Zikou’. The words on the red seal also seem to have been written crookedly.”
The child crossed her small arms in dissatisfaction. “He’s using Eleventh Brother’s reputation to earn money. Watch how I take care of him!”
As she spoke, Gu Nuo’er squeezed into the crowd and walked to the rich merchant’s side.
The rich merchant had already taken out a stack of banknotes and was about to count out 50 notes to hand to the stall owner.
The stall owner stared at the pair of banknotes until his eyes widened and he almost drooled!
Gu Nuo’er reminded him in a soft voice, “Uncle, don’t be in a hurry to pay. Take a look at the other antiques first. If there’s anything you like, wouldn’t it be better to buy them together?”
The stall owner and the rich merchant were both stunned.
They all looked at this little girl who had come out of nowhere.
She looked extremely adorable and her skin was delicate.
Her big lively eyes were filled with cute childishness.
Her hair was black, her round face was fair, and she was wearing an embroidered dress.
It was obvious that she came from a rich family.
The stall owner didn’t expect a child to come out and help him earn more money!
He immediately beamed and rubbed his hands in agreement. “That’s right. Master, take a look again. Is there anything you like in my stall?”