Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1260 - 518: Destroying the Painting (Part 7)

Mingzhu wanted to roll her eyes. Truly, whenever one goes along with Yueyao’s words, the conversation veers off into strange directions. How did Yueyao blend into the circle of noblewomen in the Capital City?

At this moment, at the largest auction house in Suzhou, things are quite different.

The painting "Dance" by Yueyao had been placed in a long-established store selling calligraphy and paintings several days earlier. In addition to the painting, Yueyao also inscribed a poem by the Song Dynasty poet Liu Zicui. Yueyao had already decided to destroy this painting, which is why she used someone else’s poem. Otherwise, she would rather leave it blank than inscribe a poem. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The news that Yueyao’s painting was on display for viewing quickly spread, and enthusiasts of calligraphy and paintings flocked to see it. In just seven days, hundreds of people had viewed the painting. Quite a few of them expressed a desire to purchase it, but the shopkeeper only said that it would be auctioned at the auction house in a few days. Those wishing to buy it should attend the auction. Hence, the auction house was bustling that day.

A man holding a scroll walked onto the stage, followed by another man who looked like a guard. Each of them held one end and spread the painting open.

After watching Xiang Ru’s dance, seeing the painting "Dance" evoked even deeper emotions. It was highly praised by those present.

The auctioneer stepped up, just about to start. Xiang Wei’s stand-in, a man claiming to be Mao Da, looked towards He Feng seated in the front row and called out: "Master He, last time when I delivered the painting to Xunfang Pavilion, you were present. Do you remember me?" His tone was quite arrogant.

He Feng was startled and quickly nodded, saying, "Yes, I was there at the time."

The stand-in called himself Mao Da, and Mao Da asked, "May I ask, Master He, where did you get the idea that I look like a woman in disguise? And that you mistook me for being a woman dressed as a man?"

He Feng didn’t have the keen eyesight to discern Xiang Wei in disguise as a man. That was completely what Xiang Ru told him to amuse him. He didn’t think Xiang Ru would joke about such matters, so he believed it to be true. Of course, He Feng wasn’t a fool; he knew speaking of this would offend people. However, after a few drinks, one tends to speak the truth, and that was beyond his control. Now, He Feng focused on the person on stage, examining earnestly for a long time. The voice, the look, and the demeanor all suggested a man!

He Feng’s palms were slightly sweaty, and he said, "Come down here and let me take a closer look." That day, after his drunken indiscretion, his father had scolded him harshly. It was only yesterday that his father relented and let him out, and he didn’t want to be confined again.

Mao Da said, "Since Master He still has doubts, fine, let everyone see if I am indeed a man." He exposed his chest in front of the crowd.

The crowd was startled by the deep scar on Mao Da’s shoulder. Then everyone turned their eyes towards He Feng; what kind of vision would mistake this person for a woman in disguise? And even wildly imagine this is Lady Lian in disguise?

The lackey accompanying He Feng hurriedly shouted, "You’re undoubtedly a man, but who can be sure you’re the person who went to Xunfang Pavilion that day? Who knows if you are fake?"

Mao Da sneered, "That day I went to Xunfang Pavilion, I didn’t just see Master He; I encountered quite a few people along the way. If you don’t believe it, I can go gather witnesses."

He Feng slapped the lackey on the head, "You fool, you think my eyesight is poor, that I can’t even recognize a person? That day, it was the two people on stage who came to Xunfang Pavilion."

A plainly dressed man in his forties from the second row mused aloud with disdain: "Your eyesight isn’t poor, yet you mistook this person for being a woman in disguise? Surely anyone with eyes would know that the person on stage is a man." Though the person on stage was a bit short, one would never mistake him for a man.

Originally indignant, He Feng turned his head to see who was speaking and instantly lost his bravado. He cursed inwardly through gritted teeth, being played for a fool by a brothel girl.

Now everyone was anxious to see the painting. The auctioneer hurriedly announced that the auction could begin. If it didn’t start soon, people below might rebel.

Mao Da no longer dwelled on the previous issue; some things are best left unsaid beyond a point to avoid suspicion: "My master says, keeping this painting is just a hassle, and she doesn’t want such a hassle."

The auctioneer didn’t grasp what this meant, and at this moment, Mao Da pulled out a Fire Starter from his sleeve, blew on it to ignite a small flame, and then placed it under the painting.

The auctioneer was startled.

Those below were dumbfounded by Mao Da’s actions. Someone in the front row reacted quickly, rushing to the stage attempting to extinguish the fire, but was stopped by the guard.

In a blink, more than half of the painting was burned. Only then did Mao Da throw the painting to the ground, and soon, all that remained was a pile of ashes.

He Feng’s lackey stared at the small heap of ashes on the ground, muttering, "Crazy, utterly crazy..." This painting had been priced at three thousand silver taels at the Calligraphy Shop, and today’s auction would fetch an even higher price. But a thing worth thousands of silver, just went up in smoke. People say He Feng squanders wealth, but is there anyone who squanders more than this? Certainly not.

In a private room, Xiang Ru turned deathly pale when she learned the painting was destroyed.

The painter who had wanted to rush onto the stage looked at the ashes and shouted, "Such waste, such waste!" Burning such a fine painting, what could be more exasperating?

Most of the people below sighed in pity.

The auctioneer was at a loss for how to close the event when someone came from outside, whispered in the auctioneer’s ear, and the auctioneer breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, many people had come to buy Yueyao’s painting, including quite a few well-known figures. Everyone might sigh in pity over the burned "painting," but if they had come in vain, it would create another scandal. Niu Yanghui persuaded Yueyao to offer two non-sale paintings for auction.

To quell this incident, Yueyao could only bear the pain and part with treasures.