Chapter 88: A Frame of Ancient Painting

  The family home is indeed a century-old mansion, with all sorts of strange and unusual things, but the website only had the words "already sent" annotated.

  The four of them searched for a while, and Qinglian found the box number of the "Mountain Chicken and Camellia Picture" about Emperor Ai in a corner of the account book.

  Feng was very happy and took Shen Muqing, Dong Mama, and Qinglian to the warehouse of the Liang family.

  The warehouse of the Liang family was very large, with a seven-room courtyard that had been fully connected. The first room was empty, while the second room on the east side was packed to the rafters, but only half full on the west side. Shen Muqing couldn't help but wonder where all the things that were originally stored here had gone...

  Dong's mother and Qinglian found the painting stand according to the account book, took a black lacquer gold-painted box about two feet long from the top of the stand.

  "Take a closer look, is this it?" Feng said somewhat nervously.

  Dong's mother looked at the yellowed paper note on the box, and then compared it with her own account book, smiling: "It's this box that's correct."

  Feng opened the box with some excitement.

  On a crimson-red velvet carpet lay quietly a rolled-up silk painting.

  Feng excitedly picked up the painting and gently stroked it for a while before opening it with Shen Muqing.

  Under the tea flower tree, a pair of chickens, one male and one female. Brilliant plumage. Languid demeanor. Dotting the eyes like lacquer. This is indeed the characteristic of Emperor Ai's flower-and-bird painting.

  He rolled up the painting and said to Shen Muqing: "Let's go! We're going to Shuang Rui's place!"

  Go and say thank you in person. It can better express sincerity.

  Shen Mu Qing nodded repeatedly and followed Feng Shi to Xiangyun Temple.

  Jiang Shuangrui was somewhat surprised to see Feng and Shen Muqing arrive together, but he still warmly welcomed the two into his house.

  Feng handed the black lacquer gold-inlaid box to Jiang Shuangrui: "Take a look. This is that 'Mountain Chicken and Camellia' painting."

  Jiang Shuangrui smiled and said, "I've seen two paintings of Emperor Ai at Master Yuan's house before. This is the third one - I'm going to feast my eyes!" As he spoke, he opened the box and gently took out the scroll.

  Shen Muqing took the painting and helped carry it forward. Jiang Shuangrui slowly retreated, gently unrolling the scroll.

  "How beautiful!" Jiang Shuangrui almost pounced on the painting "Third sister, look at this camellia... elegant and lovely... and look at the eyes of this mountain chicken... huh?" As she spoke, her body suddenly stiffened.

  Feng thought that Jiang Shuangrui had moved the fetus due to bowing, and immediately changed his face. He hurried over to support Jiang's arm: "Is it all right? Is it all right?" His tone was very tense.

  Jiang Shuangrui suddenly let go of Feng's hand and lowered it even further. Moreover, he started rubbing the pheasant's eyes with his hands.

  Shen Muqing's calm and clear eyes inadvertently fell on Jiang Shuangrui's wrist.

  A moment later, her face turned slightly pale.

  At this point, Madame Feng also felt that something was wrong. She supported Jiang Shuangrui and looked at Shen Muqing: "What's wrong? Is there a problem with this painting?"

  Neither of the two wives paid attention to her.

  Jiang Shuangrui handed the painting to Yan Hong beside him, then walked over to Shen Muqing's side and took the painting from her hand: "Third sister, you take a look!"

  Shen Muqing handed the painting to Jiang Shuangrui and leaned over to look at the pheasant's eyes, carefully examining the inscriptions on the side.

  For a long time, she didn't make a sound.

  In the silence, Jiang Shuangrui's face looked unpleasant as he said, "How is it?"

  Shen Mu Qing lifted her head, her face as pale as silk: "I don't understand painting like Second Aunt does, but I love seal carving. Emperor Ai had the dignity of an emperor, and he loved to use the 'Number One in the World' seal to inscribe paintings. The strokes on this seal are round and smooth with few sharp edges, meticulous but lacking in heroic spirit..."

  Jiang Shuangrui's gaze fell on Feng Shi's body across from him.

  Feng's eyes grew dim: "This painting... this painting..."

  Shen Muqing and Jiang Shuangrui exchanged a bitter glance and nodded.

  Feng was momentarily stunned like a wooden chicken.

  Shen Mu Qing lightly sighed and went forward to support Feng Shi onto the kang, where Yan Hong had already poured a cup of hot tea for her to drink.

  Feng suddenly pushed away the tea in Shen Muqing's hand, and the tea splashed out. Muqing's clean white jade-like wrist immediately turned a faint red.

  She didn't dare make a sound, hid her hands behind her back and shook them vigorously.

  Feng's eyes snapped shut with a loud "click" as he slammed the lid closed: "Let's go, we're going to see Old Lady Wang - this warehouse key, besides me, only Wang Wenxiu has it!"

  The warehouse actually has two keys, how can there be no problem!

  Shen Mu Qing quietly let out a low groan.

  Just then she heard a faint moan.

  Shen Mu Qing was startled and thought to herself: "Could it be that I inadvertently let it slip out?"

  She thought, and then saw Jiang Shuangrui holding his stomach with a tired face sitting on the edge of the bed. Yan Hong was shocked and exclaimed: "Second Young Madam, what's wrong with you? Is something uncomfortable?"

  Shen Muqing suddenly realized that the groan he had heard earlier was actually made by Jiang Shuangrui.

  Feng rushed over with quick steps: "Shuang Rui, are you alright?"

  Jiang Shuangrui panted heavily: "Maybe it's because I bent over too hard just now, a bit tired."

  "Then you take a good rest!" Feng looked at Shen Muqing and said, "You come with me to see Madame Tai."

  Chiang Shuangrui can pretend to be uncomfortable, but he himself has no reason!

  Shen Mu calmly and respectfully responded with a "yes", but raised his head to glare at Jiang Shuangrui with an unexplainable scowl.

  Jiang Shuangrui didn't think much of it and winked at Shen Muqing.

  Shen Mu Qing felt even more depressed.

  Zhang Liang's plan, I have never climbed over walls?

  She thought for a moment, then gestured to Ying Fen.

  Two people went to the place of the old lady under the escort of a group of maids and wives.

  Madam Tai was still talking with Liang Jiemin, they were sitting in the main hall waiting.

  Another senior maid, Zixia, came in to pay her respects to Shen Muqing: "Third Young Mistress, your maid Buxue is here. She's asking what to do with the things in that blue-and-white porcelain vase."

  Feng listened, frowning.

  "Master is afraid that you, sir, have been studying too hard, so I had someone bring some dry goods from Liaodong especially for you. Every night, I personally prepare it for you to drink. This thing can't be exposed to heat, and must not be left out, it needs to be chilled with ice water...I didn't dare let the maids touch it..."

  Feng nodded and said: "Since it's like this, you go take a look!"

  Shen Mu calmly and respectfully replied with a "yes", then: Feng Shi bowed before retreating.

  As they walked along the winding path of the courtyard, Yue asked Yingfen in a low voice, "Sister, why haven't I seen any Qinghua porcelain vases..."

  Ying glared at Bu Yue, saying: "This stupid girl can't be taught. Third Young Mistress doesn't want to get involved in the conflict between the wife and the madam."

  "Yes, why use this as an excuse?" Bu Yue still didn't understand, "We don't have anything to do with Third Young Master's wife, what will we do when the time comes and the mistress wants to eat?"

  "Good grief, you're stupid. How can you be so stupid?" Yingfen rolled her eyes, "When we let the laurel return to the Shen family, it was said that they had eaten them... what's wrong with admitting it."

  If Third Young Master's wife hadn't dragged in Third Young Master, the mistress would probably think that our Third Young Master's wife isn't on the same side as her... I won't say anything more to you, you, doing things without using your brain is a lifetime of being a lowly maid."

  "You'll be my little maid for the rest of your life!" Ying Fen's words kept echoing in Shen Muqing's ears, and she suddenly thought of that young man in red who was galloping on horseback.

  She paused for a moment and then continued walking forward.

  Shen Muqing returned to Die Cui Yuan for a short while before Zi Juan came to invite her: "The old madam asks Third Young Mistress to come in and talk."

  Looks like there's no escape!

  Shen Muqin sighed softly, changed into another set of clothes, and followed Zi Xuan to the residence of the elder lady.

  Unexpectedly, there were not only Feng's family members, but also Wang Wenxiao and Jiang Shuangrui. The three of them stood respectfully in front of the madam's kang. But Liang Jimin was nowhere to be seen.

  Feng's eyes were slightly red, as if she had cried. Wang Wenxiang's expression was calm and peaceful, no different from usual. However, when Jiang Shuangrui entered the door, he winked at her with a look of watching a good show.

  The situation is so bizarre!

  Shen Mu was deep in thought with a smile all over his face as he greeted everyone.

  The old lady smiled and looked at Shen Muqing who had just finished her greetings, saying: "Muqing, I called you here because I have a few words to say to all of you!"

  Shen Muqing had already imagined many scenarios before. When she heard Tai Furen say this, she immediately smiled and said: "Please, Grandmother, instruct me!" After finishing speaking, she stood beside Jiang Shuangrui, her eyes fixed on Feng Shi.

  Feng felt Shen Muqing's gaze and her eyes turned slightly red as she gently turned her head away.

  It seems that Feng's side has lost this battle!

  Calm and serene, with a clear conscience, his demeanor became even more respectful.

  "I know you want to give gifts to Lord Yuan, it's for the sake of helping Ji Min, but have you thought about it? Ji Min will be an official in the future, and now he's learning these unscrupulous tricks. How can he be a decent person and an honest official in the future?" The lady's voice gradually became stern. "Moreover, this painting was left by our ancestors, whether it was fake before being stored or replaced later, no one can say for sure. Stop speculating about the painting; as for giving gifts, let's stop here and not mention it again!"

  Several people naturally responded with a solemn "yes".

  I didn't expect Mrs. Tai to say something like that. The Liang family is known as the "unbeatable champion", is it really because of being so "honest and upright" and "clean and white"? And what about the painting, can it be settled with just one sentence "whether it was a fake before it was put in storage or someone replaced it later"? Isn't this handling a bit too rough? At least, shouldn't we clarify who was in charge of the key? This kind of handling is obviously biased towards the owner of the other key, Wang Wen.

  Others didn't know what kind of mood it was, at least Shen Muqing was muttering in her heart.

  Old Mrs. Tao saw that her daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law were answering respectfully, so she slightly improved her expression and said: "Season Mian is about to take the imperial examination soon, and Tong Cui Yuan was originally small, now with You Hui living there, it's even more chaotic. I think, let him temporarily move to Cong Lv Tang to live. The scenery there is good, the place is also quiet, it's a good place for reading."

  Thank you everyone, I have 20 pink tickets now (＿)) Hehe...... Tonight's update will be at around 17:00 as usual, the additional update for the pink tickets will be scheduled a bit later, so please check it out tomorrow morning!

  Also: Everyone's comments in the comment section have been seen, due to a power outage some time ago and the New Year's holiday these past few days, my younger brother and sister-in-law came back, I took out my older sister's demeanor - letting them use the computer... so I didn't reply to everyone's posts in a timely manner, please forgive me, sisters! (If you want to know what happens next, please log in, more chapters are available, support the author, support the official version!)

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  Chapter 88: A Frame of Ancient Painting