Chapter 185 The Fake Painting
Tang Zhenghao saw this and burst into laughter, "Hahahaha, Chen Xuan, you really are a kept man. You give a gift and it's a lump of iron. Did you find it in the junkyard?"
"Uncle Su, the Su family may be in decline, but it hasn't fallen so far that you need to find such a useless fellow as a live-in son-in-law. Uncle Su, as long as you announce that Yunxi's marriage to this good-for-nothing is nullified, I will immediately escort Miss Yunxi to the altar with a grand procession." Tang Zhenghao said seriously to Su Qian.
Su Qian ignored Tang Zhenghao and asked suspiciously, "Chen Xuan, what is this? You didn't bring the wrong thing, did you?"
Chen Xuan was the son-in-law Su Qian had chosen, representing his reputation.
He believed Chen Xuan wasn't such an unreliable person, but this lump of iron exceeded his expectations.
Chen Xuan smiled faintly, "Uncle Su, take a closer look and see what this is."
Su Qian was slightly taken aback, then picked up the "lump of iron" and examined it carefully. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and his expression became a bit excited, clearly recognizing the origin of the iron lump.
"Tch, it's just a lump of iron, what's so great about it?"
Tang Zhenghao curled his lips and turned to Su Qian, "Uncle Su, you've seen it too. This guy only gave you a lump of iron. He has no money or power, and he's not worthy of Yunxi at all. I implore you, Uncle Su, to cancel their marriage..."
Before he finished speaking, Su Qian slapped his thigh and almost jumped up with the "lump of iron" in his arms, excitedly exclaiming, "Tie Muchen, this is Tie Muchen! I searched all over the country back then to find Tie Muchen."
Tang Zhenghao was also skilled in medicine and familiar with medicinal herbs. Upon hearing the name Tie Muchen, his heart trembled, and he said incredulously, "Tie Muchen is a spiritual medicine that increases lifespan and is extremely precious. How could he afford it? This must be fake!"
"Tang Zhenghao, how dare you, a junior, doubt my judgment?" Su Qian's gaze swept over Tang Zhenghao, and he said coldly.
Tang Zhenghao's face changed slightly, "Uncle Su, I wouldn't dare to doubt you, but this Tie Muchen is too precious and extremely rare. He must have bought you a fake."
"Fake? Your Tang family is also skilled in medicine, then show me if this Tie Muchen is real or fake?" Su Qian handed the Tie Muchen to Tang Zhenghao with a half-smile.
Tang Zhenghao took the Tie Muchen from Su Qian and immediately felt a surge of vibrant life force. A bad premonition arose in his heart; perhaps the lump of iron in his hand was indeed the rare spiritual medicine Tie Muchen.
However, he didn't believe that Chen Xuan, this good-for-nothing, could find such a precious medicine as Tie Muchen as a gift. Thus, he meticulously examined the "lump of iron."
A moment later, his body stiffened!
It's over. This is indeed Tie Muchen. I've shot myself in the foot this time!
Chen Xuan smiled faintly, "Tang Zhenghao, is the Tie Muchen I gave Uncle Su real or fake? It's much better than your fake ancient calligraphy and paintings from the Tang Dynasty, isn't it?"
Tang Zhenghao's face turned ashen, as if he had eaten a fly.
He had initially planned to use this opportunity to step on Chen Xuan and rise, but he never expected Chen Xuan to get his hands on genuine Tie Muchen.
A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately found an opportunity to attack Chen Xuan, saying coldly, "Your Tie Muchen may be genuine, but in my opinion, you must have stolen it. We'll set this aside for now, but you dare to call my ancient calligraphy and paintings fake, which shows a problem with your character. With your poor character, what qualifications do you have to be the Su family's son-in-law?"
"That's right, kid, don't talk nonsense. This painting is the 'Heavenly King Sending Off Children' by Wu Daozi of the Tang Dynasty. It was purchased at a Christie's auction, and so many experts have authenticated it. How could it be fake?" Tang Zhenghao's entourage shouted.
"What if this painting is fake?" Chen Xuan looked at Tang Zhenghao.
"Whatever you say goes."
"If this painting is fake, you get out of here immediately and never have any improper thoughts about Su Yunxi again." Chen Xuan said coldly.
Tang Zhenghao agreed without hesitation, full of confidence, "Okay, but if this painting is real, you will get out of the Su family and cancel your engagement with Yunxi."
Chen Xuan replied, "It's a deal!"
Tang Zhenghao was overjoyed.
Su Qian had been reluctant for the Tang and Su families to intermarry. If Su Qian didn't agree, he couldn't do anything about Chen Xuan. Now, he unexpectedly found an opportunity when Chen Xuan wagered the engagement.
"Since you say it's fake, then prove to me where this calligraphy and painting is fake?" Tang Zhenghao said smugly.
As his entourage had said, this "Heavenly King Sending Off Children" was an antique purchased from Christie's auction house, and so many experts had authenticated it as genuine. How could Chen Xuan, this kept man, tell the difference between real and fake?
Su Qian also had some knowledge of antiques and calligraphy, and he couldn't see anything wrong with the painting. He hurriedly said, "Chen Xuan, this is the 'Heavenly King Sending Off Children' by Wu Daozi of the Tang Dynasty, how could it be fake? Chen Xuan, you mustn't act impulsively. As long as I refuse the Tang family's proposal later, the Tang family won't bother Yunxi anymore."
"Uncle Su, this 'Heavenly King Sending Off Children' is indeed fake. I'll tell you what's going on later." Chen Xuan said faintly.
The Su family in the capital intentionally used the Tang family to deal with the Su family. If he didn't take some measures, he was afraid the Tang family would pester Su Yunxi relentlessly.
Su Qian frowned, not knowing what to say, but in his opinion, Chen Xuan was overestimating himself this time.
Soon, Chen Xuan asked a servant to bring a pen.
Tang Zhenghao curled his lips, "What's the use of a pen? Putting on a show."
Chen Xuan ignored Tang Zhenghao, unrolled the painting, revealing the section with the inscription, and looked up at Tang Zhenghao, "Look here."
Tang Zhenghao looked at the spot Chen Xuan pointed to, which was where Wu Daozi's inscription was. His gaze lingered for a few seconds, confirming there was no issue, and then he said loudly, "This is Wu Daozi's inscription. The brushwork is strong and vigorous. Is there a problem?"
"Don't you feel a sense of familiarity?" Chen Xuan said.
Tang Zhenghao glanced at the inscription and it did seem somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where. "Stop playing tricks. Hurry up and tell me what's going on."
Chen Xuan knew this guy didn't understand antiques and directly said, "Don't you think this was written with a fountain pen?"
"A fountain pen?"
Tang Zhenghao was stunned. It really did look like it. "How is that possible?"
Chen Xuan picked up a prepared fountain pen and wrote the words "Wu Daozi" on the paper, stroke by stroke. It was almost identical. The inscription was clearly written with a fountain pen!
"It really is written with a fountain pen. So what if it's written with a fountain pen?" Tang Zhenghao was stunned, then let out a sneer, shaking his head nonchalantly.
"Idiot." Chen Xuan shook his head, looking at him with disdain.
"Damn it, how dare you curse me! Believe it or not, I'll kill you!" Tang Zhenghao's face darkened, and he cursed loudly.
"Uncle Su, did I see correctly?" Chen Xuan didn't bother with this guy and smiled at Su Qian.
Su Qian was ecstatic and praised him endlessly, "Not bad! As expected of the son-in-law chosen by our Su family! Not only is his martial arts talent outstanding, but he also has such profound research into antiques!"
He never expected Chen Xuan to have such deep knowledge of antique calligraphy and paintings. After all, even he had been fooled by this painting by Wu Daozi.
The Su family in the capital thought they had found a kept man. If the Su family in the capital knew that Chen Xuan was accomplished in both literature and martial arts, who knows how many jaws would drop!
"Tang Zhenghao, get lost quickly. Don't you dare bother Yunxi again." Chen Xuan said coldly.
"Damn it, when did you prove that painting is fake?" Tang Zhenghao asked blankly.
Chen Xuan was helpless at Tang Zhenghao's ignorance, and smacked his forehead, having to explain, "Young Master Tang, let me ask you, how could there be fountain pens in the Tang Dynasty? Did someone time travel?"