Full level Black Heart Lotus, reborn to bully scumbags every day!

Chapter 673 Far away, yet so close.

Shen Shuyi smiled and said, "That's the problem."

The Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple was a sixth-rank official according to Daqian's official rank. For an official of the sixth rank to give a gift, such as a famous painting worth tens of thousands of taels, was it not a bit too generous?

In addition, Shen Shuyi asked Zhang Jinping to check and found that when the family of the Shaoqing of the Guanglu Temple held weddings and funerals, the gift that the Shen family sent back was only an inkstone worth about five hundred taels.

This huge price difference is intriguing...

The most important thing is that not long after this incident, the Shaoqing of the Guanglu Temple got a lucrative job.

Looking at the account book more carefully, such things have happened much less frequently since she returned home, especially after Qin Xuerong was no longer in charge of the household expenses.

"Sister Shuyi, call me."

Just as I was thinking about it, Yao Huiyan and Zhao Xueqing came in from outside.

Shen Shuyi stood up and said, "Sister Yao and my cousin bumped into each other."

Yao Huiyan smiled and said, "Since you invited me, there's no reason for me not to come."

Zhao Xueqing also said: "I heard that His Majesty and the Queen Mother gave a lot of good tea, so I came here specially to taste it."

Yu Ping immediately said, "The young lady has already asked me to prepare it, and even made a few cakes specially. I will go get them now."

Shen Shuyi didn't say anything polite. He handed the painting of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains to the two of them and said, "To be honest, I invited you two sisters here today because I wanted to see this painting."

Yao Huiyan slowly opened the painting and examined it carefully with Zhao Xueqing.

"In your opinion, sisters, is this painting real or fake? What is its market value?" Shen Shuyi asked.

Yao Huiyan thought for a moment and said, "I think the painting is exquisite, but... it doesn't look like an authentic work."

Zhao Xueqing was also a little hesitant: "I can't say for sure. I haven't seen many of Master Zhang's paintings, but the details of his brushwork are too casual, not as delicate as Master Zhang's."

Hearing this, Shen Shuyi took out another scroll: "Take a look at this calligraphy by Master Wang."

After several people reviewed it, Zhao Xueqing said, "This one looks real."

"I think so too." Yao Huiyan nodded.

Shen Shuyi was thinking in her mind that although the A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains Painting sent by the Shaoqing of the Guanglu Temple looked very much like the original, she asked Jiang Li to check and found that there was indeed a A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains Painting on the market that was bought by Prince Shun.

And according to Second Aunt, when the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple gave this painting to her, he seemed to have deliberately mentioned that it was a replica.

If that's the case, there's no problem.

The problem was that she had happened to see this painting of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains after her grandmother's birthday last year.

But she thought that painting was authentic...

Considering that Qin Xuerong was the head of the family before and she had a lot of money, Shen Shuyi had other guesses in his mind.

Seeing Shen Shuyi remained silent, Yao Huiyan could not help but probe, "Sister Shuyi, do you think someone is reselling the paintings in the mansion? The real ones were replaced with fakes."

"Yes, but the point is, the person who sent the painting also said that the painting he sent was a fake." Shen Shuyi's voice was clear.

Several people looked at each other, and Zhao Xueqing frowned: "Cousin, what you mean is that there were two paintings from the beginning? One real and one fake?"

"Yes."

When Shen Shuyi competed with Lou Yulan in checking accounts, he found that some of the calligraphy and paintings on the accounts were very problematic.

The price and authenticity of things like calligraphy and paintings, ancient porcelain and even beautiful jade are often difficult to estimate.

Although she could not remember the painting of Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple clearly, she could tell that many of the calligraphy and paintings in the storehouse were authentic.

Just like Master Wang's calligraphy, it must be an authentic one, but when Qin Xuerong was the head of the family, the return gift she gave to the other party was only worth three hundred taels of silver.

Therefore, she suspected that Qin Xuerong took advantage of her status as the Shangshu's wife to seek personal gain. After accepting bribes, she whispered in Shen Jingchuan's ear, or got some information from Shen Jingchuan and then revealed it to the briber in order to reach some kind of deal.

In other words, there must be many such forms of bribery in the court today.

When Shen Shuyi found out in his previous life, he was very shocked, but Xiao Tingshan seemed to be used to it.

In her previous life, she had suggested to Xiao Tingshan that he should make a suggestion to Emperor Qianwu and thoroughly investigate this unhealthy practice.

But Xiao Tingshan stopped her, saying that her actions would affect the interests of many people and would make many court officials dissatisfied with him.

Now that she has a new life, she does everything he is unwilling to do.

Shen Shuyi has always understood that there will be no fish in clear water, but if he ignores it, the water will only become more and more muddy until it becomes black.

Therefore, we must investigate what needs to be investigated. Otherwise, the common people will be the ones who suffer the most in the end.

Shen Shuyi talked about this with the two for a while, and Yao Huiyan said, "When there's a chance, I'll ask my uncle about this and see what he thinks."

"Okay, how is your cousin now?" Shen Shuyi thought of Wang Xiao whom he saw outside Tianxiang Tower that day.

Yao Huiyan sighed: "He is still the same, depressed and has no appetite. I don't know if it is to fight against his uncle and aunt, or if he really likes Hongxiu that much."

Shen Shuyi smiled and said, "Maybe it's both. As the saying goes, what you can't get is the best. Maybe if he really gets it, the enchantment will be gone."

Yao Huiyan shook her head: "My cousin has never been like this. If he really married Hongxiu, he would definitely obey her orders, show concern for her and hold her in his hands in every way."

"Please help me persuade Madam Wang and tell her not to be anxious. A man in the world is bound to encounter troubles. Sometimes experiencing more is not necessarily a bad thing." Shen Shuyi said frankly.

Just like her in her previous life, if she had not experienced such betrayal, she would not understand that in this life, one must place hope on oneself.

Instead of giving everything you have to help others, it is better to use all your strength to fight for a way of survival for yourself.

"Aunt understands the truth, but seeing my cousin like this, I can't help but feel distressed." Yao Huiyan sighed.

Shen Shuyi thought for a while and said, "In a few days, when I have time, I will go meet this Hongxiu and see if I can come up with a solution."

Yao Huiyan smiled and said, "You always have ideas. If your aunt knew, she would be very happy."

*

At night, Shen Shuyi brought Jiang Li to the gate of Dali Temple prison.

Shen Shuyi was wearing a black cloak and a veil on his face, and Jiang Li acted as his bodyguard.

It didn't take long before Xie Jingchi and his men arrived.

The man was wearing a navy blue brocade robe, which set off his cold white skin, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and he was indescribably handsome.

However, Shen Shuyi couldn’t help but wonder, was Xie Jingchi so fair before?

"I have been so partial to the county, but I wonder how the county will repay me?" Xie Jingchi spoke as he ordered someone to open the lock.

Shen Shuyi turned to look at him: "So, why is Lord Xie willing to be so partial to me?"

Perhaps he hadn't expected her to ask him this question. Xie Jingchi paused, stared at Shen Shuyi with his phoenix eyes, and said faintly, "Of course I have something to ask for."

Shen Shuyi raised his eyebrows: "What do you want, sir?"

Xie Jingchi pulled the corner of his lips, his deep eyes filled with undisguised aggression.

"Far away, yet so close."