428 Genuine Works (2/2)
The appraisers looked at the papers in the box in surprise. They were all shocked speechless and felt that they might be seeing things. After a while, someone exclaimed incredulously, ”Seven pieces!”
The boss walked to the side and sat down. He lifted the teacup to his lips and drank, smiling, ”You guys look at it.”
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The appraisers gathered around the desk and carefully removed the calligraphy section from the box. They were all leading characters in their professions. It did not take them long to certify that the seven calligraphy sections were all genuine work.
Even though they could not confirm when the calligraphy sections were written, it was unanimously agreed that these were new works. But this did not affect the value of the sections. The appraisers were all shocked. They did not expect the Stone House to have such a big collection in their hands. Other than in the imperial study in the palace, there wasn't anywhere else in the world where one could see so many genuine works.
What surprised them the most was the last section in the box.
It was a wrinkled piece of memo paper.
But to them, this memo was more valuable than the Xishan writings.
There were only two words on the memo— Chicken Soup.
”Even though this is a genuine work, everyone knows that Grand Secretary Wang had bought the original Chicken Soup Calligraphy with 4,000 taels of silver. It is now in the scholar's mansion.”
Brother Mo Shi frowned. ”Could this be a new duplicate?”
Those gathered around the table thought about it, and recognized that there was indeed a problem.
Brother Mo Shi carefully held up the two corners of the memo with his fingertips. He held it up in the air and against the sunlight streaming into the hall as if he wanted to find out what was the problem with it.
The appraiser from the Kingdom of Song standing across him suddenly gasped in surprise. He pointed at the memo and said, ”There are words.”
Everyone looked at where he pointed. There was indeed a line of small characters behind the memo.
”This is genuine.”
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”Who wrote it?”
The appraiser from the Kingdom of Song bellowed somewhat angrily. ”Even though this Chicken Soup Calligraphy is a new duplicate, it is still a precious object. How could they write things on the back?!”
Brother Mo Shi shook his head and looked at the line of characters. He lamented, ”Who else, other than Sir Ning, can write characters like these? If it was indeed written by him, this only makes the work more valuable.”
”Could this Chicken Soup Calligraphy be the original?”
”If it was signed by Sir Ning, of course it is the original.”
”What about the one bought by Grand Secretary Wang at a high price?”
”That one... must be fake.”
All were silent.
While they were not cultivators, they have all heard the story behind the Chicken Soup Calligraphy. Many thought that the Chicken Soup Calligraphy was worth as much as the precious flower bloom calligraphy hidden in the imperial study after the copies began to circulate.
Someone muttered in surprise, ”How much should we set the appraisal value at?”
”Wang bought this for 4,000 taels at a friendship price. Sir Ning was barely famous then.”
The quiet man under the trellis suddenly said, ”Give it some time for the news to spread and it'd be best if we can enrage Grand Secretary Wang.”
The man raised his head and looked at the boss of Stone House and other appraisers. He said, ”30,000. If I sell this Chicken Soup Calligraphy for less than 30,000, I'd be too ashamed to face anyone.”
With that, the quiet man did not return to his brooding but looked very proud. He looked as if he had pulled out a sharp knife from his sheath.
Everyone finally recognized the man.
The man was the most famous auctioneer in the calligraphy world.
”Very well.”
The boss of Stone House stood up. Then, he suddenly remembered what Dewdrop had said. After a moment, he looked at the auctioneer and said, ”We only have one rule: Sir Ning has the right to choose the buyer.”
The man frowned slightly because he had rarely heard of such requests.
The boss did not explain.
He did this because the seven sections were obtained disgracefully. Even though Stone House did not need to bear any legal responsibilities according to the law of the Tang Empire, they were prepared for the sections to be taken back by Ning Que should this come to light. This rule was made to save his reputation. Furthermore, if the auction is invalid, it would comfort those potential bigwig buyers.
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