Chapter 349 - The Authentic Work (1/2)

In fact, calligraphy originated in the Cathayslan State. R Country merely learned it from them. And most of the people in R Country could not grasp the essence of it.

Xiao Bing took a stroll in the gallery. Suddenly Xiao Bing’s eyes were fixed on a piece of calligraphy. It was Tang Bohu’s authentic work–To Shi Jingting, the most famous piece written by him.

The owner noticed and explained with a smile “It’s a fake. But if you want to buy it, I can sell it to you for 100 thousand.”

Xiao Bing said to the princess, “We should buy it.”

Princess Nami was surprised, “You want to give my grandpa a fake work of art?”

Xiao Bing had a confident smile on his face. But the princess still felt it was inappropriate, “I’ll buy it. But we should take a look at the other works.”

Then the princess bought another calligraphy created by a famous calligrapher in R Country. After their purchases were wrapped, they left the gallery.

Grinning, Xiao Bing asked, “To whom will you give the most expensive gift? Your biological grandpa or your other grandpa who sits on the throne?”

Princess Nami hesitated for a moment and said, “My biological grandpa.”

Xiao Bing guffawed, “You do treat them differently.”

Princess Nami felt awkward. But Xiao Bing’s laughter came from the bottom of his heart. He would not have laughed if the princess planned to give the more valuable one to the Emperor. But she said that she would give it to her biological grandpa, which meant that this girl was truly petulant and empty-headed. Smart girls knew that the ones who share a close relationship with her would not mind whatever she gave them, so normally they would choose better gifts to give to the ones who were not so close to them. Besides, this was the Emperor of R Country.

Princess Nami was not that considerate. Indeed sometimes she did not know how to socialize with people. But at least she did not bear any evil thoughts.

Xiao Bing said,” That being the case, give Tang Bohu’s work to your true grandpa and the other to the Emperor.”

Princess Nami opened her eyes wide, “I should give the fake one to my grandpa?”

Smiling, Xiao Bing said, “Who said it’s a fake?”

“The… The owner said so…”

“How ignorant they must be, ” said Xiao Bing smilingly, “If he was discerning enough, he would not have taken Tang Bohu’s authentic work as a fake. Come on, where should we go now?”

“It’s genuine?” asked the princess doubtfully. “Though I’m not an expert in calligraphy and painting, I could tell that the sigil below is brand-new, which means that it was only made recently.”

Xiao Bing sighed, “If that redundant sigil was not there, its value will at least be ten million. But discerning people will still buy it at a cost of seven or eight million. Indeed that sigil was newly stamped, but that is the part that has me confused. If a man wants to sell a fake masterpiece, why would he make the sigil look so new? Normally he could make the sigil appear a little faded. Though there were still differences between it and the authentic work, it would make it seem more real.”

“Yes. But why didn’t he?” Princess Nami was surprised by Xiao Bing’s words.

“Maybe it was stamped by a stupid man, because Tang Bohu forgot to stamp his sigil on his work.”

The princess seemed stunned. Xiao Bing grinned and continued, “Though it sounds funny, it’s highly possible. I had been studying calligraphy for a short while. I’ve checked it carefully. No doubt it’s Tang Bohu’s work.”

Princess Nami seemed delighted, “It will be perfect if that’s the case. My grandpa loves Tang Bohu’s work.”

Xiao Bing nodded with a smile.

“Aoki-Kun, why are you so versatile. Not only are you a powerful martial artist, but you also know so much about calligraphy and drawing. You bought it at merely 100 thousand, but it’s actually worth seven or eight million.”

“There’s so much more you don’t know about me.” Xiao Bing thought for a moment, then he smiled again, “Let’s stop joking. Actually it’s just luck. Maybe it won’t happen to me again. I also found it very incredible. It’s just something good that happened to us today.”

Princess Nami raised her head and looked at Xiao Bing. Though she was wearing sunglasses, Xiao Bing was sure that her eyes were gleaming with admiration.

Princess Nami seemed a little excited, “So does it mean that you are always luckier when you’re with me?”

Xiao Bing was taken aback for a moment. In the Cathaysian State people always say that a good wife would bring luck to her husband. Was the princess suggesting something?

It would not take be long before Xiao Bing left Jingdong and returned to Cathaysian State. If the princess was still as cruel as she was before, Xiao Bing might stay by her side for a longer time. But Xiao Bing did not want to get closer to her, as the girl seemed to be changing. If something did happen between them, who would look after her, after he returned to Jingdu?