Chapter 487: 340. Bronze Axis, Guoer Reads

340. Bronze Axis, Guoer Reads "Zhao"

"An article recording a place full of peach blossoms... Article?

"Later, it was said that this scroll was left by Master Tao.

"Isn't that this "Peach Blossom Spring"? It happens to be a scroll too."

Ouyang Rong pondered for a while and began to deduce:

"Tao Yuanming, the sword-wielder of the Cold Scholar, resigned from office and lived in seclusion in the countryside. Before leaving, he not only left the "Returning Home" sword art but also left the Cold Scholar. However, was the Cold Scholar contained in the form of a "Peach Blossom Spring" scroll?

"The Cold Scholar in scroll form had always been held in the hands of the Liu royal family of the Southern Dynasty and assisted the Northern Expedition Army during the Yuanjia Northern Expedition. There is a detail here. According to Miaosi, who had witnessed it, the Cold Scholar's sword energy was like a sky-blue long rainbow...

"The Yuanjia Northern Expedition failed, and the Cold Scholar in scroll form seemed to have fallen into the hands of the Northern Wei iron cavalry and was beaten back to the north. It was likely offered to Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei. What happened after that is unknown.

"According to the historical materials found by the little princess, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei didn't seem to have any major actions afterwards, at least not actions that seemed to involve the Cold Scholar... The most famous thing is that Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, under the strategy of a scholar from the Qinghe Cui clan, carried out a large-scale action of abolishing Buddhism and destroying temples within the Northern Wei territory. In the end, only 320 Buddhist temples remained in the entire Northern Dynasty for a short time..."

Ouyang Rong thought for a while, shook his head gently, and his thoughts shifted:

"And the current Jingzhao Yuan clan is the Tuoba clan of the former Northern Wei royal family... This authentic manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring" happens to still exist and has been collected by the Jingzhao Yuan clan to this day.

"Now it has been taken by the half-prodigal Yuan Huaimin and fell into my hands..."

Ouyang Rong's face showed no joy, but rather some solemnity.

"Is this authentic manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring" the scroll that fell into the hands of Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei? Or is it a fake imitated by later people, not an authentic manuscript of Tao Yuanming at all.

"After all, it seems now that Tao Yuanming's authentic manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring" should be the scroll containing the Cold Scholar."

Ouyang Rong nodded gently, then shook his head.

"But there are two more doubts.

"First, this "Peach Blossom Spring" has passed through too many hands. Is there really a leak for me to pick up?

"For example, Rong Zhen and Song Fujian, they have already seen it. Why didn't they discover it? Could it be that the real one has already been swapped by them?

"The second doubt, the reason why Rong Zhen and I suspected that this authentic manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring" was tricky before was because when Li Zhengyan, Wei Shaoqi, and others rebelled, they had sought the original text of "Peach Blossom Spring" from Yuan Huaimin.

"Now that I know the Cold Scholar might be in scroll form and fell into the hands of the former Northern Wei royal family, looking back, they must have known this point long ago, which is why they sought out Yuan Huaimin early.

"Wait, something is wrong. They sought the original text of "Peach Blossom Spring" from Yuan Huaimin, not this authentic scroll. Why is this? Is the information wrong, or did they know long ago that this authentic scroll is not a genuine product?"

Ouyang Rong muttered while carefully examining the silk scroll in his hand, occasionally tapping the axis of the scroll with his fingernail to test the hardness of the material and so on.

However, no matter how he tested it, this silk scroll gave him the feeling of an ordinary item, far from being as certain as when he violently tested the Night Pearl in the Pure Land Underground Palace.

Is the indestructible Xin Dingjian Cold Scholar just this?

Just as Ouyang Rong was considering whether to roast it with fire to test the strength of his great friendship with Brother Huaimin.

A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, and he stood up abruptly.

"By the way, I remember Yuan Huaimin mentioned that when Li Zhengyan and others sought him out, they showed him a "Peach Blossom Spring" painting. Was the carrier of this painting also a scroll?"

Ouyang Rong put down the silk scroll, put his hands behind his back, and paced in the study, his face suspicious:

"Is there any connection between the "Peach Blossom Spring" painting and the "Peach Blossom Spring" article?

"But Miaosi clearly mentioned that when she saw the Cold Scholar in the Southern Dynasty Song army during the Yuanjia Northern Expedition, it was a scroll recording an article about a place full of peach blossoms. Since it is an article, it should be a "Peach Blossom Spring," very clear, not a "Peach Blossom Spring" painting.

"And Yuan Huaimin also said that the "Peach Blossom Spring" painting in Li Zhengyan's hands was painted by a Taoist surnamed Wu he knew, which is obviously a contemporary item...

"If this authentic "Peach Blossom Spring" is not it, then where did the Cold Scholar go?"

Ouyang Rong stopped at the desk, his gaze slowly moved down, and fell on the old silk manuscript covered with many seals of ancient celebrities.

His thoughts temporarily fell into a dead end.

"Could the Cold Scholar change into thousands of forms?

"It wouldn't be that Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei recast it after getting the scroll-form Cold Scholar, right? So this authentic "Peach Blossom Spring" is no longer the original one?

"But I have never heard of any Xin Dingjian being able to be remade in a furnace.

"According to Miaosi, the Cold Scholar's original form was a standard sword shape, with the only feature being no hilt.

"However, before Tao Yuanming lived in seclusion, when he handed it to the Southern Dynasty Liu Song royal family, it was in the form of a scroll with "Peach Blossom Spring" written on it...

"What happened in this change."

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

A moment later, his gaze slowly fell on the wardrobe in the inner room, his face showing some hesitation.

Should I wake Miaosi up and let her take a look at this "Peach Blossom Spring" scroll?

"This little guy didn't know anything after getting the pastry during the day. I don't know if she is playing dumb or hiding something."

He shook his head and temporarily put away the silk scroll recording "Peach Blossom Spring."

However, this time, he put it into the Mo family sword box, together with the craftsman's tools and the Night Pearl.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the night, turned around, and returned to the bedroom.

Early the next morning.

Under the supervision of his aunt Zhen Shuyuan, Ouyang Rong helplessly finished a large bowl of health-preserving chicken soup, put on his official uniform, and went out with quick steps.

At the back door, Ali was feeding Dongmei forage, and Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage with agile movements.

"Set off, go to Chengtian Temple first."

"Master, why so early today? This forage..."

"It's okay, there is forage at Yuan Huaimin's place, let him feed it later."

"Yes, Young Master."

The carriage went out and rushed toward Chengtian Temple in Xingzi Square at high speed.

But just after driving out of the alley, it was blocked by a carriage with purple curtains.

Ouyang Rong frowned and lifted the curtain.

He saw a little maid with a bun face getting off the carriage with purple curtains and waving hard at him.

"Wait for me here."

"Yes, Young Master."

Ouyang Rong entered the carriage with purple curtains and sat cross-legged opposite the little girl with plum blossom makeup, who was lowering her head to pour tea and covering her face with purple gauze.

"Your Highness, what is the urgent matter?" His face was calm.

Li Guoer didn't answer, looking around, as if observing the confidentiality of the surrounding discussion.

Ouyang Rong also looked around, but what he was worried about was obviously avoiding suspicion, being a lone man and a lone woman in the same carriage.

His tone was a bit urgent: "What is the matter? Why didn't you say it in the library yesterday afternoon? Running over early in the morning..."

Li Guoer interrupted:

"Is the scroll suspected to be the Cold Scholar that was confiscated by the Northern Wei royal family the same "Peach Blossom Spring" authentic manuscript that you let me browse last time? Hmm, obtained from Yuan Huaimin, the Changshi of this prefecture?"

Ouyang Rong didn't speak, looking at Li Guoer twice more, and the latter continued to say in a condensed voice:

"It also seems to be a silk scroll. Could it be the same one? It happens that Yuan Huaimin is also a descendant of the Northern Wei Tuoba royal family. It is very likely to be it..."

Ouyang Rong sat upright:

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the reminder. I will go back and verify it."

Li Guoer's red lips paused, and her clear eyes fell on Ouyang Rong's face, as if sizing him up.

Finding him calm, Li Guoer nodded gently and continued to lower her eyes, pouring tea elegantly.

"Okay, it's good that you know these." Her tone was indifferent.

Ouyang Rong looked at the street outside the carriage that was gradually becoming lively in the morning, and asked again:

"Does Your Highness have anything else? You wouldn't have made a special trip just to remind me, right?"

"Who made a special trip?"

Li Guoer's pretty face tightened, and her tone was cold:

"This princess just happened to come here to go shopping. There is a poetry gathering at Xunyang Tower in the morning... I remembered this matter halfway and came by the way. You wouldn't think..."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand, looking like he was in a hurry:

"I didn't mean that, Your Highness misunderstood. I meant, if there is nothing else, I will go first. I also have some things to do in the morning."

"Oh, me too."

Li Guoer responded lightly, but didn't leave immediately, and suddenly said:

"Tao Yuanming is the legendary sword-wielder of the Cold Scholar. Are the things he left behind not simple? Is the "Returning Home" you gave me as a birthday gift also like this? Could it be... it's a sword art?"

Ouyang Rong was silent and said noncommittally:

"Whether it is or not, Your Highness must not spread it... Is there anything else."

"Rest assured, this princess's mouth is tighter than yours."

Li Guoer snorted, stared at his expression for a while, and continued to lower her head to pour tea, but didn't pour any for Ouyang Rong.

Her tone was indifferent: "Nothing else. But don't run over every day in the future and send some doggerel poems to this princess. It's better not to send them.

"Thinking carefully, Ouyang Lianghan, you are quite thoughtful. Some of the gifts you gave this princess before... except for that hairpin, whether it is "Returning Home" or the later "Peach Blossom Spring" authentic manuscript, they are all very valuable items. This princess misunderstood you before, thinking that you were more partial to Brother and had some prejudice against this princess..."

Ouyang Rong listened, his face a bit strange.

He actually wanted to say that when he sent those things, he didn't know they would be so important, otherwise he wouldn't have sent them.

For example, the Night Pearl that makes him hesitant right now...

Li Guoer suddenly spoke, interrupting Ouyang Rong's distraction.

"Ouyang Lianghan, actually, you once gave this princess something in Longcheng, or rather, not a thing, but a character. It might be very important now..."

"What character?" Ouyang Rong asked subconsciously.

Li Guoer turned her gaze away, and her small face under the purple gauze waved her hand somewhat listlessly:

"It looks like your mind is not here. Let's not talk about it. You go. This princess is also very busy. Many people are waiting. Go."

This little princess with plum blossom makeup spoke incoherently. Ouyang Rong was confused, but he was in a hurry, so he didn't stay, and left in a hurry.

Li Guoer looked at the long, slender back of the handsome young man walking away, and her pink lips pursed.

This guy really looks indifferent.

Anyway, his attitude toward her brother and her is completely different.

Li Guoer was used to it, and laughed at herself: "But the things sent are all things this princess likes very much..."

Speaking of this, she paused, and she silently took out a somewhat yellowed rice paper from her bosom.

Li Guoer opened this rice paper that had been kept when she was at the Su mansion in Longcheng. There was an ink character on it, which was Ouyang Rong's handwriting.

"The sun and moon are in the sky, which is Zhao. Good character... Zhao... is also what you sent that day. By the way, is it also very important..."

"Miss, Miss."

While Li Guoer was lost in thought, the little maid with a bun face called out from outside the carriage:

"Young Master Ouyang has left. Where are we going now? Getting up early in the morning, so sleepy. Didn't you say there was nothing to do today yesterday?"

Li Guoer quickly put away the rice paper and stuffed it into her bosom.

"Return to the mansion, make up for sleep." She said angrily.

"Great."

Caishou was overjoyed.

"Brother Lianghan, I want to strictly criticize you."

"Criticize what?"

"Dongmei is going to be hungry and thin here! You really don't know how to cherish it, eh."

"Rejected."

Chengtian Temple, in Yuan Huaimin's courtyard.

Ouyang Rong hugged his chest, watching Yuan Huaimin feeding Dongmei forage with great energy.

When Ouyang Rong brought Ali, Yuan Huaimin and Li Yu had just woken up, squatting in front of the steps to wash up with willow branches.

Now, Li Yu and Ali went to the morning dining hall to get food, leaving the two to feed the horses in the courtyard.

"Ask something." Ouyang Rong hugged his chest and leaned against the stone table.

"Lianghan, why be polite."

"Still that matter about Li Zhengyan. Huaimin, when they found you in Jiangzhou, did they show you a "Peach Blossom Spring" painting?"

"Hmm, that's right."

"Are you sure this "Peach Blossom Spring" painting was painted by the Taoist surnamed Wu you know?"

"Of course, even if Mr. Wu's painting turned into ashes, I would recognize it."

Ouyang Rong asked with a light smile:

"How did you know him?"

"At that time, Mr. Wu was copying Buddhist paintings in an old temple in Chang'an. I once slept drunk in the ancient temple and happened to run into him when I woke up in the morning. We talked happily. At that time, I saw that Mr. Wu's painting skills were superb, and I admired him a bit. Mr. Wu invited me to eat Hu-La soup. After a few times, we got to know each other. We were both teachers and friends, and I learned painting from him.

"Mr. Wu seemed very interested in the Buddhist painting techniques of the Northern and Southern Dynasties left in the temples in Chang'an and Luoyang. He loved to copy them and could settle down. He was really a master... No wonder he was invited into the palace later."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "The authentic manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring" in your house has been preserved to this day without any changes, right? I mean, the silk scroll of the authentic manuscript has not been dismantled and repaired halfway, right?"

"Hmm..." Yuan Huaimin, who was squatting down to feed the forage, was about to nod, but paused.

"Not really." He turned back and said.

"What do you mean?"

"Once before, I invited Mr. Wu into the mansion to observe the family treasures. He especially loved the two bronze axis rods of this authentic scroll. Anyway, it wasn't the original silk manuscript. Seeing that he loved it, I gave it to him directly."

"Bronze axis rods?"

"That's right. Originally, the two axes of this authentic scroll at home were bronze axis rods. Hmm, after a long time, there was green copper rust on them. I had long wanted to change them, and they were heavy to hold, so I just gave them away. Now they are replaced with new ones, which is what Lianghan sees now. Isn't it much more pleasing to the eye?"

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath.

"So that's it, I understand."

Yuan Huaimin turned back curiously: "Brother Lianghan, what do you understand."

"Nothing." He waved his hand, walked over and sat down, supported his chin with both hands, and his eyes looking at the ground in front were flickering.

"The reason why I am sure that the "Peach Blossom Spring" painting was definitely painted by Mr. Wu is also because I saw that day that the axis rods of the "Peach Blossom Spring" painting they brought were exactly two bronze axis rods... It seems that Mr. Wu really loves this object and painting."

Ouyang Rong turned his head, looked at Yuan Huaimin, who had a gratified face, and nodded noncommittally.

Sure enough, this authentic "Peach Blossom Spring" was not left intact from the beginning. It was obtained by someone with a heart halfway, and even the strange bronze axis rods were pulled out.

Wait, the copper rust on the bronze axis rods is cyan-green, and the Cold Scholar is a sword energy that tends to be cyan... Is there any connection between the two?

Could it be that the material of the Cold Scholar's body is bronze?

Are the two axis rods another form of the Cold Scholar?

Various uncertain guesses flashed through his mind, and Ouyang Rong rubbed his face.

At this time, Yuan Huaimin turned back, his expression a bit strange:

"Strange, why are you all asking the same question."

"Who else asked?" Ouyang Rong woke up immediately.

"Female Official Rong also asked." Yuan Huaimin scratched his head and said.

Ouyang Rong's expression changed slightly.

After a while, Yuan Huaimin asked with a guilty conscience:

"Uh, Lianghan, why don't you speak anymore? Did I say something wrong?"

"Nothing."

Ouyang Rong, who was lowering his head slightly, waved his hand.

A moment later, he raised his head again and asked seriously:

"Then when she asked you at that time, did you answer everything?"

"Of course. I can't let Female Official Rong think I'm not honest and suspect me of colluding with rebels. I have to prove my innocence."

After speaking, Yuan Huaimin sighed, feeling that being an official is not easy.

Ouyang Rong whispered: "Then what was Female Official Rong's reaction after listening?"

"Why does Lianghan ask this?"

Yuan Huaimin looked at Ouyang Rong's calm face strangely. A moment later, he shook his head and answered:

"No reaction. Female Official Rong doesn't talk much, and her joy and anger are not shown on her face. I lowered my head and didn't dare to look. However, she didn't speak for a long time. When I raised my head, she was already gone..."

"Got it."

Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes.

At this time, Li Yu and Ali brought back the morning porridge and rice.

Ouyang Rong and Yuan Huaimin clapped their hands together, went to the well, drew a bucket of water, and washed up.

Several people ate breakfast together... ===== CHAPTER 488 =====