Chapter Forty-Nine: Truth and Falsehood

"Wait a moment," Jiang Li said.

Her sudden voice rang out in the midst of the crowd, drawing the attention of everyone present, including those who had gathered to watch the commotion. Jiang Li walked over from the side.

Liu Zimin, who had been scanning his surroundings, brightened upon seeing a refined young woman emerge from the throng. His tone took on a hint of jest as he asked, "And what is the meaning of this, young lady?"

Bai Xue, seeing the situation unfold, stuck closely to Jiang Li's side, silently resolving that if this sly-looking fellow so much as touched Jiang Li, she would make him regret it.

Jiang Li smiled and asked, "May I inquire what this gentleman has done?" She gestured toward the young man beside them.

"What has he done?" Liu Zimin drawled, his voice laced with mockery. With a grin, he continued, "Are you here to perform a heroic deed, thinking we're bullying this young man? Let me clarify: we're not exploiting our power to oppress anyone." He went on, "This young man, Ye Shijie, damaged a treasured painting from our residence—look, this very 'Sparrows Drinking in Spring.'"

"Sparrows Drinking in Spring" was the masterpiece of Zeng Zimo, a renowned artist of the previous dynasty. After Zeng Zimo's death, his works became highly sought after, especially among scholarly families who prided themselves on owning his paintings. If Liu Zimin's painting truly was "Sparrows Drinking in Spring," then Ye Shijie had indeed been most unfortunate.

"This painting is priceless. Considering that Ye Shijie isn't a native of Yanjing, I've offered him a compromise: he can compensate me with thirty thousand taels of gold, which is hardly a loss. Yet Ye Shijie is being unreasonable—he won't pay a single coin. And this from the Ye family of Xiangyang! Such stinginess—is this the true nature of merchants?" At this, Liu Zimin burst into laughter.

The crowd joined in, amused by his jibe about the "nature of merchants."

The Yan dynasty had always held merchants in low regard, placing them at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Ye Shijie gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger, and said, "I did not damage the painting. I was writing when you yourself rushed over!"

"Aha!" Liu Zimin retorted. "You dare slander me? Do you think I have nothing better to do than destroy my own masterpiece?" He seemed to remember Jiang Li's presence and turned to her. "Miss, why don't you judge for us?"

Jiang Li smiled lightly. "May I take a look at your painting? I’ve never seen an authentic 'Sparrows Drinking in Spring.' Such a pity it’s been ruined."

She sounded genuinely regretful.

Liu Zimin, seeing her demeanor, generously handed the painting to her. "If you wish to look, then by all means." He noted that Jiang Li’s attire suggested she wasn't from an ordinary family, but he couldn't recall any official’s daughter in Yanjing as striking as her. He made a mental note to inquire about her background later; if her family was of modest standing, perhaps she could be taken as a concubine.

Not far off, Jiang Youyao and her companions watched from their carriage.

Jiang Youyao asked, "What is she doing?"

"Third Sister," Jiang Yue'e reminded her, "That Ye Shijie is from the Ye family of Xiangyang—Second Sister's maternal kin."

Jiang Youyao came to a realization and glanced back at Jiang Li. "Let’s wait and see."

Jiang Li took the painting and examined it closely.

"Sparrows Drinking in Spring" depicted the arrival of spring: mountain sparrows perched on branches dipping into the stream, pecking at their own reflections. The valley was in full bloom, the sparrows lively and clever, the water crystal clear—all rendered with exquisite realism.

But now the painting had been torn diagonally from the bottom, nearly splitting it in two.

With Jiang Li’s appearance, the crowd grew larger. Ye Shijie frowned, while Liu Zimin remained patient.

After a while, Jiang Li set the painting down. She did not return it to Liu Zimin but remarked, "Master Zeng's work is indeed priceless, valued for its spirit and artistry. But…"

With each word, Liu Zimin’s eyebrows rose higher. When she paused, he instinctively asked, "But what?"

"This painting is a forgery," Jiang Li declared.

"This painting is—" Liu Zimin started, then abruptly protested, "Impossible!" His expression was no longer as amiable as before as he looked at Jiang Li.

Ye Shijie stared at Jiang Li in astonishment.

"This painting is a very skillful imitation," Jiang Li continued, "but it cannot conceal its status as a counterfeit. On the market today, even the best forgeries fetch no more than fifty taels of silver. Young Master Ye," she addressed Ye Shijie, "you need only compensate this gentleman fifty taels."

"Little girl," Liu Zimin sneered, "You think your words alone can make this a forgery? This is the genuine article! Don’t speak nonsense."

"Yes," the crowd jeered, "How can you prove it’s real?"

Jiang Li remained calm, replying, "Master Zeng lived in the previous dynasty, and his works were created with silk from that era. Yet, that dynasty did not produce double silk."

"Double silk?" Bai Xue asked, puzzled.

"The previous dynasty only produced double silk, which was coarse and thin. But look at this painting—bright white and finely woven. Clearly, it is made from modern double silk. Master Zeng would never use contemporary materials. That is the first point."

"Second, the seal is incorrect. The previous dynasty rarely used stone seals. If it did, the seals bore distinct characteristics: the ends of the strokes in the seal script were thicker than the original brushwork, yet appeared lighter and slightly yellowish. Here, the seal script ends are smooth, the color is red—clearly wrong."

As Jiang Li explained, she showed the painting to the audience. Upon comparison, the crowd began to notice discrepancies.

Liu Zimin’s face grew darker, while Ye Shijie’s surprise increased. Jiang Li smiled and continued, "Most importantly, Master Zeng was meticulous about detail. In 'Sparrows Drinking in Spring,' the sparrow pecking at its reflection has the image of the water sparrow in its eye; likewise, the water sparrow’s eye has the reflection of the sparrow on the branch. But in this painting, the water sparrow’s eye is empty."

"Therefore," Jiang Li smiled, "this painting is a forgery. A fake 'Sparrows Drinking in Spring' for three thousand taels of gold? That’s pure fantasy."

Humiliated and furious, Liu Zimin lunged to snatch the painting from Jiang Li, but she evaded him. Bai Xue, ever nimble, seized the painting and held it high for everyone to see.

"Do you know who I am?" Liu Zimin finally lost his composure, revealing his true nature. "You dare to slander me? If my father hears about this, you’ll be in trouble!"

At this, Jiang Li’s smile faded. She replied coolly, "I don’t know who you are. But if you dare to behave so rudely toward me, when my father finds out, you’ll be in no less trouble."

"I’d like to know which family you belong to. State your name!" Liu Zimin demanded angrily.

"The Jiang family of the capital. The prime minister’s legitimate daughter—Jiang the Second," Jiang Li replied.

---Author’s Note---

Ali: My father is Li Gang.