At the Ou Yang Quan residence, Wei Ming, accompanied by Pei Xi Jun, paid a visit.
Ou Yang Quan was overjoyed and, with all the people of his household, from the elderly to the young, both male and female, came out to welcome them warmly.
"Inspector Wei, your presence here at the Ou Yang Mansion is truly a blessing for me, a once-in-a-lifetime event. The whole household is honored by your arrival."
"Ou Yang has prepared a place for you, please come with me to my humble abode, so that I can show you proper hospitality!"
Ou Yang Quan was truly excited. Wei Ming, a true scholar of great talent, a top scholar of the Tang Dynasty, was renowned throughout the land. Not to mention his distinguished lineage and achievements in his career.
Simply put, the Stone Bridge Diagram that he treasured so much, the man could casually create it, and even the paintings he made were even more precious than the Stone Bridge Diagram, whether in economic or artistic value!
After all, Chang'an was a place of great prosperity, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, and any gossip would surely spread throughout the world.
Although Wei Ming currently only had two paintings in the world, they were already being hyped at a sky-high price of 300,000 gold, not to mention the artistic value certification from Princess Taiping and the master painter Wu Daozi.
After treating Wei Ming to the finest tea, he inquired about the reason for his visit. Wei Ming replied, "The world believes that Wei is known for his four arts: calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose. However, Wei's greatest love in life is painting."
"I heard that the great artist Zhang Xuan, when he was traveling to South State, painted a scroll for the Four Scholars of South State in the Stone Bridge Mountain. I've come to visit today, and I hope you won't hesitate to show it to me. I would like to see the magnificent scenery of the Stone Bridge Fairyland."
Even though he had already guessed, Ou Yang Quan was still hesitant.
If it was anyone else, he would have refused, claiming that it had already been sold. But Wei Ming… he couldn't refuse.
Wei Ming smiled gently, a gentleman of virtue, gentle and elegant.
In the television series, Su Wu Ming and Pei Xi Jun visited the house to admire the painting, but Ou Yang Quan told them that he had sold the painting yesterday to a Persian merchant who was passing through South State on his way to Luoyang.
However, since Persians doing business in the Tang Dynasty were known for their appreciation and acquisition of jewelry, very few were interested in painting. Therefore, Su Wu Ming concluded that Ou Yang Quan was lying.
Later, Ou Yang Quan deceived Lu Li, claiming that the painting was damaged by water, and for a masterpiece originally worth 150,000 copper coins, he sold it for only 30,000 copper coins. In reality, the so-called water damage was actually covered up with stones and bamboo to conceal the figures running towards it in the painting.
Pei Xi Jun later personally drew the figures she guessed were in the painting, and the figures were clearly Ou Yang Quan himself. Su Wu Ming guessed that Ou Yang Quan wanted to achieve his wish of becoming the Fifth Scholar of South State through this method.
In Wei Ming's opinion, the Fifth Scholar of South State and the title of scholar had driven Ou Yang Quan into a state of obsession, almost dragging him into a deep pit from which he couldn't escape.
For instance, in the original work, Su Wu Ming, using Lu Ling Feng, retrieved the Stone Bridge Diagram from Lu Li, and then showed the part that Pei Xi Jun had added to the painting to Ou Yang Quan.
Upon seeing the part that Pei Xi Jun had added to the painting, he was ecstatic and was willing to pay 150,000 copper coins again for the painting, hoping that Pei Xi Jun would add to the original painting to fulfill his wish.
Ou Yang Quan's lifelong obsession was to become the Fifth Scholar of South State, and he even said that if Pei Xi Jun could fulfill his wish, he would be willing to confess and face punishment. It can be said that he was completely obsessed!
During the Tang Dynasty, the social hierarchy was as follows: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Scholars were at the top, and merchants at the bottom. Scholars had a high status and were highly respected, while merchants had a low status and were considered lowly. This is what led to Ou Yang Quan's obsession and perseverance.
Seeing that Ou Yang Quan was hesitant and his face was troubled, Wei Ming was about to speak, when the old steward came to report, "Master, Lu Li, the owner of Ju Zhen Xuan, has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Ou Yang Quan first slapped his forehead, then seeing Wei Ming and Pei Xi Jun looking at him with strange expressions, Ou Yang Quan immediately blushed and waved his hand at the old steward, instructing, "No, no, please tell Master Lu to leave."
The old steward was bewildered. It was Ou Yang Quan who had invited Lu Li to come, and now he was turning him away. This was a bit insulting. But as a steward, he couldn't comment on his master's decisions.
He immediately went out to inform Lu Li, who, upon hearing this, burst into a tirade: "Damn it! That Ou Yang Quan is a complete scoundrel! He invited me to buy the painting and now he's turning me away? Fine! You can keep your painting and let it rot together. I, Lu Li, don't want it!"
"Two of the Four Scholars of South State are already dead, the Stone Bridge Diagram has lost its value, it's not worth anything anymore. You can keep it, and if you want, sleep with it. I want to see if that Stone Bridge Diagram can lay golden eggs or silver for you!"
"It's just a Stone Bridge Diagram, South State now has treasures more valuable than yours! I don't want your painting!"
Lu Li was furious, his anger reaching a boiling point. Finally, he left grumbling.
In the living room of the house, Ou Yang Quan and the others heard Lu Li's loud scolding outside, and the atmosphere became awkward. Ou Yang Quan felt shamefaced and bowed to Wei Ming, "Inspector Wei, I am ashamed…"
Wei Ming waved his hand and said with a smile, "Scholars should be open-minded and unrestrained, why bother with what others say, as long as your heart is pure. I've drunk the wine at Wang Bin Tower, does it really matter whether Brother Ou Yang becomes the Fifth Scholar of South State?"
Hearing these words, Ou Yang Quan trembled with excitement. Recognition! Recognition! He had been recognized as a scholar, and by no less than the esteemed Wei Ming Wei Yang Ming, a top scholar of the current dynasty!
"Wei, Inspector Wei, do you really think I'm a scholar?" After asking this question, Ou Yang Quan immediately regretted it. Inspector Wei was just being polite, how could he have taken it seriously?
Then, he shook his head in disappointment, "Ou Yang is just a businessman, even if he has millions of assets, his status is still low and he is not respected by others."
Wei Ming stepped forward, patted Ou Yang Quan on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "It seems that Brother Ou Yang thinks that Wei is just being polite. In fact, it is not! Wei believes that a true scholar is not someone who is aloof and above others."
"But someone who can truly care for the people, with a selfless heart, does no evil, bears no bad consequences, distinguishes right from wrong, upholds kindness, is true to his heart, is worthy of the world, does not have many regrets, treats the people he loves and who love him with love in return, and does not neglect them."
"Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose are just mediums for expressing emotions and thoughts. Individual talents may vary, but they should not be used as a standard of judgment."
"As for lineage, there may be differences in status, and even scholars of the first rank govern the government. But merchants are equally important. Without merchants, how can the world's goods flow and interact?"
"Do things that benefit the Tang Dynasty, perform actions that benefit all people, that is what a scholar is, and the most noble of scholars!"
"Brother Ou Yang, the good deeds you have done in South State over the years are obvious to all. Countless down-and-out scholars have found employment in your restaurants and shops. No matter whether it's a famine year or not, you will always open your own granary at the end of the year and distribute rice and grain to the poor people of the state."
"Your kind acts and deeds are the true spirit of a scholar, a great man's grand actions!"
Ou Yang Quan's whole body trembled, his eyes were red and swollen. He could see that Wei Ming was sincere and not deceiving him. In his forty years of life, he had been desperately seeking the title of scholar, not realizing that he had unknowingly become a true scholar!
"Brother Ou Yang, you have a heart that feels compassion for the world. That is the best proof of your scholarship!"
Ou Yang Quan wiped away his tears, bowed deeply, and said, "Ou Yang Quan's heart has been opened. Thank you, Brother Wei, for your enlightenment. Ou Yang will never forget this, I am eternally grateful!"
…
When they left the Ou Yang Mansion, Wei Ming took a painting with him, and in exchange, he left a piece of his own calligraphy.
As for why he exchanged paintings, it was because the Stone Bridge Diagram was not simple, it contained a secret.
Back at the Sima Mansion, Wei Ming returned to his room alone, while Dou Cong followed quietly.
"Master, this Stone Bridge Diagram seems a bit strange!?"
"Hmm!" Wei Ming nodded, his brow furrowed. He looked at the Stone Bridge Diagram, and he could feel faint waves of soul power, which he found very strange.
Dou Cong thought for a moment, then said, "Master, let me try first, to scout the way."
"Then be careful."
Dou Cong, in his soul spirit form, flew into the Stone Bridge Diagram. The next second, wisps of smoke rose from the Stone Bridge Diagram, swirling and hazy, but it was faintly visible that the whole painting seemed to come alive.
The wind blew, the leaves of the trees moved, the figures in the painting were reciting poetry, making tea, playing the zither, and writing, and there were two children playing chess.
"Hee hee hee…"
Suddenly, there was a burst of laughter from the two children.
Then, Dou Cong also appeared in the painting, but his connection to Dou Cong was severed.
No, to be precise, it was cut off, even the master-servant ghost contract could not sense anything?
Dou Cong, who had become two-dimensional, looked around in confusion, and happened to bump into Ou Yang Quan who was running towards him. The two of them even talked for a while, as if Ou Yang Quan was asking Dou Cong for directions, and Dou Cong's expression was very strange, his eyes filled with confusion.
Wei Ming's brow furrowed, for the first time he encountered something beyond his control.
He hesitated for a few seconds, then checked his Conjure Spirits and Summon Ghosts unlock rate: 81%!
【New ability unlocked: Soul Departure, Soul Wandering in Space!】
Then he made up his mind, closed his eyes, and his soul left his body.
Looking at his physical body sitting cross-legged, Wei Ming in his soul form felt a bit strange. He took a deep breath, looked at the Stone Bridge Diagram, and without hesitation, flew into it.