Thousand Souls Introduction

Chapter 4: But for the sake of the king, I have been sleeping until now 1

In the simple adobe house, the couch is covered with some old cotton wool. An old man is half leaning on the hard mat. Outside the house is the twelfth lunar snow, but he is only covered with a thin quilt, and he is coughing.

"Master, come and drink the medicine." A young man opened the door with a steaming medicine bowl. In a moment, a cold wind poured into the room. The old man tightened his body in the quilt and coughed more and more.

The old man drank the medicine tremblingly and seemed to be more comfortable. Before the young man got up, he grabbed his hand: "Wen Xiu, there are not many days as a teacher. There are a few words I want to say to you."

The young man put down the medicine bowl, held the old man's cold hands and kept rubbing them: "What do you want, master? I will do it!"

"Okay, Wen Xiu, you have been a teacher for more than ten years, and you have been diligent and down-to-earth. As a teacher, you like you very much. After your brother disappeared, you are the only apprentice to be a teacher. As a teacher, you have to tell you the precious secret recipe. As long as you can understand it, you will definitely cast a better copper ware than that in the future. The old man's gray eyes rolled around his eyes, looking at his apprentice with an expectant look.

The young man clenched the old man's hand: "The disciple will live up to the master's expectations!"

The old man stroked the back of his hand repeatedly with satisfaction: "Remember, the teacher can only say it once..."

***

Due to the approach of the birthday of Emperor Xuanping, Taifu Temple has taken over a large number of antiques and treasures paid tribute from officials from all over the world. The right collection department was originally well-made, but recently it has been working overtime and difficult to count. In addition, most of the officials are not good at identification, and the two orders are busy every day.

"What a beautiful candlestick!" Wei Tanyi walked through a pile of messy antiques and praised it from time to time. When he saw a candlestick being thrown in the corner, he couldn't help squatting down to pick it up.

"Do not touch it!" The cold and deterrent knife immediately blocked the outstretched hand.

Wei Tanyi was so scared that he immediately withdrew his hand. When he saw whose hand the knife was, he couldn't help smiling bitterly: "Lord Han, why do you have time to come to Taifu Temple today?"

Han Ruxu looked angry: "Don't talk too much! It's all the emperor's things here. You can't help it!"

"Ah, speaking of this, I actually..."

"The idle people will leave immediately, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."

"...Well, in that case, I'll say goodbye."

Wei Tanyi's indifferent attitude made Han Ruxu feel that something was wrong, but he soon knew the reason.

"Ms. Wei, you have a lot. Don't be angry with Han Shiwei. You can't do anything in the past two days when you are away. If you can't sort it out and put it in the warehouse before the emperor's birthday, I can't save a head even if I have ten mouths!" Taifu Siqing kept bowing for help and smiling.

The door-to-door gifts were twice as many as when they were first invited. They were piled up by the door, and Wei Tanyi didn't even look at them. Shan Chong's contempt for everything, and Han Ruxu, who stood aside, was annoyed. He was temporarily ordered to lead the Yulin Army to protect the Taifu Temple. Naturally, it was a fly and did not dare to put it in. Unexpectedly, a person who should not appear suddenly appeared. Naturally, he immediately chased people away - the people were still light. If he sneaked into strangers, I'm afraid he would be directly escorted to Dali Temple.

But who knows that this person is actually a life-saving immortal invited by Lord Lu of Taifu Temple. When he yells like this, he simply pats his buttocks and walks away, and he can't be invited.

"Lord Lu has too many gifts," Wei Tanyi finally said with a smile, "You are a member of the third grade. How can you bow and salute to a civilian of Wei? It's really killing Wei."

Taifu Siqing was anxious as soon as he heard this, and he couldn't wait to squeeze out two tears: "Mr. Wei, don't say that. This time it's all my fault. I didn't explain it clearly to Han Shiwei and let you suffer for nothing. I will compensate you. Please come back and help. There is no more powerful appraiser in the capital than Mr. Wei."

Wei Tanyi hooked the corners of his mouth and said, "Lord Lu, I'm flattered. There are more than dozens of seniors in the capital. When Wei first came here, there is no ability that can compare with your predecessors. Let's invite Lord Lu to be smart!"

"What's wrong with Mr. Wei? The whole capital knows that there are rare treasures that can't be hidden from your eyes. Who else can you ask for help?" Seeing that Wei Tanyi was indifferent, Taifu Siqing was anxious and rushed to Han Ruxu. "Is Han Shiwei still watching the play? Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Wei!"

Han Ruqi was almost choked to death by his words. Although his grade was lower than that of Zhu Siqing, after all, he was a guard with a knife directly under the emperor and had the right to dispatch the forbidden army when necessary. The secretary of Dali Temple was nominally his boss, but he had always been very polite. Even the prince politely called him Lord Han. This Taifu Temple Secretary unexpectedly He called around as if he were treating a servant. How could he not be angry?

"How can Lord Han be blamed for this? He was ordered to protect the safety of Taifu Temple and the congratulatory gifts, and he did his duty. Isn't this an example for officials? It's too late for Wei to admire. How dare he be angry with Lord Han. Wei Tanyi not only did not appreciate it, but also killed two birds with one stone. He not only criticized the proud Lord Lu, but also satirized Han Ruxu, who did not know how to change things.

Taifu Siqing was slapped in the face, and his face was a little unbearable. Just as he was about to open his mouth, Wei Tanyi put down the teacup: "Actually, Wei has been idle in the store these days, just because he accidentally sprained his foot. He doesn't want to cause trouble in the past. He dares to be angry."

This is a step for both sides. No matter how angry the Taifu Siqing is, he has to continue to smile: "Yes, I will order the sedan chair to pick up Mr. Wei."

"Oh, by the way, I don't need these things. Lord Lu, you'd better take them back."

"Huh? How can this be..." When Taifu Siqing heard that the gift could be taken back, he was happy early, but he tried his best not to write it on his face.

Wei Tanyi said lightly, "If you feel sorry, please tell me to use better tea when I'm here. I'm really not used to drinking that kind of tea with a liang of silver and a pocket."

"Ah? Oh, okay, okay."

Han Ruxu didn't say a word in the whole process. This time, he really saw what it was called the bright and dark damage of the honey-bellied sword, so when the meaningful eyes swept over, he calmly chose to ignore it.

***

After returning to Taifu Temple, Wei Tanyi began to identify for a moment. He walked through the boxes and boxes in the courtyard. Sometimes he just glanced at it at random and determined the origin, and the conductor moved to the treasure pavilion where he should go.

"This is a forgery. You can throw it away after the record is clear." Wei Tanyi held a slender willow branch in his hand and clicked the picture scroll placed in the box. Han Ruxu was shocked: "If you don't open it at all, how can you make sure that it is a fort?"

Wei Tanyi didn't seem to hear what the tail said. He opened a box, looked at the incense burner inside, and said, "Although it's not an exquisite craft, it's also the treasure of Chuyan. Go wherever you receive it."

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me!" Han Ruqi grabbed the end of the willow branch.

Wei Tanyi took the opportunity to let go: "Lord Han is so busy that he doesn't have three heads and six arms. How dare I talk to you." Qu index finger knocked on the vase in the brocade box and nodded, "This is a good treasure. The market price can be sold for 1,000 taels of silver, and the appearance is not bad. It's also good to send it to the palace to put flowers in the corner. Come and take it!"

Han Ruxu fiercely folded the willow branches into a few pieces and threw them away: "It's useless for you to make such a perfunctory identification, no matter how fast it is!"

Hearing what he said, Wei Tanyi really stopped to think for a moment, and then said to himself, "Lord Han is reasonable, so I'd better speed up and finish the work quickly."

"You are working for the emperor!" Han Ruxu was so anxious that he wanted to stamp his feet.

"Lord Han is also working for the emperor, right? Why do you follow me? Wei Tanyi stretched out and asked.

His face turned blue: "It's needless to say, of course, to prevent you from oiling!"

Wei Tanyi nodded and suddenly raised the corners of his mouth: "Then it's enough for Lord Han to do his job well. Is my identification perfunctory correct? Lord Han, a layman, doesn't seem to have the right to point fingers?"

At this moment, a Yulin army guard came quickly, first saluted Han Ruxu, and then said to Wei Tanyi, "Mr. Wei, Lord Zhu is waiting outside Taifu Temple. I hope you can go out to see him."

Taifu Temple has been heavily guarded recently. Presumably this person can't get in, so he has to ask someone to speak. Wei Tanyi didn't know what the other party was from, but he was surprised to see Han Ruqi beside him. He thought that the man was not a minor official, so he nodded and said, "I'll go there now. I'll lead the way."

The guard arched his hand and walked forward. Wei Tanyi waved: "Isn't Lord Han staring at me? Why don't you keep up?"

There is an illusion of being regarded as a pet in an instant. Han Ruqi had a blue face and had to follow him.

***

At the beginning of April, Liu Fengyao was about to compete in the Shangshuhang Mansion of the Ministry of Li. Except for Wei Tanyi, no one felt nervous.

"Son Wei, please give it all to you this time! I blocked half of my family's property to get this baby!" Zhu Qiong, the head of the ceremonial department, grabbed his hand and beg him.

Wei Tanyi wanted to take off his hand, but he couldn't do it. There was some embarrassment in his smile: "Lord Zhu, don't worry, as long as the porcelain is really valuable, Wei will not let it be buried." The ticket is smooth. If this porcelain is a fake, you will naturally do nothing. In addition, what you do is to show the true value of this thing, not to help you get a high position, and remind the other party not to expect too much.

Zhu Qiong didn't care about it so much. Hearing his promise, he thanked him evenly. From the day he met at Taifu Temple until now, Han Ruxu, who was watching the bustle, was almost able to recite it back.

While Zhu Qiong went to the side and told the servants to be careful, Han Ruxi poked the Wei Tanyi who was leisurely tasting good tea: "Why help that kind of guy?" At this time, Hang Xun and several famous antique appraisers in the capital who made friends with him came from the arch. Wei Tanyi put down the teacup and said, "Lord Han is really generous." With the people waiting there, he said hello to Hang Xun.

Compared with a month ago, Hang Xun's spirit looks much better. When Wei Tanyi and another appraiser surnamed Hu saluted him together, he smiled slightly and asked, "Mr. Wei, are you all well?"

"Blessings to you, everything is fine. It seems that the adult is much better, and I am relieved. I hope you can enjoy it when you have time. Wei Tanyi said polite words very naturally and did not forget to solicit business for himself.

"A few days ago, I was going to go and have a look. Isn't it just right? Lord Zhu and Lord Lou said that they had a rare treasure for me. I was also curious, so I wanted to go there sometime. Which adult entrusted Mr. Wei to?

Zhu Qiong hurriedly smiled and said, "It was Mr. Wei who was invited." Hang Xun nodded and narrowed his eyes slightly.

An elderly appraiser came forward: "Your Excellency, can you start?"

Hang Xun nodded and put his hands together: "Then let's start. Mr. He will host it."

This old man surnamed He is the owner of the largest antique store in the capital, and no one in this industry knows him. Wei Tanyi wanted him to bow and signal, but he didn't pay attention to it, as if he was arrogant.

"Please show me the object."

At the end of his words, Zhu Qiong ordered his servant to take out the things in the box and put them on the desk. Everyone present saw that it was just a white porcelain with no pattern on the outside. It was not so much a treasure, but more like an ordinary fish tank that can be bought everywhere in street porcelain shops.

When Wei Tanyi saw the white porcelain, he just deepened his smile slightly and didn't say anything, which made people unable to guess.

——————

Original poem: "Short Song", but for the sake of you, I have been meditating until now