Descendant of the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman
Only "Dream of the Red Chamber" has become a discipline in itself, and only "Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival" has become a discipline in itself.
The reason they hold such a high status is that they provide a wealth of detailed information about the social life and customs of the time.
The national treasure "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" is not only an artistic achievement, but more importantly, it presents the era of nearly a thousand years ago to modern people in a prosperous and exquisite way.
Back then, there were no photos, no movies, no videos, no Douyin or Kuaishou to record the era.
When people a thousand years from now study our era, they won't look down on Douyin and Kuaishou, because they will be historical records. When they see all sorts of performances of people cooking themselves in iron pots and giving themselves double taps and 666, they will suddenly realize that this is what people were like back then.
Of course, we also have proper records to preserve for future generations.
The missing section of "Along the River Along the River During the Qingming Festival" is truly regrettable. Whether it is a copy from the Ming or Song Dynasty would be open to the common people.
Li Hongfang immediately placed such a huge burden on the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman, which Liu Chang'an could not accept.
Actually, he's taken a lot of blame. For example, Shangguan Dandan and her maternal grandfather have pinned many accusations on him. It's just that the Empress Dowager was understandably furious back then because of some unspeakable reasons related to gossip.
Li Hongfang was different; her ancestor Liu Chang'an had never mistreated her, so Liu Chang'an naturally couldn't accept it.
"Li Dongyang of the Ming Dynasty recorded that the painting was complete at the time. That means the 'Along the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman Along the River During the Qingming Festival' in the Forbidden City's collection could have been damaged at the earliest during the Ming Dynasty. How could that have anything to do with the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsmen of the Song Dynasty?" Liu Chang'an looked at Li Hongfang expressionlessly. "Do you know that your ancestor Li Daoren also had a connection with 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'? Didn't he mention the creation process of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival the Qingming Festival' in his notes? If he did, then it's impossible for this painting to have been damaged by the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman."
"How could our ancestors know the creation process of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'? As far as I know, Li Dongyang recorded that the original 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival' was over two zhang (about 6 meters) long. The existing 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' is over five meters long, but in fact, the original version of 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival' was more than two zhang long. What Li Dongyang saw was the version that had been cut in half by the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman. Think about it, 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' is nearly twelve meters long, half the length of the existing 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'. How could the original of the latter have been only this long?" Li Hongfang continued to try to persuade people with reason.
Liu Chang'an tapped his fingers on the table.
"Zhang Zeduan and Wang Ximeng both belonged to the Imperial Painting Academy. Although Zhang Zeduan's 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival' had already been collected by the Imperial Collection, Wang Ximeng only entered the Imperial Painting Academy more than ten years later. However, since Wang Ximeng was able to catch the eye of Zhao Ji and receive personal guidance on brush and ink techniques, Wang Ximeng must have had the opportunity to appreciate 'Along the River Along the River During the Qingming Festival.' He couldn't help but feel a sense of comparison. Zhang Zeduan depicted the bustling city life, while I, Wang Ximeng, would present the entire landscape of the country to Your Majesty through my brush." Li Hongfang recalled the competition between the two masters in those days and couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
"Go on," Liu Chang'an said, seeing that she had temporarily shifted the topic away from the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman, but was certain that it would ultimately be about proving how long the painting was originally. He gave her the opportunity to continue inventing history.
Li Hongfang's spirits lifted, thinking her analysis had impressed Liu Chang'an. "However, if a landscape painting isn't even as long as a street scene painting, when laid out side by side for comparison, its grandeur will inevitably be somewhat lacking. Therefore, Wang Ximeng must have painted 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' longer than 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival'... But it couldn't possibly be twice as long as 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' could it? Judging from common sense, the original 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' should have been around eight to ten meters long."
"So... even if the 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival' scroll that Li Dongyang saw in the Ming Dynasty was only six meters long, it was still cut off. Anyway, the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman cut off more than two meters of the 'Along the River Along the River During the Qingming Festival' scroll, right?" Liu Chang'an clapped his hands. "Well said, you've invented history."
"We're just making bold guesses and carefully verifying them," Li Hongfang said, somewhat embarrassed after receiving approval. "This is also a result I derived by analyzing my ancestors' notes."
"I bet you, the complete 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' is definitely not as long as you say," Liu Chang'an said with absolute certainty.
"Okay," Li Hongfang said enthusiastically, "What should we bet on?"
"If you lose, you'll have to turn yourself in and confess how many graves you've dug up over the years."
Li Hongfang suspected that she hadn't heard clearly.
Liu Chang'an repeated it.
Li Hongfang laughed somewhat awkwardly, "Well... how can you prove you're right?"
"I lost. I'll tell you where the first version of 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival' is," Liu Chang'an said coldly.
"The first version of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'?" Li Hongfang was shocked. If such a thing really existed, it would shock the whole world! Li Hongfang felt that even if she knew where it was, she wouldn't dare to take a national treasure of this caliber. Treasures are precious, but you need to be alive to appreciate them.
"The existing 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival' scroll is often debated by scholars regarding the meaning of its name... In fact, none of them have considered that Zhang Zeduan's painting was not created purely for artistic purposes." Liu Chang'an opened his phone and showed Li Hongfang his most recent book purchase record.
"<The Power of Time: A Photographic Record of 40 Years of Reform and Opening Up>?" Li Hongfang didn't understand what the connection was between <Along the River During the Qingming Festival> and this photo album.
"Many scholars have tried to prove, based on details in 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' that the season depicted in the painting is not the Qingming Festival... Of course not. Just like the book I bought, it doesn't record events from just one or two years. Zhang Zeduan painted this on behalf of Zhao Ji of Song, to record images of Eastern Capital (Liu Chang'an saw Li Hongfang's enlightened expression and knew that this view wasn't mainstream in Song Dynasty painting research, but he didn't care. "Think about it, this is a scroll presented to the emperor showcasing the city's landscape. Why only choose the Qingming Festival? What if the emperor wanted to see scrolls depicting other festivals? Would Zhang Zeduan then have to paint another masterpiece like this? Wouldn't that be exhausting?"
"I see... So Qingming means Qingming Ward, and Shanghe means Bian River?" This wasn't the first time Li Hongfang had heard this interpretation of the painting's title.
"Yes, and the first version of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' is the true depiction of the Qingming Festival in Eastern Capital. After Zhang Zeduan created this painting, before presenting it to Zhao Ji, he invited his friend, the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman, to appraise it. This swordsman, who was also a highly skilled painter but did not seek fame, was kind-hearted, romantic, and unparalleled in righteousness. He reminded Zhao Ji that Emperor Huizong might want him to paint the different scenes of Eastern Capital during the four seasons. Zhang Zeduan realized this and quickly remade 'Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' adding many details that displeased Zhao Ji but were not suitable for punishing him. After that, Zhao Ji naturally would not entrust Zhang Zeduan with the task of recording the scenes again." Liu Chang'an sighed softly, "It's a pity about Wang Ximeng. Wang Ximeng didn't have a master to guide him. He poured his heart and soul into painting 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains,' exhausting too much of the young man's enthusiasm and energy, ruining his health."
"How did you know?" Li Hongfang stared at Liu Chang'an in disbelief. She had never heard of such things before. Where did Liu Chang'an get this information from?
"Tell me, shall we make a bet? Zhang Zeduan gave his first version of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' to the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman. If you win, the painting is yours." Liu Chang'an's tone was calm, with a hint of persuasion that suggested she agree to the bet.
Li Hongfang hesitated for a moment. Liu Chang'an spoke with such certainty and intimidation; could he be telling the truth?
It's really hard to say... but this gamble... Li Hongfang really wanted to witness the lost national treasure reappear in the world, but he actually asked her to turn herself in?
Judging from his usual behavior, I haven't seen him show any discrimination or resentment towards her profession.
Turning oneself in... is absolutely out of the question. Li Hongfang doesn't think everyone inside is talented or speaks so nicely.
If she goes in, she'll be in a women's prison, and the women inside are... well, let's just say they're a different story.
Why was he so certain? And even went so far as to allow her to obtain the first edition of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival"?
He was the guardian of the Living Coffin, and also the object of affection for someone like Su Nanxiu... Suddenly, Li Hongfang had a flash of inspiration and looked at Liu Chang'an with surprise, "I know who you are!"
Liu Chang'an looked at Li Hongfang with surprise.
He didn't reveal any concrete evidence that he was the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman, so how could this person conclude that he was someone from the Song Dynasty just because he knew some secret history?
He must have something wrong with his head. He only started having wild imaginations after witnessing his own Immortal Sheep jump off a building.
"You are the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman..."
"I..."
"You are a descendant of the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman!"
"I..." Liu Chang'an opened his mouth, then nodded. I am my father, I am my son, I am my descendant. This kind of misunderstanding is nothing unusual; who hasn't experienced it a few times?
"No wonder you know more than I do!" Li Hongfang was still immersed in excitement. "I never imagined that one of my ancestor's close friends would have descendants. We've become friends through a misunderstanding, haven't we?"
As she spoke, Li Hongfang patted Liu Chang'an on the shoulder to express her excitement.
Liu Chang'an pulled her hand away and dusted off his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, I even dragged you to find your ancestor's treasure." Li Hongfang said somewhat awkwardly. This... she really couldn't blame herself; she truly had no idea about his true identity.
"It's alright... If Li Daoren hadn't been buried with only door panels, and if he had also found treasure, I would have taken you to dig it up too." Liu Chang'an waved his hand, "Class is starting, I'll draw you a map."
A map? Li Hongfang was somewhat puzzled.
Liu Chang'an drew a map of the mountains and rivers, as well as a general layout of the underground palace. So many years have passed, he can't remember it all clearly, and he's unwilling to go through his layers of memories.
Memories, when you turn the pages, are nothing but ashes and fragments.
"This is the treasure map of the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman. The mountains and rivers haven't changed much; at most, the vegetation and artificially altered terrain might be misleading. But you're an expert, so with this map, you'll definitely be able to find it." Liu Chang'an casually handed the map to Li Hongfang.
Li Hongfang looked at Liu Chang'an in disbelief.
"If you took the first edition of 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' your life would most likely be in danger. You'd better hand it over to the state, but you can keep it yourself if you want. There's really nothing else," Liu Chang'an said calmly.
"Why... why don't you dig it yourself?" Li Hongfang looked at this mysterious figure whose actions were unpredictable and completely unfathomable by ordinary logic.
"It's troublesome... and I hadn't thought about these things if you hadn't mentioned it." It would definitely be troublesome to handle these matters myself, and it's most appropriate for Li Hongfang to handle this matter.
"Aren't you afraid... I'll run away with 'Along the River Along the River During the Qingming Festival'?" Li Hongfang really didn't dare, but one can't be too careful. Did he really trust her that much? This kind of trust from someone she admired but wasn't very familiar with was actually quite touching.
"Then I might as well kill you now." Liu Chang'an thought about it and felt that what Li Hongfang said made sense.
"I... I won't run away!" Li Hongfang was startled.
"Let's go." Liu Chang'an waved his hand, and another old story was turned over a new page.
Li Hongfang quickly grabbed the map, crouched down, and sneaked out of the classroom. After walking quite a distance, Li Hongfang realized that her back was wet. That calm "I'll kill you" had a more terrifying pressure than Su Nanxiu's threats and inducements.
Liu Chang'an watched Li Hongfang leave and sighed softly, "Now it's finally returned to its rightful owner..."
Li Daoren was a remarkable figure during the Song Dynasty. He first met the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman in a tomb, and later followed him to Eastern Capital. He became a member of the Hanlin Academy under the name Zhang Zeduan, which he had used in his youth, and created the painting "Along the River During the Along the River During the Qingming Festival". After the fall of Kaifeng, he continued to wander the world with the Nine Provinces Wind and Thunder Swordsman. His whereabouts for the rest of his life are not recorded in official history. He lived to be over 130 years old.
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I recommend a book called "The Man Who Turned the Tide." It probably has 20,000 subscribers already, the quality is top-notch, and it's over a million words long—it's enough to kill you.
Also, Xia Hua is going to pray to the Bodhisattva tomorrow, which will take a long time, so there may not be an update until Monday. Xia Hua will update as early as possible on Monday. Also, there will be extra chapters of "Twisting Waist" or "Everlasting Palace" in the VIP group. You need to have 5000 fan points or more. The VIP group number is 870388766. You need to join the regular group 783764489 first and find the group owner to verify your fan points.