Chapter 505: Chapter 313: With Xiaofan in Hand, the Contest Is Won—Li Xian the Thief, a Turtle in a Jar (Part 3)

Li Xiaofan scratched his head and said, "Teacher, I share the same view as Brother Zhou."

Fu Haoran replied, "Indeed. If you do not understand, then you do not understand, and pursuing knowledge should be this way. This painting is not something you can comprehend, City Lord He... what about you? If you discern anything, I will give you the painting without hesitation."

He Wentian said joyfully, "Please allow me to scrutinize it carefully." He took the painting and examined it repeatedly, pondering, "I remember that the teacher once wrote a poem praising bamboo for its purity, and what Shijie just mentioned has some truth, yet it isn’t entirely accurate. The bamboo in this painting is emerald green, lacking a robust vitality, and though the wind and snow roar, they aren’t aggressive."

"I see that the teacher’s intentions are about tenacity, to courageously face challenges, and to endure the wind and snow. Using the wind and snow as a whetstone, it makes the bamboo even greener and sturdier. Additionally, the hope of finding a worthy successor fills with joy and pride."

"I wonder if what I said is correct?"

Fu Haoran smiled without speaking, rolling up the painting. Wen Caishang chuckled and said, "Perhaps it’s fine to let my daughter take a look?"

Fu Haoran said, "Oh? Does Madam Wang appreciate paintings?"

Wen Caishang responded with a smile, "I have a little understanding, dare not claim much." Fu Haoran handed the painting over. Wen Caishang looked at it and smiled.

Fu Haoran said, "Why are you smiling?" Wen Caishang said, "I smile because, although the painting is excellent, it is destined to remain unappreciated."

Fu Haoran sighed lightly. Wen Caishang held the painting and took graceful steps, carrying a fragrant breeze with her, and said with a smile, "Is Master Fu mourning someone?"

Fu Haoran was taken aback, his eyes glinted, and he followed her, asking solemnly, "What do you mean by that?"

Madam Wen held the painting, walked slowly and observed, the rhythm now in her hands. Fu Haoran, He Wentian, Li Xiaofan, and Zhou Shijie were all curious, following her waiting for her explanation.

Wen Caishang said, "The person being mourned is quite taboo, and I dare not speak directly."

Fu Haoran shivered, looking straight at Wen Caishang, and said, "Madam Wang is indeed extraordinary, please explain in detail." Wen Caishang said, "Earlier, Master Fu said that if one can discern the clues in this painting, then giving it away would still count. Is that still valid?"

Fu Haoran, although feeling reluctant, thought that if it were truly given to someone who appreciates paintings, it would not be a disgrace, and replied, "It is valid."

Wen Caishang said, "I do not snatch what others love, the painting is unnecessary." Knowing that her words hid deeper conditions, Fu Haoran was surprised by this woman’s methods, realizing he had lost the rhythm, yet he could not break free.

With graceful steps and a gentle voice, Wen Caishang said, "Though this talks of painting bamboo, the intention is not about bamboo. To see this point is not truly difficult. But people all say Master Fu loves bamboo, seeing him painting bamboo, how can they think otherwise? This is Master Fu’s deliberate mislead."

"If someone follows his preference for painting bamboo, they will only ever see a few bamboo sticks."

Li Xiaofan asked, "Teacher, is that so?" Fu Haoran nodded solemnly. He Wentian felt deeply embarrassed, cold sweat seeped out. Zhou Shijie touched his nose awkwardly.

Wen Caishang said, "With the City Lord’s tactic, one could naturally discern the clues. However, some accumulation is slightly lacking. The brushwork in this painting is robust, and at the top of this bamboo, there is a leaf where the lower edge is thick and the upper edge is thin. This is the painting style of the Great Yu Painting Saint Ji Yuan."

"The time has passed, and Ji Yuan’s paintings were imitated by later generations, and if someone follows, it wouldn’t be intentional. But the other bamboo leaves are not painted this way. Surely, when Master Fu painted this, he held a glimmer of hope that someone could see the true meaning in the painting. It’s a deliberate hint."

Zhou Shijie said, "Ah. Could it be that Master Fu is mourning Ji Yuan?"

Wen Caishang said, "I don’t think so. If it were mourning Ji Yuan, why hide and not show openly? This detail, deliberately using Ji Yuan’s painting method, actually points elsewhere... the person being mourned belongs to the Yu Dynasty."

Fu Haoran admired, "Madam Wang’s knowledge is exceptional; indeed commendable."

Wen Caishang said, "If I’m not mistaken, this bamboo is called ’Sword Bamboo’, and its growth is like a thrust to the sky. It grows in the Northern Heaven Domain and is a rare type of bamboo, fearing cold yet enduring coldness. So-called ’not fearing wind and snow’... is actually the opposite of this bamboo. Once this bamboo grows, within a year it shoots up like a sword to the sky, but upon facing wind and snow, it quickly withers and decays."

"Though the bamboo in the painting stands firm, in truth its life hangs by a thread. About to rot at any moment."

"Combining with Master Fu’s noble character. The person being mourned should be ’Zhong Lianshan’. The martyring prime minister of the Yu Dynasty. This person exactly perished in the wind and snow."

"How similar to this bamboo. As the saying goes, ’chaotic times create heroes’, Zhong Lianshan had a penchant for beauty, many of his wrongful deeds were criticized by others. But to save the declining Yu Dynasty, he exhausted himself to the end. Even sacrificing himself for the country, he was indeed a hero."

"Master Fu intends to say... Only such chaotic times can nurture a person like Zhong Lianshan who embodies the righteousness of sacrificing for the country, and such individuals often meet their end because of it. He considers that when Great Wu falls into chaos, if it completely collapses, Master Fu choosing to relate to him, it’s similar indeed."

"Therefore, he suddenly thinks of mourning. But Zhong Lianshan was the prime minister of the former dynasty, and although Master Fu suffered demotion, he was once a Celestial Official; mourning a prime minister of the former dynasty, how could it be appropriate. Hence, extremely implicit."

Fu Haoran admired, "One who understands me... is Madam Wang!"

It turns out...

Fu Haoran traveled the world with Li Xiaofan, increasingly aware of the state of people’s livelihood, seeing many suffering from poverty, bodies barely covered by clothing. The feudal Martial Artists ruled in fragmentation, further sensing Great Wu’s impending end.

Everywhere officials flattered their superiors, and with natural disasters and man-made calamities. His heart filled with darkness, he attempted several times to find a way to reverse the situation, but felt powerless. The trend had formed, he buried these matters deep in his heart daily, never mentioning them to anyone.

That day, he settled at Cui Zhu Residence.

Usually carefree, his thoughts became intense. Occasionally watching the wind and snow through the window, suddenly recalling the past affairs of the Yu Dynasty, his heart mixed with various flavors, in an instant Great Wu had reached a similar situation to Great Yu.