Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 605 - 603: It’s Actually the Original Work

Chapter 605: Chapter 603: It’s Actually the Original Work

After dinner, the chef had already left, and the two bodyguards conscientiously sat at the courtyard and the entrance, hardly disturbing the people inside the house.

Lin Wanwan wiped the coffee table clean and took out the calligraphy piece by Ouyang Xun from the room, gently unfolding it.

She brought this mounted calligraphy to the modern era just to take photographs and keep an electronic version. The original will still need to be stored in the Great Tang; she dared not leave it in the modern little courtyard.

In her estate in the Great Tang, she had over twenty household slaves, making the likelihood of theft negligible. But it’s different in the modern era; the landlord of the small courtyard might even still have a key to the door.

Lu Shouyue glanced at it from beside Lin Wanwan and exclaimed in surprise, "What a fine work, whose famous hand penned this? Wanwan, may I take a closer look?"

Lin Wanwan naturally didn’t mind: "Of course, please do."

Lu Shouyue, full of keen interest, instantly approached to appreciate it up-close, and after a while, he was amazed: "This piece is neither square nor round, yet both square and round, dense yet sparse, exquisite in its eight facets, displaying perilous beauty within its balance—this is a calligraphy script by Ouyang Xinben!"

Lin Wanwan smiled charmingly, "Mr. Lu, your eyesight is impressive."

Lu Shouyue’s gaze seemed glued to the calligraphy, seemingly wanting to inspect it inch by inch with a microscope and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Whether or not this piece is truly Ouyang Xinben’s, its artistic value is immeasurable. This handwriting in regular script is truly excellent, like a falling stone from a high peak, like a new moon hanging in the vast sky."

Lin Wanwan didn’t mention whether it was authentic, smiling as she climbed onto the sofa, ready to photograph the calligraphy from above.

Taking photos of paintings and calligraphy is a skill too; it’s easy to distort if not done well.

Seeing Lin Wanwan’s unprofessional posture, Lu Shouyue couldn’t help but chuckle, "Wanwan, that’s not how you photograph calligraphy. The angle you’re using will cause distortion."

He didn’t even need to look through her lens to make this assertion.

"Really? Is there another way to photograph?"

Lin Wanwan had already snapped several shots with her phone camera, and upon checking her results, it was indeed as Lu Shouyue said—all distorted.

"Oh dear! It’s true, none turned out right!" Lin Wanwan felt a bit disappointed; such photos weren’t worth preserving!

She simply handed her phone over to Lu Shouyue: "Mr. Lu, you surely can photograph it well. Last time, the painting you took shots of turned out great. I’ll trouble you then!"

The painting by Gu Yewang that Xiao Chong had given Lin Wanwan as an apology was authenticated by Lu Shouyue, who had also taken electronic copies.

Faced with Lin Wanwan’s request for help, Lu Shouyue didn’t hesitate: "Let’s go over to my place, I have photographic equipment there."

Lin Wanwan agreed without hesitation: "Sure, let’s go."

Lin Wanwan carefully rolled up the calligraphy, held it in her arms, and followed Lu Shouyue as they pushed open the door and walked to the neighboring little courtyard where he lived.

This was Lin Wanwan’s first visit to Lu Shouyue’s place; previously, he always visited her at her small courtyard.

The two bodyguards, seeing them come out, immediately followed them silently, with one of them running ahead to open the door for Lu Shouyue.

Watching their actions, Lin Wanwan thought to herself: These two are truly well-trained, it’s not just a simple matter of knowing martial arts; the pre-job training must have taken quite some time.

Their professionalism is almost comparable to the Imperial Guards led by Li Tai. Anyway, the male slaves at Lin Wanwan’s estate, apart from Sun Chuyao, lacked such agility.

But that’s mainly because the male slaves Lin Wanwan brought to Chang’an were all of the honest type. Apart from the Kunlun slave, there was Xiao Yixun’s great household slave. They were not skilled in observing others, but they had the advantage of being loyal.

The group left in Mao County to guard the house, gathered by Sun Chuyao, was too frivolous, they appeared even more unmatched than the Kunlun slaves and Heavenly Defects and Earthly Defects.

The good slaves and servants of the Great Tang were monopolized by the Imperial Palace and noble families, and those available for purchase from brokers were either errant and sold off, or foreign-imported Kunlun slaves.

It must be said, the societal advantages of noble families were comprehensive, and servants were merely a minor part.

Entering with the lights turned on, Lin Wanwan unhesitatingly handed the calligraphy by Ouyang Xun to Lu Shouyue, who took the script, brought out photographic tools, and started the bustle.

Meanwhile, Lin Wanwan curiously examined the surroundings. Though also a rented house, Lu Shouyue’s place evidently underwent a major renovation, with appliances and furniture embodying the word "expensive" clearly—not something provided by the original landlord.

Moments later, Lu Shouyue finished his work and approached with a smile to Lin Wanwan, "Wanwan, you trust me so much, aren’t you afraid I’d switch it on you?"

Lin Wanwan hadn’t even considered that, slightly widening her eyes at his words, laughingly replied, "Mr. Lu, you really know how to joke."

Lu Shouyue half-seriously said, "In the future, don’t take treasures of this level for appraisal or anything elsewhere, or you’ll find the art of deception among merchants in this world exceeds your imagination."

Lin Wanwan, taking the advice: "Oh! The world is treacherous; I definitely won’t take it out easily."

Lu Shouyue put away the script and returned it to Lin Wanwan, saying, "While taking photos, I carefully appraised it—this piece is indeed the authentic work of Ouyang Xinben, even more precious with an inscription added. Wanwan, how do you possess so many national treasure-tier items?"

How could Lin Wanwan explain, telling him she invited Ouyang Xun to write for her from the Great Tang?

She could only use a vague excuse of finding a bargain to gloss over it, though judging by Lu Shouyue’s expression, he surely didn’t believe it.

"Mr. Lu, is auctioning calligraphy like this troublesome? Will the state come to claim it?" Lin Wanwan asked curiously, not genuinely wanting to sell it, but casually enquiring since she had an expert present.

Faced with Lin Wanwan’s question, Lu Shouyue gazed softly at her and smiled slightly: "If Wanwan wishes to sell, I can help you arrange it, it won’t be troublesome at all."

Lin Wanwan blushed slightly at his words and didn’t pursue further.

Understanding the implicit meaning like hearing the sound of strings, Lu Shouyue indicated that auctioning could be quite troublesome!

After all, pertaining to figures like Ouyang Xun’s stature, all existing authentic works were in national museums, without any private collections publicly known.

Lin Wanwan found it difficult to explain the origin of her national treasures to authorities, and if claiming them as family heirlooms, she’d have relatives seeking to swindle her.

Yet, if she genuinely wanted to sell them, selling abroad might be an option.

Alas, possessing so many treasures, converting them into cash is so hard.

Having finished with the matters concerning the script, Lu Shouyue addressed Lin Wanwan, "Wanwan, it’s still early, how about watching a movie together? I have a home theater set up here."

Lin Wanwan shook her head: "No, I have to attend online classes; learning is endless, I’m too busy."

"Alright." Lu Shouyue was slightly disappointed.