Free Web NovelChapter 1241: Chapter 1216: Deep Jealousy (Part 3)
Looking at the people used around her, it is evident that besides a few noble scions, the middle and lower-level officials are mainly from humble families, while the upper-level officials, like Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and Fu Tinghan whom she often uses, are mostly Zhao Family members, showing her deep regard for loyalty and friendship.
These seem to be advantages, but the drawbacks are also apparent; with just one enticement, one can counter the newly risen Jiangnan aristocratic clans.
They, along with Zhao Hanzhang, have neither camaraderie nor shared wartime hardships; it’s difficult for them to live harmoniously!
He knows those aristocratic clans all too well; they are both arrogant and suspicious. He does not believe Zhao Hanzhang can wholeheartedly trust them, and when the time comes...
Diao Xie has already planned in his mind how to use these matters to climb step by step; he doesn’t expect to surpass Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and others like them, but at least to be stronger than Wang Dao and Zhou Qi, right?
Zhou Qi and Wang Dao were specially invited to the study to wait, knowing that Zhao Hanzhang was seeing off guests, they began to browse the books between the shelves.
While browsing the shelves, Zhou Qi discovered many rare editions, just the annotated "Analects" had five volumes, three of which were bamboo slips, showcasing their preciousness.
Zhou Qi couldn’t help but sigh, "Does Mrs. Wang have such a scale of book collection?"
Wang Dao circled around and thought to himself: Naturally, we do, but it is the collective effort of the entire family. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang easily letting them into the study, it is evident that the books here are not the Zhao Family’s collection, but Zhao Hanzhang’s personal library.
Wang Dao touched the shelves and sighed, "In the Battle of Luoyang, the Wang Family lost more than half of its books."
It refers to when Prince East Sea led the noble clans to flee Luoyang; at the time, they were still relatively composed, and Wang Yan brought all the Wang Family’s books with him. Before that, he sent some books twice to Xuzhou; the first time they arrived successfully, but the second time, most were lost, and only a small portion made it.
And the largest collection Wang Yan brought, its whereabouts are unknown. At that time, both Wang Hufeng and Wang Yifeng had hairpins placed upon them, and couldn’t hide even a knife, let alone those books.
Among those boxes of books were many calligraphy, paintings, rare ancient texts...
All gone.
Wang Dao walked along the shelves, reaching the end where there was a staircase. He looked up towards the upper level with curiosity, "I wonder if the upstairs is also a library?"
Zhou Qi urged him, "Get up there and take a look."
Wang Dao shook his head, "How inappropriate."
Zhou Qi scoffed at him, pushed him aside and started walking up, "Since General Zhao has invited us in, there mustn’t be any secrets here. Being hesitant like a woman."
Wang Dao followed behind him saying, "Don’t let General Zhao hear that, she is very decisive."
Zhou Qi, keeping quiet, crossed several steps, and upon reaching the top, exclaimed, "This... this... vast as the ocean, I dare say your Wang Family’s collection cannot compare to this place!"
Wang Dao pushed him aside and looked, only to see that the second floor was filled with rows and rows of shelves, each layer almost reaching the ceiling, each shelf orderly placed with paper books and bamboo slips.
In the four corners stood four large porcelain jars, each containing scrolls of paintings, even without opening them, the sight was already astonishing.
The space between shelves had pathways wide enough for a person, on the wall directly facing them hung a piece of calligraphy, Wang Dao walked up in a daze and looked up at the characters.
Zhou Qi followed, the room well-lit, immediately noticing a stamp in the corner, "Is this Grand Commandant Wang’s calligraphy?"
Wang Yan was renowned for his elegance, and his calligraphy was famously good, perhaps not worth a thousand gold, but certainly not freely circulating outside.
Zhou Qi said, "I’ve heard that Mr. Zhao and Prince Wang have an uneasy relationship, never heard of your brother gifting Mr. Zhao calligraphy, could this piece have been gifted by your niece?"
Wang Dao said gloomily, "This piece was given to me by my brother, but back then, when leaving Luoyang in haste, I didn’t take it. This piece was left in the private residence, how could it be here?"
Zhou Qi naturally did not know, turning his head to see another painting nearby, went to look, exclaimed, "This is Liu Bao’s ’Cloud and Sky’, it’s the original!"
Wang Dao immediately rushed over, eyes wide, studied it for a while, identified its authenticity, and stomped his feet, "This painting was also among my brother’s collection, Liu Bao has another painting ’North Wind’, kept within the palace. My brother asked for it several times but never received approval; he always wanted to complete the set of two paintings, a wish he never fulfilled. How is it now that even ’Cloud and Sky’ is lost?"
Zhou Qi said silently, "Someone has fulfilled Grand Commandant Wang’s wish."
Wang Dao turned his head, followed Zhou Qi’s pointing direction, and saw another picture hanging on the wall, feeling cold just looking at it,
he had heard before that seeing ’Cloud and Sky’ felt hot, seeing ’North Wind’ felt cold, an expression describing the profound skill of Liu Bao’s painting, and seeing it today, surely the reputation was justified.
But...
"How are they all in Zhao Hanzhang’s possession?" At this time, Wang Dao finally refrained from politely calling her General Zhao.
His heart was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Resentful that the owner of this place was not him.
