Chapter 48: Zhang Xuan's Evaluation

Huang Yu felt dizzy, nearly collapsing on the spot.

"You don't even know the King of Zhennan? Brother, are you really from Tianxuan Kingdom? You didn't just pop out of some remote corner, did you!"

At this moment, she regretted bringing him here.

He knows nothing; if he says something wrong, she'll definitely be implicated!

In fact, Zhang Xuan wasn't pretending; he genuinely didn't know.

His previous self was merely the worst teacher in the academy, always preoccupied with how to avoid expulsion. He never bothered to inquire about the kingdom's political affairs and knew very little. Before his transmigration, he didn't even understand administrative divisions, so how could he possibly know who the King of Zhennan was?

Creak!

Just as he was about to explain the King of Zhennan's glorious achievements, he heard a loud rumble from the large gate in front of them. It opened from the middle, and a person resembling a butler stepped forward to greet them.

"Steward Cheng, I am ready. I hope to receive the master's guidance again!" the young master in white, Bai Xun, said respectfully, his earlier arrogance gone.

"Ah, Young Master Bai and Miss Huang! Please follow me to the living room to wait." The butler bowed after seeing the three clearly.

The three followed him into the mansion.

Zhang Xuan looked around.

Although the decor of this place was not luxurious, and it was even slightly inferior to some parts of the academy, it possessed a unique charm. Combining movement and stillness, it was like a tranquil ink wash painting, exuding an ineffable simplicity and elegance.

"What a beautiful, unadorned natural ink wash painting!"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help but praise.

"Oh? This young master... is skilled in painting?" The butler, who was walking ahead, turned his head upon hearing the exclamation.

"I was just making a casual remark!" Zhang Xuan quickly shook his head, surprised that his offhand comment had attracted the butler's attention.

In his previous life, he was a librarian, a refined profession. Although he had seen many paintings, he had never held a paintbrush, let alone painted!

"Our master uses his heart as a brush and the courtyard as paper, having designed the entire mansion like a scroll painting. The young master was indeed not wrong!" The butler nodded and said no more.

They soon arrived at the living room.

The living room was not large and had an antique charm. Various scroll paintings hung on the walls, and upon entering, one immediately felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

It was unlike other places that were filled with stone pillars for strength testing, giving one the impression that a lack of strength meant elimination.

"I will go report to the master!"

The butler arranged for the three to sit down, then turned and left.

"You know how to paint?" As soon as the butler left, Huang Yu looked over curiously.

She had clearly overheard their earlier conversation and realized she truly knew nothing about the young man she had brought.

"I just thought the arrangement in the courtyard looked a bit like a painting!" Zhang Xuan said.

"Xiao Yu, don't listen to his nonsense! This guy is just putting on airs and being pretentious!" Bai Xun, on the side, glared with burning eyes.

"What do you know? My friend is extremely learned and talented! Do you think everyone is like you, who just likes to pretend?" Hearing him insult her friend, Huang Yu immediately became displeased.

"Extremely learned? Him? Xiao Yu, you should be careful. I think this kid is an ignorant playboy. He's not old, but he's already learned to talk nonsense and flatter girls. He's truly shameless and utterly disgraceful!"

Hearing the girl praise the other person, Bai Xun became even angrier, his teeth grinding audibly.

"My friend is proficient and skilled in all four arts: zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting! Not to mention a leader among the younger generation, even among the older generation, there are few who can compare! Unlike you, who knows nothing and just thinks about fighting all day! You're the truly ignorant one!"

Huang Yu refused to yield.

"Proficient in all four arts? Him? He doesn't look much older than me. Even if he started learning in the womb, how much could he possibly know? Only you would be fooled by him!" Bai Xun glared fiercely at Zhang Xuan.

"Just because he's young doesn't mean he can't learn well! What if he's highly talented? If you lack talent yourself, don't doubt others!" Huang Yu continued.

Zhang Xuan, caught in the crossfire, felt utterly speechless hearing their arguments.

You can argue all you want, but why drag me into it? Who did I offend?

As for zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he hadn't even touched these four things. And high talent? Could someone with high talent become the first person in the history of Hongtian Academy to score zero on the teacher qualification exam?

As the two sides argued, Bai Xun was about to retort a few more words when he heard footsteps outside and a figure walked in.

It was an old man with white beard and hair, carrying a special aura that commanded respect without needing to show anger.

The butler from before was following behind him.

Lord Lu Chen, His Majesty Shen Zhui's former teacher!

"Greetings, Master!"

Seeing this person, Bai Xun and Huang Yu no longer dared to bicker and bowed simultaneously.

"I just heard someone recognized the arrangement of my courtyard as an ink wash painting. It's rare for young people nowadays to possess such elegance!"

Ignoring the two who were bowing, the old man's eyes fell upon Zhang Xuan as soon as he walked in. Clearly, the butler had specifically told him about Zhang Xuan's remark.

"Master, this fellow is spouting nonsense; there's no need to pay attention to him. I have already reviewed my lessons today, Master. You can test me however you like..." Seeing that the master's attention was drawn to the newcomer, Bai Xun was greatly displeased and quickly spoke.

"Did I tell you to speak?"

"I..."

Bai Xun's face turned beet red, but he dared not utter another word.

Although his status was high and his father was powerful, he was still far inferior in front of the esteemed Imperial Tutor.

After rebuking Bai Xun, Master Lu Chen looked at Zhang Xuan again. "Since you understand paintings, I happen to have a piece here. Please appraise it for me!"

With a gesture.

The butler stepped forward, handed over a scroll painting, and immediately unrolled it on the table.

It was an ink wash painting, simple and elegant. As soon as it was unrolled, a refreshing aura permeated the air. Wisps of smoke curled upwards, the mountain village was quiet, and groups of children played. The entire scene seemed to hum with cicada sounds and dancing leaves; it was a pastoral landscape painting.

"This..." Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

He knew nothing about painting. He could only tell that the painting was good. Ask him to appraise it? Appraise what?

As he hesitated, Huang Yu's urgent voice transmission sounded in his ear: "You have to speak carefully. This is the master testing you. He... likes to test people very much; he tested me when I came. If you speak well, you can borrow as many books as you want. If you don't, you can just go straight back..."

"A test?"

Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile.

If he had known Master Lu Chen enjoyed this kind of thing, he wouldn't have spoken nonsense while walking in the courtyard!

Wasn't he just asking for trouble? However, judging by Huang Yu's tone, even if he hadn't spoken, the other party would certainly have tested him. After all, it had become a habit that would likely be impossible to change.

As for appraising, what was there to appraise? He had no clue!

He knew absolutely nothing. What problems could he see? What comments could he make?

The other party was an Imperial Tutor, proficient in calligraphy and painting. If he spoke carelessly, he might be chased out with a stick before he even finished speaking.

"What? Is there a problem?"

Seeing his expression, Master Lu Chen looked over.

"Ah, no!"

Zhang Xuan scratched his head, at a loss as he tried to figure out how to phrase his words to be beyond reproach. Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"The Library of Heaven's Path can even identify the authenticity of treasures. Then... can it identify flaws in paintings?"

Thinking this, he couldn't help but step forward, approaching the painting. He lightly touched it with his finger.

Buzz!

A soft hum resonated in his mind, and a book appeared in his consciousness.

After reading the content, Zhang Xuan's mood brightened considerably. He looked up at Master Lu Chen, whose eyes were fixed on him, and gave a faint smile. "Master, do you really want me to appraise it?"

Master Lu Chen did not reply, indicating his silent consent.

"I have an eight-character appraisal!" Zhang Xuan said.

"I'd like to hear the details!" Master Lu Chen looked over.

Zhang Xuan nodded, looked at the painting in front of him, circled it lightly, and couldn't help but shake his head. "Those eight characters are... absolute rubbish, what even is this?!"

"Young Master, mind your words!" The butler had expected him to offer some kind of appraisal. Hearing this, he almost fainted on the spot and quickly spoke up to stop him: "This is a painting the master just completed..."