There is a god in the sky

Chapter 94 The Arson Case at the Yu Mansion (Part 15)

Lin Qingqian was already burning with anger after being ignored by Shen Lan.

"What are you so arrogant about, you mere maid? Don't you know your place?"

Shen Lan smiled and asked her, "I know my own identity. I have no relation to any of you ladies, so why should I listen to you?"

“You…” Lin Qingqian rushed forward, making a move to hit Shen Lan.

She thought Shen Lan would definitely reach out to resist, and then take the opportunity to snatch the calligraphy and painting from her arms.

To everyone's surprise, Shen Lan simply turned her head away, keeping her hands still.

Lin Qingqian's hands were already holding the calligraphy and painting, but she couldn't take them out no matter what she did.

Shen Lan found it both funny and infuriating. How could this daughter of an official engage in such a brazen act of robbery in the street?

“This young lady is very well-mannered!” she said sarcastically.

Lin Qingqian's face turned pale and then green, and she glared fiercely at Shen Lan.

Xiao Huan bumped into Shen Lan, causing Lin Qingqian to pull out a scroll.

Lin Qingqian opened it in front of everyone and saw a picture of a handsome man emerging from a bath.

The background of the painting is a hot spring pool deep in the mountains. In the misty steam, a man is facing away from them, his long hair is spread out, half of it is submerged in the water.

He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and stood in the water wearing white silk trousers. His upper body was bare, but most of his back was covered by his dark hair, so it did not appear erotic.

He turned his head slightly, his features were incomparably handsome, and his red lips parted slightly, like a forest spirit.

All the girls stared blankly, then gradually blushed.

Lu Xiangxiang was the first to react, muttering under her breath, "Are there really such handsome men in this world?"

Lin Qingqian subconsciously felt that the person in the painting was Xiao Ji, after all, given Shen Lan's status, she would not have the opportunity to see other men bathing.

"Shameless!" she scolded, her face flushed. "At such a young age, your mind is full of lewd thoughts!"

Shen Lan didn't want to explain, but this girl had such a foul mouth.

Her face darkened. "I don't know which family this girl belongs to, but you've humiliated me time and time again. Do you have a problem with me?"

"What can I do about having a problem with a shameless woman like you?"

Shen Lan snorted coldly: "Let's not even talk about whether I painted this picture or not. What does it have to do with you? You see everything with a dirty heart."

Song Yalian saw the inscription on the painting: "Rongshan Jushi" (Rongshan Hermit).

Of course she knew who Mr. Rongshan was, but even her father couldn't meet him, so how could he possibly know Shen Lan?

She covered her mouth and laughed, "Miss Shen used the name of Rongshan Hermit to make fake paintings. Did Lord Xiao know about this?"

Lin Qingqian also saw the signature and frowned, "You've gone too far! How dare you forge a painting by the Hermit of Rongshan!"

Mr. Rongshan is definitely an idol for those who love painting, and coincidentally, Lin Qingqian is one of his biggest fans.

She would never allow anyone to tarnish the reputation of the hermit of Rongshan.

She reached out to tear the painting, but Shen Lan pulled out a chopstick and hit her hand with it. The scroll fell to the ground, but Shen Lan snatched it back first.

The handsome man in the painting has disappeared, and Shen Lan has put the painting away.

Lu Xiangxiang lowered her eyes in a daze, feeling lost. She had been staring blankly at the screen for a moment.

The fact that a figure in a painting can possess such magic shows that the person who painted this painting has extremely profound skill.

She knew that Rongshan Jushi was the foremost painter of his time, so if the painting was genuine, it would make sense.

“This is a painting by the Hermit of Rongshan,” Shen Lan explained.

"Impossible! Everyone knows that the Hermit of Rongshan lived in seclusion and would never give away his paintings."

Shen Lan really wanted to say that the reclusive old man lived only half an hour away from here, and was very easy to find.

"Believe it or not, please move aside, I'm going back."

"You can't leave, you liar! Today you must admit that you forged Rongshan Jushi's painting. And who are you going to sell this painting to?"

Shen Lan's patience ran out, and she coldly said, "Get out of the way!"

Lin Qingqian called her maid over, intending to arrest Shen Lan and report her to the authorities.

Song Yalian quickly stopped her and advised, "Qingqian, don't do anything reckless. It won't be good if Lord Xiao finds out."

Xiao Huan understood immediately and ran downstairs. "Miss, I'll go and inform Lord Xiao to come and rescue them."

Shen Lan hooked a chair over with her foot, plopped down, and said, "Fine, you're going to report to the authorities, right? Go ahead!"

Today's situation was clearly set up by Song Yalian.

What was she doing to me? Was it because I overheard what she said that night?

How petty!

A short while later, Xiao Huan returned.

She failed to inform Lord Xiao, but instead brought Madam Song up with her.

She winked at Song Yalian with a pained expression, hoping the girl would forgive her later.

She didn't do it on purpose; who knew she'd run into the lady as soon as she stepped outside?

"It's so lively! What are you all doing gathered here?" Madam Song asked warmly.

Those present were all juniors, and they all stood up to pay their respects to Madam Song.

Taking advantage of the relationship between the Lin and Song families, Lin Qingqian complained aggrievedly: "Madam, you be the judge! This brat dared to forge the painting by the Hermit of Rongshan, and the painting is... the painting is utterly unbearable to look at!"

Madam Song looked at Shen Lan with a puzzled expression.

She couldn't quite see through the maid. At first, she thought she was Xiao Ji's concubine, but later she got involved in the Yu family's case.

Logically speaking, such a maid should have been sold long ago, but Xiao Ji not only did not despise her, but also cared for her even more.

"What painting? How did it involve the Hermit of Rongshan?" Madam Song asked, puzzled.

When Song Yalian saw her stepmother's gaze fall on her, she quickly stood up and explained what had happened.

Her voice was calm; she neither embellished nor criticized, but simply stated the facts.

She knew very well that it was best for her to remain an outsider in this matter.

There are plenty of fakes on the market. After all, Rongshan Jushi is very famous, and it is profitable to imitate his paintings.

Madam Song felt that forging a painting was not a big deal.

These young girls spend all their time reading and painting; they really think of themselves as scholars.

She said calmly, "The painting belongs to Miss Shen. It's her freedom to paint or write whatever she wants."

Song Yalian hurriedly reminded Madam Song, "Mother, Father loves Rongshan Jushi's paintings the most. He always hangs a calligraphy in his study and never lets the servants touch it."

Madam Song changed the subject and said to Shen Lan, "However, the Hermit of Rongshan is highly accomplished, and it is not easy to imitate his paintings. Let me see your painting."

Shen Lan opened the painting of a handsome man emerging from a bath and explained again, "Madam, this painting is not a forgery by me, but a gift from the Hermit of Rongshan."

Madam Song didn't believe it at first either.

But she was a few years older than the younger generation and had seen the original works of Rongshan Jushi.

With her discerning eye, she couldn't detect any trace of forgery.

She wondered in disbelief: Could it be that this girl's painting skills have reached a level of perfection?

Lin Qingqian didn't believe it at all. "How could the Hermit of Rongshan give you a painting? Even Minister Liu was refused when he asked for a painting back then. Who do you think you are?"

When Shen Lan heard her mention Liu Engui, her expression shifted, and she pretended not to know, asking, "Which Vice Minister Liu?"

"That's the Magistrate Liu from your Aoki County. He's now the Vice Minister of Revenue. Everyone knows that he was refused a painting when he asked for it back then."

So this wasn't a secret after all; no wonder Xiao Ji knew about it.

Shen Lan said calmly, "The reason he gave me the painting was because I taught him a new painting technique."

"This is getting more and more outrageous. Why don't you just say you're the master of Rongshan Jushi?"

"He wanted to become my apprentice, but I didn't agree."

"Huh?" Lin Qingqian had never seen such a shameless person!

“You’re a madman!” she said.