It was a quiet night, and Xuanmu and the old man were drunk.
At this time, the old gentleman was blushing and a little confused. He looked like he was half drunk and half awake, and took down a painting from the wall.
The painting showed a white horse that was all white. Xuanmu didn't recognize the horse. He only saw the words "Han Gan's painting shines white at night" written on one side of the scroll.
"Old sir, students don't understand this painting. If you take it from me, it will be a waste." Xuanmu explained with a wry smile.
"This was painted by Han Gan. The horse in the painting is Emperor Xuanzong's mount. Its name is Zhao Yebai." The old man said as if he was thinking of himself.
"Oh, this is Emperor Xuanzong's mount. This is something the students didn't expect. Is there a story in this painting?" Xuanmu asked in surprise when he heard this.
"There is a story, but I have to tell you about Han Gan first. There were two famous painting masters during the Xuanzong period, one was Dai Song, and the other was Han Gan. At that time, the literati all praised 'Han Ma Dai Niu'. The reason why Han Gan was so good
It deserves such high praise, all because of one sentence, what is it? - All the horses in your majesty's stable are all ministers' teachers. What does this mean? This is what Han Qian said to Emperor Xuanzong back then. As for what it means, it is extremely obvious.
Maybe the common people don't understand that a horse can be a teacher for people, and think it is Han Qian's flattery. You are different, I believe you can understand the meaning. Since you want to ask, I will enlighten you on what it means. The horse in the inner stable
We are all teachers, and heaven and earth are naturally Tao. Han Qian's achievement lies in the master's imitation. As Tao says, Tao follows nature, and heaven and earth are naturally Tao." The old man told a great truth affectionately.
At first Xuanmu thought he understood the great road, but now it seems that it is just a small path from the secluded path. He couldn't help but said with emotion: "Thank you sir for your guidance, this is the real great road!"
"It doesn't matter, since you and I are destined, I will give this painting to you. It also allows you to always remember that Tao follows nature." As the old man said, he rolled up the painting and handed it to Xuanmu.
If Xuanmu didn't know that this painting was by Han Qian, a famous artist at that time, even if he did. If he didn't know about Han Qian's great fame, he might have accepted this painting at this time.
But, now he knew. He didn't dare to accept this painting that illuminates the night sky. He said with a reserved expression: "No, sir. This painting is so valuable. The students don't dare to accept it."
"What are you embarrassed about? If I ask you to accept it, you will accept it. I am already old and my time is running out, so there is no point in keeping this painting. Since this painting is destined for you, I will give it to you."
"This..., why are you so embarrassed as a student?"
"If you continue to be nagging, don't come again."
"Okay, okay, the students will accept them. Sir, please don't turn the students away." Xuanmu was anxious when he heard that he was missing. After all, he had been studying with the old man for more than a month.
In addition, he already wanted to continue his feelings for the old man from Heguo. Naturally, he couldn't bear to make the old man sad, so he obeyed the old man's wishes and accepted the look with a little guilt.
painting.
Back in the small courtyard, Xuanmu sat down cross-legged again and murmured: "Master said that after practicing, you will realize the Tao. Now when you go down the mountain, you have practiced the practice and enlightened the Tao. It's incredible! I thought that enlightenment is very easy.
It’s difficult. It turns out that as long as a thoughtful and knowledgeable senior gives me some guidance, I can figure it out on my own. After attending the lecture tomorrow, it’s time to go to the teahouse to listen to some anecdotes about the Tang Dynasty. After all, Tao cannot come to my mind on its own.
.”
After Xuanmu finished thinking, he entered into concentration, breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Early the next morning, Xuanmu woke up from his trance and put away the spiritual energy on his body, looking just like a mortal.
He took out the painting and looked at it again. After looking at it for a long time, he couldn't see anything interesting. Indeed, for a person who doesn't know anything about painting, if he wants to understand a painting with only a white horse and a pillar,
The meaning in the painting is indeed very difficult.
In the end, Xuanmu threw the painting into the storage ring in frustration. He walked towards the old gentleman's yard with his head held high and humming a tune.
No one knew what the old man's name was. Xuanmu also wanted to ask, but the old man had no intention of telling him the truth. So he kept his mouth shut knowingly.
There is another reason why Xuanmu likes to go to the old gentleman's place, because the old gentleman's residence is lined with bamboos and surrounded by flowers. There is also a small pond behind the small courtyard. There are many carps in the pond, but the old gentleman never
I don’t like fishing, let alone eating fish. Xuanmu didn’t know why, but the old man said that the purpose of raising them in captivity was not to eat them, but to let them add a touch of splendor to this gorgeous world.
——Such words can only be said by a person who often paints.
The old gentleman likes painting very much, Xuanmu can see this. However, the old gentleman never seems to paint. There may be a story in this, Xuanmu thinks so.
Just when Xuanmu walked into the bamboo forest with anxiety, he felt a surge of murderous aura coming from the old gentleman's room with his sensitive sense.
In the courtyard.
The scene that caught his eye gave him an unbelievable illusion.
The old gentleman was tied tightly to a wooden pillar with ropes in the corridor. His eyes were slightly closed and his face was bloodless. There were several shocking blood marks left on his face, not just on his face, but everywhere on his body. That
Apparently he was whipped with a whip.
"Are you going to tell me where the 'White Picture at Night' is?" A sudden voice sounded in Xuanmu's ears. Originally, there was silence in Xuanmu's ears. This voice was naturally sudden. Although the sound was very sudden,
Yet very familiar.
Xuanmu looked away from the old gentleman in a dull manner. Standing opposite the old gentleman was Xuan Yu. It was actually Xuan Yu! This made Xuanmu unable to react in time.
"Xuanmu, why are you here?" This voice was more familiar to Xuanmu.
Xuanmu shuddered when he heard the voice, and looked away again. A girl with a pretty face appeared in his eyes. The girl turned out to be his little senior sister Xuan Yan.
"The old man is dead." A soldier in leather armor suddenly reported in the courtyard.
"What?"
Xuan Mu, Xuan Yu, and Xuan Yan looked at the old gentleman at the same time. At this time, a trace of blood flowed from the corner of the old gentleman's mouth.
A soldier came forward and reported: "Prince, the old man committed suicide by biting his tongue."
"Trash, how can you make the old man bite his tongue and commit suicide? There is a shocking secret hidden in that painting."
After searching all over the place, I don’t believe that Old Hantou can give the ‘White Picture of Zhao Ye’ to others. It must still be in this room.”