Reborn As Super Heiress

Capítulo 1300: Chapter 1296: Huo Sining’s Gift

When it came to the origins of the brush washer, Huo Sining found it intriguously coincidental.

Last year, before heading to Dongyang, she took the Secret Color Porcelain swapped from Taicheng Museum back to Zhou Shitao’s residence.

At the Zhou Residence, she learned about the existence of Zhong Fang for the first time and also heard from Zhou Shitao about the time he was deceived.

Back then, the object Zhou Shitao presented was precisely a Sky-blue Glazed Brush Washer.

That brush washer was a Northern Song Ru Kiln Lotus Flower Brush Washer, and Ru Kiln ranked first among the five most renowned kilns of the Song Dynasty, known for its exquisite craftsmanship and short-lived prosperity of only twenty years, making genuine artifacts extremely rare. The forgery of that brush washer convinced Zhou Shitao he had struck a great bargain, leading him to spend a fortune to acquire it.

However, what Zhou Shitao didn’t anticipate was that this seemingly perfectly crafted brush washer was what led to his downfall. It was this very brush washer that revealed the existence of Zhong Fang. At the stamp mark on its waist, there was a simplified character “Zhong” written with a special substance.

Later, Huo Sining went to Dongyang, and during her visits to various antique markets there, she unexpectedly discovered an unusually designed spout pot.

The spout pot was clearly a replica, with its craftsmanship and glaze evidently modern, yet when Huo Sining lifted the pot, she realized the weight was disproportionate to its size.

Instantly, Huo Sining became aware that there was something amiss with the spout pot she held.

After buying it, Huo Sining examined the entire pot but failed to find anything wrong. But after pouring water from a teapot into the spout pot, she uncovered the trick.

The spout pot appeared deep, measuring fifty centimeters from the mouth to the bottom, seemingly capable of holding at least 5 liters, yet, after pouring less than 2 liters of water, the pot overflowed!

Huo Sining quickly understood and unhesitatingly picked up a small hammer and smashed the pot, discovering an interlayer with a celadon-glazed brush washer embedded within!

Celadon-glazed brush washers were common in antique markets, yet the back of this washer had five fine nail marks, prompting deep contemplation.

Records of ancient porcelain with nail marks are rare, and such elaborate efforts to hide the brush washer within the spout pot heightened the mystery.

What struck Huo Sining as unbelievable was that this Sky-blue Glazed Brush Washer was similar in design to the Zhong Fang brush washer Zhou Shitao had shown her. However, the one in her hands was filled with purple Spiritual Energy, characteristic of Ru Kiln celadon, one of the Song Dynasty’s five famous kilns!

After acquiring the brush washer, Huo Sining intended to gift it to Zhou Shitao, well aware of the significance of the Ru Kiln brush washer he had been tricked into purchasing years ago.

However, Huo Sining didn’t give it to Zhou Shitao immediately after returning home; she planned to wait until Zhou Shitao’s birthday.

Unexpectedly, when Su Zhongqing visited the Zhou Family and chatted leisurely with Zhou Shitao in the study, they discussed the Zhong Fang brush washer.

It was during Su Zhongqing’s explanation that Huo Sining learned that Zhou Shitao’s purchase of the Zhong Fang brush washer wasn’t solely an attempt to acquire a treasure. He did it because it was something Su Zhongqing coveted.

Zhou Shitao initially bought the brush washer intending to gift it to his friend. However, upon discovering he had been duped, he kept the washer for himself, abandoning the idea to gift it.

After uncovering the secret, Huo Sining hesitated to send it to Zhou Shitao, but upon receiving Su Zhongqing’s invitation to a birthday banquet, decided to present the Sky-blue Glazed Ru Kiln Brush Washer, fulfilling the long-cherished wishes of her mentor and Master Su.

Thus, when Su Anning presented the brush washer, Zhou Shitao’s reaction was intense upon recognizing the familiar object, his eyes betrayed shock and excitement.

Yet, Zhou Shitao’s keen eye did not necessarily mean Su Anning could discern it.

Su Anning scrutinized the brush washer for minutes but failed to determine its origin.

Unwilling to admit defeat, she feigned calmness and repressed her fear, then abruptly lifted her head to first question Huo Sining: “How about it? I bet you can’t guess the origins of my item!”

Huo Sining noticed the hint of insecurity in Su Anning’s eyes but didn’t expose her. She merely smiled lightly and said:

“This is a Qing Dynasty Famille Rose Nested Cup. The base mark indicates it’s from the official kiln, and such nested cups are rare from official kilns; thus, this porcelain’s intrinsic value is quite high. If it didn’t contain any counterfeits, it could be worth around three to four hundred thousand. Sadly, amongst these cups, there’s a replica, lowering the overall standard!”

As Huo Sining spoke, she discreetly selected the three replicas and placed them aside, explaining the flaws in each.

With each explanation, Su Anning’s expression grew increasingly sour.

She had intended to test Huo Sining’s expertise but ended up shooting herself in the foot.

Watching Huo Sining’s confident demeanor and her own Ru Kiln brush washer, Su Anning was left speechless.

Seeing Su Anning’s changed expression, Zhou Shitao burst out laughing: “So, Su girl, are you convinced?”

Su Anning remained silent.

Huang Zhenlong, standing nearby, chuckled as he took the Ru Kiln brush washer from Su Anning’s hand and said:

“Su girl, you lost fairly. Do you realize the heritage of this brush washer you held? Even your grandfather couldn’t resist its allure back in the day. Huo girl was truly generous to gift this as a present!”

Huang Zhenlong’s tone carried a hint of envy and admiration as he fondled the brush washer, clearly deeply enchanted by it.

Evidently, the old curator recognized the brush washer’s provenance and recalled the affair of Zhou Shitao and Su Zhongqing purchasing the Ru Kiln brush washer only to discover the forgery. Moreover, the curator’s spoken and unspoken words revealed his fondness and desire for the brush washer.

Though amused, Huo Sining was fine, while Su Zhongqing and Zhou Shitao exchanged embarrassed glances as close friends, knowing Huang Zhenlong’s usual antics. They suspected he might scheme to draw the brush washer to his Forbidden City Museum collection.