Chapter 31 The Secret of the Ugly Inkstone
1288 Words
Matthew bent over, watching and studying carefully so that he could learn more about these objects.
Clare and Natalie, on the other side, looked around with great interest. Carl accompanied them around as if he were an expert, but was more like a fly.
Vincent, however, was attracted to one of the new objects: an inkstone.
Ordinary inkstones were with a thin bottom and a large spot for the ink, portable and elegant, decorated with pavilions, birds, and flowers at most to highlight how bookish and decent the master was.
This inkstone, however, was yellow and black.
It seemed like someone had dug a hole in the middle of a thick tree stump. Although the inside and outside had both been polished, the pen dents and pen holes were also carefully carved and even had a dilution hole within, Vincent only felt it too big and too heavy.
Putting it there was like placing a hollow brick on the desk, which was too excrescent.
The countertop of the inkstone was engraved with characters in italics, decorative patterns painted around it as well, which were like whitewashes and graffiti.
Vincent couldn’t help but shake his head. Was it called an antique as well? No one would notice it even if it was thrown on the street.
“Lad, are you interested in calligraphy?” Lowrance’s voice sounded in Vincent’s ears.
“What?” Vincent asked.
“I saw you watching the inkstone for a long time, so I wonder if you are interested in this?” Lowrance smiled.
“Oh no, no. I just think... it is too...”
“It’s ugly, isn’t it?” Lowrance spoke out for Vincent and nodded.
“You are right about it. The inkstone is not an elegant product indeed. But we both know people’s interests vary. Wang Xizhi preferred ponds; Wu Daozi, tortoise shells, and Zheng Banqiao, wine glasses. All of them made great works, so maybe... it was more about feelings and situations, not the form.”
Vincent nodded, feeling it reasonable.
“If you prefer the calligraphic tools in beautiful shapes, you may take a look at the good stuff over there.” Lowrance pointed in a certain direction.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary.” Vincent waved his hand, “I’m here to accompany Uncle Quincy. Don’t worry about me.”
“Sure, sir.” Lowrance nodded and walked away.
Somehow, Vincent still couldn’t take his eyes off the ugly inkstone. He had a feeling that something went wrong or there was more about it. Therefore, he focused his power of decomposition on his eyes and looked toward it.
Through the texture of the inkstone, Vincent could see it through. But he was shocked to see the inside.
He trembled to be exact.
Through the inkstone, he saw an object clearly.
The stuff had scaled the size of a hand, arced slightly. The body was still shiny and inlaid with a few glaze gems. On the front of it were several words in red.
“The Iron Credential for Forgiveness.”
What the hell was this?!
Vincent felt a little dizzy all of a sudden, so he withdrew his power and closed his eyes, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes as well.
He was too concentrated to support himself looking further.
“Are you okay?” Seeing Vincent closing his eyes as if he was taking a rest, Matthew couldn’t help asking, “Bad sleep last night?”
“I’m fine, Uncle Quincy. It’s just my eyes not feeling well. You should go ahead.” Vincent opened his eyes and said so after he felt better.
“Alright, go and have a seat if you are tired. I’ll be soon.” Matthew nodded and kept studying.
Taking a deep breath, Vincent performed his power again to see the details of the credential.
It was a small metal arc-shaped plate, which might be made of gold-copper alloy or something, dazzling. Apart from the red letters, there were also several lines of small ones below.
“IN THE NAME OF THE KING, I ANNOUNCE YOU, THE ELLIOT CLAN, TO BE NOT GUILTY FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS AS LONG AS YOU WON’T COMMIT A CAPITAL CRIME. AND I GIVE YOU THIS AS A PROOF FOR THE FUTURE KINGS TO OBEY THE RULE. IN THE YEAR OF 960.”
There was also a seal inlaid next to it, on which Vincent could only see several letters like “VICTO”.
“What the hell!! This is!!!” Vincent was shocked, stepping back with a dizzier mind. He then hurriedly leaned on a glass cabinet beside him and closed his eyes to relax.
Matthew, Clare, Natalie, and Carl all came to him with concern.
“Are you okay? You alright?” Matthew looked at Vincent.
“Go home and take a rest.” Clare comforted him.
“I’m okay.”
“Yeah, go home. Don’t you realize how weak you are? Why bother us and come along?” Carl complained.
“I’m fine, really. It’s probably I didn’t sleep well last night. It’s rare... It’s rare...” Vincent shook his head and opened his eyes gradually.
The last thing he said, however, made both Clare and Natalie blushed.
“Lad, are you not feeling well? Should I call a doctor? We got a clinic inside our firm.” Lowrance came over again.
Vincent waved his hands hurriedly, still feeling shocked. Regardless of others, he took out his phone at once and searched for something. Afterward, he was more astonished to see the inkstone.
Inside such an ugly thing was an “Iron Credential for Forgiveness”!!
That was definitely a national treasure!!
According to his search, there were no more than three such things excavated and preserved in the country, and they were all damaged or mottled old objects, collected by three different museums.
The one in front of him... If it were real, it would be a perfect antique one among the four!
Not to mention the year 960 was famous in history. The Elliot clan was rewarded this in 960 due to their strong support to the king in the past few years!
It must be some ancestors of the Elliot clan who kept it in the ugly inkstone to prevent it from missing or stealing by others in the war or the like.
After all, such an ugly thing would be the last stuff people would steal. And who could ever imagine a treasure to be kept inside it?!
Presumably, whether the previous businessmen or the antique firm itself didn’t see through the trick. Without Vincent’s superpower, who could ever break an ugly antique inkstone?!
Those who smashed the antiques were either idiots or rich people who were mentally twisted. The former couldn’t get the antique anyway. As for the latter, well, at least Vincent had never seen anyone like that before.
Suppressing the shock and excitement in his heart, Vincent pretended to be calm and shook his head, “No, I just need a minute.”
After speaking, Vincent looked toward Matthew, “Uncle Quincy, have you made your choice yet?”
Matthew nodded and pointed to the counter, “Well, I want the tea set.”
“You do?” Lowrance smiled and nodded, “President Quincy, you have sharp eyes, don’t you? The set has once belonged to a viceroy. High quality indeed!”
- Writer
