Finest Servant

Chapter 423 Detecting Forgery

Su Mubai retreated a few steps, his face deathly pale. "I, I did not lie!"

Xu Wei shook his head and sighed, "Top Scholar Su, I have spent my lifetime with poetry and painting. I can tell who painted what, and when, with just a glance. Nine times out of ten, I am right. This portrait of the White Lotus Holy Mother is neat in brushwork and delicate in strokes, and the artist has quite a level. It's a pity that like people have lifespan, trees have growth rings, paintings also have their years, and forgeries can't be hidden."

Xu Wei was a master, and everyone listened to his words, suddenly quite interested. Even the Old Emperor couldn't help but speak, "Minister Xu, you said this painting is not more than a year old. How did you see it?"

Xu Wei nodded and smiled, "To judge the age of a painting, in addition to examining the clothing, expression, and background of the characters, the canvas, scroll, and the degree of dryness and finesse of the ink and brush are also decisive. The latter points are difficult to forge and are the most important for identifying fake paintings."

Xu Wei smiled slightly and fell silent. The crowd listened to him tantalizingly and couldn't help themselves. Even Li Tai spoke, "Brother Xu, don't keep us in suspense, quickly explain it to us."

Xu Wei glanced at Su Mubai and laughed coldly, "Top Scholar Su, you ranked first in the special examination, aren't you well-learned? Haven't you heard these principles?"

"I do not know," Su Mubai's legs were weak, and he rallied his spirits.

Xu Wei laughed, "Then let this old man teach you a trick on how to identify a painting, so that you don't make the same mistake again. The characters' clothing, expressions, and background of this painting are all extremely well-matched, with no flaws to be seen. The problem lies in the ink and canvas."