Chapter 472: Acquisition of an Ancient Painting

Old Lady Bo gave her a meaningful look, “You’re the sensible one, it would be even better if you were more obedient.”

Bo Shuxian immediately said, “Grandma, is Zining not filial?

Every time she talks about you, she wants to come back to see you.

When I was not around during this period, didn’t she make you happy?”

“Defending her just like that?

Am I not allowed to speak sternly anymore!”

As Old Lady Bo glared, Bo Shuxian quickly put on a smiling face, “How could that be?

You old people just love to scare others.”

Zhou Zining took a piece of pastry, broke half of it, and stuffed it into Bo Shuxian’s mouth, scolding him, “Eat your pastry.

You’ve just come back and you’re already causing trouble for me, what a handful.”

Bo Shuxian squeezed her hand and happily ate the pastry.

Old Lady Bo’s eyes moved subtly as she sipped her tea without a word.

By the time Bo Shuxian had entered the mansion, Old Lady Bo was already informed.

She had been in control of this household for decades, able to grasp the slightest ripple in the wind.

She resumed her nap, and upon waking, Auntie Wu came to chat with her.

She said that after Bo Shuxian arrived, he went directly to the children’s playground in the eastern wing to play with Qianqian.

He threw his coat covered in dust at the entrance and let the servants take it to be washed, then he went back to his room to fetch a clean set, casually picking a room in the playground to freshen up.

Back and forth, Zhou Zining found out.

She took the clothes and went out.

No one stopped her, and the old maids standing guard at the door had already been dismissed by Auntie Wu.

The matter of lifting the house arrest was something Zhou Zining and Old Lady Bo both knew very well.

Now sitting together for afternoon tea as if nothing had happened, they maintained the facade of a loving mother and filial son.

Bo Shuxian placated Old Lady Bo, then turned his head towards Bo Yanching to continue the conversation that had been interrupted earlier, “I am back for only a few days.

The ancient tomb is only half-excavated.

There is an underground palace beneath, and we didn’t dare to continue digging.

An application has been sent to the authorities to request two more professional teams.

I managed to acquire an antique painting, severely eroded by the wind.

I tried to restore it on site and have contacted a master restorer of antique paintings; I will take the painting over this afternoon.”

Bo Yanching casually asked, “What painting?”

“A flower and bird painting by Huang Quan.”

Bo Yanching expressed his surprise with a slight raise of his eyebrows, “An artifact from the Song Dynasty?”

“Correct!

It’s partially damaged, but the middle section is intact.

I really like it, so I begged the master to let me bring it back.”

Artifacts from ancient tombs, even if restored, end up either in museums or auction houses in the end.

Bo Shuxian could at best indulge in the temporary pleasure.

In this life, he had no other hobbies, only a deep fascination with antique paintings, especially flowers and birds and beauty portraits.

He fell for Zhou Zining at first sight because she resembled a person depicted in one of his collected beauty portraits.

“If you want it, I’ll mediate for you.”

Bo Shuxian waved his hands, “Being able to participate in the restoration is already wonderful.

To own it would be the best, but I won’t force it if I can’t have it.

Everything is predestined.”

Old Lady Bo scoffed, “Have our ages reversed or what?

You sound more like the elder here.”

Bo Shuxian helplessly responded, “Grandma, you always make fun of me.”

“Day in, day out, it’s all about painting, or tombs.

You hardly stay home for a few days.

Qianqian is already two years old, you should be more concerned.”

Bo Shuxian was still unaware of Zhou Zining’s act of poisoning Qianqian.

After the incident, Old Lady Bo became even more protective of Qianqian, unwilling to let Zhou Zining get close.

All of this happened right under her watchful eye.

When she was away, the poor child suffered who knows what at the hands of her birth mother.