You rascal, stop right there!

Chapter 299: Master Han, You Are So Generous

Day two.

It was three quarters past the hour of the Chou, the moon was dark and the wind was strong.

Bai Wan went out wearing exactly the same clothes as when he went to steal the donkey from the wealthy family in the middle of the night.

It would be bad enough if he was dressed in such a sneaky way, but he also made the people around him cover their heads and faces with masks, which really led others astray.

But even so, one can still see the faint smile between his eyebrows, which is quite strange.

"Zi Chen, we are going to steal. Why do you seem so happy?"

Bai Wan asked this.

Ling Shumo gently poked the corner of his face towel: "I just feel like I'm making up for the five years I missed with you."

What he said was so sincere, it touched my heart.

"Well... don't take everything. It will make you feel full."

The person on the other side stuttered, which was rare for him. He tried to cover it up by squinting his eyes, shrugging his shoulders, and pouting awkwardly.

This person doesn't learn any good things from him. Don't get involved in any wrong things in the future.

Guizhai is not very big and can be seen clearly through the crack of the backyard door.

In the alley where the yard turned, Bai Wan quickly pried open the door with a dagger.

"Let's see if there's anyone hiding. If we're discovered, you run first and I'll cover you."

Bai Wan gave such a serious warning, and then the person next to him shook hands tightly.

What nonsense.

Compared to the time when they faced Xuanli’s army together, this was just a small fight at best.

Bai Wanqing ran in. She was not as agile as before, but she still checked every room through the windows.

The yard of the owner of the painting studio is small and dark, so you can't see clearly, but you can smell it.

"Smells like salted fish, kitchen!"

"Smell of sawdust, woodshed!"

"The complex taste of sourness... the toilet..."

……

Bai Wan pinched her nose and felt it was weird.

Why is there a smell of indigo, gamboge and other painting pigments near this toilet?

It's not possible that the painter has a special habit of painting in the toilet.

While he was thinking about the heavy words, Ling Shumo had already leaned against the hut behind the toilet.

He guessed that someone was in the room, but seeing that the door was heavily locked, he waited quietly.

"There's a smell of gamboge near the well, and there's so much waste paper, someone must be in there."

Bai Wan also came over and nodded.

This small woodshed is really remote, and there is a blind spot behind the toilet, which cannot be seen unless you go around to the back.

"This lock is delicate and heavy and needs to be opened." Ling Shumo said.

Bai Wan peeked inside through the gap. It was pitch black and she couldn't see clearly whether there was anyone there, but she could smell the pungent odor of leftovers mixed with paint.

This breath of imprisonment is too familiar...

He had once been imprisoned like this.

Once upon a time, it was also so cold and windy, lonely and helpless.

Bai Wan suddenly got a piece of wire from somewhere, bent it into a circle and poked the lock open.

In order to cover up the sound, he simply wrapped it with cotton cloth to avoid being discovered.

It's really a side path -

It was the first time that Ling Shumo knew that this person had such skills, and he was shocked and admired him very much.

Take a deep breath...

The two of them finally quietly pushed open the door.

The moonlight from a bright moon shines through, illuminating this small space.

As the door opened, a figure appeared in the dim darkness.

A faint fishy smell——

The moonlight fell on the man lying on the straw mat on the ground. The man had a thin face and looked extremely weak.

This man, with heavy calluses on his fingers, is actually a painter.

His eyes were closed, and although he had no injuries on his body, it was obvious that he had been there for a long time.

There was also a long scroll on the easel next to it, which was a completed group portrait of the Lengzhi Mansion Gate.

Bai Wan recognized the marquis' wife at a glance. She was wearing a coarse cloth skirt and drinking bran and eating steamed bread.

Wei Tianhou was wearing an ordinary long gown and looked haggard.

absurd!

He remembered how rich and extravagant those people were on March 3rd.

The person on the straw mat felt someone approaching, frowned, and slowly opened his eyes.

"you're awake?!"

Bai Wan said happily.

"Uh-huh?"

He rubbed his eyes reluctantly and looked at the person in front of him in confusion.

Bai Wan saw that he wanted to get up, so she held on and handed him the pieced together booklet.

"We are not bad people. We found the painting you drew and came here!"

The thin man looked at him, his eyes changed from confused to bright, but his fatigue remained the same.

"Brother, we admire you as a talented person, and you should not be trapped like this."

Ling Shumo looked at the man and bowed.

The thin man smiled doubtfully. He couldn't see the face clearly, but he recognized the painting by Bai Wanmo in the booklet at a glance.

"The painting of Xi Meng Jushi... who are you two?"

The words seemed to be seven parts surprise and three parts joy.

It seems that he is someone who often copies his own paintings, and he can even recognize them through the details.

Seeing this, Bai Wan said sincerely: "Han knows that you have no choice, do you want to leave here?"

"I'm not trapped."

The man lowered his head slightly, his eyes determined.

Cough!

Bai Wan looked at him angrily, pointing at everything around him.

"Living behind the toilet, eating leftovers. There's not even a proper table, chair or bed in the room! Asking you to sign someone else's painting name... hehe... aren't you still trapped?"

The thin man didn't say anything, and the light from the lighter made his face flicker.

"Sign someone else's name on the painting?"

He seemed surprised.

After a while, he hesitated.

"Uttering your name, Xi Meng Jushi?!"

As he said this, his body trembled as he leaned back, his lips trembling.

Obviously, he found out the real reason why the two of them came to him. If he hadn't been found to be an impersonator, how could he have been found here?

Bai Wan and Ling Shumo were both smart people, so they could naturally see the surprised expression on the man's face.

The man suddenly sighed sadly, looking even more miserable.

He immediately bowed and apologized: "Master Han, I didn't realize that I used your name and insulted your manners. I feel deeply guilty. I hope you can forgive me."

This man seems to be very strong-willed. Even in such a predicament, he can still find the key points calmly.

Bai Wan quickly helped him up: "In fact, you are obviously very talented, you should sign your own name."

Those paintings are just imitations of the style, not exact copies, and they can become unique with just a few tweaks.

When the man heard Bai Wan's words, his expression changed slightly, as if he was moved.

According to common sense, an impostor like him should be condemned.

"Master Han, you are so generous?"

Bai Wan smiled slyly and pulled the album in his hand: "Because every painter starts by copying, you just shouldn't give up your reputation."

He said this frankly and with a bit of compassion. He not only forgave the impostor but also recognized his talent.

The man looked up at him, full of surprise, holding his breath, and subconsciously:

"But I am an unknown person, and I should not be famous. This is not what I want..."

He spoke with self-pity, as if he had many things to hide.

Ling Shumo said gently: "Abai said that there is no one in this world who is not famous, and man can conquer nature."

The man nodded, but his expression did not change, still indifferent and distant.

"This is a prison!"

Bai Wan still accuses the surroundings.

"Your paintings were taken by the shopkeeper of Guizhai and sold at a high price, using your name to curry favor with the Marquis of Weitian!"

"If anything goes wrong, will you lose your freedom for life, or be convicted of a crime because of your painting and never be found alive?"

The words are so convincing that people feel uneasy.

"Painter Han?!"

The man was shocked.

"Why be convicted for painting?"