Abstract: In discussing the authenticity and authorship of Zaochuang Xianbi, a manuscript in the
collection of China National Library, Prof. Huang Yi-Long used an auction painting A Pet Dog Playing
Beside Plum Blossom and Stone as one of the critical evidences. However, the painting is in fact a fake and
no one wanted to buy it during the auction. Any forgery cannot be used as evidence in academic research, so
Prof. Huang’s e-textual research method, process and results about the manuscript are all worth discussing.
His mistakes can inspire researchers to think about how to use web articles and digital files for academic
research in the era of Big Data.

Key words: The Painting A Pet Dog Playing Beside Plum Blossom and Stone, Empress Dowager Cixi’sSeals, Sir Yu Rui, Garden Qixiang Xuan, e-Textual research, A Dream of Red Mansions