“Oi! What are you saying?!” barked Ling Chuxi as she glared at the fifth princess. As Ling Chuxi had always been the type of person to take action, her palm had already swiftly landed on the back of the fifth princess’ head before she had even finished speaking.
The fifth princess held her head in pain with gritted teeth. However, she did not dare to retort and could only look at Ling Chuxi in suffering. These days, one also needed to be beaten for telling the truth it seemed.
“Ling Yichen,” said Ling Chuxi in a dangerous tone as she turned to look at him. “You laughed just now, right?”
“I didn’t. I absolutely didn’t. It was just your misconception,” scoffed Ling Yichen in an oddly serious manner. The expression he was wearing was as serious as serious could get.
“Pft, and yet you act all dignified. So, you dare to do something, but don’t dare to admit to it. Oh, I despise you,” muttered the fifth princess softly.
Ling Yichen was in the hot seat and entirely ignored the fifth princess’ words, acting as though he did not hear them at all.
Fu Chengyu smiled. This scene before him really left one feeling warm.
In the end, the box of pearls was sold to E Shulan’s admirer. After that, the next items were brought out and auctioned off one after the other in quick succession. What beautiful glazed double-riding horses, seven-colored corals, and luminous white jade lotus hairpins… These items were all rare treasures that were practically priceless. However, Ling Chuxi and the others in her group were not interested in them.
After many items were auctioned off, the Thousand Pearl Orchid finally appeared. Ling Chuxi looked at it displayed atop the stage and confirmed that this was item they had to obtain in this auction. The Thousand Pearl Orchid looked like any other orchid on the outside, but if one looked closer, each of its leaves contained many tiny little pockets resembling small little pearls that covered the whole plant, thus the name Thousand Pearl Orchid.
“This rare herb is known as the Thousand Pearl Orchid. The starting price for it is ten thousand gold taels. However, please be aware that there are additional conditions as well.” Gao Wentian calmly announced the starting price for the Thousand Pearl Orchid without further introductions as it needed none. This herb was only valuable depending on whom was looking at it. Those who did not understand what it could do would think that it was just another wild plant. Those who did, naturally knew how precious this herb truly was.
“Fifty thousand gold taels.” An attendant shouted out the first bid. This was a voice that came from the other room next to Ling Chuxi and the rest. On their right was E Shulan and her posse, and on their left was where this bid had been announced from.
This bid was really unequivocal. Ling Chuxi understood that this was someone who recognized the value of the item and knew the tremendous price it was worth.
Ling Chuxi looked at Fu Chengyu, indicating that he should start bidding. Fu Chengyu nodded and let the attendant shout out his bid—A hundred thousand gold taels!
This time, the whole hall became astir. What herb was this to actually be able to be sold off at such a price! Gao Wentian’s lips curled up into a smile. This price was indeed beyond his expectations. He only knew that the Thousand Pearl Orchid was a rare herb, but he did not know what it was used for. He did not think that someone who had knowledge of its uses would actually bid such a price.
The moment Fu Chengyu made his bid, Ling Chuxi became anxious and exclaimed, “Who asked you to bid such a high price?!”
“Eh?” responded Fu Chengyu, baffled. He did not understand Ling Chuxi’s reaction and he looked at her in much confusion.
“The minimum increase for every bid is one hundred silver taels! You just have to bid a little more than the other party every time! Money. All this is money. You spendthrift!” hissed Ling Chuxi in extreme heartache. If a bid could be increased by a single tael every time, that was even better in her opinion! If the other person made such a bid, then they could bid just an extra tael each time, mentally crushing the other party with their persistence.
Fu Chengyu and Ling Yichen were both left speechless.
On the other hand, the fifth princess felt enlightened. She slapped her hand to her own head in a gesture implying that she wished she had thought of this herself. “Master, you are indeed a genius. Exactly, exactly. Next time, I will fight for things with other people like this.”
Between their exchange of words, the auction carried on and the person in the private room next door raised their bid again. Without waiting for Fu Chengyu to speak, the fifth princess instructed their attendant fiercely, “Quick! Raise the bid, but raise it higher by just one hundred silver taels!”