Ten days later, in the Zhengxuan Building of the capital.
"Now up for auction is the Heshan Tiger ink stone set that belonged to Lord Fucha, the current Prime Minister!"
"Lord Fucha was the top scholar of the 13th year of the Wanjia Era."
"He is renowned for his literary talent and magnanimity. He can appreciate others' strengths, consider the bigger picture, grasp the essence, and possess extraordinary poise and cultivation."
At the auction, palace maids dressed in uniformly lotus pink attire welcomed wealthy bidders from all over to enter and take their seats, simultaneously serving them tea.
Surrounding them were commoners observing the event, snacking on melon seeds.
On the auction stage, the palace maid narrating spoke with a voice as melodious as a warbling nightingale, growing increasingly impassioned as she reached the climax.
"Lord Fucha passed the imperial examinations at twelve, became a top scholar at nineteen... At thirty-seven, he became the Crown Prince's mentor, and at forty-five, he was promoted to Prime Minister!"
"The Heshan Tiger ink stone set Lord Fucha has put up for auction today was his old love from his youth."
"Back then, he didn't have much money, so he would linger outside the shop every day, silently vowing to himself—"
"I must be like the fierce tiger descending the mountain, and create a prosperous world!"
The narrating palace maid was specially selected by Concubine Liu and trained in storytelling.
In an instant, the auction hall was sent into an uproar!
"What a powerful vow—'I must be like the fierce tiger descending the mountain!'"
"I had no idea that the ever-composed Prime Minister had been as ferocious as a tiger in his youth, filled with youthful vigor."
"Lord Fucha actually had such lofty ambitions!"
Xiao Yunzhou, seated in the second-floor private room, sipped his tea and chuckled, "This is the first We learn of your fierce youth, Lord Fucha."
Lord Fucha's aged face flushed red.
Who wrote this script?
Did he still want to keep face?
The palace maid on the first floor had already declared boldly, "Lord Fucha only managed to buy this Heshan Tiger ink stone set after entering the Hanlin Academy as a top scholar and receiving his first month's salary."
"Not only was this his long-cherished possession, but it also symbolized his soaring ambition!"
Lord Fucha nearly spat out his tea as he coughed.
That's a bit exaggerated.
Way too exaggerated.
In fact, he had barely used the ink stone a few times after buying it.
He felt that this ink stone wasn't very usable!
"Lord Fucha has barely used one-tenth or one-twentieth of this ink stone to this day, as he must have been reluctant to use it."
Lord Fucha: "..."
The palace maid smiled at the crowd of bidders, "When Lord Fucha purchased this Heshan Tiger ink stone in his youth, he paid twelve taels of silver."
"Today, as times have changed, Lord Fucha has entrusted us to sell it on his behalf, with a starting price of nine taels."
"This is a special number, perhaps signifying Lord Fucha's aspiration for the country's unity and prosperity... that the nine provinces would unite under one rule, and Jing Country would flourish and stand tall among all nations!"
Lord Fucha's beard trembled.
"Let the bidding begin—this Heshan Tiger ink stone that Lord Fucha purchased after becoming a top scholar, his cherished possession. Place your bids, everyone!"
"Ninety-nine taels!"
"One hundred and ninety-nine taels!"
"Two hundred and ninety-nine taels!"
"..."
"I bid nine hundred and ninety-nine taels! I am willing to pay nine hundred and ninety-nine taels for Lord Fucha's soaring ambition!"
The entire hall was stunned into silence.
Even Lord Fucha's teacup slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor.
What?
An item he bought for twelve taels was now selling for nearly a thousand?
[Oh my, Mother Liu really knows how to spin a tale~]
Even Xiao Chuchu was astonished in the Emperor's embrace.
She had underestimated the reverence this era held for high officials and top scholars!
"Next up for sale is an item from the palace. It is the bamboo meditation mat used by the Empress Dowager in front of the Buddha in the Cining Palace."
Even the Minister of Revenue, Jiang Li, couldn't help but stand up.
Why didn't they auction the jade bowls?
A bamboo meditation mat wasn't that valuable.
"The Empress Dowager used to kneel on this bamboo meditation mat."
"Every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, she would kneel in front of the Buddha to pray for the people."
Minister Jiang Li's mouth fell open for a moment.
"You can see the visible wear and tear in the center of the mat."
"It's the imprint of the Empress Dowager's knees, from her carrying the people in her heart!"
In an instant, the spectators erupted into a frenzy.
Commoners and wealthy landlords alike were stunned.
"Oh my, the Empress Dowager thinks of us common folk!"
"Isn't she the highest-ranking woman in the palace? Yet she knelt on this mat?"
"Even if we don't have money, if we did, we would want to buy this and kneel on the mat the Empress Dowager knelt on!"
The scene grew increasingly lively, with each wave of excitement surpassing the last.
Imperial writings praised by the Emperor, Buddhist scriptures transcribed by the Empress, the Empress Dowager's Buddhist texts, jade bowls, jewelry from consorts... Ink stones from cabinet ministers, top scholars and scholars... they were auctioned off one by one in a steady stream.
It was a heated event, with commoners eagerly watching the spectacle, and wealthy landlords frantically bidding.
"Hey, Brother Liu, did you manage to get anything that belonged to the Emperor?"
"No, I'm so regretful! I only got the spinning top played with by the young Princess."
"That's still pretty good. Your son can play with the same toy as the young Princess."
"Yeah, I'm satisfied with that. I also got a bottle of the top scholar's mother's 'Top Scholar Wine'!"
"Oh, congratulations! I only managed to get the chamber pot used by the Minister of Justice when contemplating legal matters."
"That's not bad either. I couldn't even get that."
"..."
Xiao Yunzhou could no longer bear to listen, or he might burst out laughing.
[After all, the common people truly revere high officials and the imperial family. The officials and imperial family of Jing Country must work even harder to live up to their admiration!]
Xiao Chuchu couldn't help but silently muse.
Xiao Yunzhou felt a surge of solemn responsibility and turned to the ministers and cabinet officials disguised as attendants in the private room, clearing his throat.
"You all can stay and continue watching."
"Tomorrow, present Me with an essay, expressing your reflections on today's events."
"On why the items you have used are so coveted by the commoners and landlords, and how you can live up to their expectations of you."
"..."
After Xiao Yunzhou finished speaking, he prepared to return to the palace and continue studying Xiao Chuchu's "Fundamentals of Finance," which he had only scratched the surface of.
He needed to ponder and contemplate further!
He had no time to waste here, but when he saw the excited flush on Xiao Chuchu's face, he couldn't bring himself to take the child away too early.
"Have Concubine Liu bring the young Princess back after the auction ends."
Xiao Chuchu let out a delighted squeal and blew a kiss at Xiao Yunzhou.
[Thank you, Imperial Father~]
[Today I can draw prizes again. Wait for me to return tonight, and I'll draw a good prize to reward you~]
Xiao Yunzhou: "!"
There's more?!
He didn't dare voice his thoughts and quickly returned to the palace to study.
"Wei Zheng, I also want to have the brain-nourishing meal prepared for the Crown Prince tonight."
"..."
Xiao Chuchu watched the entire auction, thoroughly enjoying herself and cooing with delight as she reveled in the excitement.
Concubine Liu couldn't help but laugh at the scene. As the person in charge, she was stunned by the final tally after the last item from the harem was auctioned off and all the proceeds were tallied.
"We received... one hundred and thirteen thousand silver taels?" Liu exclaimed in shock.
This amount was nearly equivalent to the vault's deposit on the first day.
[There are certainly many wealthy individuals out there.] Xiao Chuchu mused.
Not wanting to delay, Liu instructed the Ministry of Revenue officials to count the silver before making preparations to return to the palace.
She had originally intended to visit her parents, Liu's mother and Liu's father, but that would have to wait.
She needed to hurry back to the palace and distribute the silver meant for the harem ladies.
But just as she was about to board the carriage, someone called out to her!
"Miss, Mother asked me to bring you these duck eggs."
It was Liu Runnian, her elder brother, who personally drove the carriage to see his sister Concubine Liu.
"The food in the palace undergoes inspection, so these should be allowed inside? These duck eggs are still fresh, for little Chuchu to eat."
Just as Liu was about to ask her brother about the progress on the Zhengxuan Building's silk book, a wail came from the bundle in her arms.
[Uncle, why didn't you bring Mother any roasted duck? Chuchu wants roasted duck, not duck eggs!]
Xiao Chuchu was practically drooling with hunger.
Liu couldn't help but laugh. The little one didn't even have teeth yet.
Liu Runnian chuckled and patted Chuchu's head. "I've been keeping an eye out for roasted ducks as well. Once little Chuchu is old enough to eat meat, this uncle will make sure to bring her the plumpest batch."
Xiao Chuchu beamed with joy, but her delight was cut short when a gust of wind made her shiver uncontrollably, her little face contorting from the chill!
[It's so cold in Jing Country during winter. I almost forgot, I can't handle the cold lately. When will Uncle get me a down jacket?]
Liu Runnian and Concubine Liu both froze in confusion.
What jacket? Down?
