431 So What if You Have Money? (2/2)
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”He's using the gold in his country's vaults to fight for face?”
Ning Que looked at the royal buyer from South Jin and could not wrap his head around what had happened.
Chu Youxian said mockingly, ”That backward country doesn't have any rules. Do you think they are like the Tang Empire? To the South Jin Emperor and Crown Prince, the country's vaults are like their personal vaults. They can use it any way they want.”
It was then, when a subordinate from the Grand Secretary's manor walked to the steward and whispered to him. The steward who kept silent for a long while turned towards the royal buyer in the west room and said with a cold smile, ”I wondered why the Crown Prince of South Jin was so interested in the Chicken Soup Calligraphy. So it is for the Hill Master of the Great River Kingdom.”
The royal buyer did not refute that and smiled, ”Indeed, His Highness knows that the Hill Master likes this Chicken Soup Calligraphy a lot, and have decided to buy it for her.”
The steward looked at the South Jin royal buyer and laughed out loud suddenly. He said mockingly, ”Everyone knows that the Hill Master is in love with Sir Ning of Tang. That is why she likes the Chicken Soup Calligraphy so much. Does your crown prince think that he can replace Sir Ning in the Hill Master's heart with this calligraphy? That is so ludicrous!”
The expression of the royal buyer changed drastically.
Without waiting for him to speak, the steward continued sarcastically, ”Trying to get a girl to fall in love with you by buying her things that she loves. I wonder what your crown prince is thinking! I did not expect that the South Jin Kingdom is full of useless people. You are useless on the battlefield, and your Sword Master from the Sword Garret is useless. You are also useless in love!”
The royal buyer's expression grew ugly as he was insulted. His sleeves shook as his hands clenched tightly. However, there were no falsehoods in the steward's words. The South Jin Kingdom had never been a match for the Tang's cavalry on the battlefield. Liu Qingshan from the Sword Garret had indeed been defeated by Ning Que at the side doors of the Academy. The story between Calligraphy Addict Mo Shanshan, and Ning Que had spread in the world for days.
The royal buyer attempted to stifle the anger in his chest. He said coldly, ”Bidding for calligraphy depends on one's ability. Speak if you can afford to. Unless the Tangs only know how to fight with their words!”
With that, the insults from the Tangs in the attic flew. However, he did not care, but only glowered at the auctioneer on the platform. It seemed that he was determined to kill them with money.
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Ning Que did not expect that the Crown Prince of South Jin Kingdom would spend so much on the Chicken Soup Calligraphy just to get in Shanshan's good books.
After a moment of silence, he took something from his sleeves and passed it to Chu Youxian. After some instructions, he lifted the curtains and walked out of the Stone House.
Chu Youxian paused in surprise. Then, he clutched the object in his hands tightly, went downstairs and found the boss of the Stone House.
The boss of the Stone House recognized him as the only son of Master Chu from the Easter City. He paused slightly and received the seal. He glanced at it, and his expression changed drastically.
The seal was Ning Que's personal seal. They rarely appeared on his calligraphy sections, so only a few calligraphy appraisers have seen it. But the boss had seen it on the back of the Chicken Soup Calligraphy.
The boss only knew then, that Sir Ning had been watching the auction in the attic all this while. He saw the seal that Chu Youxian held out and thought that Ning Que was dissatisfied and angry, and could not help but feel uneasy. He wondered to himself if he had judged the incident with the calligraphy sections wrongly, and that the little handmaiden had indeed stolen them.
He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard what Chu Youxian had to say.
Chu Youxian signaled for him to bring him to the platform and pulled the auctioneer to the side.
Those in the attic discovered the movement on the platform, and the debates and insults tapered off.
The royal buyer from the South Jin Kingdom stood by the railings expressionlessly. He looked at the platform and was determined to bring the Chicken Soup Calligraphy back to South Jin no matter what tricks the Tangs played.
The boss wrapped his hands around his fist and bowed to those on the third floor. Then, he cleared his throat and said, ”The Chicken Soup Calligraphy is sold to room 2B for 33,000 taels of silver.”
All was silent in the room as no one had been able to react.
Then, as they all emerged from their dazes, ruckus ensued.
Room 2B was the room of Grand Secretary Wang's steward.
However, the bidding had not ended, why did Stone House say that the Grand Secretary had gotten the Chicken Soup Calligraphy?
The royal buyer from South Jin Kingdom looked downstairs, steel-faced. He asked coldly, ”Even if the bidding had to end due to the price, I have offered the highest price. Why did the calligraphy go to someone else? Unless you Tangs do business like this? Do you not care about your reputation anymore?”
Chu Youxian recollected what Ning Que had said before leaving. He made sure that he remembered every single word correctly before saying mockingly, ”So what if you have money?”
”I won't sell it to you even if you have plenty of money.”
”Because Mr. Thirteen doesn't want to give the South Jin Crown Prince any face.”
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