Chapter 354: A feeling of admiration surges like a river (2/2)

“20,000 taels and 1,000!” Mu Liuyue added on again.

“20,000 taels and 2,000,” someone else countered immediately.

“Add another thousand taels!” Mu Liuyue raised her hand.

“Then I’ll match that thousand taels!” the other said persistently.

“5,000 taels to the base price!” Mu Liuyue went ahead in spite of everything.

Finally, the other person hesitated. 25,000 taels was no small sum, but Mu Liuyue had gone ahead for the sake of her reputation. She should have enough once she emptied out her private savings and added on her father’s dowry.

“25,000 taels, going once! Any else want to add more?” Zhao mama shouted.

Mu Liuyue felt smug as she was swept away by her emotions. But suddenly, General Baili opened his mouth and cried, “100,000 taels!”

“Urk…” What a big spender!

Everyone exchanged glances of disbelief. Mu Liuyue had turned completely dumbfounded when she realized her price was nothing before his.

“This old man is willing to offer his humble efforts for the sake of the disaster victims. 100,000 taels total.” General Baili’s words were very well spoken. The auction was just a pretense, but the money was the more important thing. They weren’t paying silver to buy the Chinese angelica, but to donate for the relief efforts!

“General Baili’s generosity is a great fortune for the disaster victims!” Zhao mama sighed with emotion. At her words, neither Qinwang Rong nor Long Tianmo could sit still any longer.

Long Tianmo blurted, “200,000 taels!”

This…

Could the auction go on like this? A while ago, the price had been increasing by 1,000 taels a bid. Now it was increasing by 100,000 taels a bid?! Everyone sucked in a cold breath at his words. The crown prince is indeed the crown prince. With the imperial uncle backing him up, his wealth speaks louder than others!

This time, General Baili didn’t match his price. Naturally, no one else did either, so Long Tianmo’s 200,000 taels got the Chinese angelica from the Duke of Qin’s estate. Mu Liuyue had no love for her future husband, but she’d entrusted her hopes to him. Seeing his actions now, she couldn’t help but sigh with feeling. The power backing the crown prince went beyond her imagination. She assumed that the crown prince would be high and dry after spending so much on her betrothal gifts. Unexpectedly, he was as heroic and free as ever. Does even Heaven know the depths of his spending limits?

And thus, the auction of the first item came to an end. The servant girl presented the second item, which Zhao mama revealed with a flourish once again. Everyone was hoping it’d be a better item than the first, but reality proved that Han Yunxi was the world’s stingiest wangfei. Item number two was actually a cassia seed. Moreover, there was only one seed on the dish.

Despite its measly origins, everyone broke into heated bidding over the seed. Even if they couldn’t buy the item in the end, at least they could say they participated in the auction itself. That way, they’d sound less like a laughingstock. Like the first item, the starting price was 5,000 taels. As before, Mu Liuyue did her best to add to the bids. As soon as someone outbid her, she’d hurry to add more to her own price, stealing the spotlight every time. Unfortunately, neither Long Feiye nor the crown prince spared her a single glance, though Han Yunxi was staring at her with interest.

She was a bit puzzled. Doesn’t Mu Liuyue know that the crown prince is using betrothal money to bid for the auction goods? Why is she so excited? Meanwhile, Mu Liuyue’s bids failed to get her the second item as well, because the crown prince bought it yet again. As before, he’d spent 200,000 taels.

By the time the third item came out, Qinwang Rong placed a hand over the crown prince’s own. “Your Highness, that’s enough.”

They had already far exceeded their budget with 400,000 taels. If this kept on, they wouldn’t be able to hold a wedding at all. The crown prince didn’t speak, but as soon as Qinwang Rong was careless, he raised his hand and shouted, “150,000 taels!”

Qinwang Rong nearly spat up blood. Auctions required ready cash to pay for the goods. Where was he supposed to find so much silver in such a short time?! Was the imperial uncle’s estate supposed to provide the silver? Mu Qingwu’s eyes flickered coldly. He hadn’t spoken up for the entirety of the auction. Meanwhile, his sister felt her admiration surging like a river for her future husband! She couldn’t help but imagine why she couldn’t like such a wealthy and daring man with future prospects ahead of him.

“150,000 taels! Anyone else?” Zhao mama shouted gleefully.

Would anyone dare to add onto the price?