Chapter 332
Chapter 332
In the south, Jinling was a prosperous city.
Its people lived extravagantly, and it was home to an exceptional number of wealthy people and illustrious clans.
“Have you heard? Tianxiang House is holding an auction. They’ve invited Jinling’s wealthy people and prominent clans, great and small. Who knows how grand it will be?”
“Who hasn’t heard by now? I even heard a more secret piece of news. The final lot will be a treasure unlike anything else in the world.”
“I’d love to go see it.”
“Forget it. People like us could never get into a place like that.”
News of Tianxiang House’s upcoming auction had already spread elsewhere.
Information about some of the lots had also been released.
There would be thousand-year-old ginseng, a superb luminous pearl, blood coral, a king cordyceps, and various medicines that normally existed only in rumor.
The news attracted not only Jinling’s prominent clans, great and small, but also people from other regions, who traveled thousands of li to reach the city.
As the auction drew closer, Jinling became so crowded that every major inn and restaurant ran out of rooms.
That day, Tianxiang House’s auction opened amid the deafening clash of gongs and drums.
Every private room in Tianxiang House was occupied, and the main hall was packed as well.
“Our first lot is a superb piece of blood coral from the deep sea, standing half a person’s height…”
A basin containing the blood coral was placed on the raised platform for everyone to see.
Calls of increasing bids soon rang out one after another.
Several lots were auctioned in succession. They were all beautiful but impractical objects, yet they did display one’s status, so plenty of people still wanted them.
Medicinal ingredients came next.
There were ten enormous king cordyceps in all, each twice the size of an ordinary cordyceps and highly medicinal.
Then came the thousand-year-old ginseng…
As each medicinal ingredient appeared, more and more people joined the bidding.
When one particular medicine appeared, the atmosphere reached a new peak.
“We will now auction one of our grand finale lots: the legendary Nine Lives Pill.”
Countless gazes immediately fixed upon it.
“I expect everyone has heard of the Nine Lives Pill. It can preserve the life of someone on the brink of death for one month. If someone who has been poisoned obtains the antidote within that month, they can survive.”
A month was enough time to accomplish many things.
The moment the introduction ended, people below began shouting bids.
The price soared rapidly.
Starting from one thousand, it climbed to thirty thousand in less time than it would take half an incense stick to burn down.
“One hundred thousand taels!”
“One hundred and ten thousand…”
After that, nearly all the bids came from guests in the upper private rooms.
By the time only two voices remained, the bidding had reached two hundred and thirty thousand.
The Wang Clan of Jinling ultimately won it for three hundred thousand taels.
“And now, our final lot.”
“The year has twelve months, and each month has its corresponding Flower Deity. Our last lot today is also connected to the Twelve Flower Deities.”
Two objects covered in red cloth were carried onto the platform.
They stood about half a person’s height and appeared extremely heavy.
Several people carried them with great care.
Once the objects had been set down, the auctioneer clapped his hands.
A graceful young woman immediately stepped forward and pulled away the red cloths.
Everyone’s eyes widened the instant they saw what lay beneath.
They were two potted flowers made of glass.
One was the plum blossom representing the first month, and the other was the apricot blossom representing the second.
Even the pots were made of glass.
The plum tree’s trunk was transparent, while its blossoms were red.
The red was dazzling yet crystal clear.
The apricot blossoms were transparent with a hint of pink, looking fresh and delicate.
In this era, everything had to be made by hand. The veteran craftsmen therefore possessed exceptional dexterity, and the artistry of their creations was even more remarkable.
This was especially true of craftsmen recruited by nobles. Their skills had passed through round after round of selection before they were allowed to work in powerful households.
Once they learned to make ornaments from glass, everything they produced was exquisite and flawless.
“These are the plum blossoms of the first month and apricot blossoms of the second, two of the Twelve Flower Deities, crafted using a special technique. Because the process is complex and the materials difficult to obtain, only these two flowers currently exist. The remaining flowers will be produced later.”
“These are also the only pieces of their kind in the world. There will absolutely never be a second copy of either.”
Nothing appealed more to the rich and powerful than something truly unique.
Besides, the two potted flowers were genuinely beautiful and breathtaking.
The auctioneer claimed they were made from colored glass, but they were clearly far more beautiful than any colored glass the guests knew.
And colored glass shaped into flowers? Such a feat seemed to defy nature itself.
Whatever the case, the wealthy guests were now thoroughly excited and began calling out bids.
“Ten thousand for the two colored-glass flowers!”
“Fifteen thousand taels!”
“Twenty thousand…”
The price soared, and the two colored-glass flower ornaments ultimately sold for three hundred thousand taels.
The corners of Li Yunniang’s mouth lifted. “Now I can return and report to the Young Master.”
Tianxiang House’s auction came to an end, but people continued discussing it with great enthusiasm.
They spoke especially often of the final three major lots.
The thousand-year-old ginseng, the Nine Lives Pill, and the colored-glass flower ornaments.
“I heard there are twelve potted flowers made from that colored glass, each representing the flower of one month of the year. They only auctioned two today. There are more to come.”
“Good heavens… Three hundred thousand taels! If they auction the rest too, how much silver would that bring?”
“Just how beautiful could they be to sell for so much silver?”
People discussed the matter in every street and alley.
That was exactly what Li Yunniang wanted.
“Shopkeeper Li, everything is ready.”
Li Yunniang said, “Send more people. Transport all the grain back.”
The Young Master had instructed her to spend one hundred thousand taels of silver buying grain and transporting it home.
The grain, however, was not being purchased in a single place.
The buyers had split into several groups. Each went to a different city to purchase grain, then quietly transported it north.
Naturally, they would buy some in Jinling as well.
Only after the other groups departed did Li Yunniang approach the Song Family of Jinling.
The Song Family was one of Jinling’s grain merchants.
She sought out Third Master Song to propose a partnership.
He was an intelligent man with ambition and ability, but his family did not value him.
A few days after Li Yunniang met him to discuss the matter, she left Jinling.
Third Master Song left at the same time. Claiming that he was going elsewhere to expand the family business, he took a portion of their grain with him.
Before the heavy snow completely sealed off the north, Li Yunniang and her companions braved the bitter wind and cold and finally reached Beizhen City.
“Young Master, Li Yunniang has returned, and she brought a large amount of grain!”
Everyone stayed indoors during winter, so few people knew about this shipment of grain.
Ji Yan’an said, “Have the grain delivered to the granaries we prepared. Tell Li Yunniang and the others to rest for two days before coming to see me.”
Uncle Li quickly acknowledged the order. “Lady Li also brought back three potential business partners.”
Ji Yan’an said, “Send word to Yinyuan Pavilion and have them investigate everything first. If there are no problems, then we’ll discuss a partnership.”
He trusted Li Yunniang’s judgment of people, but their deeper backgrounds still needed to be investigated.
Nothing was better suited to such investigations than Yinyuan Pavilion, which he controlled.