In the middle of the capital city, Cheng Wangfu, in the back garden.
A group of ladies were gathering in twos and threes chatting.
These women all relied on their husband's ability to improve their status. After their children grew up, they were bored every day and thought about how to spend money.
"Hey, did you know? There will be an auction at the Stone Chronicle the day after tomorrow!"
"What kind of auction? With our status, we don't just participate in any messy auction!"
"You can't say that. Stone Story is the largest jewelry store in Beijing. There may be many good things in their auction!"
"Hey! Look at what you said, what is your identity? What they are auctioning is a precious mirror! Now in the world, only Concubine De has one. Not even Concubine Shu, who was born in a noble family, has a mirror. What is your identity? It’s amazing, but you don’t like other people’s auctions?”
"Really? You mean the precious mirror?"
"How can it be false? This is a collaboration between Jiang Zuojian and Stone Chronicles. It is said that Jiang Zuojian gathered countless skilled craftsmen, spent countless rare treasures, and tens of thousands of failures and damages to obtain an intact mirror. , who wouldn’t like such treasures!”
"Will you be the prisoner? Shi Shi Ji? Isn't Shi Shi Ji a private jewelry store? How come it has such a big relationship?"
"Your family doesn't even know about such things? The Shi family is behind the story of the Stone. Your Majesty ransacked the Shi family. Shi Dingzhong's younger brother and other relatives who were far away in Guangling Prefecture were also uprooted and escorted to Beijing. Now the Story of the Stone has long been It’s under the jurisdiction of the inner treasury!”
"More than that! I heard that the young master of the Shi family who was expelled from Beijing was even more unlucky. He encountered a storm on the river, the boat sank, and he was buried in the belly of a fish. He was neither alive nor dead. The once-prominent Shi family , now it’s completely extinct!”
"Hey, I think that sister from the Shi family used to be a frequent visitor to us. Now, hey, maybe one day my family will be able to order her brand when they go to Jiaofangsi!"
As soon as these words came out, a group of noble ladies felt sad, and the scene became cold, and they quickly changed the subject as they saw the opportunity.
"Let's talk about the precious mirror. Will you go there in the future?"
"I heard that a 10,000-tael silver check will be required to enter the venue. My husband is honest and upright, so I'm afraid he won't be able to afford so much money!"
Everyone rolled their eyes.
"I heard that what I will give to the prisoner this time is better than what I gave to the Imperial Concubine!"
"Really? Last year on New Year's Eve, when the concubine came to the palace, the Concubine De showed her precious mirror to us. It was so clear and clear that every detail could be seen. If the price was not expensive, I couldn't do it. You have to buy one!"
"I'll go take a look the next day."
"Sister, let's go together!"
A group of ladies were chattering, and the topic of conversation was inseparable from the five mirrors that were about to be auctioned.
In the Qin family's residence in Zhongjing, which is also the residence of Mr. Qian, Mr. Qian Qin Yuwen is sitting in a waterside pavilion.
The eldest lady of the Qin family, Qin Li, who is now the person in charge behind the scenes of Mingyu Tower, is sitting opposite him. She is dressed in a long blue dress that does not diminish her beauty but also shows a bit of tranquility. There is a bit of pale weakness on her fair face. , but the strength and intelligence in his eyebrows are also evident.
"Brother, there will be an auction in the Stone Chronicles the day after tomorrow. There are five precious mirrors to be auctioned. Go and buy one for me."
Qin Li spoke calmly. To her, it didn't matter whether the capital verification was 10,000 yuan or 100,000 yuan.
She only buys things based on whether she wants it, but it just so happens that she wants this mirror.
And I really want to.
But what she didn't expect was that her elder brother, who had always doted on him and said he would find a way to reach for the stars and the moon, would directly say: "No!"
Qin Li looked up in surprise.
Qin Yuwen, who subconsciously refused, suddenly felt nervous. With a bit of flattery and discussion, he muttered: "Well, little sister, look, this mirror is actually a piece of glass, and then find a way to make it into something that can Just pretending to be a good person, even adding some free decorations, and then daring to come to the auction, even with a 10,000 tael admission qualification, isn’t this a clear deception!”
Qin Li blinked, "When we in the Qin family buy things, why do we ever care about the price?"
Qin Yuwen:
"Little sister, I think if you have the money, it's better to buy hundreds of polished bronze mirrors and replace them with new ones every day. It's better than being fooled by that one!"
Qin Li frowned, "Why do I have to worry so much about buying things? Is the Qin family bankrupt?"
Qin Yuwen:
When he was about to speak, Qin Li suddenly looked at him and said, "I understand. Is it because Mr. Xia helped make this mirror that you don't want me to buy it?"
Qin Yuwen was stunned.
"As expected! When I gave Mr. Xia a jade plaque from Ming Yu Lou, you kept mumbling for a long time that I was going to Guangling Guild Hall to watch a show, and you kept mumbling too. It turns out this is really the case!"
Qin Yuwen coughed twice and said palely: "That man is not a good person!"
Qin Li, who happened to be resting at home these past two days and was not yet aware of the grudges between the Qin family and Xia Jingyun, looked at him with a smile, "Okay, I know the eldest brother is doing it for my own good. But I really have nothing to do with Mr. Xia. !”
"Although his appearance is rare in the world, his manners are calm and measured, and his temperament is outstanding; although his poetic talent is unparalleled, and every time he speaks is a famous poem through the ages; although his talents are outstanding and he can fight with these big forces in Beijing without falling behind. But. I have already fallen in love with the eldest daughter of the Su family, I don’t have any bad thoughts towards him, and he will not be my good match, so you can rest assured, eldest brother."
Qin Yuwen became even more angry when he heard this.
My sister is more than enough to be a queen, but she has to give up her thoughts because the person she likes has fallen in love with someone else. You, Xia Jingyun, are nothing!
But his sister had already talked about this, so he had no choice but to agree in vain.
After seeing off his sister who left contentedly, he snorted coldly, got up and left the house.
He is going to contact the dignitaries in Beijing who are qualified to participate in this auction and ask them not to participate!
When I saw it, if there was no one who could pay the price for this auction that you put so much effort into, what would you Xia Jingyun be selling for!
If you can't raise money from the auction, let me see what you do to deal with it!
I told you to kneel down and beg for mercy, and I will definitely do it!
"Master! Master!"
In the Marquis of Jiang'an Mansion, Gongsun Jing rushed into the study room angrily and looked at Xia Jingyun, "Sir, it's not good! Mr. Qian has been making connections today, causing many dignitaries in the capital who were originally planning to attend to change their minds. It is said that many families They have already made it clear that they will not participate, and the four families that have signed up have already gone to the Stone Record to withdraw their names."
His face was full of anxiety. After the news came out yesterday, he felt that he had suddenly understood the master's plan.
If all five mirrors can be sold for more than 10,000 taels, then the total sum must be 60,000 to 70,000 taels. By then, with a little more planning, we can naturally overcome this hurdle.
Naturally, he also regarded this auction as their only chance to turn around. Now that this opportunity has been ruined, how can he sit still!
Xia Jingyun, who was holding the scroll and looking at it, only smiled calmly when he heard this, "I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Gongsun."
After saying that, he turned his attention to the book again and turned to the next page.
Before Gongsun Jing could speak, Xia Jingyun smiled and said, "Mr. Gongsun, you might as well wait until evening, maybe there will be changes."
Gongsun Jing retreated doubtfully, racking his brains and unable to figure out where the variable was.
Mr. Qin has already used the prestige and weight accumulated by the Qin family for generations to prevent the dignitaries from participating in this auction. What else can change?
Even if his son personally takes action and visits these powerful people one by one, he can't save the situation, right?
But just when he was desperate, three fast horses drove out of the palace and went directly to Shitouji's main store.
Looking at the people who were busy working on tomorrow's auction, Jin Zhong, the chamberlain in the palace, cleared his throat and said sharply: "His Majesty has spoken!"
The generals and Shitou Ji who were busy among them all knelt down quickly.
"You have outstanding talents and ingenious hands to make this rare treasure to relieve your worries. I am very pleased and wish you great success tomorrow!"
Everyone thanked him together.
Immediately, under the arrangement of a thoughtful person, the news flew to various mansions in Zhongjing City as if it had wings.
In less than an hour, luxury or simple carriages drove out of these mansions and arrived outside the main store of Shitouji. They waved their banknotes and reported the names of their owners.
Among them, several who had previously withdrawn their names were the most eager.
When Gongsun Jing heard the news, he was silent for a long time, silently poured himself a glass of wine, drank it all, then poured another glass and drank again.
One cup to the young master, one cup to myself.
Forgive his stupidity and rejoice in his choice.
——
The next day, the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, this much-anticipated auction officially kicked off.
Chapter 2 will come later.
(End of chapter)
