Chapter 54: The Spanner in the Works

Li Jinglong's face turned completely red with frustration. Glaring bitterly at Zhu Shou, he gritted his teeth and snapped, "Hmph! If this young master hadn't just purchased a VIP pass, I would never have let you snatch away such a fine treasure!"

With that, he grinned widely at Zhu Shou, looking immensely pleased with himself. "Hehe! But having perfume is useless anyway. I have the qualification to go up to the fourth floor, so you still don't measure up to me!"

Right after saying this, he zipped his head back inside the window and sat down on the massage bed, letting out a continuous stream of chuckles: "Heh, heh, heh."

Zhu Shou was infuriated by Li Jinglong, yet utterly helpless against him.

Meanwhile, Li Jinglong's remark had awakened the guests in the other private rooms, who instantly couldn't help but raise their heads to gaze up at the fourth floor.

They seemed to have just spotted Blue Jade up on the fourth floor a moment ago, and now, hearing Li Jinglong boast about being able to go up there, every single one of them felt a burning curiosity clawing at their hearts like a cat.

Just what on earth was on the fourth floor?

No! I'll have to get myself one of those VIP things later, even if it's just the lowest tier, so I can go up to the fourth floor and take a look. I refuse to be outdone by Li Jiujiang!

Such were the thoughts running through the minds of the nobility.

As for the merchants, they were even more direct. If the nobles were eager to reach the fourth floor, the merchants desired it all the more.

Stepping up there meant ascending to a different social circle; stepping up there meant gaining access to the true aristocracy of the Great Ming, which translated to boundless opportunities for making a fortune!

Dong, dong, dong—

"The first auction item has been successfully claimed by the Marquis of Zhuluhu for the price of one hundred and ten thousand taels. And now, allow me to present our second auction item," Shen Fei's voice rang out once again.

Instantly, everyone clamped their mouths shut and shifted their gazes toward the stage.

If the first auction item was already this extraordinary, then the second one...

"Honored guests, the first item was merely an appetizer. Starting from the second item, we reach the true highlight of the event. You had all better get yourselves ready!"

Shen Fei's voice was laden with temptation, instantly stoking everyone's curiosity to its peak.

A maidservant stepped onto the stage once more, carrying a tray.

This tray was considerably larger than the previous one, and the maidservant appeared to be carrying it with some difficulty.

Shen Fei rested her hand upon the red cloth once again, beginning her slow and deliberate introduction:

"This object is crafted from natural colored glaze, and after three years and six months of meticulous carving by a master artisan, it is finally presented before you today..."

As she spoke, she slowly pulled away the red cloth. "Without further ado, please enjoy."

The red cloth fell away, instantly revealing the object hidden beneath.

A three-colored glazed sculpture, easily the size of a washbasin, gleamed with crystalline brilliance under the play of the lights.

The sculpture depicted a winged flying horse, its hooves treading upon a snow-white wild goose.

"This piece is titled 'Flying Horse Treading on a Goose,' symbolizing soaring high with outstretched wings."

"Natural tri-color colored glaze is a rare treasure in this world, carrying auspicious meanings of good fortune and peace. I trust it will not disappoint our esteemed guests."

...

"Manager Shen, spare us the preamble! Just name the starting price! No matter the cost, this young master is having it."

While Shen Fei was still in the middle of her introduction, Li Jinglong poked his head out of the window once again, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Immediately, the others began to clamor as well, all urging Shen Fei to skip the nonsense and state the price directly.

Shen Fei smiled knowingly, motioning for the maidservant to place the glazed sculpture upon the auction pedestal. Sweeping her gaze across the surrounding crowd, she said, "Very well! Since everyone is eager to know the base price, I shall waste no more time.

"The starting price for the 'Flying Horse Treading on a Goose' remains one thousand taels, with each bid increment to be no less than fifty taels.

"Honored guests, the bidding may now commence."

"Five thousand taels! How could a mere one thousand taels ever match the value of tri-color colored glaze?" Li Jinglong was once again the first to shout out a bid.

After calling out the price, he cast a provocative look around the room.

Goodness, that single glance instantly drew the enmity of everyone present.

"Ten thousand taels! Li Jiujiang, what are you raving about, acting as if you're the only one here who knows the value of tri-color colored glaze?" The speaker was Geng Bingwen, a steadfast sworn brother of Zhu Shou, clearly stepping up to salvage some face for him.

Li Jinglong was unfazed. Glancing sideways at his rival, he directly called out his counter-offer: "Bah! As if you actually know anything! This tri-color glazed piece is even finer than the tribute items in my great-uncle's possession. This young master bids twenty thousand taels."

Gasp—

A wave of sharp intakes of breath swept through the hall below, instantly turning countless heads in shock.

Some were astonished to hear that a mere second auction item surpassed the quality of imperial palace tributes, while others were terrified by Li Jinglong's reckless bid of an immediate ten-thousand-tael increase.

In short, before anyone realized it, Li Jinglong's casual remarks had infinitely inflated the perceived value of the tri-color glazed sculpture.

Following this, apart from Geng Bingwen, several others began to join the bidding fray.

Who wouldn't want such an heirloom-quality treasure in their own household?

Even the merchants, fully aware that they would likely be unable to keep the piece if they won it, were bidding frantically.

Because possessing such a magnificent item meant that simply by presenting it as a gift, they could cultivate ties with the true heavyweights holding influence within the imperial court.

Driven by Li Jinglong's periodic and aggressive raises, the price of the tri-color glaze rapidly soared to a peak of one hundred thousand taels. Anything higher would surpass the price fetched by the perfume earlier.

Many whose financial reserves were slightly lacking dropped out of the contest, leaving behind only a handful of mega-merchants and nobles.

As for the civil officials...

Though they possessed wealth, a price tag reaching tens of thousands of taels was simply beyond their means. Unless they sold off their family lands or ancestral businesses, there was no way they could scrape together such a sum.

Consequently, they could only watch helplessly as the others vied for the prize, drooling continuously at the sight of the tri-color glazed sculpture.

"Hehe! Geng Bingwen, this young master bids one hundred and fifty thousand taels! Let's see you keep up if you've got the guts!" Li Jinglong tilted his chin up, wearing a thoroughly punchable expression.

Geng Bingwen was so infuriated by his demeanor that he lost his composure, gritting his teeth savagely as he barked, "I'll keep up all right! I bid one hundred and seventy thousand taels!"

Swish—

Upon hearing the price of one hundred and seventy thousand taels, Li Jinglong instantly retracted his head back inside.

Seeing this, Geng Bingwen couldn't help but burst into uproarious laughter, his mocking cackles echoing loudly enough to fill the entire House in the Sky.

What he did not know, however, was that back inside his massage bed, Li Jinglong was currently wearing a silly, triumphant grin.

"Lord Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan! His Highness says it is enough to stop here; you must be careful not to overdo it."

A figure stepped out from the shadows, offering a soft reminder to Li Jinglong.

Li Jinglong, however, merely waved a dismissive hand, replying nonchalantly, "Commander Song! Rest assured! Those brutes are so predictable I know them inside and out. There is zero chance this will go off the rails."

On the third floor, inside the private room of Zhu Yuanzhang and his companions.

Old Zhu sat upon the massage bed, waving his hand to dismiss all the masseurs before rubbing his chin and muttering thoughtfully, "Something's not right. I've got a bad feeling about this. That little rascal Jiujiang may be arrogant, but he's hardly brainless enough to provoke the other nobles for no reason. What on earth is going on behind the scenes?"