"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Chen Wan'er quickly stepped forward and supported her arm.
Qin Yuezhao pushed her hand away and asked softly, "Have the things been moved?"
Chen Wan'er nodded.
“They’re already at the door, but why did you get up? Dr. Zhang said you can’t overexert yourself and must rest in bed.”
"With a major battle imminent, how can I rest? Where is General Huo? Has he gone to muster the troops?"
"They've gone. The ordnance department personnel have gone to inventory the weapons. General Huo can take charge of the battle. You should go back and rest..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qin Yue Zhao flicked her cloak.
"Pour the gold and silver into the treasure basin! The Huo family army cannot be without a commander. Follow me to the city wall to meet the enemy!"
On the other side, at the auction of the Tiandu Winery.
Chu Xiao sat in the private room, watching Cao Moran downstairs spending money like water, and felt a surge of excitement.
Grandpa Chen held the picture book and dressing box that Chu Xiao had brought and looked at them for a full half hour.
I can see every tiny line on the dressing box clearly, afraid of missing any detail worth studying.
Huo Ziyu walked in from outside and said softly, "Grandpa, the auction for the collections is over. Mr. Chu's items can be brought on stage now."
Only then did Grandpa Chen reluctantly put down the painting and dressing box, urging, "Go, go, go! Quickly show everyone such wonderful things!"
Chu Xiao withdrew his gaze from Cao Moran and walked onto the exhibition stage with Huo Zishan, smiling.
Chen Jiuyun first introduced Chu Xiao, then announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, next up is the Chen family's collection, the Great Conquest Map—"
As soon as he finished speaking, spotlights shone on the two-meter-high glass display case.
Chu Xiao quickly pulled down the curtain on the two-meter glass display case, revealing a general's battle scene.
In the picture, a woman wearing black armor and a blood-red cloak sits high on horseback.
She held the reins tightly, and the horse beneath her was thin and bony, its mouth wide open, as if it were neighing and galloping.
Behind her followed countless soldiers clad in armor, wielding spears and broadswords.
The soldiers were ragged, but their expressions were resolute and solemn, like walking sculptures, showing no fear even in the face of death.
The entire painting is rendered with bold ink washes and delicate outlines, with wisps of smoke and flames swirling around the ruins and corpses as they drift away.
The crimson sunset painted the sky, staining the yellow sand of the mountains and blending it with the bright red bloodstains.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zhao Quan's eyes the moment he saw the painting.
Because he remembered that this painting was the one he had searched all over the country before selling to Chen Yuan, the second young master of the Chen Group.
Chen Yuan bought it to please Old Master Chen, so why would he put it up for auction?
Chen Yuan, who was waiting in the corner to see Chu Xiao make a fool of himself, stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Really? Chu Xiao actually has an identical painting?!
Many of the guests were members of the Dragon Pavilion, and they were quite surprised when they saw the painting.
"What's going on? Isn't this painting the prized possession of the Dragon Pavilion?"
"Yes, I heard that Young Master Chen searched all over the country to find such a unique piece. Why is it being auctioned off?"
"Could this be... today's welfare payment?!"
Just then, Chu Xiao walked to the glass display case on the other side and said to the guests, "There are four rare items in this auction. Please enjoy them!"
He quickly tore off the red silk cloth covering the other three glass cases.
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