49 relics
The group arrived at the private room of the No. 1 Restaurant under Heaven. Ouyang Ziren began treating the Carefree Prince, while Liu Hanruo casually asked Xiao Feng a question:
"Lord Xiao, what time does today's auction begin? Now that you mention it, I'm quite interested in this Jade Blood Pearl."
"It was originally scheduled to start at 7 PM, but since His Highness has not yet woken up, we should wait until he wakes up before making any further plans."
Just as the two were talking, Prince Chu Che slowly opened his eyes, and before even removing the silver needles, he hurriedly asked Liu Hanruo:
"Ruo'er, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Hearing the carefree words of the carefree prince, and recalling his repeated acts of selflessly protecting her, Liu Hanruo's frozen heart slowly cracked, and she smiled brightly at the carefree prince:
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine. Is there anything else that is bothering you, Your Highness?"
"I only feel a slight tightness in my chest, nothing serious. I think I just heard Minister Xiao's voice. Where am I..."
The carefree prince frowned slightly, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings with a puzzled expression.
"Your Highness, this is a private room at the No. 1 Restaurant in the World. I happened to pass by and met the Princess Consort. Seeing that Your Highness was unconscious, I took the liberty of inviting Your Highness and the Princess Consort here so that Young Master Ouyang could administer acupuncture to Your Highness. The room is simple, so please rest for a while. I hope Your Highness will not take offense. I will have someone bring some ginseng soup to Your Highness. I will take my leave now."
Looking at Xiao Feng's obsequious and servile demeanor, Liu Hanruo snorted coldly, "Offering unsolicited favors is either a sign of treachery or deceit."
"Liu Hanruo, what you just said about Lord Xiao's ex-wife being a disciple of the Ghost Doctor and the daughter of the Leng Prime Minister's family, named Leng something-Li, is that true?" Ouyang Ziren asked Liu Hanruo after Xiao Feng left.
Liu Hanruo looked at Ouyang Ziren in front of her with a complicated expression and softly recounted her painful past.
"Several years ago, the Prime Minister's daughter severed ties with her father to marry a poor scholar. Later, after the poor scholar became the top scholar in the imperial examination, the Prime Minister's daughter also became pregnant. It was thought that the Prime Minister's daughter's sincere treatment would win the poor scholar's lifelong doting, but unexpectedly, things were not as they seemed. Later, she died in childbirth for some unknown reason. Not long after, the poor scholar married the daughter of another important official. With the help of the important official, the poor scholar later had a smooth career and rose through the ranks."
"···"
"Now that we've come this far, Young Master Ouyang should know who the poor scholar in the story is, right? It's said that it was Xiao Feng who exposed Leng Xiang's treason and collusion with the enemy. Hmph, truly 'upright and incorruptible'! I really feel sorry for Miss Leng!" Liu Hanruo couldn't help but mock at this point!
"···"
"Young Master Ouyang is probably not from the capital. No wonder I haven't heard of this. This matter was widely discussed and everyone knew about it. There were all sorts of versions! Some said that Miss Leng was destined to have no good fortune. Some said that the poor scholar had lost his conscience and killed his wife to remarry for wealth and glory. Some even said that Miss Leng knew that the poor scholar was having an affair with the daughter of a high-ranking official. Disappointed, she lost the will to live, so she gave up her life and passed away during childbirth."
The wounds in her heart were reopened, and the pain was still raw and painful! If it weren't for her naivety and ignorance, how could her family have all been killed by that beast? Watching Xiao Feng's departing figure, the hatred in her eyes intensified.
"Liu Hanruo, have you ever met Miss Leng in person?"
"I remember seeing you once before. By chance, I also discovered a cinnabar mole on Miss Leng's wrist."
Upon hearing Liu Hanruo's words, Ouyang Ziren's expression changed. Having lived in the capital for a long time, he had already heard this rumor. He had thought it was none of his business and hadn't paid much attention to it. However, after hearing what Liu Hanruo had just said, he was certain that the pitiful woman in the rumors was none other than his junior sister, Li'er. He was filled with mixed emotions at this moment. He left with a single sentence and burst out of the window.
"Che, I'll go first. Take care of yourself and rest. Don't use your internal energy recklessly, or your heart meridian will weaken even more. Even if you find the snow lotus then, it will be useless. Remember... I have some private matters to investigate. That Jade Blood Pearl should be my junior sister's keepsake. I'll trouble you to retrieve it for me."
After resting for a while and tidying himself up, Prince Xiaoyao, together with Liu Hanruo, stepped out of the room and followed the attendants to the auction hall.
Inside the hall, elegantly dressed and with beautiful wives, dignitaries and their consorts sat or stood, chatting and boasting among themselves. Then, with the announcement of the arrival of the Prince and Princess of Xiaoyao, the noisy hall fell silent instantly.
Liu Hanruo followed the Carefree King to the special seats in the venue and sat down. Turning her head slightly, she saw Xiao Feng and Qin Siyan looking like a loving couple. Liu Hanruo sneered. With the Carefree King's announcement to start the auction, the entire hall erupted in excitement once again.
Half an hour later, the price of the Jade Blood Pearl rose from five thousand taels of silver to fifty thousand taels of silver, a tenfold increase. Only Liu Hanruo and Qin Siyan remained in the hall, still bidding against each other.
The carefree prince, watching the two bidding against each other with a hint of doubt, recalled the hatred Liu Hanruo had seen in Xiao Feng on several occasions, and his narrow eyes narrowed slightly...
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