Chapter 422 Just to cause trouble
After hearing Hu Ping'an say that he knew the final buyer of the Nine-Curve Pearl, Zhu Lan hurriedly asked for advice.
Hu Pingan touched the back of his head and said:
"This is not a secret, everyone in the Golden Lotus Building that day knew about it.
This Nine-Curved Pearl was auctioned for three thousand taels and was about to be sold.
As a result, the owner of the Golden Lotus Tower came forward and said that the pearl was a rare treasure in the world, and if it was only bid for three thousand taels, it would devalue the treasure.
He actually offered five thousand taels himself to buy this precious pearl!"
"So this is the case..." Zhu Lan pondered for a moment and asked Hu Ping'an how to meet the owner of the post.
Hu Ping'an pointed upstairs. Zhu Lan looked up and could only vaguely see half a corner of a screen.
“It is said that the owner of the building would sit there and watch every auction, but he never showed up in person.
If you want to see him, I'm afraid it won't be easy."
Zhu Qingyan asked: "What if I force myself to see you?"
"Don't even mention the Golden Lotus Building, the entire Ghost Market is under his control. Can you really turn the tables on someone else's territory?" Hu Ping'an shook his head and said.
“Moreover, there are many talented people in the ghost market. If you want to survive in this ghost market, who dares not give the old man three points of face?
If you dare to cause trouble, I'm afraid you will be attacked immediately."
Zhu Qingyan thought what he said made sense and gave up the idea of using force to solve the problem. He and Zhu Lan thought about how to meet the owner of the Golden Lotus Tower.
Meeting the talent is the first step, and the most troublesome thing is how to get the Nine-Curve Pearl back.
Just as Hu Ping'an said, this is someone else's territory. I will definitely not be able to snatch it away by robbing it openly, but if I buy it with money... I can't afford it either.
But that's not right, Zhu Qingyan suddenly thought.
This Nine-curved Pearl is a property of the imperial court. If the owner of the building dares to hide it, why not just bring the government officials here when he returns? Although the ghost market is a gray area, it dare not go against the imperial court, otherwise the garrison troops in the capital will be able to flatten it in an instant.
No matter how big a mouse is, it will still be afraid of cats.
Zhu Lan and Zhu Qingyan looked at each other and had roughly guessed what she was thinking.
Zhu Lan shook his head at her, signaling her to stay calm.
Zhu Lan thought it was better not to fall out with the other party unless it was absolutely necessary.
The reason why the capital city can tolerate the existence of places like the Ghost Market is related to the court’s population policy in previous years.
At that time, each state and county conducted a population census and re-compiled household registration. Due to various complex reasons, a large number of refugees appeared in various places.
These refugees had no formal household registration, nor could they obtain documents to return home, so they could only gather together and do some business that the government had no control over.
The Ghost Market is their largest gathering place, and it can also be said to be their shelter.
Daliang has a vast territory, and the customs and habits of different places are different. The implementation of a policy will encounter various obstacles and it is impossible to accomplish it overnight.
In the past six months, the ministers and the emperor have been discussing the resettlement of refugees, but have not yet come up with a feasible plan for all states and counties. Under such circumstances, if the ghost market is destroyed, all the refugees living here will rush out at once, which will definitely cause riots, so the court has temporarily turned a blind eye.
At the moment, Zhu Lan is more inclined to retrieve the Nine-Curve Pearl in a peaceful way.
The bidding for the human skin mask has not yet ended.
"Three thousand five hundred taels for the first time, three thousand five hundred taels for the second time, three thousand five hundred taels for the third time—"
"Four thousand taels!"
As soon as the price was called out, the Jinlian Building suddenly fell silent.
"Four thousand taels for the first time, four thousand taels for the second time, four thousand taels for the third time—
make a deal! "
The final word.
Everyone's eyes were focused on the buyer who shouted out four thousand taels.
The man was wearing a pig-ear mask, and he was short and fat, but his clothes were extremely gorgeous.
He walked with a slight limp in his left foot.
Zhu Lan vaguely guessed this person's identity.
He should be a wealthy businessman in the capital. Qiao Youyou had business dealings with him last year. When I went to find Qiao Youyou, I met this man and I have some impression of his physical characteristics.
However, this man was dishonest in his business, violated the contract signed with Qiao Youyou, and secretly took away a huge sum of money. Qiao Youyou sued him to the government in the name of Tongyun Money House, but when the government went to summon him, he was nowhere to be found.
The Jingzhao Prefecture issued a wanted order at that time, but he was never caught.
It turns out that he was hiding in the ghost market.
Spending four thousand taels of silver to buy a human skin mask was probably just for the purpose of leaving the city.
"Keep an eye on this person." Zhu Lan said to Zhu Qingyan in a very low voice.
If he were to run away, Youyou would never get back the ten thousand taels of silver.
Zhu Qingyan nodded slightly and remembered this person.
Zhu Lan looked up at the screen on the second floor again. She had not yet figured out how to meet the owner of the Golden Lotus Tower.
The wealthy businessman had already walked onto the stage and had a few words with the man on the stage. The person in charge of the auction then prepared to arrange for his men to count the silver.
Just then, a female voice suddenly rang out.
"This human skin mask costs eight thousand taels. I want it."
This voice... Zhu Qingyan's pupils shrank slightly, and he subconsciously stood up and looked around.
I saw a familiar figure in a black robe and a gray wolf mask leaping onto the stage.
From the moment she shouted out the bid, the entire Jinlian Building was in an uproar.
"Eight thousand taels...are you crazy?"
"Although this human skin mask with a thousand faces is extremely valuable, I have never heard of anyone paying this price for it."
"To spend eight thousand taels on a human skin mask, this little girl must have committed a serious crime!"
"Zhu Lan!" Zhu Qingyan pushed Zhu Lan, "Yes——"
"Shh." Zhu Lan gave her a look, signaling her not to say it out loud.
At this time she could see clearly and naturally recognized her. Judging from the voice and figure, that person was clearly the little princess!
But how come she is here?
Zhu Lan grabbed Zhu Qingyan and waited to see what would happen.
"My lady, your offer of eight thousand taels is high, but the Golden Lotus House has its own rules.
The deal has already been concluded, and even if you raise the price by another 10,000 taels, we can no longer trade."
The person on the stage spoke with regret and made a gesture to Murong Jing, "Please leave the stage."
Seeing that Murong Jing did not move, the man said politely:
"This mask has already belonged to this gentleman. If you really want it, you can leave the Golden Lotus Tower and trade between the two of you."
When the rich businessman heard that the other party was willing to pay eight thousand taels, his businessman's instinct was immediately aroused.
The purchase price was four thousand taels and the selling price was eight thousand taels. Where can you find such a big injustice in this day and age?
If you don’t make money, you’re a bastard!
"Girl, if you can really come up with eight thousand taels, this mask will be yours!"
Seeing that Murong Jing didn't say anything, the rich businessman said, "...Seven thousand taels is also fine."
Murong Jing didn't even look at him, and just said to the auctioneer:
"It's just eight thousand taels, but you have to sell it to me from Jinlian Tower."
"Young lady, do you want to break the rules of the Golden Lotus Building?"
"No?"
The man sensed something was wrong, and his tone turned cold, with a hint of warning in his voice:
"If the young lady is sincere in doing business, we welcome you at Jinlian Tower.
But if they come to cause trouble——"
"You're right, I'm here to cause trouble."
Before he finished speaking, Murong Jing raised his hand and the black robe wrapped around him flew out.
The bright red dress beneath the black robe was particularly eye-catching in the Golden Lotus Tower where there was not a trace of red.
"Tell your landlord to come out and see me!"
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