Yang Mengchen still pressed her lips together and said nothing.
"Princess Chen, I’d like to purchase a piece of your calligraphy, please name your price," someone suddenly shouted loudly.
Soon, more people echoed, "I’d like to buy a piece as well."
"Since everyone is so keen, I shall sell these six pieces of calligraphy on the spot," Yang Mengchen waved her hand, and the noisy scene instantly fell silent, "Old rules, the highest bidder wins, bidding starts at ten thousand taels of silver for each piece, with increments of a thousand taels each time. He Junyuan, you will preside."
He Junyuan immediately walked over with a bounce in his step, though he seemed honest and gentle on the surface, he was actually a cunning old fox.
As Princess Chen held a prestigious identity and was exceptionally good at calligraphy, even obtaining just one piece to take back was not only a matter of face but could also serve as a family heirloom to be passed down through generations. Thus, the noble aristocratic families and wealthy merchants from various countries were eager to bid, especially scholars who, despite not having much wealth, were also determined to compete for this rare opportunity.
"Twenty thousand taels," the first person to speak doubled the price right off the bat.
Someone unwilling to be outdone said, "Twenty-one thousand taels."
"Twenty-nine thousand," a judge shouted.
"Fifty thousand," Yang Mengchen looked towards the voice and saw it was Meng Jinghui; seeing him wink, she couldn’t help but feel both amused and touched.
Xiahou Muyang spoke out, "Sixty thousand."
"Sixty-five thousand," Wu Zhenglie followed closely behind.
Qi Zonghao steeled himself and called out, "Eighty thousand taels."
"Eighty-five thousand," a son of a noble family shouted loudly.
The price continued to climb until a ringing voice called out, "One hundred and ten thousand, my bid is one hundred and ten thousand taels!"
The scene instantly quieted down, and turning to look, one could tell from his attire that the man was a wealthy family’s son. The bid was obviously high, and with five more pieces left to auction, no one contested him for it.
He Junyuan brought down the gavel, and the calligraphy went to this rich young man.
Under the envious gaze of everyone, the young man walked up with a radiant smile, handed the silver note to He Junyuan, and then took the calligraphy. As he was about to return to his seat, he saw Yang Mengchen beckoning to him, so he walked over perplexed.
She took out two seals and stamped the paper, "These represent Yu Xi and myself as Princess Chen." Then she waved the man away.
Seeing these two distinctive seals, not just the wealthy young man but everyone in attendance became frenzied; after all, calligraphy on the market carried only Yu Xi’s seal, but now to have Princess Chen’s seal as well was naturally extraordinary.
The remaining five pieces of calligraphy were auctioned off for far more than one hundred and ten thousand taels each, with three of them going to Beiyue, Nanping, and Xiliang respectively.
He Junyuan came over with a beaming face and handed nearly a million taels worth of silver notes to Yang Mengchen, who did not take them but instructed him to keep them safe.
"Honorable judges, let’s proceed with the next event," Yang Mengchen was anxious to return to her newborn nephew and had no interest in lingering here.
The judges, eager to see what kind of exquisite painting Yu Xi, the Princess Chen, could produce today, immediately ordered the preparations of paper, brushes, and pigments for the contestants.
Old Hai asked with a smile, "Princess Chen, do you have any specific requests, so that we can prepare accordingly?"
Upon hearing this, everyone laughed, the majority with kind intentions, except for a few individuals.
"I appreciate the judges’ kind intentions. In that case, please provide me with two pieces of paper three times larger than these," Yang Mengchen thanked them with a smile.
The judges felt honored by Yang Mengchen’s respect and promptly instructed that larger papers be brought for her use.
Glancing towards the women’s viewing area, Yang Mengchen smiled and said, "Madam Shao, I’d like to invite you to assist me, if you’re willing?"
"I would be honored," Chu Dieyi walked over with a bright smile.
Seeing Princess Chen inviting Madam Shao to assist, most people, although puzzled, didn’t think much of it. After all, the competition had not restricted contestants from bringing helpers, but Prince Duan and Prince Jing and the like had their various thoughts.
As Old Hai announced the start of the competition, Yang Mengchen and Chu Dieyi exchanged a look that only the two of them understood. Chu Dieyi began mixing the pigments, while Yang Mengchen picked up her brush and started to paint with focused attention. They had often cooperated like this in the past life, so they handled it with ease.
Watching their remarkably harmonious cooperation and that sense of understanding each other’s intentions, outsiders simply couldn’t integrate into it, and any attempt to force their way in would only disrupt the beauty of it — the onlookers were secretly astounded.
The Emperor was not suspicious but rather delighted.
If Jiujiu’s daughter-in-law had won over Chu Dieyi, then Shao Mingyi would surely swear his absolute loyalty to Momo, and Momo would have his strong support. He wouldn’t need to worry about instability in the kingdom when Momo succeeded the throne.
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