As long as Song Zhiyu is willing to back down, recognize her mistakes, and return to her old self, she wouldn't mind taking her to the auction.
But Chen's mother's plan was likely to fail. She waited and waited but did not hear Song Zhiyu admit her mistake. Instead, she heard a cold laugh that chilled her to the bone.
Song Zhiyu gave a mocking smile, her words dripping with sarcasm, "No need for you to trouble yourself, Marquis. I have the invitations myself. If you are not comfortable in the main hall, you can come to my private room. Rest assured, I will never make you beg me."
"How did you get an invitation?" Shen Jinhua screamed, her face full of disbelief.
Even she couldn't receive an invitation to the Treasure Pavilion auction, so how could Song Zhiyu possibly receive one?
The invitation in Ke Lu Bai's hand was indeed made by the Treasure Pavilion, and it was even more luxurious than the invitation in Shen Feng's hand. They looked like they were not in the same league.
"Open your dog eyes... and look carefully, this is the invitation from the Treasure Pavilion." Lu Bai stopped herself in time and showed the three of them Song Zhiyu's name on the invitation.
Shen Feng was a little better off than her. Although he was somewhat shocked, his reaction was still relatively normal. However, the three large gold-embossed characters on the invitation stung his eyes.
He felt as if he had been slapped hard in the face, feeling both embarrassed and angry.
"Is it strange? I can have as many invitations as I want." Song Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, which annoyed the man quite a bit.
She ignored Shen Jinhua's tantrums and got into the carriage, leaving them far behind.
*
When Song Zhiyu arrived at the Treasure Pavilion, the auction had not yet started.
The auction was held on the third floor of the Treasure Pavilion, which consisted of a main hall and private rooms. Most of the distinguished guests were accommodated in the private rooms and served with the finest Biluochun tea and exquisite pastries, receiving exceptional treatment.
As soon as Song Zhiyu entered, he was respectfully led into the "Tian" private room by the manager of Zhenbaoge.
The view here is excellent; you can take in the entire scene downstairs through the window of the private room.
She glanced at it and immediately recognized several familiar faces.
"Miss Song, I'll go out and entertain the other distinguished guests first. Please call me if you need anything." The innkeeper thoughtfully closed the door, shutting out the noise outside.
After the shopkeeper left, Lu Bai excitedly rested her chin on her hand and said, "Miss, this auction is really grand, and there are quite a few people here."
I heard there are many treasures at today's auction, worth a fortune. I wonder who will ultimately win them.
Seeing her so excited, Song Zhiyu also felt a bit pleased. "I don't know either, but this auction seems to be much more lively than in previous years."
It will be Madam Ling's sixtieth birthday in a while. In addition to joining in the fun, she also wanted to bid for that treasure to give to Madam Ling.
Old Madam Ling took good care of her, and Ling Wushuang also protected her like a younger sister. Although this was partly due to her healing Ling Yuan's legs, one's eyes cannot lie.
Old Madam Ling genuinely loved her, and she also felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to Old Madam Ling.
Out of this sense of closeness, she also wanted to prepare a congratulatory gift for Madam Ling.
Just as she was thinking, Lu Bai's sudden shout interrupted her thoughts.
"Miss, they're here." Lu Bai looked out the window, pointed at the three people being led into the main hall by a servant, and curled her lip in disdain.
These men actually wanted the young lady to kneel down and beg them; they have no shame.
It's not even late yet, and they're already daydreaming.
Suddenly, Lu Bai noticed something, and her disdain turned to surprise. She called out urgently, "Miss, look! That woman in white is Madam Ye!"
Song Zhiyu looked in the direction of the sound and a woman with a delicate and gentle appearance, whose eyebrows and eyes bore a striking resemblance to Shen Jinshu, came into her view.
"She actually came too?" Song Zhiyu smiled knowingly, subtly shifting her gaze to Shen Feng and the other two on the other side.
Lu Bai was clearly aware of the problem as well, and crossed his arms in thought, "Logically speaking, given this woman's status, she shouldn't be able to enter the auction."
"As long as someone is willing to spend money on her, that's fine." Song Zhiyu withdrew her gaze and slowly poured the powder from the small porcelain bottle into a small and exquisite incense burner.
*
The three people who had attracted Song Zhiyu's attention had been arranged to sit in a corner. To Shen Feng's right was a small and exquisite incense burner, from which wisps of smoke were rising, and a refreshing fragrance lingered in the air.
Shen Feng's brows furrowed into a deep frown, his face showing displeasure and dissatisfaction with the seating arrangement.
He was, after all, a Marquis of Cheng'en personally bestowed by His Majesty, yet he was humiliated in such a way.
But Shen Jinhua kept muttering in his ear, which made his already agitated mood even more irritable.
"Didn't Song Zhiyu say she had an invitation? Why haven't we seen her after we've been here for so long? Could she be lying to us? I knew she was always full of empty boasts; she's a disgrace to the Marquis's mansion."
"Shut up! If you want to stay here, shut up." Shen Feng scolded in a low voice, his stern expression with furrowed brows making Shen Jinhua shut her mouth in embarrassment, not daring to say another word.
Shen Feng couldn't help but regret bringing Shen Jinhua to the auction because she was so noisy and had no sense of propriety. She was nothing like Shu'er, who was so considerate.
If Shu'er were here, she would be concerned if she saw him frown, unlike her who is so carefree.
*
Once everyone had arrived, the auction officially began.
In the center of the antique-style hall, all sorts of rare and precious treasures were displayed, including a bright and dazzling pearl from the East China Sea, a magnificent and elegant flowing fairy dress, and a dazzling glass pendant...
There were many treasures that I had never seen before.
Each treasure attracted the attention of everyone present.
They're already getting restless.
Before long, a woman with a bewitching appearance, dressed in a blood-red gauze dress, slowly appeared under the expectant gazes of the crowd.
With a bright smile, holding an ivory hammer, and speaking in a loud and powerful voice, she brought the atmosphere to a climax.
"Welcome, distinguished guests, to the Treasure Pavilion auction. I am your auctioneer today, Yunxi."
Yunxi smiled slightly, and after stirring up everyone's emotions, she presented them with the first item to be auctioned: a lustrous, full, and smooth pearl from the East, which was clearly of excellent quality.
"These are pearls from the South China Sea. There is no starting price; the highest bidder wins..."
As soon as she finished speaking, someone made a bid.
"One thousand taels..."
"Five thousand five hundred taels..."
"..."
The bidding continued, and finally, the item was sold to a young master in a private room upstairs for four thousand taels of silver.
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