The man, who had been keeping his head down, lifted it when he heard the words "the third young lady of the Bai Mansion". It was unexpectedly Feng Linyuan.
The big figure behind the largest auction house in Yongding City, Jizhen Tower, was none other than Marquis Dingyuan, Feng Linyuan.
Feng Linyuan felt that ever since he had sent Mo Li to track the whereabouts of the embezzled silver, he had heard Bai Zheng's name almost every day in recent days. And now hearing it from the steward of Jizhen Tower, he even had a strange sense of familiarity. She came to Jizhen Tower. Was it for the bet she had just made with Prime Minister Chu?
Feng Linyuan's gaze rested on the steward's hands. He took the paper and looked at the words on it. The handwriting was very imposing, not like that of a young lady in the boudoir. He looked carefully at this white thing that was like silk satin. It could be written on and was very lightweight...
Suddenly, he understood. He asked the steward, "What's the name of this thing? Is it not very labor - intensive to make?"
Being able to ask this question showed that the master was truly intelligent and could understand the value of this thing without a reminder.
The steward replied with great admiration, "This thing is called paper. I don't know if it's labor - intensive to make, but according to the third young lady of the Bai family, the cost is less than one wen."
"Sure enough, it's a treasure," Feng Linyuan said, rubbing the paper in his hand and smiling gently.
The steward couldn't believe his eyes and rubbed them. Feng Linyuan had always been gentle but cold - natured. This was the first time he had seen Feng Linyuan smile.
Even just half of his face, that smile was so dazzling that it made one feel as if the whole room was filled with the warmth of spring. This third young lady of the Bai family really had great abilities!
"You can go and get busy."
"Yes," the steward said. Receiving the order, he left the room and went to get busy with the auction. This time, he must make sure that all the powerful and wealthy merchants in Yongding City would come to participate.
"Master," after the steward left the room, the black - clothed man who had been standing silently behind finally stepped forward. He had originally come to report something. Before he could say much, the steward of Jizhen Tower knocked on the door. So he had to step aside and wait for the steward to finish.
It seemed that these people who had come in one after another were all acquaintances. The white wolf lying on the ground didn't even lift its eyelids. It just lazily flicked its tail. Feng Linyuan stroked its head. With a slight glance from the corner of his eye, the black - clothed man continued to report.
"Mo Li found that the third prince has hidden a group of troops on Zhongyun Mountain in the west of the city. The 200,000 taels he embezzled were probably used to support these troops."
Feng Linyuan was not at all surprised by this result.
Although the third prince, Feng Jingxuan, was not as well - born as the crown prince, his mother was at least one of the four concubines. He had been very intelligent since childhood and had learned poetry, calligraphy, and archery faster than the crown prince, Feng Jingye, who was two years older than him. In recent years, he had even shown a tendency to surpass Feng Jingye.
His main wife was originally the daughter of the Minister of Works. Less than a year after their marriage, the Minister of Works died of illness, and his main wife died in childbirth after the old minister passed away. To this day, the position of the main wife in the third prince's mansion was still vacant.
Obviously, at this crucial moment in the fight for the throne, Feng Jingxuan clearly knew what kind of wife he needed. Even though he had later hooked up with Su Mulin, the niece of Bai Yizhang and the daughter of the Minister of Rites, Su Zheng, he had only given her the position of a side concubine.
Feng Jingxuan's strength already made the crown prince, Feng Jingye, very jealous, and his ambition was obvious. Now that he had got closer to the general's mansion through Su Mulin's relationship and had become the mastermind behind the embezzlement case and framed Bai Yinan, it was not really a surprise.
Feng Linyuan's expression remained unchanged. He was still as gentle as ever. He gently stroked the white wolf's fur and said in a steady voice, "Since Jingxuan's 200,000 taels came from an improper source, go and rob it."
Jizhen Tower really did things properly. In just two days, the news that a special treasure that could bring great wealth to people would be auctioned on the 15th of this month had spread throughout the streets and alleys of Yongding City.
People from neighboring towns also rushed here after hearing the news. The whole Yongding City was extremely bustling.
On the evening of the third day, Bai Zheng looked at the finally rushed - out complete copy of Records of the Great Zhou and let out a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, although there was no one with high martial arts skills in the Bai Mansion, there were many people who were good at writing. Her two younger brothers were very useful.
Even Bai Yinan, after returning from court every day, only focused on carving the printing blocks for her and even forgot to eat.
Fortunately, ancient words were fewer in number. By rushing, they could barely finish carving a book in three days. Maybe if one looked carefully, they would find a few wrongly carved characters, but in such a large auction venue, who could see clearly?
"Miss, someone from there has come to pick up the things," Bai Fu knocked on the door outside Bai Zheng's room and said.
Bai Zheng handed the Records of the Great Zhou in her hand to Zhuling. She then followed Bai Fu and went out to deliver it. Bai Nianming rubbed his sore neck from hanging it for a long time and said uneasily, "I don't know if sister can earn money tonight."
Bai Zheng walked behind Bai Yinan and began to massage his shoulders. Hearing Bai Nianming's words and seeing Bai Nianjin's frowning, she knew that her two younger brothers were worried about her. A warm feeling welled up in her heart immediately, and she said with a smile, "You don't know the look on the steward of Jizhen Tower's face when he saw my paper. He was even more surprised than Nianming when he saw the steamed buns made by mother."
Both Bai Yinan and Bai Nianjin were amused by Bai Zheng's words and laughed out loud. Bai Nianming blushed and shouted, "Sister! You're bullying Nianming!"
Amidst these laughter and shouts, Bai Zheng still noticed Zhuling's hesitant expression when she walked in. She looked at Zhuling and motioned for her to speak.
Zhuling then respectfully curtsied and said, "Sir, young master, the crown prince is at the door. He said he wants to see the miss."
Bai Yinan suddenly stood up.
The name he was most afraid of hearing at this moment was Feng Jingye!
The three - day period had arrived. Was Feng Jingye here to settle the score with his precious daughter?