Song Yiqing lowered his head. Of course, he knew the crisis the Song family was facing, but he really couldn't think of a good solution for the moment.
Bai Zheng gently tapped the wall of the teacup with her slender fingers. Her voice was as clear and melodious as a bell. "Right now, there's a way to neither provoke the Southern Shu nor placate the Great Zhou, and it's right in front of you, Young Master Song."
Song Yiqing looked up. "What do you mean?"
"Two hundred thousand taels of silver," Bai Zheng replied. "Of course, more would be better."
Song Yiqing lowered his eyes and fell into deep thought.
Obviously, the price of two hundred thousand taels had exceeded his original budget. Bai Zheng could understand that. After all, in this era, compulsory education had not been popularized yet, and the function of paper only benefited a small number of literate people.
However, one should always have a long - term vision. Patent technology was extremely profitable, and most wealthy people were literate. With this papermaking technique in hand, the Song family would surely not suffer any losses.
Song Yiqing sighed and looked up. "I understand. Thank you, Miss Bai."
"You don't need to thank me. I didn't offer this method for free. There's no need for thanks," Bai Zheng's eyes flashed a glint of light.
Song Yiqing was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"For solving the Song family's problems and ensuring its future prosperity, three thousand taels of silver is not too much, is it?" Bai Zheng showed a big smile on her face.
"You!"
So it was really me you were targeting for that three thousand taels!
Song Yiqing felt a tightness in his chest. He never thought that the one who was smiling and watching the show a few days ago would suddenly become the target of extortion!
"Does Young Master Song think it's too expensive? If I were to sell this information to the Lin family, I'm afraid the head of the Lin family would not even blink an eye at five thousand taels."
Although the Lin family's business was not as large as the Song family's, it was gradually on the rise. For any competitor, having a patented technology was indispensable.
Moreover, not only the Song family was targeted by Feng Linche, but all the wealthy merchants in the Great Zhou would probably not be able to avoid the fate of donating to the court and offending their business.
"Fine," Song Yiqing closed his eyes. Did he have any other choice? This girl had left him no room at all.
"I'll send someone to deliver the three thousand taels of silver to Miss Bai's mansion. As for today's treasure, the Song family will surely make it worth its value." Song Yiqing gritted his teeth as he said the last four words.
Bai Zheng stood up and clapped her hands briskly. "It's a deal."
Song Yiqing didn't want to look at Bai Zheng any longer. He just nodded, pushed open the door of the private room, and walked out.
Watching Song Yiqing leave, Bai Zheng sat back down, picked up the teacup, and took a sip of tea. Then she smiled. "This tea from the Fifth Prince is truly excellent."
As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Jingyi walked in with a puzzled look on his face. "Didn't you say you were talking to the Song family about something beneficial to them? Why did I see the young master of the Song family looking so unhappy when he came out?"
"Maybe Young Master Song is frustrated that he hasn't reached the height of his father and elder brother. He only focuses on the current setbacks and is feeling depressed," Bai Zheng replied casually.
Feng Jingyi was speechless. Song Yiqing looked like a playboy on the surface, but in fact, he was very shrewd. If he knew that he was regarded as short - sighted by a girl, he didn't know how angry he would be.
Bai Zheng looked at the now - packed first floor. Thinking that the auction was about to start, she stood up, curtsied, and said, "I've been away for a long time. It's time for me to go back, or my father will worry. Thank you, Your Highness, for the introduction today. I'll take my leave."
Feng Jingyi quickly said, "I've already told Minister Bai that Miss Bai is having tea with me. Miss Bai doesn't need to rush back. The auction is about to start..."
"Sorry to keep you all waiting," Before Feng Jingyi could finish his sentence, a powerful voice rang out from the bottom - floor auction hall even before the person arrived.
The entire Jizhen Tower suddenly fell silent.
Hearing this, Bai Zheng knew it was too late to go back. She exchanged a look with Feng Jingyi, curtsied slightly, and sat back down on the chair.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. Thank you all for coming to participate in the auction of the Jizhen Tower this month."
Bai Zheng looked down and saw a middle - aged man slowly walking out from behind the circular auction stage. He was tall, with a kind and prosperous face. He smiled before speaking, looking very amiable.
The man walked to the center of the empty auction stage and bowed to the crowd in all directions. "There aren't many treasures for auction at the Jizhen Tower this month, but they are novel and interesting. I believe you've all heard of them."
The man's voice was not loud, but because the entire Jizhen Tower was very quiet, his voice could clearly reach everyone's ears.
"You've all waited for so long. I don't want to be annoying. Without further ado, let's directly start the treasure auction."
As soon as he finished speaking, scattered laughter rang out. Obviously, the auctioneer's tactfulness was very satisfying.
Seeing this, the auctioneer clapped his hands, looked solemn, and shouted, "Now, the auction begins! Please open your eyes wide and take a good look at the first item for auction at the Jizhen Tower this month!"
Accompanied by his passionate voice, the empty circular auction stage under his feet suddenly slowly split in the middle, and a black square stone platform rose from below.
On the stone platform was a brown wooden carving box with the lid open. Inside was a layer of red velvet cloth, and in the center of the velvet cloth was a huge and round pearl, shining a gentle white light under the surrounding flickering candlelight.
The silk screens on the third floor were very delicate. Although one could only see a vague shadow from the outside, one could clearly see everything outside from the inside.
Bai Zheng looked down from the third floor and saw that everyone sitting on the first two floors unconsciously straightened their backs. The light of the pearl was reflected in everyone's eyes, extremely dazzling.
"This pearl is really rare," Bai Zheng couldn't help but sigh. As the daughter of a third - rank minister, and since Bai Yinan had always been honest and dedicated, she hardly remembered seeing any treasures.
"Does Miss Bai like it very much?" Feng Jingyi asked.
"I can't say I like it. I just find it novel," Bai Zheng said seriously. "I'm vulgar. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Seeing that everyone had looked at it enough, the auctioneer then began to introduce it.
"This precious pearl is produced from the black mussels in the Western Regions. It is said that only one is produced every ten years. The pearl is plump, shiny, and has a rich color. It will even emit a white light at night. If this pearl is ground into powder, it can even keep one young and beautiful for ten years."
As soon as these words were spoken, Bai Zheng clearly saw that almost all the women downstairs had their eyes shining with green light like hungry wolves seeing food.
Bai Zheng shook her head and couldn't help but sigh secretly. Sure enough, it was easiest to make money from women in this world.
Seeing everyone's expressions, the auctioneer was obviously very satisfied. "As usual, the starting price is one hundred taels. Each time you raise your bid card, you need to increase the price by one hundred taels."
Saying that, the auctioneer waved his hand. "The first auction at the Jizhen Tower this month, the Beauty - Preserving Pearl, now begins!"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone on the first floor raised their bid card. "Two hundred taels!"
"Three hundred taels!"
"Five hundred taels!"
"Eight hundred taels!" A voice came from the third floor.
Bai Zheng looked in the direction of the voice but couldn't see the person inside. Feng Jingyi whispered beside her, "That's the private room where Chu Feng is."
Chu Feng?