It turned out that in just six years, he had already begun to be forgotten by people.
Feng Linyuan, the Marquis of Dingyuan, used to be the most dazzling young man in Yongding City.
As the only legitimate son doted on in the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion and the apple of the old marquis's eye, he was once the object of envy and admiration for all the young men in the Great Zhou Dynasty, including his younger self.
He could recite classics at the age of three and compose poems at five. His literary talent was on a par with that of the sage Xu Chao.
Coming from the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, which held military power and safeguarded the country, he was extremely skilled in martial arts and a master of military strategy. At the age of ten, he followed his father to the battlefield, sweeping through the enemy troops and gaining a far - reaching reputation.
At twelve, he led the unique 100,000 Changping Army of the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, galloped across the border of the Western Liang Dynasty, recaptured the long - lost cities of Sheng and Xiang, and was invincible.
However, perhaps he was too dazzling and too sharp. Finally, when he was fifteen, God took back all his good luck. In a battle with the Western Liang Dynasty, the old Marquis of Dingyuan was defeated and killed, and the 100,000 Changping Army was buried in Yan City.
He also survived a near - death experience, but still led the remaining troops with ingenious strategies, counterattacked in a desperate situation and turned the tide, finally achieving ten years of peace in Yan City.
But from then on, there was no longer a dazzling young talent in Yongding City. There was only a new Marquis of Dingyuan, Feng Linyuan, whose appearance was ruined and who was seriously ill. The imperial physicians had judged that he would not live past the age of twenty - five.
As Feng Jingyi told the story, Bai Zheng seemed to see a young man in front of her eyes. He galloped on his horse, full of energy, as dazzling as a raging fire.
Bai Zheng then thought of the man she had just seen. There was an innate noble and majestic aura exuding from him. But he was also as gentle and upright as jade, and as calm and elegant as water.
How much pain had he endured to become such a different person from before?
"Next, is the last item for auction today." The auctioneer's voice came through the silk screen, breaking the silence that had fallen again in the room.
Bai Zheng cleared her mind. This was her most important task today.
Feng Jingyi also raised his head, and his eyes returned to their usual calmness, as if the person just now was just an illusion of Bai Zheng's.
As the auctioneer's words fell, the entire auction venue fell silent. Everyone held their breath, and their gazes were fixed on the square stone platform that was slowly rising.
This time, there was no red velvet cloth covering the stone platform as usual, so everyone could clearly see that there were three items on it: a scroll, a piece of silk, and a stack of white things that were hard to tell the material of, with words seemingly written on them.
"Jizhen Tower announced before this auction that the item to be auctioned this month will be a treasure that can bring wealth to everyone." The auctioneer's voice was faintly excited.
"All of you who have been studying and literate should know that what can be used for writing is generally either bamboo slips or silk. But bamboo slips are too heavy, and silk is too expensive. It's really difficult for the scholars in the world."
After all, no one in this era knew about paper yet. Before the auction started, the auctioneer gave a detailed introduction.
"If there were something that could be used for writing, something cheap and lightweight, then who would still need the bulky bamboo slips? Who would still use the expensive silk?"
"Benefiting the scholars in the world. It's really a good thing!" Feng Jingyi exclaimed.
Bai Zheng curved her lips and glanced at him. "Your Highness has a discerning eye."
Most of the people who came to Jizhen Tower to participate in the auction were wealthy merchants and powerful nobles in Yongding. Most of these shrewd people who had made a name for themselves in the business world had already reacted. They sat up straight and listened intently.
The auctioneer's introduction continued.
"From then on, everyone will abandon bamboo slips and silk and instead use this practical thing. All the scholars in the world will come to buy this thing."
The auctioneer deliberately paused for a moment, picked up the book on the stone platform, and gently flipped open a page to show it to everyone.
"This little book seems to have quite a few words written on it!" Feng Jingyi stared at the book below with great interest.
As if to prove the lightness of this thing, when he thought everyone had seen enough, the auctioneer pinched one page of the book and neatly tore it off.
"Hiss..." Everyone gasped. Then they saw the auctioneer hold the torn - off piece of paper above his head. When he loosened his hand, the paper fluttered in the air without wind, spun a few times, and then slowly landed.
Sure enough, it was light! Even lighter than silk! Even Feng Jingyi beside her now had a strange glint in his eyes.
Jizhen Tower was always good at advertising. Since people couldn't touch the book, they had no concept of its lightness. The auctioneer's act of tearing and throwing the paper immediately made everyone realize how light this paper was.
He was indeed a smart businessman. Bai Zheng secretly praised him in her heart.
"Don't feel bad about the piece of paper I just tore. There are about seventy pages of paper in this book. Together with the words on it, it forms a complete copy of A Record of Things in the Great Zhou. The cost of both the paper and the words is less than ten wen."
"Boom!"
The guests in Jizhen Tower finally couldn't hold back their exclamations. Many people even jumped up from their seats excitedly.
"A Record of Things in the Great Zhou! A complete A Record of Things in the Great Zhou!" Someone rubbed their ears in disbelief.
"If it were written on bamboo slips, it would take two ox - carts! At least a few hundred wen!" Someone stood up in shock, completely unable to believe it.
"This book wouldn't even weigh as much as a pair of embroidered shoes!" Someone clenched their fists and was so excited that they couldn't contain themselves.
The auctioneer below seemed to have expected everyone's overreaction. Without saying much, he slapped the book on the stone platform.
Everyone present was a top - level figure in Yongding City. After a brief moment of overreaction, they immediately regained their composure.
"What Jizhen Tower is auctioning today is the manufacturing method of this paper - papermaking technology. To avoid making the auction process too long, the starting price of this papermaking technology is 10,000 taels of silver, and each bid increase must be at least 10,000 taels!"
Saying this, the auctioneer nodded slightly to everyone, then waved his hand, and the auction began.
A brief silence.
"Hehe, I didn't expect it to be such a good thing. I don't dare to think about it. Then I'll start the bidding. 10,000 taels of silver!"
In the silence, a man sitting on the second floor started with a smile.
Immediately, everyone's passion was ignited.
"20,000 taels."
"30,000 taels..."
"40,000 taels..."
In accordance with the new rules set by Jizhen Tower, no one gave a fractional bid. Everyone opened their mouths and added 10,000 taels at a time.
Everyone present clearly understood what getting the paper meant.
It would mean absolute fame and fortune. Not only would all the scholars in the world respect you spiritually, but before a better writing material appeared, the person who owned the papermaking technology would stand firmly in the business world and remain invincible no matter what kind of storm came.
The bidding price was rising sharply. Many merchants began to stake their entire fortunes on this papermaking technology.
Bai Zheng watched this excitement and felt a sense of comfort in her heart. She saw Bai Yinan on the second floor smiling in her direction, and she couldn't help but smile back.
Suddenly, she remembered that she was separated by this silk screen. No matter how big her smile was, Bai Yinan couldn't see it. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
"140,000 taels." Amidst the soft laughter, a cold voice sounded. Feng Jingxuan, who had been silent for a long time, spoke.