jdhmnovel Chapter 1238 Yuanzhou Auction
Chapter 1238 Yuanzhou Auction
Shen Zheng didn't stop for a moment as she walked from the backyard to the main hall.
The main hall was brightly lit, and the Fifth Chamber of Commerce's servants were already waiting in the hall. Upon seeing Shen Zheng arrive, one of them immediately knelt on one knee: "I am Liu Mingyuan, and I have come to report to Lord Shen on the orders of Yuanzhou, the head of the Fifth Chamber of Commerce!"
Shen Zheng's gaze remained fixed on Liu Mingyuan's chest, not even as she helped him up: "Is there any news about the Crimson Thorn Grass?"
Liu Mingyuan stood up, nodded, and deftly took out a porcelain bottle and a secret letter from his pocket. "Lord Shen, the bottle contains the snake gall powder you requested. As for the information about the red thorn grass... the person in charge has already detailed it in the letter. Please take a look."
It really is news about red thorn grass!
Shen Zheng's hands trembled slightly as she took the porcelain bottle and letter.
After carefully tucking the porcelain bottle into her bosom, she immediately opened the envelope, and the small print on the letter jumped out at her eyes—"At sunset on the 26th, the Red Thorn Grass Liquid will appear at the 'Treasure Pavilion' auction house in the west of Yuanzhou City. The Fifth Chamber of Commerce in Yuanzhou will do its best to acquire it and send it to the Liuyang Prefecture."
A single line of text contains a wealth of information.
The 26th, which is today.
It is currently midnight (11 PM - 1 AM), and there are still eight hours until 5 PM (5 PM - 7 PM).
The "bidding venue" mentioned in the letter is actually the auction that Shen Zheng is familiar with.
Auction...
Shen Zheng silently pondered these words.
As long as you're not afraid of offending people, the items at the auction will naturally go to the highest bidder.
Besides... does Yuanzhou have people she can't afford to offend?
I’m afraid not.
Thinking of this, Shen Zheng no longer hesitated and immediately summoned Hua Duo: "Prepare fast horses and dry rations, and select a few skilled men to accompany me to Yuanzhou tonight!"
"Yes!"
Watching Hua Duo's departing figure without hesitation, Liu Mingyuan hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Lord Shen, it's already midnight. You've traveled day and night to Yuanzhou, working so hard... The manager specifically instructed me to convey that the Fifth Chamber of Commerce will do everything in its power to obtain the Crimson Thorn Grass Elixir to share your burden. Why do you need to do it personally..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shen Zheng shook his head and interrupted him: "I appreciate your kindness, but there are too many variables in the bidding process. I must go and keep an eye on things myself to feel at ease."
She dared not leave Liuyang Prefecture because she had no news of the Red Thorn Grass.
Now that she's just one step away from the goal, she absolutely cannot allow herself to miss out on the antidote.
The determination in Shen Zheng's eyes startled Liu Mingyuan.
In a flash, Liu Mingyuan immediately understood her meaning—the emergence of the Red Thorn Grass would surely cause a bidding frenzy among the people in the auction hall, and although the fifth bidder had money, they had no power.
When competing with the truly powerful and influential, the Fifth Chamber of Commerce inevitably has to weigh the options, hesitate, and even miss opportunities...
To ensure everything goes smoothly, a powerful and influential person must be in charge of the Fifth Family. In this way, they can both obtain the Red Thorn Grass Elixir and protect the Fifth Family amidst the power struggles among the elites.
After figuring this out, Liu Mingyuan looked at Shen Zheng with no more confusion, only admiration.
Only people like this deserve to be their fifth allies and followed.
......
Shen Zheng went to the backyard and handed the snake gall powder to Li Shiyuan. After explaining her destination, she returned to the front hall.
Hua Duo had not yet returned. She read the secret letter twice more, and then asked Liu Mingyuan, "Do you know who exactly participated in this auction?"
Liu Mingyuan pondered for a moment and immediately replied, "Reporting to Lord Shen, those who can participate in the Jubao Pavilion auction are all either wealthy or noble. Besides the wealthy merchants and gentry in Yuanzhou City and the surrounding areas, some officials also participate secretly. Some go in person, while others send confidants or family members. As far as I know, the officials participating in this auction include Lin Wanshan, the Deputy Commissioner of the Yuanzhou Salt and Iron Bureau; Meng Hanshan, the Education Commissioner; and Jia Buzhen, the Prefectural Magistrate..."
"Meng Hanshan?" Shen Zheng was surprised to hear the name of someone she knew.
Meng Hanshan was one of the examiners in the previous re-examination. It is said that when the results were finalized, he had an argument with Zhao Chengye, the chief examiner.
Thinking of this, Shen Zheng asked someone else, "What about the Provincial Education Commissioner, Lord Qin Zhongshan? Has anyone found out if he will be involved?"
Qin Zhongshan was the chief examiner for the last re-examination, and Shen Zheng had a good impression of him.
Upon hearing this name, Liu Mingyuan immediately shook his head: "Lord Qin, he..."
After a brief pause, Liu Mingyuan came up with a rather fitting explanation: "Lord Qin is incorruptible..."
Shen Zheng understood.
Two words—no money.
Three words—I can't afford it.
Four words: Incorruptible and honest.
Five words: Doesn't like to join in the fun.
After thinking for a while, Shen Zheng asked again, "This auction probably isn't very clean, is it?"
These semi-public auctions for the powerful and wealthy usually accept some shady transactions. As long as they don't involve serious crimes such as arms, salt, or iron trading, the government will turn a blind eye, and even local officials might participate secretly out of curiosity.
Under Shen Zheng's gaze, Liu Mingyuan slowly nodded: "Indeed, as you said... all those entering the arena must carry a recommendation letter and pay a deposit of one thousand taels of silver. Once inside, no one is allowed to inquire about the identities of others..."
"A deposit? A thousand taels?" Shen Zheng frowned.
She could understand the masked auction.
She understood that the auction required verification of funds.
If you're going to verify funds, why do you have to pay silver directly? And this silver isn't just a hundred or eighty taels, it's a thousand taels.
Liu Mingyuan couldn't explain this either, only saying, "Since the fifth family established its influence in Yuanzhou, Jubao Pavilion has held such an auction every two or three years. The date is not fixed, but each time participants are required to pay a deposit. I'm not entirely sure why..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Zheng fell silent, secretly pondering the purpose of Jubaoge's actions.
Half a moment later, Hua Duo arrived braving the night wind.
Everything is ready.
Shen Zheng summoned Yu Nanshu and Cui Jinyin, gave them a few instructions, and then embarked on the journey with Liu Mingyuan once again.
This time, she was no longer blind.
Horse hooves thundered across the streets, breaking the silence of the night, heading towards Yuanzhou.
The group remained silent all night, but Shen Zheng pondered many things while on horseback.
Xu Yunyan shielded Huai Shaoyong from the poisoned needle, and may have seen the murderer's face in the process.
The Liuyang government office has strengthened its defenses over the past two days, and the murderer has not reappeared...
Was the other party certain that Xu Yunyan would die from the poisoned needle, or were they lying in wait in the shadows looking for an opportunity?
Could the appearance of Red Thorn Grass Liquid in Yuanzhou be a smokescreen deliberately thrown out by the other party to get rid of her?
Do not......
However, Shen Zheng quickly dismissed this conjecture.
Given the potency of the poison, the other party must be well aware of it. Under such circumstances, why would they bother to release information about the antidote?
To put it bluntly, if she were the murderer, she would most likely choose to lie low and wait for Xu Yunyan to die.
A thin mist already hung in the air in the early autumn morning, and the mist in Shen Zheng's heart grew thicker and thicker.