So, Yan Shifan was in the private room next door? Fan Li made a mental note, impressed by Xue Susu’s cleverness.
Yan Shifan was the Minister of Works, a high-ranking official.
Yet, she had addressed him as “Young Master Yan,” deliberately omitting his official title, providing him with a suitable identity for his presence at the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge.
After all, the Great Ming Dynasty strictly forbade officials from frequenting such establishments.
A disgruntled voice came from another private room.
“Such arrogance! Stop the snow and wind? Does he think he’s already ascended to immortality and can control the heavens?”
Fan Li was surprised. Who dared to openly challenge Yan Shifan?
He thought for a moment and quickly guessed the speaker’s identity. Among the guests attending the auction, only one person had the right to confront Yan Shifan.
“Xu Fan, shut your damn mouth! What do you mean, ‘control the heavens’? Are you trying to trick me into saying something treasonous? In our Great Ming Dynasty, who is ‘Heaven’? Who is the ‘sun’? I, Yan Shifan, only possess a little skill in pleasing Grand Master Xue. How could I possibly control the heavens? If anyone is truly trying to control the heavens, it’s your father, sneaking out in the middle of the night to kowtow before that unconscious… That’s a delusion of controlling the heavens!”
Fan Li almost clapped his hands in admiration.
Although Yan Shifan’s words were crude, they were undeniably logical. Using vague allusions to high-level secrets, he had instantly put Xu Fan’s entire family in a precarious position.
Only a few people present knew that Xu Jie had recently visited the Crown Prince’s residence at night and had angered Emperor Jiajing.
Yan Shifan, when he struck, aimed for the Xu family’s weak spot!
Silence fell over Xu Fan’s private room. After a long moment, the sound of something shattering echoed from within.
Fan Li glanced at the ordinary blue-and-white porcelain in his own room, guessing that Xu Fan had smashed his own valuable vase.
A burst of triumphant laughter came from Yan Shifan’s room.
At this moment, Xue Susu spoke from the stage.
“Tonight, every guest present is both my friend and a benevolent individual I deeply respect. For the widows of our fallen soldiers to survive the winter, I, Susu, dare to suggest that we begin the auction now.”
She skillfully steered the conversation away from the confrontation between the two young masters.
Soft music filled the barge, a pleasant backdrop to the event.
Xue Susu presented the first item for auction.
“This first item is a humble offering from me.”
A servant carried a tray onto the stage.
Fan Li shook his head.
On the tray lay a woman’s embroidered handkerchief. The stitching was incredibly crude. The pattern depicted a pair of mandarin ducks, symbolizing love and harmony.
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Unfortunately, the ducks were clumsily embroidered and resembled fat geese.
Xue Susu smiled. “I’m clumsy and unskilled in needlework. I’m a beginner, and this is my first attempt at embroidery. Which honored guest would like to own this ‘Mandarin Duck Handkerchief’? I would be eternally grateful.”
Fan Li thought to himself, ‘Such a crude item, who would want it?’
But to his surprise, as soon as the bidding began, the price skyrocketed.
“Starting bid, one tael of silver.”
“One thousand taels!”
“Five thousand taels!”
“Ten thousand taels!”
Fan Li was stunned. Although ten thousand taels was a paltry sum to him, in the Great Ming, even a professionally embroidered handkerchief, such a small piece of cloth, could be purchased for a few copper coins. Why would it be worth ten thousand taels of silver?
He heard a seasoned guest whispering among the crowd, “Grand Master Xue is the Qinhuai River’s most talented musician, calligrapher, painter, and Go player, but she never embroiders. This handkerchief is likely her only work. To own such a rare item… its value is immeasurable!”
Fan Li chuckled. So, it was a case of “rarity increases value”?
Within moments, the handkerchief’s price had reached thirty thousand taels of silver.
“Thirty thousand taels! Congratulations, Young Master Zhang of Bolun Restaurant!”
Fan Li knew that Bolun Restaurant was a long-established restaurant in the Ming capital. Its owner, surnamed Zhang, was rumored to be descended from a cook who had become a renowned chef through hard work and dedication. He had then founded Bolun Restaurant, which had been a successful business for over a century.
Fan Li couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. If that old chef knew his descendant had spent a fortune to please a courtesan, wouldn’t he be so angry he’d rise from his grave?
“Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Zhang. I, Susu, present this handkerchief to you.”
Xue Susu smiled sweetly, personally carrying the tray over to Young Master Zhang and tucking the handkerchief into his robe.
Her movements were gentle, alluring, and completely natural, exuding an undeniable charm.
Young Master Zhang was clearly smitten with Xue Susu. As she drew near, he trembled, a foolish grin on his face.
‘Truly worthy of her title as the most famous courtesan!’ Fan Li praised her inwardly.
“The second item for auction. I, Susu, must thank Young Master Yan once more. Everyone knows that Grand Secretary Yan is a renowned calligrapher, a master of Confucianism. Young Master Yan, for this auction, has brought us a calligraphy piece by Grand Secretary Yan himself.”
As she spoke, Xue Susu slowly unfurled a scroll on stage. Instantly, a surge of Righteous Qi erupted from the paper. A massive character, ‘Loyalty,’ appeared on the scroll.
“Grand Secretary Yan’s own calligraphy, the character ‘Loyalty.’ Starting bid, one thousand taels.”
Fan Li was impressed.
Yan Song and Yan Shifan, this father-and-son duo, were truly cunning. This charity auction was intended to extract money from the guests. But Yan Shifan had brought an item to be auctioned?
This meant that during the rest of the auction, he had a reason not to spend a single copper coin. After all, he had already contributed. And his contribution was his father’s calligraphy.
This item could be worth a thousand gold, or it could be worthless.
In any case, Yan Shifan had practically participated in the auction at no cost. But if Yan Song’s calligraphy sold for a high price, Yan Shifan would gain immense fame!
What a clever scheme!
What a profitable deal!
Fan Li looked at the ‘Loyalty’ calligraphy and thought, ‘Yan Song is an old fox.’ Everyone knew that Yan Song was the most corrupt official in the Great Ming Dynasty’s history. But he wasn’t arguing about good and evil. He was simply proclaiming his loyalty.
So what if he was corrupt?
This old man is loyal to the Emperor!
After tonight, who wouldn’t know that Grand Secretary Yan’s ‘Loyalty’ calligraphy had earned a fortune for the widows of fallen soldiers at the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge?
The Yan faction was widespread throughout the court. Even without Yan Shifan’s prompting, countless members would eagerly purchase this calligraphy.
Therefore, the moment Yan Song’s calligraphy appeared, it was destined to earn both fame and fortune!
“Ten thousand taels! I’ll buy the Grand Secretary’s calligraphy!”
“Pah! A mere ten thousand taels? You think you can take the Grand Secretary’s calligraphy home for that? I… Cough, cough, I’ll offer fifty thousand taels!”
“One hundred thousand taels of silver!”
Finally, the hammer fell. The final bid was seven hundred and fifty thousand taels!
Xue Susu personally carried the scroll to a stout, middle-aged man. His physique clearly suggested he was an official.
The man accepted the ‘Loyalty’ calligraphy but showed no interest in Xue Susu. Instead, he bowed obsequiously towards Yan Shifan’s private room.
Fan Li thought to himself, ‘Different strokes for different folks.’
Xue Susu was the most famous courtesan, but she couldn't attract every man, especially this vulgar man.
A low voice, only audible to Fan Li, came from the private room next door.
“Junior Grand Secretary, this man is Zhao Wenhua. He passed the imperial examinations in the eighth year of Jiajing’s reign. He’s currently a secretary in the Ministry of Justice. He wants to follow you, Junior Grand Secretary, and obtain a position in the Ministry of Works.”
“Hmm… seven hundred and fifty thousand taels for the old man’s calligraphy? Generous! Tell him I’ll grant him the position of Vice Minister of Works.”