Just two calls raised the price by twenty thousand taels.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as each word being worth a thousand gold pieces.

On the stage, Xu Changqing had already begun introducing the second auction item: "Next to be auctioned is the Spring Flowers, Autumn Moon painting..."

Everyone below the stage gasped.

All eyes fell on Jiang Chen once more.

Who didn't know that the Spring Flowers, Autumn Moon painting was the current Emperor's favorite piece?

To think it was also being put up for auction?

When Xu Changqing initially heard that Jiang Chen wanted to auction this painting, he also felt incredibly surprised.

He knew a bit more. It was said that the Emperor once had a eunuch beaten to death for saying something negative about the Spring Flowers, Autumn Moon painting behind his back.

Such a cherished piece was actually being auctioned off.

In Xu Changqing's eyes, Jiang Chen seemed like a different person.

After a brief silence, someone below immediately shouted a price: "Seventy thousand taels!"

The crowd was shocked again.

The very first bid had already reached the final price of the previous auction item!

What terrifying heights would the final price of this painting reach?

But after a second thought, no one found it surprising anymore.

Wasn't a piece so beloved by the Emperor worth this price?

Not only was it worth it, but it was extremely worth it!

After understanding this, someone immediately followed with a bid: "Eighty thousand taels!"

Then came the third bidder: "One hundred thousand taels!"

"One hundred and ten thousand taels!"

"One hundred and thirty thousand taels!"

...

The bids rose higher and higher, and everyone seemed to be injected with chicken blood, constantly raising the price.

For them, spending money to buy a piece favored by the current Emperor was an unparalleled honor.

Moreover, the piece itself was of great value.

This was a surefire win!

Besides, for many of those present, several hundred thousand taels of silver wasn't enough to break the bank.

Soon, the price reached three hundred thousand.

After reaching three hundred thousand, there were fewer bidders.

Although they could afford several hundred thousand taels of silver, they could also see that this painting would ultimately not fall into their hands.

Since they had already given the Emperor enough face by bidding, they might as well take a step back.

Jiang Chen was well aware of this. After hearing that there were only five or six people still bidding, Jiang Chen smiled and nodded at each bidder he heard.

As a result, the bidders were extremely excited.

This was the Emperor's recognition!

No, they absolutely couldn't let the Emperor look down on them!

Thus, under the support of unseen hands, the price of the second auction item quickly reached a staggering five hundred thousand taels.

In the end, it was acquired by a gentryman from Jiangnan.

Even as the Emperor of Great Wei, Jiang Chen couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

He had underestimated the wealth of these gentrymen.

Five hundred thousand taels was several months' worth of provisions for the soldiers of Great Wei, yet a Jiangnan gentryman used it to buy a painting.

He had to think of a way to get these people to willingly cough up some more money.

The gentrymen present had no idea that Jiang Chen was already pondering new methods to extract money from their pockets, and were still envying that gentryman.

Soon, the third auction item was brought up, also a treasured item from the palace.

Then came the fourth, fifth, and sixth items.

They were all items from the palace.

Everyone present felt increasingly absurd.

Was the Emperor going to auction off all the treasures in the palace to use as a charity fund?

Why did they feel that this was completely different from the Emperor in their impression?

In particular, the ministers who had been invited felt somewhat surreal.

Where was the Emperor who sent chills down their spines in the court?

How could he suddenly be so generous and magnanimous?

It wasn't until the seventh auction item was brought up that everyone's emotions calmed down.

Finally, it wasn't a treasure from the palace.

"This is a piece of calligraphy by a famous person from the previous dynasty, provided by Minister of Personnel Yang Yongqi..."

Xu Changqing was still introducing it on stage, but the audience below was already stirring.

Not because of the work itself, but because of the provider of this work.

The Minister of Personnel!

This was the "Heavenly Official" who controlled the appointment and transfer of most officials!

Most of the gentrymen present had relatives serving in the court, and their eyes lit up when they heard this.

This was a rare opportunity to build a relationship with Yang Yongqi!

As long as they vigorously supported the items provided by Lord Yang, Lord Yang would inevitably take a different look at them.

Driven by this thought, this calligraphy piece, which was not particularly valuable, was auctioned off for the sky-high price of sixty thousand taels.

Yang Yongqi was quite pleased with himself.

He didn't care why others would bid such a high price for his work.

He only enjoyed this high price and the future evaluation.

He had donated sixty thousand taels to the charity fund!

The items donated by other ministers in the court were subsequently brought to the stage one by one, but the price of nothing exceeded Yang Yongqi's.

After all, everyone supported Yang Yongqi's cause because Yang Yongqi's interests were related to theirs.

There was no need for other ministers.

"Everyone, next is the final item of this charity auction."

Xu Changqing said loudly on the stage.

After auctioning nearly twenty items in a row, his voice was a little hoarse.

But when he spoke of this final auction item, he still used all his strength, even more so than with the previous auction items.

Such an obvious change was noticed even by those who were not very observant, and they couldn't help but be filled with curiosity about the final auction item.

What could make Xu Changqing, the Minister of Revenue, put in so much effort?

When the true face of the final item was revealed to everyone, the audience was in an uproar.

"This final auction item is the current Emperor's own calligraphy!"

As he spoke, two maids, one on each side, unfolded a yellow piece of rice paper.

On it were written eight characters:

积善之家，必有余庆. (Jī shàn zhī jiā, bì yǒu yú qìng - A family that accumulates virtue will surely have abundant blessings.)

The inscription was Jiang Chen's name.

And on Jiang Chen's name was the seal of the imperial jade seal.

The reaction of everyone present was even more shocking than when they heard that the auction item was the Spring Flowers, Autumn Moon painting.

The current Emperor's calligraphy!

This was definitely the biggest surprise of the night!

Someone immediately shouted loudly, "I bid one hundred and fifty thousand taels!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone next to him snorted, "You want to buy the Emperor's calligraphy with one hundred and fifty thousand taels? I bid two hundred thousand taels!"

As soon as he finished speaking, someone next to him shouted, "Two hundred and fifty thousand taels!"

The atmosphere at the scene reached its peak again.

Compared to when the Spring Flowers, Autumn Moon painting was auctioned just now, it was several times more enthusiastic.

After all, for everyone present, this was no longer just a piece of work.

But a death-exemption token!

Imagine hanging this work at home, even the officials in the prefecture where they were located would not dare to be negligent in the slightest!

This was too much face!