The ladies were all in high spirits, paying them no mind.
Similar scenes unfolded in the various private rooms.
Tonight's auction items were limited, and the bidding grew more intense as the night wore on, especially when the jewelry and ornaments were unveiled. The ladies from all the noble households went wild.
Buy, buy, buy! Bid, bid, bid!
This hairpin is exquisite, it must be mine!
The bracelet was snatched by the Duke of Liang's mansion! I can't miss this coral necklace!
"Don't you have a similar one in your jewelry box?" The man's face twitched as he heard the bids, wishing he could chop off his wife's hands!
"That's different. Look at how vibrant the color is! My heart pounded just seeing it from afar. It's unlikely there's another strand like it in the world! No matter how expensive, it's worth it! My life!"
At worst, they would only buy this one thing all year! No new purchases for New Year or festivals!
The men were also going mad.
Earlier, when they met and exchanged pleasantries, they had all been complaining about being poor, saying they were just there to observe. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, their wives would slap them across the face?
Where did that little scoundrel Xie Jiang hide? If you have the guts, come out and show yourself!
Don't think they didn't know that most of tonight's auction items came from that little scoundrel!
Yi Yan Geng, watching from his private room, sighed in admiration, "Were these auction items added specifically by you?"
Various promotional materials had already found their way into the inner chambers. Coupled with the sense of urgency deliberately created at the scene, one had to bid quickly, accurately, and decisively, or risk being outbid.
Furthermore, all the auction items presented had captivated the hearts of the women. How could any woman remain calm?
Xie Jiang said, "A woman's money is always the easiest to earn."
Yi Yan Geng chuckled, "Aren't you afraid you won't be able to leave Chunse Manyuan tonight?"
Xie Jiang replied with a smile, "It's true that women are the ones bidding on jewelry, but you don't seriously believe that only women are bidding on those pearls and treasures, do you?"
Yi Yan Geng hadn't noticed this.
Xie Jiang leaned back against the soft cushion, "Not to mention the antiques and calligraphy that will come later, especially the weapons from the Cui Shan Sect. When men go crazy, they're no less than women."
As they were leisurely watching the spectacle and chatting, a slight commotion suddenly arose from the adjacent private room.
Xie Jiang immediately perked up her ears.
Yi Yan Geng subtly observed her reaction.
Faintly, she seemed to hear Song Ze's voice. Song Ze had a very distinctive way of speaking, both in speed and tone.
Xie Jiang immediately stood up and walked out.
In Yi Yan Geng's eyes, she seemed extremely eager. One moment she was chatting and laughing with him, and the next, upon hearing a disturbance, she rushed straight towards Song Ze.
His intuition told him that Song Ze was the one she truly held in her heart.
Yi Yan Geng suddenly found it difficult to breathe, a dull ache in his chest.
She carried so many people and so many matters in her heart, yet there was no room for him. When would he be able to enter her heart?
"Young Master Song?"
Her voice was so light and cheerful, feigning an accidental encounter, filled with surprise and delight.
Song Ze turned his head in her direction, "Is that Young Master Xie?"
"Yes, it's me."
Xie Jiang herself didn't realize how sweetly she was smiling at that moment.
Yi Yan Geng closed his eyes and leaned back against the backrest, his fists unconsciously clenching within his sleeves.
Even through a door, he could feel her genuine happiness.
Xie Jiang asked, "Why has Young Master Song come out? Have you bid on any items you fancied?"
Song Ze smiled, "I've been sitting for too long and came out for some air."
Li Chi looked at the second young lady, his eyes filled with a certain fervor.
Sensing Wen Feng and Shan Bai watching from not far away, Li Chi instantly restrained himself, appearing indifferent and distant, as if he had no knowledge of the second young lady's identity before.
But within his heart, a different world existed.
Their family's second young lady!
The second young lady who struck with thunderous force on her first move!
Looking at the young master and the second young lady chatting, Li Chi couldn't help but feel his eyes welling up.
The second young lady must have suffered greatly to reach this point.
Yet, upon returning to the capital, she still couldn't go home, and couldn't even acknowledge each other face-to-face.
Seeing how happy the young master was, she must really want to go home soon, right?
The young master was also very happy.
"Young Master Song!"
Just then, a sweet voice called out. Li Chi's expression changed.
He was too familiar with this voice!
Looking up, he indeed saw Princess Le'an running towards them.
Truly a persistent shadow!
She had finally managed to create a seemingly coincidental encounter, and after spending a short while with her brother, someone ignorant had bumped into her!
Xie Jiang sneered inwardly and subtly gave a signal somewhere.
Immediately, a shadow emerged from nowhere and dragged Princess Le'an away like a chick.
Then, it disappeared.
Li Chi rubbed his eyes in shock, then rubbed them again. Was that not an illusion?
Song Ze seemed to sense something, "Just now..."
Xie Jiang said with a straight face, "A mouse passed by and has already scurried away."
Song Ze turned his head towards Li Chi's direction.
Li Chi opened his mouth to speak.
Xie Jiang shot him a glance, and Li Chi immediately swallowed his words, then reorganized them, "Such a big mouse..."
Wen Feng and Shan Bai, while seemingly focused on the auction, had actually been secretly paying attention to Xie Jiang's movements.
Did they just catch a glimpse of Princess Le'an?
And then, in an instant, she was gone?
And Xie Jiang had coerced someone to deceive Young Master Song?
Could there be mice in a place like Chunse Manyuan?
Song Ze took her word for it, assuming there was indeed a mouse, and no longer mentioned the small disturbance.
"Le'an!"
Soon, Meng Jun Yu, the doting brother, caught up. He looked around and couldn't find Le'an anywhere?
Upon seeing Xie Jiang, his sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed, and his expression turned somewhat displeased as he asked, "Where is my sister?"
Song Ze remained silent.
Xie Jiang had no intention of responding.
Meng Jun Yu walked up to them, "I'm asking you, where is my sister?"
Xie Jiang casually raised her eyelids and said lazily, "Who are you asking?"
Meng Jun Yu retorted aggressively, "Who do you think I'm asking? I'm asking you!"
"Your sister, shouldn't she be tied to your belt? Just feel your belt, why are you asking?"
Xie Jiang scoffed and replied unceremoniously.
Meng Jun Yu clenched his fists, ready to make a move. Then he thought that his sister was the most important thing. Wasn't his sister here to see Song Ze? But where was his sister now?
Meng Jun Yu ran into Song Ze's private room, came out with nothing, looked around, and then went into Xie Jiang's private room.
Upon seeing Yi Yan Geng, Meng Jun Yu knew his sister couldn't possibly be there, and quickly retreated.
"Where did you take my sister?"
"Where do you think we could have taken your sister?"
Meng Jun Yu's brows were knitted into a knot, but he had to admit that Xie Jiang had a point. The private rooms were only so large, and it was unlikely they could hide his sister.
But he had been following Le'an all along, only a few steps behind. How could she have disappeared in the blink of an eye?
"My sister was coming towards Song Ze just now. Didn't you see where she went?"
"If you know your sister is ill, tie her up. If she's lost, why are you asking us?"