Even if Lord Tao disliked Lord Qiu, he still detested Zhan Feiyu. However, he had to admit that Zhan Feiyu's suggestion was extremely beneficial to him. If a melee were to break out, this was Qianzhong Prefecture, and his own survival was uncertain.
Even if he miraculously survived, transporting this chest of items to the capital after a long journey was fraught with potential accidents, no matter how meticulous the arrangements.
The Qianzhong Road was a thousand li from the capital. Scholar Gu, the old fox surnamed Qiu, or even the Forbidden Dragon Guard could launch an attack. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was a path of nine deaths and one life.
Lord Tao remained silent, his gaze appraising the fair-skinned young girl before him. Her delicate features exuded an air of scholarly refinement, making anyone believe she was a pampered young lady from a noble family. Who could have imagined that Zhan Feiyu's schemes and depth of character were no less than those of the seasoned officials?
"Are you trying to muddy the waters?" Qiu Huaixin also knew that the token might be among the one hundred and twenty items. Otherwise, he wouldn't have assigned Shi Song to protect him personally, nor would he have hidden Qiu family assassins outside the prefecture office. If a melee were to erupt, the Qiu family's first priority would be Qiu Huaixin's safety, regardless of whether the token could be seized.
However, according to Zhan Feiyu's proposal, selling this entire chest of tokens to the highest bidder would prevent a melee. After all, in a real fight, no one would have the capability to snatch the entire chest; they could at most grab three to five items.
But no one could be sure if those three to five items were the actual tokens. Moreover, acquiring them would likely cost several lives. These were elite assassins meticulously trained by various factions, and the loss of even one would be a painful blow.
If they could acquire a few items with money without bloodshed, Qiu Huaixin was certain that all parties would agree. For Lord Tao, he would not only be safe but also earn great merit by returning the proceeds from the sale to the court.
"Very well, this official agrees!" Lord Tao finally spoke. More than the token, he cared about his own safety. If he were dead, all his ambitions would be but a fleeting illusion.
...
Zhan Feiyu and Lord Tao's conversation was not deliberately hushed, so all the spies hidden in the treasury heard it clearly. Within moments, the news spread.
Zhan Feiyu and the others did not leave the prefecture office. Lord Tao arranged for them to rest in a vacant side hall in the rear, awaiting the completion of the sale arrangements.
"Thank you for your assistance, Miss Zhan." Madam Xu was not ungrateful. Although the one hundred and twenty items could not be recovered, she had at least retrieved half of her third brother's wife, Dou Shi's, dowry.
As long as Qiu Jingyuan continued to reside in the third branch, and after she got married in the coming years, Madam Xu would find a way to acquire a few good items. "The remaining items will be placed under Jingyuan's name. If you fancy anything, Miss Zhan, please do not hesitate to ask. I will convert it to silver for Jingyuan."
This was the condition Madam Xu had previously promised Zhan Feiyu. As a woman, Madam Xu couldn't make decisions about the one hundred and twenty items, but she felt confident in her ability to agree on behalf of Qiu Jingyuan regarding the more than two hundred items in Qiu Jingyuan's possession.
Why! Qiu Jingyuan's face remained calm, but her teeth bit fiercely into the tender flesh of her cheek, forcibly suppressing her unwillingness and resentment.
The thought that she not only had to bow to Zhan Feiyu, a girl from the countryside, but also to Madam Xu, her paternal uncle's adopted wife, who could make decisions for her and handle her mother's dowry, made Qiu Jingyuan grind her teeth in hatred. However, circumstances were beyond her control, and she could only endure.
With no one else in the room, Qiu Huaixin did not worry about any gossip. He directly asked Zhan Feiyu, "Do you have any clues? If you fancy anything, I can help purchase it during the sale later."
The main issue was not knowing what the token was, whether it was big or small, round or square. Qiu Huaixin was willing to help but had no starting point.
Zhan Feiyu had an excellent memory. She cleared her mind and reviewed all the items in her mind. Since it was a token, it must be unique. It might not be valuable, but it absolutely could not be easily replicated by others.
Furthermore, Qiu Wenlan was a woman of the inner chambers. If she carried the token to communicate with someone, she wouldn't be carrying a decorative item, an ancient fan, or ancient books. The token was more likely to be an item worn by a woman, something that wouldn't attract attention.
Thus, hairpins, earrings, jade pendants, and bracelets were also possibilities. Zhan Feiyu truly had no leads at the moment. She smiled and said to Qiu Huaixin, "Since they are to be sold, let everyone rely on their luck."
With one hundred and twenty items, who could be sure that what they bought was the token? Even if it was the token, they might not know it. Zhan Feiyu's actions indeed muddied the waters further.
On the other side, Lord Tao was also busily arranging the sale. The only tricky issue was how to report to the palace if the token was sold and he was safe.
Prefect Jiao, upon receiving the news, did not pay much attention. He merely mobilized most of the prefecture's constables and yamen runners to be on standby. By the time of the evening sale, regardless of what happened, the Qianzhong Prefecture office would at least be able to maintain order.
Qiu Bingde, who also received the news, was at the Provincial Administration Office. Lord Qiu put down his official documents and looked at his eldest son sitting below. "If Huaixin had half of Zhan Feiyu's composure, my father wouldn't have to worry."
"Once the one hundred and twenty items are sold, even the Forbidden Dragon Guard will likely be unable to retrieve them," Qiu Bingde frowned. Zhan Feiyu's actions could indeed help him escape danger, but they also meant missing the opportunity to find the token.
However, considering Zhan Feiyu's age and the imminent conflict in Qianzhong Prefecture, Qiu Bingde felt that Zhan Feiyu's life-saving strategy was not entirely wrong.
After all, she was just a young girl. Other girls her age were either learning household management or practicing qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting to cultivate their sentiments. Unlike Zhan Feiyu, who was already dealing with court officials, and more importantly, not at a disadvantage.
Lord Qiu picked up his teacup and leisurely drank his tea, looking at his contemplative eldest son with a smile.
"Did I say something wrong?" Qiu Bingde sensed something amiss, but upon careful reflection, he couldn't find any error.
"The Forbidden Dragon Guard is the emperor's blade. For years, not only the imperial princes but even Scholar Gu dared not have any dealings with the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Bingde, why do you think Zhan Feiyu holds a token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard?" Lord Qiu finished speaking and waited for Qiu Bingde's answer.
Qiu Bingde had previously reviewed Zhan Feiyu's detailed information, from her time in Jinlin Village to her subsequent success in the imperial examinations, and her travels. He was aware of and had analyzed every event that occurred along the way.
Therefore, as soon as Lord Qiu asked, Qiu Bingde replied, "The Forbidden Dragon Guard obeys the emperor. This action must have been approved by the emperor. The emperor is using Zhan Feiyu to expose the hidden demons and ghosts, hence sending the Forbidden Dragon Guard to protect her."
In the end, Zhan Feiyu was merely a chess piece in the emperor's hands. However, she was a young lady from the countryside, and although she studied under Scholar Gu, Lord Gu was also a solitary minister. Therefore, the emperor not only trusted Scholar Gu but also trusted Zhan Feiyu, which was why he dared to let her be involved with General Yang and have dealings with the Qiu family.
"A young girl who can be the emperor's chess piece, who does she fear?" Lord Qiu recalled Zhan Feiyu's past actions. Not to mention anything far away, just last year in Xiangwu County, Zhan Feiyu led her men to break through to Aozi Pass and rescue Yang Xu. That was a situation of nine deaths and one life. Such a fearless disposition, would Zhan Feiyu propose that Lord Tao sell the items for her own safety?
Awakened, Qiu Bingde blurted out, "Feint in the east, attack in the west!"
"Just watch. It will be revealed tonight," Lord Qiu said with a smile. This young girl was so bold she dared to shake the heavens.
The location for the evening sale was decided: Hesheng Xuan, the largest pawnshop in Qianzhong Prefecture.
Zhan Feiyu alighted from the carriage and looked up at the pawnshop's signboard. "Is this the Liu family's property?"
Speaking of the Liu family, they were one of the four imperial merchant families of the Great Qing Dynasty. When Liu Hefeng died, he left all his assets to Zhan Feiyu, which was why Zhan Feiyu had traveled to Huaian Prefecture.
"Hesheng Xuan holds a sale every six months, and its confidentiality is extremely high. No one knows who the buyers are, not even Hesheng Xuan itself," Sheng Xian answered in advance. The Liu family, as imperial merchants, had businesses all over Jiangnan, so it was normal to see Liu family shops in Qianzhong Road.
Given the short notice, holding the sale elsewhere might have led to loopholes. Therefore, Lord Tao chose Hesheng Xuan. Furthermore, merchants were lowly. No matter how powerful the Liu family was, they wouldn't dare offend court officials. Lord Tao didn't need to guard against Hesheng Xuan playing tricks.
All guests participating in the sale only needed to pay ten taels of silver to purchase a specially made number plate. The number plate obtained would also be placed in a box for them to draw themselves.
Simultaneously, guests who were not prepared could also take a set of black hooded cloaks and masks from Hesheng Xuan. After changing into the clothes in the inner room and entering the passage, opening the mechanism of the number plate would reveal the corresponding room number.
At that time, the cloaks would wrap them tightly, followed by the masks, and finally, the hats would be put on. Once they entered the room and the door was closed, no one would know who was holding up the number plate and bidding.