TPITWOHEF

Chapter 92

Ten days later, in the Zhengxuan Building of the capital.

"Now up for auction is the Heshan Tiger ink stone set that belonged to Lord Fucha, the current Prime Minister!"

"Lord Fucha was the top scholar of the 13th year of the Wanjia Era."

"He is renowned for his literary talent and magnanimity. He can appreciate others' strengths, consider the bigger picture, grasp the essence, and possess extraordinary poise and cultivation."

At the auction, palace maids dressed in uniformly lotus pink attire welcomed wealthy bidders from all over to enter and take their seats, simultaneously serving them tea.

Surrounding them were commoners observing the event, snacking on melon seeds.

On the auction stage, the palace maid narrating spoke with a voice as melodious as a warbling nightingale, growing increasingly impassioned as she reached the climax.

"Lord Fucha passed the imperial examinations at twelve, became a top scholar at nineteen... At thirty-seven, he became the Crown Prince's mentor, and at forty-five, he was promoted to Prime Minister!"

"The Heshan Tiger ink stone set Lord Fucha has put up for auction today was his old love from his youth."

"Back then, he didn't have much money, so he would linger outside the shop every day, silently vowing to himself—"

"I must be like the fierce tiger descending the mountain, and create a prosperous world!"

The narrating palace maid was specially selected by Concubine Liu and trained in storytelling.

In an instant, the auction hall was sent into an uproar!

"What a powerful vow—'I must be like the fierce tiger descending the mountain!'"

"I had no idea that the ever-composed Prime Minister had been as ferocious as a tiger in his youth, filled with youthful vigor."

"Lord Fucha actually had such lofty ambitions!"

Xiao Yunzhou, seated in the second-floor private room, sipped his tea and chuckled, "This is the first We learn of your fierce youth, Lord Fucha."

Lord Fucha's aged face flushed red.

Who wrote this script?

Did he still want to keep face?

The palace maid on the first floor had already declared boldly, "Lord Fucha only managed to buy this Heshan Tiger ink stone set after entering the Hanlin Academy as a top scholar and receiving his first month's salary."

"Not only was this his long-cherished possession, but it also symbolized his soaring ambition!"

Lord Fucha nearly spat out his tea as he coughed.

That's a bit exaggerated.

Way too exaggerated.

In fact, he had barely used the ink stone a few times after buying it.

He felt that this ink stone wasn't very usable!

"Lord Fucha has barely used one-tenth or one-twentieth of this ink stone to this day, as he must have been reluctant to use it."

Lord Fucha: "..."

The palace maid smiled at the crowd of bidders, "When Lord Fucha purchased this Heshan Tiger ink stone in his youth, he paid twelve taels of silver."

"Today, as times have changed, Lord Fucha has entrusted us to sell it on his behalf, with a starting price of nine taels."

"This is a special number, perhaps signifying Lord Fucha's aspiration for the country's unity and prosperity... that the nine provinces would unite under one rule, and Jing Country would flourish and stand tall among all nations!"