Chapter Ten: Chen Yu, Heir to the Prince of Anping

Newly arrived and still bewildered, Jiang Lan couldn’t quite make sense of it all. In just a few anxious moments, several collections in the exhibition hall had already been sold. Gathering her thoughts, she leaned by the window—since she was here, she might as well take a good look.

Xue Mingzhao watched her from the corner of his eye, studying the figure by the window. Her gaze shimmered like rippling water, her posture languid even with her robes neatly arranged. Every gesture and every smile exuded confidence and boldness. Though she tried to hide it, he couldn’t help but notice something different about her.

Apart from her exceedingly ordinary face, Xue Mingzhao could find nothing familiar. Had his injuries left him seeing ghosts?

Hadn’t the Jiang family recently hired a Daoist to investigate? It was rumored that the man had fled in terror.

His face darkened further at the thought, his entire bearing as cold and unyielding as raw iron.

On the round platform, a maid unveiled another covered item. Jiang Lan’s eyes lit up. She had to admit that the Xue brothers had good taste—the jade Guanyin statue was of translucent quality, radiating a serene Buddhist aura. Clearly, an expert had blessed it; to keep it enshrined would benefit mind and body, though it couldn’t possibly guarantee the fulfillment of all one’s wishes.

When she heard the starting bid was two thousand taels, Jiang Lan mentally calculated her monthly stipend—it would take years of not eating or drinking to save enough. Then again, with these two brothers, each richer than the last, she gave up the idea of bidding on their behalf.

After the Xue brothers called four thousand taels, no one else bid further.

Then, a man in lake-blue spring robes swaggered onto the second floor, trailed by a long line of attendants and striking maids. The procession was so grand that, if not for Xue Mingrui’s explanation, Jiang Lan might have thought a prince was making his entrance.

“Five thousand taels!”

Jiang Lan felt a pang—was it her imagination, or did these people treat money like it was nothing?

“This Chen Yu was raised since childhood under the knee of the Princess of Anping. Still uninitiated into adulthood and already the most arrogant of all, yet no simpleton—he’s cunning and venomous,” Xue Mingrui remarked, recalling his cousin’s former innocence and adding, “It’s no secret. Two years ago, a newly promoted official accidentally blocked his carriage. Though Chen Yu said nothing at the time, two months later, the official’s eldest son was found dead in a courtesan’s bed in the capital, already rotting from illness.”

Intrigued, Jiang Lan’s eyes glinted with sly amusement. “How do you know it was his doing?”

“That official’s son was the epitome of propriety—a scion of a noble family who, even in social settings, never spent the night in such unclean places. Besides, his wedding was mere days away—why would he get himself involved in such a scandal?”

Xue Mingrui spoke through gritted teeth, but Jiang Lan only smiled, turning to watch the spectacle outside as the figure approached, surrounded by followers.

This young lord, already fair and handsome, looked almost luminous in his lake-blue robe. His slightly narrowed, alluring eyes met Jiang Lan’s gaze, and his brown pupils gleamed with charm.

Caught staring, Jiang Lan felt no embarrassment and even raised a hand in greeting.

The man seemed momentarily surprised, then turned away as if the incident had never occurred.

Jiang Lan wasn’t offended. She watched as the hem of his spring robe stirred like drifting clouds, sending ripples of color through the room—a scene she resolved to remember, determined to have a dressmaid at home make one just like it.

She was lost in thought, debating details of the inner garment, when a face suddenly loomed close, giving her a fright.

“What’s on your mind, Lan? Was it the Anping heir? The way you were looking at him just now, you practically wanted to stick to him. I can’t believe you’ve become so infatuated after so little time apart!”

Jiang Lan’s lips twitched but she didn’t argue.

“Ah, but Chen Yu is indeed the finest beauty in Jiankang—it’s no wonder even someone as ascetic as you can’t help but stare. Still, don’t be fooled by appearances; the man is as wicked as they come. Best stay clear of him.”

Jiang Lan felt he was going too far and longed to stuff an apple in his mouth to silence him. Even the gentlest nobleman could be insufferable when he nagged like this.

“Trust me, the most beautiful of all is the eldest son of Prime Minister Gu’s family—a true immortal, refined and elegant beyond compare!”

Jiang Lan forced a smile. “Cousin, your taste is truly… unique.” Pointing below, she added, “Big cousin is already at odds with that man. Shouldn’t you do something?”

Xue Mingzhao had been after the jade Guanyin for ages, but now the Anping heir was openly intervening just to spite him. Xue Mingzhao was not one to back down, and with the price rising to seven thousand taels, anyone could see it was a losing proposition.

Yet neither man would relent, and the audience watched eagerly for the outcome.

Feeling the pain herself, Jiang Lan quietly sidled up to Xue Mingzhao and tugged at his sleeve.

“Big cousin, why not let it go? I have a fine jade Buddha at home, grandmother’s favorite Maitreya—said to bring many blessings and gifted by a venerable monk.”

The bidding was at eight thousand when Xue Mingzhao glanced at the petite figure beside him. “Are you sure it’s effective?”

Thinking of the decline of the Jiang family, Jiang Lan’s resolve faltered, but she couldn’t let her cousin fall into such a trap.

“Cousin, you know as well as I do that he’s only driving up the price to provoke you. This Spring Pavilion is his family’s business—why should we rush to give him our money?” Jiang Lan thumped her chest with bravado. “If you trust me, for just two thousand taels I’ll find you something even better and ensure he loses face.”

Xue Mingrui didn’t mind losing money, but he refused to be played for a fool—after all, a fair bit of his own silver was at stake. If Lan could really pull it off, he’d save enough to buy himself a trinket.

“That’s right, brother, it’s obvious we’re being taken advantage of. If father hears about this, he’ll say we’ve lost our minds.”

Xue Mingzhao shot him a cold glare, and Xue Mingrui instantly fell silent.

“With less than seven days until grandmother’s birthday, are you sure you’ll succeed?” Xue Mingzhao’s probing gaze swept over Jiang Lan, who suppressed the shivers that came with this body and steadied herself.

“Five days is enough. Rest assured, cousin—if I can’t deliver by then, I’ll spend my own money to buy the Guanyin back from the royal estate.”

After thinking it over, Xue Mingzhao nodded. “I’ll trust you this once. But if you fail, you won’t need to go to the estate.”

Jiang Lan was delighted, only for her cousin to add, “Just stay out of my sight from then on.”

“….”

In the private room across the way, a fair, jade-like hand gently tapped the rosewood table. The man’s lips curled in a smile, his laughter low and dangerously enchanting. “No further bidding from the other side?”

A well-dressed steward replied, “Your Highness, Young Master Xue has stopped bidding.”

“Oh?” Chen Yu’s hand paused, calculation flickering in his beguiling eyes. “Xue Mingzhao knows I’m toying with him, yet for the sake of the Duke of England’s prestige, he always competes with me. Today’s outcome is odd.”

“In my humble opinion, Young Master Xue simply can’t bear to spend so much. If the Guanyin really reaches eight thousand taels, it’s far overpriced.”

“I don’t think so.” The image of those audacious, prying eyes flashed through Chen Yu’s mind. Was there another factor at play? “Who accompanied the two Xue brothers today?”

“Jiang Lan, heir to the Duke of Weiguo.”