Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: "I Bid 10 Taels of Gold.

After Qin Lingzhi’s shout, the other customers in the Treasure Pearl Pavilion began to gather around.

Even passersby on the street noticed the crowd gathered inside the Treasure Pearl Pavilion. Curious, they stopped to ask what was going on.

When word got out that two women inside the Treasure Pearl Pavilion were about to bid on a set of Dongzhu Jewelry, even more people from the street pressed forward to watch.

In an instant, the Treasure Pearl Pavilion became unusually bustling.

There were likely more people here now than during the pavilion’s grand opening.

After all, the items in the Treasure Pearl Pavilion were far from cheap. Most people only ever window-shopped, never daring to step inside. But today was different. Today, they were here to watch a spectacle—and watching a spectacle didn’t cost any silver. Who would pass up a chance like that?

Hu Yuwan felt cornered by her troublesome sister-in-law and Ming Lingyi. She was angry, but on the surface, she had to feign helplessness, as if she had no choice but to indulge her husband’s sister.

"It seems we’ve made quite a spectacle of ourselves today." Hu Yuwan directed her words at Qin Lingzhi, but she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "I never imagined a little joke with this young lady would escalate into something this big."

With this statement, Hu Yuwan was clearly trying to pin the blame for "stirring up trouble" on someone else.

At this point, she didn’t care if the blame landed on Ming Lingyi and Cai Jie or on Qin Lingzhi.

As long as she wasn’t the one who caused the trouble, it was fine. If the situation couldn’t be salvaged, she wouldn’t be the one to be humiliated.

"A joke?"

But just as Hu Yuwan finished, Ming Lingyi furrowed her brow. "How could that possibly be a joke? Everyone here heard you. You, Miss Qin, and you, Mrs. Hu, kept calling us ’country girls’ and looking down on us. Are those what you call jokes? In that case..." Ming Lingyi paused as if carefully considering her words. ’Then I suppose I could also say that Mrs. Hu is merely the daughter of a merchant. If we’re going to bring up origins, doesn’t that make us about the same?’

After saying this, Ming Lingyi added cautiously, "I’m just making a joke, of course. I’m sure Mrs. Hu won’t mind. Right?"

How could Hu Yuwan possibly not mind?

Years ago, the Hu family had intentionally groomed its daughters with the express purpose of having them marry into good families after their coming-of-age, thereby elevating the family’s own standing.

After becoming an official wife, how could she tolerate being reminded of her former status as a mere merchant’s daughter?

Ever since she became Mrs. Hu, no one had ever been as tactless as Ming Lingyi, daring to bring up her origins to her face.

Yet Ming Lingyi had done just that, even turning Hu Yuwan’s own "joke" excuse back on her. Hu Yuwan was fuming, but she had no way to vent her anger.

Hu Yuwan wanted to smile to show she didn’t mind—she couldn’t very well contradict herself. But after several failed attempts to force the corners of her mouth upward, she gave up.

Every word from Ming Lingyi was like a footstep in a minefield of her insecurities. It would have been a miracle if she could still manage a smile.

Watching from the side, a worried Cai Jie tightened her grip on Ming Lingyi’s sleeve.

’That woman’s entire demeanor changed after hearing what Lingyi said,’ Cai Jie thought. ’She seems far more terrifying than Qin Lingzhi, who’s ready to whip someone at the slightest disagreement. Her eyes are so dark now, completely at odds with her elegant aura.’

Cai Jie was genuinely worried that Hu Yuwan might suddenly lunge forward and tear at Ming Lingyi’s hair.

Ming Lingyi patted Cai Jie’s hand, then looked up at Qin Lingzhi and Hu Yuwan. "So, shall we begin the bidding? After all, isn’t the ownership of this Dongzhu Jewelry set why everyone has gathered?" With that, Ming Lingyi turned her gaze to the Shopkeeper of the Treasure Pearl Pavilion.

The Shopkeeper of the Treasure Pearl Pavilion could feel a cold sweat trickling down his back. ’If only Ming Lingyi and Cai Jie had come alone,’ he thought, ’or if the two ladies from the Qin Family had come on a different day, I’d be ecstatic. Both sides are ready to spend, and I’d be earning silver. I pray every day for generous customers like these. But with them clashing like this, my heart has been in my throat the whole time.’

Meeting Ming Lingyi’s gaze, the Shopkeeper gave a wry smile. "Mrs. Hu, what do you think?"

Hu Yuwan, of course, had no objection.

In fact, at this point, she was in no position to refuse.

"Very well. Then today, with all our friends in the Treasure Pearl Pavilion as witnesses, the bidding for this set of Dongzhu Jewelry shall officially begin!" The Shopkeeper gestured for a clerk to arrange the jewelry boxes and open them, allowing all the onlookers to get a good look at the truly stunning set.

"The starting bid for this set is three gold," the Shopkeeper announced.

The moment he spoke, many in the crowd gasped.

Three gold was no small sum, not even for a wealthy family.

Many people might only earn a few gold in their entire lives.

Cai Jie pressed her lips together. In truth, she had felt like backing down the moment she heard the price.

Jiang Yuchuan had given her plenty of silver notes, but all of them combined would likely just barely cover three gold.

But spending so many silver notes on a single set of Dongzhu Jewelry... her heart ached at the thought. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.

"I bid four gold," Qin Lingzhi cut in immediately, shooting a defiant glance at Ming Lingyi.

’She refused to believe two country bumpkins could raise the bid one gold at a time, just like she could.’

’How much silver could people like them possibly have?’

’If they tried to bid beyond their means just to save face, she wouldn’t mind sticking around to watch the fallout.’

"Ten gold." How could Ming Lingyi fail to see Qin Lingzhi’s malicious provocation? She had originally intended to play their little game slowly, but now, she had a change of heart.

’Didn’t Qin Lingzhi and Hu Yuwan try to use status and silver to humiliate her and Cai Jie from the very beginning? Fine. She would learn their tactics and give them a taste of their own medicine.’

Qin Lingzhi had been ready to sit back and enjoy the show. She never expected Ming Lingyi to actually meet her bid, let alone raise the price by a whole six gold with a single word!

That was more than triple the starting price of three gold for the Dongzhu Jewelry!

Qin Lingzhi’s brow furrowed, and she pointed accusingly. "You country bumpkin! You have no manners! Don’t you know how an auction works? You can’t just blurt out empty words and have it count. You bid ten gold—can you even produce that much money?!"