Chapter 139: The Clan Makes a Move

You Lan's words fell, and the entire auction hall instantly fell into dead silence.

Everyone's face wore a deep astonishment, followed by a multitude of noisy chatter.

You Lan still kept a proper smile, standing upright on the stage, and did not interrupt their conversation.

When news of the auction spread, rumors said that today's auction would feature a treasure comparable to a glass phoenix, and it was related to literary aura.

Some also claimed they had seen that treasure with their own eyes: a blue glass Black Tortoise Camel Book Tower.

The reason so many wealthy merchants and nobles gathered today was to see if they could acquire this Black Tortoise Camel Book Tower.

Even if they can't get it, they can watch the excitement from the side, or collect some other treasures, right?

After all, this auction even brought out the Black Tortoise Camel Book Tower; how could the other treasures be any worse?

I thought such a treasure would appear at the end, but unexpectedly, it was the first item up for auction!

While they were talking, four cleanly dressed hulks carefully lifted a heavy wooden tray and walked up.

On the tray seemed to be a sizable object, but it was covered by a red cloth, obscuring what lay inside.

Until the four hulks placed the item before You Lan, she gave a slight smile, flicked her small hand, and tore the red cloth off.

A majestic glass Black Tortoise unfolded before everyone, its massive size and exquisite detail leaving the bidders frozen.

Most importantly, atop the Black Tortoise's back stood a nine‑story Book Tower.

On the first level's plaque, the three grand characters 'Wen Yuan Pavilion' flickered like dragons and phoenixes.

At this moment, the clan members on the third floor could no longer sit still; they sprang up, staring intently at the glass Black Tortoise below.

You Lan did not waste time, saying: "The first lot, Black Tortoise Camel Book Tower, starts at 10,000 strings; each raise must be at least 1,000 strings."

"Now I announce, the auction… officially begins."

As her small gavel fell, a middle‑aged male voice rang from above down, echoing through the whole auction hall.

"50,000 strings!"

A single bid instantly extinguished the tiny spark that had just lit in the bidders' hearts in the lower hall.

Among them, some could indeed afford 50,000 strings; would the one who actually produced that sum be a fool?

Obviously not.

Everyone understood that 50,000 strings was only the beginning.

Today's Black Tortoise Camel Book Tower is not something they can lay hands on.

"......."

"Ha, what a display of wealth."

Li Shimin sat in his chair, one hand propping his chin, and let out a cold sneer upon hearing the number.

He lived frugally in the palace, his wife weaving day and night to promote thrift, yet these people could instantly shout 50,000 strings.

Fifty thousand strings!

How much grain could that buy, and how many commoners could it sustain?

"Er Lang, that voice just now sounded very familiar to me, as if it were Ministerial Attendant Cui Minggan of the Yellow Gate," Empress Changsun reminded.

"Hmm, it's him," Li Shimin's gaze turned icy: "When I first sought to revise the Clan Chronicles, he was the one constantly obstructing me."

"It seems, in the years since my enthronement, I have let them forget what I used to do."

The auction fell silent again, but this time not for long.

A light laugh rang in the hall: "Ministerial Attendant Cui truly has great wealth, but… today's glass Black Tortoise, I, Li, intend to contest for it."

"60,000 strings!"

Cui Minggan snorted coldly, recognizing the voice's owner.

It turned out to be the Middle Secretariat Scholar tasked with compiling the Northern Qi History, Li Baiye of the Zhao Commandery Li clan!

"Why say so much? If you truly want to bid, just do it; I, Cui, am not holding your mouth shut!"

"100,000 strings!"

He raised another 40,000 strings, pushing the price up to 100,000 strings.

At that moment, a calm modest voice interjected, "Gentlemen, calm down; we all covet this treasure, so let us bid fairly—highest bid wins."

"I, Lu, bid 110,000 strings!"

Li Baiye and Cui Minggan narrowed their eyes at the voice, surprised that he had also shown up.

Compared with the self‑important Fan Yang Lu clan, the Lu who just spoke, Lu Chengqing, was a breath of fresh air.

He was gentle, humble, favored pragmatic cooperation, and consistently advocated easing tensions with imperial authority.

Who would have thought he would also come.

It seems today's auction truly hides both tigers and dragons.

Li Baiye and Cui Minggan thought so.

"Good!"

You Lan finally seized the chance to speak, tapping the gavel, "Mr. Lu has bid 110,000 strings; is there any other bid?"

She looked around; no one spoke.

You Lan struck the gavel again, "Then, 110,000 strings at once!"

She had just finished speaking when another unfamiliar voice from the third floor rang out.

"Then I'll join the fun—120,000 strings."

Hearing that voice, even Li Shimin was momentarily stunned.

Then his gaze slowly sank.

At this moment, even Empress Changsun had not spoken, and the room's atmosphere suddenly grew oppressive.

Chen Yan, puzzled, leaned toward Li Lizhi and whispered, "Who is that? Why does His Majesty seem off‑kilter?"

If it were another person, Li Lizhi might truly not know, but she has heard this person's voice.

Li Lizhi moved her lips slightly and replied in the faintest voice: "If I heard correctly, this should be Wang, the Palace Attendant of the Taiyuan Wang clan."

"Palace Attendant?!"

Chen Yan widened his eyes: "Wang, the Palace Attendant, Wang Gui?"

Li Lizhi nodded lightly.

Chen Yan finally understood why Li Shimin was displeased.

Palace Attendant, this is actually one of the Chancellors!

Moreover, he remembered once hearing Li Chengqian say that Li Shimin valued Wang Gui greatly, appointing him as a Candid Advisor, but Wang Gui still upheld aristocratic interests, advocating hereditary entry into office.

Simply put, he wanted scholars nationwide to obtain official positions only through aristocratic clans or meritorious service.

This runs contrary to Li Shimin's intention in continuing the Sui dynasty's imperial examination system.

Chen Yan clicked his tongue, having figured something out.

Wang Gui's stance clearly aimed to secure the status of aristocratic clans, while Li Shimin wanted to give poor families' children a chance to rise.

In this situation, Wang Gui not only survived but even held a Chancellor's position, which is quite interesting.

Just as he was pondering, Li Shimin suddenly said: "Zi An, last time you told me about ordering the construction of a merit stele, after I returned and thought it over carefully, I found something improper."

"The merit stele I ordered built, I can indeed fill in some numbers at will, letting my name overwhelm the aristocratic families below."

"But the aristocratic families, for the sake of reputation, will certainly not donate less; for me to surpass them, the numbers I fill cannot be few."

"Generally, such disaster relief grain and money need to be approved by many people; by then, if it is discovered that I arbitrarily filled in numbers, causing the total collected grain and money to be incorrect,"

"What should we do?"

"..."