Chapter 1892: This auction came strangely; what does the Prime Minister intend?

Night fell.

The night grew deeper.

Hu Prefecture.

Hu Delu carefully held the scroll of the 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix', unable to put it down.

Hu Delu's wife, about forty years old, had a very charming figure, a fair face, and her hair was piled high in a very unique style.

"Husband, where is the 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix'?" Lady Hu asked, walking over gracefully.

She came from a prestigious family and was proficient in both calligraphy and painting. Hearing that her husband had spent 100,000 taels to purchase the ink treasure at the auction, she came specifically to admire it.

"This is it!" Hu Delu proudly displayed the 'Chick Pecking Rice' painting in his hand.

Lady Hu was instantly stunned: "This... Husband, this is clearly a 'Chick Pecking Rice' painting!"

She didn't understand; her husband had always been shrewd. In the past, he had built such a rich foundation relying only on the family's hundreds of acres of land, thirty-some pigs, and a dozen cows.

How could he spend 100,000 taels to buy this painting?

Hu Delu sneered and said, "A woman's perspective! Don't you see whose hand this painting came from!"

Lady Hu leaned in to look, and the seal was clearly the two characters 'Gao Yang'. She was instantly astonished.

"The Prime Minister?"

"This is the Prime Minister's own handwriting?"

"Indeed, this is the Prime Minister's own handwriting!" Hu Delu stood with his hands behind his back, full of spirit. "The Prime Minister is only in his twenties, yet he was enfeoffed as a Marquis after one battle, serves as Prime Minister, and holds the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry. He is deeply trusted by His Majesty!"

"There are even rumors among the people that His Majesty has long been shaped by the Prime Minister."

"Right now, the Xiongnu have not yet been destroyed, and the six kingdoms have not yet sent troops. The Duke Prefecture is destined to be prominent for decades!"

"Is it expensive to spend 100,000 taels to buy a painting in the Prime Minister's own hand, to buy a stepping stone for the Hu family to knock on the doors of the upper class? Not to mention, the Prime Minister said he would host us at his residence in a few days. What kind of relationship is this?"

"In the future, whoever wants to move against my Hu family will have to weigh the consequences when they see this painting!"

Once these words were spoken.

Lady Hu suddenly realized, her red lips slightly parted, and she nodded repeatedly.

"In that case, these 100,000 taels were worth it!"

Hu Delu smiled with his hands behind his back and said, "Naturally. Go and hang this 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' in the middle of the main hall so everyone can see it!"

"Yes!"

At the same time.

Wang family.

As soon as Wang Baiwan returned, he hugged a concubine with a waist like a willow and a charm all over her body, saying with a face full of satisfaction.

"A huge profit today!"

"I bought a glass cup for 50,000 taels and gained the Prime Minister's appreciation. It was worth it!"

Pei family.

The father and son of the Pei family sat in the main hall.

Pei Cheng said to himself, "Money is gone, but it can be earned back. But if life is gone, it's truly gone."

"120,000 taels is enough to show our Pei family's sincerity. Tonight, I can finally sleep peacefully."

"..."

Song family.

Song Li looked at the bright moon in the sky and muttered to himself, "120,000 taels, almost emptying my Song family, just to get this 'Painting of the Celestial Immortal'."

"I hope my resignation from office and staying away from court disputes will go smoothly!"

He sighed, his brow full of worry.

"..."

Cui family.

As soon as Cui Xinghe returned, he sat on a stone chair, his brows tightly furrowed, as if in deep thought.

Cui Jian, dressed in a purple robe, stepped forward and said, "Xinghe, our Cui family secured the Prime Minister's 'Breaking the Xiongnu' wild cursive script. Compared to those paintings, it's much better."

"The friction between you and the Prime Minister is just a minor matter. With this calligraphy, it should be smoothed over; there's no need to worry too much."

Cui Xinghe shook his head and said, "Father, I am not worried about this; I just find it a bit strange."

"Strange?"

Cui Jian frowned and asked, "What's strange about it?"

Cui Xinghe turned back and said, puzzled, "Why would the Prime Minister suddenly want to hold a charity auction?"

"No need to think about that; he's obviously short of money."

"From the initial rumors, to the masks at the entrance, to the ugly paintings later—which part wasn't for the sake of making money?"

Cui Xinghe's gaze was deep. "Father is right. From the rumors and masks to those... paintings, the Prime Minister's intention to accumulate wealth is naked and almost undisguised."

"But the Prime Minister just achieved great merit. Soap, white jade sugar, bamboo paper, clubs... which one doesn't bring in gold daily?"

"With the Wuqing Sect causing chaos within Zhao Kingdom, given the Prime Minister's business methods, making money is not difficult at all."