Chapter 316

First Volume, Chapter 316: Barefoot Fear No Shoes

Qin Feng waved his hand grandly: "This Liu Li Wine Set, fixed price: Ten Thousand Liang Silver. Whoever wants it, take it."

A Six Ministries Zidi leapt to his feet and roared at Qin Feng: "Qin! You're truly dug trenches! From the start you planned to sell it for Ten Thousand Liang Silver—what was all that One Liang Silver bidding? You tricked Young Master Qian out of Fifteen Wan Liang Silver—how shameless!"

Watching Qian Cheng's face alternate between red and white, fists clenched, as if he wanted to pound Qin Feng to death on the spot.

Qin Feng was inwardly overjoyed.

He loved this kind of look—hating him but unable to touch him.

Pretending to be grand meant nothing.

Pretending to be grand in front of Little Master Qin meant nothing.

But trying to court the woman beside Little Master Qin? That's your mistake…

This Fifteen Wan Liang Silver? Let it be a small lesson for Qian Cheng.

Qin Feng clasped his hands behind his back and spoke solemnly: "Shameless? Heh. I sent people to bid—that's an unspoken rule in auctioning, as everyone sees. As a merchant, I value 'rules' above all—how could I be the one to break them?"

"If it's too expensive, don't bid. Young Master Qian insisted on buying it—no one could stop him. How can you blame me?"

"Besides, Young Master Qian spent Fifteen Wan Liang Silver to earn a reputation as a generous noble. He's rich—why are you butting in? It's like a Eunuch worrying when the Emperor isn't even anxious."

The Six Ministries Zidi turned red-faced and looked at Qian Cheng.

But Qian Cheng took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his Hatred.

Qian Cheng forced out a cold smile, squinting at Qin Feng: "Heh. Jingdu has long spread the rumor that Young Master Qin is a medicinal plaster—stick to anyone, and you lose a layer of flesh. Today, I've seen it firsthand! Fifteen Wan Liang Silver? I don't care!"

Qin Feng smiled apologetically, but inwardly sneered.

You've taken the whole 'act' for yourself!

Your father may be Minister of Justice, but his annual salary is only thirty-some Wan Liang Silver. After years of frugality, he saved a few hundred thousand Liang—yet you blew Fifteen Wan Liang Silver in one go, and still pretend to be rich.

Qin Feng understood the principle of draining the pond to catch fish, so he treated Noble Youth with mercy: a small trench once a month, a big one every three months, ensuring they had time to recover.

Once their pockets swelled again, Qin Feng would return to harvest the leeks.

Qin Feng knew better than they did how much silver each Noble Youth had.

Watching the group of youths cast admiring glances at Qian Cheng.

Qin Feng casually added: "Young Master Qian is generous! Fifteen Wan Liang Silver is pocket change to you. I hear the Minister of Justice loves wine—why not spend another Ten Thousand Liang Silver to buy this Wine Vessel and gift it to your father?"

At these words, Qian Cheng's face turned instantly pale. He forced calm: "M…my father prefers boiled wine. This Liu Li Wine Set won't suit him."

Qin Feng's smile deepened: "Suitability and preference are two different things. Even if it can't boil wine, you can collect it. Or do you mean you can't afford it? If you really can't, I'll give you a discount—ninety-nine thousand Liang Silver will do."

Qian Cheng's breathing grew rapid.

That Fifteen Wan Liang Silver was nearly all his savings—over the years, countless lower officials had bribed him to curry favor.

He'd painstakingly saved so much, only to lose it all in one glance from Qin Feng.

If he spent another Ten Thousand Liang Silver on the Wine Vessel, he'd have to dip into the family treasury—and if his father found out, he'd be stripped of skin.

As Qian Cheng stood trapped between retreat and advance, Qin Feng yawned, distracted: "I hear your father is bosom friends with Lin Taibao. Surely you, Young Master Qian, have close ties with Lin Feimo of Jiangnan. If you're short on cash, borrow from Lin Feimo—Ten Thousand Liang Silver is a drop in the ocean to the Lin Family."

The Noble Youth all shrank back.

They thought: Is Qin Feng out of his mind? Why drag the Lin Family into this?

Qian Cheng frowned tightly, glaring at Qin Feng: "What do you mean by that?"

Qin Feng shrugged: "Isn't it obvious? The Lin Family has money. You've been their lackey for years—you've surely profited handsomely."

Qian Cheng clenched his fists, teeth grinding: "Qin! I warn you to stop! Lin Taibao holds high office—he is the backbone of Shedynasty, devoted his whole life to duty. How dare you slander him!"

Stop?

Qin Feng sneered inwardly: Qian Yu of the Ministry of Justice may be close to the Lin Family, but he's always cautious—even if aiding the Lins to suppress Qin Feng, he'd act covertly.

Qian Cheng dares confront me so openly? Without the Imperial Consort's orders, who'd believe it?

After all, Lin Taibao is low-key; the Imperial Consort is the opposite—extremely showy.

The moment Qin Feng saw Qian Cheng, he understood: the Imperial Consort had begun her war against him.

If so, no need for mercy!

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow at Qian Cheng: "Slandering Lin Taibao? I think you're slandering me. When did I say one bad word about Lin Taibao? Listen closely—I said Lin Family."

Qian Cheng couldn't help sneering: "Lin Family and Lin Taibao aren't the same?"

Qin Feng answered without hesitation: "Of course not! Lin Family rules Jiangnan—controlled by Lin Feimo's father, the Lin Family's Eldest Son. Lin Taibao resides in Jingdu, backbone of Shedynasty—he puts Shedynasty first. One is public, one is private—how can you confuse them?"

"The Lin Family's Eldest Son holds no official rank, no noble title—merely basking in Imperial Cousin's glow. If the Lin Family breaks the law, they're punished like commoners."

At these words, Qian Cheng burst into laughter.

The Noble Youth also thought Qin Feng had lost his mind—how could he say such nonsense?

The Lin Family held no official rank or title—but ask Heaven, who'd dare touch a single hair of the Lin Family?

Put it this way: even if Lin Feimo stood before the Chief Justice of Dali Temple, that Chief Justice would still weigh his words.

Amid the laughter,

a cold voice rang out.

It came from an unremarkable maid.

Others didn't recognize her, but Qian Cheng knew—she was the Imperial Consort's personal maid, the one who had summoned him here to disrupt things.

The maid fixed her gaze on Qian Cheng and spoke in a hushed tone: "Young Master Qian, you're tired. Return home and rest."

Qian Cheng clearly sensed hostility in her eyes—he froze, unsure what he'd said wrong.

The maid ignored Qian Cheng and hurriedly bowed to Qin Feng: "Young Master Qin, forgive me. What Young Master Qian said earlier was nonsense—don't take it seriously."

Qin Feng smiled warmly at the maid: "Not serious? Fine. Then buy this Liu Li Wine Set."