Chongzhen didn't think the matter was true. He knew Zhang Yan very well. The emperor's sister-in-law was well-educated and generous, and she would never do anything to disgrace the royal family. In anger, Chongzhen ordered Wang Chengen to send someone to investigate, but this
How to investigate this matter? I have searched and searched, but I can't find out the reason.
Just when Chongzhen was distressed, another rare thing happened in Cuiyan Tower in the west of the city. Duofu and the jewelry store Wanbaozhai held an auction together.
The auction is not unusual, but what is unusual is that the items auctioned are all belongings of officials from the DPRK and China, and all proceeds from the auction are donated to the people of Gyeonggi.
A disaster occurred in the hinterland of Gyeonggi, but the dignitaries in the capital were not affected too much. In the Ming capital, there are still many wealthy people. Now at the end of the year, with nothing to do, an auction was suddenly held.
There are quite a few people who are interested. But what many people are more interested in is whether these so-called official items are real. Not many people know the virtues of the officials in the capital, and what good things these people can come up with.
?
In the evening, the auction started as scheduled in Cuiyan Building. Many people came as scheduled, and even more people watched the excitement. Many people did not understand why the auction was held in Cuiyan Building. In Xicheng, Cuiyan Building is not
What a serious place, this is the famous fireworks pavilion in Beijing.
The person in charge of the auction was none other than Xiao Ruxue, the female shopkeeper of Wanbaozhai. Xiao Ruxue was dressed in white fur, with a long skirt that trailed to the floor, and tassels between her eyebrows. She was very enchanting, and her whole person exuded a mature and charming aura.
This girl can be regarded as the dream lover of many wealthy children in the capital, but Xiao Ruxue has a very high vision and has not spoken to anyone so far. Xiao Ruxue personally hosted this auction, which is rare. Because
Xiao Ruxue's reasons have added a bit of excitement to this auction. Many people are thinking that even if they don't have any treasures, for Xiao Ruxue's sake, they will buy one or two to win the favor of beautiful women.
There are some people sitting next to several tables. These people drink tea with sullen faces. They don't talk and laugh like others and look very reserved. One of them, a man in blue robe, keeps his head hanging down, as if he feels uncomfortable sitting here.
.A rich man on the second floor was drinking tea and flirting with the woman next to him. He accidentally lowered his head and looked surprised.
The friend sitting across from me couldn't help but ask, "Master Min, why do you have such an expression? Have you seen a ghost?"
Mr. Min let go of the girl in his arms and pointed downwards, "Chang Laosan, look down. Isn't this Xu Wanfu, the second housekeeper of the adult family?"
Chang Laosan had a look of disbelief. He held the wine glass and searched down, and soon his eyes widened, "Hey, it is indeed Xu Wanfu next to Cheng Jiming. I have let this old boy cheat a lot of money before. Even if
Even if he turns to ashes, he will not admit his mistake. Mr. Min, take a closer look. It is not just Xu Wanfu who is here today. The person next to him is also not simple. Mr. Qian Qianyi's nephew Meng Xianghe. Well, the one opposite us on the second floor
House, look at it, isn’t that the concierge of Mr. Wang’s family? Tsk, that’s interesting, it looks like we’re going to have some fun tonight..."
Mr. Min rubbed his eyes and observed carefully. Sure enough, as Chang Laosan said, there were many servants or relatives of the court master's family coming to Cuiyan Building tonight. Mr. Wang Bo, the Minister of Rites, was even more awesome. He actually treated his own concierge
We were sent here. If it weren't for Chang Laosan, a local gangster in the West City, no one would have recognized him.
At this time, Xiao Ruxue introduced the first auction item in the auction with a pleasant voice. When the red silk was unveiled, it was not the pearl agate as imagined, nor the calligraphy and painting of a famous person. It turned out to be a wood sculpture. It looked like a Pentium.
Trojan horse.
"This thing is from the hands of Mr. Wang Bo, the Minister of Rites. Mr. Wang worked hard and spent two months to carve this wooden horse. He is very precious. Recently, in order to help the victims outside the city, Mr. Wang reluctantly parted his love and gave it to
We, Wanbaozhai, are conducting an auction. The starting price for this item is five taels of silver. Every increase in price must not be less than five taels. Start now!"
After Xiao Ruxue finished speaking, the whole Cuiyan Building was silent for a while, and then burst into laughter. Anyone who was not blind could see that this wood carving was a waste product. You can buy dozens of them for five taels of silver at the stalls in the West Market.
Just this thing, spending five taels of silver to buy it back is not enough to use as firewood. There are many rich people, but who has a burned-out brain to buy such a useless thing?
If the carving is really decent, for the sake of Mr. Wang, it is not impossible to buy it back and offer it as an offering. But what is this carved thing? If you say it is a horse, it is more like a donkey. If you say it is galloping, it is more like a donkey kicking.
.
Chang Laosan drank wine, pursed his lips, and said with a smile: "It's just this thing, I'm so embarrassed to let Wanbaozhai auction it. Mr. Wang is really deductible. If you don't want to donate money, just forget it. It's not like you can break the knots in the wood quickly."
Is the diaphragm suitable for others?"
...
In a private room on the second floor separated by a screen, Tie Mo, Zhang Weixian and others were sitting at the table, looking at the situation in the hall. Zhang Weixian frowned and said with a wry smile: "Can this happen? Look, it's obviously not possible.
People make bids, but the first one fails to sell. Isn’t this a joke?”
"Haha, Mr. Guo, please be patient and don't be too impatient. This will have the best effect." Tie Mo was not surprised at all, and his expression was very calm, not anxious at all. No one responded at first, as it was expected.
That's it. If you really rush to take pictures, how can you deceive people?
Zhang Weixian drank some helplessly. He heard that it could disgust those people, so he came to join in the fun, otherwise he would not have come to Cuiyan Tower.
In the hall, Xiao Ruxue smiled sweetly. Seeing that no one was taking pictures, she said with some regret: "It seems that this wood sculpture can only be returned to Mr. Wang. It's a pity, Mr. Wang is so kind."
In the crowd, a middle-aged man suddenly raised his number plate and said loudly: "Master Wang is amazingly talented and outstanding in learning. This wood carving must also bear a lot of effort from Master Wang. I bought this wood carving today.
Take advantage of Mr. Wang’s talent and take advantage of it for high school next year!”
The men and women in Cuiyan Building were in an uproar. They didn't expect that there would be a fool who spent a few taels of silver to buy a piece of wood. Are you talented? Bless yourself in high school? Damn it, the talented people who took the imperial examination still believe this? Look at this again
A young man, wearing a gray robe, with some oil stains on his shoulders and an unshaven beard. Does he look like a scholar? He looks more like a fish seller in the West Market.
Regardless of the buzz around, it is a good thing after all that someone is bidding. Xiao Ruxue smiled and said: "Okay, this talented... Yuanwai is willing to pay five taels of silver to buy the wood carving. Is there anyone next?"
After just shouting, someone else raised the sign in his hand, "I am willing to give you ten taels of silver."
Hiss, everyone in Cuiyan Tower gasped, as if they had seen a fool. It was surprising enough that someone with talent appeared, but now there is someone rushing to buy it. This is really surprising. Fool
There are them every year, but there are so many this year. Many people are looking at the person who increased the price. Others don't recognize it, but Chang Laosan and Mr. Min do.
Oh, isn't it Mr. Wang's concierge Zhao Si who raised the price?
Zhao Si took the initiative to increase the price. The middle-aged man looked unhappy and said with a frown: "Brother, this wood carving is very important to me. Can you give me the wood carving?"
Zhao Si immediately stood up, cupped his hands towards the middle-aged man, and said with an embarrassed look: "Brother, this wood sculpture is also very important to me. A few years ago, I wanted to ask for a masterpiece by Mr. Wang, but it has never been available.
, I met you today, how can you let me go?"
"You... I am determined to get this thing... I will bid fifteen taels..."
Without even looking at the middle-aged man, Zhao Si raised the wooden sign in his hand and said calmly: "Twenty taels..."
...
Just like that, the two of them fought for it, and in the end they actually increased the increase to 155 taels. When Zhao Si patted the Trojan horse away with a smile on his face, many people in Cuiyan Tower almost stared out of their eyes.
.It’s like seeing a ghost. Could it be that God was joking, tonight a fool actually spent one hundred and fifty-five taels to buy a wooden lump. Some people have begun to wonder if this wooden lump has some other secret.
In the private room, Zhang Weixian was a little dazed. He was holding the tea cup in his right hand and put it to his mouth and forgot to drink it. "Is this... is this crazy? That piece of junk was sold for 155 yuan."
two?"
Tie Mo sat forward, playing with two jade balls in his hands, but his eyes never left Zhao Si, "Mr. Zhang, do you know who the person who bought the wooden knot is? Hehe, that person's name is Zhao Si
Fourth, he is the old concierge of our Lord Wang’s family.”
"What?" Zhang Weixian's eyes widened even more at this time. His hands shook, and the tea spilled out. The hot water fell on the back of his hand. Zhang Weixian was so hot that he quickly put down the tea cup and blew in the cool air.
Surprised at first, Zhang Weixian soon figured it out. When he looked at Tie Mo again, there was a hint of admiration in his eyes, "It's amazing. General Tie's move really opened my eyes."
.”
"This Wang Bo is a sanctimonious man who is seeking fame and reputation. He cares most about reputation. If his things cannot be sold, wouldn't he be ridiculed for being destitute? As an official, if he is indifferent while watching the suffering of the people, he will eventually be laughed at. Put this thing up for auction.
It was said at the meeting that in order to save face, Wang Bo had to buy it back no matter how much money he spent. He asked them to donate directly. Each one of them claimed to be clean and honest, saying that they could not get the money, but for the sake of face and reputation, they secretly spent a lot of money.
I’m willing to pay for it.”
This is what Zhang Weixian admires the most. Tie Mo simply took advantage of Wang Bo's weakness and forced Wang Bo to spend money to buy back his junk. However, Wang Bo would not buy it back at the lowest price.
Try to find a way to buy it at a high price, so that Mr. Wang will be considered as having donated more money, and it will be nice to hear. If he really wants to sell at the lowest price, then Mr. Wang will not be able to show off his face.
After figuring out the joints, Zhang Weixian smiled and shook his head, but there was still a trace of doubt on his face, "I just don't understand, this Wang Bo is not stupid, he knows that we don't have any good intentions, how can he put his own
Give the things to us for auction?”
"Ahem, this is really not what Wang Bo gave us. That wood carving is a scrap that Wang Bo carved before. I asked someone to take it out from the Wang family. But before the auction, someone notified Wang Bo.
.Anyway, it doesn’t matter what it is. Even if you put a piece of broken wood there, in order to preserve his reputation, Wang Bo has to find a way to buy it back. Otherwise, if he can’t get a penny at the auction, wouldn’t he, Mr. Wang, become a joke?”
"This..." Zhang Weixian's eyes widened. Although he tried his best to endure it, he still couldn't help laughing. This move was really too damaging. Wang Bo and the others knew it was a trap, so they had to
The most annoying thing about jumping in with your eyes closed is that you have to look cheerful.
Next, Xiao Ruxue asked people to bring over more than a dozen auction items one after another. The auction items were diverse and included everything, but without exception, they were all owned by high-ranking officials and nobles in the court. There was not a single valuable item, but
All of them were auctioned off. The most ridiculous thing was that almost every item had people bidding on it. The competition was fierce and the atmosphere of the auction was very high.
The most ridiculous thing is the seventh lot, a pair of old cloth shoes belonging to Master Cheng Jiming. The shoes smelled sour, and a hole was chewed out by a mouse on the instep. There were actually several houses competing for this pair of worn-out shoes, and finally they were bought by one
The young master auctioned it off for a price of one thousand taels of silver.
This pair of shoes was sold at a sky-high price, which shocked everyone's attention. Those who didn't know it thought they were not a pair of cloth shoes, but a pair of treasures made of brocade.
Tie Mo and Zhang Weixian were laughing from ear to ear in the private room. When the auction was about to end, Hai Lanzhu opened the curtain and walked in. As soon as he entered the door, Hai Lanzhu rolled his eyes at Tie Mo angrily.
Today, she is dressed in blue and wearing a white cloak. She looks elegant and elegant, with an extraordinary temperament.
"You, it's so bad. You even asked someone to get a pair of rag shoes. I don't know where the shoes were thrown. They smelled sour. Just now, Miss Xiao almost couldn't hold back her vomiting. She said it better, so she didn't
Throw away these shoes."
Patting the chair next to him and asking Hai Lanzhu to sit down, Tie Mo said with a smile: "This thing was done by a fool. It has nothing to do with me. It doesn't matter what it is anyway. You didn't see it, but those broken shoes cost a thousand dollars."
Two grains of silver, what a sky-high price!"
...
The auction is still going on, but the first phase has ended, and the next auction will not be those junk items. In the second phase, the maid brought up a calligraphy treasure.
"This calligraphy treasure was recently created by Governor Sun. Everyone must be aware of Master Sun's pen and ink, so I won't say much more. The starting price for this calligraphy treasure is one thousand taels, and five hundred taels per time."
After Sun Chengzong's calligraphy was unfolded, knowledgeable people looked at the handwriting and immediately showed joy. The handwriting was definitely that of Governor Sun, and looking at the seal, it was even more correct. Governor Sun's calligraphy was very valuable for collection. In the past, it was
Almost every one of the few pieces that leaked out was taken away at a price of more than two thousand taels of silver. You know, those paintings were all casually made by Governor Sun, without any identity imprint, but this calligraphy treasure, at first glance, is
Master Sun made it with great care, and there was a private rubbing on the back. This calligraphy treasure is much more valuable than the previous calligraphy treasures.