Wan Qing noticed him looking at her, her eyes brimming with anticipation as she blinked repeatedly at him. Seeing the faint curve of his lips, she felt a sudden jolt in front of her.
With a slight movement, she realized she could move again. Delighted, she flashed a smile at Leng Mingye and quickly stood up.
“I bid eighty thousand.” Hearing the highest current bid of seventy-five thousand taels of silver and thinking of how crucial the Silver Flower Snow Radiance was to her, Wan Qing instinctively raised her hand to bid.
“You… What would a girl like you want with this thing? You…”
The sudden shout startled Sun Fengyu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, exhausted. His handsome face turned livid as he glared at her, his large hand reaching out. But before he could even attempt to seal her pressure points, Wan Qing’s silver needle pricked his arm, forcing him to swallow his words.
“I bid ninety thousand.”
Wan Qing’s outburst prompted another bidder to immediately counter.
“I bid one hundred twenty thousand. Let’s see who dares to outbid me now…”
Determined to secure the item, Wan Qing gritted her teeth and raised the bid again. The audible gasps from the crowd filled her with satisfaction as she cast a defiant glance around, her eyes brimming with rare arrogance and dominance. It was as if she were challenging everyone—if they dared to continue, she would fight to the end, no matter the cost.
“Young lady, you…”
The last bidder who had competed with Wan Qing frowned in displeasure at her attitude.
“If you still want to compete, I’ll add another thirty thousand. If no one else bids, then this treasure is mine. Brother Sun…”
Before the man could respond, Wan Qing, exuding an air of overwhelming wealth, raised the bid again. She smirked triumphantly and even blew a teasing whistle at him before jabbing Sun Fengyu’s shoulder playfully, her face lit with a sweet smile.
“You… you… you…”
Sun Fengyu had been wary of her speaking up again, never expecting that even after sealing her pressure points, she’d remain unruly. Though he didn’t know who had undone his technique or how she had managed to counter him, her audacity in treating him like a bottomless purse—flaunting her wealth without compromise—left him seething.
His face turned purple with rage as he trembled, pointing at her. Before he could finish his sentence, a surge of blood choked his throat. Unable to hold back, he spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed sideways.
“Brother Sun, you…”
Watching him slump over, his furious gaze fading as his eyes slowly closed, Wan Qing hesitated for a moment. But the thought of the treasure she desired spurred her into action. She shook his shoulder urgently while discreetly checking his pulse.
Confirming that he had merely fainted from sheer frustration, she sighed inwardly at how easily this man had been provoked.
“It seems no one is willing to bid higher. The Silver Flower Snow Radiance now belongs to this young lady. However, given Young Master Sun’s current state, I must ask—can you afford the payment? If not, this auction will be voided, and today’s event will come to an immediate halt.”
Bai Nianlong, standing on the stage, had been closely observing the scene below. For some reason, the woman who had stolen the spotlight at this auction gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity—though she couldn’t quite place why.
Seeing Wan Qing turn to the young master beside her for money, only for him to collapse, Bai Nianlong couldn’t help but feel disdain. If he wasn’t willing to accompany her, why bring her here in the first place?
More importantly, the man didn’t seem particularly fond of the girl, yet he gritted his teeth and paid as if his flesh were being torn away. Bai Nianlong shot Sun Fengyu a scornful glance before reminding Wan Qing of the potential price of the item in her hands.
“I…” Wan Qing hesitated, recalling Sun Fengyu’s earlier words—this auction was held only once every three years.
“I’ll cover the payment for her, Qingfeng.”
Just as she wavered, Leng Mingye—before even Ning Wang could react—spoke up, pulling out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and handing them to his attendant, Qingfeng.
“Young lady, my master has offered to pay on your behalf. Please accept it.”
Qingfeng promptly approached and handed the money to Wan Qing.
“If Wanwan wants something, how could I, as her elder brother, lag behind? Qingfeng…”
Seeing Leng Mingye step in, Ning Wang also spoke up, instructing his attendant, Qingfeng.
“Brother Ning, I…”
Faced with both men’s attendants holding out banknotes, Wan Qing found herself in a dilemma.
“Since Ning Wang has already gifted his token to this little fool, you can’t show favoritism when accepting gifts from me, can you?”
Leng Mingye cast a sidelong glance at Ning Wang, his sharp eyes catching sight of the token hanging from Wan Qing’s waist. His tone was light but firm.
“Ah, the kindness of both brothers overwhelms me. Then I’ll accept Brother Leng’s banknotes, and Brother Ning, please take yours back.”
Leng Mingye’s words swayed Wan Qing’s initial inclination toward Ning Wang’s offer. She knew all too well how domineering and petty this man could be. Not wanting to put Ning Wang in an awkward position, she smiled apologetically at him before taking the banknotes from Qingfeng and handing them to Bai Nianlong.
“Very well.”
Though Ning Wang’s brows furrowed slightly at her choice, he maintained a composed smile and signaled for Qingfeng to withdraw.
And so, Wan Qing left the auction house with her prize in hand.
Sun Fengyu was carried out by his servants and taken back in a carriage, while Wan Qing entrusted her other purchases to her maids, Hong Lian and Xia Tao, keeping the Silver Flower Snow Radiance close to her chest as she walked out with Ning Wang and Leng Mingye.
Just as they stepped out of Linglong Pavilion, Leng Mingye’s household servants arrived in a hurry, reporting urgent matters at home. With an apologetic nod to Wan Qing and Ning Wang, he departed swiftly with Qingfeng and Bai Yu.
“It’s scorching out, and the journey back to the Marquis’s estate is still long. Why not ride with me? I’ll escort you home.”
Ning Wang’s carriage, driven by Qingyun, was already waiting outside. Glancing at the still-blazing sun, he spoke with concern.
“Then Qing’er shall gratefully accept your kindness.”
With the sweltering heat of the approaching Dragon Boat Festival, Wan Qing had been dreading the sun’s glare. Ning Wang’s offer was a welcome relief, and she obediently climbed into the carriage with him. Qingfeng and the maids followed on foot beside the carriage.
Without Leng Mingye around, Wan Qing found it easier to chat freely with Ning Wang, treating him like the kind elder brother he was.
Just as they neared the street leading to Jichang Marquis’s estate, chaos erupted ahead.
“Move aside! Move aside!”
A horse, seemingly spooked, galloped wildly down the street. A young nobleman in fine robes clung desperately to its neck, his face pale with terror as he shouted at pedestrians to clear the way.
“Qingfeng…”
Seeing the panicked crowd scrambling to the sides, Ning Wang lifted the carriage curtain, his expression tense as he called out to his attendant.
Qingfeng responded instantly, leaping from the carriage.
Amid the horse’s frantic neighing and the crowd’s screams, Qingfeng managed to seize the reins—but the nobleman was thrown off, rolling to the ground, where he lay motionless.
“Stop the carriage!”
At Ning Wang’s command, the carriage halted, and the two stepped out to approach the fallen man.
“Help me… please. My leg was already injured, and now… it hurts… it hurts so much…”
The nobleman struggled to push himself up, but one leg lay limp, as if shattered. His face was deathly pale, twisted in agony as he pleaded with them.
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