Chapter 30: Even if I Were Selling, They Would Need the Life to Buy It (1)

The smile on Wen Qingyan’s lips seemed to grow even gentler, yet a flicker of disdain flashed deep within her eyes. She found it truly nauseating to be seated beside a woman reeking so strongly of copper and greed.

As the auction for the second item began, Chang Ge Yue slipped away from the Yuexuan Pavilion and made her way to the back hall.

Inside the back hall, Master Zui was gently waving a feathered fan, watching the drizzling rain outside the window. Suddenly, he paused. Turning his head, he saw Chang Ge Yue standing in the inner sanctum. "Little lady, why aren't you out front at the auction? What brings you back here?"

Chang Ge Yue smiled faintly. "I consigned an item here earlier, and I suddenly remembered there might be a hairline crack at the base of the porcelain. I was wondering if I might take a look."

A trace of amusement and curiosity glinted in the corners of Master Zui's eyes; he was quite intrigued by the face hidden beneath her veil. "Of course, you may."

Chang Ge Yue walked straight to the display area where the treasures were kept. The Glazed Embroidered Robe, just recently retrieved from the stage, sat there. A slight lift appeared at the corner of her lips as her slender fingers brushed against the fabric.

Master Zui watched her closely but detected nothing amiss, assuming it was merely a woman's natural appreciation for fine garments.

With a soft chuckle, Chang Ge Yue glanced briefly at the porcelain she had consigned and murmured, "I must have remembered incorrectly. There is no flaw in this porcelain after all."

Master Zui waved his fan lightly and asked with a smile, "Why would a lady like yourself wish to auction off such a rare piece of porcelain?"

"I’m currently rather strapped for cash!" Chang Ge Yue replied with a laugh. With Chang Ge Yu and Wen Qingyan both eyeing the King Pearl of Taihu like hungry tigers, she was indeed poor by comparison.

A flash of cunning passed through her eyes. In terms of wealth and heritage, she could never compete with the Chang Ge Estate or the Wen family. But... a smile played on her lips. If she couldn't afford to buy it, couldn't she just steal it?

With that, Chang Ge Yue turned and left, failing to notice a pair of cold, arrogant eyes tracking her every move.

Only when her silhouette vanished did the man turn back. His cold, phoenix-like eyes held a hint of playfulness. He wore a red robe draped loosely over his frame, the sash at his waist tied in a haphazard knot. Droplets of water from his dark hair trickled onto his shoulders. He walked over to the Glazed Embroidered Robe that Chang Ge Yue had touched, a wicked smirk curling his lips. "Indeed."

Master Zui’s fan faltered in his hand. *What a picture of...* a beauty emerging from a bath!

Meeting the icy glare of the man in red, Master Zui swallowed the rest of his sentence. "Ah Shang, have you just finished bathing?"

*Walking around like this... are you truly certain you don't like women?*

Feng Shang arched a brow. Zui Qingfeng dared not ask further and quickly shifted the subject. "Are you truly going to auction the King Pearl of Taihu? Tonight is the night of the full moon..."

Although the King Pearl could not cure the poison, its gentle properties made it an excellent medicinal catalyst.

Feng Shang toyed with the porcelain Chang Ge Yue had brought in, a playful glint in his eyes. "I may be selling it, but one must have the life to buy it!"

Master Zui couldn't help but shiver, offering a dry laugh. "That woman who bathed with you... she doesn't seem to have come." He wondered if Feng Shang had seen her; he wanted to probe.

At the mention of "bathing together," a flicker of imperceptible discomfort crossed Feng Shang’s eyes. He looked back at Master Zui, a faint smile on his face that made the other man’s skin crawl. "I... I’m thirsty."

Feng Shang offered a cold, detached smile, his thoughts drifting back to the woman in white he had just seen. A hint of intrigue slowly bloomed in his eyes. "Woman, I hope you can play with me for a little longer." If she died too quickly, he certainly wouldn't be kind enough to collect her corpse.