Chapter 25: Auction

After making a cup of tea for each of them, the several beautiful female attendants bowed respectfully, then exited one after the other.

Lou Mu Yan picked up the white porcelain celadon teacup and lifted its lid. A refreshing fragrance wafted out—there was a trace of Spiritual Force in the tea. It wasn’t the lowest grade tea either. Ming Alliance of Merchants sure was generous.

She took a sip and the scent of tea lingered in her mouth—it had been so long since she drank any Spiritual Tea.

This tea was very much inferior to the Spiritual Tea Lou Mu Yan had tasted before, but she didn’t dislike it at all. She was famous as a tea lover back in the Immortal Cultivation World.

“This Spiritual Tea is pretty good. When the auction’s over, I better ask to buy some from Shopkeeper Lu. My grandpa loves this.” Xiao Zi Ang exclaimed after taking a few more sips of Spiritual Tea.

Lu Mu Yan smiled lightly and asked: “This Spiritual Tea is also sold by the Ming Alliance of Merchants?”

“The Spiritual Tea isn’t sold publicly. But if you have some connections, then you could still obtain some.” Yun Lan’s slender fingertips rubbed the celadon cup, then raised his eyes, “If Mu Yan wants, then I can get some for you.”

“Then thank you, cousin.” Lou Mu Yan thanked him without restraint. She really liked this Spiritual Tea, so she’ll remember this personal favour.

“We’re a family, there’s no need for formalities.” Yun Lan smiled and shook his head.

His Empress Mother really loved Lou Mu Yan, even if she used to be known as the trash of the Imperial Capital and had an overbearing and dislikeable personality. His Empress Mother never lessened her doting on Lou Mu Yan.

Lou Mu Yan also remembered how her Empress aunt truly did love her a lot, not to mention even though Yun Lan wasn’t close to her, he never bullied her, and instead, protected her even when he didn’t want to. Such relatives were rare and precious, so she should become more familiar with him in the future.

As the auction hadn’t started yet, they chatted idly, but soon they heard a knock on the door.

Yun Lan gave the guard behind him a look, and the person walked over to open the private room door.

There, a beautiful woman with a gentle temperament in a rose-red palace dress entered, bringing a few others. Amongst them were Gu Yan Ran and Zeng Rou.

When the two saw Lou Mu Yan, they were surprised. Zeng Rou’s dislike was written all over her face, while Gu Yan Ran concealed her resentment.

They didn’t expect this trash would be with the Third Prince and his group. They didn’t dare to offend any of the people here, so they didn’t ridicule Lou Mu Yan for the time being.

When Lou Mu Yan saw the two of them, she fell into thought, but didn’t say anything and only sat there quietly with her teacup.

“Brother Third Prince, Brother Fifth Prince, Fourth Cousin, Young Sir Xiao, Young Sir Chi.” When she saw Lou Mu Yan’s, surprised flashed in her eyes, then she smiled at her and said: “Young Miss Lou.“

“Seventh Princess.” Lou Mu Yan replied with a faint smile.

The Seventh Princess was Imperial Noble Consort Hui’s daughter, and was in the Heaven Class of the Imperial Academy. They didn’t have a lot of interactions, but neither did she bully her like Gu Yan Ran and her group did. In the palace, the Seventh Princess’s mother had a good relationship with Gu Yan Ran’s elder sister, but she wouldn’t offend the Empress either—she was rather skilful in that aspect.

Yun Lan and the others smiled and nodded in greeting to Seventh Princess Yun Xin. She usually knew how to conduct herself and none of them disliked her.

Yun Xin also had her own private room, but after hearing that Yun Lan and his group arrived, she brought Gu Yan Ran and the others over for a greeting.

“Third Prince, Fifth Prince…” Gu Yan Ran and Zeng Rou also stepped forward to greet the rest, but they both ignored Lou Mu Yan.

Lu Mu Yan didn’t care either. She was indifferent without any ripples of emotion in her eyes.

“Yi Xuan, you also came to participate in the auction.” Gu Yan Ran smiled softly. Her voice was smooth like water, and she looked at Chi Yi Xuan lovingly.

Chi Yi Xuan furrowed his brows subconsciously. In the past, he wasn’t as disgusted by Gu Yan Ran’s fake tenderness, but for some reason, he disliked it today. He nodded coldly: “Yes.”

Gu Yan Ran froze, and a sourness rose in her heart.

When she entered just now and saw Lou Mu Yan here, she already felt uncomfortable. Why should this trash be here—it was only because she was born lucky. If she didn’t have the General’s Mansion, then this trash wouldn’t have been anything. She could step on her all she wanted.

Yun Xin felt Gu Yan Ran’s mood fluctuate, and even had a feeling of resentment. She was a little disappointed inside. Compared with Imperial Noble Consort Gu, Gu Yan Ran’s schemes were lacking too much. Even compared with the current Lou Mu Yan, her tolerance was lacking too.

With Zeng Rou’s status, she wouldn’t have been able to participate in such an auction. She was only able to participate because of her relationship with Gu Yan Ran, and because she gifted the princess a valuable present and asked to be given a chance. So she could only glare at Lou Mu Yan and say nothing.

“The auction is about to start. I’ll return to my private room now.” Yun Xin really couldn’t stand Zeng Rou being this way, and she regretted agreeing to bring her.

She liked Lou Mu Bai, so she didn’t want to become enemies with her. To prevent any conflict, it was best to leave.

“Sure, you may go.” Yun Lan also didn’t like Gu Yan Ran and Zeng Rou, so he simply nodded.

Gu Yan Ran endured the grievances in her heart and looked at Chi Yi Xuan affectionately, hoping that he could allow her to remain. She didn’t want Lou Mu Yan and Chi Yi Xuan to remain alone together, but her beloved appeared to not even see her amorous gaze, only looking down, staring at the tea set.

“Let’s go.” Yun Xin furrowed her eyebrows and warned Gu Yan Ran with her eyes. This wasn’t the type to express love at all—this woman’s brain was becoming more and more useless. As expected from the schemes of someone who came from a small, lowly family.

A thin mist rose in Gu Yan Ran’s eyes. Seeing that Chi Yi Xuan still had no intention of letting her stay, she could only stomp her foot, endure the grievance, and leave with the Seventh Princess. She looked like a tearful flower.

“Yi Xuan, your little wife’s full of grievance, aren’t you going to chase after her and comfort her? Or bring her back and sit for a bit?” Yun Jin smiled and joked as if he feared there wasn’t enough chaos in the world1.

Chi Yi Xuan didn’t say a word, but he looked up coldly at Yun Jin, an evident look of displeasure.

Seeing Chi Yi Xuan’s cold face, Yun Jin shrugged, then glanced at Lou Mu Yan who had been indifferent this entire time with only a slight curve of interest on her lips.

Chi Yi Xuan also looked at Lou Mu Yan in his peripheral vision and saw that she was drinking tea leisurely without any response. He suddenly felt sour, but he quickly adjusted his emotions. Except, he felt an inexplicable resentment towards Gu Yan Ran.

He allowed his family to arrange her as his concubine because she was obedient, but seeing how restless and impure she was now, he suddenly felt that he needed to carefully consider whether or not to marry this woman in as a decoration2.

1does things as he pleases

2marry her just for the sake of it.