Chapter 54: Conspiracy

After Princess Xuan spoke, the proceedings moved directly to the main event.

The auctioneer specially assigned to the Warm Winter Banquet stepped onto the circular platform. After bowing, he took the first item of the day from a servant—the *Painting of the Double Ninth Festival Banquet*.

As soon as the painting appeared, an immediate commotion broke out.

A young master holding a white jade fan personally rang the bell placed on his table. "The House of Earl Ning'an bids five thousand taels!"

"The Shen family bids five thousand five hundred taels!"

"Six thousand taels!"

...

"Miss, this painting is so expensive!" Qiu Yu gasped.

"It is an authentic masterpiece from the Ming or Qing dynasties of the previous era," Tang Zhao whispered, leaning back. "Its price is on par with that *Fishing in Green Mountains and Misty Rain* hanging in our own storehouse."

Qiu Yu looked on with solemn respect.

After a period of white-hot bidding, only a few families remained. The eldest son of the Yang family glanced sideways at the third son of the Sun family, who was intentionally driving up the price, and shouted through gritted teeth

"Fifteen thousand five hundred taels!"

"The Yang family bids fifteen thousand five hundred taels! Are there any other guests wishing to increase the bid?"

The third son of the Sun family received a sharp glare from his mother, and only then did he reluctantly set down his bell.

"Fifteen thousand five hundred taels once!"

"Fifteen thousand five hundred taels twice!"

"Fifteen thousand five hundred taels three times!"

"Sold!" The auctioneer brought down the gavel. "Congratulations to the Yang family for acquiring the *Painting of the Double Ninth Festival Banquet* for fifteen thousand five hundred taels!"

Hearing the strike of the gavel, the eldest son of the Yang family let out a slow breath. He looked toward the middle-aged man behind him; the man nodded and went to settle the payment and collect the painting.

By the time he returned, the second item was already being auctioned.

"Has it been authenticated?" the eldest son of the Yang family asked in a low voice.

The man's voice was drowned out by the bidding of the crowd. "I personally inspected it; it is indeed an authentic work."

The eldest son of the Yang family replied, "Do not delay. Once the banquet concludes, deliver it to Luoyang yourself."

The man complied.

Tang Zhao let out a bored yawn. Seeing Gu Ci using a carving knife to meticulously engrave a piece of polished purple jade, she asked curiously, "What are you carving?"

Only after finishing a small corner did Gu Ci reply, "A purple jade whistle."

"Oh," Tang Zhao said, eyeing him sideways.

Gu Ci waited a moment, but when no follow-up came, he couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to ask who it's for?"

Tang Zhao patted his hand, her eyes full of wisdom: *I understand, I understand everything.*

She glanced diagonally across the room. Gu Ci's former fiancée and the female protagonist of the book, Bai Rouyin, was whispering and laughing with a young girl in brocade clothes beside her. That girl even cast a provocative glance toward Tang Zhao.

Gu Ci stared at her silently for a long while before lowering his head to continue carving the stone.

*Once exposed, he just ignores people. Tsk, he's quite thin-skinned,* Tang Zhao thought.

Although Bai Rouyin had been talking to Gu Xuan, her mind was fixed on the first seat to the left. Every interaction between Tang Zhao and Gu Ci fell perfectly into her sight.

Brother Yuanye disliked being touched by anyone most of all. In their sixteen years of engagement, the two had never even brushed sleeves.

How long had they been married? Not only did Brother Yuanye not reject contact with her, but he even indulged her when she rolled her eyes at him.

Brother Yuanye even tolerated such impolite behavior. Bai Rouyin thought sorrowfully that they were truly husband and wife, which was fundamentally different from her, a fiancée who only held a verbal engagement.

Bai Rouyin lowered her head and wiped the tears flowing from the corners of her eyes.

Gu Xuan panicked. "Sister Rouyin, don't cry! Once the auction is over, I will definitely invite Fifth Brother out and make him apologize to you in person!"

Bai Rouyin shook her head. "Brother Yuanye..." She paused, correcting herself, "The Cavalier General has done nothing wrong; there is no need for him to apologize to me."

Gu Xuan said urgently, "How can it be no fault? The marriage between you and Fifth Brother was personally arranged by Father with Uncle Bai. Although the tokens and marriage tallies were never exchanged, which noble family in the Northwest doesn't know?"

"What if the whole world knows?" Bai Rouyin smiled bitterly. "It is enough that the late Emperor did not know."

Gu Xuan opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. Her imperial grandfather had issued the marriage decree without warning, catching both the Prince's Manor and the Marquis of Zhongyong off guard. Before Father's petitions could even leave the Northwest, her fifth brother had already welcomed a new bride into his manor.

There was no possibility of reversal.

Knowing this clearly only made it more painful. She stared blankly at Gu Ci's profile. This should have been her husband. She had been betrothed to him since birth and had known since she was old enough to understand that she would marry him, cook for him, and bear his children.

She had secretly made countless clothes and shoes for him, waiting to give them to him after their wedding; now, they could never be given.

The woman's gaze was entirely undisguised. Gu Ci frowned, offered a greeting to Princess Xuan, and left his seat.

Bai Rouyin's face turned deathly pale. She swayed to one side, only saved from collapsing to the floor by the timely intervention of Gu Xuan and the Marchioness of Zhongyong.

The subtle, lingering scrutiny made the Marchioness of Zhongyong feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles. She stood up and said, "Your Highness, my daughter feels unwell; she wishes to borrow a guest room in your manor."

"Of course." Princess Xuan sent people to escort the mother and daughter to a guest room and summoned the manor's physician. After confirming it was merely due to intense emotions, the physician prescribed a calming medicine. Only after Bai Rouyin had taken it did they depart.

"Why must you do this to yourself? I told you not to come, yet you insisted!" The Marchioness of Zhongyong was both heartbroken and distressed. "Now that you have seen it with your own eyes, you should give up. The rumors are true; Gu Ci and Princess Zhao'an are a devoted couple. Forget him as soon as possible, and Mother will find you someone better!"

"Better?" Bai Rouyin's face was wooden. "Can Mother find anyone better?"

A legitimate son of a Prince, a God of War general, handsome and elegant, possessing both virtue and talent, untainted by brothels, and unswayed by wealth or power—where could she find a second man with such lineage, ability, appearance, and character?

The Marchioness of Zhongyong choked on her words, then reconsidered. "Then how about the second son of Prince Xuan?"

Gu An, the second son of Prince Xuan, also served in the Northwest Army and was currently a fifth-rank Mid-郎将 (Middle Official). Aside from not being born a legitimate son, he was in no way inferior to Gu Ci.

The Marchioness had mentioned him many times. Originally, she had looked down on his status as a widower, but thinking about it now, he was indeed an excellent candidate.

If their family made the proposal, Prince Xuan would likely not refuse.

Bai Rouyin said coldly, "I would rather be the concubine of a hero than the wife of a mediocre man."

Having possessed the best, why should she settle for second best?

The Marchioness of Zhongyong grew furious. She ordered someone to watch over Bai Rouyin while she returned to the banquet to speak with Consort Han.

Inside the room, Bai Rouyin violently pushed over the wooden stool the Marchioness had just sat on and shouted harshly, "Everyone, get out!"

The maids hesitated for a moment but retreated under the eldest lady's terrifying gaze.

Bai Rouyin leaned blankly against the bed. After an unknown amount of time, she felt someone calling her.

She lifted her eyes to see Gu Xuan looking at her with a face full of worry.

Bai Rouyin grabbed Gu Xuan's hand. "Sister Xuan, you must help me!" As she spoke, she sat up and recounted all her schemes to her.

"Sister Rouyin, have you lost your mind?!" Gu Xuan's eyes widened. She could never have imagined that the usually most decorous and rule-abiding Bai Rouyin would be so bold.

"I am not resigned. I am truly not resigned!" A hint of madness flickered in Bai Rouyin's eyes. "I must fight for myself, just once."

"Sister Xuan, you must help me!"