23: I'm the prince! You all are bullying me!

Chapter 23: I am the Crown Prince! You all bully me!

The auction quickly moved to its main theme.

The first item to be auctioned was “ode to the goose.” It depicted a large white goose floating in a pond, its neck stretched towards the sky, with ripples spreading across the water.

On the left was the painting, and on the right, in the blank space, was Li Chang'an’s handwritten ode to the goose poem. The Slender Gold script was elegant and flowing, stamped with Master Sanyong’s red seal.

Although everyone present had seen this painting before, seeing it again still evoked a myriad of emotions.

“This old man has practiced for decades, yet it pales in comparison to Uncle Prince Yong's calligraphy and painting at ten years old!”

“Your Highness’s calligraphy has subtly surpassed Great Master Zhuang Mo Han!”

“The great goose is lifelike, and paired with this poem, it’s truly meaningful!”

Fan Ruoruo, beside Li Chang'an, stared at the painting with her mouth slightly agape. This poem was given to her by Li Chang'an back then!

But she knew their family couldn't afford this painting. It started at ten thousand taels of silver, which was too expensive.

“When you grow up, I’ll give you another one, guaranteed to be better than this.”

Fan Ruoruo, who was feeling disappointed, heard Li Chang'an’s words, and her big eyes practically sparkled with joy.

“Thank you, Your Highness Uncle Prince Yong. I will work hard to learn calligraphy and painting, and in the future, I will sell my works to repay you!”

Li Chang'an smiled and said, “No need. Your sincerity is enough.”

Little Fan Sizhe eagerly blurted out, “Good, good, good…betrothal gifts…ugh!”

As soon as he spoke, Fan Jian clapped a hand over his mouth.

Fan Jian hesitated repeatedly but still didn't overtly refuse. That was a painting worth ten thousand taels of silver!

Although court officials shouldn't associate with feudal princes, Uncle Prince Yong merely mentioned it; he hadn't actually given it.

Why rush to refuse? He could always refuse when it was actually offered! As he pondered, the bidding had already begun.

“I bid twenty thousand taels!”

Shopkeeper Hong of Drunken Immortal Tavern spoke with great urgency.

He was in a hurry because if the high-ranking officials and nobles started bidding, it would be difficult for him to compete.

The presence of so many powerful figures indicated that Li Chang'an's three paintings could no longer fall into the hands of ordinary people.

For example, if His Highness the Crown Prince liked one of them, as long as the bid was close, who would dare to contend with him?

Boss Hong directly doubled the price, hoping to deter the nobles from bidding, which would also avoid offending anyone.

Twenty thousand taels of silver was no small sum; ordinary powerful figures might not even be able to produce it.

“Twenty-five thousand taels!”

The one who spoke was unexpectedly Prince Jing, Li Zhi, Prince Jing. This prince, who had served for over a decade, certainly had spare money.

Li Chang'an said to Li Zhi, Prince Jing, “Thank you, Second Brother, for your support!”

Li Zhi, Prince Jing glared and said, “I watched you compose this poem. Who dares to contend with me?!”

Fan Jian, who was considered wealthy in the capital but poor here, frowned even more. This poem was given to my daughter!

“Thirty thousand taels!”

The speaker was a eunuch from the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince had indeed entered the fray!

Li Chengqian was the Crown Prince since birth, receiving a yearly stipend of ten thousand taels of silver, and Emperor Qing gave him large rewards during festivals.

So, for the Crown Prince to produce tens of thousands of taels of silver, while it might pain him a little, was entirely within his means.

Others feared the Crown Prince, but Prince Jing did not. “Thirty-five thousand taels!”

The Crown Prince’s official immediately added, “Forty thousand taels!”

Before long, the first painting was, as expected, bid up to fifty thousand taels!

The Drunken Immortal Tavern boss was dumbfounded. He had underestimated the determination of the powerful to buy this painting.

Little Fan Sizhe was already wide-eyed with astonishment. He didn't understand calligraphy and painting, but he understood the number of taels!

“How exciting!”

“Are they crazy? Fifty thousand taels of silver!”

“I’d have to save for several lifetimes to have that much money!”

When the bid reached fifty thousand taels, the Crown Prince was already feeling the pain. This was already one-tenth of his net worth.

At present, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince had not yet developed strong factions or industries, and were far from being able to casually spend tens of thousands of taels of silver.

“Sixty thousand taels of silver!”

Li Zhi, Prince Jing had lived a reclusive life for years and didn't care for grand displays, so he directly called out the price himself.

Sixty thousand taels for a single painting had already surpassed the auction record set by the Hermit of Mount Huangshan from Northern Qi!

The scene erupted in commotion once again!

The immensely wealthy merchants felt indignant. It wasn't that they lacked money, but they dared not contend with Prince Jing and the Crown Prince!

“Congratulations, Prince Jing! Your Highness Uncle Prince Yong’s ‘ode to the goose’ is yours!”

The bidding for the second painting, “ode to snow,” was about to begin, but no one in the audience showed much enthusiasm.

Because this painting was surely the Crown Prince’s!

Seeing his determined attitude, who present would dare to contend with him?

Prince Jing was the Crown Prince’s paternal uncle, so snatching it was one thing, but others didn't have that courage.

“When His Highness Uncle Prince Yong was five years old, a heavy snow fell, and His Highness then composed this poem!”

“The ode to snow did not depict snow, forcing the Five-character Great Wall of Northern Qi to cease writing poetry from then on!”

“His ennoblement at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with the ode to snow is a timeless tale of Great Qing!”

“Let the bidding begin!”

Li Chengqian’s eyes burned with eagerness, but before his official could speak, someone immediately called out a price.

“Fifty thousand taels of silver!”

When this price was called out, the scene instantly erupted!

Firstly, directly calling out five times the starting bid was simply too shocking!

Secondly, someone dared to contend with the Crown Prince!

The Crown Prince, the heir apparent of the nation, the future Emperor!

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a young, ordinary-looking merchant sitting expressionlessly in the middle of the crowd.

Li Chang'an glanced at this person's profile. He hadn't heard the name before, but he was a top-tier eighth-rank master with extremely high martial arts and intelligence talents.

Needless to say, this was an intelligence elite from some major power, possibly Emperor Qing, The Eldest Princess, the Northern Qi imperial family, or a major Jianghu gang.

Li Chang'an chuckled inwardly, thinking, “Excellent, the troublemaker I prepared won’t even need to step in.”

Li Chengqian stood up and specifically looked at that person, who directly ignored him!

The wealthy people present suddenly became excited. No matter who was stirring up trouble, they now had hope of bidding.

The Crown Prince felt extremely displeased. It was bad enough to be outbid by Prince Jing earlier, but who was this now?!

He secretly ordered his personal guards to keep a close eye on this person and investigate his background!

The Crown Prince’s official immediately raised the bid, “Sixty thousand taels of silver!”

The young merchant responded almost without hesitation, “Seventy thousand taels!”

The young Crown Prince felt both depressed and angry, but he absolutely could not show it; so many people were watching.

Just when they entered, these people were prostrating themselves and kowtowing, and now they dared to snatch his things!

But he also couldn't do anything; he was out of money!

Seeing the Crown Prince remain silent for a long time, the wealthy merchants instantly became active!

“Seventy-two thousand taels!”

“Seventy-five thousand taels!”

...“Eighty thousand taels!”

“Ninety thousand taels!”

Li Chang'an’s work that made him famous as a prince was too valuable; the price soared all the way up!

Fan Sizhe’s drool had already flowed onto the floor, and his servant stood dumbfounded, forgetting to wipe it for him.

Fan Ruoruo clenched her fists, looking very nervous. “Rise! Keep rising! It’s almost ten thousand taels of gold!”

She was probably the only one besides Li Chang'an who hoped the price would keep going up.

The Second Prince took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his face, his mood incredibly excited.

“It's so profitable! If Uncle Prince Yong and I become the 'Twin Jade' of the literary world, I wonder if we could earn this much too!”

The Crown Prince, on the other hand, felt extremely wronged. So, having power alone wasn't enough; one also needed money!

Earlier, when several wealthy merchants sought to pledge their allegiance, he had rejected them all.

Just then, his subordinate handed him several slips of paper.

“Mr. Wang of Hongqi Pavilion is willing to bid for this painting for Your Highness!”

“Mr. Zhang of Biyuan Xuan is willing to avenge this slight for Your Highness!”

“The He family of Chunfeng Tower will follow Your Highness’s lead!”

...The depression in Li Chengqian’s chest instantly eased considerably. Power was still more important!

With power, so many people were willing to be commanded!

These families were all major merchants in the capital!