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Chapter 142: Schemes in Action

In the ninth suite of the auction hall’s third floor, the senseless idiot that had just paid a thousand gold for a low-grade pill was enjoying a cup of alcohol.

When Li Luo saw that her master’s cup was empty, she immediately poured him some more. As Li Mo enjoyed his wine, he inspected Yun Ruoyan’s face through the gray, translucent cloth curtains in front of him. Yun Ruoyan was looking very curiously in his direction, but while Li Mo could see Yun Ruoyan clearly, she could only see a blurred shadow.

Staring at Li Mo’s suite equally fervently was Wang Meng. Of the famed personalities who would be granted access to the third floor, he knew of none who would spend a thousand taels of gold on a single low-grade darkened heavens pill.

Was the person intentionally trying to compete against him, or was there some other reason? Wang Meng frowned, deep in thought.

“Young Master, we can’t bid any further,” Wang Gang quickly dissuaded, seeing that Wang Meng still seemed unwilling to give up.

Wang Meng ignored the man, but did sit back down in his seat.

The reason he’d wanted to purchase the pill was because he had a rather special impression of Yun Ruoyan, not because she was an opponent, and definitely not because she was a threat. Paying seventy gold for a diversion was acceptable, but not a thousand. As a scion of a house of merchants, he surely wasn’t about to take part in a losing proposition.

“One thousand taels, going once, twice… thrice!” Ding! The man struck the bell once more. “Congratulations to the guests on the third floor’s ninth suite for winning the Lin family’s superior low-grade darkened heavens pill!”

Despite his professionalism, the blue-robed man was clearly very excited—this was the first time he’d ever sold an item with an opening bid of ten gold for a thousand. A thousand taels of gold wasn’t a large sum for such a prestigious auction hall; rather, what was incredible was that it was a hundredfold increase over the opening bid.

“Sister Ruoyan?” Lin Qingchen tapped Yun Ruoyan on the shoulder, noticing that she was staring at the suite on the third floor in a daze.

Yun Ruoyan turned to Lin Qingchen, who motioned at Yun Moxiao. At this moment, he was also staring intently at the suite on the third floor.

A veiled woman in a green dress stepped out from behind the curtain, and Yun Moxiao’s eyes widened fractionally. Yun Ruoyan took a look at the woman, frowned, and then turned toward her brother. “Brother, do you recognize her?”

Yun Moxiao blushed furiously when he noticed his sister and cousin both staring brightly at him. “That woman’s the one I encountered on the streets that day.”

Although she was veiled on both occasions, Yun Moxiao could recognize her as the woman who had saved a little girl from underneath a rampaging horse’s hooves through her body shape and manner of dressing.

“You’re sure she’s the owner of that scented sachet?” Yun Ruoyan exclaimed.

Yun Moxiao nodded with certainty. Although the woman was veiled, she looked older than they were. As for how much older, he couldn’t tell.

Li Luo strode forward to place a banknote within the hanging basket, then lowered it. When it was replaced by the red sandalwood box containing Yun Ruoyan’s pill, she drew it back up. Then, Li Luo placed the sandalwood box in her hands on the desk in front of Li Mo. When he opened the box, a fragrant medicinal smell emerged.

Li Mo took the pill out of the box and peered at it before smiling in satisfaction.

“Master?” Li Luo looked a little anxious.

Li Mo hadn’t gone to the Yuelu Villa to participate in the auction; he’d only stopped by briefly because he saw Yun Ruoyan’s silhouette. It was almost time for the scheduled meeting, and if they didn’t depart right that moment, they would likely be late.

Li Mo placed Yun Ruoyan’s pill back into its box before storing it in his storage ring. He stood up and was just about to walk out with Li Luo when a manager came to inquire whether Li Mo would be willing to meet the seller of the pill, who had requested a meeting.

Li Mo waved a hand in refusal, and the manager headed back to Yun Ruoyan’s suite to report.

When Yun Ruoyan was told that the buyer had refused to meet with her, she suddenly became quite angry. She had clearly recognized Li Luo’s appearance, and had guessed that the person who had bought her pill for such an exorbitant price was none other than Li Mo.

Just what was he trying to do? Buying her pill at such a ridiculous price, then refusing to meet her!

Yun Ruoyan stared as Li Mo stepped out of the auction house and stood up in pursuit, followed quickly after by Lin Qingchen and Yun Moxiao. She brushed past Pei Ziao, who had gone downstairs in search of her.

“Sister Ruoyan!” Pei Ziao called out, but Yun Ruoyan ignored him. As a result, Pei Ziao also stiffly turned and followed behind her.

Li Mo stepped out into a courtyard, as did Yun Ruoyan and the group behind her. By this time, the Yuelu Villa was completely packed with people, and Yun Ruoyan quickly lost track of Li Mo amidst the crowd.

“I lost him,” Yun Ruoyan muttered, once Lin Qingchen and Yun Moxiao caught up to her.

Bestowed with the gift of height, Yun Moxiao was like a crane among chickens. He raised his head and looked all around him before suddenly seeing a person in green slip into a corridor. “Let me take a look. Stay here and wait for me.”

He quickly slipped through the crowd in the direction of that green silhouette.

“Sister Ruoyan!” Just then, Pei Ziao’s voice rang out again.

Yun Ruoyan and Lin Qingchen both frowned when they saw Pei Ziao walking toward them. He had left a terrible impression on the Lin sisters within the imperial territory, and Lin Qingchen distested him almost as much as did Yun Ruoyan.

“Ruoyan, can we talk?”

Yun Ruoyan smiled at him. “Young Master Pei, what topics could we have to discuss?”

Yun Ruoyan’s smile was half-mocking, but her beauty was such that Pei Ziao couldn’t help being smitten regardless.

“It’s crowded, so how about we head to a quieter location? Let’s talk there, behind those trees.”

Lin Qingchen tugged on Yun Ruoyan’s sleeve, but the older girl only patted her on the hand, told her to wait there for her, and left with Pei Ziao.

“Well, Young Master Pei?” Yun Ruoyan crossed her arms.

“Did you see the man who wanted to buy that spiritual pill from the Lin family?”

“Yes, I did.”

“That was Wang Meng, Wang Kuang’s brother.” Pei Ziao’s expression was serious.

“And?” Yun Ruoyan didn’t appear to be shocked at all.

“He’s Wang Kuang’s brother! Have you forgotten about the man you killed in the imperial territory? Aren’t you afraid that his brother will take revenge on you?”

“Who killed who in the imperial territory?” Yun Ruoyan’s face appeared to be flummoxed. “Young Master Pei, what on earth are you talking about?”

It had been over two months since the end of the imperial expedition, and there hadn’t been any mention of Wang Kuang’s death in the capital.

In truth, there were quite a few scions who had lost their lives within the territory. A large number had been killed and eaten by magical beasts, their corpses never to be found. As a result, no one would guess that Wang Kuang had been killed by Yun Ruoyan without any evidence. Given how much time had passed, even if someone were to accuse Yun Ruoyan of the crime, she could simply deny it.

Pei Ziao began to sweat as he compared his own behavior to Yun Ruoyan’s; he had panicked so intensely when he first saw Wang Kuang, but she had hardly batted an eyelid!

“My apologies, Ruoyan, I didn’t mean anything by those words.”

“Young Master Pei, isn’t there something else that we do need to discuss?” Yun Ruoyan sighed. “Did you plan on forfeiting our gentlemen’s agreement? In that case, just give me a price for those tiger-canine arrows that your father has smelted.”

Pei Ziao had repeatedly informed Yun Ruoyan that the tiger-canine arrows were ready, but Yun Ruoyan had to personally pick them up from the Pei manor.

Knowing that Pei Yingxiong surely had a plan to deal with her, Yun Ruoyan clearly wasn’t about to step into the manor. As a result, those arrows had never been claimed. Now that Zhuo Yifeng was back in the capital, it was time to settle the matter. Although he hadn’t asked for the arrows, Yun Ruoyan would be sure to keep her promises.

“It’s not a matter of the price. My father and I simply want to invite you for dinner so we can hand you the arrows in person.”

“Oh, a dinner? There’s no need to go to your manor for that, is there? Why not host it today, right here?”

The Yuelu Villa was so large and crowded that there was sure to be a restaurant fancy enough for them.

“But my father’s already arranged to have dinner with others…” Pei Ziao replied awkwardly.

“Oh? In that case, how about just the two of us?” Yun Ruoyan smiled so happily that it seemed as though the icy aura preventing Pei Ziao from stepping closer had fully melted away.

“It’s my first time visiting the Yuelu Villa, Young Master Pei. Surely you’re not unwilling to have a meal with me?”

“Of course not!” Pei Ziao replied. “The Shenxian restaurant is well-known throughout the capital for its quality of food, and it’s particularly famous for its eponymous shenxian liquor. Clear, sweet, and refreshing, it’s perfectly suited to your tastes, Ruoyan. I’m sure you’ll love it!”

“Is that so? I do feel quite thirsty now.”

Pei Ziao immediately led her to the restaurant. Of course, he too had a plan in mind: the shenxian liquor was so strong that it would easily leave her inebriated. Given that it was Yun Ruoyan’s first time at the Yuelu Villa, she wouldn’t be aware of this. If he were to get her drunk and then spend a night with her, then he certainly could avoid the trouble of inviting her to the Pei manor.