Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

Chapter 1243 Red Thorn Grass Liquid Takes the Stage

Before the auction began, Shen Zheng had doubts about the authenticity of the red thorn grass liquid.

Only when she saw the tray in the waiter's hand did her doubts gradually dissipate.

Yunniang moved gracefully with light steps, walking slowly to the servant's side.

Instead of immediately uncovering the velvet cloth on the tray, she smiled and chatted with everyone: "Today, I heard a rumor circulating in the streets, which I imagine many of you distinguished guests have also heard of. I've also heard that some of you suspect that the Jubao Pavilion intentionally spread the rumor. I'm here to speak up for Jubao Pavilion..."

As she spoke, she dabbed at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief and said reproachfully, "My Treasure Pavilion would never stoop to spreading rumors to inflate the value of our competitors. I hope that all of you distinguished guests will trust Yunniang and the pavilion as a whole..."

The beauty shed tears, and many in the hall softened their hearts, echoing, "Manager Yun is joking. We still trust the reputation of Jubao Pavilion!"

"Indeed! Since your esteemed establishment is willing to put this item up for auction, it means you have already verified its authenticity. Manager Yun, there's no need to listen to those rumors; just bid!"

Some people rallied behind Jubao Pavilion, while others were completely bewildered, asking those around them, "What rumors are you talking about? And what is this thing?"

Everyone looked at each other with an expression of "I'd rather not say."

If I say it, wouldn't I just be creating more competitors for myself?

In a private room on the third floor, Chen Zhikuan took a deep breath, solemnly walked to the railing, and prepared to bid.

On the stage, Yunniang lightly turned her wrist, and the scarlet velvet cloth slowly slid down, revealing the contents of the plate to everyone.

It was a small jade bottle, no bigger than the palm of your hand, with a translucent body and a liquid inside that remained still and undisturbed.

Yunniang gently brushed her fingers across the jade bottle and spoke softly: "Distinguished guests, please look. This is the legendary treasure that can cure all poisons—Red Thorn Grass Liquid. This substance comes from the windy and sandy lands of the Western Regions, a desolate wilderness where only this plant can grow. Its stem and pith are refined into liquid, which can neutralize any poison."

As soon as she finished speaking, a collective gasp filled the hall.

Shen Zheng slowly closed her fingers on the chair arm, her eyes fixed on the small porcelain bottle.

The sounds of discussion from inside the hall reached my ears clearly: "Can it cure all poisons? Is there really such a miraculous thing in this world?"

"I've lived most of my life and have only ever heard of 'fighting poison with poison,' but I've never seen a miraculous medicine that can truly cure all poisons... What cure for all poisons? It's probably just a gimmick!"

"That's not how it works! I've heard that decades ago, the elixir of the Red Thorn herb saved the life of the Great Khan of the Qieshan tribe!"

"The Qieshan tribe? They were wiped out by Xiye long ago. There's no Qieshan Khan left!"

"I already said it was decades ago!"

"Is there anyone who can verify this claim? Could you please invite Khan Qieshan to testify?"

"You! You're being unreasonable! If you don't believe me, then don't bid!"

The discussion was lively, but Yunniang remained calm and raised her hand to quiet her voice: "Distinguished guests, please refrain from bidding. Regardless of the item's effectiveness, I hope that none of you or your families will ever need it in your lifetime. Alright, without further ado, let's begin the bidding: six thousand taels of silver, with each bid increasing by no less than one hundred taels. Distinguished guests, you may begin bidding!"

"Six thousand taels?!"

Some people think the price is too high, given that the product's effectiveness is questionable.

Some people felt that the low price was reasonable, after all, it was a life-saving item—the lives of most of the people present were worth more than six thousand taels.

"Seven thousand taels!" someone on the second floor shouted up a thousand taels.

On the third floor, Chen Zhikuan was about to raise the price when Shen Zheng, who had appeared beside him at some point, stopped him: "No rush, let them call first."

Let alone six thousand taels.

Even if it's 60,000 taels, she's determined to take the Red Thorn Grass Elixir back today.

Chen Zhikuan nodded silently, swallowing back the "ten thousand taels" that had risen to his throat.

"Seven thousand one hundred taels!"

"Seven thousand two hundred taels!"

"..."

"Seven thousand eight hundred taels!"

The bidding in the hall was relatively steady, increasing by hundreds of taels at a time, until a person from a private room on the third floor broke the balance: "Ten thousand taels!"

Ten thousand taels!

Everyone in the hall gasped and looked up at the third floor, but they couldn't tell which private room the person who had shouted out such a high price of ten thousand taels of silver came from.

But... Hua Duo, who was also on the third floor, could.

“Master…” Hua Duo pondered for a moment, then bent down and said to Shen Zheng, “It was someone from the third private room on the right who called out.”

Third from the right...

Shen Zheng pondered for a moment, then turned to Chen Zhikuan and asked, "Is the third one from the right already close to the center?"

Chen Zhikuan immediately nodded and even listed a few "suspicious figures": "Lord Shen, those who have sat in those private rooms in previous years include Lin Wanshan, the Salt and Iron Commissioner; Luo Huaxian, the Prefectural Magistrate; the former Education Commissioner and the former Prefect's confidant... By the way, I also heard that the then Military Commander was involved in the bidding six years ago."

Military commander...the second-in-command of the local garrison.

Over the years, Jubaoge has indeed accumulated a considerable network of connections.

Just then, the person in the third private room on the right raised the price of the Crimson Thorn Grass Liquid again: "Fifteen thousand taels!"

For an ordinary wealthy merchant, 15,000 taels of silver would be enough to cause serious financial hardship.

For a moment, the pavilion fell silent. The people in the hall had different expressions, as if they were weighing whether the small bottle of herbal liquid was worth the price.

not only that.

"Fifteen thousand taels...maybe we should just forget about it." Several people in the center of the hall discussed in hushed tones: "It's not worth getting hung up on a bottle of herbal elixir of unknown authenticity and offending the higher-ups..."

Regardless of who the person bidding on the third floor was, it was probably someone they couldn't afford to offend.

After secretly calculating the costs in their minds, the group decided to give up.

On stage, Yunniang's smile remained unchanged as she looked up at the second and third floors: "Fifteen thousand taels! Are there any other distinguished guests who would like to raise the price?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than the person in the private room next to Shen Zheng shouted, "Fifteen thousand one hundred taels!"

Just add one hundred taels?

Everyone was stunned for a moment upon hearing the sound, feeling that something was amiss.

"Sixteen thousand taels!" The person in the private room to the right of Shen Zheng added another nine hundred taels.

"Sixteen thousand one hundred taels." Shen Zheng added only one hundred taels in the private room next door.

Shen Zheng's heart sank.

The two people in the private room should know each other.

This is a real battle.

We can't let them continue like this.

Shen Zheng raised her eyes and gave Chen Zhikuan a wink. Chen Zhikuan immediately walked to the railing and shouted, "Sixteen thousand five hundred taels!"

Chen Zhikuan did not cover his face, so many people in the hall recognized him: "Master Chen?"

"The Fifth Chamber of Commerce is also interested in this herbal elixir?"

"In that case, wouldn't the Fifth Chamber of Commerce be openly challenging the people in the other private rooms?"

"As expected, he's hooked up with a powerful person; now he's all high and mighty..."

"Wait a minute!" A thought struck them, and they realized something: "Could the people from the Fifth Chamber of Commerce have bid for that person from Liuyang Prefecture? Could... the rumors be true?!"