21: Lin Wan'er's self-conquest strategy, Fan Ruoruo doesn't want a dowry!

Chapter 21: Lin Wan'er's Self-Strategy, Fan Ruoruo Refuses a Betrothal Gift!

Chen Pingping, rolling his wheelchair out of the Imperial Study, had a grim expression, his mind racing.

As the head of the Supervisory Council, overseeing the world, how could he not read "the story of the stone"? Though it was indeed a painful read.

"Prince Yong truly wishes to be a dissolute fop, and His Majesty seems to fully believe it."

"His performance is too perfect, not like the mindset a child should have."

"But what kind of waves can a child, barely ten years old, stir up?"

Royal Villa.

Lin Wan'er, gnawing on a chicken leg, was engrossed in the newly acquired magazine.

"Oh, it's finished so quickly, it's too short!"

Ye Ling'er, who had just delivered the magazine, was demonstrating the Ye Family's unarmed combat techniques, "Exactly! Your Uncle Prince Yong is too short!"

Hearing Ye Ling'er's words, Lin Wan'er's face immediately became serious, "Don't say that. This book must have been very difficult to write."

"I already guessed that Master Sanyong is Uncle Prince Yong. Such talent cannot be faked by others."

Ye Ling'er pouted, "He's only just turned ten, yet he can write such a boring book. He truly lives up to his name as a child prodigy!"

Lin Wan'er retorted, "I think it's very interesting! Lin Daiyu also has consumption, and she's also living under someone else's roof..."

Hearing this, Ye Ling'er suddenly stopped her movements, her expression turning solemn.

"This book... could it be that your Uncle Prince Yong wrote it for you?

As beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal, delicate and frail, isn't that you?"

Hearing Ye Ling'er's words, Lin Wan'er's face flushed slightly. In fact, ever since Daiyu appeared, she had been identifying with her.

Moreover, she had known for a long time that she was not of the Imperial Bloodline.

While she was lost in thought, Ye Ling'er found more and more sense in her idea.

"Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu are cousins. Although you and His Highness Prince Yong are of different generations, you are also cousins!"

"The two of them watched "romance of the western chamber" together. Zhang Sheng climbed through the window for a secret rendezvous. You'd better keep an eye on your window tonight!"

Lin Wan'er's small mouth gaped slightly, and she subconsciously glanced at the half-open window... With the publication of "story of the stone · magazine," Li Chang'an once again became a hot topic of discussion on the streets.

The art exhibition tickets attached to the back of the magazine clarified the relationship between San Yong Pavilion and Li Chang'an.

In Yi Shi Inn, the young scholar He Zongwei was showing off the latest magazine.

"Master Sanyong, who wrote 'the story of the stone,' is indeed His Highness Prince Yong! The literary world of our Great Qing has hope for revival!"

"The characters in this book are vivid, and the poetry is exquisite. Only His Highness Prince Yong could have written it!"

At this moment, a scholar couldn't help but say, "He Zongwei, didn't you say before that this book was indecent and its poetry crude?"

He Zongwei quickly denied it, "Don't slander me! Absolutely not!"

"This humble scholar has always held 'the story of the stone' in the highest regard!"

Several scholars were too lazy to argue with He Zongwei, but continued to discuss the art exhibition.

"His Highness's reputation as a child prodigy is known throughout the world, but the poetry after 'Sanyong' is all about pretty girls, lacking a bit of masculine vigor."

"He's only ten years old, and I hear he's surrounded by women all day, somewhat like Jia Baoyu in this book."

"When His Highness Prince Yong was one year old, he grabbed hairpins and rouge. It seems he was destined to be a dissolute fop."

"This art exhibition also doesn't charge admission. Why don't we go and see how His Highness Prince Yong's calligraphy and painting are!"

The exhibition of calligraphy and painting by Master Sanyong, His Highness Prince Yong of Great Qing, lasted for a full month.

The first floor of San Yong Pavilion sold ordinary paintings and magazines, while the second floor sold works by famous artists.

The spacious third floor was a venue specifically set up for Li Chang'an's exhibition.

In the first few days, dozens of people came to the exhibition daily. These attendees spread the word about Li Chang'an's legendary skill in calligraphy and painting.

Later, several renowned calligraphers and master painters from the capital also came, and even these individuals praised Li Chang'an's calligraphy and painting endlessly.

In the last few days of the exhibition, San Yong Pavilion had to limit the number of visitors to ensure a smooth closing.

On the last day of the exhibition, Boss Su of San Yong Pavilion announced explosive news.

All three calligraphy and painting works would be auctioned one month later!

The starting bid for each painting was ten thousand taels of silver!

Ten thousand taels of silver for a single work of calligraphy and painting—this simply stunned the people of the capital!

Ever since Li Chang'an was enfeoffed as a prince at the age of five, he once again captured the attention of the entire capital!

A typical house in the capital cost one hundred taels of silver.

Ten thousand taels of silver could buy one hundred houses in the capital!

Fan Jian, a fourth-rank Minister, dropped his chopsticks in shock when he heard the news.

"I would have to go without food or drink for a hundred years just to afford one of His Highness Prince Yong's paintings!"

His annual salary was just over one hundred taels of silver.

At this moment, young Fan Ruoruo said with great certainty, "But His Highness Prince Yong's calligraphy and painting are worth that much money!"

"I heard that many master painters, after seeing His Highness's works, were so ashamed that they stopped painting."

Four-year-old Fan Sizhe began to count on his fingers.

"If His Highness paints one piece every month, he can earn one hundred and twenty thousand taels a year."

"Sister is six now. If she marries at sixteen, there are still ten years."

"Father, Mother! You can ask His Highness Prince Yong for one million two hundred thousand taels as a betrothal gift!"

This precise calculation startled both Fan Jian and Liu Ruyu.

Fan Jian said with a dark expression, "Nonsense! Who said Ruo Ruo is marrying His Highness Prince Yong!"

Liu Ruyu frowned, "Even if she were to marry, a million taels for a betrothal gift is too expensive!"

"Slap!"

Fan Ruoruo slapped Fan Sizhe on the head, her expression somewhat annoyed.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Why would we need a betrothal gift! To be able to marry His Highness Prince Yong is a tremendous blessing!"

Fan Jian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine!

This little cotton-padded jacket had a draft!

Imperial Study.

Minister of Rites Guo Youzhi, accompanied by a calligraphy master and a painting master, was having an audience with Emperor Qing.

"Your Majesty, the highest price previously fetched at a calligraphy and painting auction was by Huangshan Sanren of Northern Qi."

"At that time, one of his paintings sold for the exorbitant price of fifty thousand taels of silver!"

Emperor Qing asked the two masters, "Are you certain that Prince Yong's calligraphy and painting warrant a starting bid of ten thousand taels of silver?"

One of them replied, "In terms of artistic skill alone, His Highness's calligraphy and painting are even worth more than fifty thousand taels of silver!"

"But on His Highness Prince Yong's three paintings, the poems that made him famous as Sanyong are inscribed, giving them great commemorative and collection value!"

"This old man estimates that His Highness Prince Yong's calligraphy and painting could fetch the astronomical price of ten thousand taels of gold!"

The other master also said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Prince Yong's poetry, calligraphy, and painting are all exceptional, and he is bound to be renowned throughout the world!"

"Even if Zhuang Mo Han from Northern Qi were to come in person, he would have no choice but to concede!"

Emperor Qing murmured, "Ten thousand taels of gold! That's equivalent to one hundred thousand taels of silver!"

"My Third Brother is squeezing every last bit of value out of his famous poems!"

After Guo Youzhi and the others left, Emperor Qing pondered for a long time, then spoke to Hong Sixiang, who was hiding in the shadows.

"That painting, 'ode to snow,' no matter the cost, you must acquire it for me!"

"This calligraphy and painting should be displayed in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, to mark the beginning of the revival of our Great Qing's literary world!"

A manor outside the capital.

Wei Hua, a fourth-rank Censor of the Northern Qi Brocade-Clad Guards, disguised as a merchant, was assigning tasks to over a dozen secret agents.

"No matter who bids on 'Ode to the Needle,' you must seize the painting!"

"Such a painting, which disgraces the nation, must be brought back to the capital and publicly burned!"

Wei Hua was the son of "Asshole" Marquis Wei Bi. This matter was both official business and a personal vendetta!