Volume 4, Chapter 237 – Utter Shamelessness

Though the prefecture was prosperous, the early hours of the morning still brought a brief period of quiet, after all, these were troubled times. Strolling the streets was one thing, but there was no need to gamble with one’s life. Of course, there were exceptions, such as the Golden Fortune Auction House. Given its vast wealth and influence, it naturally required round-the-clock security.

But tonight, those staying awake within the auction house weren’t just the guards.

Liu Yingyue sat stiffly on a chair, lost in thought. As a young lady of noble upbringing, her posture was impeccable, back straight, chin slightly raised. The form-fitting red qipao she wore accentuated her hourglass figure, while the high slit revealed a pair of slender, snow-white legs that seemed to glow with an ethereal radiance.

“Do I really still have the chance to grow slowly?”

Though she had already made her decision, Liu Yingyue had no confidence in it. After all, she only had a year left. Even if she somehow managed to eliminate that bastard Duan, there wouldn’t be enough time to rebuild the auction house’s operations. If she failed to produce satisfactory results, the outcome would remain unchanged.

Liu Yingyue wasn’t afraid of marriage, but she dreaded a political union, being forced to wed someone she didn’t love. Even worse was the thought of betraying her father’s painstaking efforts.

“That damned Duan Feng has committed so many sins, yet the heavens refuse to strike him down with lightning! What happened to ‘good deeds bring good rewards, evil deeds bring evil retribution’?”

She couldn’t help but grumble. Right now, her only hope for salvation was Duan Feng’s immediate death, whether by natural disaster or man-made calamity, the sooner the better!

Meanwhile, Duan Feng was also unable to sleep, drowning his frustrations alone in the guest chamber. His sleeplessness wasn’t due to any curse, but sheer rage. He never expected a mere slip of a girl to dare oppose him so openly.

“Someone! Call Ah Feng in here, tell him his old man has business for him!”

Growing bored of drinking alone, Duan Feng barked the order at the door.

Before long, a man in his thirties, a rather old youth, entered the room.

“Dad, why aren’t you resting at this hour?”

Ah Feng plopped onto a nearby chair with a cheeky grin.

“Rest? How can I sleep with this anger burning inside me?”

Duan Feng snapped before taking another swig of liquor.

“Dad, did something upset you? Want to talk about it?”

Ah Feng inquired curiously.

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“It’s about the auction house.”

Duan Feng then recounted the entire affair from start to finish.

“What? Dozens of vials of pure Nine Nether Demon Cat tears at once? Could they be fake? I heard those demon cats are practically extinct in the wild, even the Huxiao Sect wouldn’t have the resources to pull that off!”

Ah Feng’s first reaction was skepticism.

“Exactly! And that kid looked soft-skinned, neither masculine nor feminine, hardly the image of a master. Who knows where he got them?”

Duan Feng agreed before continuing, “But that’s not my concern. What pisses me off is that brat Liu Yingyue! Just because she’s a daughter of the Liu family, she’s been opposing me at every turn since she got here. Absolutely infuriating!”

“Ah, Dad, don’t let it get to you. She’s the Ninth Miss of the Liu family, after all. No matter how much we do, we’re still just servants, our status was decided at birth.”

Ah Feng attempted to console him.

“Nonsense! What do you mean ‘servants’? I’m the deputy manager! I’ve run this auction house for decades, my contributions are beyond measure! How could some decorative vase ¹ A woman who looks good but is useless compare?”

Duan Feng erupted in fury.

“Right, right! My mistake, Dad! I was wrong!”

Ah Feng shuddered and hastily stood to apologize, though inwardly, he sneered: “‘Run it for decades’? More like ‘bled it dry for decades’!”

“No, I can’t swallow this insult!”

The more Duan Feng brooded, the angrier he became. He turned to Ah Feng.

“Ah Feng, do you want to marry Liu Yingyue?”

“Of course! I’ve dreamed of nothing else!”

Ah Feng admitted without hesitation, a testament to Liu Yingyue’s allure. But then he deflated slightly.

“But what’s the use if she’s unwilling?”

“If you’re willing, I guarantee she’ll agree tonight!”

A sly grin spread across Duan Feng’s face.

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“Really? That’s fantastic! But… I already have a wife and kids. She’d have to be a concubine.”

Ah Feng hesitated.

“Making her a concubine is already an honor!”

Duan Feng snorted coldly before ordering, “Gather all our men and have them stand by!”

“Dad… what are you planning?”

Ah Feng asked cautiously.

“What else? We’re going to propose tonight! Shouldn’t we bring a lively crowd?”

Duan Feng retorted.

“Good! Great! I’ll go right now!”

Ah Feng was overjoyed, scurrying off without delay. The mere thought of Liu Yingyue’s curvaceous figure and those plush, enticing legs made him impatient beyond words.

“Manager, Deputy Manager Duan is here.”

After sitting in silence for a while, Liu Yingyue was interrupted by a maid’s announcement.

“Again? Can’t he sleep at night? Must be all those guilty deeds weighing on his conscience!”

Liu Yingyue silently mocked before inviting them in.

Duan Feng entered once more, this time accompanied by his son, Ah Feng.

Liu Yingyue’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Was this a negotiation or a battlefield? Did they really need to come as a pair?

“Uncle Duan, Brother Duan, please sit. What brings you here so late?”

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She maintained her courtesy.

“Manager Liu hasn’t retired for the night either, has she? If something troubles you, why not share it with this old uncle?”

Duan Feng feigned concern as he took his seat.

Ah Feng, meanwhile, remained silent the moment he stepped in, his lecherous gaze immediately locked onto the slender, porcelain legs peeking from beneath Liu Yingyue’s skirt. He made no effort to hide his vulgar expression.

“How did Uncle Duan know I was troubled?”

Liu Yingyue deflected the question with one of her own.

“Niece, there’s no need to hide it. Others may not know your situation, but how could I not? Two years ago, you ran a northern branch into the ground. By the Liu family’s rules, you should have been married off by now. It was only because your father temporarily relinquished his position as clan head that you were spared.”

Duan Feng spoke leisurely, a smirk playing on his lips.

“So what? That’s no secret.”

Liu Yingyue’s expression turned icy. No one liked having their scars exposed.

“From what I’ve heard, the Liu family’s ancestor only gave you three years, correct? If you fail to deliver satisfactory results by then, you’ll have no choice but to marry. Worse still, your father will permanently lose his position as clan head.”

Duan Feng taunted.

“What exactly are you trying to say? Did you come here in the middle of the night just to reopen old wounds?”

Liu Yingyue’s disgust was palpable.

“Of course not. I came tonight to propose. I want you to marry my son!”

Duan Feng cut straight to the point.

“Are you joking? Your son already has a wife and children!”

Liu Yingyue was stunned.

“That’s no issue. A man having multiple wives is perfectly normal. You can be his concubine!”

Duan Feng replied breezily.

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“Have you lost your mind? No matter how low I fall, I’m still the Ninth Miss of the Liu family! How could I possibly become his concubine? Besides, I don’t even like him!”

Liu Yingyue laid her cards on the table.

“Don’t reject me so hastily. What if marrying my son could restore your father as clan head?”

Duan Feng lured her with a slow, deliberate tone.

“What? How could you possibly promise that? You’re just a minor deputy manager of a branch, since when do you decide the Liu family’s leadership?”

Liu Yingyue’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.

“But what if I can? If I recall correctly, the Liu family ancestor’s condition was that if you could quadruple this Yongning branch’s profits within three years, your father would reclaim his position as clan head, yes?”

Duan Feng pressed on, unruffled.

“You’re remarkably well-informed.”

Liu Yingyue gritted her teeth. It seemed this old fox had been plotting against her from the start.

“You flatter me, Ninth Miss. It’s only natural for us servants to share the Liu family’s burdens. My knowledge is purely out of goodwill!”

Duan Feng painted himself in a noble light before continuing, “So, if this auction house’s profits quadruple within the year, your father will regain his position, correct? And given your talents, that shouldn’t be impossible, provided the safety of our consignors is guaranteed, no?”

“Obviously! If the consignors’ safety wasn’t an issue, why would I be worried?”

Liu Yingyue retorted irritably.

“I can guarantee it! As long as you marry my son, I’ll ensure their safety. Manager Liu is a filial daughter, I doubt you’d refuse, would you?”

Duan Feng declared with absolute confidence.

“So this is your game, Uncle Duan.”

Liu Yingyue paused before letting out a cold laugh.

A shameless thief, using the promise of ‘turning over a new leaf’ to extort his own masters, this was the pinnacle of audacity!