Volume 5, Chapter 280 – She Is the Future Empress (Part 1)

Qi Huang had initially assumed that the beautiful manager had run away with the funds. But when she extended her divine sense inside, she froze. Although the doors were shut, not a single person was missing, in fact, there was an additional group of government officers inside.

Yes, government officers! At this moment, several dozen officers had completely taken control of the Golden Fortune Auction House. Moreover, they had cordially invited Liu Yingyue into a separate room for “tea”.

‘What’s going on? Did she commit some crime?’

Qi Huang couldn’t make sense of it.

“Why is the Golden Fortune Auction House closed in broad daylight? Damn it, they’re even more leisurely than us. No wonder their business is so lousy.”

“Do these people even have any professional ethics? Five days ago, they announced an auction for ‘Cat’s Tears’ tonight. What time is it now? Are they still selling or not?”

“You actually believed them? Their auction house has consignors dropping dead every other day. They probably ran into another one this time, what else can they do but close?”

“True enough. Earlier, I saw a group of officers march in. Most likely, the consignor for ‘Cat’s Tears’ has kicked the bucket. Looks like tonight’s auction is canceled again.”

Passersby on the street shook their heads and gossiped.

‘You dare curse me?’

Qi Huang flew into a rage. A single strand of her hair silently extended and pierced straight through the palm of the man who had uttered the curse.

“AH! MY HAND!”

The cursed man screamed, clutching his hand as tears streamed down his face. Though the wound was small, a puncture injury was still enough to make him suffer.

Qi Huang retracted her hair strand and swept her divine sense through the auction house again. Sure enough, it was under the officers’ control. The beautiful Manager Liu had indeed been taken to a separate room for questioning, with a man dressed in a constable’s uniform leading the interrogation.

“Manager Liu, last night, a corpse was discovered in an inn north of the city. According to informants, the deceased was a consignor from your Golden Fortune Auction House. The item he entrusted for auction was a calligraphy masterpiece by a renowned dynasty-era calligrapher, titled ‘Eternal Prosperity Scroll’. Do you know this person’s true identity?”

The middle-aged man, who appeared to be the head constable, began his questioning.

‘Another dead consignor? Didn’t I already help her eliminate the mole inside?’

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Qi Huang was caught off guard. She began reassessing the situation, wondering if she had failed to completely root out the corruption.

“Constable Peng, it’s true that someone entrusted our auction house with the ‘Eternal Prosperity Scroll’, but I don’t know their real identity.”

Manager Liu responded with neither humility nor arrogance. Her hands rested gracefully over her lower abdomen, her posture so poised that her thin, qipao-style dress clung tightly to her curvaceous figure like a second skin, accentuating her tall, voluptuous silhouette.

“Really?”

Constable Peng narrowed his eyes skeptically, his greedy gaze roaming over Liu Yingyue’s body. If not for his official position, a lowly constable like him would never have had the chance to speak to a noble young lady like her in his lifetime.

“Of course. This isn’t your first time visiting our auction house, you should know we don’t ask consignors for their real identities. Most just give us a fake name for registration.”

Liu Yingyue’s expression remained calm.

“And how do you know it’s a fake name? Where’s the registration record? Show it to me.”

Constable Peng pressed relentlessly.

“There’s no need. I doubt anyone in this world would actually name themselves ‘Son’ ¹ 儿子 (érzi) , and that’s the only name he gave, just those two characters.”

Liu Yingyue tried to dissuade him.

“Son? You call him ‘Son’, so what does he call you ² this is some sort of mommy joke ig ? Hahaha…”

Constable Peng burst into laughter.

Liu Yingyue’s composed expression finally cracked. A flush of anger and embarrassment rose to her delicate cheeks.

Even Qi Huang, who was monitoring the situation, was speechless. She could only conclude that the dead man had gotten what he deserved, he had clearly chosen that name just to mock Liu Yingyue.

“Ahem…”

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Constable Peng cleared his throat and continued, “This world is full of wonders. Who’s to say that wasn’t his real name? Bring me the registration records, now.”

Liu Yingyue felt deeply uncomfortable. As the Ninth Young Miss of the prestigious Liu Family, if not for her determination to prove herself to her father, she would never allow such a petty official to order her around. But remembering her father’s expectations, she forced herself to maintain her grace.

“Xia Wei, bring the consignor’s registration ledger,” she instructed calmly toward the door.

Xia Wei, waiting outside, acknowledged the order and swiftly went to retrieve the ledger.

While they waited, Constable Peng’s eyes remained far from idle. His lecherous gaze continued to scan Liu Yingyue’s body. This woman was not only the Ninth Young Miss of the Liu Family, the foremost noble clan of the Western Radiance Dynasty, but she had also once been hailed as the capital’s number one beauty. It was no wonder he couldn’t resist staring.

Liu Yingyue finally reached her limit.

“Constable Peng, isn’t it improper to stare so brazenly at a young woman?” she said coldly.

“My apologies, Manager Liu. It’s just that you’re too beautiful, no wonder you were once called the capital’s top beauty.”

Constable Peng didn’t even blush. His expression remained unrepentant.

Liu Yingyue gritted her teeth, her ample chest heaving in suppressed fury. But knowing that commoners should never provoke officials, she forcibly swallowed her anger.

Soon, Xia Wei returned with the ledger.

“So it really does say ‘Son’! No wonder. With how often people die after entrusting items to your auction house, who would dare register their real name?”

Constable Peng sneered after glancing at the record.

“Constable Peng, now that you’ve seen the ledger and confirmed the consignor’s death, the calligraphy scroll naturally becomes part of the deceased’s estate. Please take it with you. We still have an auction to prepare for tonight.”

Liu Yingyue could endure no more and issued what amounted to an order for him to leave. In her eyes, this Peng fellow was only harassing her to seize the entrusted item for himself, just like all the others before him.

“Manager Liu, I’m afraid this matter isn’t so easily resolved. The murderer hasn’t been caught, how can your auction house reopen?”

Constable Peng smirked.

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“I don’t understand your reasoning, Constable Peng. The man didn’t die in our auction house, how does this concern us? Are you saying that if the murderer isn’t found, we can never do business again?”

Liu Yingyue asked in disbelief.

“True, he didn’t die here. But your auction house remains the prime suspect. Therefore, you have a duty to cooperate with my investigation.”

Constable Peng crossed his legs arrogantly.

“We’re the prime suspects? Are you joking? Why would we kill our own consignors?”

Liu Yingyue laughed in exasperation.

“The motive is simple. This has happened too many times at your auction house. Who’s to say you didn’t kill the consignors to keep their items? As you said yourself, these people never register their real names. Once they die, there’s no heir to claim their belongings. If we don’t investigate, those treasures end up in your hands, Manager Liu.”

Constable Peng leaned back, spinning his own narrative.

“Constable Peng, do you really think I’d sacrifice my auction house’s reputation, forcing us to close every other day, just for some petty ill-gotten gains? Don’t underestimate me!”

Liu Yingyue struggled to explain. Though her status was lofty, she knew that in this situation, authority from afar couldn’t help her. It was better not to provoke him outright.

“Whether you’re short-sighted or not isn’t my concern. All you need to do is cooperate.”

Constable Peng remained unmoved.

“You’re just looking for trouble, aren’t you? We announced this auction days ago, it’s crucial for us! If you force us to cancel, who will compensate us for the loss of credibility?”

Xia Wei finally lost her temper.

“What’s more important, your auction house’s credibility or a human life?”

Constable Peng’s lips curled into a sinister smile. He didn’t budge from his seat, as if his backside had taken root in the chair.

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“You insignificant constable! Who gave you the gall? Do you believe I won’t throw you out right now?”

Xia Wei rolled up her sleeves, ready to resort to force.

“Obstructing an officer’s investigation? Then your auction house will never reopen.”

Constable Peng scoffed.

“Don’t act rashly!”

Liu Yingyue quickly stopped her maidservant. After a brief pause, she discreetly pulled out a silver note from her sleeve and handed it over pleadingly.

“Constable Peng, please be reasonable. Consider this tea money for your men. Tonight’s auction is truly vital to us.”

Constable Peng took the note and was stunned to see it was worth fifty taels of silver. Without a change in expression, he pocketed it—then shamelessly declared:

“Attempting to bribe an officer? That’s an additional crime! The bribe is confiscated. Now, await the law’s judgment!”

“You—you’re utterly shameless!”

Liu Yingyue was aghast.

“Well said! I was just worrying about how to deal with you.”

Constable Peng smirked and ordered one of his subordinates: “Go seal the front gates. This auction house will never operate again.”

“Mother of heavens! How can such a despicable person exist in this world?!”

Qi Huang’s blood pressure skyrocketed. Without another thought, she stormed toward the entrance and delivered a brutal kick to the door.

“OPEN UP! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW, YOU LITTLE—!”