Imperial Treasure

Chapter 627 - 408: The Origin

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Pu Qinghan had truly never expected Sui Yi to provide any explanation, even though Sui Yi had bluntly revealed the root of the issue.

"I think...this isn’t necessary...Those of us in this line of work should be mentally prepared from the beginning," said Pu Qinghan, with a fragility of one who had just recovered from a serious illness. Her lips were slightly pale, perhaps slowly regaining color, but it was barely noticeable. Yet, her eyes were bright yet gentle. From this angle, Yhan Qingwu saw her tiredly say, "To gain something, one must inevitably give something up... There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

She was probably referring to the various scandals of all shapes and forms in the entertainment industry.

And the entertainment industry, even more rapid and alluring with fame and fortune than the financial sector, was precisely enough to make countless individuals willingly dash into the flames like moths.

Indeed, wasn’t she also one of them?

There’s no need to be proud of one’s situation now.

That is only because you lack sufficient confidence and support.

What Yhan Qingwu thought was also something Pu Qinghan wouldn’t say. The former looked at her and, without speaking, finished dressing the wound and tidied up the tweezers and other items.

Sui Yi, too, did not speak, as indifferent and reserved as ever.

"You are still weak now, just rest here. I will come over after it ends and leave with you," said Sui Yi.

Sui Yi’s arrangements were very proper, especially since there had been trouble before. Duke Zheng’s Mansion had already intervened, so it was impossible to indulge Pu Qinghan further and risk another incident, thus their protection of Pu Qinghan was very thorough.

So when Sui Yi and another opened the door, a butler waiting at the door slightly bowed.

Clearly, Duke Zheng’s Mansion had already shown their stance and reacted.

The young butler came in, holding an expensive blanket in his hand and followers bringing some food...

The blanket was placed over Pu Qinghan’s legs. She was already a bit tired, and blood loss coupled with medication made her somewhat drowsy, and this warmth only added to her sleepiness. Sui Yi and the other quickly left; the young butler closed the door, and someone stood guard outside...

Fighting drowsiness, Pu Qinghan always felt someone was watching her...

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At the corner of the corridor, Sui Yi saw Xu Zhengmao. Yhan Qingwu nodded at Sui Yi and left alone.

Sui Yi and Xu Zhengmao then went to a nearby pavilion.

"Boss...I’m very sorry," said Xu Zhengmao.

"I hope what you’re about to say is worth delaying my attendance at the exhibition," Sui Yi said.

Sui Yi spoke without a hint of anger, but it was precisely such calm demeanor that made it more unsettling—you couldn’t tell if she was angry or not, or just how angry she might be.

Xu Zhengmao’s typically spirited and stern face collapsed halfway, somewhat helplessly and restrainedly, he spoke a sentence that surprised Sui Yi, prompting her to raise an eyebrow.

Because Xu Zhengmao said...

"I am Li Zhang’s illegitimate son."

In truth, the truth was as simple as that, enough for Sui Yi to grasp all of Li Yu’s hostility and arrangements.

Li Zhang, Li Yu’s father, a half-brother from the same father but different mothers...

Another son in the Li Family who could compete for inheritance.

Sui Yi turned to look at Xu Zhengmao, thoughtful...

Xu Zhengmao didn’t say anything else. More words, more mistakes; his past was essentially focused on this single secret.

After a while, Sui Yi said, "So what do you think I should do?"

There were only two choices.

One, to give up on Xu Zhengmao, like his previous bosses.

Two, to accept Xu Zhengmao and formally oppose Li Yu.

The first, Xu Zhengmao was unwilling, dreading the outcome because his current position was the best he had found so far... Not just because of such a boss, this kind of platform, but because...

Xu Zhengmao clenched his fists, and after less than three breaths, he said, "I don’t want to leave."

Sui Yi remained impassive.

He kept staring at Sui Yi, saying, "Boss, you also despise compromising with Li Yu, so you won’t let me go unless I leave on my own."

He knew the boss very well, of course, and was quite shameless.

Sui Yi glanced at him, said indifferently, "He’s indeed not enough to make me compromise, but you must make your presence more beneficial than harmful,... at the very least, break even, and there can’t be another instance of today’s events..."

After all, she didn’t have much affection for this person.

From this viewpoint, she treated him no different from a stranger.

Xu Zhengmao wasn’t Pu Qinghan; he didn’t have the ability to soften her heart, nor did his talents reach a level that would make her disregard everything to cherish his skills.

Moreover, the origin was him.

"One of your former subordinates, the one you absorbed the company from, was that person from Li Yu’s side?"

"Yes," Xu Zhengmao’s expression changed slightly.

"Then keep it that way,"

Keep what? Swallowed Sui Tang Square?

Certainly not.

So it’s...

Under that penetrating gaze, Xu Zhengmao tensed nervously, his heart pounded, and he finally bowed his head, "Is the boss willing to help me?"

"Do you need it?"

"Maybe," Xu Zhengmao didn’t say no, though he preferred to rely on his own strength to take those things that the Li family didn’t want to give him...

Sui Yi was non-committal, walking past him, "Let’s go."

Xu Zhengmao followed behind.

The exhibition ceremony had already begun, and when Sui Yi and he entered, they saw that Duke Zheng was speaking, apparently already mentioning Misty the Pearl.

The walls had projections, perfectly relaying the image of Misty the Pearl inside the exhibit hall. Duke Zheng’s voice, though slightly hoarse, was amplified effectively by the mic.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Misty the Pearl, an Ancient Pei from the Warring States, which is also one of my collections over the years. Today, it is displayed in the exhibition hall, first, to let you appreciate it with me, and secondly, for the auction that will take place in an hour..."

Auctioning, Sui Yi had already known that the event at Duke Zheng’s Mansion was not just a simple exhibition but also related to a charity auction.

The main reason was that there had been a landslide disaster in the Southeast recently, resulting in many deaths, and charity has always been a principal way for celebrities from all circles to enhance their reputations and demonstrate their benevolence, hence, this charity auction also received strong government support.

But many people didn’t expect Duke Zheng to be so generous as to auction the invaluable Misty the Pearl...

Its value surely couldn’t stop at fifty million.

The hall buzzed with discussion, but soon quieted down as Duke Zheng coughed lightly and said, "Of course, besides Misty the Pearl, there are other donated collectables included in this exhibition, to be auctioned off for charity funds, some of which are those exhibits you see in the hall... Well, that’s all I have to say."

Having finished, he passed the microphone to the approaching Zheng Yu, who clearly had his favor and was the host of this event.

Afterward, Zheng Yu eased the atmosphere much and subtly reminded about the auction...

It seemed many celebrities came specifically for this auction, Sui Yi glanced and saw some exchanging whispers...

The auction was held elsewhere, many guests mingled in relaxed conversations as they moved...

Su Zimu and his descendant nodded to Sui Yi and then followed with some celebrities clustering around them.

The Su Family was highly reputable, even the two from the Cao Family went over to greet them.

Was this the power of culture?

Gong Jiu and Flower Demon approached Sui Yi, and shortly after, the six of them settled in a corner booth to rest while chatting.

Since the auction hadn’t started yet, many guests, like them, had found places to rest early.

Gong Jiu took a cocktail, sipped it, and after moistening his throat, said, "Duke Zheng’s Mansion... I came here once with the old man when I was a kid. It seems he and Duke Zheng were on good terms, but it’s hard to say..."

"Hard to say?" Flower Demon raised an eyebrow.

Gong Jiu pursed his lips, looked around, and said, "The old man told me not to get involved with Duke Zheng’s Mansion... He said I lacked discernment and wasn’t cunning enough, I might get easily duped, so I should avoid this place... "

Eh... Elder Gu of the Palace Family was always crafty and cunning, Flower Demon, who had played in the Palace Family since childhood, was sure of it, "So, your grandfather having such reservations means Duke Zheng’s Mansion is definitely not a clean place... That’s why you didn’t mention it to Sui Yi earlier?"

"Right, I didn’t know Sui Yi was coming at first..." Gong Jiu stroked his chin and turned to Sui Yi, curiously asking, "What do you think?"

What do I think?

Here, no one knew the origins of the old man from the Palace Family better than Sui Yi; his warning for Gong Jiu to avoid too much contact with Duke Zheng’s Mansion was clearly indicating that there was indeed something he too was wary of at this place...

This danger far exceeded what Gong Jiu and the others could imagine at this moment.

"Better to be cautious..."

Sui Yi’s gaze slowly swept over this ancient and graceful place... It was only now that she found the architecture somewhat strange.

The group didn’t talk much, and after sitting for about half an hour, Sui Yi and her group calmly moved towards the auction area, adjacent to the exhibition hall. The grand hall on the first floor, with its ancient charm and exquisite decorations, bore the feel of an ancient imperial court. At the entrance, ten black-clad security guards waited, and women in cheongsams, graceful in posture, served refreshments like passing breezes...

As Sui Yi and her group entered, they saw ahead a core area supported and divided by pillars with a four-sided inner court, three steps descending, with a long rectangular stone platform in the middle, about six or seven parts as tall as a person.

The lights above were deliberately focused. Besides the hundreds of seats around, there were the media.

Indeed, those with cameras weren’t gossip journalists but legitimate media personnel, probably here to document this charity auction.

Sui Yi and her group were not of low status; together, their assets reached one hundred and fifty billion. Here, they were among the most powerful groups, especially since the uproar Sui Yi had caused prior. Even now, as she walked in, about seventy to eighty percent of the guests were looking at her, all offering friendly glances and politely greeting her as they passed...

In reality, those not from the Martial Arts World would not understand the significance of her previous duel with the Military Sabre, but they knew that the move Sui Yi had shown was extremely impressive, something that eight or nine out of ten ordinary people couldn’t achieve. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)