Predecessors Plagiarize Poems, Successors Enjoy the Shade

Lin Shao lay on a reclining chair covered with soft red cloth, his feet resting on a glass coffee table.

Several women in red and black uniforms with graceful figures surrounded him, brewing tea, pouring water, and massaging his shoulders and legs.

“Young Master, please.”

A woman with her hair tied in a bun behind her head held a black wooden tray.

In the center of the tray sat a pure white, handleless teacup filled with emerald green tea.

Lin Shao took the teacup and took a small sip.

It was neither too hot nor too cold, the temperature was just right, the aroma was rich, and the aftertaste was endless.

One could tell at a glance that it was brewed from extremely high-quality tea leaves that were rarely seen.

Even the tea used to greet guests was so high-class.

As expected of the largest auction house in the capital, this Liuli Hall was truly wealthy.

Lin Shao drained the tea in one gulp, wondering if he should ask the boss for some tea leaves later to take back and enjoy.

Putting the teacup back onto the black wooden tray, he took the opportunity to look at the quite attractive woman.

Her face was like a peach blossom, her teeth like white shells, and her large eyes were full of affection.

Seeing his gaze, she smiled shyly, her cheeks turning slightly red as she looked away, yet she still peeked back from time to time with an air of “refusing yet inviting.”

Lin Shao gave a polite smile.

He knew the woman hoped he would make some small moves to establish a connection with him.

But he was a man of integrity and would not fall into the trap.

After putting down the teacup, he closed his eyes and lay down, ignoring his surroundings as if his soul were wandering the four seas.

Seeing this, the woman showed a disappointed expression, hesitated for a long while, and then slowly withdrew.

After a while, a knock sounded at the door, and a greeting came through.

“Young Master Lin, are you free?”

“Yes.”

Hearing the irrepressible joy in the greeting, Lin Shao knew the matter was settled.

A middle-aged man who had gained some weight walked in.

He was Lu Haifu, the boss of Liuli Hall.

His face was beaming with smiles, and his pace was fast, making his dark green robe wave back and forth.

With a wave of his hand, the women in red and black uniforms left silently one after another.

When the last woman closed the door, Lu Haifu looked at Lin Shao with excitement.

“One hundred and forty million taels of silver!”

“This is the highest closing price I have seen in the thirty years since I took over Liuli Hall. Congratulations, Young Master Lin!”

Lin Shao curled his lips imperceptibly.

The auction house charged a 10% commission, earning fourteen million taels directly from him.

Instead of saying congratulations, it would be more practical to kneel down and kowtow twice to him.

He had to find a way to get that fourteen million taels of silver back, otherwise, this fat Lu would make too much profit.

His eyes rolled as an idea formed in his mind.

He chuckled with a sophisticated air and asked.

“Which poem did you transcribe?”

Lu Haifu happily took out a pure white handkerchief from his bosom and unfolded it carefully.

In the center of the handkerchief was a poem written with a brush.

He held it with both hands, eyes wide as he read aloud.

“The lone smoke in the desert rises straight, the setting sun over the long river is round.”

“As expected of a work by the Yuanshi Immortal Venerable. Such artistic conception is truly a height that ordinary people can hardly reach!”

He carefully folded the handkerchief and put it back in his bosom, looking at Lin Shao with great emotion.

This youth did not look old, only about seventeen or eighteen, but his abilities were truly not small.

He was actually able to find long-lost poems written by the Yuanshi Immortal Venerable and bring them back to the world.

A hundred years ago, there was a white-robed scholar holding a famous piece by the Immortal Venerable called [Bring in the Wine].

He faced a wall in seclusion for decades and finally understood the exquisite artistic conception within, breaking through in one leap to become a prominent figure in the Great Thousand World.

The poetry collections written by the Yuanshi Immortal Venerable were no different from heavenly treasures to those practitioners involved in the path of literature.

But according to statistics, only a very few had been passed down.

That was why these three newly discovered poems could be auctioned for one hundred and forty million taels of silver.

And this youth was actually quite generous, allowing him to transcribe one of the three poems.

This was something that could serve as a family heirloom!

This youth would definitely not be as young as he appeared on the surface.

Perhaps he was a high-level expert living in seclusion in the mountains and forests.

Lin Shao said with feigned casualness.

“Boss Lu has good taste. This line can be called a masterpiece for the ages.”

“However, I personally like ‘Helplessly the flowers fall, seemingly familiar the swallows return’ from another poem the most.”

Lu Haifu was first stunned, followed by uncontrollable ecstasy.

Wasn’t Lin Shao’s move equivalent to revealing another line from another poem by the Yuanshi Immortal Venerable to him?

And it was also a masterpiece that could be praised for eternity!

Lin Shao suddenly frowned, looking as if he were trying to recall something.

“By the way, how much is the commission for auctioning in Liuli Hall?”

“I remember I cut in line halfway, so the price seems to be higher?”

Having managed Liuli Hall for over thirty years, Lu Haifu naturally understood Lin Shao’s meaning.

He smiled flatteringly and said.

“What are you saying, Young Master Lin? Being able to auction the Immortal Venerable’s poetry collection is an honor for Liuli Hall.”

“I should thank you for choosing Liuli Hall. How could I possibly charge you a commission?”

Saying that, he took out a dark red silk pouch from his bosom and handed it to Lin Shao with both hands.

“There are two hundred million taels of silver inside.”

“The extra sixty million taels is my tribute to you. It was hard work for you to travel such a long distance.”

After handing over the pouch, he took out a palm-sized token.

The token was translucent and milky white, with the characters [Liuli] carved on the front and back.

“With this token, you will be the highest-ranking guest of Liuli Hall from now on.”

“Not only will there be a special room for you to rest, but the commission will also be waived whether you sell or buy things.”

He earned an extra sixty million taels of silver!

Lin Shao, who originally only wanted the commission back, was overjoyed in his heart.

He took the two items and put them in his bosom, lowered his legs from the coffee table, and stood up.

“Since there is nothing else, I will not delay Boss Lu any longer. We shall meet again if fate permits.”

Seeing this, Lu Haifu was about to say a few polite words to see if he could take the opportunity to invite him for a meal and get acquainted.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

A young attendant was panting heavily, looking very nervous.

“Do you want to die? Did I let you in!”

Lu Haifu immediately flew into a rage.

The reason he gave an extra sixty million taels of silver and one of only ten Liuli tokens was not just to thank Lin Shao, but to curry favor with him.

If Lin Shao felt offended by the attendant’s actions and left with a bad impression of Liuli Hall, the loss would be immeasurable.

The attendant’s face was pale as he answered timidly.

“Reporting to Master… this… this servant has an important matter to report…”

Only then did Lu Haifu see clearly that the attendant was the one he valued most.

He knew this boy was clever. If it weren’t for a truly important matter, he wouldn’t have made such a low-level mistake.

He snorted coldly and said with feigned anger.

“Can any important matter be more important than Young Master Lin?”

He arched his hands and bowed to apologize to Lin Shao.

“The servant does not know the rules. Please forgive him, Young Master.”

“Please wait here for a moment. I will return after punishing the servant and properly apologize and make amends.”

Lin Shao, who originally wanted to leave, heard the words “apologize and make amends.”

He thought that there was no harm in taking advantage of the offered benefits.

He lay back on the reclining chair with a blank expression, actively putting on pressure.

“I will give you the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.”

Lu Haifu nodded repeatedly and hurriedly pulled the small boy out of the room, asking what had happened.

The boy trembled and whispered the important matter into Lu Haifu’s ear.

After hearing it, Lu Haifu was first shocked and confirmed it with the boy again and again.

He stared at the door in front of him, as if seeing Lin Shao lying inside through the door.

‘What on earth is his background, to actually have the Emperor personally come looking for him.’