Unlimited Black Cards! A Mysterious and Wealthy Young Lady!

This neighborly visit, seemingly harmonious and amicable, was actually full of tests and contests. Su Zhenbang's calm probing, Lin Zhenhong's smooth overtures, Gu Jingchen's restrained calculations, and Su Mingyu's eagerness to impress were all observed by her.

Tomorrow's antique auction is destined to be more than just a simple charity event.

That will be her official debut stage in Kyoto's social circles, a perfect opportunity to showcase her strength and establish herself, and also a contest of strength with hidden edge.

She had long anticipated that the Kyoto aristocratic families would not easily accept an outsider. Only by demonstrating sufficient strength and confidence could she make them not dare to underestimate her and even take the initiative to come closer to her.

She raised her hand and gently touched the jade hairpin in her hair. Her fingertips were icy cold, but she had already made her plans.

After seeing off the guests, Jiang Yan returned to the lobby and saw Jiang Wenxi standing by the window. He asked in a low voice, "Miss, the distinguished guests have all left. I have compiled the relevant materials for the auction. Would you like to review them now?"

"In addition, I have checked the list of auction items. The Southern Song Dynasty official kiln celadon vase, the Yuan Dynasty blue and white plum vase, and the calligraphy and painting by Tang Yin that you mentioned are all core items in this auction. Among them, three scions of prominent families have clearly expressed their intention to bid for the Yuan Dynasty blue and white plum vase: Gu Jingchen, Lu Chengyu (son of the Lu family), and Zhao Manqi (daughter of the Zhao family). Moreover, the Zhao family has the confidence to secretly raise the price."

"Put it on the table," Jiang Wenxi said calmly, her gaze still fixed on the window, her tone composed yet exuding an aura of certainty.

"Have someone verify the provenance of that Yuan Dynasty blue-and-white plum vase again, and make sure there's no shady dealing involved. Also, prepare enough funds; I want that blue-and-white plum vase at tomorrow's auction."

She paused, then added, "Also, bring that Qing Dynasty enamel snuff bottle from my study. If anyone tries to cause trouble, use it to keep things under control."

That enamel snuff bottle was an imperial item used in the Qing court. It bears the Qianlong Emperor's imperial seal on the bottom and has a clear provenance. It was a rare item that she acquired from an overseas auction in her early years, enough to impress any collector in Beijing.

"Yes, Miss." Jiang Yan bowed and replied, placing the documents on the table before quietly leaving.

She knew that at tomorrow's auction, the young lady not only wanted to acquire her desired items, but also wanted to use this grand event to announce to the entire Kyoto aristocratic family—Jiang Wenxi has arrived, and the landscape of Kyoto should change.

The following afternoon, a charity auction for antique appraisal, hosted by the Kyoto Cultural Promotion Association, was held in the banquet hall on the top floor of the Kyoto Hotel.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the dome of the banquet hall, casting a dazzling light on the mahogany display stands and velvet tablecloths, while various auction items displayed their antique charm under the spotlights.

The heads of major families and seasoned collectors of Kyoto gathered together. Amidst the elegant attire and glittering lights, an unspoken competition was brewing. Some coveted the treasures, some took the opportunity to climb the social ladder, and others secretly eyed the entrance. Su Zhenbang, Lin Zhenhong and his wife, and Gu Jingchen were already seated in the front row, their eyes frequently sweeping across the doorway, all waiting for Jiang Wenxi to appear.

After all, the mysterious lady's expertise in appraising treasures and her impressive background displayed yesterday had already piqued everyone's curiosity.

Just as the auctioneer was adjusting the microphone, a very light footstep sound came from the entrance of the banquet hall, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Jiang Wenxi wore a bright red Suzhou embroidered cheongsam, with a phoenix embroidered in gold thread on the hem, poised to take flight. Her eyes were adorned with delicate red-gold patterns, and her movements were graceful and radiant. This was a stark contrast to the elegance of her light blue gauze dress yesterday, exuding a decisive and domineering aura.

Her long hair was tied into a high bun, with a red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin inserted diagonally. It swayed gently with her movements but was not ostentatious. The red gold bracelet on her wrist made a soft sound as it clinked. Every step she took was steady and composed, and she had an invisible aura.

Jiang Yan followed closely behind, holding a sandalwood box (containing an enamel snuff bottle) in one hand and a custom-made briefcase in the other, his posture upright like a pine tree.

The once noisy banquet hall fell silent instantly. Some people gasped in admiration of her aura, while others whispered, trying to figure out her trump card. Gu Jingchen rubbed his cufflinks with his fingertips, his eyes filled with even greater vigilance—this flamboyant attire was clearly intended to secure her place at this auction.

Ignoring the gazes around her, Jiang Wenxi walked straight to her reserved seat in the front row. As she passed Zhao Manqi, a casual glance from her made the latter subconsciously tighten her grip on her handbag, and her previous provocative arrogance weakened by three points.

At the start of the auction, the items were mostly calligraphy and paintings from the mid-to-late Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as ordinary porcelain, and the competition was mild.

Su Zhenbang bought a landscape scroll from the mid-Qing Dynasty, Lin Zhenhong acquired a pair of Republic-era famille rose vases, while Gu Jingchen sat still, his eyes fixed on a Yuan Dynasty blue and white plum vase in the auction catalog.

Jiang Wenxi remained seated, lightly tapping the table with her fingertips, her expression indifferent, as if she had no interest in the auction items. It wasn't until the Southern Song Dynasty official kiln celadon vase was brought out that the atmosphere in the room began to stir.

Although this celadon vase is not from its heyday, it is in excellent condition with a warm and lustrous glaze. Several collectors took turns bidding against it, and the price soared from two million to six million eight hundred thousand.

Just as everyone hesitated about whether to raise the price, Jiang Wenxi slowly raised her paddle, her clear voice piercing through the entire room: "Eight million."

His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable sense of authority, instantly suppressing all thoughts of bidding.

"Eight million two hundred thousand." Zhao Manqi raised her paddle in defiance, glancing at Jiang Wenxi with a hint of deliberate contempt.

"Nine million"

"Miss Jiang is new to the capital and probably doesn't know the market price of Southern Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain. It wouldn't be worth it to bid at this price."

She deliberately wanted to suppress Jiang Wenxi in front of everyone, to demonstrate the Zhao family's influence in the antique appraisal circle.

Jiang Wenxi raised her eyes, her gaze falling on Zhao Manqi, a faint yet cold smile playing on her lips: "Since Miss Zhao is knowledgeable, she should know that the glaze of this bottle has messy crackles and the body is slightly loose. Eight million is already the maximum price. If Miss Zhao wants to contribute more to charity and insists on raising the price, I would naturally be happy to see it. After all, I am one too."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the renowned connoisseur, Mr. Zhou, stroked his beard and nodded, "Miss Jiang has a keen eye and is absolutely right. Although this vase belongs to the imperial kiln, it is a later period piece made for civilian use, so eight million is quite reasonable."

Mr. Zhou's conclusion made Zhao Manqi's face turn as red as blood, and she awkwardly put down the sign.

In the end, Jiang Wenxi won the bid for the celadon vase for eight million yuan. She remained calm and composed throughout the process, demonstrating her expertise in appraising antiques while subtly bringing the topic of "charity" back to the table, thus blocking Zhao Manqi's path of provocation.

Following this, several mid-range items were sold one after another, and the atmosphere in the room steadily heated up until the Yuan Dynasty blue and white plum vase was brought to the stage, and the whole room instantly erupted in cheers.

This plum vase is about 30 centimeters tall. The lotus scroll pattern on the body is delicately painted, and the glaze is as lustrous as jade. The inscription "11th year of the Zhizheng reign of the Great Yuan Dynasty" is clearly visible on the bottom. It is a rare treasure and its estimated value is over 15 million.

Gu Jingchen was the first to raise his paddle, his voice steady: "Ten million."