That person was dressed in a magnificent red robe, intricately embroidered with golden thread.
Long black hair cascaded down, loosely gathered with just a single hairpin.
A pair of phoenix eyes slanted slightly upward, exuding a languidness that seemed innate to his very bones.
He leaned against the corner of the cage, eyelids lowered, his long dark lashes trembling lightly.
At the corner of his eye, a vivid Lycoris radiata blossomed in deep red, just as resplendent as its master.
The man's chin was lifted slightly, his crimson lips appearing as if they'd been brushed with blood.
There were shackles fastened around his ankles.
He leaned against the edge of the cage; clearly, he was the fish at the mercy of the knife.
Yet there was a nonchalant laziness to him, which only made this portrait of beauty all the more impossible to look away from.
Exclamations of amazement rippled through the crowd.
"Beautiful, beautiful. Such a beauty—even just to buy and keep at home to look at, it would be worth it."
"This one, I'm afraid, is worth at least ten thousand taels."
As everyone admired the beauty, some couldn't help but feel regret.
"No matter how beautiful, he's still a man—not a woman, after all."
As they spoke, they tossed aside their auction paddles, finding it dull, preferring to watch others compete instead.
At this moment, Su Ye's body sat rigidly still, saying not a word.
Until her hand clenched the armrest, and with a snap, she abruptly broke it apart.
Was she hallucinating? Why was that black-hearted bastard in a cage?
Did that Madam even know what kind of trouble she had brought back??
The noise she made drew the attention of the person inside the iron cage.
Those jet-black phoenix eyes swept over carelessly.
Then, his gaze locked in place, staring fixedly in Su Ye's direction.
On that otherwise emotionless face, a sudden smile flickered—the crimson lips curled, and long black lashes shivered.
That one smile triggered an even greater uproar from the surrounding crowd.
The auction had already begun, and after only a few rounds, the price had risen to twenty thousand taels.
Su Ye stood up abruptly, turning to stride quickly toward the exit.
As if some flood or savage beast were chasing her from behind.
Only after Su Ye had completely disappeared around the corner did Su Qing lower his eyelids, veiling the deep emotion in his eyes.
No one could tell what he was thinking.
Because of Su Qing's every move, the crowd grew even more excited.
The bids climbed ever higher.
The auctioneer was delighted as well.
"Alright, fifty thousand taels, once! Does anyone bid higher?"
With the price soaring sky-high, reason finally began to return to the auction hall.
Fifty thousand taels—this was the most expensive beauty to be auctioned in years.
Just as the auctioneer was celebrating, a female voice rang out.
"One hundred thousand taels."
The one who made this bid was none other than Su Ye, who had hurried away but now rushed back in haste.
She'd intended to leave, but since he'd seen her, could she really just go?
As soon as her words fell, even the wealthy merchants couldn't help but look at the bidder in surprise upon hearing that sum.
One hundred thousand taels—that was almost enough to buy a small city.
The beauty was indeed stunning, but it was only for the first night.
Was it really worth it?
And inside the cage, when the beauty heard that voice, his long dark lashes trembled. He lowered his head, betraying no further reaction.
Until, on the high platform, a hammer struck down.
"One hundred thousand taels, once."
"One hundred thousand taels, twice."
"One hundred thousand taels, three times! Sold! Congratulations to this esteemed guest."
The auction was over. Some lustful, unwilling souls went right up to the cage, wanting to touch the beauty.
As they walked over, they remarked,
"Such a gorgeous beauty—too bad I wasn't the one to take his virginity."