Chapter 1509: Wang Official's Integrity

As he spoke, the auctioneer opened the last few bids. None were higher, so the final villa went to the Luo family!

Ordinary people couldn't afford to participate in this high-stakes auction, but they thoroughly enjoyed watching the spectacle. Gossip and drama are always more appealing when they involve others, but they lose their charm when they land on your own doorstep.

It had been a long time since Tianshui City had seen such an expensive real estate transaction, especially considering the property wasn't even in the city center but several miles away in the outskirts! And this was only a villa in the second-to-last row.

The Red Fortress auction concluded this evening amidst a lively atmosphere. Fan Shuang first escorted He Lingchuan to the Sanmentou Inn before heading home himself.

Being with He Lingchuan kept Fan Shuang incredibly busy every day. He Lingchuan had too many engagements, including audiences with the King, visiting influential figures, coordinating logistics, inspecting construction sites, dining with other foreign envoys, and more. Fan Shuang gritted his teeth and accompanied him throughout, only then realizing that the King's favored official truly earned his status. Fan Shuang himself was nearly exhausted, but He Lingchuan appeared unaffected. Furthermore, He Lingchuan also managed the affairs of the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce. His energy was truly extraordinary.

Turning the corner, Fan Shuang saw the two familiar lanterns at his doorstep and felt a warmth spread through him. Finally home. It had been another exhausting day. At that moment, all he wanted was to wash away the smell of sweat and sit down to devour some ice-cold watermelon – his mother had apparently lowered two watermelons into the well that morning before he left.

But before he could enter, a servant hurried forward to greet him:

"Young master, you're finally back! We have a distinguished guest."

"Oh? Who?"

As he entered the living room, his father was entertaining a guest. Upon seeing Fan Shuang, he immediately stood up and said, "Shuang'er, quickly, this is Lord Mi from the Bureau of Records!"

A man nearing fifty, slightly plump, sat opposite him and smiled at Fan Shuang. Fan Shuang quickly bowed and said, "Lord Mi."

The Bureau of Records was his father's direct superior department, primarily responsible for assessing officials' performance and integrity. Such an official suddenly appearing at the Fan household made Fan Shuang's heart pound. Had his father or he himself committed an offense?

"Your father and I have been acquaintances for many years," Lord Mi said, smiling unusually warmly. He gestured to the side of his leg. "When you were this tall—I even held you." He then turned to Fan's father and said, "This child has promise. He was recently granted an audience with His Majesty, and now he's by Island Lord He's side; everyone sees how diligent he is."

Fan's father nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, indeed. Island Lord He appreciates him, and he has certainly proven himself."

So what exactly was Lord Mi here for? He was being overly familiar.

As Fan Shuang was pondering internally, Lord Mi continued to ask: "Oh, by the way, have you just returned from the Red Fortress?"

The Red Fortress? So this was the real reason. Seeing his father repeatedly signal him with his eyes, Fan Shuang nodded. "Yes, the Red Fortress auction just finished, and I escorted Island Lord He back to the inn. Lord Mi, is there some trouble with my family that brought you here today...?"

"Oh no, no, your father just asked the same question," Lord Mi chuckled. "You're both overthinking it. I'm here today to deliver good news."

"Please tell us, Lord Mi."

Lord Mi placed his teacup on the table. "I heard that you possess a golden plaque?"

"Yes, the plaque for Hanqing Tower in Serene Lake Villa," Fan Shuang replied, instantly understanding and quickly continuing, "Island Lord He is a man of integrity and loyalty, and Hanqing Tower is simply his reward for my companionship and efforts over the past few months."

Having personally witnessed the frantic bidding for Phase Two of Serene Lake Villa at the Red Fortress auction, Fan Shuang now understood that He Lingchuan selling him Hanqing Tower for only two thousand taels of silver was practically giving it away.

Fan's father added from the side, "At noon today, the Imperial Works Department posted the purchase list for Phase One of Serene Lake Villa, and we are on it."

Fan Shuang gasped.

This move was incredibly powerful, tantamount to publishing the first list of officials who sided with King Yao. Those listed were all fiercely loyal! The Fan family was also on the list; although their purchase was in the last row, bringing up the rear, even the last seat was still a seat, and this immediately put them under everyone's watchful eyes.

Lord Mi rubbed his hands together. "I'll be frank. An official wishes to purchase Hanqing Tower and has commissioned me to discuss it with you and your son."

The Fan father and son exchanged glances. "Well..."

Fan Shuang also noted that Lord Mi used the word "commissioned." Someone had sent him.

"At tonight's Red Fortress auction, for the second-to-last row of villas in Phase Two of Serene Lake Villa, the lowest bid was thirty-one thousand taels and the highest successful bid was forty-one thousand seven hundred taels. This official has offered a compromise price of thirty-four thousand taels."

Fan Shuang couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, which official is this?"

"It's the Censor-in-Chief, Lord Wang," Lord Mi replied, not concealing it, as the buyer would be revealed eventually anyway.

Fan Shuang was stunned. It was the head of the Censorate!

Lord Wang's authority was to "report major matters for imperial decision, and make swift judgments on minor matters," and he could impeach officials at will. Needless to say, all officials respected and feared him. No wonder Lord Mi used the word "commissioned"—this was his superior's superior!

Such a powerful figure actually wanted to buy the Serene Lake villa from the Fan family? Oh, right, he seemed to have seen Lord Wang in the front row of the Red Fortress auction earlier. Could it be that Lord Wang didn't win a bid?

The villas in Phase Two of Serene Lake Villa were sold via "silent auction," where buyers had only one chance to bid on their desired villa; if their price wasn't the highest, the villa went to someone else.

Fan Shuang said softly, "Today only the last two rows were auctioned, there are still more later..."

Lord Mi waved his hand. "Lord Wang is incorruptible and cannot produce that much money. This price is already the best he can do. Brother Fan, would you be willing to part with it?"

"This..." Fan's father's eyes flickered, looking extremely troubled. Fan Shuang had persuaded him to raise money to acquire the Serene Lake Villa, and he had been looking forward to being neighbors with the court's high officials and nobles. High-ranking dignitaries he rarely saw even once a year would now live near his home, easily encountered just by stepping out. If he became familiar with them, things would be easier to handle in the future. After all, as the saying goes, "Familiarity breeds goodwill." If Fan Shuang could meet one or two more influential figures, his career path would be bright. With someone suddenly stepping in, Fan's father was a bit unwilling. If his son could soar in the future, the wealth he could accumulate would be far more than thirty-four thousand taels.

Fan Shuang also didn't want to sell. Once they moved into Serene Lake Villa, their status would immediately change. But who was Lord Wang? They couldn't afford to offend him.

Seeing the father and son speechless, Lord Mi continued, "The Serene Lake villas are limited, and each is highly sought after. Now that the list has been published today, others will come to seek out Brother Fan. To my knowledge, the Liu family from Xining didn't manage to buy one tonight either, and they are trying every avenue. I estimate they will call upon you by tomorrow night at the latest."

Fan's father's expression subtly changed. "The Liu family?" The two young despots of the Liu family, relying on their status as maternal relatives of the imperial family, had run rampant in Tianshui City for years. The Fan family absolutely did not want to offend them!