Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Highest Bid

Inside the tent crafted by Carotes was a space of marvel and wonder. It felt as though you were enveloped by an infinite void, absent of both sound and light, where tranquility reached its utmost extreme. Yet, paradoxically, you could still clearly “see” the man before you and sense your feet firmly on the floor of the Hall of Stars. The strangeness of it all left one both awed and mystified.

Now, compared to Liu Ru, who maintained a semblance of composure despite her shock, Carotes resembled a cat with its fur bristling in agitation. The effortless grace and poise he’d exhibited earlier were shattered before the power of this single gold coin.

“This should still be within the rules,” Liu Ru said as she looked at Carotes, her voice light and composed.

“I’ve never seen anyone fleece His Highness the Third quite like you,” Carotes forced himself to steady his nerves. “Leave it to me,” he said, glancing at Liu Ru.

Liu Ru nodded and handed over the gold coin.

Carotes took the coin, rolling it thoughtfully between his fingers before sighing. “How did you know?”

“Know what?” Liu Ru retorted.

“The tradition that His Highness the Third can purchase anything she desires within Leafnight City,” Carotes replied quietly. The auction was, after all, being held in Leafnight City, and if His Highness truly appeared and expressed a desire to buy these exam questions, no one would dare refuse her. The trouble was, His Highness was not present—but her coin was.

“That’s not important,” Liu Ru said, her gaze unwavering. “You only need to say if the transaction can go through.”

“His Highness rarely buys anything. In the beginning, she didn’t even grasp the concept of payment. Back then, we were at our wits’ end, but we could only let her do as she pleased. But not long after, for reasons unknown, she suddenly learned to pay,” Carotes said calmly. “Of course, even her method of paying isn’t exactly conventional. She almost never speaks during such exchanges, and the currency she offers is always the Golden Leaf, the highest denomination in the Empire of Blue Leaves. It can, in fact, pay for nearly anything she wishes to buy, and more often than not, the price she pays far exceeds the item’s worth.”

“But if that is true for most cases, there must be exceptions.”

“Indeed. When what she wants exceeds the value of a Golden Leaf.”

“And our only recourse is to sell it to her anyway.”

“It’s an unspoken rule—one His Highness herself may well be aware of. Since then, she has seldom made purchases, perhaps restraining her curiosity to avoid causing us unnecessary trouble.”

“She is a very good child,” Carotes said, meeting Liu Ru’s eyes. “Which is why you shouldn’t take advantage of her like this.”

“She sees everything, and so she permits us to act as we do,” Liu Ru replied levelly.

“Yes,” Carotes sighed. “Today you’ve brought out an unused Golden Leaf of His Highness the Third.”

He added a number of peculiar qualifiers.

“There are used ones as well?” Liu Ru asked.

“In fact, within Leafnight City, there are originally no unused Golden Leaves from His Highness the Third,” Carotes explained. “As I said, she can buy anything she wants, so in reality, any Golden Leaf she produces is considered ‘used’ the moment it is presented—the transaction is as good as complete.”

“How do you determine this?” Liu Ru inquired.

“Certain unique fluctuations,” Carotes replied. “Since you now live with Her Highness, you should know—her state is not that of an ordinary person. She dwells in the liminal space between reality and illusion; she can interfere with this world, but can at any moment withdraw, leaving no trace. The Golden Leaves are the same. To this day, I do not know where she gets them—or perhaps, I have a bold theory, but I cannot share it here.”

“What theory?” Liu Ru could not help but ask, her curiosity piqued.

Carotes smiled. “All the Golden Leaves are products of her imagination.”

“You’ve told me now,” Liu Ru remarked.

“Since you asked so earnestly,” Carotes murmured.

“It sounds unbelievable,” Liu Ru said.

“Compared to Her Highness’s own existence, these imagined Golden Leaves are nothing remarkable,” Carotes replied. “Created from nothingness, once a transaction is concluded, the Golden Leaf is handed to the seller and becomes a real coin, indistinguishable from any other.”

“And if the transaction isn’t completed?” Liu Ru pressed.

“That is the state it is in now,” Carotes said, propping the coin up with a finger. “It exists between being and vanishing, sustained only because His Highness deems it still of value. Once the trade is done, it becomes a real gold coin.”

Liu Ru fell silent. She knew, in fact, that His Highness the Third had given out two Golden Leaves. After all, neither transaction had been completed. The first was when they’d first met; His Highness had offered a Golden Leaf to exchange for a figurine, but the deal was interrupted by Xie Yanluo’s presence and Su Ziye’s intervention, and changed instead into offering shelter for her and Su Ziye. Nevertheless, the coin had been brought back to His Highness’s manor and ultimately kept by Su Ziye. This was the very coin Liu Ru now held. The second was during a meal, when His Highness tried to pay with a Golden Leaf, but Su Ziye refused it as well. Yet, His Highness did not withdraw the concept of the coin.

As Carotes had said, in all Her Highness’s previous experience, she had never reclaimed a Golden Leaf; the trade was, in her view, completed the instant she handed it over. Only Su Ziye had interrupted the transaction both times, creating a strange loophole—allowing Liu Ru to arrive here with a coin that, while within the rules, utterly overwhelmed every other bid.

“I don’t know how you managed it, but on reflection, it’s rather simple. Within Leafnight Academy, no one would so brazenly exploit His Highness the Third. But you are not of the academy, and thus not bound by such restraint,” Carotes said with a sigh. “On the other hand, His Highness is a child who can easily see into people’s hearts. She prefers those who like her and bear her no malice.”

“As to whether you mean harm—His Highness herself is the best proof.”

“So,” the red-haired president of the student council gazed quietly at Liu Ru, “the transaction is concluded. On behalf of His Highness, I reclaim this Golden Leaf. At the same time, you may claim the genuine questions for the third trial.”

“Each receives what they desire.”

“Wait.” Even on the verge of victory, Liu Ru asked him to pause.

“Is there something else?” Carotes looked at her.

“I have an additional offer. I didn’t expect things to go so smoothly, but regardless, this bid is yours.” With that, Liu Ru handed over a piece of paper, folded into a small square.

Carotes looked at her, took the note, unfolded it, and read it swiftly. Then, unable to help himself, he covered his head and laughed quietly.

Liu Ru watched him in silence until Carotes finished laughing and looked up at her. “It’s Xi Che, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never heard that name,” Liu Ru replied calmly.

“Perhaps he thought it unnecessary to tell you,” Carotes shook his head. “But I accept his offer and will visit him tonight as he requested.”

“Will you be able to come?” Liu Ru asked.

She and Su Ziye now resided with His Highness the Third; according to Su Ziye, it was the safest house in all Leafnight City. Could Carotes enter such a sanctuary?

“To keep a good image before Her Highness, I won’t enter,” Carotes said serenely. “But I can still find you and pay a call.”

“What good image?” Liu Ru asked.

“That fellow didn’t tell you? In Her Highness’s domain there is no such thing as privacy,” Carotes said, face full of pity. “Every word you speak, every moment—even using the toilet—is broadcast to her from every angle. Let alone any shady backroom deals—those would sully Her Highness’s pure heart and ruin my reputation as a gentle and trustworthy elder brother.”

“So, wild horses couldn’t drag me into her house,” Carotes concluded.

Recalling the information Su Ziye had shared, Liu Ru realized that Su Ziye’s audacity in entering Her Highness’s home was truly remarkable. Or perhaps Su Ziye was confident her heart was utterly pure?

“Very well, I have nothing more to say here,” Liu Ru replied calmly.

“Where did Xi Che find you?” Carotes asked.

“I don’t know Xi Che,” Liu Ru replied.

“That was his old name. Now he might go by Su Ziye, or perhaps some other stray cat or dog,” Carotes said evenly. “I don’t know how he trained you, but I’ll tell you this: once you enter Leafnight Academy, whatever binding contract you may have made before will dissolve into nothing. You’ll gain true freedom—a future and life that belong solely to you.”

“What are you trying to say?” Liu Ru asked.

“I’m saying: if you’re willing, I invite you to join the student council. You would become a top student, and might one day secure a place in this world’s history that none could erase,” Carotes said, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, nonthreatening.

“Rather than following that man down a road to despair.”

Liu Ru tilted her head, looking at Carotes. “And if I told you there’s no contract between us?”

There truly was no contract between her and Su Ziye—not even a verbal agreement. She had chosen, of her own free will, to follow Su Ziye.

“That is the most terrifying contract of all,” Carotes said with a calm smile. “Well, some words are only spoken once. Until tonight, beautiful lady.”

...

Within the darkness of the tent, no one knew how much time had passed inside, nor how much outside. Soon, the blonde girl in white stepped out of the tent, but unlike before, she didn’t immediately return to her seat. She paused, and behind her, Carotes emerged, stooping to exit before snapping his fingers. The black tent dissolved in the air like mist set alight.

“We no longer need it,” Carotes said quietly, his eyes on Liu Ru. “I have received the highest bid possible in this city, so without a doubt, this lady is the final winner of tonight’s auction. We need not know her name, but I’m sure many have already been struck by her beauty. She will continue to the third trial, and will also enter Leafnight Academy, to become a classmate to many here.”

“I have already, on behalf of the student council, extended an invitation, and hope to see her atop the Sun Tower.”

With that, he handed a blue envelope to Liu Ru, and said softly, “The deal is done.”

Liu Ru accepted the envelope, enduring the gaze of everyone present. They were the elite, the most formidable and terrifying of the prodigies gathered in Leafnight City. Yet in the end, only she stood alone beneath the brilliant spotlight, surpassing them all.

None knew that just a few months prior, she had been a lowly slave shackled to a wooden platform.

“So your real name is Xi Che?” Liu Ru thought to herself.

She then looked up at Carotes.

“The deal is done,” Liu Ru said.

...

Liu Ru did not return by the same route. Now carrying the questions for the third trial, appearing again before the crowd would be far too dangerous.

Yet she never expected to return in this way.

“Your Highness,” after following Carotes into a private room within the Hall of Stars, she heard him speak softly into the emptiness.

At once, the red-haired girl in a black cloak appeared before her, soundless as a shadow.

Liu Ru glanced at her crimson hair, then at Carotes, about to speak, but Carotes cut her off.

“There’s no blood relation between us, don’t get any ideas,” he told Liu Ru, then turned to the girl, producing the now-used coin with a smile. “Rest assured, Your Highness, you haven’t caused me any trouble.”

“I’ll keep it, then.”

“And please, take her back with you.” He pointed at Liu Ru. “It wouldn’t be safe for her to retrace her steps alone.”

There seemed to be a fleeting nod from His Highness.

She approached Liu Ru soundlessly, extending her right hand.

Liu Ru looked at the hand, white as fine jade, and a single thought entered her mind.

Is His Highness’s hand one I am worthy to hold?

As she pondered, His Highness stepped forward and took Liu Ru’s hand in hers.

In the next instant, Liu Ru felt herself soar as if flying, and when she regained her senses, she was already standing in the parlor of His Highness’s manor.

“Eye of Skadi,” Su Ziye, dressed all in black, sat there as if she’d been waiting a long while.

“All went well, I trust?”