Seducing the Heart - Chapter 19

“Old Master, how is the jade piece I commissioned coming along?” Qin Zhanluo stood inside a medium-sized jade shop, looking composed as she observed the elderly master, whose hair and beard had already turned white.

He was currently facing a piece of raw jade with an exuberant expression. As he spoke animatedly, his beard danced with every breath, and he was high-spiritedly directing his apprentices on how to process the material.

Turning around, the old master saw her. “Young lady, you are indeed punctual. Come, follow me to see the jade.”

The white jade pendant was crystal clear and translucent. A black silk cord had been threaded through the eyelet for easy wearing. The motifs on the surface had been personally designed and sketched by Qin Zhanluo, then meticulously carved stroke by stroke by the master.

The old master originally had a very eccentric temper. Initially, Qin Zhanluo had been extremely demanding regarding the selection of the jade material, which inevitably made him impatient and inclined to reject the commission.

However, when she produced the sketch of the patterns, the old master’s eyes lit up. The design was so delicate that it was clear she had poured a great deal of effort into it; crafting such a piece would ensure his skills did not go to waste.

Yet, having already voiced his refusal, he found it difficult to retract his words without losing face. He remained stubborn, saying, “Why didn’t you bring this drawing out earlier, young lady? The drawing is good, but you should still look elsewhere.”

Qin Zhanluo was not flustered by the rejection. She simply offered a faint smile. “Old Master, if you do not personally take this commission, I fear there is no one else in this Imperial Capital worthy of handling such fine jade. You surely could not bear to watch it be ruined by someone else’s mistake, which would be a terrible waste of a heavenly treasure.”

Take it? How could he not take it?

Even though he knew the young lady was using reverse psychology, the old master fell for it completely. After working on it for over a month, the finished product was delightful and had not tarnished his reputation.

“This jade is so finely made; surely you are giving it to a sweetheart?” As people age, they tend to enjoy gossip. Seeing that the lady was beautiful and rarely finding such a knowledgeable connoisseur of jade, the old master unconsciously became more talkative.

Qin Zhanluo neither confirmed nor denied the remark. She only silently studied the jade pendant lying in the brocade box. Satisfied, a trace of a smile gradually appeared in her eyes.

“The quality is excellent. Thank you, Old Master.” Qin Zhanluo signaled with her eyes, and Ying Xi, who was following behind, immediately stepped forward to settle the agreed-upon price in full.

“Tsk tsk, young ladies are so stubborn.” The old master indifferently weighed the silver in his hand. “But your vision is quite good.”

“Old man! I looked everywhere and couldn’t find you, and it turns out you were hiding here!” An old woman appeared. Seeing the old master dazed, her anger flared up. She grabbed him by the ear and began dragging him toward the backyard.

“Hey, old woman, leave me some dignity! I am one of the top jade craftsmen in the Imperial Capital! What will people think if they see this?”

“What dignity? Fine, since you want to talk about carrying weight, I will fulfill your wish! You dared to sneak a drink behind my back again last night. Right now, immediately, go fetch a bucket of water and reflect on your actions in the courtyard!”

“Ah, I am so envious that His Highness has such a wonderful wife as the Princess,” Ying Xi said, glancing at the brocade box in Qin Zhanluo’s hand. “Giving such a precious and thoughtful gift… where else in the world could one find someone like my Princess?”

“Where did you learn such a glib tongue?” Qin Zhanluo looked at Ying Xi with some surprise. While Ying Xi was usually straightforward, she had never dared to tease her like this before.

Ying Xi only then realized she was speaking to her habitually cold Princess and not to Auntie Zhang, the cook who made delicious food. She coughed awkwardly. “This servant knows her mistake. I will spend less time chatting with the guards in the manor from now on.”

They’ve clearly been a bad influence, she thought.

Qin Zhanluo only smiled. She felt that Ying Xi being this way was not necessarily a bad thing.

“Where is His Highness?” Qin Zhanluo put away the brocade box and turned to ask a small maidservant in the manor.

“In reply to the Princess Consort, His Highness has gone out to accompany Princess Xingnan for an excursion.”

“Princess Xingnan?” Qin Zhanluo’s eyes flickered slightly. She had a fair impression of that name.

At that moment, Yun Jin was accompanying Xingnan on a stroll through the streets. Xingnan had not been to the Imperial Capital for years and felt somewhat unfamiliar with everything, so Yun Jin had naturally agreed to accompany her.

In Xingnan’s view, there wasn’t much worth seeing. The Imperial Capital was simply larger and more prosperous than her fief. She had not been interested in this place years ago, and she remained uninterested now.

“Selling hairpins! Genuine Blood Jade hairpins! Ten times the refund if it’s fake! A hundred times the refund if it’s fake!”

Xingnan was drawn by the nonsensical shouting of the vendor and walked over with some interest. She picked up the hairpin and examined it, discovering it was indeed genuine.

Blood jade. She hadn’t expected to find such valuable blood jade in front of such an inconspicuous shop.

“Does Xingnan like this hairpin? Then I shall buy it for you.”

Xingnan only gave a faint look and did not refuse. “Thank you, Brother.”

Throughout the journey, any item that held Xingnan’s attention for more than five seconds was purchased by Yun Jin. Xingnan watched this and refused nothing. She knew her Royal Brother wanted to make amends, but what she wanted was far more than just these things.

When the two returned to the manor, the guards behind them were carrying a large number of items. They weren’t heavy, but the effort was tiring.

“Thank you, Royal Brother. Xingnan was very happy today.”

“Xingnan, do not say ‘thank you’.” Yun Jin’s tone held a hint of helplessness. “With our many years of friendship, there is no need to be so formal with me.”

Even though Yun Jin had hidden the true identity first and felt guilty, Yun Jin still did not want this Royal Sister to act so distant on purpose. Though Yun Jin had many brothers, they were not from the same mother, and everyone had their own hidden agendas, making interactions exhausting. Consequently, they rarely stayed in touch. As for sisters, they had all married off, and not a single one remained in the Imperial Capital.

In the end, the only cousin with whom there had been a genuine bond was this one.

Xingnan looked up at Yun Jin and showed the first real smile of the day. “Alright, Royal Brother.”

Back at the Prince’s manor, Qin Zhanluo was sitting peacefully in the study reading scriptures to calm her mind, but someone nearby seemed intent on getting her attention.

“Princess Consort, please, I beg you to save Cui’er!” A young maidservant first approached Qin Zhanluo to slowly wipe the table. Seeing that Qin Zhanluo finally looked up, she suddenly broke down and wailed.

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