"Alright!" The waiter replied enthusiastically, "If you want to see the finest jewelry, you must be a distinguished guest." He quickly went behind the counter, pointing to the hairpins and earrings displayed in the wooden frame: "These are all the finest pieces in our shop. Do you have anything you like, Miss?"
Shen Lixue examined it carefully but didn't find the "Lin" mark. She gently shook her head: "Are there any other pieces of jewelry?"
"These are the finest pieces in our shop. The others are of slightly lower quality. Do you have any that you like, Miss?" Jewelry is categorized by design and quality. Some pieces are expensive, and customers may not appreciate their design, but some pieces are relatively inexpensive, yet have beautiful designs, and customers are willing to buy them.
Shen Lixue's cool gaze quickly swept over the rows of jewelry on the counter. Not seeing any markings, she handed over a piece of paper: "A while ago, my friend bought this purple plum blossom hairpin from your store. It's very beautiful. I'd like to ask if you have any more of the same hairpin?"
The waiter took the paper, carefully examined the hairpin pattern on it, and gently shook his head: "Our shop hasn't sold this kind of hairpin recently!"
Shen Lixue's eyes narrowed: "Have you sold them before?"
The waiter shook his head again: "This plum blossom hairpin has a very fresh and elegant design, and it's quite unique. If my shop had ever sold it before, I would definitely remember it!"
"How long have you been in the shop, Brother Er?" Shen Lixue's cold eyes narrowed slightly.
“It’s been five or six years… Shopkeeper, have you ever seen this kind of plum blossom hairpin?” The waiter called out to the shopkeeper who was not far away, and then turned to explain to Shen Lixue, “The shop is owned by the shopkeeper, and it’s been more than twenty years. If this plum blossom hairpin was sold in our shop, he would definitely remember it!”
The shopkeeper stepped forward, examined the hairpin design from left to right, frowned in thought for a moment, and then looked intently at Shen Lixue: "We haven't sold this kind of hairpin in recent years. Is Miss's friend mistaken?"
"I might have misremembered!" Shen Lixue smiled apologetically. It seemed that the purple plum blossom hairpin wasn't bought recently. "Do you offer custom-made jewelry here?"
"Yes, Miss, you would like to order a custom piece?" The waiter serves many guests, and many noble families like to order custom jewelry. The price is higher than that of ready-made jewelry, which can increase the shop's profits. The shopkeeper and waiter are always happy to serve such customers.
Moreover, Shen Lixue was dressed in extraordinary clothes, and the waiter could tell at a glance that she was either rich or noble. He quickly took out a stack of drawings and placed them in front of her: "These are designs for various jewelry pieces, Miss, please take a look!"
Shen Lixue had never seen Lin Qingzhu's other jewelry before, and didn't know if any of these styles were custom-made by her. She glanced at them briefly, then pointed to a few hairpins and earrings with designs on them: "I want these hairpins made, but the flower design on the handle should be the same as the one on the purple plum blossom hairpin."
She would secretly inquire about jewelry and even make a show of ordering some to cover up her lie and avoid arousing suspicion.
"Alright!" The waiter took out paper and pen, wrote down Shen Lixue's requests one by one, and replied with a smile: "Our craftsmen are very efficient. Miss can come and pick it up in five days!"
"Thank you!" Shen Lixue paid the money with a calm expression. It seemed that the plum blossom hairpin and earrings engraved with the character "Lin" were bought by the Lei family many years ago, and she didn't know they belonged to Lin Qingzhu...
Lin Qingzhu's jewelry is all custom-made. According to Lin Yan, many of the hairpins and earrings were designed by Lin Qingzhu herself. They are unique in the entire Qingyan. After they were made, the designs were burned, and no one else could make a second one.
When Lin Qingzhu drew the patterns, she slightly modified the oracle bone script character "Lin" into a design. At first glance, it looked like a typical flower shape, and without close inspection, one could not discern its significance. Moreover, after fifteen years, it was not surprising that the shopkeeper did not remember those patterns...
The matter of Lei Yarong and Lin Qingzhu's dowry and jewelry has nothing to do with each other; I was just overthinking it...
"Li Xue!" A familiar voice called out, and Shen Li Xue stopped and turned around. In the vast sea of people, a handsome man in a black brocade robe walked towards her with a smile as warm as the sun.
"Ye Qianlong, what are you doing here?" He was clearly escorted back to the inn by Dongfang Heng's guards, so how did he sneak out again?
"I've come to find you!" Without Dongfang Heng, a formidable rival in love, Ye Qianlong easily grabbed Shen Lixue's sleeve, his handsome face beaming with a clean and clear smile.
Shen Lixue frowned and looked at Ye Qianlong: "Do you have something urgent to tell me?"
"I want to have dinner with you!" Ye Qianlong blinked and stated her purpose frankly.
Shen Lixue sighed and rubbed her forehead: "You only came to see me about this?"
"Mm!" Ye Qianlong nodded, his clear eyes sparkling, making it hard to refuse his request.
Shen Lixue looked up at the sky. The sun had already set, and it was slowly getting dark. It was indeed time for dinner. Looking around, she saw that Zuixianlou was not far away. Shen Lixue pulled Ye Qianlong and walked quickly forward: "Let's go, I'll treat you to dinner!"
Ye Qianlong had finally managed to get out of the house, so she couldn't refuse his request.
"It's so stuffy there, let's not eat there!" Ye Qianlong tugged at Shen Lixue's arm, protesting in dissatisfaction.
Shen Lixue stopped and turned to look at Ye Qianlong: "The food at Zuixianlou is the best. If we don't go there, which restaurant do you want to dine at?"
"I know a really beautiful place, let's go have a meal there!" Before Shen Lixue could answer, Ye Qianlong grabbed her sleeve and rushed through the crowd in one direction.
"Qianlong, slow down, don't bump into people!" Shen Lixue's sleeve was tightly grabbed by Ye Qianlong. He moved forward quickly with her, unable to stop even if he wanted to. People were walking around her, and Shen Lixue couldn't help but shout a reminder.
"Don't worry, I'm very careful, I won't bump into anyone!" Thinking that Shen Lixue was right beside him, Ye Qianlong's mood soared. He smiled happily and his running speed not only did not decrease, but increased. He carried her through the crowd of people, as if soaring in the sky, flying freely.
A woman standing by the second-floor window witnessed the passionate scene. Watching Shen Lixue and Ye Qianlong's rapidly receding figure, a strange smile crept onto her lips. Her chance had come!
As night fell completely, Ye Qianlong led Shen Lixue to a stream in the suburbs. The grass was lush and green, the water was babbling, and wisps of smoke rose from distant chimneys, with the aroma of food wafting through the air. Shen Lixue looked at the empty surroundings and asked in confusion, "Ye Qianlong, do you want to dine here?"
“Yes!” Ye Qianlong nodded heavily. “I’m going to catch some fish. You wait here!”
Turning around, Ye Qianlong swung his palm at the stream. With a loud bang, the water suddenly rose ten feet high, carrying several plump, delicious fish out of the stream. Ye Qianlong lightly touched the ground with his feet and quickly leaped into the water, grabbing five plump fish of different sizes before the water receded.
After landing safely, Ye Qianlong held up the fish and showed it to Shen Lixue, boasting, "These fish are enough for our dinner!"
"Can you start a fire?" Shen Lixue looked at Ye Qianlong and asked abruptly. Ye Qianlong was really clever to use this method to catch fish.
Ye Qianlong was taken aback, then shook his head. Seeing Shen Lixue frowning at him, he quickly put down the fat fish and took out a small cloth bag: "I have this!"
Shen Lixue took the cloth bag, opened it, and saw that it contained flint, seasonings, and everything else: "How did you get these things?" Ye Qianlong had prepared everything very thoroughly for this fish feast dinner.
"It was given to me by a guard." Ye Qianlong smiled sheepishly. "He brought me here once, and that's how I found out about this place!"
"You've always had a terrible sense of direction, how come you remember this place so clearly?" Shen Lixue looked at Ye Qianlong with a half-smile. She didn't know if he was genuinely stupid or just pretending.
"When I went back, I marked all the intersections!" Ye Qianlong winked smugly.
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow; he was indeed clever.
Ye Qianlong quickly gathered firewood and returned, while Shen Lixue used a flint to start a fire. Ye Qianlong then grabbed the fat fish on the ground and quickly cleaned it. Although his technique was a bit clumsy, it was fast and extremely accurate!
Shen Lixue's gaze deepened. Ye Qianlong learned quickly and showed great talent in some things, but he was completely clueless in others. She really didn't know how the Western Liang royal family had taught him...
In the Holy Prince's residence, Dongfang Heng was sitting in his study handling matters when a guard quickly entered with a letter: "Your Highness, your letter!"
"Who wrote this?" Dongfang Heng didn't even look up, his sharp gaze still lingering on the paper.