Chapter 435
Although the lands of Longyou Dao were barren, they were rich in jade and precious stones. A single jade seed in other prefectures would sell for dozens or even hundreds of taels, but in Longyou Dao, the price was more than halved.
Sheng Hexuan was a property of the Jin family and the largest jade shop in Minhe Prefecture, offering everything from finished gemstones to various rough stones and seeds. However, Minhe Prefecture had been unstable recently, with fewer merchants coming and going, making the shop appear somewhat deserted.
"Miss, please come this way. This is a batch of jade that arrived at the beginning of the month," the shopkeeper greeted Zhan Feiyu enthusiastically. If she had been accompanied by maids or servants, the shopkeeper would likely have ushered them to the second floor.
The long shelves displaying the jade were tiered at three different heights, with black silk lining the bottom. Jade stones of various sizes and qualities were arranged in order on the shelves.
Zhan Feiyu's eyes lit up instantly. Her gaze landed on a piece of white jade, about the size of an egg, on the third shelf. Against the backdrop of the black silk, it truly lived up to the saying, "Flawless white jade."
"Miss has excellent taste. This can be considered the treasure of our shop," the shopkeeper said eagerly, carefully picking up the white jade and presenting it to Zhan Feiyu. "Although this white jade cannot compare to Hetian jade in terms of its oily luster, it is inferior by a margin. However, in terms of color, Hetian jade tends to have a yellowish hue, unlike this white jade, which is pure white and translucent. Miss, look, this piece of white jade is truly without a single flaw."
Zhan Feiyu also liked Hetian jade. Last time, Madam Qian had gifted her a Hetian jade seed as a token of gratitude. It was as large as a small pumpkin. Although it was a rough stone, after cutting, it could yield at least a few pairs of bracelets.
The piece of white jade before her was much smaller, but it could at least be carved into two 'wushi' plaques. The remaining scraps could be used to make several hairpins or earrings, or of course, a jade carving master could create a white jade ornament.
"Do you like it?" Yin Wuyan looked at the girl whose eyes were shining. The quality of this white jade was considered above average, but to Yin Wuyan, it was merely ordinary. After all, the gifts bestowed by the palace every year were much finer than this. Moreover, the Forbidden Dragon Guards had also conducted many confiscations, and the treasures they unearthed were all rare and precious items.
"Mhm," Zhan Feiyu nodded. "I liked it the moment I saw it. It caught my eye."
Compared to the other jade stones of various sizes on the shelves, this piece was Zhan Feiyu's favorite. It was entirely flawless, as white as snow.
The deal was struck, and the shopkeeper's face bloomed with a smile. "Gold has a price, but jade is priceless. It is fate that you have taken a liking to this piece. This white jade is two hundred and eighty taels. Since Miss likes it, two hundred and sixty taels will suffice."
Just as Yin Wuyan was about to take out the silver notes, a sharp cry came from the stairs on the second floor, "Wait, my wife is buying this white jade."
Zhan Feiyu turned her head and saw a noblewoman, surrounded by six or seven maids and servants, walking down from the second floor with an air of arrogance. Unfortunately, her flamboyant makeup could not disguise her rather ordinary features.
The shopkeeper was surprised. "Sixth Madam."
"I want this jade. Have Master Zhu make me a set of white jade hair ornaments, and include any missing materials on the account," the Sixth Madam said, adjusting a gold-inlaid jade hairpin in her hair. Compared to white jade hair ornaments, she preferred gold jewelry and brightly colored gemstones.
However, the day before, when she visited her maternal family, she had been mocked by her married sisters as a vulgar merchant who only loved mundane things like gold and silver. Enraged, the Sixth Madam had lost her temper on the spot.
Her cousins had all married scholars. Scholars were noble and refined. Even if they were poor, they held themselves with an air of superiority and mocked her as a merchant's wife. In a fit of anger, the Sixth Madam had come to Sheng Hexuan after returning to the Jin family.
The second floor contained all the exquisite items, and various hairpins and ornaments were personally crafted by Master Zhu. In the past, the Sixth Madam would have simply picked what she liked and bought it.
But thinking of the humiliation she had suffered at her maternal family's home, she had given up on gold and silver jewelry. The jade ornaments on the second floor were also good, but they looked too plain, and the Sixth Madam had not picked a single one.
Hearing the shopkeeper's voice downstairs, she had intended to come down and take a look. As a result, she had immediately spotted the egg-sized white jade in Zhan Feiyu's hand.
"There is a maiden in a chariot, her face like the blooming hibiscus. She soars and glides, adorned with jade like qiong..."