"Miss, that's Duobao Zhai."
Zhan Feiyu looked in the direction He Nuan pointed. It was a shop five bays wide on the third floor. As expected of the largest antique and jade shop in the capital, guests were constantly coming and going. The capital had plenty of people who were not short of money.
As soon as Zhan Feiyu and He Nuan walked in, a shop assistant immediately greeted them enthusiastically, "Miss, please come in. We just received a batch of seafood the day before yesterday, and there's a measure of sea pearls. Miss can pick some out to play with."
Pearls were suitable whether they were set in jewelry or used on clothing and shoes. This was also a good time for Zhan Feiyu to come. It had been snowing for the past two days, so there were not many customers. Otherwise, this measure of pearls would have been bought up quickly.
"I'll look at the pearls later. Do you have anything suitable for a birthday gift?" Zhan Feiyu quickly scanned the shop. The first floor only displayed ordinary antiques and jewelry, as well as some calligraphy, paintings, and ancient books. The precious ancient books were on the second or third floor.
"Are you going to the Chang family to wish Madam Chang a happy birthday?" The shop assistant's eyes lit up. Many customers had come to buy birthday gifts for Madam Chang in the past two days. "The Madam is devout, so here is a white jade Guanyin statue. Miss can take a look."
Although it was called white jade, it was actually a green jade Guanyin statue. However, the jade quality was good, and the color was close to white jade. If it were an ordinary gift for an elder, it would be acceptable. But Madam Chang was celebrating her eightieth birthday, and this green jade Guanyin would be too modest as a birthday gift.
Seeing that Zhan Feiyu was not satisfied, the shop assistant knew that this young lady, who didn't seem to have much ostentation, was not short of money. He put the Guanyin statue back into the box. "The shop also has a string of black agarwood prayer beads. The shopkeeper hasn't displayed them yet. Can Miss take a look?"
There were many noble ladies in the capital who were devout Buddhists. This was also because the seafood had only arrived at the shop three days ago. Otherwise, even if the prayer beads were expensive, they would have been bought as soon as the news spread.
"Miss, please wait a moment. I'll go and report to the shopkeeper." The shop assistant asked Zhan Feiyu to sit for a while and had tea and pastries sent over before rushing upstairs.
He Nuan asked the maids serving in the shop to retreat behind the screen, then said in a low voice, "Why did Minister Chang send Miss an invitation?"
Yao Damin's case was temporarily shelved in the Dali Temple. Although Minister Chang did not favor Zhan Feiyu in this case, he also did not favor Minister Liu. To be precise, the Dali Temple taking on this case was already beneficial to Zhan Feiyu.
If the Ministry of Justice continued to handle the case, even if Minister Liu recused himself and other Ministry of Justice officials were appointed as the presiding judge, the case would likely still be unfavorable to Zhan Feiyu. Therefore, Zhan Feiyu could not refuse the invitation from the Chang family to Yufeng Tower.
"Perhaps it's because of Madam Bai's connection." Zhan Feiyu played with her warm hand warmer.
Earlier, she had refused the invitation from the second Miss Zhu. The aunt of the second Miss Zhu was married to a cousin of Prefect Bai. After receiving the invitation, Madam Zhu first went to the Bai residence and then returned to the Zhu family.
Now, on the occasion of Madam Chang's birthday, Madam Bai and Madam Chang had met privately. Now that she had received an invitation, Zhan Feiyu knew without thinking that this was Madam Bai's doing.
Shopkeeper Bing of Duobao Zhai walked over, followed by a shop assistant holding a square wooden box.
He subtly sized up Zhan Feiyu. Shopkeeper Bing frowned slightly. Not only was she a new face, but she also went out with only one maid. She was probably not a noble lady from the capital, but likely the daughter of some merchant.
"The shop has many suitable birthday gifts. Is Miss sure she wants to look at this string of prayer beads?" Shopkeeper Bing's attitude was indifferent, clearly not wanting to sell these prayer beads to Zhan Feiyu. However, since she didn't like the green jade Guanyin statue worth a hundred taels, she was probably not short of money. Shopkeeper Bing didn't want to offend her.
Zhan Feiyu didn't care about the shopkeeper's attitude and looked at the prayer beads in the wooden box. Their color was yellowish-black, with oiliness throughout, and the quality was excellent. When she got closer, she could smell a faint medicinal fragrance.
"These prayer beads are perfect for Madam Chang." Zhan Feiyu was very satisfied, and it was normal for the shopkeeper to be unhappy.
As the saying goes, Hainan agarwood is worth ten thousand taels per piece. These prayer beads were rare. If sold to other devout official ladies, Shopkeeper Bing could make a good connection. At the same price, the shopkeeper would definitely want to "gain both fame and fortune."
"Miss also knows that agarwood is expensive. These prayer beads are one thousand taels." The shopkeeper opened with the highest price. In reality, if sold, eight hundred taels would be enough. After all, it was just a string of prayer beads, and eight hundred taels could buy a small courtyard in the capital.
"A Nuan, give her the money." Zhan Feiyu, being so wealthy, didn't even bargain, and saw the shopkeeper's momentarily stiff expression, probably regretting setting the price too low.
The shop assistant was dumbfounded. The shopkeeper was right; one should not judge a book by its cover. She bought a thousand taels of silver just like that! His wages were only three taels, thirty-six taels a year. If he worked for thirty years without eating or drinking, he could only afford these prayer beads...
"Miss, would you like to see these pearls?" The shop assistant eagerly placed out box after box of pearls.
Knowing that Zhan Feiyu was not short of money, the shop assistant didn't bring out the small pearls. These five boxes contained the best quality pearls. Not only were they large, but they were also perfectly round and had a true color, with almost no flaws.
"Wait!"
A familiar voice sounded. Zhan Feiyu, who was picking pearls, looked up. It was indeed "enemies on a narrow road."
Wen Ruyi didn't notice Zhan Feiyu at the other end of the counter. She walked forward a few steps with some urgency and picked up the prayer beads that the shop assistant had just placed in the gift box. The medicinal fragrance made Wen Ruyi satisfied. It was indeed black agarwood prayer beads.
"What's so good about this dark thing? It's better to buy red coral." Zhe Jing, who followed her, looked disdainfully at the prayer beads in Wen Ruyi's hand. Birthday gifts should be bright red and festive.
Shopkeeper Bing and the shop assistant's expressions stiffened, but they recognized this eldest daughter of the Zhe family and naturally dared not say anything to refute, lest they offend this little ancestor and get whipped.
Compared to Zhe Jing's superficiality, Wen Ruyi smiled softly and explained, "This is precious Hainan agarwood. Black agarwood is the best of agarwood. Madam Chang has been devout for many years, so these prayer beads are very suitable."
Minister Chang, as the Minister of Dali Temple, was extremely meticulous in his actions. He appeared approachable, but his father said that Minister Chang, a smiling tiger, was actually the most difficult to approach. However, Minister Chang was a filial son, so pleasing Madam Chang naturally brought him closer to Minister Chang.
The Zhe family was a military family, and they had started their careers during the founding of the dynasty. The Zhe family's treasury contained many precious jewelry and ornaments. Zhe Jing had never lacked these things since she was young, but compared to these wooden beads, she preferred red and green gemstones.
"As long as Ruyi likes it." Zhe Jing knew that Wen Ruyi liked elegance, and besides, she was accompanying Ruyi to Duobao Zhai to buy a birthday gift today.
Nodding, Wen Ruyi said softly to the shopkeeper, "I'll take these prayer beads. Use this red sandalwood box."
"Miss Wen, these prayer beads have already been bought by a customer." Shopkeeper Bing truly regretted it now. If he had known that Miss Wen would also come to the shop, he would have kept the prayer beads no matter what. This was the eldest daughter of the Wen family, the foremost noble lady in the capital, and the niece of Consort Min in the palace.
Wen Ruyi's expression changed slightly, but she quickly restrained it, showing a hint of disappointment on her beautiful face.
"No matter who bought them, we want these prayer beads!" As always, Zhe Jing was domineering. She put the prayer beads into the box with one hand. "Who dares to... Why are you here?"
Zhe Jing's face suddenly turned extremely ugly. Every time she encountered this cheap girl, nothing good happened.
"It was this young lady who bought them." Shopkeeper Bing quickly said, subtly putting the prayer beads back into the box.
He also winked at a shop assistant, asking him to put away the valuable items first, for fear that Zhe Jing might act out and damage the shop's valuable items.
Zhan Feiyu put the pearls in her hand back into the box and smiled as she greeted Zhe Jing and Wen Ruyi, "I didn't expect to meet Miss Zhe and Miss Wen here. It's truly fate."
"Pah! You shameless slut! You hired assassins to marry Bai Zhaohui. Who has fate with you, you slut!" Zhe Jing cursed. The Dali Temple had acquitted Zhan Feiyu, and Zhe Jing had smashed a set of tea utensils upon hearing the news.
Glancing at the second floor, Zhan Feiyu smiled leisurely, but her words were full of provocation, "It's nothing compared to Miss Zhe chasing after Young Master Ning all over the capital. Compared to what Miss Zhe has done, I admit defeat and feel inferior."
"You!" Even though Zhe Jing was shameless, she was so enraged by Zhan Feiyu's direct mockery that she drew the whip from her waist and was about to attack.
On the second floor, Ning Chen'an watched the two parties clashing below with a blank expression. It was truly unlucky to go out without checking the almanac.
"Brother Chen'an, this is fate." His friend beside him playfully patted Ning Chen'an's shoulder, not unexpectedly receiving a glare.
This was the second time Wen Ruyi had met Zhan Feiyu. Seeing that she could repeatedly make Zhe Jing eat dirt, Wen Ruyi also knew that this seemingly well-behaved and spirited girl was not to be trifled with.
"Miss Zhan." Wen Ruyi stopped Zhe Jing, who was about to attack, and smiled gently at Zhan Feiyu, "A gentleman does not snatch what others love, but I want to buy these prayer beads to give to an elder. Please, Miss Zhan, be generous."
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint Miss Wen. I want to give these prayer beads to Madam Chang." Zhan Feiyu returned her smile, but her refusal was extremely decisive.
Zhe Jing, still suppressing her anger, heard this and sarcastically taunted, "What are you? What right do you have to go to the Chang family's birthday banquet? You're just a wild girl from who knows where, trying to flatter yourself!"
Madam Chang's birthday banquet was not a grand affair, but it was her eightieth birthday. Relatives and old friends of the Chang family would definitely go to wish the Madam a happy birthday. Therefore, those who received invitations were from prominent families who had dealings with the Chang family. It was impossible for ordinary officials to use this opportunity to curry favor with Minister Chang.
Still not satisfied after scolding, Zhe Jing stepped forward, pushed aside Shopkeeper Bing who was blocking her way, and snatched the red sandalwood box that had been put back on the counter. "Ruyi, put the prayer beads away. I want to see who dares to snatch them in broad daylight!"
"Is Miss Zhe planning to visit the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen?" Zhan Feiyu calmly watched Zhe Jing who was openly snatching. "I have already paid for these prayer beads. Miss Zhe, think twice before acting."
Zhe Jing, accustomed to being domineering, sneered and arrogantly raised her chin, "You paid? Who saw it? Shopkeeper, did this young lady pay for the prayer beads?"
The last sentence was full of threat. Shopkeeper Bing, if he wasn't stupid, would know that offending anyone was not as bad as offending the eldest daughter of the Zhe family. As the saying goes, it's easier to offend the devil than the minor devil, and Zhe Jing was even more troublesome than a minor devil.
The key was that Zhe Sanlang and his family were unreasonable. If Shopkeeper Bing offended Zhe Jing today, Zhe Sanlang could bring people to smash Duobao Pavilion and beat Shopkeeper Bing so badly that his parents wouldn't recognize him.
Zhan Feiyu looked at them with questioning eyes. Shopkeeper Bing and the shop assistant lowered their heads guiltily. This young lady was not short of money, but the eldest daughter of the Zhe family would kill if she went mad.
Zhe Jing saw this and smiled triumphantly, provocatively looking at Zhan Feiyu, "You paid? I say you came to Duobao Zhai to extort! You want something without paying. Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you saved Bai Zhaohui. Shuntian Prefecture is not Bai family's territory!"
"There are so many people in Duobao Zhai, can't I find other witnesses?" Zhan Feiyu said slowly, looking thoughtfully at Wen Ruyi. It was said that this eldest daughter of the Wen family was the foremost noble lady in the capital, impeccable in appearance, talent, and character. Today, it seemed she was nothing special.
"Did anyone here see it?" Zhe Jing pointed her whip at the guests in the shop. If her whip couldn't hit this slut, couldn't it hit them?
"Think carefully before you speak, because offending me is a small matter, but colluding with this slut to commit fraud in Duobao Zhai is a crime punishable by imprisonment!" Zhe Jing openly threatened. This capital was not a place where this slut could run wild!
Although the guests who came to Duobao Zhai were not short of money, they only picked things on the first floor. Their status and position were far from comparable to Zhe Jing. Even if they were on par with the Zhe family, no one wanted to offend the crazy Zhe Jing for a stranger, let alone provoke the crazy Zhe Sanlang and his men. They would be beaten without any recourse.
Zhan Feiyu ignored them and took a few steps back, looking at the second floor. "Mencius said: 'A person without a strong will cannot achieve great things; a person who does not keep their word cannot achieve anything.' Young Master Ning, do you agree?"
Zhe Jing was stunned. She quickly walked towards Zhan Feiyu and then saw Ning Chen'an on the second floor.