There was no telling how irritable Feng Qingchen had become with the added work.
On the other side.
After disciplining her unruly son, or rather, watching someone else discipline him, Lin Qingge called for a waiter.
She had the waiter put the bill for their interrupted meal on the account of Zhu Heng, the Minister of Works, who had caused the disturbance.
Then, she elegantly led Lin Zimo, whose cheeks were now plump from eating, and left.
Outside the restaurant.
Lin Qingge didn’t rush back. Instead, she dove into a nearby jewelry shop named ‘Ping Nan Yan Yu’.
Her stated reason was that being new to town, she’d look too shabby if she didn’t dress up, and those snobs would look down on her.
However, Leng Ningyue shook her head and said, “Just pick out some accessories that suit you. I don’t care for these things.”
“Whether you care or not, we still need to have them!”
Although Lin Qingge loved money, she was always generous to her own people. With a wave of her hand, she directly told the shopkeeper to bring out the best head ornaments and accessories.
The shopkeeper, seeing that Lin Qingge’s group was somewhat shabbily dressed but carried themselves with an extraordinary air, obediently complied.
“May I ask how this gentleman is addressed?”
“My surname is Lin, without a noble title.”
“Master Lin, these are the most exquisitely crafted head ornaments in our shop. I wouldn’t say they’re unique in the entire capital, but you’d be hard-pressed to find the same styles.”
Even though she now had money, Lin Qingge, who had never indulged in such luxury, walked around the row of glittering items twice before stopping at a gold-plated kingfisher feather hair ornament.
The shopkeeper familiarized himself with the situation and said, “Master Lin truly has a discerning eye. This set of ornaments is called ‘Solitary Moon’s Cold Radiance.’ Not only is it a unique piece, but it is also the treasure of our shop!”
“Madam, why don’t we choose this one?
Whether it’s the name or the color, this ‘Solitary Moon’s Cold Radiance’ suits you perfectly.”
Leng Ningyue slightly furrowed her brow.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper was about to launch into his sales pitch, but Lin Qingge cut him off, saying, “Madam, not only is this ornament exquisitely made, but its elegant blue color perfectly matches your usual light blue long dress. Most importantly, it has many hairpins, and each one can be detached individually.
When you’re out and about, if you don’t have any suitable weapons, you can simply pull out a couple from your hair and use them as throwing projectiles.”
???
The shopkeeper, who had sold hairpins his entire life and had never heard of hairpins being compared to hidden weapons, blinked in surprise.
However, the next moment.
The madam, who had been entirely against it, slowly nodded.
“You can keep the head ornament, but wrap this set up as well.”
The shopkeeper followed the direction of Leng Ningyue’s finger and then praised, “Madam has excellent taste. This set of ornaments is called ‘Clear Light Shines’ and is very popular among young ladies.”
“As the saying goes, ‘Bright and round, within and without, its clear light shines as if illuminating a crystal palace.’
Crystal clear, it truly lives up to the name ‘Clear Light.’
However, Madam, isn’t this style of ornament a bit…”
Though Lin Qingge’s words remained unfinished, the understanding Leng Ningyue’s beautiful eyes showed a rare smile: “Even if I don’t wear it, I can still buy it and keep it. It will have its use someday.”
Lin Qingge, who understood the implication, belatedly remembered that she was actually female.
Grateful, she was about to speak when a sharp female voice cut through the doorway: “Shopkeeper, our young lady had already reserved these two sets of ornaments. How could you casually sell them to others?
Especially to such country bumpkins!”
“Miss Dong’er, even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare display the head ornaments Miss Wang favored for sale!
Didn’t Miss Wang say last time that she didn’t like these styles because they were too plain?”
“Hmph, my young lady may have said she didn’t like them, but it’s unacceptable for you, shopkeeper, to sell them to these bumpkins!”
The woman, dressed as a maid, walked in and said haughtily, “If this gets out and people know that my young lady’s ornaments are from the same shop as these bumpkins’, how will my young lady face anyone in the future?
Or are you, shopkeeper, no longer planning to do business with my young lady?”
“Miss Dong’er, please calm down. Miss Wang is a valued customer of our shop, so how could I not plan to do business with her?
However, it is my opening day, and anyone who comes to the shop is a customer.
If this Master Lin can afford the price, why would I refuse to sell to them?”
The maid named ‘Dong’er’ immediately scowled upon hearing this and said, “Shopkeeper, our young lady patronizes your shop out of respect for you. You shouldn’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”
As if Dong’er’s expression was too fierce, Lin Zimo hugged Lin Qingge’s thigh and said, “Daddy, Mo’er is scared!”
“A brave man like you, what is there to fear?”
Despite his teasing, Lin Qingge bent down and picked up the heavy little dumpling.
Lin Zimo, feeling wronged by the scolding, pouted and said, “Daddy, Mo’er is afraid of being bitten by a mad dog.
Daddy, didn’t you say back in our hometown that people bitten by mad dogs turn into mad dogs?
Mo’er doesn’t want to become a biting mad dog!”
Upon hearing this, Dong’er’s face immediately turned crimson with rage and she exclaimed, “You ill-bred child, who are you calling a mad dog?”
“Whoever responds is who I’m talking about!
Nyah~~~”
After speaking, Lin Zimo made a face and then buried his head in his aunt’s neck, playing the ostrich.
…
Just as Dong’er, who was annoyed at being outsmarted by a child, was about to lash out, a melodious female voice came from the doorway: “Dong’er, stop.”
Immediately after, a beautiful woman in a light purple silk dress gracefully walked in.
“Miss! They’re ganging up on me with their numbers!”
Upon hearing her maid’s complaint, the woman not only didn’t get angry but bowed to Lin Qingge and the others: “This humble girl, Wang Menghan, greets you all, esteemed sirs. Dong’er has always been like a sister to me, and I have spoiled her a bit, making her somewhat proud. I hope you gentlemen will not stoop to arguing with a mere maid.”
Lin Qingge listened and suddenly chuckled: “How interesting. It truly is fitting for the capital, the emperor’s seat.
Even a lowly servant who dogs it on your behalf, after barking, can say ‘do not argue with her.’
What?
In this young lady’s eyes, a mere servant is comparable to us?”
Lin Qingge, who had received a higher education in her past life, had never categorized people into different classes. Unfortunately, some servants simply didn’t consider themselves human.
To put it bluntly, if it weren’t for the deliberate indulgence of the woman before her, how could the maid named ‘Dong’er’ have so brazenly uttered those offensive words?
Seemingly surprised by the other party’s firm stance, the woman named ‘Wang Menghan’ was first stunned, and then tears welled up in her eyes: “This young master, this humble girl has already said that Dong’er and I are like sisters, yet you, sir, have referred to Dong’er as a lowly servant.
Could it be that you are also implicitly calling me of humble birth?”