Chapter 929: Chapter 0919: Making up One’s Mind 1 Chapter 929: Chapter 0919: Making up One’s Mind 1 Chen Xueniang ntioned in her letter that a red brocade box inside the bundle should be given to Fubao as a gift for their first eting.
According to local customs, girls do not wear longevity locks as it is believed they will keep the girl locked in her parental ho and prevent her from marrying. How this custom ford and what it signifies, Feng Qingxue did not know.
Therefore, Chen Xueniang sent a set of jewelry for Fubao, which would be substantial enough to serve as a dowry when she grew up.
The set was so exquisite it could be described as noble and luxurious, with a value beyond compare. It featured filigree inlaid work, adorned with nurous East Pearls and gemstones; there were three pairs of East Pearl earrings and a string of Court Beads made from East Pearls, interspersed with four Jade Beads and so ornants made from Tourmaline Agate Coral. The set even included four long, exquisitely crafted fingernail guards, which, while not very shiny, were of fine workmanship.
Lu Jiang took a look and said, “The color of the East Pearls, light as pale gold, is of the highest quality among them. Only the Empress Dowager and Empress are entitled to wear these, particularly the Court Beads. Besides the Emperor, only the Empress Dowager, Empress, or, under special circumstances, an Imperial Concubine may wear them.”
Imperial Concubine ranks almost as high as the Empress. In the absence of an Empress, it is the Imperial Concubine who governs the harem; her attire is almost indistinguishable from that of the Empress.
“Do you think I don’t know these rules?” Since it was a gift from Chen Xueniang to Fubao, Feng Qingxue did not stand on ceremony, and placed it in her space alone to give to Fubao later; she wrapped the rest up and stored them in her space, to return them to Chen Xueniang next ti they t.
Although Chen Xueniang’s gold and jewelry were indeed valuable, Feng Qingxue did not feel the slightest greed, as she was not without them herself.
“I’ve always known that Xueniang had a private stash of jewelry, all of which she saved before she turned to a good life, but I never expected there to be so much of it, and so valuable,” Feng Qingxue remarked to Lu Jiang, “Xueniang is very generous with Xibao, giving her a Mutton-fat White Jade longevity lock and a pair of shrimp whisker bracelets before. Have I told you that the shrimp whisker bracelets from ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ are for children to wear?”
After thinking for a mont, Lu Jiang said, “It seems that you have.”
“Then I have ntioned it.” Feng Qingxue sighed, “There’s not a woman in the world who doesn’t like beautiful jewelry. I like it very much too. I have collected a lot in my space, many, many tis more than Xueniang’s! Maybe tens or hundreds of tis more. But in tis like this, no one dares to show their jewelry in broad daylight. It’s hard to express!”
“You have a lot of jewelry? How did I not know?” The jewelry his own father and he had given her didn’t compare with the amount entrusted by Chen Xueniang, did it? There were indeed more underneath the ground, weren’t they just not unearthed yet?
Feng Qingxue exclaid, “Haven’t I told you?”
“No.”
“Oh!” Feng Qingxue did not conceal anything and explained in detail, “During the years of famine, I exchanged lots of food for antique jewelry. Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu, and their friends almost all traded with . It was exceedingly profitable! After the famine was over, I traded several tis with Shen Feihong. Whenever I had the chance to go to the black market or second-hand market, I would spend money to buy or exchange with food. Tianjun and Acheng also bought quite a few things when they mingled there, and they gave them all to when I was ho.”
Unbeknownst to her, she had beco a stealthy wealthy woman. When the value of these jewelry and antiques soared in a few decades, would she not be able to claim the title of richest woman for a while if she sold them all instead of donating them to the country?
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