As Shen Hua approached, the Vajra Bodhi Bracelet on her wrist seed to have its own temperature, even becoming hot to the touch.
Cui Yun paused.
His eyes were like an unfathomable abyss, deep and indifferent, and no one could glimpse what he was truly thinking.
Cui Yun’s gaze slowly drifted over the body of the little white cat. He attempted to discern any abnormalities.
Shen Hua clutched her clothes tightly. She looked up with her round, bulbous eyes and t Cui Yun’s gaze.
But in just a mont, the kitten’s neck grew sore and admitted defeat.
At that instant, Cui Yun coldly withdrew his hem.
"I will give you an answer within three days, and I will have soone appraise the embroidery pattern," he said.
These words were naturally directed at Ji Ge.
However, his thin lips pressed lightly together, and ultimately, he asked one more question.
"Where did the Seventh Prince hear of this news, and through whose hands was the purchase made?"
"It was released by rchants who ca to Shengjing to do business; I have bought many antiquities from him in the past. He is also aware of who I am, and wouldn’t normally deceive or swindle."
However, given the importance of this matter, Ji Ge did not dare to be negligent.
Ji Ge was about to boast about his swift actions and keen eyesight.
But then he heard Cui Yun’s cool response.
"Being a rchant, he naturally prioritizes profit. If it were , I would make sure the news spread far and wide. Create a sensation, and incite buyers to rush and vie for it, with the highest bidder prevailing. However, I have not heard any news of a Master Su embroidery coming into existence recently."
Ji Ge felt a sudden jolt of fear; this was sothing he had not considered before: "Don’t scare ."
"A fake?"
Cui Yun gave him a glance.
"I have yet to study embroidery closely."
"But, real or fake, it can’t be used as a birthday gift."
Ji Ge: !! "What do you an by that?"
Cui Yun: "It’s inauspicious."
Ji Ge was utterly confused, but Shen Hua nodded her head vigorously with a tiger-like determination.
Given Ji Ge’s status alone, a rchant wouldn’t dare sell him a fake, but it’s possible that the rchant himself didn’t know it was counterfeit.
Not to ntion others, all the major embroidery workshops would also search everywhere for precious authentic pieces. If they wanted to operate for the long term, they must especially keep their promises, and would never sell fakes as real ones and harm the reputation of the embroidery workshop for a montary profit.
The loss would certainly not be worth the gain.
Just as Cui Yun said, if a genuine item were found, it would surely cause a sensation.
Most of these private transactions co from grave excavations.
Looking at Ji Ge’s expression, it was likely that he was unaware, but this is the most common occurrence among rchants. It can’t be guaranteed they thought Ji Ge was in the know.
And burial goods are the most taboo.
Shen Hua looked once more at the embroidery of ’Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix’.
Not to ntion anything else, the exquisite embroidery skills alone were enough to pass off a fake as real.
Cui Yun poured a cup of warm water, but he wasn’t in a hurry to drink it and casually put it aside.
"You’re actually generous this ti," he remarked.
What else could Ji Ge do: "The Empress Dowager never liked . For her last birthday, I personally made a longevity lamp, put in a lot of effort. I injured my hand, shed blood, but it ended up being sothing cheap in her opinion."
In front of all the officials, she didn’t give him any face.
But the gift was not about its value; it was about the sentint!
"Because of this, Father severely scolded for my lack of effort. I was also anxious. Isn’t it just that when I heard the Crown Prince was raising money, I acted on impulse..."
Ji Ge knew all too well that whatever he gave, the Empress Dowager would not look upon favorably. No matter how much he exerted himself, it wouldn’t compare to a random stone picked up by the Crown Prince or the Fourth Prince.
But he didn’t have the luxury to deal with matters half-heartedly; in a palace where one had to survive between narrow cracks, he had to be thoroughly ticulous.
Ji Ge felt sowhat frustrated.
"It truly can’t be given?"
Cui Yun: "If the Seventh Prince insists, Weizhen will certainly not dare to stop him."
Upon hearing this, Ji Ge grew even more irritable.
Understood, he thought, his money was wasted.
He slamd the stone table.
A ’bang’ shook Shen Hua, causing her to tremble.
She quickly turned to glare at Ji Ge.
But unbeknownst to her, Cui Yun’s attention had been on her the entire ti.
Ji Ge’s brow was tightly knit in frustration, and after much internal struggle, he took the embroidery back.
"Forget it, there’s no need to authenticate it."
Whether it’s fake or real doesn’t matter anymore. It’s aningless to him now.
But at this mont, he’s also unable to co up with the money.
Ji Ge’s eyes flicker as he shalessly looks towards Cui Yun: "What do you think about selling the embroidery to the Crown Prince?"
"He really wants it, and the rchants haven’t had the chance to announce the sale yet. If it ends up being bought by him, I can give the rchants a cut and they won’t say anything more. Besides, they were in the wrong for selling unearthed items to in the first place."
Cui Yun glances at him and is surprisingly impressed by Ji Ge’s smarts.
Even if the gifts from the Crown Prince are ominous, the Empress Dowager can’t bear to punish him.
Cui Yun feigns concern: "That might not be appropriate, how about we authenticate it first?"
Ji Ge: "No need!"
"That way, I can still convince myself that this is genuine."
His conscience speaks: "Otherwise, if the result is not as expected, I’d feel sowhat guilty."
Ji Ge, thinking about tricking the Crown Prince and unable to hold back, laughs hysterically: "Hahahahaha."
He points at Shen Hua, who is noisily owing and flustering in excitent towards him.
"Look, it’s even praising for my clever foolishness."
Cui Yun remains silent. However, he feels that the kitten might just be cursing Ji Ge.
Even though such a thought is very inappropriate.
Ji Ge: "By the way, I heard that our elder brother refused Princess You Ning right in front of the Empress Dowager and made her cry on the spot?"
Cui Yun reminds him: "That’s my elder brother."
Ji Ge: "Look at how stingy you are. I have plenty of elder brothers to go around. If it’s too much, I can even share so with you."
Cui Yun: ...
Don’t disgust .
Ji Ge doesn’t stay any longer and hurries off to get things done.
A faint sneer curves on Cui Yun’s lips.
Just as he is about to fetch so water, he sees the cat lying on the stone table, poking out its head and holding his teacup with its paw, licking the water with its tongue.
Noticing Cui Yun’s movent, Shen Hua turns her head to look at him.
Apparently, she’s really not afraid of him.
Cui Yun’s expression is indifferent. Subconsciously, he fiddles with the warm, rosy bead.
As if to prove sothing, he lifts his fingertips and gently touches the fragile feline body.
The bead instantly becos scorching hot.
Cui Yun’s eyes darken.
Ji Xin, fearing Cui Yun’s unexpected reaction, is trembling with trepidation.
"M’lord, I’ll take it away now."
Shen Hua, vigilant and before she could react, hears Cui Yun’s calm voice.
"Leave it."
Only by keeping sothing unpredictable under close watch can one feel reassured. Cui Yun also wants to find out what’s so peculiar about this cat.
Cui Yun: "You will take care of it."
Ji Xin is delighted.
The master truly is the most considerate! He must appreciate her diligent work. Although he himself doesn’t care for the cat, he permits her to keep it.
What a benevolently compromising gesture!
"Yes."
Shen Hua also heaves a huge sigh of relief.
She quickly gets carried off to Ju Courtyard by Ji Xin, which is Cui Yun’s residence.
Under Ji Xin’s care, Shen Hua’s living standards greatly improve. She gets a new set of bowls specifically for her use. Even the bed she sleeps on is lined with soft cotton cloths.
As she weeds, they bring along both the bed and the kitten.
Basking in the warm sunlight, the kitten dozes off contentedly. When hungry, it gets up to nibble on so sheep’s milk.
Pampered with good food and a carefree life, Shen Hua naturally forgets all about Cui Yun.
This goes on for seven days.
Cui Yun, who had been waiting for the kitten to slip up, finally gets restless.
At last, he calls for Ji Xin.
"Has the cat shown any irregular behavior recently?"
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