CHAPTER 499: CHAPTER 499 JADE HAIRPIN

Inside the hall, the Empress Dowager was seated on the Arhat Couch, with a palace maid fanning her.

The Princess Consort Yun stepped forward, curtsied to the Empress Dowager, and said, "It’s been a long time since I visited to greet the Empress Dowager. How has Your Majesty’s health been?"

"Much better now," the Empress Dowager replied with a smile.

"Take a seat."

The Princess Consort Yun thanked the Empress Dowager and then sat down.

The palace maid served tea, and after taking a couple of sips, the Princess Consort Yun couldn’t help but ask, "May I know why the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace?"

The Empress Dowager smiled and praised the Heir of Duke Chong.

The Princess Consort Yun had some suspicions in her heart and her expression was not very pleasant.

"Honghong has reached the age to marry, and Duke Chong’s Mansion is selecting an Heir’s wife for him. The first person that came to my mind was the Commandery Princess Fu Yun. I watched her grow up; she’s obedient and sensible, which pleases me greatly. I wish to connect them."

"What does Princess Consort Yun think?" the Empress Dowager asked.

The Princess Consort Yun felt somewhat uneasy.

Although the Empress Dowager was asking her, she was not genuinely seeking her consent.

The Empress Dowager wanted the Princess Consort Yun to nod in agreement.

But this was a nod that the Princess Consort Yun could not give.

Although Duke Chong had not yet fallen from grace, in the eyes of the Princess Consort Yun, his fortunes were already waning. Even if they weren’t, the Princess Consort Yun did not wish to marry off her cherished daughter to the Heir of Duke Chong.

However, refusing the Empress Dowager required a certain level of courage and bravery.

The Princess Consort Yun, not being very bold, trembled slightly when refusing the Empress Dowager, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your favor. It’s an honor for Fu Yun and the Prince Yun Mansion, but Fu Yun she..."

Before the Princess Consort Yun could finish her sentence, a little eunuch approached and said, "Empress Dowager, the Imperial Concubine has arrived."

Consort Li?

Why was she coming to Yongning Palace?

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows slightly.

"Let her in," the Empress Dowager said.

The little eunuch left, and Consort Li, supported by a palace maid, entered and paid her respects to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager looked at her and said, "Consort Li, busy managing the affairs of the inner palace, why have you come to my Yongning Palace?"

Consort Li smiled and praised Su Jin.

"Thanks to the mahjong organized by the Princess Consort Zhenbei, the concubines found entertainment to pass the time in this scorching summer. The inner palace is harmonious, and it’s much easier for me to manage than when the Empress held the Phoenix Seal. Feeling a bit bored, I thought I hadn’t visited the Empress Dowager for a couple of days, so I’m here to pay my respects."

It’s well known in the palace that the Empress Dowager detests Su Jin.

Praising Su Jin in front of the Empress Dowager was Consort Li’s deliberate attempt to displease the Empress Dowager.

When the Empress Dowager is displeased, the Emperor is pleased.

When the Emperor is pleased, he won’t easily reclaim the Phoenix Seal.

The Empress Dowager’s expression grew darker, while Consort Li’s gaze turned to the Princess Consort Yun.

The Princess Consort Yun rose to greet Consort Li.

Consort Li was well aware of the reason why the Empress Dowager summoned the Princess Consort Yun to the palace.

There were also her spies in Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager invited the Princess Consort Yun to act as a matchmaker, and Consort Li timed her arrival to disrupt the proposal.

Consort Li smiled and said, "Did I come at a bad time, interrupting the conversation between the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort Yun?"

"Not at all. The Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace merely for some idle conversation," the Princess Consort Yun replied with a smile.

Looking at the Empress Dowager, the Princess Consort Yun said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for considering Fu Yun. A few days ago, the Prince mentioned that the Marquis Jibei had proposed marriage for his grandson to Fu Yun. The Prince said he would consider for a few days before responding, but I don’t know if he has already agreed to the Marquis Jibei."

A flicker of coldness flashed in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.

Stating they were considering it was actually a refusal.

However, using the Marquis Jibei as an excuse, the Empress Dowager couldn’t force the Princess Consort Yun to promise her daughter to the Heir of Duke Chong while disregarding the Marquis Jibei’s proposal.

The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, and Consort Li changed the subject. No one mentioned the proposal matter again.

Jinyu Pavilion.

Su Chong arrived on horseback and stopped at the entrance.

After dismounting, he walked straight inside.

He took a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to the young clerk.

The young clerk said, "Please wait, I will fetch the jewelry from the list."

A few days ago, the Emperor had gifted Su Jin several Rubies.

Feeling inspired, Su Jin designed a golden hairpin and a pair of earrings to give to Mrs. Tang.

She sent the Rubies and the designs to Jinyu Pavilion for customization.

The task of retrieving them was given to Su Chong.

He was here today to collect the jewelry.

While the young clerk went to fetch the jewelry, Su Chong, feeling a bit bored, decided to go upstairs for a look.

As it turned out, as he was climbing the stairs, the Commandery Princess Fu Yun was descending.

Their gazes met.

Both were reminded of the moment the carriage accident had occurred.

A blush spread across the face of the Commandery Princess Fu Yun, and in her fluster, she missed a step and stumbled sideways.

She didn’t fall, but the jewelry box in her hand flew out.

Su Chong executed a graceful turn and caught the jewelry box.

Hmm.

The movement was chic and flawless.

But the results were not as desired.

The Commandery Princess Fu Yun’s jewelry box was custom-made, resembling a matchbox.

Su Chong caught the box, yet the layer holding the jewelry inside slid down.

A cracking sound was heard.

The box hit the ground.

The white jade hairpin inside shattered into numerous pieces.

Su Chong, "..."

The Commandery Princess Fu Yun, "..."

The nimbleness with which Su Chong had caught the box now turned into embarrassment.

His hand still frozen in the box-catching position.

Su Chong quietly retracted his hand.

The Commandery Princess Fu Yun’s face was so red it seemed it could bleed.

She was hesitating whether to thank Su Chong.

To thank him? The jade hairpin wasn’t saved.

Not to thank him? After all, he had tried to help, even though it was unsuccessful.

But her feet felt as if fixed to the ground.

"Commandery Princess?" the Maid called out.

The Commandery Princess Fu Yun lowered her head and swiftly descended the stairs, passing by Su Chong.

The Maid was regretful about the ruined jade hairpin, but the Commandery Princess Fu Yun moved so quickly that she didn’t have a chance to pick up the broken pieces.

Others picking jewelry around covertly stifled their laughter.

Su Chong bent down to collect the broken pieces of the jade hairpin.

The young clerk came back with the jewelry and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Su Chong handed the jade hairpin pieces to the young clerk and asked, "Can it be repaired?"

Looking at the extent of the breakage, the young clerk shook his head, "It can’t be repaired. Even if it could, it would be ugly and not worth it."

"If it can’t be repaired, can I order a brand new identical one?" Su Chong asked.

"Certainly."

The young clerk wrote up an order ticket, collected a fifty-tael deposit, and told Su Chong to pick it up in ten days.

The Maid helped the Commandery Princess Fu Yun into the carriage and said, "Commandery Princess, the hairpin you picked for the Princess Consort is broken, what about her birthday gift?"

The Commandery Princess Fu Yun didn’t know what to do.

If it weren’t for Su Chong, she would have surely returned to pick another one, but with him around, she lacked the courage.

"Buy the green jade hairpin I liked before," the Commandery Princess Fu Yun said.

"I’ll return to the mansion first."

The coachman drove off, and the Maid watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

The moment after the carriage left, Su Chong emerged.

He mounted his horse and rode off in the opposite direction.

He passed by stalls, observing them idly, noticing some selling jewelry and others wooden hairpins.

After pondering, he headed to a wood shop, selecting a piece of top-grade rosewood.