Chapter 368 If you dare to be dissatisfied, just smash it in his face.
Although Jiang Yu lived for over thirty years in her previous life, she never experienced love. Born into an ordinary family, she went from a local elementary school to a nationally renowned university amidst fierce competition in the education system. Later, she took the postgraduate entrance exam and the civil service exam. After entering the workforce, the workload was so heavy that she simply didn't have time to think about romance.
Seeing Prince Rui hesitant, wanting to speak but unsure how, or perhaps afraid to, Jiang Yu found it amusing, yet also felt a touch of sweetness in her heart. However, she didn't intend to break the ice right now. It wasn't out of agonizing, but rather because she felt that love should always progress gradually.
Of course, she wouldn't refuse if Prince Rui had asked.
"Does Your Highness have anything else to say? If not, I'll return to my office," she said with a smile.
"Huh?" Prince Rui was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "Okay, okay."
He took a step back, and Jiang Yu bowed to him before turning and getting into her sedan chair. Prince Rui remained standing there until her sedan chair disappeared around the corner.
"Your Highness," the attendant called softly, "the Duke of Chu's sedan chair has gone far away."
Prince Rui then stirred, glancing at his attendant with a hint of displeasure. The attendant touched his nose, realizing he had been the target of the prince's anger. He quickly walked to Prince Rui's horse, smiling as he took the reins. Watching Prince Rui mount, he said, "Your Highness, this servant thinks that the Duke of Chu is a straightforward person. You can speak to her directly if you have something to say."
Prince Rui glared at him after hearing this, and the attendant immediately shut up. Prince Rui tightened the reins, cracked the whip to urge the horse forward, and sighed inwardly. He knew perfectly well that she was decisive, but that was precisely what he feared now—her decisive refusal. Although she had accepted the bracelet, he was still afraid.
Sitting in the sedan chair, Jiang Yu stroked the red jade bracelet on her wrist, pondering what gift she should give Prince Rui in return. The unspoken understanding hadn't been revealed, but a reciprocal exchange of gifts was still appropriate.
Prince Rui claimed he had personally crafted the bracelet, but she lacked any crafting skills. Just then, the sedan chair entered a bustling street, passing the largest jewelry shop in the capital. She asked the porters to stop, alighted, and went inside.
Even though the waiter guarding the entrance of Qiongjiu Pavilion didn't recognize Jiang Yu, he immediately guessed her identity from the Chu character hanging outside the sedan chair and Jiang Yu's official robes. He stepped forward to greet her and led her inside.
The shopkeeper quickly learned that the Duke of Chu had entered their shop and hurriedly came out to greet her, leading her to a private room on the second floor. After sitting down in the private room, Jiang Yu said, "Bring me the finest accessories from your shop, both men's and women's."
"Yes, Your Excellency, please wait a moment." The shopkeeper left two maids to serve him, and they scurried off to place the most expensive and best accessories in the shop on a tray. He was wondering who the Duke of Chu was going to give the gifts to, and why he wanted both men's and women's items.
A moment later, he placed the best accessories in the shop in front of Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu first looked at the women's accessories. She picked out a hairpin and a jade pendant for Lu Yifang, and then chose an emerald jade stone, thinking that it could be attached to her forehead band and given to her maternal grandmother, the Lady of Anyuan Marquis.
She then looked at the man's accessories, choosing a jade thumb ring to give to her maternal grandfather, Marquis Anyuan. Her gaze then fell upon a white jade headdress. This headdress was entirely lustrous, carved from a single piece of mutton-fat jade. It had no carved patterns, yet it looked far from plain.
"That's all." Jiang Yu placed the jade crown together with the accessories she had chosen earlier.
The shopkeeper beamed and quickly packed everything into an exquisite box. After Jiang Yu paid the bill, he saw her to the door with a smile. Only after watching Jiang Yu's sedan chair leave did the shopkeeper return to the store with a smile.
The quick-witted waiter served tea to the shopkeeper and said with a smile, "The Duke of Chu is truly extraordinary. He bought five priceless jade artifacts without even blinking an eye."
The shopkeeper glanced at him. "Do you think the Duke of Chu is as ignorant as you? Those jade artifacts may be valuable, but what good things don't a century-old family have in its storeroom?"
"Yes, yes, yes," the waiter replied hastily.
The shopkeeper put down his teacup and muttered, "I just wonder to whom the Duke of Chu intends to give it?"
Of course, he was just saying it casually. As long as the goods were sold and he got his commission, that was all that mattered to him.
The reason Jiang Yu picked out so many items was that she didn't want to buy just accessories for a young man, which would arouse suspicion. It was best to keep her affair with Prince Rui a secret for now.
After returning home from her duty, she took out the jade crown and admired it for a while, feeling that carving something on it herself would show more sincerity. After much thought, she decided to carve the character "crane" on it. Prince Rui's name was Qin He'an, and using the character "crane," which is not commonly found in names, would have a special meaning.
Without hesitation, she instructed Xia He to fetch a carving knife. She first picked up a pen and wrote the character "crane" in small characters on the inside of the jade crown, and then picked up the carving knife to begin carving.
But many things seem simple in theory, but are actually quite difficult in practice. As soon as she placed the carving knife on the jade crown, she knew she probably wouldn't be able to do it in one go. Putting down the knife, she said to Xia He, "Find a piece of jade, I'll practice first."
Xia He glanced at the jade crown, opened her mouth as if to say she would just tell the carver to make it, but remembering that it represented her master's sentiments, she didn't say anything and hurriedly went to the storeroom...
That night, Jiang Yu practiced until very late before carving a crooked "crane" character on the jade she was testing. She looked at it for a while and asked Xia He, "It's not that ugly, is it?"
Xia He: "...Your intentions are certainly not bad."
Jiang Yu chuckled, "You're quite the talker, but even if it's a heartfelt gesture, it can't be too ugly. I'll practice some more."
However, she understood that this matter couldn't interfere with her rest and work, so she got up to shower and go to sleep. She continued practicing after her shift the next day, and the same thing on the third day. Xia He watched her struggle with a single word, grinding it against a stone again and again, and sighed, "It's truly incomprehensible how someone can be so deeply moved."
Jiang Yu practiced for three days and felt he was ready. On the fourth day, after finishing his shift and returning home, he locked himself in his study, took a deep breath, picked up his carving knife, and began his first stroke...
"Is it alright?" After she finished carving, she showed it to Xia He, who immediately replied, "It's very good."
Jiang Yu smiled and said, "This is fine. If he dares to be dissatisfied, I'll just smash it in his face."
"I bet Prince Rui will wear it every day after he receives it." Xia He smiled at her mistress, who seemed even more vibrant at this moment.
"Bring a box over, it'll be perfect to give to him tomorrow." Jiang Yu looked at the jade crown in her hand with a smile on her face.
She herself was unaware of how radiant her smile was at that moment.
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