The elderly couple stood on top, their mouths chattering incessantly, all praising the girl Shang Huai had brought back.
The girl was indeed beautiful, and besides, Shang Huai was like a grandson in front of her.
"When has Shang Huai ever been so attentive to me?"
Even Grandmother Shang couldn't help but exclaim, "Shang Huai's eyes are shining when he looks at this girl."
Yes, their eyes were shining, which made those two old men feel a pang of sadness for no reason.
Shang Huai's grandparents watched as he led the girl into the inner courtyard; after that, they could no longer see her.
When the merchant's father hurriedly climbed up, he couldn't see anything.
At the Shang residence, Shang Huai took Pei Zhi to see his tool shed.
Many of the tools inside are old items.
Pei Zhi looked him over for a while and found that Shang Huai was indeed not lying. With such a complete set of tools, Shang Huai must really be an expert.
"Come on, let's choose the jade first."
Shang Huai took Pei Zhi to the warehouse, where there were many boxes.
Shang Huai opened the smallest boxes directly; the jade inside was quite precious and rare.
Since Pei Minxue's birthday was approaching, Pei Zhi couldn't give her a jade hairpin that was too cheap.
Pei Zhi selected a stone: "Tell me how much this stone costs, and I'll pay you back later."
Shang Huaiyuan wanted to say that it didn't need to be so complicated.
But seeing Pei Zhi's serious expression, Shang Huai could only nod.
Neither of them was short of money, and since Pei Zhi insisted on giving it, Shang Huai was afraid of upsetting Pei Zhi.
Shang Huai took Pei Zhi to wash the stones, and then they chose which one to take.
Although Pei Zhi said she did it herself, Shang Huai actually did most of the work.
Firstly, Pei Zhi lacked experience.
Secondly, Shang Huai dared not let Pei Zhi do some dangerous moves, for fear of hurting her.
Pei Zhi's only contribution was taking a hammer and gently tapping the stone twice.
When Shang Huai's face was sweaty, he wiped it off and praised him a couple of times to give him some motivation.
With his beloved watching from the side, Shang Huai moved faster and faster in his hands.
In the blink of an eye, the general shape of the jade hairpin had appeared in Shang Huai's hand.
Pei Zhi slowly polished the jade, while Shang Huai looked at her with tender eyes, and then noticed the jade hairpin in her hand.
Shang Huai blinked before he realized what was happening.
Why does it look like a jade hairpin?
Shang Huaiyuan thought that the amount of work involved in the jade hairpin project was not large.
Shang Huai could make a beautiful jade hairpin by himself in at most three days.
But Shang Huai didn't really want to make the jade hairpin; he just wanted to see Pei Zhi more often.
The jade hairpin was finished in no time. What excuse would he have left to bring Pei Zhi to his residence?
Pei Zhi asked, "Am I doing the right thing?"
Shang Huai responded, thought for a moment, walked behind Pei Zhi, and half-embraced her.
"You should do it this way, use a little less pressure, jade needs to be polished carefully."
Shang Huai held Pei Zhi's hand and bent down to whisper instructions in her ear.
Pei Zhi trembled slightly because her ears were somewhat sensitive.
Pei Zhi tried to push Shang Huai away, but Shang Huai held her hands.
"Try it as I say."
"Okay." Pei Zhi responded and, as Shang Huai had instructed, reduced the intensity.
Shang Huai praised, "Yes, that's right. You can't rush things."
Pei Zhi found Shang Huai's words somewhat strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was so strange about them.
Shang Huai did this intentionally, but in the next half day, there was still not much progress on the jade hairpin.
Shang Huai invited Pei Zhi to have dinner at his residence, but Pei Zhi declined.
They ate lunch at Shang Huai's residence, but Pei Zhi still wanted to go home for dinner.
Moreover, if we go back after having dinner, it will be even later.
Pei Zhi was afraid that Pei Minxue would start nagging her even before she returned home.
Pei Zhi was going back, so Shang Huai naturally offered to see her off.
On the way back, Shang Huai kept praising Pei Zhi for being so capable.
To be able to pick it up so quickly on your first time learning jade carving shows you are very skillful.
The two chatted and laughed all the way to the Pei residence.
Shang Huai got off the carriage first, and then helped Pei Zhi down from outside the carriage.
"Would you like to go in and have dinner before you leave?"
Without a second thought, Shang Huai agreed, "Okay."
Pei Zhi snorted, "Come on, by the time you finish dinner and go back, who knows how long it will be."
"You're coming to pick me up tomorrow, you should go back now."
Shang Huai, however, persisted, "Even if I go back, I still want to have dinner."
"What? I've been your master all day, and you won't even let me have a meal at your house?"
Pei Zhi had no choice but to let Shang Huai in, since she couldn't do anything about him.
As soon as the two entered the courtyard, they saw Pei Minxue taking a walk outside.
Pei Minxue glared at Pei Zhi: "Why are you only coming back at this hour?"
Shang Huai quickly defended Pei Zhi, saying, "It's my fault."
"I didn't check the time for a moment, and it got late."
Pei Minxue snorted, not knowing what else to say, and waved his hand, "Go eat quickly, we're waiting for you to finish your meal."
Pei Zhi was puzzled. "Why are you waiting for me to have dinner?"
Pei Zhi walked in and saw Xiao Chengci sitting in the main seat, and then she understood.
When Xiao Chengci looked over, Pei Zhi suddenly felt a little guilty.
It's like being caught by your husband while out having fun with a man.
Pei Zhi suddenly realized that Xiao Chengci was not her husband either.
Xiao Chengci had no reason to care who she went out with.
Xiao Chengci has no right to say anything about how long she stays out of the game.
Pei Zhi greeted him, "Your Majesty has arrived?"
Xiao Chengci responded, "Aren't you going to wash your hands and eat?"
The palace servants had already prepared handwashing utensils. Pei Zhi washed her hands, dried them with a handkerchief, and sat down.
Shang Huai sat down on Pei Zhi's other side. "Your Majesty, what brings you here today? Have you finished dealing with the Empress Dowager's affairs?"
"In the end, we still have to thank Lord Shang for not giving the Empress Dowager any hope whatsoever."
"With her hope gone, she naturally can't cause any more trouble, and I can finally steal a moment of peace."
Shang Huai replied, "Then Your Majesty should indeed thank me. May I ask what gift Your Majesty has prepared in gratitude?"
Xiao Chengci was speechless. He was just being polite; he never expected that Shang Huai would actually want it.
"Your Majesty is not prepared. I would like to request a copy. I wonder if that would be acceptable?"
Xiao Chengci frowned. What else did Shang Huai have that he couldn't obtain, that he, as the emperor, could bestow upon him?
Xiao Chengci glanced at Pei Zhi subconsciously, then shook his head.
Shang Huai understood what His Majesty was thinking: "Your Majesty, rest assured, even you yourself can't do anything about Zhizhi, so I would never be so foolish as to suggest that you bestow Zhizhi upon me."
Xiao Chengci pursed his lips. Although what he said was hurtful, it was also the truth.
Pei Minxue covered his mouth with his sleeve, afraid that his laughter would be too obvious and that His Majesty would remember it.
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