The brocade box contained a string of black pearl bracelets, each black pearl full and uniform in size. Such naturally occurring black pearls were extremely difficult to find, not to mention a set of eighteen equally sized black pearls—it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime find.
Yang Mengchen liked it immediately upon seeing it, gently closing the lid and returning the box to Prince De with both hands: "Uncle De, this gift is really too precious; I cannot accept it."
"Do you like it?" Prince De did not take the box back, his affection for the clever and sensible young girl growing even more.
Nodding emphatically, Yang Mengchen replied with a smile, "I really like it, but..."
"As long as you like it, that’s all that matters," Prince De said, feigning distress, "This was a gift prepared by your royal aunt, who repeatedly stressed that I make sure it gets to you. If you do not accept it, I am bound to be scolded when I return. Please ’take pity on me’ and accept it, alright?"
Meng Jinghui chimed in, "Little Sister doesn’t know, but once the royal aunt makes up her mind, she won’t change it. If you don’t accept it, she might even have Uncle De kneel on a washboard, hahaha..."
Giving Meng Jinghui a warning glare, Prince De turned back to look pitifully at Yang Mengchen.
Yang Mengchen had not expected the royal aunt to be such a character, and for Uncle De to be such an old imp. She couldn’t help but feel a secret delight as she accepted the gift.
"Jiujiu, this is your older brother’s wife," Meng Jingqi introduced the lady beside him.
In Meng Hanyue’s letters, she mentioned that the Crown Princess Consort’s name was Duan Qingyu, who hailed from a literary family and was known as the number one beauty and talent of Qing’an Country.
Duan Qingyu wore her hair in a Fly Moon Bun, adorned at the temples with a Dotted Green Butterfly flower, a Gilded Dotted Green Pearl Phoenix Steps Ornament on her head, and Ceramic Glaze earrings hanging to the sides. On her fair, round ears were jade drop-shaped earrings, and she wore an Autumn Colored Long Skirt embroidered with phoenix tail orchids, the sleeve cuffs outlined with light blue silver threads in the shape of auspicious clouds. With exquisite facial features, eyes like pools of water, and luminous skin, she truly had a graceful bearing, as serene and refreshing as an orchid.
"Mengchen pays her respects to her elder sister-in-law," Yang Mengchen greeted, bowing.
Hurriedly reaching out to help her up, Duan Qingyu’s voice tinkled like silver bells, "There’s no need for such formalities, Jiujiu. No wonder the Crown Prince often speaks of you; seeing you today, you certainly are a delightful girl. Even I can’t help but want to take you home. What does the Crown Prince think?" She then turned to look at Meng Jingqi.
Meng Jingqi’s face held a gentle smile, his lips slightly parted, but he remained silent.
"If anyone’s taking her, she should come to my house. Being one step too late has made my adopted daughter become my niece, and I am still not over it," Prince De grumbled irritably about the change in his relationship with her.
Meng Jinghui said with a beaming smile, "It’s no use arguing; Jiujiu is now part of the Chen Prince Mansion."
"What does that matter? When we return, I’ll just take Jiujiu with me, and let’s see what Prince Chen dares to do," Prince De replied nonchalantly.
Not just in Qing’an Country, but throughout the entire world, Prince De was a figure who could do as he pleased, and had it not been for Jiujiu’s sake, he wouldn’t have even bothered with the God of War, Long Xuanmo.
Meng Jinghui suddenly found himself at a loss for words as the others burst into laughter.
"The elder sister-in-law is equally stunning," Yang Mengchen exclaimed with a blush, "Brother Jingqi truly has an eye for beauty, finding a fairy-like sister-in-law."
Meng Jingqi’s expression softened, his demeanor tender like water, yet a fleeting shadow of melancholy passed through the depths of his eyes, too quick for anyone to catch.
Glancing at Meng Jingqi, Duan Qingyu’s cheeks tinted with a shy red, as pure and captivating as peach blossoms in rain. She then took a long, black lacquered mahogany box with a gold-painted phoenix playing ball pattern from the maid and handed it to Yang Mengchen, "I don’t know what you like, Jiujiu, so here is a small gift. I hope it pleases you?"
Yang Mengchen accepted the mahogany box and gently opened it to find a jade chessboard inside.
The chessboard was made from a single slab of white jade, with fine and dense quality, pleasantly cool and moist, subtly reflecting a glaze-like luster. The board had nineteen evenly spaced lines running both vertically and horizontally, intersecting to form parallel lines, each line clear and consistent in thickness, exquisitely carved.
At the bottom of the chessboard’s front was written "Exquisite Chessboard" in four characters, accompanied by a poem written in bold and wild brushstrokes, full of motion and emotion.
Tucked alongside were two jars of chess pieces, the white jar with white pieces made from white jade, and the black jar with black pieces made from ink jade, each piece clear and smooth, flawless and pure.
Yang Mengchen was momentarily stunned, then her face lit up with joy, her black eyes sparkling like stars.
Grandpa Liang loved chess and, seeing her interest, taught her when he had time. Teacher Sun had found her several chess manuals, and later her master and Ah Ming had instructed her in many skills and knowledge. Up until the accident, she had practiced chess daily, often playing matches between her left and right hands.
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