Chapter 489: The hairpin has an owner, are your ears not working well?
When Shopkeeper Zhang saw the thick stack of banknotes, he felt as if he had seen a hot potato. He hurriedly waved his hands and stepped back half a step, repeatedly saying, "No, no, Princess! This...this banknote cannot be accepted by me!"
He knew it all: not to mention that most of Jin Man Lou's generous annual dividends had to be sent to the Prince Regent's Palace, but even if this batch of jewelry was used as a betrothal gift, wouldn't it ultimately end up on their eldest daughter's head? The way they collected this money was completely outrageous.
Lan Xiyue was unhurried and handed half a cent of the banknote forward, "Take it. This princess is here today to prepare the betrothal gifts for my brother, not to come to your Jin Man Lou to get something for free." She deliberately emphasized the word "free" with a hint of joking.
Seeing her resolute attitude and remembering the temperament of this client, the shopkeeper could only smile awkwardly and respectfully took the heavy stack of banknotes with both hands, thinking to himself: Well, as long as the princess is happy, this money... after all, belongs to the palace and my boss.
His smile grew even wider, and he repeated, "Yes, yes, Your Highness, your Majesty is so considerate. I will shamelessly accept it. Thank you for the reward!"
Just at this moment, the bead curtain at the door of Jin Manlou swayed, and several well-dressed guests came in.
Leading the group was a young lady surrounded by maids and servants and a graceful middle-aged lady.
Lan Xiyue glanced at him and said to Shopkeeper Zhang, "There's a new customer. You don't have to wait on him. Just go and do your own thing."
The shopkeeper was as if he had been pardoned, and quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Princess, please make yourself at your convenience. Call me anytime if you need anything." After saying that, he put on a professional smile and quickly walked towards the new guest.
As soon as Mu Ting'er entered, she raised her chin slightly and scanned the counter with a critical look. She said arrogantly to the shopkeeper who was walking over, "Shopkeeper, please show us the latest and best styles in your store. Don't fool people with some ordinary stuff."
The shopkeeper busily took out several fashionable and expensive pieces of jewelry from the counter and presented them to her: "Miss, please take a look. These are all our finest pieces. Do you think anything catches your eye?"
Mu Ting'er only took a quick glance, and her delicate brows furrowed. She snorted in dissatisfaction, "Is that all? The styles are so tacky. I don't like them. Do you have anything better? Bring it out! Money is not a problem!"
Mrs. Xu beside her also nodded slightly, indicating that she agreed with her daughter.
Coincidentally, a servant was carrying some jewelry that had just been taken out of the warehouse and was about to deliver them to Lan Xiyue.
When the tray passed in front of Mu Ting'er, she was quick-eyed and picked up the long, unopened brocade box on top and opened the lid with a click.
Lying quietly in the box was a golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with gems and dotted with kingfisher feathers.
The densely wrapped gold threads outline the contours of a phoenix spreading its wings, ready to fly. The phoenix's eyes are inlaid with two transparent rubies, which are full of brilliance. The phoenix feathers are made with extremely delicate kingfisher feather inlay technique. The emerald feathers are bright and rich in color, showing a dreamy blue-green change under the light. They are also embellished with tiny rice beads and gem fragments, which are extraordinarily luxurious and lively.
Mu Ting'er's eyes lit up instantly, bursting with intense love. She immediately turned to her mother, Madam Xu, and said in a sweet voice, "Mother! Look! I love this hairpin so much!"
Mrs. Xu looked over and was also impressed by its exquisiteness. A satisfied smile appeared on her face, and she said dotingly, "Okay, okay, it's rare that Ting'er likes something so much. If you like it, buy it."
The shopkeeper's scalp suddenly tightened, and he quickly stepped forward and said with an apologetic smile, "Madam, Miss, I'm so sorry! This hairpin... has already been requested, and it was just taken out from the warehouse to be given to you, my dear guest."
Upon hearing this, the satisfaction on Mrs. Xu's face was instantly replaced by displeasure. She snorted lightly, with a bit of condescending arrogance: "Oh? Someone wants it? No problem, we can pay double the silver, that should be fine, right?" In her opinion, when Jin Manlou opened its doors for business, the highest bidder won.
The shopkeeper made a bitter face and shook his head repeatedly: "Madam, Miss, this... this is not about the amount of silver..."
Seeing the shopkeeper refuse, Mu Ting'er raised her eyebrows, became even more arrogant, and raised her voice a few notches: "Aren't you Jin Manlou just running a business? Isn't it good to make money? I've fallen in love with this hairpin today! I must buy it!" She held the brocade box tightly, looking determined to get it.
The dispute here had already attracted Lan Xiyue's attention. She put down her teacup and walked over.
Her eyes fell on the radiant golden phoenix hairpin in Mu Ting'er's hand, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Miss," Lan Xiyue said coldly, "let's look at something else."
Before she finished her words, when Mu Ting'er was caught off guard, Lan Xiyue moved her wrist slightly, and her movements were as fast as lightning. Mu Ting'er felt her fingers go empty, and the brocade box and the golden phoenix hairpin inside had fallen steadily into Lan Xiyue's hands!
Mu Ting'er was horrified. She didn't even see how the other party made the move!
When she came to her senses, she looked at the empty hands and the dazzling brocade box in Lan Xiyue's hand, and a wave of offended anger rushed to her head. Her cheeks flushed with anger, and she pointed at Lan Xiyue and said angrily: "You! You are so bold! How dare you steal my things! Give the hairpin back to me! I will pay three times the silver!" She thought the other party was also a buyer, just bidding.
The shopkeeper was terrified watching from the side and was about to step forward to reveal Lan Xiyue's identity: "King..."
Just as he uttered a word, he saw Lan Xiyue glance at him indifferently. Her eyes were calm, but with a clear sense of restraint.
The shopkeeper immediately swallowed back the rest of his words as if his throat was strangled. He stood aside with his hands hanging down and remained silent.
Lan Xiyue was playing with the brocade box in her hand. Looking at the furious Mu Ting'er, instead of being annoyed, she raised her eyebrows jokingly and said slowly, "The hairpin has an owner. Don't your ears work well?" There was a hint of nonchalant mockery in her tone.
"You!" Mu Ting'er had never been treated like this before. She was about to explode without caring about the consequences, but Mrs. Xu beside her pulled her sleeve hard.
After all, Mrs. Xu is older and has more experience.
From the moment Lan Xiyue appeared, she noticed the indescribable aura on her body, and the seemingly simple and elegant clothes that were actually made of extremely exquisite materials and workmanship, and were definitely not ordinary luxurious clothes.
The emperor was surrounded by powerful people. Although their Mu family was rich, they had no real power and were most afraid of offending people they could not afford to offend.
Mu Ting'er was held back by her mother and looked at Madam Xu with confusion and grievance.
Mrs. Xu gave her daughter a stern warning look, then turned to Lan Xiyue, quickly put on a polite smile, and asked tentatively: "Young lady, forgive my ignorance, I wonder... which family you are from?" She tried to find out the other party's background.
When Lan Xiyue heard this, a hint of mischief flashed in her eyes. She blinked, as if with a bit of naivety and ignorance of a newcomer. The corners of her lips curved up in an innocent arc, and she replied lightly: "Me? I just arrived in Beijing a few days ago, what's wrong?" That expression made it impossible to tell whether it was true or false.
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