Chapter Eleven: Crafting a Jade Pendant for Mo Youli

Xiao Ze'an not only spent his own money freely but also covered all of Shen Shuwan's expenses. Everyone saw Xiao Ze'an’s generosity and thought he was magnanimous with others, unaware that all the money was actually hers. She was staging a grand performance, just waiting for Xiao Ze'an and Shen Shuwan to fall into her trap.

"I understand. Leave this to me, Your Royal Highness. I'll inform Father immediately. I won’t accompany you to stroll around—I’ll return to the palace now."

Luo Shaochen could not stay still for a second; he hurriedly ran toward the palace, with his attendants and sedan chair far behind, unable to keep up.

Luo Ningsang arrived at the jade shop and, with practiced ease, passed through the dazzling display of jade to the innermost room. She frequented this shop and was well acquainted with the shopkeeper. Every visit was to commission carefully crafted pieces as gifts for someone special.

"Shopkeeper, don’t fall asleep. Today I want a jade pendant made—please take careful note. Don’t waste this exquisite jade."

Luo Ningsang tapped the shopkeeper, who was snoring softly, and pulled out a blueprint from her bosom. It was a design she had personally drawn, every stroke filled with intention.

"My goodness, Miss Luo, this jade isn’t ordinary at all. I have never seen such a translucent stone."

The shopkeeper, not even taking the blueprint, fixated his gaze on the jade, his eyes nearly glued to it.

Seeing this, Luo Ningsang cleared her throat twice, and the shopkeeper snapped back to attention, cheerfully taking the blueprint for a glance.

The shopkeeper then joked, "Miss Luo, your design is truly ingenious. It must be a gift for someone important."

Seeing that the design was for a man’s pendant, he wore a face full of gossip.

Luo Ningsang’s expression remained calm, softly replying, "You could say that."

The shopkeeper immediately began boasting about his craftsmanship, confidently promising not to disappoint such a fine jade: "Rest assured, Miss Luo, I will use every skill at my disposal to carve this pendant exquisitely. You will be satisfied!"

Luo Ningsang tossed down the silver and left as usual.

The shopkeeper cradled the jade like a treasure, unwilling to part with it, already scheming about saving some scraps from the carving.

"Shopkeeper, I just saw Miss Luo with a piece of the finest jade," the shop’s young servant whispered as Luo Ningsang walked away, running from the front yard to gossip with the shopkeeper.

"This jade is for a pendant Miss Luo wants to make as a gift. Once I finish carving it, you must be careful delivering it—hold it with both hands and don’t let it drop."

The shopkeeper, loving and cherishing the jade, gave strict instructions before even beginning the work.

"Don’t worry, shopkeeper. I’ve delivered many times before, very familiar with the routine. No need to fret."

The servant was well acquainted with Luo Ningsang, who was a frequent visitor.

"Young Master Xiao is truly fortunate; Miss Luo is so devoted. She’s bought so many gifts here, all given to Young Master Xiao. I see she doesn’t dress extravagantly, but she truly cherishes him."

The servant clicked his tongue enviously, lamenting how he had never encountered such devotion.

"For the next few days, I won’t take other orders. I’ll focus solely on carving this pendant. Then you must quickly deliver it to Young Master Xiao’s residence," the shopkeeper said, patting the servant’s head and sending him to greet customers while he concentrated on the jade.

Back at the Grand Tutor’s mansion, Luo Ningsang sat on her bed, restless and sleepless. The humiliation she had suffered at the academy replayed like a revolving lantern.

Yu Xiaoxiao had openly challenged and provoked her, students egging her on, and even her brother Luo Shaochen had done nothing because of that white lotus Shen Shuwan.

She didn’t want her brother to get involved—after all, he was busy with affairs of the court—but she definitely would not let those people off easily.

After a night of thought, Luo Ningsang found no perfect solution; even the worst option couldn’t allow those bullies to get away with it.

Unexpectedly, the next day at the academy, the usually aloof teacher personally apologized for yesterday’s incident, and Yu Xiaoxiao was expelled. Even the students who had provoked her now fearfully avoided Luo Ningsang.

Puzzled, Luo Ningsang grabbed a passing classmate, asking, "What’s going on?"

The classmate only shook their head and hurried away.

"Could it be that you had someone do this?" Luo Ningsang pressed.

Xiao Ze'an, seeing Luo Ningsang’s bewildered face, assumed she was behind it.

"I was baffled too! Maybe Heaven took pity on me and helped out," Luo Ningsang frowned, knowing only a handful of people sided with her, none likely to defend her. She could only hope fate was smiling upon her.

"Stop with the nonsense and sit down for class," Xiao Ze'an said, though inwardly he didn’t believe it was Luo Ningsang’s doing. He thought she might be foolish and annoying at times, but not malicious.

Nearby, Shen Shuwan clenched her fists tightly, biting her lip with a sinister gleam in her eyes. Who was helping Luo Ningsang? To dare move her people! Yu Xiaoxiao was her lackey; even beating a dog required the master’s permission. This was a blatant insult.

Luo Ningsang was unaware that Mo Youli had secretly assigned Mo San to protect her. Everything that happened was reported in detail to Mo Youli.

Two nights ago, under a night as dense as ink, only a chamber in the Ministry of Revenue’s official residence flickered with candlelight.

Mo Youli wore a dark brocade robe embroidered with a dragon hidden in shadow. His eyes were like cold stars, quietly watching Yu Qishan, trembling before him.

On the table lay documents listing Yu Qishan’s long history of corruption, the candlelight flickering, making the evidence even more glaring.

"Minister Yu, long time no see."

Mo Youli broke the silence first, his voice low but commanding.

"You probably understand better than I do what this means," he said.

Cold sweat beaded on Yu Qishan’s forehead; his fat body trembled like a sieve.

"Lord Mo... no, Young Master Mo, have mercy! I was foolish. Please spare me; I will repay you in full."

Mo Youli raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Repay? You’ve swallowed so much from the treasury, and you know it. I am a sovereign from another land, here only to root out corruption. Do you think silver can buy me?"

Yu Qishan fell to his knees, crawling forward, hands wildly kowtowing.

"Young Master Mo, you don’t know—my family depends entirely on my salary. I’m desperate. If you spare me this once, I’ll do anything!"

Mo Youli narrowed his eyes with satisfaction. "There’s room to negotiate. I hear your daughter studies at the Yan Chi Royal Academy and is close with my people..."

Yu Qishan’s heart jumped. "Young Master Mo means my daughter? She only studies poetry and books, never causing trouble."

"Hmph, trouble or not is irrelevant. I want her to leave the academy immediately and never return. If you comply, I may suppress these charges."

Mo Youli crossed his arms, voice resolute.

Yu Qishan hesitated, troubled. "My daughter treasures the academy—it’s her lifeline. To make her quit suddenly is hard to ask, and it might cause rumors."

Mo Youli’s eyes turned cold as he stepped forward, his boot tapping the floor. He grabbed Yu Qishan by the collar.

"Minister Yu, do you still have the luxury to haggle? My patience is limited. Either you do as I say and your daughter leaves tomorrow, or prepare your whole family for prison."

Yu Qishan’s face paled; he nodded repeatedly. "I’ll do as you say."

After this harsh ultimatum, Mo Youli released him, and Yu Qishan collapsed, gasping, filled with despair.

Mo Youli smoothed his clothes and melted into the shadows, waiting for Yu Xiaoxiao’s withdrawal.

He would never let the one he cared for suffer; he would always stand up for Luo Ningsang.

The final exams were just days away, and a short holiday was given for the students to rest.

That day, Luo Ningsang felt especially cheerful. She saw Xiao Ze'an and Shen Shuwan standing side by side, like a perfect couple.

She took a few light steps toward Xiao Ze'an and whispered, "The holiday is coming soon. I want to go shopping for some clothes. I’ll probably be out late, so you don’t have to wait for me to eat."

As she said this, her eyes glanced at Shen Shuwan, who was wearing a pale pink silk dress, her brows and eyes tender, intimately linking arms with Xiao Ze'an.

Xiao Ze'an nodded absentmindedly, watching Luo Ningsang skip away.

"Brother Ze'an, Wan’er wants to buy clothes too. Will you go with her?" Shen Shuwan immediately clung to Xiao Ze'an’s arm, her voice soft and sweet, eyes full of hope.

Xiao Ze'an frowned, gently patting Shen Shuwan’s hand. "Wan’er, Father called me back today for urgent matters, so I can’t go. Why don’t you gather a few close friends to go first? I’ll join you when I’m free, alright?"

To show sincerity, he kept assuring her, his expression earnest—not just empty words.

Shen Shuwan pouted and agreed, but her face instantly fell, her eyes moist with disappointment, as if deeply wronged, on the verge of tears.

"You must come early. It's no fun shopping alone."

Xiao Ze'an hated to see her like this and hurried to coax her: "Take your friends and choose carefully. If you see something you like, just tell me—I’ll buy it all for you. Think of it as a treat. How’s that?"

He had always been generous with Shen Shuwan. Whenever she showed even a hint of liking, he wished he could pluck the stars from the sky to place before her.

Only then did Shen Shuwan smile, a faint dimple appearing as she teasingly said, "Brother Ze'an is the best. Wan’er will remember that—you mustn’t go back on your word."

Luo Ningsang hadn’t gone far. She hid just around a corner, overhearing their conversation clearly.

A cold smile curled on her lips. In her heart, she thought, "Shen Shuwan, so vain and vain. Today, I’ll give you a ‘gift.’"

Usually, Luo Ningsang rarely shopped. When she did, it was always to find rare items for Xiao Ze'an. But today, she was certain Shen Shuwan would take the bait.

So she deliberately dawdled, strolling slowly through the street, occasionally pretending to admire small trinkets while secretly glancing back.

Sure enough, she saw Shen Shuwan leading Yu Xiaoxiao and others into the same street. Luo Ningsang straightened her back and swaggered into the Floral Elegance Pavilion.

This store was famed throughout the capital, offering ready-made clothes, jewelry, cosmetics—where noble ladies often gathered during leisure.

As Luo Ningsang stepped through the door, Shen Shuwan and her group followed right behind.

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at Luo Ningsang, her eyebrows arching sharply as she shouted, "So unlucky! How dare anyone come to Floral Elegance Pavilion!"

Since being expelled from the academy, Yu Xiaoxiao bore a grudge, blaming all on Luo Ningsang and getting angry whenever she saw her.

The shopkeeper, seeing such a major customer arrive, smiled broadly. "Miss Yu, what brings you today? Looking for clothes or jewelry?"

Luo Ningsang seemed to ignore Yu Xiaoxiao’s provocation and was drawn to a hairpin.

The pin was crafted of fine gold, slender and delicate, engraved with intricate floral patterns: vivid peonies and fresh daisies, petals layered as if trembling in a breeze. Every line flowed naturally, displaying exquisite craftsmanship and obvious value.

Unable to resist, Luo Ningsang picked it up to examine.

"I want the hairpin she’s holding!" Yu Xiaoxiao pointed fiercely at Luo Ningsang, eyes like daggers.

The shopkeeper looked troubled and turned to Luo Ningsang with an apologetic smile: "Miss, this hairpin is reserved by Miss Yu. Could you kindly return it to the shop?"

Luo Ningsang was generous, releasing the pin back to its place with a casual remark, "If she wants it, let her have it. It’s delicate but the gems on it are rather ordinary."

Her gaze soon caught another hairpin, which captivated her.

This one was topped with a lustrous round pearl, radiating a soft glow like moonlight captured in a small space.

On both sides hung delicate silver chains with tiny jade bells that tinkled sweetly with the slightest movement.

The tip of the pin was adorned with bright red coral, combining elegance and exquisite charm.

Luo Ningsang lifted it, placing it in her hair, the jade bells chiming softly, enhancing the liveliness of her features.

Yu Xiaoxiao strode forward, roughly snatching the pin from Luo Ningsang’s hair, demanding, "I want this one too!"

Luo Ningsang remained unbothered, arms crossed, calmly surveying the shop’s treasures.

Soon, a jade bracelet caught her eye, resting quietly in a velvet box.

The bracelet was translucent and flawless, with a warm, delicate texture like mutton fat jade.

Its color was fresh green like tender new willow leaves, vivid and bright. The shape was plump and smooth, with elegant lines free of any roughness or flaw—a truly extraordinary piece.