Pei Wanyue shook Ms. Lu's wrist as Ms. Lu regained her composure and sighed.
She walked over to Xie Qiao with a complicated look in her eyes and said, "Brat, I told you not to run off. Why did you not come back the whole night? I was so worried, we searched for you everywhere. This place is full of crooks, and both your sister's belongings and mine are all gone!"
Xie Qiao was calm.
"Mother, please don't blame Xie Qiao. She didn't mean for it to happen. Something must've happened that held her back," Pei Wanyue quickly said, "It's good that you're back. Only the material things went missing, but none of us are missing, and that's enough."
"That's true.. It's good that you are able to return." Ms. Lu reached out to grab Xie Qiao's wrists. "Why are your hands so cold? Let's hurry up and go back to the inn to rest. After we have our meal, we'll stay a day longer at most. Early tomorrow morning, we will leave immediately."
Xie Qiao promptly pulled her arm back.
She seemed frail at first sight, but her arms were certainly strong.
Ms. Lu looked at her empty hands. She was stunned for a moment as rage filled her heart.
"Mother, you went to Jade Street in Floating Pavilion Town today, right?" Xie Qiao said with a laugh.
Ms. Lu was shocked. She denied immediately, "No. What would I do there?"
"Mother, you've searched high and low for me. Yet you still have the time to buy yourself a new jade hairpin?" Xie Qiao was as calm as ever.
Ms. Lu quickly reached up to touch the hairpin on her head. Then her face went dark as she answered, "I bought this from the imperial city."
"Oh?" Xie Qiao answered with the ghost of a smile. Her eyes wandered about, and her voice was faintly discernible. "The Water Moon Temple isn't far from here. So I know that aside from the few sculpture artisans working with the local authorities in Floating Pavilion Town, there are only three other artisans who could sculpt."
"The jade products from the authorities are reserved only for the Royal Family. So most of the products in the market are mined and carved by the townspeople themselves. The jade quality is usually lower than the authorities' and smaller than theirs as well. But even so, the jade in this place is a cut above those from other regions. The craftsmanship is even more unique. The flower pin on your head is crafted by… Master Liew from Eastern Street, right? Only he could carve such ethereal designs."
Ms. Lu's mouth was gaping. Her face was flushed red, and she could not say anything.
"Xie Qiao, this is just a normal design. The imperial city has these too," Pei Wanyue answered without skipping a beat.
"Oh?" Xie Qiao gave a faint cold laugh, then she said slowly, "You can ask anyone and they can tell you that this picture is Master Yun Wei's latest work from half a month ago. How did it get to the imperial city so soon? Besides, you haven't been to the imperial city yourself yet, right?"
"Master Yun Wei?!" Pei Wanyue was shocked.
A lame hairpin like this was Master Yun Wei's own design?!
Her hometown was rather far from here, but she had heard of Master Yun Wei's good name too!
Master Yun Wei had only come to fame three years ago. He was talented in literature and arts. An artwork from him was worth a thousand taels of gold. His calligraphy had been held in high regard and often copied by other scholars.
On second thought, Master Yun Wei was indeed from Yunjin. But as to who he was specifically, no one knew.
Ms. Lu had also heard of Master Yun Wei's good name. So at that moment, she was astonished too. "Why would Master Yun Wei design hairpin patterns?"
"Perhaps he was too bored," Xie Qiao said mildly.
Ms. Lu could not find anything to refute Xie Qiao's words.
"Then, this hairpin would be..." Ms. Lu's eyes gleamed. If this were Master Yun Wei's design, would that mean she had struck gold?
"In your dreams, Mother. But you are free to daydream anyway. Suit yourself." Xie Qiao lifted her eyebrows as she said this with a light laugh.
Ms. Lu's eyes twitched when she said this.
Was she mocking her?
"Didn't you just say…" Ms. Lu felt a little agitated.
Pei Wanyue was quick to answer. "Mother, Master Yun Wei's designs are open for people to copy or carve. I'm afraid this design is already widespread and bought by a lot of people."