Chapter 292 - 291: Golden Bracelet
This heavy snow fell all night long.
When they got up the next day, a layer had accumulated on the ground, and snowflakes were still drifting in the air. Compared to yesterday, it was much lighter.
In the Marquis Mansion, maids and old women were sweeping away the snow.
Du Yunluo glanced at the dark sky and guessed that Jin Ling wouldn’t come today.
It wasn’t until the third day that the snow completely stopped.
After the snow, it was even colder, completely unlike the end of February.
In Willow Tree Alley, Jin Ling changed into a new cotton robe tailored during the New Year and sat before the mirror, carefully drawing her eyebrows.
Yun Qi leaned in to look at her and said, "Beautiful."
Jin Ling’s pretty face turned red, and she raised her hand to gently smack Yun Qi, "It’s not for you to see. Move aside, don’t block the light."
Yun Qi grinned, didn’t care what Jin Ling said, leaned over to steal a kiss on her cheek, and slipped out of the room before Jin Ling could react.
Jin Ling’s face was as red as dripping blood, her bright eyes both annoyed and angry. Seeing the door curtain slightly swaying, her cherry lips pursed, turning into a smile.
Ying’er came to see her, holding a delicate silver hairpin in her hand, "Sister-in-law, I forgot to return this to you a couple of days ago."
Jin Ling laughed and said, "You keep it."
Ying’er refused, sat down next to Jin Ling, and said, "Sister-in-law has given me a lot of jewelry already."
Hearing this, Jin Ling didn’t insist further and took the silver hairpin, comparing it on her head, and directly pinned it on.
Since she got married, she had added many clothes and jewelry for Ying’er.
Even though Yun Qi was generous to his sister and had enough money, he didn’t understand women’s outfits. What was sold in town were common items, and those sold in the gold and silver buildings were too expensive. Yun Qi, working beside Mu Lianxiao, wouldn’t receive jewelry as rewards even if he were rewarded by the masters.
Jin Ling had many things, as Du Yunluo was generous, and the things she rewarded were all good.
Initially, Ying’er didn’t want to accept, but Jin Ling picked some ornamental silk flowers and hairpins, all used by young unmarried girls. As a married woman, such things no longer suited her. Ying’er, finding Jin Ling’s reasoning sound, accepted them.
The relationship between the sisters-in-law was harmonious. Ying’er occasionally borrowed other jewelry and always returned them after use, never keeping them.
Ying’er looked at Jin Ling in the mirror and said, "Sister-in-law, the other day Second Sister Li wore a golden bracelet that was as delicate as yours, and from what I saw, the craftsmanship wasn’t any worse than your bracelet."
Jin Ling laughed; Ying’er was still a young girl, fond of examining such things. She only liked looking and wasn’t envious, nor did she insist on having the best or being competitive.
"Perhaps it was given by the household. Isn’t First Sister Li working in the manor?" Jin Ling said.
Ying’er shook her head repeatedly, "Doesn’t seem like it. First Sister Li works in the front courtyard, just like my brother. The front courtyard is full of men; who would give her a golden bracelet?"
As the two were talking, there was a knock at the door outside. Yun Qi, who was in the yard, opened the door. The person outside raised their voice and asked, "Yun Qi, is your wife here?"
Jin Ling looked at Ying’er, and Ying’er covered her mouth and smiled, "Speak of the devil, isn’t that Aunt Li?"
Jin Ling got her things in order, got up, and went out, "Aunt, you were looking for me?"
"Oh, dressed so beautifully today, like a fairy. Are you going out with your husband?" Aunt Li affectionately held Jin Ling’s hand, "I’m just taking a bit of your time; Aunt needs your help."
Jin Ling readily agreed.
Returning to the room to sit down, Ying’er added tea and then went out.
Aunt Li took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, unfolded it, revealing a golden bracelet inside.
"This is..." Jin Ling was puzzled about its significance.
Aunt Li awkwardly laughed, "Yesterday afternoon, when the snow got lighter, someone from the Lu Family came to me, saying that their girl saw our Second Sister wearing a golden bracelet, delicate and pretty, and was making a fuss wanting one too. The Lu Family had no choice. They happened to have some gold ingots rewarded by the household and wanted to have them melted to make a good one as a dowry for marrying her off later. They asked me where we got ours from.
I was stunned and went to ask Second Sister. She said she found it under First Sister’s pillow. First Sister told her it was bought from Little Gold Building.
So, I told the Lu Family that, not knowing they got angry, saying that the work was so fine, how could it have been bought from Little Gold Building, accusing me of not telling them because I didn’t want them to outshine us.
This is really unjust.
My First Sister only gets so much monthly salary from the mansion, and the reward silver isn’t much either. If you say she saved up for a long time to buy it from Little Gold Building, I believe that. But saying she made it at Big Gold Building, where would she get that silver?
Aunt has poor eyesight and can’t tell good from bad.
Yun Qi’s wife, you’ve served the masters; you know good items. Can you have a look at this bracelet for me?"
Jin Ling took it and examined it closely.
Just as Ying’er had said, the bracelet, although delicate, was excellently crafted, with intricate, clear Tang Grass patterns of interwoven enduring winter, lotus, peony, and orchid.
The golden building in the capital able to produce such a bracelet must be of high quality.
"It’s a good item," Jin Ling returned the bracelet to Aunt Li, "Aunt, First Sister works in the mansion, perhaps got a few gold ingots during the New Year and had Big Gold Building make it."
Aunt Li frowned and sighed, "She’s only in Mr. Si’s courtyard, doing cleaning. Let alone gold ingots, getting a couple of silver ingots would be a blessing. I’ll ask her carefully next time she’s back."
Jin Ling sent Aunt Li off, feeling a bit puzzled herself.
Big Gold Building charges an extremely high processing fee. Just the processing fee for your own gold is enough to buy a simple piece of jewelry from Little Gold Building. Ordinary families wouldn’t be this extravagant, let alone if you didn’t have your own gold to make.
And this golden bracelet, in Jin Ling’s eyes, looked more like something rewarded by the masters in the mansion.
But First Sister Li was working in the front courtyard, serving Mu Lianyu. How could she be rewarded a golden bracelet?
Jin Ling, unable to figure it out, noted the time was getting late and left with Yun Qi.
Upon arriving at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, a matron led Jin Ling to Shaohui Garden.
Jin Ling, as Yun Qi’s wife and having served Du Yunluo, was treated politely by the mansion’s servants. Jin Ling, with her good nature and appearance, was quite well-liked.
Outside Shaohui Garden, Jin Lan was waiting for her. Seeing her from afar, she smiled, "Elder Sister, you finally came. Madam just asked about you."
Jin Ling entered the east side room with a bright smile, seeing Du Yunluo seated, quickly stepped forward to greet.
"Enough, no need for all these formalities," Du Yunluo had Jin Lan assist Jin Ling up and have her sit, "Finally remember to come see me."
Jin Ling smiled softly, "Madam returned after February 19th. I knew you were busy and didn’t dare disturb you. I intended to come the next day, but it snowed unexpectedly."
There’s no need to say too much polite talk. Jin Rui stayed in the middle room, while Jin Lan stood outside at the door talking to a young maid, leaving only Jin Ling in the east side room.
"I originally just wanted to greet madam without any other matters, but this morning I was delayed," Jin Ling recounted the story of Aunt Li.
"Golden bracelet?" Du Yunluo frowned, "First Sister Li is in Uncle Four’s courtyard, what’s her name?"
Jin Ling said, "I remember she’s called Zizhu."