Chapter 219: Chapter 220: Silver Jade Ornament

Translator: 549690339

“The silver jade ornament she’s wearing is the Ancient Lantern Jade,” Li Xinghua pointed at the princess who was slowly floating past them.

Zhu Minglang’s gaze also fell on the princess’s moon-like cheeks at that moment.

This princess, without glancing aside, was merely turning a corner right here where her throne’s height happened to be level with the second floor of the guest house where Zhu Minglang and Li Xinghua were.

Princess Luoshui’s gaze casually swept over here, but it likewise lingered on the small window sill decorated with dried flowers.

At first, Zhu Minglang thought Princess Luoshui was looking at his own handsome and outstanding appearance, but he soon realized she was just looking at Miss Xinghua.

Li Xinghua didn’t shy away from the gaze, meeting Princess Luoshui’s look squarely.

Was it a case of beauty recognizing beauty?

The carriage moved away slowly, from being able to see only her profile to only her back, Princess Luoshui was like the most brilliant pearl swimming through the most bustling avenues of the kingdom.

At this moment, Zhu Minglang, like the rest of the populace, should be wishing to take the ornaments off the Moon Prized Maiden of the kingdom, but while others did so to catch a glimpse of the true face of the Moon Prized Maiden, having heard of Princess Luoshui’s famed beauty before, now that she was dressed in her grand attire, naturally it made all men in the country, as well as those who came because of her reputation, itch with desire…

Zhu Minglang merely wanted the ornament itself.

After this grand public appearance, all the gallant and talented men were probably thinking about how to gain favor from the princess, whereas Zhu Minglang was calculating the feasibility of kidnapping her.

Sitting in a hall as picturesque as a small garden, Zhu Minglang and Li Xinghua sat opposite each other, with Fang Niannian tallying up the things they needed to purchase at their side.

At this moment, Ms. Nan, whose exact relation was yet unknown, descended the stairs languidly and radiantly, her figure gently swaying, waves upon waves of grace.

“Good morning,” she said with a coy and alluring smile as she took a seat next to Zhu Minglang, her fragrance wafting through the air.

“Morning.”

There was no doubt about it, it was Miss Yu So.

Ms. Nan would never greet someone!

“Money!” At one side, Fang Niannian extended her hand, smiling like a little conniving merchant.

“Ah,” Zhu Minglang sighed and gave up ten pieces of Gold Sand earnestly.

Miss Yu So looked at the two with a puzzled expression.

The money was definitely not for purchasing supplies; ten pieces of Gold Sand couldn’t even satisfy Big Black Tooth for one meal.

“What’s this about?” Nan Yuso demanded.

“I was betting with Zhu Minglang,” Fang Niannian said in a somewhat guilty whisper.

“What was the bet?” Nan Yuso pressed on.

“It’s about… It’s about which sister it would be today,” Fang Niannian blurted out, then grabbed the money and bolted, shouting over her shoulder, “I’m going to restock the necessities!”

Miss Yu So’s face, which had been bright and charming, quickly clouded over.

Fang Niannian ran fast, leaving her no choice but to turn to Zhu Minglang.

Zhu Minglang had an awkward expression, not expecting the cheeky girl to run off with his money and sell him out.

“Are you placing bets every day?” Nan Yuso asked coldly.

“The journey is so dull, so I just…” Zhu Minglang couldn’t explain himself clearly and had to look at his sister-in-law Miss Xinghua with a plea for help in his eyes.

However, Miss Xinghua seemed disinclined to bail Zhu Minglang out. Stuck with a helpless expression, Zhu Minglang wondered why he had brought this upon himself.

Just as Zhu Minglang braced himself for his sister-in-law’s storm of anger, Nan Yuso produced a glittering gold bead in indignation and declared:

“This is a top-quality gold bead, I want to play too.”

Zhu Minglang was at a loss for words.

Who ever bet on themselves?

“That’s not fair, you definitely know who will be it the next day,” Zhu Minglang said.

“Then let’s bet on who it will be seven days from now. Starting from the morning after we place our bets—if it’s me, you give me a top-quality gold bead, if it’s my sister, I’ll give you one. We’ll settle up that day!” Nan Yuso proposed.

“This…” Zhu Minglang felt something was off but still turned to Li Xinghua to ask, “Can they choose the time they wake up themselves?”

“No,” Li Xinghua replied.

“Alright, a top-quality gold bead it is,” Zhu Minglang nodded in agreement.

Li Xinghua sipped some clear water and waited for them to finish their playful bickering before revealing to Nan Yuso that the Ancient Lantern Jade had appeared on the princess from the princely state.

Sure enough, Nan Yuso had the same idea as Zhu Minglang.

Seize the opportunity to abduct the princess and then steal her silver jade mask.

Or find a way to sneak into the imperial palace and snatch the Silver Jade Ornament while she was washing and cleaning her face!

As they were discussing the plan, Wanfeng, the junior sister from Miao Mountain Sword Sect, came over. Seeing the trio sitting there, she greeted them with a radiant smile.

Nan Yuso immediately shot Zhu Minglang a look, the picture of grace and allure.

Zhu Minglang got the hint and coughed deliberately to stop the approaching Wanfeng Junior Sister.

“Evening Wind Junior Sister, I saw your Miao Kingdom’s Princess Luoshui just now. It seems she’s the belle of this autumn’s Blooming Festival… I wanted to ask you, does the princess always wear a face ornament? Her ornament seems quite special; it’s a Silver Jade Forehead Cover,” Zhu Minglang said.

Wanfeng Junior Sister had no choice but to sit down and answer Zhu Minglang, “Yes, face ornaments are the hallmark of imperial princesses and commandery princesses. They start wearing them when they turn eighteen and rarely take them off.”

“Then how do they wash their faces?” Zhu Minglang inquired.

“Of course, they take them off to wash their faces, but the features of a princess or commandery princess are sacred. They wouldn’t show their faces to strangers, especially not to unfamiliar men. Many Miao Kingdom nobles have the same custom, and some fathers may not even see their daughters’ full faces after they turn eighteen,” Wanfeng Junior Sister explained.

“Is it that strict?” Zhu Minglang asked, surprised.

“Yes, only after they have married can their husband personally remove the princess or commandery princess’s face ornament on their wedding night,” said Wanfeng Junior Sister.

“Why do they have to wear face ornaments? Is there any special significance?” Zhu Minglang asked.

“Miao Kingdom noblewomen fall into two categories. One kind takes only one husband. Most of them are actually quite pure and chaste. The face ornament partly represents this state of mind, and it also signifies their pristine purity. The other kind, with many husbands, even keep a number of male consorts and young husbands in their courts. These women usually don’t wear veils or face ornaments… Ordinary women don’t have too many strictures; they wear them if they like, and don’t if they don’t, just like with gold and silver jewelry—it’s a decoration,” Wanfeng Junior Sister said.

Actually, there were things Wanfeng Junior Sister left unsaid.

In Miao Kingdom, the former look down on the latter, deeming them obsessed with the beauty of men, inclined to mismanage the state, disrupt cultivating, and cause trouble.

And the latter also disdain the former, considering them hypocritical, falsely pure, and rotten at the core, with men being nothing more than playthings—what can they possibly disrupt?

“Is Princess Luoshui one of the former?” Zhu Minglang’s head started to ache at the thought.

“Hmm, yes, the face ornament is a symbol of identity and conviction, and only her husband may remove it,” Wanfeng Junior Sister nodded.