Lu Zhaohua was truly incensed.
She couldn't believe that Lu Zhaoling wouldn't even part with a single green jade bracelet!
From now on, whether in this house or at any banquets they attended, she wouldn't say a single word in Lu Zhaoling's favor.
She really was a product of the countryside stingy, miserly, and utterly ignorant of social graces.
Lu Zhaohua worked very hard to maintain her composure.
"I suppose that's fair. You've only just returned to the capital, Second Sister, so you do need to save up some things to have a proper dowry when you marry. I'll have to pick out something nice for you myself when the time comes to add to your wedding trousseau."
Lu Zhaohua was also sounding a warning.
When it came time for the wedding, siblings were expected to contribute to the bride's trousseau. But if Lu Zhaoling remained this stingy, that might not happen.
Lu Zhaoling acted as if she hadn't understood the implication at all. "You may leave."
She had work to do with these bracelets.
Lu Zhaohua left Tingnuan Tower with a dark expression. She was truly fuming. Since Lu Zhaoling was so ungrateful and heartless, she wouldn't be blamed for what happened next!
Lu Zhaohua ran off to find Lu Zhaoyue.
Lu Zhaoyue had just returned from outside, her face a mask of rage. The moment she entered, she kicked an old maidservant who was sweeping the courtyard.
"Get lost! You're an eyesore!"
The maidservant, having been kicked, didn't dare make a sound and scrambled away. The Third Miss had clearly been slighted by someone while she was out. While Lu Zhaoyun appeared to have a good temperament gentle and generous Lu Zhaoyue was a total firebrand.
"Mother!"
Lu Zhaoyue rushed into the back courtyard, shouting before she even saw anyone. "Mother, come out! Everyone outside is laughing at Eldest Sister!"
Lu Zhaohua happened to arrive just then. Her eyes flickered, and she immediately went to greet Lu Zhaoyue.
"Third Sister, stop shouting. Eldest Sister is surely in a bad mood right now. Someone from the He Family just left after bringing gifts for Second Sister."
Lu Zhaoyue exploded instantly. "Who? Bringing gifts for whom?"
"He Lianxin, Sister He..." Lu Zhaohua began, recounting the events with a great deal of embellishment.
At that moment, the courtyard gate of Tingnuan Tower was locked.
Lu Zhaoling had Qingbao place the bracelets on the table. She sat nearby and picked one up. Holding it against the light, the jade's texture appeared even more delicate and lustrous.
Qingyin remarked, "Miss, these bracelets look good on you, but they seem to have quite a few years on them, don't they?"
She had seen many fine items while serving in Prince Jin's manor.
Humans could "nourish" jade; newly carved and polished jade pieces that had never been handled often lacked a certain glossy sheen. Of course, it was hard to tell if it had only been worn for a short time.
Yet these bracelets had developed an oily luster, a depth of shine that suggested they were far from newly polished.
Qingbao didn't think too much of it and chimed in, "Miss, these were sent by the He Family as an apology. You should keep them for yourself."
Earlier, when Lu Zhaoling said she would give one to each of them, Qingbao hadn't taken her seriously. Even if her mistress insisted, she had planned to talk her out of it.
Her mistress shouldn't just give away things the moment she received them. In the few days they had served her, they had already received a fair amount of silver.
Lu Zhaoling stared at the bracelet in her hand, which was emitting a faint black haze. She sensed a familiar aura of resentment.
"I was serious about giving them to you, but it depends on whether you're willing to take them and if you have any taboos regarding such things."
Qingyin and Qingbao looked at each other, not quite understanding.
Lu Zhaoling lifted the bracelet. "Qingyin was right. These aren't new. They've had a previous owner one who likely wore them for a very long time."
"The He Family is going too far!" Qingbao said angrily. "To apologize and beg for forgiveness, they actually sent something used!"
How much arrogance and contempt did they have? They clearly didn't respect Lu Zhaoling at all.
Qingyin felt there was more to it. She fixed her gaze on the bracelet. "Miss, is there something else wrong with them?"
If it were just an old bracelet someone had worn, her mistress wouldn't be acting this way.
Lu Zhaoling nodded.
"Yes. These were scraped off the hands of a corpse. Moreover, the original owner likely met a tragic end."
Qingyin and Qingbao's faces paled instantly.
"Miss, put it down! I'll take them and throw them away!" Qingbao's voice shook as she saw her mistress still holding the bracelet and picking up the other one.
The He Family wasn't just being outrageous; they were utterly devoid of morals! Who could possibly accept such an 'apology'?
"There's no need to throw them away." Lu Zhaoling lightly tapped the jade bracelet, which produced a crisp sound. "I can cleanse the Death Qi and Resentful Qi on them. Once they're purified, they'll be perfectly fine. In fact, these bracelets will have a natural coolness to them, making them perfect for the summer."
Qingyin and Qingbao widened their eyes, doubting what they had just heard. Could such a thing really be done?
"The quality of the jade is excellent, and the original owner nourished them for a long time. Jade has a spirit; it would be a shame to smash them. Of course, if you mind, I'll just put them away."
They weren't useless. Jade like this was perfect for absorbing Fortune or other energies later on.
The reason she wanted to give them to Qingyin and Qingbao was that these two maids were always by her side. Jade that had been steeped in Death Qi and Resentful Qi could, under certain circumstances, protect the wearer from other sources of Yin Qi. It would be beneficial for them.
Of course, this was only possible after she purified them. Most people would find the origin of the items incredibly taboo.
"Then this servant will accept the bracelet. Thank you for the reward, Miss!" Qingyin said without hesitation.
Seeing this, Qingbao immediately followed suit. "Thank you for the reward, Miss!"
Lu Zhaoling looked at them and smiled. This time, she was truly grateful to Prince Jin for sending her such sensible maids.
"Get a bowl and fill it halfway with clean water."
Qingbao hurried to obey.
Once the bowl was brought over, Lu Zhaoling ignited a Purification Talisman she had drawn and dropped it into the water.
Fire normally couldn't burn in water, yet the talisman she dropped in burned away completely. Even the ash dissolved perfectly into the water without leaving a trace. The half-bowl of water seemed even purer than before.
Qingyin and Qingbao still didn't understand how the paper had caught fire without a fire striker. Every time they witnessed this, it felt like watching their mistress perform a magic trick.
Lu Zhaoling placed the bracelets into the water.
"Put this on the windowsill and let it sit overnight. That will be enough."
Qingbao carefully held the bowl and placed it on the windowsill.
"Miss, the He Family is too much. Even if you can purify the bracelets, they clearly harbored malicious intent," Qingyin said, her voice full of anger.
"Bring those three lanterns over," Lu Zhaoling said. "I'm going to return the favor."
She had discovered that the Death Qi and Resentful Qi on the three lanterns were similar to that of the bracelets. There had to be a connection.
If Prince Jin hadn't found anything on his end, she would handle it her own way. She wasn't a particularly kind-hearted soul; when someone bullied her at her own doorstep, she wasn't about to swallow the insult quietly.
Qingyin and Qingbao were startled.
Once the lanterns were brought over, Lu Zhaoling reached out and tore the covers right off them.
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