Chapter Seventeen: Revisiting Iron Shop

  On the ninth day of August, it was the day when Han Mingcui, the second daughter of the Town National Public House, invited the ladies of various public and noble families in Kyoto to gather at the Chess Club. After breakfast, Su Yuxuan sent someone to invite Yao Yanyu, which was Yao Yanyu's first social activity since arriving in Beijing, and she also attached great importance to it, after all, she would have to get along with these noble ladies in the future, so it wasn't a bad thing to get familiar with them.

  Cloud-like hair, white jade hairpin, pale pink pearl flowers, large pearl earrings the size of a flower, light brown cloud-patterned skirt with a subtle and elegant outfit, the only luxurious part is the crimson gold sunflower brooch inlaid with emerald on the front of the skirt.

  Yao Yanyu stood in front of the dressing mirror, watching as Cui Wei and Cui Ping finished dressing her from head to toe. She couldn't help but smile lightly and say, "Going out really is a hassle."

  "Don't say that, miss. We're going to the Zhen Guo Gong Fu. If we don't dress up carefully, not only will our madam be displeased, but if master and mistress find out later, they'll beat me half to death."

  This is indeed true, the Yao family has always attached great importance to their reputation. This time, when she went to the Zhen Guo Gong Fu, she represented not only the face of the three young masters of Ding Hou Fu, but also the face of the two Jiang Zong Du's Yao Fu.

  After dressing up, she went to see Yao Fengge in front of her. Yao Fengge pulled her around and looked at her from top to bottom, then ordered Shanhu: "Bring me that pair of jade bracelets."

  Coral responded and turned to leave, not long after she brought a delicate carved sandalwood box, Yao Fengge opened it, inside was a pair of icy green jade bangles, crystal clear, with a full water color, at first glance it was a rare treasure. If placed in modern times, I'm afraid it would be impossible to get it for less than hundreds of thousands.

  Yao Fengge took the sandalwood rosary from Yao Yanyu's hand and smiled lightly: "What are you doing with this at your young age? You're not even chanting scriptures or fasting."

  Yao Yan didn't dare say that this was the only memento left by her mother, Yao Yuan's deceased concubine, for her daughter. She could only let Yao Fengge put the pair of jade bangles on her left wrist. The two bangles touched each other, producing a clear and crisp sound, very pleasant to hear.

  She came out of Yao Fengge's place and went straight to Madame Lu's room. Yao Yanyu greeted Madame Lu, then together with Su Yuexiang, the two were surrounded by a large group of maids and concubines as they left the house, got into a large, green-canopied, red-wheeled carriage pulled by four horses, and set off from Dingguo Mansion in the direction of Zhen Guo Gong Mansion.

  In the carriage, Su Yuhuan and Yao Yanyu sat shoulder to shoulder. Unintentionally, she saw the jade bangle on her wrist and couldn't help but pull it over for a closer look. She smiled: "This is Third Aunt's thing. I remember that during the Lantern Festival two years ago, when Empress Dowager held a banquet, she wore this pair of bangles with Eldest Maternal Aunt when they entered the palace. Even Eldest Maternal Aunt said it was a rare and precious item. Now it has been given to you, showing how deep your sisterly affection is, she really dotes on you."

  Yao Yan smiled and said, "Yes, sister has always doted on me since I was young. At home, many things were also given to me and my third sister." Such pleasant words are free of charge, so just say them. Harmony among siblings at home is something everyone likes to hear and see, especially when the older and younger ones get along well with each other.

  The carriage went smoothly through a street in front of Dinghou Mansion and turned into the downtown area.

  Su Yu Xuan stretched out her hand to lift the car window curtain and took a look outside, instructing: "Stop at the Wang's Ironwork Shop up ahead."

  Yao Tou heard and hurried out to instruct the coachman. Su Yu Xuan then grasped Yao Yan Yu's hand and smiled: "I had them forge a short dagger, it's been many days, it should be done by now. Today we're passing by, let's pick it up and go."

  Yao Yan's heart moved slightly, and she smiled and nodded.

  Wangji Smithy is an old brand in Kyoto, and it is said that the craftsmanship of iron forging can be traced back to the previous dynasty 300 years ago.

  The carriage stopped at the entrance of the shop, Su Yuheng pulled Yao Yanyu to get up and get off the car, most of the servants were waiting outside, and then the nurse and maid who served them closely followed in.

  "Oh, greetings to you two young ladies." The shopkeeper, seeing the two elegantly dressed girls enter, hurriedly smiled and bowed in greeting.

  "Boss, is the dagger I ordered a few days ago ready?" Su Yuxuan walked directly to the counter, her chin slightly raised, with a noble and elegant demeanor, befitting a girl who grew up following the eldest princess.

  "Alright! Yesterday, I was thinking of sending someone to the Grand Princess's mansion to deliver a message to the young lady, but I got busy and forgot. How infuriating!" The shopkeeper cursed himself as he turned around and entered the inner room to find the dagger that Su Yuxuan had left behind.

  Before long, the thing was taken out. It was a short dagger of about seven inches, with a snow-bright blade tip and a brown leather-wrapped handle inlaid with blue-green gemstones. The intricate pattern was exquisitely beautiful, obviously made with great effort.

  Su Yu-heng weighed it carefully, very satisfied, and turned to ask the wet nurse to pay. The wet nurse took out a silver note from her purse and handed it over, and the shopkeeper thanked her profusely.

  Yao Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Can you customize small knife blades here? I want the kind that is extremely small, about the size of a little finger, extremely sharp, and doesn't rust."

  The boss immediately lowered his voice and asked mysteriously, "Hey, did this girl say that something so small can be called a knife? Isn't it the secret projectile of that martial arts family?"

  "What hidden weapon? Have you been listening to too many books? I'm talking about a knife. Do you have paper? I can draw one for you. If it's well-made, you won't be short of silver."

  She had always hoped to have a set of surgical knives. In her previous life, she made such great efforts just to become an excellent cardiothoracic surgeon, and the honor of being a master surgeon was what she had been expecting, but unfortunately, she didn't achieve fame or success due to a plane crash that brought her here.

  In fact, all the jewelry and jade are nothing to Yaoyan. If someone could give her a set of imported German surgical knives and ask her to marry him, she might just nod in agreement.

  The boss took out paper and pen, and Yao Yan drew a set of surgical scissors for him to see, pointing out: What I drew is roughly the actual size, it should be this small, and the tip of the knife must be delicate.

  A few people were talking here, and a noise came from outside the door. Three or five tall men entered the room.

  "Boss!" someone shouted loudly from behind, "Is our general's stuff ready?"

  Yao Yan's words suddenly made her feel a chill on her back, as if she was being stared at by some fierce beast, and the hairs on her body almost stood up.

  There were four people in total, with the leader being a tall and majestic figure, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, wearing a silver-gray long coat with dark patterns. He wore a pair of deep brown deerskin boots on his feet. His face was wheat-colored, with a wide forehead, a square chin, and a faintly blue beard. His eyebrows were thick and his eyes were cold and sharp as if carved by a knife. His long hair was tied up with a peach wood pin, and there were loose strands falling down from the sides of his forehead, adding to his untamed look.

  Isn't that the person who followed Crown Prince Cheng on horseback during the victory parade that day?! Yao Yan's heart turned cold, remembering the emerald earrings that Su Yuhuan had inadvertently hooked off her that day, and that piercing gaze that seemed to see right through her. She couldn't help but take a step back, thinking to herself that this person was definitely not someone to be trifled with, and it would be best to avoid him if possible.

  Yao Yan inadvertently dodged beside Su Yu Xuan's body, and Su Yu Xuan immediately came to her senses.

  As a young lady growing up in the Grand Duke's mansion, Su Yuxuan was taught from a young age to be a straightforward and just person. Today, she took Yao Yanyu out with her, and in her eyes, Yao Yanyu was her guest. If someone bullied Yao Yanyu in front of her on this land of the capital city, it would be an insult to Su Yuxuan and the Grand Duke's mansion.

  What can be tolerated and what cannot be tolerated. So Su Niang's beautiful eyes widened, and she questioned the person who came: "Who are you? How dare you be so rude?"