Watching the door slam shut with a bang, Xu Ping’an awkwardly withdrew his hand, which had been halfway extended.
He glanced at the tightly closed door, then looked down at the handkerchief in his hand.
“This early in the morning… what kind of business is this!?”
He shook his head helplessly. Fighting the urge to sniff it again, Xu Ping’an tucked the handkerchief back into his sleeve.
He couldn’t keep being this perverted, or he’d truly become a freak.
Taking a deep breath, a faint fragrance still lingered at the tip of his nose.
Pulling himself together, Xu Ping’an checked the time.
There was still plenty of time today; the day after tomorrow, they would depart for the Liuyun Sect.
Perfect. With time to spare, he could stroll around the market and pick out gifts for Lady Consort and the little girl.
Come to think of it, it had been several months since their wedding, yet he had only ever given Lady Consort a single silver hairpin.
Though it was clear Pei Qingxuan didn’t usually like wearing many accessories, the silver hairpin he gave her was something she always wore.
Obviously, she valued the gift. If that was the case, then he should give her a few more.
With that thought, Xu Ping’an arrived in front of the East Warm Pavilion.
The little eunuch seemed well prepared, already waiting by the lantern gate—still the sharp one from yesterday.
As soon as he saw Xu Ping’an, he hurried forward.
“Lord, good morning.”
“Mm, good… it’s you again today?”
“Heh~ I’m blessed to serve the Lord. It feels like several lifetimes…”
“Alright, alright, let’s go. To the southern city, uh…”
“I’m servant Xiao Hengzi, family name Qin.”
“Qin Heng? Not a bad name.”
“Thank you, Lord. Please get in the carriage.”
As they spoke, Xiao Hengzi arranged the stool and waited for Xu Ping’an to get in.
“Lord, where are we headed today?”
Once Xu Ping’an was seated, Xiao Hengzi took the front seat of the carriage, lightly tugging the reins and glancing back inside.
“Hmm… Xiao Hengzi, how long have you been in the palace?”
“Replying to Lord: I was castrated at ten. I’ve been in this palace for six full years now.”
Six years?
So this little eunuch was only sixteen years old?
“Which ladies have you served?”
“Three ladies, but my rank is low, so I’ve never been close to them—just the daily rotations.”
The inner palace was not as simple as imagined. Each palace had fixed positions, basically the trusted attendants of the ladies in the harem.
Others rotated shifts, arranged by palace schedules every so often.
“What kind of things do those ladies usually like? I mean, accessories and such.”
Xiao Hengzi was momentarily stunned, then quickly caught on.
“Lord wants to send some trinkets to Princess Yuanle?”
“How do you know?”
Xu Ping’an looked at him in surprise, but Xiao Hengzi smiled faintly.
“This morning before dawn, I was already waiting outside the East Warm Pavilion and happened to see Princess Yuanle return to the palace to fetch something.”
So that explained the mud and dew on the little girl’s shoes. She had gone back to the harem early in the morning to retrieve something.
That handkerchief—she probably hadn’t brought it with her earlier and had hurried back before dawn to get it, then gave it to him.
“That girl…”
Xu Ping’an shook his head with a bitter smile. Such a beautiful and stubborn heart—it was hard to let go.
He really didn’t deserve such a devoted little girl.
“Alright… That’s about it. You check out which accessories look better. Buy a few while you’re at it.”
“Rest assured, Lord. Then let’s head to the Hall of Ten Thousand Gold. It’s one of the top accessory shops in all of Zhaoge.”
“Fine, then the Hall of Ten Thousand Gold it is.”
He had heard of the Hall before but never really paid much attention.
On the way, Xiao Hengzi chatted non-stop—probably because it was rare for him to leave the palace. The boy was quite talkative.
It wasn’t boring at all.
Before long, they arrived at the Hall of Ten Thousand Gold.
It had to be said, the Hall was really quite large—just the storefront was more than twice the size of the old man’s Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies.
And that was only the first floor. This was a three-story jewelry shop.
Just after entering, someone noticed Xu Ping’an had an attendant with him or sensed his exceptional aura.
A junior clerk hurried over.
“Sir, are you here to purchase some gold accessories?”
“Yes.”
“May I serve you?”
“Alright.”
“Please this way, sir.”
The clerk’s service attitude was excellent, brief but courteous.
“Sir, please look. All of these are meticulously crafted by our in-house artisans. Our top recommendation is this Yunwen Flying Sparrow Gold Bracelet. It’s the perfect gift for a lady. May I ask whom you plan to give it to? That way I can advise you better.”
Working as a clerk here required sharp skills; these salesmen knew how to make customers comfortable while selling.
Xu Ping’an smiled and nodded.
“Bring it here for me to see.”
The clerk carefully handed it over, wrapped in a handkerchief so as not to touch it directly.
After all, gold accessories were usually gifts for female relatives, and no one liked others touching their lady’s things.
The shop owner must be clever to have thought of that in advance.
Xu Ping’an examined the bracelet closely.
The gold bracelet was indeed beautiful—the cloud patterns and the flying sparrow were vivid, the auspicious clouds delicately entwined.
Yet, despite its beauty, it felt tacky.
He shook his head.
This bracelet wouldn’t look good on any girl—not because the girls weren’t beautiful, but because the bracelet itself was too cheap-looking.
“Do you have anything better?”
“That depends on what you like, sir. Most of the first floor’s gold accessories are like this. If you want something better… I can take you upstairs to the second floor?”
“Alright, let’s go to the second floor.”
“Please follow me, sir. I’m at your service.”
As he followed the clerk up the stairs, a pale yellow figure flashed through Xu Ping’an’s mind.
Come to think of it, he had once helped that determined young girl when she opened her tavern.
That strong-willed little lady… why was he suddenly thinking of her?
Shaking his head, Xu Ping’an suppressed the strange thought and followed the clerk to the second floor.
The second floor’s gold accessories were exquisitely made but still failed to satisfy Xu Ping’an.
Finally, after Xiao Hengzi revealed Xu Ping’an’s identity, the clerk led him up to the third floor.
On the third floor, they finally found several gold and jade accessories that pleased him.
Money was not an issue for now.
Even with the handcrafted work and brand premiums, it was only a few times the base price.
Adding in the jade pieces, it cost no more than several dozen taels of gold.
With various exquisite pieces in hand, Xu Ping’an began thinking about adding some personal touches.
Just as he happily prepared to return, far away in Misty Mountain—
The door to the Confinement Chamber of Blazing Fire Peak slowly creaked open.
“How is it? Will you submit this time?”
From the shadows, a girl walked out with vacant eyes but, looking at the elder before her, her gaze gradually strengthened.
“I will not submit!”