Chapter 001: Jade

Fan Qinqin got up, walked behind An Kelu, and smiled, "Sister An, you look so beautiful today. Where are you going?"

Fan Qinqin was about to continue walking forward when she suddenly seemed to remember something and turned her head to ask the servant, "Has Sister An gotten up?"

There was also a girl about twelve or thirteen years old, holding clothes in her hands, attending to her as she changed her garments by the bedside

Fan Qinqin curled her lips slightly and whispered, "Aunt Chu said she was afraid I wouldn't be able to control my mouth if I went..."

The young servant let out a sigh of relief only after he saw her walk away, feeling annoyed with himself for having spoken out of turn and nearly offending Fan Qinqin. Among the popular young ladies of the Yinxing Building these days, which one could they, as mere attendants, afford to offend

Fan Qinqin bent down, propping her arms on the dressing table, resting her chin in her palms, and smiled, saying: "I heard from Aunt Chu that it was because you saw this piece of jade that you were given this name?"

Anke Luo got out of bed, walked to the dressing table, and sat down. Looking at Fan Qinqin behind her in the mirror, she smiled and said, "Your mouth is quite something; you never let anyone go once you see them"

Fan Qinqin, in a hurry, shook An Keluo's arm and said: "Sister An, why do you always tease me! General Yu Chi has been on an expedition for four years and has returned triumphantly. So many people in the capital are looking forward to seeing him. It is not easy to have such an opportunity, yet Aunt Chu won't let me go. You, Sister An, need not worry; Aunt Chu cares for you so much that she will definitely take you along..."

The light red gauze curtain above the black flower-carved big bed in the inner room has been lifted and is hanging on the gilded hooks on both sides

The young servant smiled and said, "Since she hasn't come down for a while, it would be better for me to go up and check on Miss An myself."

Ancolochi Road: "Why is this?"

A thin piece of jade is threaded on a red silk cord, hanging just below the collar. Its color is translucent, sparkling with a crystalline light under the sun, and one can faintly see a small character "An" intricately carved on the jade.

Ankelo could not withstand her antics any longer, nor could he bear to see her face full of grievance. He hurriedly smiled and said: "Just rest assured and go to sleep, I will speak with Lady Chu, and I guarantee you can attend the banquet at the Xiang residence"

By the bedside, a woman sits wrapped in a quilt, her long black hair cascading down her smooth back like satin, the exposed skin accentuated by the vibrant red quilt, appearing even more delicate and fair.

Fan Qinqin quietly stuck out her tongue, and when she lowered her eyes, she noticed the thin red thread around An Keluo's neck. She pointed at the thread and smiled at An Keluo, saying: "Sister An, this thread is about to wear out, and you don't even know to change it yourself"

Fan Qinqin raised her willow-like eyebrows, looking at the young servant with a half-smile and half-anger, saying: "Last night, at the banquet hosted by Lord Qiao of the Ministry of Revenue, that group of court officials caused a commotion all night without a moment's respite. The officials of the Ministry of Revenue wouldn't let us leave, and which of our young ladies would dare to leave?"

Shu Yun was wearing a lake blue cotton robe, her hair styled in a horn bun. At this moment, upon hearing Fan Qinqin's words, her small face instantly flushed bright red

Fan Qinqin walked to the innermost room on the east side of the second floor, raised her hand and knocked twice on the door, then pushed it open.

Fan Qinqin looked at the person on the bed, her lips curling into a smile as she lazily yawned. She took a couple of steps forward and settled herself into a chair cushioned with soft padding in the room, her almond-shaped eyes glancing sideways with a smile as she said: "I am about to fall asleep, while Sister An is sleeping so comfortably."

The light red strapless top tightly binds the fullness at the chest, while a delicate yellow waist wrap encircles the slender waist. A white cotton front-opening garment is layered over this, followed by a short, narrow-sleeved, front-opening jacket in the same light red silk. On top of this, a slightly red sleeveless coat is worn, and finally, a wide-bottomed, light beige skirt is donned, with a jade ring ribbon pressed at the center of the waist.

She casually picked up the snail black from the table, and upon seeing this, Shuyun hurried to the nearby copper basin to fetch some clean water. Ankeluo gently dipped the snail black in water, then faced the copper mirror, slowly blending the color at the edges of her eyebrows outward. Once finished, she handed the snail black to Shuyun, who then picked up a carved ivory tube from the table, opened it, revealing rose-colored floral essence rouge inside. She used a fine hairpin to pick up a bit, gently applying it to her lips, then took a little more, mixed it with water, and patted it on her palms before gently dabbing it on both sides of her cheeks. Once finished, she handed the snail black to Shuyun, who then picked up a carved ivory tube from the table, opened it, revealing rose-colored floral essence rouge inside. She used a fine hairpin to pick up a bit, gently applying it to her lips, then took a little more, mixed it with water, and patted it on her palms before gently dabbing it on both sides of her cheeks.

Ankelo lowered her eyelashes and remained silent, taking the clothes handed to her by the little girl, lifting the blanket, and putting them on one by one

Fan Qinqin lightly spat out a word and laughed, saying: "Sister An, do not use such words to tease people. Who in the capital does not know that the most famous girl in Tianyin Tower is you, An Kelu? It is merely that Aunt Chu has not allowed you to take the stage. If Sister An were to take the stage, I fear the threshold of Tianyin Tower would be trampled to pieces."

Anke Luo turned back and saw Shuyun with her head lowered, unable to help but glance at Fan Qinqin, "Your mouth really has no restraint whatsoever"

As soon as she entered the front yard, the young servant at the door stepped forward with a smile and said, "Miss Qin Qin, why did you only return in the morning?" His tone was rather teasing.

Ankelo smiled and said, "What Chu Niang said is indeed correct."

Fan Qinqin looked at the nimble hands of the young girl, her eyes filled with a smile, and said to An Keluo: "This Shouyun is indeed quite clever, no wonder Aunt Chu specifically assigned her to you; someone like me just lacks such fortune"

Shuyun was purchased by Chu Mu Lian from the toothless old woman a month ago. At that time, Shuyun, who had lost both parents, had been tortured to the point of being unrecognizable by the old woman. Out of compassion, Chu Mu Lian bought her and brought her back to Tianyin Tower, assigning her to An Ke Luo as a maid

Ankelo paused, turned his head to look at Shuyun, and said: "I want to take Shuyun out for a stroll. Ever since she arrived at Tianyin Tower, she hasn't had the chance to go out and explore yet"

The woman on the bed smiled faintly and said, "Who made you so popular, that the noble families in the imperial capital specifically request your company at their banquets..."

Fan Qinqin looked at Shuyun and said: "Although you have entered the Tianyin Tower, being accompanied by a good girl is indeed your fortune"

Ankelo listened, raised his hand to touch the piece of jade, and tucked it into his collar, saying: "I keep thinking about changing it, yet I always forget. I will look for this kind of silk thread and change it out later."

Fan Qinqin listened, and the corners of her mouth instantly lifted as she said, "I knew that Sister An treats me well." She blinked her eyes and continued with a smile, "At this moment, it is the time when scholars are entering the capital. Sister An, you might encounter a passionate talent today when you go out." After saying this, without waiting for An Kelu to get angry, she swiftly left the room, leaving behind a long trail of laughter.

In the third month of the sixteenth year of the Tianhe era, the capital city was still chilly in spring, with snow lingering by the roadside, while the branches leaned down, pressing out tender green buds.

Fan Qinqin let out a light hum from her lips and quickly stepped into the building

Fan Qinqin jumped up and said, "I almost forgot why I came to find you." She frowned slightly, "Sister An, Aunt Chu actually said I can't go to the family banquet at the Weichi residence tomorrow night!"

Ankeluo nodded but was unwilling to say more. Looking at Fan Qinqin, he said: "You keep complaining about being tired, yet you don't go rest early. You just stay here with me and refuse to leave. What sense does that make?"

The young servant noticed that she was angry and quickly fell silent.

In front of the Tianyin Pavilion, a horse-drawn carriage came to a slow stop. A young woman, draped in fragrant veils, descended from the carriage and lifted her skirt as she stepped over the threshold of the Tianyin Pavilion