262 Chapter Sixty Two - His pursuers cross paths (1/2)
Those who love shopping, never shop for just one hour and Carmen, who suggested that she only wanted to 'explore' for one hour, never had any intention of keeping to this, which Sun soon discovered to his chagrin. While grumbling about it did him no good, it did not stop the sour words from spilling from his lips, especially when his cousin entered yet another jewellery store. He followed in her wake, understanding that if he abandoned her as he so was tempted to do, he could expect loud and likely physical reprimand from his grandfather. Grandfather was at the beginning of Body Tempering now, his core formed. The difference between tertiary stage and quaternary stage like night and day. So a beating would really, really hurt!
They were welcomed as they entered and Carmen flashed a winning smile as she allowed them to flatter and pamper her; their jewellery brought to her as she sat drinking tea for her to examine. The jewellery was not as intricate and stunning as the pieces found in the capital, nor was the surroundings as comfortable, but the service was not bad, so Carmen was not displeased and viewed more of the jewellery here than she originally intended to do.
As they took away a tray that did not capture her attention, Sun leaned over and murmured; ”Just how much allowance do you have anyway?”
”You forget,” she replied, quite smug and content seeing Sun's increasingly gloomy expression, ”not only am I my father's only child, without Concubine or stepmother to bear, I also happen to be Grandmother's favourite.”
Eventually, she chose a few 'trinkets'; a couple of jade pendants and a filigree gold bracelet to add to the other things she had already purchased elsewhere. Not just jewellery, but a small antique vase, a piece of interesting calligraphy and embroidered handkerchiefs. Some would be gifted away, some would be placed in storage, others she would keep in her courtyard.
”Can we please return to the Institute now?” Sun nearly begged, causing a renewed upward curve to her lips.
”I'm quite tired and thirsty,” she admitted with a small nod, as if after escaping the tedium of the last few days, she would return to it after this small amount of time! She pointed to a nearby tea shop. ”We're going there next!” Sun's grumbling resumed, his shoulders slouched as he walked along in her shadow.
Suddenly, the sun's reflection caught his eye and he unthinkingly move his head to see what it had reflected upon. It was a sword. This shop was new? Drawn like a moth to a flame, he yelled his intentions to his cousin. ”I'm just going...”
”Yes, yes,” she dismissed him with a wave of her hand, before returning it to the warmth of her hand muff. ”I will wait inside.” Sun practically ran to the weapon shop without glancing back.
As it happened, he wasn't the only person being dragged from pillar to post, just the other was not quite as unwilling.
”Maimai, don't you recall,” Merylin replied with patience, ”mother had that dress made for me last year. Even if it still fits, the peonies were orange and the silk quite bright of colour. I think it no longer suits me. A pale pink with white peonies is more suitable for this spring.”
”If you say so,” Maimai allowed. As a shu daughter, she only had a few pieces decorated with beautiful embroidery, but it never bothered her. She did not understand the need to order clothing with such exquisite craftsmanship, that took the seamstresses and embroiderers so many ten days to complete only for it to be worn once or twice as casual attire before being thrown to the back of the closet, never to be seen again. But things such as dresses, makeup and jewellery made her sisters and mothers happy, so she listened and agreed with them, while sticking to her plainer dresses unless the circumstances called otherwise.