Chapter 19 Feigned Doting

Chapter 19: Feigned Indulgence

An honored guest?

Qin Jiao glanced at Xie Nai. Isn't an honored guest sitting right here?

But judging by how the Manager treated them—merely courteous, not respectful—it seemed this honored guest wasn't referring to them.

Before long, the Manager returned with the store's treasure, accompanied by a young woman.

Before she even appeared, her voice arrived, saying: "Honored guests, sorry to keep you waiting. Please forgive any previous lack of hospitality. I am the madam of this Embroidery Tower, you may call me Xun Xi."

After a warm smile, the young woman appeared before the three.

Strangely, the young woman had been smiling charmingly, but when she saw Xie Nai seated, her voice faltered. Then she glanced at Qin Jiao and Luo Yue, and in an instant, an enchanting blush spread across her face.

"Ahem." The Manager coughed softly. Perhaps realizing her own indiscretion, the young woman quickly half-covered her face with a fan and smiled shyly.

"The Manager didn't tell me the honored guests were so handsome. My apologies to you three; I just made a presumptuous and improper display."

Xun Xi sat down, fanning herself, her cheeks still faintly flushed.

Luo Yue, being lively, said, "Our master and the young master are truly outstanding. Let's skip the small talk, madam. Please bring out the store's treasure for us to see."

"I'll fetch it right away. Rest assured, sir, since you're spending so lavishly, our store's treasure will surely satisfy you."

With that, Xun Xi gestured for the Manager to open the brocade box he had brought.

As the Manager took out the garment, Qin Jiao discreetly observed Miss Xun Xi.

The young madam was extremely beautiful. An elegantly simple primrose gown accentuated her graceful and ethereal charm. The embroidered flowers on her cuffs were so meticulously stitched that at a glance they seemed like vibrant autumn blossoms truly blooming around her.

Qin Jiao thought: Truly a gentle and refined madam of the tower.

"Honored guest, this is our store's treasure," said the Manager, carefully holding out a magnificent garment with both hands.

The garment was white, woven from Yunling brocade unique to Nanzhou. The cuffs and hem were embroidered with silver pheasants and drifting clouds, exquisite and luxurious yet elegantly ethereal.

When lightly lifted, in the interplay of light and shadow, the vivid and beautiful silver pheasants seemed to come alive, fluttering as if about to take flight, clever and lifelike.

"Master, what do you think?"

Xie Nai's gaze lingered on the garment for a moment, then, under the Manager's eager and nervous gaze, he opened his lips and said, "Acceptable."

"Ah! As long as the honored guest is satisfied. Then what would you like next..."

"Go and try it on, young master." Ignoring the eager Manager, Xie Nai smiled faintly at Qin Jiao.

"This... do I need to try it on?" Qin Jiao hesitated for a moment.

After all, hadn't they agreed that buying clothes was just a pretext?

It was understandable why Qin Jiao hesitated. Since arriving in Nanzhou, the silver he earned was barely enough for himself and Cong Shuang. This garment was clearly expensive... Hmm, being broke was truly miserable.

Merchants were all sharp, skilled at reading people.

Seeing the noble and elegant young master frown slightly as if unwilling, the Manager was about to step forward and urge, but Xie Nai suddenly leaned toward Qin Jiao.

The usually distant and aloof young man now wore a slight smile at the corners of his mouth. The red mole at the corner of his eye was like a piece of broken agate lost in the snow, so alluring one couldn't look away. He said:

"It's my fault, I'm putting the young master through trouble. After we return to the capital, you can buy anything you want. But for now, please condescend to try on this garment."

Xie Nai's voice was low, and he spoke slowly, as if coaxing a sulking young master.

Luo Yue's eyes widened. Taking advantage that no one was watching him, the young guard's gaze kept darting back and forth between Qin Jiao and Xie Nai.

Something's off. Something's a bit off...

"I, I, you..."

Qin Jiao was also startled by Xie Nai. He stepped back abruptly to create distance. The young master looked at Xie Nai, his ears, originally fair, now red as if about to bleed.

Seeing the young master's shy and flustered state, Xie Nai let out a soft laugh and leaned in again toward Qin Jiao.

Warm breath landed on Qin Jiao's ear. His face instantly flushed crimson. "Don't..."

The young master, annoyed, tried to dodge but Xie Nai firmly pressed his shoulder.

Hmm?

Qin Jiao struggled but couldn't break free. Xie Nai had already drawn close. To outsiders, it seemed like lovers whispering sweet nothings, but what Qin Jiao heard was:

"In a moment, take the opportunity while trying on clothes to go check the fourth floor."

When Xie Nai whispered in Qin Jiao's ear, he no longer had that "indulgent" tone, only his usual cold indifference and frost.

As soon as Xie Nai finished, Qin Jiao understood his intention.

They had already been to the other three floors of the Embroidery Tower. Only the fourth floor, where the embroideresses lived, was inconvenient for them to visit. But the fitting area was at the junction of the third and fourth floors, with only a staircase between them. If they wanted to investigate the fourth floor, trying on clothes was a perfect opportunity.

Thinking of this, Qin Jiao no longer hesitated. The young master stepped away from Xie Nai and smiled sweetly, his voice soft like he was being playful and coaxing: "Alright, I'll go try it on."

Taking the garment from the Manager, the handsome young master said warmly, "Then I'll trouble the Manager to lead the way."

The Manager made a gesture of invitation. "You're too polite, young master. This way, please."

Luo Yue stole another glance at his prince. Something's off, really off...

Inside the warm chamber with elegant decor, the furnishings were exquisite. A huanghuali wood clothes rack was polished to a smooth sheen with fine craftsmanship. The upper part had an openwork carving of magpies on a plum branch, and the lower part was carved with lifelike running deer and flying cranes.

Qin Jiao gently draped the garment over the rack. Turning, he saw the Manager holding a tray containing various finely crafted jade hairpins, jade pendants, and sachets.

The Manager smiled and offered the tray. "After you change, young master, you may pick some matching accessories. Our madam said that as long as you like them, these accessories are free gifts."

"Alright, thank you, Manager." Qin Jiao smiled warmly and reached for a jade pendant on the tray.

The pendant he picked up was a fine white jade openwork fish-and-lotus piece. Qin Jiao praised, "This pendant is excellent quality. The Embroidery Tower truly houses many treasures." As he spoke, he stepped back to examine the pendant more closely by the light.

"Of course, the young master has good taste. This pendant... Ah, young master, be careful!"

Suddenly, the Manager cried out in alarm, followed by Qin Jiao's startled shout and the sound of porcelain crashing to the ground.

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