Resplendent – Chapter 400

Chapter 400 – Trouble Comes Knocking

Gu Ye stood by the street, watching a craftsman shape figurines out of colored dough. At Yue Yuan’s suggestion, she nodded. “Alright. Once I’ve got my dough figurine, we’ll go to the jewelry shop.” 

Turning to the craftsman, she said with a smile, “Uncle, could you make a figurine of me? Just model it after my looks!”

The craftsman was truly skilled. His dough figurines looked like miniature, chibi-style versions of real people, yet he captured their spirit perfectly. 

I’ll give it to Brother Chen. He’ll definitely like it! She thought

Too bad Brother Chen wasn’t present. With his delicate, refined features, a dough figurine of him would be absolutely beautiful.

Before long, the little figurine of Gu Ye was finished: dressed in a white, narrow-sleeved riding outfit, with a moon-white half-sleeve coat trimmed in blue. Her glossy black hair was tied into a high ponytail, her bright eyes sparkled with playful mischief, and the corners of her lips curved up in a charming smile.

Gu Ye handed the dough figurine craftsman a coin of silver and waved her hand lightly, telling him to keep the change. She really liked the little figurine. She held it carefully in her hands, the corners of her lips curving upward in a smile that looked exactly like the one on the tiny dough version of herself. Even Gu Ming couldn’t help saying that the craftsman had practically brought his sister to life with his skill!

Gu Ye decided she’d stop by Yinzhen Pavilion to find a beautiful little box, put the dough figurine inside, and tie it to Xiao Bai’s claw so it could deliver it to Brother Chen. It had already been several days since she last saw Xiao Bai. The little fellow should be arriving any time now.

“Miss, that shop called Jinyuman Pavilion looks like a jewelry store. Shall we go take a look?” Yue Yuan, holding the roll of Liuyun brocade in her arms, pointed to an elegant storefront and said cheerfully. Girls, after all, shared the same fondness for shopping and pretty things.

Still holding her dough figurine, Gu Ye entered the shop. It truly lived up to its reputation as the capital’s premier jewelry store. Dazzling displays filled the room: jade, gemstones, gold, silver, and even ornaments made from materials she couldn’t identify.

At the moment, several other customers wearing moon-white apothecary robes were already inside, browsing the jewelry, while the shopkeeper and clerks bustled around trying to attend to them all.

Gu Ye paid them no mind. She never liked people hovering or offering unsolicited opinions when she was choosing things. She started by browsing the gold and silver jewelry. 

Among them, a pure silver floral crown caught her eye; its design was quite unique. She picked it up, held it against her ponytail and asked Yueyuan, “How does it look?”

“Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! Everything looks good on you, Miss!” Yue Yuan was her lady’s devoted admirer, so she nodded enthusiastically without a moment’s hesitation.

Gu Ye was just about to pull out her small mirror to admire it properly when a mocking, drawling voice interrupted her pleasant mood. “Well, well! Isn’t this the son of Grand Pharmacist Jiang? What’s going on? Times are hard? You’re looking at gold and silver trinkets now . Aren’t you ashamed to disgrace the pharmacist’s name like this?” 

A few apothecaries/pharmacists who had been examining jade hair ornaments turned around, approaching Jiang Zhongtian. Their eyes raked over him with obvious disdain.

“Hey, Jiang Xiao Tian, who are these people? Haven’t they brushed their teeth in a while? Why do their mouths stink this bad? You should steer clear of people who are unhygienic and behave uncivilly like this in the future, or you might pick up bad habits!” Gu Ye’s small face was serious as she lectured Jiang Zhongtian with genuine concern.

Jiang Zhongtian, already annoyed by the earlier taunts, quickly put on a look of being chastised and obedient. “Little Aunt Master, you’re right! Your junior has taken note…” 

“Brat! Who are you calling foul-mouthed?” The fourth-level apothecary who had mocked Jiang Zhongtian exploded with anger. 

Seeing that Gu Ye was wearing a novice-level apothecary robe only fueled his rage. A low-level, yellow-haired girl actually dared to show him, a mid-level apothecary, such disrespect!

“Anyone who reacts just shows they feel guilty. He admitted it himself, so what’s there to fear?” Gu Ye’s expression remained calm as she glanced at her slightly long fingernails. She’d remember to trim them later so they wouldn’t get in the way during her medicine-making.

The fourth-level apothecary was furious, charging at Gu Ye while shouting, “Today, I’ll teach you the meaning of rank and propriety!”

Gu Ming stepped forward, placing himself in front of his sister. His eyes were sharp and piercing as he glared at the apothecary, and he growled in a deep voice, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Seeing Gu Ming’s strong and burly frame, his powerful arms, the apothecary immediately backed down. He stopped in his tracks, took two hesitant steps back, and said in a threatening tone that lacked any real conviction, “Y-you… what do you think you’re doing? Beating an apothecary could get you fifty lashes and a month in prison!” 

“Oh? If an apothecary starts trouble first, aren’t we just defending ourselves?” Gu Ye said slowly.

Among the four or five apothecaries facing them, a young man with nine lingzhi mushrooms embroidered on his collar stepped forward, separating himself from the others. “You’re a newly accepted apprentice of Grand Pharmacist Jiang, right? According to rank, you must call us Seniors. In the apothecary world, disrespecting your seniors is punished severely!”

Before Gu Ye could speak, Jiang Zhongtian stepped forward boldly and said loudly, “So you do know the apothecary world values seniority? My Little Aunt Master is the last disciple of the Sage Apothecary, and my father’s junior sister. She is of the same generation as your master, Grand Pharmacist Huang. What punishment should you face for disrespecting my Aunt Master?”

“That’s impossible! A disciple of Sage Apothecary; how could she still be an unranked white-level apothecary? Mr. Jiang, you don’t even need a draft when you lie, huh?” The fourth-level apothecary clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he wobbled, as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.

Gu Ye grabbed Jiang Zhongtian, who was about to argue back, and gave him a reassuring smile. “Forget it. Why bother explaining to a self-righteous dunce? You’d only be lowering your own intelligence. Come on, let’s go over there and take a look. If you see something you like, just tell me. I’ll get it for you!”

The fourth-level apothecary scowled, as if he’d just eaten something awful, and wanted to rush forward. But when he saw Gu Ming’s fierce expression, he froze in place, only daring to shout from the side, “Brat! Stop right there! You tell me, who’s the dunce?” 

Although he didn’t know exactly what ‘dunce’ meant, his instincts told him it wasn’t a compliment.

“Miss! Look, this little floral crown is so sparkly and pretty!” Yue Yuan, who had been fuming earlier and ready to defend her young mistress, immediately forgot all her negative feelings at the sight of so many beautiful pieces of jewelry. 

This girl really had a big heart!

Gu Ye leaned in for a closer look, and at the very first glance, she fell in love with it. It was a small crown-shaped hair accessory from her previous life, with a tiny pink diamond the size of a fingernail in the center, surrounded by scattered white diamonds that sparkled brilliantly with every movement.

Just as she reached out for it, a black claw snatched it away. She looked up in displeasure and, as expected, it was the fourth-level apothecary.

He grinned smugly and said to the shopkeeper standing nearby, “I’ll take this piece! How much does it cost?”

Yue Yuan’s face went pale with anger. She stomped her foot and pointed at the apothecary. “That’s a young lady’s hair ornament! You can’t wear it, so why buy it?”

“I don’t need it… I’ll take it as a gift for someone else! What, you want it? Whoever pays first owns it! You’re just a step too slow!” The fourth-level apothecary waved the jewelry in his hand arrogantly, raising an eyebrow with a deliberately provoking expression.