42. Chapter 42: The Treasure Appraiser Competition
Page 1 of 3
“What is it?” Lily followed Zhao Erdong’s gaze. On the wooden cart lay several dozen cubic measures of stone, looking little different from the pieces they had bought earlier at the Spirit Stone Shop. For a moment, she could not understand why her mistress was so excited.
“These stones are extraordinary. There seems to be something unusual inside them.” Zhao Erdong stared fixedly at the stones. The divine fire in her eyes had faded, but her face now held a look of determination—the resolve of someone intent on obtaining a certain treasure.
Zhao Erdong had now reached the rank of fourth-grade Martial General. The spiritual energy within her was abundant and solid, and she could call upon the power of her Divine Eye at any moment without the slightest strain.
Moreover, as her rank rose, she discovered that her Divine Eye had grown sharper than before. The inner scenes concealed within the stones remained blurred, but they were considerably clearer than they had once been. The stones on the wooden cart were certainly no ordinary rocks, and whatever they contained was bound to be extraordinary.
Zhao Erdong took a gold coin from her bosom, tossed it onto the dining table, and turned to rush toward the Imperial Guard who was loudly proclaiming the imperial notice.
“Brother, please wait!”
Zhao Erdong wore a blue cotton dress, her black hair woven into two glossy fishbone braids. With her bright eyes, pearly teeth, and an air of nobility concealed between her brows, she possessed an unmistakable bearing despite her coarse clothing—one that made it impossible to treat her lightly.
The Imperial Guard had served in the inner palace for many years. He might not have possessed any remarkable talents, but he was unquestionably first-rate at judging people. He dared to conclude that the girl before him was certainly a young lady from some eminent household who had secretly put on a servant’s clothes and slipped out to amuse herself.
“Miss, how may I help you?” the Imperial Guard asked, smiling warmly at the little girl before him.
Seeing that he did not appear displeased, Zhao Erdong grew bolder. “Brother Imperial Guard, are the stones on your cart for sale?”
The Imperial Guard was taken aback. He had casually collected these stones from a pile of discarded materials; they were only meant to serve as props. He had never imagined that someone would stop him in the street and ask to buy them.
Then he thought about it. He had been dragging this cart of stones around for an entire half month, yet not a single person had approached him to sign up for the Imperial Court’s Treasure Appraiser competition. His fellow guards had all gained something, more or less, while he alone had failed to sell even one registration. They had been laughing at him for days.
That was not even the worst of it. When the year-end performance evaluations came around, this season’s results would likely be included. Would he then have to watch helplessly as every one of his comrades was promoted while he remained where he was—or even fell backward?
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
“Miss, these stones are not for sale. They belong to the palace, and I have no authority to dispose of them. However, if you truly like them, you can sign up for the Imperial Court’s Treasure Appraiser competition. Once you do, it would not be difficult to ask the director in charge of the stones to give you one or two pieces.”
Zhao Erdong pointed at the stones on the Imperial Guard’s cart and asked softly, “If I sign up, can I have the stones on your cart as well?”
The Imperial Guard was overwhelmed with joy and hurriedly nodded. “Yes, yes, of course! As long as you agree to sign up, I’ll give you every stone on this cart.”
He had thought he would once again toil in vain that day. He had never expected heaven to favor him so greatly at the final moment. She might be only a young girl, and perhaps she knew nothing about appraising treasures, but that had nothing to do with him. His only responsibility was to secure a registration; everything else was beyond his concern.
“Miss…” Lily tugged at Zhao Erdong’s sleeve and gently shook her head, signaling her never to sign up.
Zhao Erdong turned to look at the stones on the cart. There seemed to be something alive within them. She could feel an intense yearning—a desire to break free from the stone. As she gazed at them, the stones seemed to possess eyes of their own and gazed back at her.
“What is it?” Lily followed Zhao Erdong’s gaze. On the wooden cart lay several dozen cubic measures of stone, looking little different from the pieces they had bought earlier at the Spirit Stone Shop. For a moment, she could not understand why her mistress was so excited.
“These stones are extraordinary. There seems to be something unusual inside them.” Zhao Erdong stared fixedly at the stones. The divine fire in her eyes had faded, but her face now held a look of determination—the resolve of someone intent on obtaining a certain treasure.
Zhao Erdong had now reached the rank of fourth-grade Martial General. The spiritual energy within her was abundant and solid, and she could call upon the power of her Divine Eye at any moment without the slightest strain.
Moreover, as her rank rose, she discovered that her Divine Eye had grown sharper than before. The inner scenes concealed within the stones remained blurred, but they were considerably clearer than they had once been. The stones on the wooden cart were certainly no ordinary rocks, and whatever they contained was bound to be extraordinary.
Zhao Erdong took a gold coin from her bosom, tossed it onto the dining table, and turned to rush toward the Imperial Guard who was loudly proclaiming the imperial notice.
“Brother, please wait!”
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Zhao Erdong wore a blue cotton dress, her black hair woven into two glossy fishbone braids. With her bright eyes, pearly teeth, and an air of nobility concealed between her brows, she possessed an unmistakable bearing despite her coarse clothing—one that made it impossible to treat her lightly.
The Imperial Guard had served in the inner palace for many years. He might not have possessed any remarkable talents, but he was unquestionably first-rate at judging people. He dared to conclude that the girl before him was certainly a young lady from some eminent household who had secretly put on a servant’s clothes and slipped out to amuse herself.
“Miss, how may I help you?” the Imperial Guard asked, smiling warmly at the little girl before him.
Seeing that he did not appear displeased, Zhao Erdong grew bolder. “Brother Imperial Guard, are the stones on your cart for sale?”
The Imperial Guard was taken aback. He had casually collected these stones from a pile of discarded materials; they were only meant to serve as props. He had never imagined that someone would stop him in the street and ask to buy them.
Then he thought about it. He had been dragging this cart of stones around for an entire half month, yet not a single person had approached him to sign up for the Imperial Court’s Treasure Appraiser competition. His fellow guards had all gained something, more or less, while he alone had failed to sell even one registration. They had been laughing at him for days.
That was not even the worst of it. When the year-end performance evaluations came around, this season’s results would likely be included. Would he then have to watch helplessly as every one of his comrades was promoted while he remained where he was—or even fell backward?
“Miss, these stones are not for sale. They belong to the palace, and I have no authority to dispose of them. However, if you truly like them, you can sign up for the Imperial Court’s Treasure Appraiser competition. Once you do, it would not be difficult to ask the director in charge of the stones to give you one or two pieces.”
Zhao Erdong pointed at the stones on the Imperial Guard’s cart and asked softly, “If I sign up, can I have the stones on your cart as well?”
The Imperial Guard was overwhelmed with joy and hurriedly nodded. “Yes, yes, of course! As long as you agree to sign up, I’ll give you every stone on this cart.”
He had thought he would once again toil in vain that day. He had never expected heaven to favor him so greatly at the final moment. She might be only a young girl, and perhaps she knew nothing about appraising treasures, but that had nothing to do with him. His only responsibility was to secure a registration; everything else was beyond his concern.
“Miss…” Lily tugged at Zhao Erdong’s sleeve and gently shook her head, signaling her never to sign up.
Zhao Erdong turned to look at the stones on the cart. There seemed to be something alive within them. She could feel an intense yearning—a desire to break free from the stone. As she gazed at them, the stones seemed to possess eyes of their own and gazed back at her.
Page 3 of 3