Mei Gongqing (The Bewitching Courtier) by Lin Jiacheng

Chapter 4: Shattered Treasure

The whole body of the object shone in radiance. It was a coral three feet high and shaped like a tree. Born under the sea, it was extremely difficult to obtain. Moreover, the coral they were beholding was crystal clear and flawless.

A true treasure! Wu Yang could no longer bear it. He stepped forward and hastily exclaimed: "Ah Rong, you mustn't!"

Seeing Chen Rong looking at him in surprise, he got hold of himself and explained to her: "You have just dispersed most of your wealth. This is presently the only thing that is worth something in the entire estate. Are you not keeping even the last treasure your father left? Should you gift it to someone else?" His tone was quite serious. He gave a long sigh and continued: "Miss, it's difficult to build a home yet very easy to wreck one. If you do this, I'm afraid people will say you are a prodigal child."

"Prodigal?"

Chen Rong blinked, mockery flashed in her dark eyes. She carelessly played with the coral in her hand – this action not only made Wu Yang but also Nurse Ping give a gasp.

Chen Rong's mouth drew in disdain as she said, "It's only a vulgar thing. Uncle Wu, you're paying it too much attention."

She then ignored him and directed her gaze to Nurse Ping and Old Shang. "Carry it away. There's no need to use a veil. Send it to the Wang estate at once."

Not veiling it? Then wasn't she parading it on the streets?

"Absolutely not!" Uncle Wu exclaimed.

Chen Rong glanced askance at him and coldly asked, "Why not?"

Uncle Wu stammered for a long while before answering her: "Such a treasure as this would lure thieves to our house."

Chen Rong smiled and narrowed her eyes, appraising Uncle Wu's facial expression while shaking the coral in her hand again. She casually said, "Take it to the Wang estate. It now belongs to the House of Wang. If it lures thieves, it is luring thieves into the Wang House, what has it got to do with me? And what has it got to do with you?"

With her last few words, whether intentionally or not, she actually raised her tone of voice.

Instantly, Wu Yang felt everyone's eyes on him. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

No, he must not let Ah Rong gift this object away. Blasted! Why was this girl so stubborn? How could he convince her?

While Wu Yang was struggling to think, Chen Rong turned to the crowd in the courtyard and ordered, "Bring me the agarwood tray. How can such an exquisite coral be placed on ordinary wood?"

"Eh? Aye, aye!"

Several servants quickly ran into the main hall and lifted a small circular tray – one that was made entirely out of pure agarwood. It was one of the few remaining valuables in the Chen estate. It had long been spotted by Wu Yang.

This time, Wu Yang's eyes grew red. His face next turned purplish especially after seeing several familiar shadows outside the gate.

By the time the circular tray was carried out, Wu Yang had strode forward and reached out to snatch the coral from Chen Rong's hands.

"Ahh..."

Watching what was happening, the surrounding crowd broke out in cries.

In a blink, Wu Yang's hand had touched the coral.

This translation belongs to hamster428.

The result was not as he had expected. While he was forcibly snatching it away, he in fact could not feel Chen Rong's resistance. Once the coral was in his hands, Wu Yang's red face showed a hint of a smile.