Chapter 19 - The Empress's Dream of Being Rich is Shattered
Lai Dayun Jewelry Store
Soft spotlights made the glass counters shine crystal-clear. Jewels of all colors sparkled with a charming light, and gold ornaments were neatly displayed, exuding a magnificent and splendid luster.
The attendants in charge of serving customers wore uniforms and white gloves, carefully taking out jewels and gold from the display cases for customers to try on.
There were not many customers in the store, making it seem a bit deserted, but every customer in the store was either decked out in gold and silver or dressed in high-end leather.
At this moment, a public bus stopped by the side of the street. Longyue and Lin Fan got off the bus and walked straight towards the jewelry store.
The staff member responsible for greeting at the entrance was stunned upon seeing the two of them.
As a jewelry attendant with many years of experience, she had seen all sorts of wealthy young masters. The visitors all arrived either in luxury cars or with a personal chauffeur. Even the less well-off, ordinary customers came in their own cars.
Today was the first time she had ever seen someone come to their jewelry store by public bus…
“Welcome, you two. May I ask how I can help you?”
After a brief moment of being stunned, the attendant at the door quickly resumed her professional attitude. With a smile on her face, she proactively pushed open the store door to welcome Lin Fan and Longyue.
Although she could tell at a glance that the clothes the two were wearing were not from any famous brands, she could see from their disposition that they were by no means ordinary people!
A person's disposition isn't something that can be changed in a moment; it is cultivated from childhood through one's environment and family background.
The two before her were casual and free in every gesture, their posture was erect and their heads held high. Their faces showed no traces of years of toil, their skin was extremely well-maintained, and their brows revealed nothing but confidence and composure. This point alone could not be achieved just by family background!
She had seen some wealthy people who liked to be low-key, wearing ordinary cheap clothes and a pair of slippers on their feet.
Perhaps these two came by bus, very possibly also to act in a low-key manner!
After walking into the jewelry store, Longyue briefly glanced around and asked:
“Do you buy gemstones here?”
“Of course. Whether it’s jewels or gold, we at Lai Dayun Jewelry buy them all. May I ask if you wish to sell a piece of jewelry?”
“Mhm!”
Longyue nodded confidently.
“Please follow me to the counter.”
The attendant gestured in welcome, leading her straight to the counter.
The front of the counter was completely sealed by a layer of bulletproof glass, with only a small window left open for both parties to exchange items.
On the other side of the counter, a staff member specializing in appraising jewels and gold walked up to Longyue.
“May I ask what jewelry you wish to sell?”
“This!”
Longyue, full of confidence, placed the Azure Stone in her hand into the counter window.
The staff member reached out and took the Azure Stone from the window, repeatedly examining and appraising it with a light and specialized instruments.
With each successive appraisal, her expression became more and more puzzled.
Other staff members noticed something was amiss and curiously came over to the side of the appraising attendant.
A group of attendants gathered together, putting their heads together and whispering, talking about something unknown, and occasionally turning their heads to glance at Longyue.
Longyue stood with her head held high and chest out, still wearing a confident expression as she waited for a reply, the proud corners of her mouth unable to stop rising.
The mortals of this world have probably never seen an Azure Stone before. They were probably frightened by the immortal stone she took out and don’t know how to appraise it for a moment~
After all, this small Azure Stone is probably enough to buy the entire city of Modu.
Compared to Longyue’s confidence, the unease in Lin Fan’s heart grew stronger. He had vaguely guessed what was about to happen.
“Um… ma’am, did you perhaps bring the wrong thing?”
“This item you gave us is not a gemstone, it’s just an ordinary stone.”
After a round of discussion, the staff member in charge of appraisal handed the Azure Stone back to Longyue.
“O-Ordinary stone…?”
Longyue had a look of astonishment. She excitedly held up the Azure Stone in her hand and personally introduced it:
“How can this be just an ordinary stone! Look at it again carefully!”
“This is an Azure Stone, a stone of the Immortal Realm! It contains a thread of this Empress’s immortal spiritual qi. How could it possibly be an ordinary stone!”
“Even looking across the entire Immortal Realm, the number of magic treasures that can compare to this Azure Stone in my hand are few and far between!”
“The value of this Azure Stone is enough to buy more than ten cities!”
The Staff: “…”
The Other Customers: “…”
Longyue’s delicate roar immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the store. The crowd curiously focused their gazes on her.
“Ma’am, please calm down. The thing in your hand really is just an ordinary stone.”
The staff member comforted Longyue while sizing her up with the suspicious gaze one would use for a mental patient.
In all her years in this business, this was the first time she had ever encountered someone holding a rock and insisting it was a rare treasure.
Could this woman have come from a mental hospital…?
“Ordinary stone…”
Longyue looked at the Azure Stone in her hand, unwilling to give up. She then took out a Liyuan Immortal Pearl, its interior filled with resplendent colors, from her pocket.
“Then what about this one! This has to be a gemstone, right!”
The staff member took the Liyuan Immortal Pearl through the window. After carefully appraising it, she helplessly handed it back to her again.
“Ma’am, this is just a slightly prettier glass marble. It’s not a piece of jewelry.”
“G-Glass marble?!”
Longyue excitedly leaned against the counter and argued forcefully:
“This is a Liyuan Immortal Pearl, personally refined by this Empress! It contains a small world within, enough to hold a hundred thousand heavens and earths! It’s not some glass marble!”
“As long as you infuse a trace of spiritual energy into it, you can store the things of the world inside! It’s a one-of-a-kind magic treasure in all the world!”
The Crowd: “…”
The jewelry store fell into a silence. Some people were trying hard to hold back their laughter, while others were looking at Longyue with the expression one would use for an idiot.
Before, they were only a little suspicious. Now, they were basically certain.
This girl either had mental problems or was specifically here to cause trouble!
“Ma’am, please calm down, or we’re going to call the police.”
“We don’t accept stones and glass here. You should take your things and leave.”
“This Empress will say it again, this is not some stone and glass!”
“You bunch of mortals with no knowledge or judgment, how dare you insult the magic treasure refined by this Empress!”
“Apologize! You must apologize! Otherwise, this Empress will surely flatten this place with a single palm strike!”
Longyue’s face was crimson with anger. Feeling an unprecedented humiliation, she roared hysterically at the staff member.
This was no longer a matter of getting money or not; this was a matter concerning her honor as the Supreme Sacred Empress!
“Empress, calm down, calm down a bit. Let’s go, quickly, or the police will be here soon…”
Seeing that the staff member had already raised her phone to make a call, Lin Fan hurriedly wrapped his arms around Longyue, who wanted to go forward and argue, and carried her as he hastily left the jewelry store.
He had to remember, she was not a person of this world. She had no identification; she was an unregistered resident!
If by any chance the police came, things would become very troublesome…
“Demon Sovereign, why did you stop this Empress?”
“Those detestable mortals actually said my things were a stone and glass! What a profound humiliation! This Empress wants to smash their shabby store with a single palm strike!”
On the stairs on the way home, Longyue complained with dissatisfaction.
On the way back, she had been chattering incessantly, which showed just how deep her resentment was...
“Wake up, Empress. In your current state, you can’t even shatter their shop’s glass window.”
“…Damn it!”
Longyue puffed up her cheeks angrily. Aggrieved tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't help but start to sob.
Her treasures were treated like trash. In her entire life, she had never been wronged like this!
Lin Fan turned his head and glanced at the pitifully aggrieved Longyue following behind him. After thinking it over and over, he still spoke up to remind her:
“Empress, although it’s a bit inappropriate to say this at this time, this sovereign still has to remind you of something.”
“You haven’t forgotten that the rent is due starting this month, have you?”
Longyue: “...…”