The Jade Revelation
690 Words
Chapter Four
Lena's eyes turned cold.
In her previous life, Marilyn had done the exact same thing.
A sudden question. A trap disguised as concern.
Back then, Lena had panicked, stood frozen, and embarrassed herself , earning the old lady's lasting displeasure.
But this time?.
She was ready.
A gentle smile curved her lips as Lena stepped back from the old lady and turned toward Marilyn.
"I did bring something."
Her calm response caught Marilyn off guard.
Lena reached into her bag and slowly took out a small velvet pouch.
She opened it, inside lay a piece of jade.
But the moment it was exposed, a faint, cool glow seemed to ripple through the room.
Mira glanced at it and laughed lightly.
"Sister," she said sweetly, " that's it? Just an old jade pendant ?"
The guests exchanged looks filled with disdain.
So the country girl still couldn't shake off her rustic roots.
Mira pressed on gently, voice full of false concern.
"Sister, if you didn't prepare anything, you could've said so. Giving Grandma something so plain... isn't that disrespectful?"
Several guests nodded in agreement.
"Brightfall jade pieces are usually custom-made. This looks crude."
" Probably bought cheaply from a roadside stall."
The old lady frowned slightly.
She reached out and took the jade into her hand.
It was cool. Too cool.
And heavy, far heavier than ordinary jade.
"Lena," she said slowly. " Do you know what you are giving me?"
"Yes," Lena replied calmly.
"This jade belonged to my mother."
The room stilled.
Marilyn's fingers tightened around her teacup.
Lena continued evenly.
"She once told me it was part of the Quinn family's earliest dowry. It was passed down before the family rose in status."
A man scoffed loudly.
"Nonsense. If it were real, it would've been recorded. You're fabricating history now?"
Marilyn finally stepped in, her tone gentle but sharp.
"Lena, lies won't help you here. We have appraisers in the family. False claims only make things worse."
"I'm not lying." Lena said firmly
The old lady studied her face.
No panic.
No defensiveness.
After a long pause, she spoke.
"Call Old Master Zhao."
Marilyn smiled faltered.
Old Master Zhao was not a family employee, he was a retired national jade appraiser.
When he arrived, he barely glanced around before his eyes locked onto the jade in the old lady's hand.
His expression changed instantly.
"This..."
His hands trembled as he accepted it.
"Old pit jade. Untreated. Naturally nourished over a century."
He inhaled sharply.
"And these internal veins...this was carved using the lost hand techniques."
Dead silence fell over the room.
"This is not something money can buy," he said solemnly.
"It's an heirloom."
Mira's face was drained of color.
Old Master Zhao turned to the old lady.
"If I'm not mistaken, Madam... this jade predates your marriage."
The old lady's breath caught.
Memory flickered in her eyes.
She closed her fingers around the jade slowly.
"I remember now," she said hoarsely.
"My mother in-law once mentioned something like this... but it disappeared decades ago."
She looked at Lena.
" You kept it all this time ?"
Lena nodded.
"It was the only thing my mother left me."
The old lady's eyes reddened.
"I was wrong," she said quietly. " I shouldn't have doubted you."
She removed the bracelet from her wrist and placed it onto Lena's.
"You returned something priceless to the family. Take this – it's mine to give."
Blood jade.
Marilyn's pupils shrank violently.
She had wanted that bracelet for years.
"Thank you, Grandma," Lena said obediently.
This... was the beginning.
Marilyn recovered quickly and smiled.
"It's getting chilly," she said warmly.
"Why are you dressed so lightly?"
A servant brought over a snow fox fur coat and draped it over Lena's shoulders.
Early autumn, not cold at all.
An obvious humiliation.
In her previous life, Lena had mistaken this for kindness. Not again.
This time, she simply smiled.
"Thank you, Mom."
She touched the fur awkwardly, treating it like a treasure.
Marilyn finally relaxed.
Then –
"Ah!"
Lena suddenly screamed.
She shrugged off the fur violently and threw it to the ground.
- Writer
