A Jade Medallion

Xiaoqing muttered to herself as she threw a few pebbles disconsolately into the water.

"How boring. Who would have thought Sister would end up sulking like this? She won't come near me, all she does is mope around in the grotto or mope around on that ledge. I swear, I've eaten all the rats to be caught here and I'm sick and tired of frog. I want a chicken drumstick. A roasted chicken drumstick. With crispy skin just the slightest bit scorched, and the meat all juicy and tender inside…"

She broke off to wipe the drool trickling down her chin, moodily, and hurled the last pebble spitefully at a fat frog that was sitting fearlessly on a rock in front of her, as if he knew that she was sick and tired of eating frogs.

"I'll eat you tomorrow," she promised, glaring at him. "Don't be so sure of yourself, flaunting yourself in front of me. But right now all I want is mortal food."

Qingqing sank her chin on her knees. "Sister has slipped off to her ledge again. She's been so moody, there's no talking to her. She keeps turning into her snake form so she won't have to talk to me. If she's in such a bad mood," she mused, "would she fly into a rage if I were to steal off to town? Or would this be the perfect chance because she isn't paying attention to me?"

A glint came into her eyes. She reached inside her breast and pulled out the tattered blue purse. Opening it, she counted the coins inside carefully. Copper and iron, mostly--she made a face-- but there were two worn silver coins. Xiaoqing's face brightened at the sight of them.

Replacing the purse carefully in her robe, she got up and glanced around warily. There was no sign of Bai Suzhen.

"Well, Sister, enjoy your sulk. I really don't understand why you would get so distressed over a mortal. What hidden talent does that puny little physician have to affect you so?" There was an edge of resentment in her voice, and she tossed her hair over her shoulder petulantly. She had expected some fun after her prank had been successful--Bai to be shy and eager, begging her to teach her how to captivate Xuxian, and that she, Xiaoqing, would get to bask in glory, patronising her senior, condescendingly teaching her about mortals. However, Bai's inexplicable moodiness had completely confounded her, and Xiaoqing was more frustrated than she cared to admit.

She set off, determined to have fun, without a backward glance at the grotto. "I shall eat as many drumsticks as that silver coin can buy, and I shall buy some pretty trinkets to play with as well. And if I still have money leftover I shall have a bowl of those delicious dumplings as well. The ones with pork and leeks!"

As she approached the town, she instinctively avoided Xuxian's hut and made her way straight to the marketplace.

Xiaoqing sauntered down the main street, hands behind her back with the silver coin clasped securely in one palm, and just the slightest swagger. The weather was good, and there was plenty to see in the market; she put Bai from her mind with a toss of her head.

Something caught her eye and she darted over to a stall where a tired-faced woman was fanning herself over a eye-catching display of pendants against a length of red silk. There were intricate love knots in heavy silk cord; delicate embroidered pouches with tassels at the corners to keep incense in, like the sort maidens made for their lovers; and of course, plenty of jade. Jade white as mutton-fat; honey-yellow jade with caramel brown tints; pale green jade like frost on grass; deep green jade like the darkening algae on a longevity turtle's shell. Several women were already hovering around the stall, drawn like butterflies to flowers.

Xiaoqing pounced on one with a greenness of a startling clarity. It was a small jade medallion, the edges marked like a peony's petals, with an artfully knotted tassel and small white jade beads. She ran her fingers over it admiringly and pressed it impulsively against her cheek, feeling the cool surface with delight.

"Lady boss, I like this one. How much is it?"

The woman with the tired face broke into a smile. "Ah, your eyes are blessed with good taste, Miss! That's a rare one, it is. Three silver coins." She held out her hand expectantly.

Xiaoqing fingered her two silver coins inside her sleeve. She chewed her lip. "Ah, so expensive? That's a little excessive, don't you think so?"

"That's the best price I can offer you, young lady." The woman's voice grew sharp.

Xiaoqing shrugged. "It's not that special. I just like the design, that's all. I've seen better jade than this in Hulin, for half the price! One silver coin." Her eyes were bright and shrewd.

The woman laughed. "One? You must be kidding me. Two silver coins, and that's the lowest I can go."

Xiaoqing laid the medallion down with a sigh. "Well, I must be going, then. I shall just wait till the next time I go to Hulin. I'm sure I could find this design there, and in a larger size than that. This one is too small for my taste, anyway." She turned decisively away.

There was a tense pause, then the woman wavered. "One then."

Xiaoqing pretended to deliberate. "Hmm. One, you say."

She turned back and picked up the medallion. "Well, maybe I will get in that case." Humming, she tried it against herself, dangling it experimentally against her belt. "This shade of green goes well with me, doesn't it?"

"Like it's made for you. One silver coin, miss."

Xiaoqing opened her lips to say, "I'll take it," when a hand suddenly snatched the medallion from her. Outraged, she looked up to see a beautiful young girl smiling at her with a contemptuous expression. She was dressed in a costly robe of imported fabric, a pale peach cloth scattered with tiny white blossoms, and a sash embroidered with gold thread. Filigree hairpins sparkled in her hair, and a rare piece of pure white jade hung from her belt. A maid behind her held a paper parasol over her head, decorated with delicate paintings.

She had a smooth, moon-shaped face with skin of an exquisite fairness and purity, and a pretty nose; but her mouth had an unpleasant twist to it, the lips folded in a sour pout like a spoilt child's.

Turning the piece of jade delicately in white, shapely fingers that had never seen any coarse work, the stranger pursed her lips critically. "Ah, I thought that all that scheming and conniving would be for something more precious than this commonplace piece of jade. I found your pathetic little show just now amusing, but if I had known it was all for this, I would not have wasted so much of my time." She sighed, and deliberately let it fall through her fingers.

The medallion broke on the ground, shattering into five pieces.