Page 396 of Doted By The Regent King

Two days later, Wufu indeed received the message from Ah Jiu, confirming that there would be a grand jade gambling event taking place in December.

It was said that the event would consist of two parts, beginning with jade gambling and then followed by a grand carving competition.

The main judges included Lou Wanyuan, the president of the Jade and Stone Chamber of Commerce, and Qian Jiyang, a Grandmaster Level Jade Carving Master, among others.

Interestingly, the carving competition’s subject was none other than the late wife of Lou Wanyuan, Lady Gu. This event was actually a way for him to express his enduring love and remembrance for his deceased wife through the art of jade carving.

Lady Gu’s ancestors had started their legacy in jade trade, and her love for jade bordered on obsession.

It was this passion that led her and Lou Wanyuan, himself a jade merchant at the time, to fall deeply in love with each other.

After marrying, their mutual affection and common interests allowed them to support each other and elevate the Lou Family into a renowned name among jade merchants, with Lou Wanyuan eventually becoming the president of the chamber.

But even the most loving couples face challenges. After many years of marriage, Lou Wanyuan and Lady Gu had no children. Lady Gu consulted countless doctors and consumed who knows how much medicine until she finally conceived at the age of thirty.

Although she did conceive, Lady Gu was already of advanced age. Though Lou Wanyuan had never taken a concubine all those years, the worry and stress had taken a toll on her health. When it came time to deliver the child, she exerted her last bit of strength to give birth to a son for Lou Wanyuan.

It was said that Lady Gu only had a chance to glimpse her son once before she passed away from postpartum hemorrhage.

Lou Wanyuan was overcome with grief. While mourning his wife, he also felt a sense of guilt towards his son, Lou Manlu.

To this day, with Lou Manlu now fifteen, he has never remarried, fearing a stepmother would not treat his beloved son well.

Lou Wanyuan, approaching fifty, feared future generations might forget the visage of his late wife.

He didn’t just have artists create numerous portraits of Lady Gu, but since the servants had mishandled them, allowing the portraits to be damaged by moths, he realized that paintings alone could also be ruined or damaged by moisture.

Since his wife adored jade, why not immortalize her likeness in a piece of jade carving?

And so, the idea for the carving competition was born.

"It turns out Lou Wanyuan is quite the devoted lover!" Wufu exclaimed with a sigh.

Ah Jiu glanced at her and said, "There are indeed passionate souls in the human world." She continued, "The competition’s rules state that participants must enter under a business’s name. Once the list of competitors is submitted, it cannot be changed."

"One cannot enter under their own name?" Wufu frowned.

She had inquired with Ah Jiu to see if she could sign up for the competition herself. That way, she wouldn’t be bound by Shopkeeper Lin and the others, and she would be free of pressure.

"No, and furthermore, the business must be among the top ten jewelry and jade merchants of Nanyue," Ah Jiu added.

They have rankings?

Wufu clicked her tongue in admiration but, thinking carefully, she realized that having such requirements made sense.

After all, higher-ranked businesses would naturally have more Skilled Craftsmen, and to someone like Lou Wanyuan, a devoted lover, it was natural he would not want his wife’s image to be poorly crafted.

Otherwise, it would not be an ode to her memory but a desecration.

Still, not being able to enter under her own name somewhat deflated Wufu’s enthusiasm. Did this mean that if she wanted to compete, she had no choice but to agree to Shopkeeper Lin and the others?

No wonder Wen Congrui said nothing later on. They must have known about this condition already, convinced that she could not enter under her own name, right?

Tch, what cunning old foxes they are!

Seeing her disheartened, Ah Jiu asked, "Do you truly wish to participate?"

Wufu nodded.

"Shall I secure a business slot for you, and get you an entry quota?" Ah Jiu proposed.