Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 302 An Extraordinary Mirror and Bracelet

As she spoke, Ye Qingchen smiled gently, her beauty as captivating as a spring flower in bloom. She reached into her robes again and carefully retrieved several mirrors. Mirrors, after all, have been cherished treasures by women since ancient times! However, in the Great Xia Kingdom, only bronze mirrors were commonly seen. Ye Qingchen had tried to make mirrors herself, but the required raw materials were numerous and complex, making mass production virtually impossible. Left with no other choice, she could only carefully select and prepare two mirrors from that mysterious and unpredictable space.

These two mirrors are no ordinary objects; their exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous workmanship are simply beyond imagination. From the delicate carvings on the edges of the frames to the smooth, silky texture of the mirror surface, every detail has been sculpted and polished to perfection, showcasing the maker's superb skills and ingenuity.

What's even more astonishing is the quality of these two mirrors, far surpassing that of ordinary mirrors. Common mirrors often shatter at the slightest bump, but these two mirrors are quite heavy, clearly made of metal, and resistant to any impact.

When Ye Qingchen took out the two mirrors, everyone in the room fell silent, their eyes fixed on them. Yun Sheng and Duan Ling'er, in particular, stared wide-eyed at the mirrors, as if frozen in place, unable to look away.

Yun Sheng excitedly reached out and gently picked up one of the mirrors, murmuring to herself, "Qingchen, where did you find such a precious treasure? This mirror is so beautiful! And it reflects so clearly, you can even see the fine hairs on my face! What is it made of?" At the same time, Duan Ling'er also held the other mirror with great joy, her excitement overflowing. She said sweetly, "Oh my, Brother Qingchen, your Great Xia is truly amazing! We can't find such magical and exquisite things where we are! Look at this mirror, not only is the front incredibly clear, but even the decorations on the back are so exquisite!"

Ye Qingchen narrowed his eyes slightly, a gentle smile playing on his lips, and said slowly, "To tell you the truth, this treasure was actually obtained by chance. There are only five of them in total, and it has a beautiful name: 'Silver Plating Technique.' The process is far from simple! First, a bronze mirror must be meticulously crafted, then a thick layer of silver must be evenly plated onto its surface. After that, the silver surface must be carefully polished and refined to achieve its dazzling brilliance. It's a pity that after only meeting that mysterious master once, I vanished without a trace, as if a stone had disappeared into the sea. I remember he personally told me that this technique is extremely complex and delicate, not something an ordinary person could master." It was not something easily mastered. The general steps involved first meticulously crafting a bronze mirror blank, then carefully plating the surface with a layer of shimmering silver, followed by a lengthy and laborious polishing process. Throughout this process, countless complex and magical potions were required. Alas… I was simply too foolish; despite listening intently, I ultimately failed to fully remember the names and specific uses of those potions. Back then, upon seeing such a rare treasure, I didn't hesitate to… I bought all five mirrors. Back home, I kept one for myself, and gave the other four to the Empress Dowager, the Princess, my mother, and my dear sister. Hehe, you know what? These mirrors reflect people incredibly clearly, practically flawless! Even I'm quite satisfied and love them!" To be honest, Ye Qingchen knew the craftsmanship, and they weren't bought from outside; she made them from her spatial storage. But what could she do? She needed a plausible reason, and she couldn't reveal the workings.

Duan Yuanshan and Dong Nanxi were also amazed. This guy was incredible! They had never seen such craftsmanship before. But since their beloved women liked it, it must be something very special, and they liked it too. Besides, it sounded quite magical to them.

Besides the mirror, Ye Qingchen also took out two bracelets, which were actually cloisonné enamel pieces. However, this technique wasn't available here. Ye Qingchen had done the cloisonné and coloring on a gold bracelet, spending many, many days on it. The patterns were all hand-drawn by Ye Qingchen; they were exceptionally beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The cloisonné wire was also made of gold, directly attached with white glue. Enameling involved filling the spaces in the cloisonné patterns with enamel. Enamel comes in various colors and must be accurately selected according to the design requirements. Using a special small spatula, the enamel was meticulously filled into the spaces, ensuring even, full, and consistent thickness. The enamel-filled pieces were then placed in a high-temperature furnace for firing, typically between 800°C and 900°C. Under the high temperature, the enamel melted and bonded tightly to the body, while the color changed, becoming more vibrant and lustrous. The flange filler was made by grinding various minerals and mixing them with various metal powders to create a variety of colors.

The two exquisite gifts were placed before Yun Sheng and Duan Ling'er, each seemingly radiating a unique charm that drew their attention. Yun Sheng carefully picked up one of the gifts, gently stroking its surface, her eyes revealing undisguised delight; while Duan Ling'er joyfully held the other gift in her hands, carefully examining every detail, her face beaming with happiness. Then, they both simply slipped them onto their wrists, looking absolutely stunning.

Seeing this, Duan Yuanshan, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He pouted and pretended to be angry, saying to his daughter, "Oh, my darling daughter! You only think about preparing such wonderful gifts for your mother and your sister, but what about your father and Nanxi? Are we just supposed to stand here and watch?" Actually, Duan Yuanshan had just enjoyed a delicious ice cream, and that happiness was long forgotten. At this moment, although he secretly admired the unique and thoughtful gift his daughter had chosen, deep down he still secretly hoped that he could also receive a special gift from his daughter.

In contrast, Dong Nanxi didn't have the same high expectations as Duan Yuanshan. For him, receiving a gift was enough to make him content, even if it wasn't unique but something everyone could have. He would feel incredibly happy and satisfied. After all, in his view, the important thing wasn't the value of the gift itself, but the sincere sentiment it contained.