Chapter 336
Chapter 336 Two Consecutive Victories
Seo Jang Geum nodded slightly and said, "Thank you, sir. If that's the case, allow me to demonstrate first." At this point, the two sides were in competition. In order to assist Goryeo in achieving its wish, Palace Lady Seo would naturally be forthright with Master Lin.
She picked up a thick red candle, whittled it down to one-quarter its size, and then drilled a small hole parallel to the wick, threading a silk line through it, then sealed it with the wax. Following this, she cut off the portion of the thread embedded with the candle.
"Young sister, could you give me that Nine-Turn Jade Bead?" Palace Lady Seo turned to Cuiyun with a gentle smile.
The young palace maid handed her the jade bead, and Seo Jang Geum aligned the bead's small hole vertically to the ground, slowly threading the silk into the bead. The interior of the bead was filled with twists and turns, and the first part of the thread, hardened by the wax, struggled to pass through. Carefully, Palace Lady Seo lit the red candle and heated the bead a bit. The wax thread softened from the heat, and it started to slowly make its way into the bead.
What was clever about this technique was that by sealing the thread with wax, which would soften from the heat, the melted wax would flow downwards, leading the thread forward. However, it required precise control; even a moment's delay could cause the wax to block the hole. Seo Jang Geum was exceptionally skillful and patient. She worked with the utmost concentration, a faint bead of sweat appearing on her nose as clear as jade, a sight to behold.
Lin Wanrong chuckled at the ingenious yet cumbersome method. This technique could only be completed by someone patient and determined like Seo Jang Geum; anyone else would have failed. Yet, this was a perfect representation of the Goryeo people's national character, something truly worth learning from.
Navigating the rugged twists and turns inside the Nine-Turn Jade Bead was not an easy task. Seo Jang Geum spent a significant amount of time, having to backtrack several times, before she was able to thread the silk through the small hole, although the inside of the bead had become sealed with wax. Even so, her solution was unprecedented. The onlookers were in awe of her dexterity and determination, breaking into applause in celebration of her successful pass.
Palace Lady Seo responded with a shy smile and bowed to the young palace maid Cuiyun, "I'm sorry. Even though I've threaded it, the thread can't be pulled through. I've caused you trouble."