Chapter 55 – Is Your Ning’an Marquis Residence So Idle?

Xia Tian swiftly ran out of Lingyun Pavilion, stopped for a moment, and slapped her warm cheeks with both hands.

Shen Nian is getting better at flirting!

Ning Xiang and Ning Xue chased after her and saw their mistress slapping her cheeks, stomping her feet, and spinning in circles.

“Madam, why are you running so fast?” Ning Xue jogged over.

“Yeah, look, your face is all red!” Ning Xiang caught up and glanced at Xia Tian.

“It’s nothing. Hurry up, Mu Feng is waiting for us at the gate!” Xia Tian said, not bothering to look at the two girls, and turned to head to the outer courtyard.

When the three of them sat in the carriage, she finally felt that the heat in her face had diminished.

She hadn’t expected that an old aunt she had met a few times would be flirted with by a ten-something young man!

Mu Feng, driving the carriage in front, asked through the curtain, “Madam, where should we go first?”

“Let’s go eat breakfast first, find a place with good taste.”

“Madam, I know a wonton shop that’s really popular. I’ve heard the taste is great, and there’s a long line every day.”

“Alright, let’s go to that one.”

When they arrived, sure enough, there were a lot of people waiting in line.

After a while, the wontons arrived. Xia Tian took a bite, and hmm, it was delicious.

She tasted it carefully and could tell that the wontons had been seasoned with various spices.

It turned out that her sense of taste had improved a lot.

After tasting it, she felt confident that in a while, she might be able to identify the proportions of each spice used!

After finishing their meal, the group asked Mu Feng to take them to Caiyun Fang.

Caiyun Fang was a store specializing in pigments, with a wide variety and excellent stock. It was said they could also custom-make pigments according to the customer’s requirements.

Standing in front of the ancient and elegant Caiyun Fang, Xia Tian looked up at the plaque with the flourishing characters “Caiyun Fang,” silently nodding in approval. It was indeed the largest pigment store in the capital, with strength reflected in every detail.

If she were to open her own shop in the future, it would have to be of this caliber.

Upon entering, Xia Tian was immediately enveloped by the mixed smell of various pigments, giving her a familiar feeling.

The past few years, she had spent a lot of time in such an environment.

Xia Tian first wandered around the store. Ning Xiang and the others didn’t know much about it, so they obediently followed her.

After looking around, she asked a shop assistant and bought the pigments she needed before leisurely leaving.

Mu Feng carried the pigments to the carriage.

The group then followed Xia Tian to a place that sold calligraphy and paintings.

On this street, there was a well-established calligraphy and painting shop, Ya Yizhai, not far from them.

So, they didn’t take the carriage but walked over leisurely.

Xia Tian noticed that there were many women on this street too, and unlike her, they didn’t cover their faces with scarves, which suggested that the environment here wasn’t as strict for women.

When Xia Tian entered Ya Yizhai, the shopkeeper immediately came forward to greet her. “Are you here to buy calligraphy and paintings? Our shop has all kinds of works, and we can also accept custom orders.”

“Oh? Can I look first?” Xia Tian wanted to understand the demand for calligraphy and paintings in this era and their preferred styles. This way, she could gauge if her work would sell for a decent price.

“Please feel free to browse,” the shopkeeper said with a smile, gesturing for her to look.

After browsing for a while, Xia Tian had a bit of an idea and took the painting of the little dog she had painted yesterday from Ning Xue’s hand and showed it to the shopkeeper. “Do you sell paintings like this here?”

The shopkeeper leaned forward and scrutinized it carefully for a moment. “We don’t have this style. May I ask which master painted this?”

“If it’s this kind of painting, would your shop accept it?” Xia Tian didn’t answer the shopkeeper’s question and continued asking.

“Of course, we would accept it. Are you looking to sell this painting?” The shopkeeper looked puzzled, seeing that this guest didn’t appear to need money.

“I’m considering it. How much would your shop pay for such a painting?” Xia Tian asked.

“The painting is quite lifelike, but the colors are simple. I would pay a maximum of thirty taels per painting. If it’s from a renowned artist, the price would be different.” The shopkeeper stroked his beard and thought for a moment before speaking.

Xia Tian thought the price was fair. Even if she painted ten paintings a month and sold them, she would only earn three hundred taels. It was still far from enough to buy a big house.

When could she ever afford a house?

“Shopkeeper, I won’t sell this one. I just wanted to ask. If I bring paintings in the future, would this work?” Xia Tian thought for a moment and said, “I’ll bring the paintings and leave them with you for consignment. I’ll take two-tenths of the sales.”

“That works.” The shopkeeper nodded. This way, he wouldn’t bear the risk if the paintings didn’t sell.

“Alright, then thank you, shopkeeper.”

Once they left Ya Yizhai, Ning Xiang and Ning Xue looked at each other in confusion. “Madam, are you going to sell paintings?”

“Yes, I need to make some private money. I can’t just rely on you guys and the young master.” Xia Tian turned and reminded them, “Only the three of us know about this. Don’t mention it to anyone, understood?”

“Yes, understood!” The two girls nodded.

Though they didn’t fully understand why Madam said she couldn’t rely only on the young master, they now understood that since they had followed Madam, everything they did would be in accordance with her decisions.

The group spent some more time shopping, and Xia Tian bought some framing tools, materials, drawing paper, and various brushes and other painting tools.

She also went to a place to carve her own seal, then they had lunch and took the carriage back to the Wu’an Marquis residence.

However, the seal couldn’t be picked up immediately. It would take two days to be ready.

After taking a nap in the afternoon, Xia Tian went to the study to work with the pigments she had bought.

She instructed Ning Xiang and Ning Xue to help organize the materials, then sent the two girls away.

She didn’t want anyone to know what she was painting just yet.

After mixing the pigments and preparing to paint, she heard a knock on the door from Ning Xiang. “Madam, the eldest miss has arrived.”

Why is she here again?

Xia Tian put down her brush irritably, huffed in frustration, and opened the door, instructing Ning Xiang to lock it after her. She hurried to the main hall.

She thought Shen Hui had just come to scare her, but it seemed she was really here.

Ning Xiang locked the door and hurried to follow. She felt her eyelids twitching with worry.

Xia Tian angrily entered the room, and when she saw Shen Hui sitting gracefully in the main chair sipping tea, her anger flared.

“I said, eldest miss, is your Ning’an Marquis Residence so idle that you come back to your maiden family every day?” Xia Tian placed her hands on her hips, exasperated.

Shen Hui looked at the flustered Xia Tian and smiled even more smugly, putting down her teacup. “It depends on the matter.”

“Fine, if you won’t explain, we’ll go and talk to your brother!” Xia Tian gritted her teeth.

“I’m only looking for you,” Shen Hui said coldly.

“I don’t have time to accompany you for this nonsense. Ning Xue, go check if the young master is at Lingyun Pavilion,” Xia Tian ordered coldly, walking to sit in a chair.

She wasn’t in debt to her, so why should she indulge her!

“Yes, Madam.”

“Don’t go!” Shen Hui scolded sternly.

“Ignore her, go quickly.”

Ning Xue gave a look to the servant girl Cuiyun, who quietly left and went out of the courtyard.

After a while, Cuiyun returned, and Ning Xue slightly nodded in acknowledgment.

Ning Xue stepped forward and softly told Xia Tian, “The young master is at Lingyun Pavilion.”

Xia Tian stood up, looked at Shen Hui, and said, “Let’s go, eldest miss, to Lingyun Pavilion.”

“Hmph!” Shen Hui didn’t respond or move.

Seeing that she was unmoved, Xia Tian gritted her teeth, rolled up her sleeves, and walked over. Without a word, she lifted Shen Hui and began walking toward the door.