Chapter 61 – This Was a Gift from Your Big Brother; I Can’t Part with It!

When Xia Tian returned to Jinglan Courtyard, before even stepping inside, she instructed Ning Xiang and Ning Xue to call in Cuijun, Cuixin, Cuqiao, and Cuiling.

These four maidservants were personally chosen by Ning Xiang and Ning Xue when Xia Tian first moved in, and now they were second-tier maidservants in Jinglan Courtyard.

Ning Xiang and Ning Xue were first-tier maidservants.

Originally, Jinglan Courtyard was supposed to have four first-tier maidservants, but Xia Tian felt that having Ning Xiang and Ning Xue was sufficient, so she didn’t request anyone else.

The other staff members were assigned by the Hou residence according to the rules, and Xia Tian didn’t have any objections.

“Madam, Cuijun and the others have gathered.” Ning Xiang, seeing that everyone had arrived, helped Xia Tian take off her cloak and said.

“Good, let them in. Don’t stand outside, it’s so cold!” Xia Tian said, washing her hands in the basin of warm water that Cuijun had brought in, then climbed onto the warm bed in the inner chamber.

“Madam, did you call us for something?” Cuijun and the others were a little nervous. It seemed strange that they were summoned right when they entered. Did they make a mistake?

Seeing their expressions, Xia Tian quickly reassured them, “Don’t overthink it, it’s a good thing.”

She then pulled out a purse and took out several silver notes, saying, “Come, come, it’s time for a reward.”

“Reward for what?” Ning Xue asked, puzzled.

“Don’t ask, just accept it. I’m happy today.”

Ning Xiang quietly explained to Ning Xue that the reward was related to the painting incident.

Since Ning Xue hadn’t gone to the painting gathering, she hadn’t realized what had made Madam so happy. Upon hearing Ning Xiang’s explanation, she couldn’t help but feel elated—Madam was amazing!

“You’ve been in Jinglan Courtyard for over a month now, and you’ve all performed well, so I’m preparing to give you a reward.”

Since Ning Xiang and Ning Xue were first-tier maidservants, each received ten taels of silver. Xia Tian handed them two silver notes, each worth ten taels.

“You four will each get five taels. No objections, right?”

“We’re so happy! Thank you, Madam!” The four laughed as they received the silver notes.

The silver came from the sale of paintings at Yayi Studio, totaling six hundred and forty taels, and Xia Tian decided to give forty taels as rewards.

Over the past month, the maidservants had been diligent in their work, especially Ning Xiang and Ning Xue, who were outstanding in all aspects. No wonder they were trained by noble families.

Ning Xiang and Ning Xue were also surprised by Madam’s generosity, as this reward was equivalent to five months of their monthly salary.

The four expressed their thanks, and after Xia Tian gave a few words of encouragement, they left to continue their tasks.

Xia Tian then took out two more purses, one for Ning Xiang and one for Ning Xue.

The two were confused but took the purses, and when they opened them, they found a pair of solid gold earrings inside.

The two stared at Xia Tian in unison. “Madam, what is this?”

“It’s a gift for you.” Xia Tian quickly put a finger to her lips to signal them to be quiet. “Shh, don’t let anyone else hear.”

The two nodded eagerly and thanked her with deep gratitude.

It wasn’t that they were easily moved, but because Madam truly treated them well, and that was what made them feel touched.

Seeing Ning Xue almost in tears, Xia Tian pretended to scold her, saying, “Look at you getting so emotional. What is this, it’s just a gift! If I buy you something else in the future, will you drown me with your tears?”

“Madam~” Ning Xue stomped her foot in mock protest.

“Enough with the ‘Madam,’ quickly go prepare the meal. I’ll starve to death if I wait any longer.”

…

Time passed, and soon it was the Winter Solstice.

The Winter Solstice was a major holiday for noble families, and the Duke of Wuan’s residence was no exception.

That morning, after everyone had bathed and dressed, the Duke led the family to the ancestral hall for the ritual to honor their ancestors.

Because Xia Tian had not yet been entered into the family registry, she was excluded from the ritual.

Shen Nian had originally planned to have Xia Tian’s name added to the family registry during the Winter Solstice ritual, but the old madam rejected the idea, saying they hadn’t held a formal wedding ceremony yet. Xia Tian saw Shen Nian’s face darken and quickly comforted him, “It’s fine, we’ll wait until the right time to do it.”

Shen Nian gave her a long, meaningful look. “You still want to leave?”

“No, no! I swear!” Xia Tian quickly smoothed things over. “This life, I’ll stick with you. Even if you drive me away, I won’t go.”

Seeing Shen Nian’s expression soften, Xia Tian sighed in relief. This kid seemed more and more unable to live without her.

After the ancestral ritual, everyone gathered again in Ruixuan Hall.

The kitchen had prepared a hearty lamb hotpot, various flavored dumplings, and other carefully made dishes. They all sat down together for a lively reunion meal.

After the meal, the younger generation eagerly looked forward to the game segment they all loved.

The adults, finding them too noisy, sent them off to the garden’s Pavilion.

Xia Tian had originally thought that since she wasn’t close to anyone here, she’d just go to Jinglan Courtyard and play cards with Ning Xiang and Ning Xue.

But unexpectedly, Shen Lan came over, eagerly hooked her arm, and called her “sister-in-law” as he led her over.

In this family, aside from the married Shen Hui, Shen Nian was the eldest, at only twenty-one years old. The rest were all young, around the same age, so they were all eager to play together.

There were about twenty children from the five branches of the Duke of Wuan’s family, all gathered in the Pavilion to play.

Shen Nian had some matters to attend to and was heading to Lingyun Pavilion, but when he saw Xia Tian being pulled away, he turned to look at Mu Chen, who immediately followed.

In the Pavilion, everyone was chattering. Some wanted to play throwing pots, some wanted to compete in poetry, and others proposed playing mahjong.

Finally, Shen Ke decisively said they should play throwing pots first.

As the servants set up the game, everyone was eager to start. But before they did, Shen Lan stepped forward. “Throwing pots alone is boring. Why don’t we add some stakes?”

“Sure, that’s a good idea.”

“What should the stakes be?”

“How about the loser has to compose a poem on the spot?” Someone suggested, coming up with a playful idea.

“The kids can’t compose poems. How about we each put up a personal item as a stake?” Shen Lan suggested, glancing at Xia Tian.

“That works! But it must be something valuable, not something cheap,” someone else chimed in.

Xia Tian rolled her eyes inwardly. Were they already starting to make trouble for her?

Had they not realized she had been listening when they secretly made their plans?

“Sister-in-law, is that okay?” Shen Lan asked eagerly.

“I don’t mind!” Xia Tian smiled.

She instructed a maid to bring over a tray, and everyone placed their stakes one by one.

When it was Xia Tian’s turn, she casually tossed a two-tael silver bar onto the tray.

Everyone was shocked, mouths agape. Was it even allowed to use silver as a stake in a game?

Shen Lan was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening. What kind of game would this turn into with silver as a stake?

“Sister-in-law, you can’t just use silver. You need to put up a personal item. Look, everyone else is using hairpins, jade pendants, earrings, etc.” Shen Lan tried to persuade Xia Tian to change her stake. “That hairpin you’re wearing, that green jade one, would be perfect. How about you use that?”

“This can’t work. This was a gift from your big brother, I can’t part with it.”

“Then the bracelet you’re wearing could work.”

“No, this is my only silver. If that’s not acceptable, then forget it. I won’t play.” Xia Tian said as she reached to take back her silver bar from the tray.

“Alright, alright, silver is fine! Let’s just use silver!” Shen Lan relented helplessly.