Chapter 79 – Our Conversation Today, I Hope You Won’t Tell Anyone

Xia Tian sat on the warm pavilion chair, with Ning Xue and Jin beside her. After the maid served tea, Jin instructed her personal maid, Luoying, to guard the door, making sure no one else could approach and overhear their conversation.

Xia Tian slightly raised her eyes—what could be such a private matter?

Looking at Jin’s large eyes as she glanced at Ning Xue beside her, Xia Tian paused for a moment before signaling for Ning Xue to step outside, “Ning Xue, please guard the door with Miss Luoying, don’t go too far.”

“Yes, Madam.” Ning Xue gave a slight curtsy and exited, standing at the door.

Now that the room was left with just the two of them, Xia Tian spoke first, “Miss Jin, if you have something to say, you can say it now.”

Jin bit her lip, her hands twisting the handkerchief she held, hesitating for a long while before speaking carefully, “Miss Xia, has Brother Nian ever really said that he likes only you?”

Xia Tian’s expression remained calm, “Yes, he said it himself.”

After Xia Tian spoke, Jin’s face turned pale, and her hand instinctively went to her chest as she remained silent for a while.

Xia Tian didn’t rush her; she quietly waited.

After some time, Jin’s color improved a little, and she tried again, “Miss Xia, if… I mean, if I were to marry Brother Nian as a secondary wife, would you hate me?”

Xia Tian’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

The question truly shocked her!

Miss Jin, the legitimate daughter of the Jin family, was going to become someone else’s secondary wife?

What exactly was a secondary wife? To put it plainly, a secondary wife was just a concubine.

Was Miss Jin really willing to become a concubine to Shen Nian?

Or was it that becoming a secondary wife was just the first step in her plan? With her family background, once she entered the household, with support from the other members of the Wu’an Marquis’ family, it wouldn’t be long before she took the lead.

Thinking this, Xia Tian’s expression turned cold, “I wouldn’t hate you, but I won’t agree to it.”

“Why? Which man nowadays doesn’t have multiple wives or concubines? Why shouldn’t Brother Nian be allowed?” Jin asked unwillingly.

“I don’t care about other people, but Shen Nian is different. If he takes a concubine, I will leave willingly.”

“But… what if it’s an imperial marriage? If the emperor arranges the marriage, could you really disagree?”

“If the emperor arranges the marriage, I have no choice. But if Shen Nian agrees to an imperial marriage, then this man is no longer worth having.” Xia Tian said decisively.

Seeing that her words weren’t getting through, Jin slumped slightly, her shoulders drooping.

She understood that in Shen Nian’s heart, Xia Tian held a significant place. If she didn’t agree, Shen Nian would never marry her.

Actually, Jin only asked this out of curiosity. She, the legitimate daughter of the Jin family, wasn’t someone who couldn’t get married. There was no way she would settle for becoming a secondary wife.

Moreover, her family would never approve of this.

“Fine, I was just asking. Don’t worry, I won’t ask the emperor for a marriage.”

Xia Tian’s expression softened a little as she picked up her tea and took a sip.

This young lady, last time during the Ice Festival, Xia Tian had tried to explain everything to her, but it seemed she hadn’t listened at all. Now, she was still thinking about becoming a secondary wife to Shen Nian.

Miss Jin was so proud, yet she seemed to have fallen for the idea of love. When she met someone she liked, it seemed like she didn’t care about anything else.

Jin held back her tears, not saying another word for a long time.

Xia Tian said nothing either, just quietly drinking her tea.

After finishing her tea, Jin slowly regained some of her usual dignity and said calmly, “Miss Xia, I hope you won’t tell anyone about our conversation today, including Lord Shen.”

Hearing Shen Nian referred to as “Lord Shen” instead of “Brother Nian,” it seemed Jin had made some mental preparations.

“Of course.” Xia Tian nodded. This conversation couldn’t be spread. After all, Miss Jin’s reputation still needed to be protected. There was no need to ruin her for being a confused young girl.

Seeing that Xia Tian agreed firmly, Jin felt relieved and smiled, “Then I’ll walk you out.”

She stood up, calling in Luoying and Ning Xue, who put on their cloaks before walking out together.

Xia Tian followed behind Jin, with Ning Xue quietly pulling at her sleeve. Xia Tian shook her head.

The group said nothing as they silently returned to the stage area.

As they neared the stage, Hu Mengyao and Lin Sanyu approached. Hu Mengyao only shot a glare at Xia Tian before pulling Jin aside to talk.

Xia Tian noticed that the play had changed to a new act, and fewer people were in the audience now.

She didn’t want to stay there any longer and decided to find the Second Madam and the others.

It wasn’t quite noon yet, so they’d probably have to wait until the lunch banquet was over before they could head home.

From a distance, Jin noticed Xia Tian was leaving and approached her, “Miss Xia, are you not watching the play?”

“Mm, I want to find my second aunt and the others.”

“Then let’s go together. The gift presentation will be starting soon, they might be with my grandmother.”

“Alright, then please lead the way, Miss Jin.”

On the way, Xia Tian noticed Hu Mengyao pouting, casting glances at her as if shooting daggers with her eyes. Xia Tian wondered what Jin had told her to make her look so unhappy.

Xia Tian found it a bit curious. Although Miss Hu was typically rude and indifferent to the other young ladies, she seemed to have a good relationship with Jin.

Lin Sanyu, too, had a similar demeanor. Observing how the three interacted, it was clear they had a strong bond.

Although rumors said Miss Lin was quick to stand up for others, Xia Tian had noticed in their few encounters that Lin Sanyu was carefree and, more importantly, sensible.

As for Jin, although she was always the one to speak first, she never tried to shift the blame onto others like Hu Mengyao. She had her own judgment and was a reasonable person.

After a while, they reached the designated courtyard where the gift presentation would take place, and Xia Tian saw the Second Madam, Zheng Shi, surrounded by other ladies, having a lively conversation.

They decided not to disturb them immediately. Xia Tian scanned the room and noticed Second Miss Shen Ning and her sisters sitting nearby, so she moved toward a less conspicuous spot to sit.

Seeing Xia Tian arrive, Shen Ning noticed that she wasn’t sitting with them and walked over to greet her.

“Big sister-in-law, I didn’t see you earlier. Where did you go?”

“Oh, I was watching the play. Didn’t you watch it?”

“No, I don’t like the play. I was just staying with Shen Lan and the others.”

After exchanging a few words, Shen Ning sat down next to Xia Tian.

“Pretty soon, the gift presentation will start. We’ll be able to witness the ceremony.”

Xia Tian, curious, asked, “What exactly is the gift presentation?”

Shen Ning paused. She hadn’t expected Xia Tian to ask this question, but she soon realized it was because Xia Tian hadn’t experienced such a thing before.

She moved closer to Xia Tian and whispered, “The gift presentation is when the family members of the Wen Yibo family take turns presenting gifts to the birthday star. The gifts are opened on the spot, and the guests get to see them.”

“Oh, I see.” Xia Tian nodded, now understanding.

Opening gifts in front of everyone was a bit rude. What if someone’s gift wasn’t impressive enough? Wouldn’t they feel embarrassed?

No wonder the second master of the Wen Yibo family insisted on spending five thousand taels of silver to buy that extravagant painting last year. It wasn’t just to please the old madam but also to show off in front of everyone.

Indeed, soon after, the family’s steward stood up to announce that the gift presentation would begin.