Chapter 54 – Don’t Frown, It Doesn’t Look Good

Xia Tian thought she had to find a new way to earn more money.

Propping her chin on her hand, she lay on the desk and rummaged through her skills from her past life in her mind.

Hmm, the only thing she could offer right now was painting.

This was a skill she had spent over ten years mastering in her previous life, whether it was traditional Chinese painting or sketching, both were her specialties.

She decided to act immediately.

Xia Tian stood up, put on her shoes, and left the warm room. “Ning Xiang, Ning Xue, come, let’s go see the study.”

She remembered that when Shen Nian had shown her the house, there was a study in the courtyard, most likely the one that Miss Shen used before.

Once they entered the study, they found that while there was a bookshelf, it was empty, and though there was a desk, it lacked the traditional stationery.

“Why is this study so bare?” Xia Tian wondered aloud. Surely, Miss Shen wouldn’t have set up an empty study just for decoration, right?

“This used to be Miss Shen’s study, but after she married, she gradually moved her books away. Maybe when the house was arranged, they thought the Madam wouldn’t use it, so they didn’t set it up properly,” Ning Xiang explained, her voice growing softer.

Got it!

It was simply because Liu Shi thought she, a rural girl, surely hadn’t studied, so she wouldn’t need a study, and therefore didn’t arrange it.

“Then bring me the writing tools first. The books can be slowly arranged later.”

“Understood, Madam.” Ning Xue quickly went to fetch the stationery, while Ning Xiang called for two little maids to help clean the dust off the desk and bookshelf.

In fact, the house was cleaned daily, so they were just wiping away the dust.

Before long, Ning Xue returned with the stationery and placed it on the desk.

Xia Tian spread a piece of white paper on the desk, pressing it down with a weight. Ning Xue ground the ink beside her.

She held the brush, propped her chin for a moment, and then dipped the tip in ink. “Shh, shh, shh”—a few strokes and a small dog’s outline emerged.

Ning Xiang and Ning Xue, standing beside her, were stunned. The Madam could paint? Could this be something the Master taught her?

They had thought she wanted the study arranged to practice calligraphy!

“How’s it look? Is it okay?” Xia Tian asked, holding up her quick sketch for the two to see.

“Well, this little dog looks so realistic,” Ning Xue exclaimed in admiration.

“Madam, your painting is so skillful. Could it be the Master taught you?” Ning Xiang asked in awe. How much had the Master taught her?

Xia Tian laughed upon hearing Ning Xiang’s question. “No, it wasn’t the Master. I figured it out myself. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Amazing!” The two girls nodded vigorously.

“However, don’t tell your Master that I can paint. This is my little secret weapon. I’m planning to surprise him!”

“Don’t worry, Madam. We won’t tell the Master!” Ning Xiang and Ning Xue giggled, making a promise.

Xia Tian took her time refining the drawing until a lively little dog leaped off the page. She blew on it and carefully studied it for a moment.

It seemed her painting skills hadn’t rusted.

She might as well try painting animals and sell them. But how much would a painting like this go for?

Tomorrow, she would check the market.

Feeling pleased with her idea, and noticing the time was getting late, she put the drawing away and tucked it in a box in her bedroom.

That evening, Shen Nian came back to the Jinglan Courtyard.

“I heard my sister came again today,” he said.

“Mm,” Xia Tian nodded.

“Did she make things difficult for you again?” Shen Nian asked, noticing her slightly downcast mood. He tried to speak gently.

“It wasn’t exactly making things difficult, just the same old, trying to get me to leave you.”

“Then, will you leave?” Shen Nian’s tone softened, but his heart was a bit uneasy.

“I told her to ask you. If you tell me to leave, I’ll leave.”

“Not happy about it?” Shen Nian asked, noticing her mood was off. He gently probed.

“No, just a little tired. Shen Lan came in the morning, and Miss Shen came in the afternoon. I’ve been arguing all day.”

“What did Shen Lan come for?” As soon as he heard Shen Lan’s name, Shen Nian’s tone became noticeably colder.

“It’s nothing. She just came to have a look. Maybe she wasn’t happy about me staying in this courtyard. But she didn’t say much, just a few sarcastic remarks, then she left after sitting for a while.”

Xia Tian chatted with Shen Nian, noticing his expression darken. She quickly comforted him. “She’s just a spoiled young lady, not my match. Don’t worry.”

“Mm. If you don’t want to deal with her, just send her away.”

Before the poison had resurfaced, he used to treat Liu Shi’s three children as his own siblings, but now that he knew the truth, he couldn’t be close to them anymore.

“I understand,” Xia Tian happily agreed.

Seeing Shen Nian’s mood sour just from hearing Shen Lan’s name, she felt a little heartache.

What kind of suffering had he endured during those three years, to the point where he couldn’t even bear hearing Liu Shi’s name or that of her children?

Xia Tian reached up and gently stroked his furrowed brow. Her voice was soothing, as if comforting a child, “Don’t frown, it doesn’t look good.”

Shen Nian grasped her hand on his brow and pressed it against his forehead. He remained silent for a while before softly saying, “Mm.”

Xia Tian let him hold her hand, waiting a moment before speaking again. “Shen Dage, I noticed you haven’t had a meal at home these past few days. Don’t tire yourself out.”

“Mm. I’ve been busy these past days and haven’t been able to check on you. If you’re bored, you can go out for a walk.”

“Can I?” Xia Tian asked, her face lighting up with surprise.

She had been planning to go out herself to buy some painting materials and had been thinking about telling Shen Nian about it.

“Of course, but if you go out, take Ning Xiang and the others with you. I’ll have Mu Feng follow you.”

“That’s great! Tomorrow I’m going shopping! I’ve never seen the sights of the capital.”

Since arriving in the capital, she had gone straight back to the Wu’an Marquis residence with Shen Nian. The past few days, he had been busy during the day, so she hadn’t thought of going out.

After chatting for a while, Shen Nian returned to the Lingyun Pavilion.

Soon, Jing Yue sent a small wooden box over.

“Madam, this is from the Young Master. He said if it’s not enough, you can ask him for more.”

Xia Tian smiled and took the box. “Alright, I understand.”

After Jing Yue left, Ning Xiang and Ning Xue gathered around. “Madam, hurry, open it and see what the Young Master sent you!”

“Of course, it’s money!” She opened the box to find a stack of hundred-tael silver notes.

Xia Tian took them out and counted—ten notes, one thousand taels.

Wow! What kind of amazing young master was this? Throwing money around like this was so handsome!

Xia Tian grinned, her greedy look making Ning Xiang and Ning Xue laugh uncontrollably.

After counting, she neatly stacked the notes and was about to put them back in the box when she noticed there was something else inside.

She took it out and found a fine jade hairpin. The body of the pin was translucent and warm, and the top was carved into a butterfly, lifelike and exquisite.

Xia Tian immediately liked it. She picked it up and tried it on her head. “Does it look good?”

“It looks great. Madam, you should wear it when you go out tomorrow.”

“It’s settled then.”

The next morning, without even having breakfast, Xia Tian left the house with Ning Xiang and Ning Xue.

They first went to Lingyun Pavilion, where Shen Nian had not left yet.

“How come you’re here?” Shen Nian looked at Xia Tian, who was wearing the jade hairpin he had given her yesterday and matching clothes. She was smiling at him, and the joy in his heart spread to his lips.

Xia Tian poured a cup of tea, secretly adding some spirit spring water, and handed it to Shen Nian. “Here, drinks some water.”

After he drank it, she tilted her head and asked with a smile, “Does it look good?”

“It looks good!”

“I meant the hairpin.”

“I meant you!”

“Oh, forget it, I’m leaving now!” Before she finished speaking, Xia Tian dashed out the door.