Chapter 63 – I’m Here to Reward You

Xia Tian saw that there was nothing more to do and didn’t feel like continuing to play.

“Since we’ve found what we were looking for, I’ll head out first.” After speaking, she led Ning Xue out the door.

Passing the tray with the colored prizes, she casually picked up the two taels of silver from the small box and said, “Since the throwing game didn’t have a winner, I’ll take the silver.”

She held up the silver in her palm, showing it around to everyone in the room, “Take a good look, I’m only taking my own silver. I haven’t touched anyone else’s things. So, if anyone tries to say I took something that belongs to someone else after I leave, don’t believe it.”

With that, she walked out of the pavilion without a change in expression.

Inside the pavilion, a group of awkward people exchanged glances.

Hidden in the shadows, Mu Chen watched as the young lady, the future wife of the heir, left the pavilion unharmed and made her way toward Jinglan Courtyard. He quietly followed, leaving afterward to head to Lingyun Pavilion.

Ning Xue trailed behind Xia Tian, observing her cold demeanor. She knew that Xia Tian was in a bad mood at the moment, so she kept quiet, not wanting to draw attention to their conversation. The two of them silently walked to Jinglan Courtyard.

In Lingyun Pavilion, Mu Chen relayed the events from the pavilion to Shen Nian in detail.

He even specifically emphasized the young lady’s actions. “Master, you should have seen it. The lady was so calm and composed at the time. When the third young lady insisted on searching her, I was worried. I even thought about whether I should report it to you.”

“Unexpectedly, the lady took control of the situation with just a few words, shutting down all their possibilities. Everything was so well thought out. The third young lady was completely led by the nose. It was so satisfying! Haha!”

Mu Feng, curious, interjected, “Was the lady really that capable? She resolved the situation so quickly?”

“Of course! If you don’t believe me, you can go ask around. Those little tricks of theirs were all seen through by the lady in no time,” Mu Chen said, with a touch of excitement in his tone.

“Last time, Ning Yue told me that the lady confronted the third madam in front of all the masters. I didn’t quite believe it then. How could anyone win against the third madam with her stubbornness?”

“But now, after seeing it firsthand, the lady truly is strong. She managed to resolve the entire situation with a calm voice and a gentle touch. It was impressive. You can’t help but admire her.”

Mu Chen was a lively person, and he became more animated as he spoke.

Shen Nian listened without interrupting. As he heard Mu Chen praise Xia Tian, he unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table, a relaxed smile forming on his lips.

Mu Feng subtly nudged Mu Chen, and they both turned to see their master with a smile in his eyes, a look of contentment on his face.

They exchanged a look, feeling relieved. It had been a long time since they’d seen their master so relaxed.

This was also why Mu Chen was so happy after seeing how Xia Tian had disrupted Shen Lan’s plans. Ever since learning that the poison had been administered by Liu Shi, he’d developed a deep dislike for that family.

Meanwhile, while Mu Chen was happily recounting the events, Xia Tian’s mood wasn’t as light-hearted.

Ning Xiang, after hearing Ning Xue’s account, was also furious, not knowing what to say.

Although they were familiar with many of the dirty tricks people played, it was rare to see someone so brazenly treat others like fools.

The pavilion at that moment was full of young masters and young ladies from the Marquis’ family, or their personal maids.

Moreover, Liu Shi, as the head of the family, had always prided herself on maintaining a good reputation and had never openly withheld any privileges from the young masters.

A small trinket like a hairpin wouldn’t be worth the risk of stealing in such an environment. If discovered, it wouldn’t be worth the loss of status.

So, this blatant targeting—was she really treating the lady like a fool?

What troubled Xia Tian was that, after spending so much time in this deep and complex household, she realized that no one here was truly innocent. She had originally thought that Shen Lan was just an impulsive, brainless, spoiled young lady.

But she had been wrong. A wolf raised among wolves, even if it appeared harmless, was still a wolf.

It was only when she overheard their conspiracy that her vigilance was raised. Otherwise, she might have been caught off guard.

Though they didn’t use any particularly clever tactics, they were effective. If she had been searched today, no matter the outcome, just the rumor of it would have been enough to cause trouble.

It seemed she would have to be more cautious in the future and never underestimate anyone, even if they appeared to be a child in her eyes.

As Xia Tian was reflecting on this, she suddenly felt a shadow fall over her head.

Looking up, she saw Shen Nian standing there.

“Brother Shen, what are you doing here? Is everything handled?”

“Mm, I came to see you,” Shen Nian said, reaching out to pat her head before sitting down at the table across from her.

Xia Tian narrowed her eyes and smiled. “You’re here to comfort me, aren’t you? Did Mu Chen tell you?”

“I’m here to reward you,” Shen Nian said, as he reached behind him to bring out a delicate sandalwood box and placed it in front of Xia Tian.

Curious, she opened it to find a pair of jade bracelets, their subtle glow catching the light. “For me?”

“Mm.” Shen Nian took the bracelets out and gently placed them on Xia Tian’s wrists, one by one.

Watching Shen Nian’s movements, Xia Tian didn’t resist, and in that moment, her heart settled.

Having someone by her side made everything else seem less important.

She admired the bracelets on her wrists for a moment, then looked up to see Shen Nian smiling at her. Without realizing it, she smiled back.

Everything felt understood without words.

Ning Xiang and Ning Xue, seeing that their lady was comforted by the young master, breathed a sigh of relief.

They had feared that their lady, who had never been exposed to such schemes, might be left with a lingering shadow in her heart.

When Xia Tian’s mood improved, she started to suggest they play a game of chess.

“You can play chess?” Shen Nian asked, surprised. He’d never heard that she had learned how to.

Xia Tian shook her head, answering matter-of-factly, “I can’t, but it’s a perfect opportunity for you to teach me.”

Shen Nian smiled, amused. “You really do break all the rules, don’t you?”

The two of them sat down in the warm pavilion to play chess, and after a while, Ning Xiang began preparing dinner, signaling the end of their game.

After Xia Tian had finished her meal and they played another round of chess, Shen Nian finally left for Lingyun Pavilion.

The next day, Shen Nian came to the courtyard again to fetch her.

“In a few days, it will be the Ice Festival. The Emperor wants me to take you into the palace to join the festivities and pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”

“Take me? The Emperor knows about me?” Xia Tian suddenly became nervous.

Though Shen Nian didn’t care about her background, others—especially the Emperor—might be thinking differently. He was an unpredictable figure, and a single wrong move could be fatal.

“Mm, when I first entered the palace, I told the Emperor about you. Don’t worry, he won’t cause you any trouble.”

Shen Nian noticed her nervousness and quickly reassured her, “But since we’re going to the palace, we should prepare well and learn the palace etiquette beforehand. What do you think?”

He was worried that someone might try to use the rules against her, causing her trouble. Although she had his protection, there would still be times when he couldn’t watch over her.

“Alright, we need to learn the rules. After all, the people in the palace are all nobles. If I accidentally offend someone, it could cost me my life.” Xia Tian nodded in agreement.

If she didn’t learn the proper etiquette, someone might use it against her. At that point, even Shen Nian wouldn’t be able to help her—at least, that’s how it always seemed to go in the dramas.

“Then I’ll ask a nanny to come teach you tomorrow,” Shen Nian said, relieved that she agreed. He didn’t want to pressure her into anything, so he was just making sure she was comfortable with the idea.

“I’m fine with that. Just have the nanny come to Jinglan Courtyard. I’ll make sure to learn well. The more life-saving skills, the better.”

Shen Nian smiled, feeling that his concerns were a bit unnecessary. This girl always seemed so clear-headed.