Chapter 81 – What’s the Matter? Doesn’t It Look Like Me?

Shen Nian felt bewildered by the look she was getting. It was just a casual comment, why was there such a strong reaction?

Xia Tian, feeling a little guilty, quickly diverted her gaze. “I just glanced from afar, didn’t see clearly.”

Shen Nian didn’t dwell on it and changed the subject.

Xia Tian breathed a sigh of relief. She thought Shen Nian might have noticed something!

She had been hesitating whether to tell him that the mysterious Mr. Xuan Ying was actually herself.

Up front, Mu Feng and Ning Xue, who were driving the carriage, overheard the conversation between the two in the cabin. They exchanged a glance before quickly averting their eyes, both feeling a little uneasy.

After returning to the Wu’an Marquis’ estate, Xia Tian went straight back to Jinglan Courtyard.

Shen Nian also brought Mu Feng back to Lingyun Pavilion.

After sitting in the study for a while, Shen Nian called Mu Feng in. “Go to Ya Yi Xuan and ask about Mr. Xuan Ying,” he instructed. “I want to order a painting.”

“Master, what do you need to ask about Mr. Xuan Ying?” Mu Feng was puzzled. Why was Master suddenly interested in this mysterious figure? Had he discovered something?

“I want to order a painting,” Shen Nian repeated.

“Oh.” Mu Feng hesitated, worried. What should he do now? He had promised the Madam that he wouldn’t reveal her identity to Master without her permission.

Seeing Mu Feng’s hesitation, Shen Nian raised an eyebrow. “Why haven’t you gone yet?”

“I’ll go now, Master,” Mu Feng quickly replied, not daring to delay. He left in a hurry.

Once outside, Mu Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead, walking and thinking about what to do next. Suddenly, he smacked his forehead. That’s right! Mr. Xuan Ying was Madam, so he could directly ask her!

He thought to himself that he would first see what Madam said. If she approved, he would tell Master. If not, he would say he couldn’t find out anything.

Realizing this, Mu Feng hurried to Jinglan Courtyard.

Inside, Xia Tian was sitting on the warm kang, sipping a red date and lotus seed soup that Ning Xue had brought her, listening to Ning Xue share stories about the Yi Bo family.

Just then, a little maid came to call her. “Sister Ning Xiang.”

Ning Xiang stopped and quickly went outside to check, “What is it?”

The little maid pointed towards the entrance. “Someone is here to see Madam.”

Ning Xiang looked, and seeing it was Mu Feng, she went inside to inform Xia Tian that he had arrived.

Xia Tian put down her bowl. “Let him in.”

Mu Feng entered and bowed respectfully. “Madam, I have something to report.” He glanced around the room at Cuiyun and the others.

Cuiyun and the others quickly found an excuse to leave, leaving only Ning Xiang and Ning Xue behind.

“What is it? You can speak now, right?”

“Madam, the Master asked me to go to Ya Yi Xuan to inquire about Mr. Xuan Ying. He wants to order a painting,” Mu Feng said in a low voice, deliberately emphasizing, “Madam, I haven’t told the Master that you are Mr. Xuan Ying, so I’m here to ask for your opinion.”

Xia Tian thought for a moment, then looked at Mu Feng. “Forget it. I won’t make it difficult for you. I’ll speak with your Master myself.”

There was no need for further concealment.

Xia Tian got up from the kang, went to the bedroom, and took a scroll out of the box. She placed it in a long case, then headed to Lingyun Pavilion.

Mu Feng and Ning Xiang followed her.

Outside the study, Mu Feng announced, “Master, Madam has arrived.”

“Come in.”

When Shen Nian heard this, he turned away from his desk. “What brings you here?”

“I heard from Mu Feng that you were looking for Mr. Xuan Ying, so I came,” Xia Tian smiled, her lips curled slightly.

Shen Nian raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

“No,” Xia Tian replied, handing him the case. “This is for you.”

Shen Nian took it, placing it on the desk. He opened it in confusion, pulling out the scroll and looking up at her.

“Open it,” Xia Tian smiled.

Shen Nian unrolled it slowly, revealing his face first.

Shen Nian froze. Was this a painting of him? He quickly unrolled the rest, seeing the full image. It was indeed a portrait of him, drawn in the style he had back when he was in Liu Family Village.

He glanced at Xia Tian, then lowered his head again to scrutinize the painting, finally noticing the signature and seal. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at her, stunned for a long time.

He finally understood what Xia Tian had meant when she entered and said, “I heard you were looking for Mr. Xuan Ying, so I came.”

So, the mysterious Mr. Xuan Ying was her.

He stared at the painting for a while longer before finally finding his voice. “Did you paint this? You are Mr. Xuan Ying?”

Xia Tian straightened up proudly, smiling as she responded, “What? Doesn’t it look like me?”

Shen Nian took in her smug expression and was even more certain. “It does. I’m just a bit surprised.”

Xia Tian, seeing that Shen Nian didn’t seem to resent her for hiding the truth, smiled and explained, “I didn’t want to tell you so soon. I was planning to surprise you, but since you’re looking for Mr. Xuan Ying now, I had to tell you early.”

“It’s definitely a surprise,” he admitted. He never expected this girl had such a talent. The thing was, she’d never shown it before, and he had no idea how she had learned it.

It seemed like she had more secrets than he realized!

Thinking back on the paintings she had sold, he asked, “If you need money, why didn’t you just tell me?”

He immediately felt it was inappropriate. She must have been too shy to ask him for money. He turned to his desk, pulled out a small seal from a hidden compartment, and handed it to Xia Tian. “Take this. If you need money in the future, go to the money house and take it.”

Xia Tian was taken aback. She hadn’t expected that this would be his concern!

She suddenly felt a bit teary-eyed.

Xia Tian sniffed and smiled as she took it. “Brother Shen, aren’t you afraid I’ll take your money and run off?”

Shen Nian corrected her seriously, “It’s not mine. It’s ours.”

“Okay, okay, ours,” Xia Tian said, feeling warm inside. “Once you give it to me, you can’t take it back, though.”

“I won’t,” Shen Nian said, reaching out to gently pat her on the head.

Looking at the painting on the desk, Xia Tian asked, “So? Do you like it? This is the most important moment I had in my heart back then, so I painted it.”

“Mm, I like it.”

“But I just brought it to show you. This is a painting I made for myself. I’m going to take it back,” Xia Tian said, rolling up the painting and putting it back in the case.

Shen Nian nodded, feeling a soft spot in his heart.

“Brother Shen, Mu Feng said you wanted to order a painting. What kind of painting do you want?”

“Originally, I was thinking about the emperor’s birthday in March, so I wanted to prepare a gift.”

“To the emperor?” Xia Tian was surprised. The emperor’s birthday was a big deal.

“Yes. The emperor has liked calligraphy and painting since he was young.”

“Got it. What does the emperor like?”

“Nothing specific. Landscapes, flowers, birds, fish—anything.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry, I’ll prepare it.”

“How much will it cost? Just take it.”

“Got it, it’s all my money now.” Xia Tian shook the small seal in her hand and laughed. “Well, I’ll be going now!”

“Alright.”

After Xia Tian left with Ning Xiang, Shen Nian called Mu Feng in.

This boy had been getting a little too cocky lately, even trying to pull the wool over his eyes.