Chapter 89 – Don’t Worry, I Won’t Steal It

“Miss Xia, you’re too polite.” Shen Jin smiled gently, “We should be about the same age, so let’s just call each other by our names from now on, shall we?”

“Sure, you can call me Xia Tian,” Xia Tian responded with a smile.

“Then you can call me Shen Jin.”

“Alright, Shen Jin,” Xia Tian nodded.

“Then I’ll just call you by your name too, Xia Tian~” Hu Mengyao teased.

“Fine, just don’t be so roundabout about it,” Xia Tian said, rubbing her arms.

“Heh, you’re so ungrateful!” Hu Mengyao rolled her eyes.

…

The two of them unintentionally started bickering again. Shen Jin and Lin Sayu exchanged a glance, shaking their heads helplessly.

Outside, the sky had darkened, and the four of them hadn’t moved, continuing to sit, drinking tea and chatting.

After a while, Shen Nian came to pick her up.

Shen Nian was accompanied by Shen Lan.

After greeting each other, Shen Nian took Xia Tian and left.

Shen Jin and the others were also escorted by Shen Lan to see the lanterns, so Xia Tian didn’t go with them.

After leaving the teahouse, they didn’t take the carriage but strolled slowly through the streets.

The street was adorned with all kinds of lanterns, shining brightly under the moonlight, creating a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere.

More people had come out to enjoy the lights, with adults leading children around. The air was filled with laughter and joy, and everyone’s faces were full of festive cheer.

As they walked and looked around, Xia Tian, caught up in the festive spirit, was as curious as a child, stopping here and there, fascinated by the various sights.

Shen Nian couldn’t help but smile as he watched her express interest in everything.

Xia Tian hadn’t eaten dinner, and now she was getting hungry. The group sat at a roadside stall and ordered bowls of tangyuan (sweet rice dumplings).

“This tangyuan is really delicious,” Xia Tian said after taking a bite.

“Yeah, not bad,” Shen Nian nodded, “If you like it, should I get you another bowl?”

“No need, I’ll have something else later.”

After finishing the tangyuan, Xia Tian noticed a stall selling potstickers and decided to buy a portion. Shen Nian and the others didn’t eat, so she ate with Ning Xiang and Ning Xue.

While they strolled and ate, they hadn’t even finished half the street when they were already full.

Seeing a child holding a rabbit-shaped lantern and showing it off excitedly to the adults, Xia Tian suddenly had the desire for one herself.

“Brother Shen, that lantern is so beautiful, I want one too!” Xia Tian pointed at a little girl holding a rabbit lantern and said to Shen Nian.

“Alright,” Shen Nian said, preparing to go buy one from the nearby stall.

“Wait a moment,” Xia Tian grabbed Shen Nian’s arm. “I heard you can win a lantern by guessing riddles. I want Brother Shen to win one for me!”

She said this with shining eyes.

“Alright,” Shen Nian chuckled and ruffled her hair.

“Then let’s go, there’s a stall right ahead,” Xia Tian said, pulling Shen Nian toward the crowded stall.

At the top of the stall was a rabbit-shaped lantern that looked especially realistic.

Xia Tian dragged Shen Nian into the crowd, pointing at the lantern. “Brother Shen, I want that one, the rabbit lantern at the very top!”

“Miss, that one’s not for sale. You need to guess a riddle,” the stall owner quickly explained.

“I know! Please give me the riddle!”

“The riddle for that lantern is a bit difficult. Do you think you can solve it?” the stall owner smiled.

“Don’t worry, if I don’t get it right, I won’t snatch it,” Xia Tian joked.

After the stall owner gave the riddle, Shen Nian thought for a moment and then answered it correctly.

The stall owner was surprised, as many people had tried to guess the riddle, but no one had gotten it right until now. “Congratulations, Miss, this lantern is yours,” he said happily, handing her the lantern.

Xia Tian took it excitedly. “Thank you, boss! I wish your business thrives!”

“Thank you for your kind words, Miss,” the stall owner responded with a bow.

With the lantern in hand, she squeezed out of the crowd with Shen Nian, admiring the lantern as she praised, “Brother Shen, you’re amazing! This is the most beautiful lantern at the stall, and you won it for me!”

“I’m glad you like it!” Shen Nian smiled.

“I like it, hehe!”

Ning Xiang, Ning Xue, Mu Feng, and Muchen, who were following behind, exchanged amused glances as they watched the interaction between the two.

After walking around a bit more, Xia Tian bought a lantern for Ning Xiang and Ning Xue, choosing one they liked. Once they’d seen enough, they boarded a carriage and returned to the marquis’s residence.

The next day, Shen Nian was back on duty, and Xia Tian finally told him about receiving the gemstone bracelet from Shen Jin.

“I couldn’t refuse at the time. I accepted it. Do I need to return a gift?” she asked, not fully understanding the etiquette of the ancient world.

“No need. If she gave it to you, just accept it. It’s a kind gesture from them.”

“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”

“Mm.” Shen Nian stood up, walked over to Xia Tian, and placed something in her hair.

“What’s this?” Xia Tian felt something on her head, raised her hand to touch it, and discovered it was a hairpin. She immediately reached up to take a look.

“Don’t move, just look at it later,” Shen Nian said, holding her hand.

Xia Tian’s face warmed up. “Okay, I’ll look at it when I get back.” She pulled her hand away, opened the door, and ran out.

When Shen Nian saw that she had run far away, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “She actually gets shy sometimes?”

When Xia Tian returned to Jinglan Courtyard, she looked at herself in the mirror and realized the hairpin was in the shape of a rabbit.

She guessed that Shen Nian had thought she liked rabbits because of the rabbit-shaped lantern from the night before, so he had given her the rabbit hairpin.

Her heart warmed.

…

By the time the first month of the year was over, Shen Ke could finally get out of bed and walk around, and Liu Shi’s illness had also improved.

Madam Zheng had returned the key to the house to the old lady even before Liu Shi had spoken up.

“Mother, since my elder sister-in-law has recovered, let her continue managing the household,” Madam Zheng said.

“Alright. Since your elder sister-in-law is well now, take the key back,” the old lady said, motioning for Zhang Momo to hand the key to Liu Shi.

Liu Shi didn’t refuse, accepting it with a smile. She thanked Madam Zheng, “You’ve worked hard these past days.”

“Elder sister-in-law, you flatter me. Only now do I realize that the hardest job in the marquis’s house was always your responsibility,” Madam Zheng complimented Liu Shi.

With Liu Shi now back in control, Shen Ning had been worried for a few days, afraid that Liu Shi might cause trouble for her due to her close relationship with Xia Tian.

The day after Liu Shi had recovered, she resumed her normal greetings. Shen Ning carefully observed everything, afraid of making a mistake and giving Liu Shi a reason to punish her.

Fortunately, Liu Shi didn’t seem to have any intention of making things difficult for her, so Shen Ning could finally relax.

Xia Tian had long finished the Nu Jie (Women’s Code) and hadn’t been asked by the old lady, so she just pretended not to know.

She didn’t go to the morning greeting.

But, only a few days later, a servant girl from the old lady’s courtyard came to find her.

“Madam, the old lady has asked me to pass on a message. She wants you to bring the completed Nu Jie to Ruixuan Hall.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll get ready and go right away.”

Xia Tian agreed, then asked, “Would Miss Mujin like to wait inside while I prepare? I’ll join you once I’m ready.”

“No need, I’ll just wait here. Please hurry, Madam.” Mujin replied indifferently, standing still.

“Alright, I’ll go get ready now,” Xia Tian said, not pushing it when she saw Mujin’s reluctance to engage, and she went to prepare her things.