Chapter 91 – The Young Master’s Wife, Don’t Lie with Your Eyes Open

In the evening, after Shen Nian returned from his shift, Xia Tian went to Lingyun Pavilion to visit him.

She told Shen Nian that starting tomorrow, Liu Shi would have her follow and learn household management tasks.

Shen Nian thought for a moment and said, “Let’s take a look first. If she makes things difficult for you, then we won’t learn from her.”

“Mm. I’ve heard that Shen Ke can already get out of bed. I’m not sure if he’ll cause trouble for you, so be careful,” Xia Tian reminded Shen Nian.

Shen Ke couldn’t possibly not know that Shen Nian was behind his injury. Otherwise, why would it be so suspicious, especially since Shen Nian wore the same color clothes as him?

Moreover, now that his guards were dead, although there was no evidence, it might make him even more resentful of Shen Nian.

“Okay, I’ll be careful. Don’t worry,” Shen Nian nodded and then reminded Xia Tian, “Be cautious around Liu Shi as well. Don’t touch anything in her place.”

“I understand. I’ll be careful with what I eat too,” Xia Tian said.

The two of them discussed the potential situations and possible issues, and then Xia Tian returned to Jinglan Courtyard.

The next day, Xia Tian woke up early, tidied up, wrapped two pieces of snacks in a handkerchief, and put them in her sleeve pocket before heading with Ning Xiang to Liu Shi’s courtyard to pay her respects.

Today was her first day returning to pay respects. After entering Liu Shi’s courtyard, she stood with Shen Ning and the others, waiting for Liu Shi to summon them.

For some reason, today they had been standing in the courtyard for almost half an hour, but Liu Shi still hadn’t sent any maid to call them in.

Xia Tian quietly asked Shen Ning, “Did you wait this long a few days ago?”

“No, usually it takes at most two rounds of tea time. I don’t know why today, but she still hasn’t called us in,” Shen Ning said, also puzzled.

Liu Shi usually managed appearances well and rarely made things difficult for them in matters like this. If this was spread around, it wouldn’t be good for her reputation for being lenient with others.

Xia Tian didn’t know what was going on today and didn’t rashly ask any questions.

After waiting for another round of tea time, a maid came out carrying a food box. Only then did Xia Tian realize that Liu Shi was having breakfast at the moment.

No wonder, usually they finished paying respects and then went back for breakfast, but today, Liu Shi had already eaten beforehand.

Xia Tian was confused but didn’t show it. She followed the others to pay respects to Liu Shi.

Since it was getting late, Liu Shi didn’t say any unnecessary words and immediately led them to pay respects to the Old Madam.

After coming out of the Old Madam’s courtyard, everyone else was preparing to return to their respective courtyards, but Liu Shi stopped Xia Tian. “It’s already late. We should go straight to the meeting hall now. You can learn more from me today.”

“Alright, Mother,” Xia Tian couldn’t refuse, so she agreed.

Now she understood why Liu Shi had finished breakfast early—she was waiting for them there!

Fortunately, she had prepared and brought two snacks with her.

Xia Tian followed behind Liu Shi, and when Ning Xiang also seemed ready to follow, Xia Tian directly instructed her, “Go back and have breakfast first. After you’re done, bring me something to eat.”

Upon hearing Xia Tian directly tell her maid to return to get food, Liu Shi wasn’t happy. “We’ll finish here soon. It’s fine to eat after we’re done.”

“Alright, Mother,” Xia Tian didn’t argue, just gave Ning Xiang a signal, and Ning Xiang turned and returned to Jinglan Courtyard.

Liu Shi didn’t mind one maid returning as long as the wild girl behaved.

When they reached the meeting hall, many of the housekeepers were already waiting.

Liu Shi immediately sat in the main seat and began handling the reports from the housekeepers.

Xia Tian didn’t speak, just stood behind Liu Shi. There was no other option. The only chair in the hall was the one where Liu Shi sat. It was unclear whether Liu Shi had ordered it this way or if it was just the arrangement.

After an hour, when all the housekeepers had reported their tasks and received new assignments, Xia Tian had not seen Ning Xiang return and wasn’t sure what had happened.

At that moment, Ning Xiang was outside the hall, stopped by Liu Shi’s people. They told her that since Liu Shi was handling matters, no one was allowed to enter and disturb her.

Ning Xiang explained that she had come with the Young Master’s wife, but they still wouldn’t let her in.

Helpless, Ning Xiang could only wait outside the door.

After all the housekeepers left, Xia Tian thought she could return, but then Liu Shi ordered someone to bring over a stack of account books. “These are last month’s account books. You look through them first. If you don’t understand anything, ask me.”

Xia Tian was still in a daze when Liu Shi instructed Qiuyue, “You stay here with the Young Master’s wife. She can go back after she’s done looking.”

“Understood, Madam.” Qiuyue curtsied in response.

Liu Shi finished her orders and left with the others.

Xia Tian’s lips twitched, and she turned to look at Qiuyue.

Qiuyue, expressionless, looked at her and said, “Young Master’s wife, please. I’ll stay here with you.”

Seeing that Qiuyue had no intention of moving a chair for her, Xia Tian could only move the chair that Liu Shi had just sat in and sat down to look through the account books.

Ning Xiang saw that Liu Shi had left and was preparing to go inside to find the Young Master’s wife, but the same maid who had stopped her earlier was still guarding the door, not letting her in.

Ning Xiang had no choice but to continue waiting outside.

Seeing that Ning Xiang hadn’t returned for a long time, Xia Tian knew that Liu Shi must have stopped her.

Helpless, she had no choice but to sit down and begin flipping through the account books.

After flipping through one, she became hungry and took out the snacks from her sleeve pocket, eating while reading.

Qiuyue, who had been standing nearby, was displeased. “Young Master’s wife, you can’t eat while reading the account books. Please put the snacks away.”

“Why can’t I eat?” Xia Tian asked with her mouth full, speaking indistinctly.

“Madam said that the Young Master’s wife must finish reading all the account books before eating anything,” Qiuyue mentioned, bringing up Liu Shi’s words.

Xia Tian leisurely ate another bite before responding seriously, “When did Madam say that? I didn’t hear it. Could it be that Qiuyue is deliberately using Madam’s name?”

“Madam said it. I wouldn’t dare lie,” Qiuyue said coldly.

“But why can’t I eat? It doesn’t interfere with my reading the books,” Xia Tian said as she finished the last bite of her snack. “Well, I won’t eat then.”

Qiuyue was speechless at her actions, but since Xia Tian had finished the snacks, she started to read the account books.

After Xia Tian quickly flipped through over ten books, she said to Qiuyue, “Qiuyue, I’ve finished reading the books.”

Qiuyue looked at the time and seeing it hadn’t even been two rounds of tea, she sighed, “Young Master’s wife, Madam said the books must be read carefully. You can’t just skim through them.”

“Who said I skimmed through them? I looked at them carefully just now,” Xia Tian said with a smile.

“I’ve been standing here the whole time. Don’t lie with your eyes open!” Qiuyue’s face grew cold.

“I said I looked at them carefully, and I did. You can ask anyone,” Xia Tian replied confidently.