Xue Yulang himself didn’t realize that his stance had already begun to waver and shift. Xue Mingzhu bit her lip, her eyes reddening as she lowered her head and said, “Are Big Brother and Second Brother blaming me? Do you think I’m being pretentious, taking Ningning’s courtyard? If that’s the case, I might as well give my courtyard to Ningning.”
She choked back tears, “Mother believes me. I’ve just been under too much pressure lately. Only in a quiet place can I calm down to practice the qin. I’m just afraid I won’t perform well in the Bandu Linxuan and embarrass Father.
I really didn’t mean to make things difficult for Ningning…”
As soon as Xue Mingzhu started crying, everyone rushed to comfort her.
Even Xue Yulang didn’t bring up the matter of preparing a courtyard for Xue Ning again.
Only Xue Yan remained silent for a long while before speaking up, “The princess’s Bandu Linxuan is indeed a rare opportunity for Mingzhu. She should give it her all and seize it. Nothing should distract her at this time.”
He put down his bowl and chopsticks and stood up directly. “Mother, have someone prepare a food box. I’ll go to the Fotang to check on Xue Ning, lest she does something rash in her distress and causes trouble for the family at this critical moment.”
Madam Wen looked at Xue Yan with relief. “My son is thoughtful. I’ll leave it to you.”
Fotang.
Nanny Yu’s cooking skills were excellent. Although the ingredients weren’t as lavish as those in the main courtyard, every dish was prepared with care, all tailored to Xue Ning’s tastes.
Xue Ning enjoyed the most satisfying dinner she’d had in days.
The small courtyard was exceptionally cozy until a knock at the gate interrupted the warmth.
Xue Ning set down her bowl and chopsticks. Seeing Rendong open the gate, she stood guard at the entrance, alert and vigilant, but didn’t allow anyone inside.
“Miss, the eldest young master is here.”
Xue Ning walked to the gate. The moment she saw Xue Yan, she was taken aback for a moment before speaking coldly.
“What brings you to the Fotang at this hour?”
At that moment, Xue Yan was certain—Xue Ning was indeed throwing a tantrum with him. It wasn’t his imagination that she hadn’t called him “big brother.”
Xue Yan’s handsome face was cold, his thin lips pressed tightly together as he handed over the food box in his hand.
“Mother asked me to bring you dinner…”
Xue Ning didn’t take it, refusing without hesitation.
“No need. I’ve already eaten.”
Xue Ning stood at the gate, showing no intention of letting him in. Her brows furrowed slightly, already showing signs of impatience.
Just as Xue Ning was about to close the door, Xue Yan spoke up again.
“Xue Ning, you shouldn’t disregard Mother’s kindness. Although the Fotang is a bit far, you used to come here before. If you don’t come now, Mother might overthink it, believing you’re blaming her because of Mingzhu. So, you should come and have dinner.”
Xue Ning’s expression remained impassive. “What I do is none of your concern. Are you done?”
She didn’t even glance at Xue Yan, turning back only to say to Rendong, “Rendong, lock the gate.”
“Yes, Miss!”
Rendong’s voice was loud as the wooden gate slammed shut with a loud “bang.”
Xue Yan grunted in pain, his fingers numb from the impact, and pushed the gate open. His gaze fixed on Xue Ning as he said, “Xue Ning, if you’re angry with me, your big brother, because of that cup of wine and because I told Father about it, then I think we should talk.”
Xue Ning didn’t turn around. Big brother? She found the term nothing but ironic.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
The courtyard gate was firmly shut, leaving Xue Yan standing in place, incredulous, his expression grave, his brow tightly furrowed. It was a long while before he finally lifted his foot and left.
The thought of Xue Ning’s gaze, as if looking at a stranger, made his heart flutter with unease. He vaguely sensed that something was about to change.
Early the next morning.
Xue Ning had to persuade Rendong at length before she finally agreed not to follow her out of the estate.
Today, Xue Ning had something to do that made it inconvenient to bring Rendong along.
After much thought, Xue Ning decided that “resting in peace” was a major life event. Her reincarnation had been unfortunate, her path of kinship fraught with hardship. With only a year of life left, she hoped to find a favorable burial site, buy a good coffin, and be reborn into a better fate, free from any further entanglement with the Xue family.
However, what Xue Ning hadn’t anticipated was how exorbitantly expensive the funeral industry was. No wonder many commoners spoke of saving up for their “coffin fund.”
The coffin Xue Ning had her eye on was made of golden nanmu wood, and the shopkeeper quoted a price of forty thousand taels, leaving her utterly dumbfounded.
Xue Ning then made her way to the most famous Shuzhai Lou in Jingdu. This was the finest teahouse in the city and also a place where scholars and refined gentlemen consigned their calligraphy and paintings for sale.
Xue Ning’s embroidery had caught the eye of Shuzhai Lou and was consigned there for sale, with the shopkeeper setting a high price.
“Miss Xue, I was just hoping you’d come. There’s something I need to discuss with you. The Linyuan Xianyu Tanxiang Muke Pingfeng you consigned here is valued at five thousand taels. Half a month ago, a customer placed a deposit, saying they would return to collect it in half a month.
But yesterday was the deadline, and no one came. Now, regarding the thirty percent deposit, should we follow the industry practice and keep it, then relist the screen for sale, or should we wait a little longer?”
The shopkeeper hesitated mainly because the deposit was substantial, and the person who placed it seemed to be from a prominent and noble family. He was tempted to pocket the silver but also felt uneasy and apprehensive, so he decided to let Xue Ning make the decision.
Xue Ning inquired carefully, unaware that at that moment, Xue Yan and his official colleague Su Zhan were watching her from the staircase of Shuzhai Lou.
“Lord Xue, you were just worrying about what gift to send to Ningyuan Houfu for the birthday celebration to secure a better future. Who would have thought that the legendary Gusu Cixiu Wushuang would turn out to be your sister? It’s truly a case of a pillow arriving just as one feels sleepy.”
Su Zhan pointed at the screen with his fan and said with a smile, “Well, it seems you have a ready-made birthday gift right here.”
Xue Yan looked at the Suxiu screen, praised by many scholars and nobles of Jingdu, his gaze complex as he watched Xue Ning.
He had only known that Xue Ning’s embroidery was decent—she had given embroidered fans and sachets to many in the family—but he never imagined her skills were this exceptional. The legendary Gusu Wushuang was actually her…
After listening to the shopkeeper, Xue Ning hesitated for a moment. Before she could answer, she heard someone speak up behind her.
“Shopkeeper, we won’t be selling this screen.”
Xue Yan stood at the top of the staircase, holding a folding fan, looking down with an authoritative tone.
The shopkeeper paused. “Lord Xue, what do you mean…?”
Xue Yan walked toward Xue Ning, his cold eyes filled with arrogance. “I am her elder brother, so naturally, I can make decisions on her behalf. I said we won’t be selling this screen. Return the deposit.”
The shopkeeper looked reluctant but still glanced at Xue Ning, the rightful owner.
Xue Ning was almost amused by Xue Yan’s audacity. The screen she had embroidered had nothing to do with him. What right did he have to decide whether she sold it or not?
“Xue Ning, with such talent, why didn’t you tell the family before?”
Xue Yan’s tone was uncharacteristically gentle, but Xue Ning was not moved by it.
“This embroidery is mine. What right do you have to make decisions for me?”
Xue Ning looked coldly at Xue Yan, her heart filled with sarcasm. She had personally embroidered many things for her family, but had never received a word of praise.
She still remembered how she had once eagerly gifted her eldest brother a waist sash, and what he had said at the time.
“Such a petty, trivial thing is hardly fit for elegant occasions. You should learn more from Mingzhu about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”
He had looked down on it so much back then—what madness was he caught up in now?
Xue Yan frowned, displeased with Xue Ning’s attitude. After a long pause, he spoke.
“I intend to use this screen as a birthday gift for Old Madame Jiang. I will make it up to you with something else in the future. Is that acceptable?”