Chapter 18 Inkstone

The next day.

Xie Sangning had just poked a piece of freshly steamed chestnut cake with a silver skewer when Ru Chun announced with a smile from outside: "Miss, the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue and Miss Xie the Second have come to visit."

Before long, the curtain rustled softly, and the first person to enter was a woman in her thirties. She was dressed elegantly with her hair styled in a round bun and adorned with a red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin. Her face was gentle and graceful, and her eyebrows and eyes bore a five or six-point resemblance to Xie Rubao. She was none other than Xie Rubao's mother, Wang Hui.

Xie Rubao followed behind her, her face flushed. She wore a moon-white brocade cloak given to her by Xie Sangning, with a snow-white fur trim around the collar that made her look exceptionally charming. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xie Sangning, wanting to laugh but not daring to be unrestrained. She just pursed her lips, looking like she was trying her best to appear composed but couldn't suppress her excitement.

"Greetings, Miss Xie."

Wang Hui stepped forward, her voice gentle, "I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing Miss Xie's peace and quiet."

"Madam Wang, you're too kind. Please have a seat."

Wang Hui led Xie Rubao to sit down, her demeanor impeccable, displaying the unique sense of propriety of an official's wife.

She gestured to the maid to present the items, saying, "I heard that my daughter is ignorant and has presumptuously bothered Miss Xie. Fortunately, Miss Xie did not mind and even took the time to give her guidance, and even gifted her such valuable clothes and jewelry."

"As a mother, I am truly grateful. This is just a small token of my appreciation, and I hope Miss Xie will not find it offensive."

She opened one of the food boxes herself, inside which were several layers of neatly arranged, exquisitely translucent pastries.

"These are magnolia cakes and plum blossom pastries that I made myself. I used some seasonal honey, so the taste is quite refreshing. I know that the young lady's household is not lacking in these things, but this is just a small token of my appreciation. I thought I would like to thank the young lady for trying something new."

Wang Hui's smile was gentle and kind.

Xie Rubao nodded like a chick pecking at rice, then added as if to take credit: "Sister Sang Ning, my mother's pastries are so delicious! They're better than many pastry shops in Jinling City! Especially this magnolia cake, it's not greasy at all!"

Xie Sangning's gaze lingered on the plates of pastries for a moment, but surprisingly, he didn't immediately utter any harsh words.

"Madam Wang is very kind."

His gaze then shifted to another box: "What is that?"

Wang Hui hurriedly said, "I heard that Miss likes elegance. These are a few newly acquired pieces of Jiangnan brocade, with simple colors, which I think might catch Miss's eye. There are also some nourishing bird's nest and donkey-hide gelatin, which are perfect for stewing in soup during the winter."

She paused, then showed genuine gratitude on her face: "Thank you, Miss, for your generous gift to my daughter. That shimmering brocade dress and the jewelry are priceless. My husband and I... are truly unworthy of such a gift."

“Bao’er is young and doesn’t know any better. I am so grateful that Miss doesn’t mind her being slow-witted and is willing to take her out to play and broaden her horizons.”

As he spoke, he stood up and gave a solemn curtsy.

Xie Sangning waved her hand, gesturing for her to sit down, her tone still haughty: "It's just a piece of clothing, what's the big deal? It'll save me from looking like a pickle jar in front of me and making me lose face."

She glanced at Xie Rubao, whose cheeks puffed out slightly at the mention of the pickle jar, and her lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile: "However, although your daughter has poor taste, she is not too stupid."

These words sounded harsh, but Wang Hui knew Miss Xie's temperament well and understood that this was already a very high compliment. She breathed a sigh of relief and her smile became even more genuine: "Miss Xie is too kind. It is Bao'er's good fortune to have received guidance from you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Just then, Xie Rubao, who had been sitting quietly to the side with her eyes darting around, seemed to have finally found an opportunity to interject. She suddenly pulled out something wrapped tightly in fine cotton cloth from her small pouch.

She stood up as if presenting a treasure, took a few steps to Xie Sangning's bedside, her eyes shining brightly, and offered it to him with both hands:

"Sister Sang Ning! Look at this! I found this especially for you!"

Ru Chun stepped forward, carefully took the package, and opened it layer by layer in front of Xie Sangning.

The fine cotton cloth was removed, revealing an inkstone.

This inkstone has an ancient and simple shape, a deep and dark color like ink, and a delicate and warm texture like cream.

The inkstone exudes a calm and understated noble air.

This inkstone is no ordinary item.

"Bao'er! You! Why did you take this out?!"

When Wang Hui saw the object clearly, she was both surprised and anxious, and almost stood up from her chair.

Xie Rubao, oblivious to everything, excitedly boasted to Xie Sangning, "Sister Sangning! This is my father's most treasured possession from his study! He says it's an antique from the previous dynasty, called a Snow Wave Inkstone, it's incredibly precious! My father never lets anyone touch it, he even cleans it himself! I noticed you like calligraphy and painting, this is perfect for you! I secretly brought it to you while my father was at the yamen!"

Her little face was flushed, and she had a "praise me for being smart" expression on her face.

Wang Hui was so angry that she clutched her chest, pointed at Xie Rubao, and said, both laughing and crying, "You...you girl! That's your father's lifeline! How dare you steal it! Besides, how can you give away something stolen! That's just too rude!"

She turned to Xie Sangning, her face full of apology and embarrassment, "Miss Xie, I'm so sorry! This girl is spoiled rotten and has no manners! Please don't mind!"

"It's alright."

She looked at Xie Rubao, who was eagerly awaiting praise and completely unaware of the trouble she had caused, and then at Wang Hui, who was both angry and anxious, looking embarrassed.

After a long while, a rare smile, genuinely warm, slowly bloomed on that stunningly beautiful face.

The smile was faint, yet as gentle as the first melting of snow.

"Heh..." she chuckled softly, "Xie Rubao, you really are a... simpleton."

She reached out and gently picked up the inkstone from the fine cotton cloth held by Ru Chun, her fingertips lightly brushing against it.

"I'll accept the inkstone."

Xie Sangning raised his eyes and looked at Wang Hui: "Since this pickle jar is a token of my affection, it would seem pretentious of me not to accept it. Madam Lao, go back and tell Vice Minister Xie that his manhood is with me and is being kept safe. If he really misses it, he can come to my Ruixue Tower to pay his respects at any time."

Her tone was slightly teasing, but her eyes were serious.

Wang Hui was stunned. She hadn't expected Xie Sangning to accept it so readily and say such things.

Looking at her daughter's smug little expression that seemed to say, "See? I knew Sister Sang Ning would like it," she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

This foolish daughter didn't catch the hidden meaning at all.

This is a promise that I will protect my silly daughter from now on!

“This…how can this be…” Wang Hui still wanted to refuse.

"Makes it possible."

Miss Xie's infamy resounded throughout Jinling, but at this moment, Wang Hui truly felt that the infamy was only external; what was inside was probably a soft heart.

The daughter's accidental, foolish act of thievery seemed to have inadvertently opened a crack in Xie Sangning's heart.