Although Xiao Dingfei didn’t know how she dared to say that such a large sum of silver was a simple matter, he didn’t bother asking further questions. Having received the task, that very evening he went outside the palace to busily run errands, completely acting as though he was watching a show unfold and didn’t mind making it even more dramatic.

When Jiang Xuening returned to Yangzhi Studio, she began calculating the matter of money.

The method she had thought of was actually quite simple, and there wasn’t a second option available at the moment. In her previous life, that You Fangying had called this kind of behavior “harvesting chives.”

However, to harvest chives, one first needed to have a sum of money on hand to use.

During this period, although Xiao Dingfei had “filially offered up” quite a few things, many of them were imperially bestowed treasures and trinkets that wouldn’t be easy to exchange for cash.

As Jiang Xuening calculated and pondered, she set her sights on Xie Wei.

Thus, in the following days, the renowned Master Xie discovered that his mischievous and troublesome student had, for some unknown reason, suddenly become docile and obedient in his presence, even displaying a sort of fawning, sycophantic behavior.

When studying in the hall, her eyes would open wide and constantly gaze at him.

After class, when learning music and chess in the side hall, she would uncharacteristically inquire after his well-being, occasionally pouring tea or passing him a brush.

Even when they occasionally ran into each other elsewhere in the palace, she was respectful and deferential, without a trace of her usual impatience and reluctance.

…

When things go against the norm, something sinister must be afoot.

Xie Wei had long since figured out her temperament completely. He had seen through her act of “showing excessive courtesy without reason—either treacherous or thieving,” but he didn’t expose her. He was content to enjoy the service of this originally willful student, wanting to see just how long she could maintain this “filial” appearance.

Finally, in the blink of an eye, it was nearly time to leave the palace for rest days again.

On this day, Jiang Xuening arrived at the side hall early to wait. She carefully brewed a pot of fine tea that she had begged from Shen Zhiyi’s palace, and even practiced the musical piece that Xie Wei would be testing her on in advance.

When Xie Wei arrived, she first presented the fine tea, then skillfully played through the musical piece.

Xie Wei, having a rare moment of leisure, held his tea while drinking and listening. But from time to time he would size up Jiang Xuening’s expression, discovering that after her music ceased, she would sporadically lift her head to secretly observe him. His heart couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Sure enough, next this little swindler hesitantly opened her mouth: “Sir, looking at your student these past days, hasn’t she made considerable progress and reformed her ways?”

Xie Wei deliberately replied in a flat, indifferent tone: “Just so-so.”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

She held back her frustration. Thinking of the tens of thousands of silver she had “deposited” with him, she forcibly suppressed the urge to turn hostile. Not only did the smile on her face not fade, it actually became even more sincere as she said: “Sir has devoted his heart to teaching me. In the past, this student didn’t know what was good for her and didn’t understand that Sir’s strict requirements were for my own benefit. This student already knows she was wrong…”

Her honeyed words really came one after another in sets.

Xie Wei’s gaze made a circle around her face.

Standing there properly and correctly, looking like she understood propriety and righteousness, seeming to be the image of a gentle and virtuous young lady from a good family. But her inner nature? A pair of restless eyeballs turning about, carrying a somewhat alluring liveliness—definitely not the eyes of someone who had “reformed their ways.”

He said with a half-smile: “Something you need from me?”

Jiang Xuening had long known this person was difficult to deal with, but she hadn’t expected him to ask so directly. She immediately felt awkward: “Indeed, I cannot hide anything from Sir. Whatever this student is thinking, Sir sees right through. Actually, it’s nothing major—it’s just that recently Her Highness the Grand Princess is going away for a marriage alliance. She has treated this student extremely well, and this student wishes to select some precious items to send her, but I don’t have much spare money on hand, and I’m stretched thin. This student still has some money being safeguarded by Sir. I was wondering if I could…”

The light in Xie Wei’s eyes as he looked at her gradually deepened.

Being stared at like this by him, Jiang Xuening’s voice grew smaller and smaller. She only felt that her initial courage to ask for money had flown away to the ninth heaven, and cold sweat broke out on the back of her head.

At this moment, she was even considering giving up.

She could go back and take stock of her belongings, or perhaps sell off the things Xiao Dingfei had given her—that would probably be enough to scrape together a sum of silver.

But unexpectedly, after Xie Wei stared at her for a long while, he actually said: “Come to my residence tomorrow to collect it.”

Jiang Xuening simply suspected her ears had gone bad. She widened her eyes, hardly daring to believe as she looked at Xie Wei.

Seeing her dumbstruck appearance, Xie Wei only found it amusing: “If you don’t come before noon passes, the opportunity is gone.”

Jiang Xuening immediately nodded like a pecking chicken.

As if pouring out a bewitching potion, she let good words tumble out one string after another: “Thank you, Sir! Sir truly treats this student too well. As the saying goes, ‘one day as teacher, lifetime as father’…”

The earlier words were still acceptable, and Xie Wei listened to them as if they were passing wind by his ears.

But when “one day as teacher, lifetime as father” came out, his expression stiffened momentarily. Hearing Jiang Xuening’s small mouth chattering on endlessly, he finally felt that her bright, radiant face was somewhat of an eyesore.

Jiang Xuening was still speaking well of him: “From now on, this student will definitely study even more diligently, so that in the future I can properly show filial piety to you…”

Suppressing the impulse to splash the cup of tea in his hand onto her face, Xie Wei smiled slightly: “You may scram now.”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

A fake saint with one face in front and another behind, truly still capricious and temperamental! Forget it—considering he was willing to return the money, she would magnanimously not haggle with him.

Jiang Xuening didn’t feel there was anything wrong with what she had said earlier. She restrained that small bit of displeasure and took her leave with a bow.

In the afternoon, she left the palace for her rest days.

Early the next morning, she went to find Xie Wei. She had originally thought there might still be some obstacles, but never imagined the other party would be so straightforward in giving it to her, always leaving her feeling somewhat doubtful in her heart.

However, when she walked out of the Xie residence with the banknotes tucked away, she suddenly realized: This was originally her own money to begin with! It was Xie Wei who had withheld it earlier and wouldn’t give it to her. Now, seeing that she was being obedient, he gave it to her straightforwardly—wasn’t that how things should be?

So she simply cast aside even that bit of doubt.

With money in hand, Jiang Xuening secretly went to find Xiao Dingfei to scheme about what came next.

In Zhuqin Hall, however, Xie Wei stared at the piece of wood material that Lu Xian had just delivered, contemplating for a long time. In the end, he still let out a laugh and instructed Jianshu: “When Second Miss Ning took the money and left, she definitely won’t be honest about it. Secretly have someone keep watch and see what she’s up to. The little swindler doesn’t know who she’s going to swindle next.”