Chapter 51: 5,000 Taels of Value

Xie Qiao responded in a neutral manner. She was not happy, nor was she sad.

She returned to her courtyard calmly.

However, Xie Niushan’s attitude was soon spread to all of the servants within a blink of an eye.

By then, almost everyone knew that the Xie family’s First Young Lady was less loved than Young Lady Pei, who was an outsider!

Pei Wanyue’s courtyard was just next to the youngest lady’s, and she had the madam protecting her. Clearly, she was being taken seriously!

Xie Qiao rested for three days in her courtyard.

She wrote two letters and sent them out during that period.

She had a rough idea of the Royal Academy’s situation now.

As expected, there was a difference between females’ and males’ enrolment. It was something that was worthy of being proud of for males who were accepted. Meanwhile, if a lady got in with their good result in the examination, it would be too attention-seeking. That was why most chose to pay to get in.

As the direct eldest daughter of a fourth-grade official who had been staying outside, she should better keep a low profile. After all, she only wanted to get in to read. There was no need for her to work so hard.

The Royal Academy’s dean was talented.

The man was knowledgeable, and he was a retired Imperial Preceptor.

One could not pay money to the academy directly to avoid making the place cheap. Therefore, everyone would give things that worth 5,000 taels of silver.

It looked good on the surface.

Of course, her father would give real silver taels. Not only that, but he would also put them right in front of the dean shamelessly.

Nobody dared to chase him out because he looked ugly, stubborn, and not one to be offended.

She had been in quite a rush when she came here, so she had not brought anything valuable.

She could only make something herself.

After thinking for a while, Xie Qiao headed out to buy some materials, ink, and paper.

Pei Wanyue had been watching Xie Qiao’s movements.

“Why is she buying ink, brush, inkstone, and paper? Doesn’t she already have those in her courtyard?” Ms. Lu was stunned.

“The paper that Sister Qiao bought is much more expensive than the regular paper,” Pei Wanyue said, feeling gloomy.

“Spendthrift,” Ms. Lu said casually. She suddenly thought of something as soon as she was done speaking. “That girl had never mentioned allowance since she returned…”

Would that mean that Xie Qiao had been spending her own money to buy food and shop the past few days?

There was only one granny and a maid at Xie Qiao’s courtyard.

There was also a small kitchen in the courtyard. Xie Qiao would get Granny Fang to buy anything she needed.

Ms. Lu was a little stunned at that moment. She was considering whether to get someone to send Xie Qiao stuff. If that girl complained to her husband, she might be punished.

“Don’t you want to see what Uncle Xie would say about this, Mother? Let’s just watch. If Uncle Xie minds, he’ll get someone to send her things right away,” Pei Wanyue said.

Ms. Lu said while frowning, “What if he gets angry?”

Pei Wanyue chuckled. “I don’t think he would? It’s a lot of work for you to control Xie Pinghuai and Xie Xi’s food intake daily. Can’t you just say that Xie Qiao goes to the storeroom to fetch things herself if she needs them?”

Although Ms. Lu thought there was the risk of being scolded, Xie Nishan had always loved her. He would not argue with her for such a matter.

She happened to be able to see how much the father and son valued this girl exactly.

Xie Qiao had no idea Ms. Lu was thinking so much.

She felt rather in a pickle as she stared at the paper before her.

What should she paint? She had to paint something that would be worth 5,000 taels of silver…

A landscape painting? It was nothing interesting. Moreover, she was weak. Painting a landscape would drain too much energy, so she would not paint one as she was worried about exhausting herself.

Xie Qiao scanned around and saw Da Xiong flapping its wings. It seemed like it wanted to fly.

Her eyes lip up.

Horses aside, the commoners kept five animals—cows that represented sweetness, dogs for sourness, pigs for saltiness, lambs for bitterness, and chicken for spiciness. Those gathered the taste of living.

Xie Qiao thought of painting the joy of living.

After coming up with the idea, Xie Qiao painted with brush and ink as if a deity was holding her hand.

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