My Lady Always Lacks Ambition
Chapter 125 - 126: Wealth Should Not Be Revealed

Chapter 125: Chapter 126: Wealth Should Not Be Revealed

Qin Liuxi returned from Mrs. Gu’s and asked Qi Huang to bring out the box of items Eastern Ghost King had given last night.

"Miss, what are you looking for?" Qi Huang looked at the box of jewelry and precious antiques piled inside and felt a headache coming.

"The gifts from the Eastern Ghost King celebrating births. Find something for Ping’an and the others. I vaguely recall seeing a pair of butterfly bead flowers last night that seemed pretty." Unable to find it, Qin Liuxi simply poured the contents of the box onto the ground.

Qi Huang: "..."

Fortunately, none of the other household members were around to see her doing this; otherwise, wouldn’t they go mad?

These items were valuable treasures, not junk metal!

"Found it." Qin Liuxi sifted through the pile and pulled out a pair of exquisite small sapphire butterfly bead flowers.

Qi Huang reminded her, "Master, the two little masters, Ping’an’s brothers, are boys; it might be inappropriate to give them bead flowers."

"It’s not for them, it’s for the fourth sister to wear." Qin Liuxi examined the bead flowers and said, "I see she always uses a red rope to tie her hair, and she doesn’t have any ornaments on her head. It would look pretty to give her a pair of bead flowers."

Qi Huang smiled, "You really hold that young girl in high regard."

"The little girl is well-groomed and clean."

Qi Huang always knew that Qin Liuxi had a good eye for people; she found this young girl more appealing and pitiable than her several sisters, so she occasionally gave her candies and pastries to eat.

"But, Master, aren’t you afraid that people will accuse you of favoritism if you give her a pair of bead flowers?"

Qin Liuxi didn’t care: "When have I ever been afraid of people’s gossip? What about favoritism? Everyone has their biases, can’t I have preferences? Besides, my things are mine to give to whomever I choose; who dares to object in front of me?"

She put down the bead flowers, took out some paper and a pen, drew an exorcism talisman, dissolved it in a bowl filled with water, and placed the bead flowers inside.

These treasures were fine, but being collected by the Eastern Ghost King, they were tainted with evil spirits, and couldn’t just be given away, especially not to a child like Qin Mingbao who must avoid evil influences, hence the need for exorcism before gifting.

Qin Liuxi then took a jade hairpin and two Peace Locks and added them to the bowl, resting her chin in one hand and playing with them with the other.

"Xixi."

Mrs. Wang’s voice rose at the door, "May I enter..."

Her voice choked in her throat, her eyes fixed in a daze at the pile on the floor which was, no, jewelry?

Qin Liuxi stood up: "Mother is here." She followed her mother’s gaze, smiled, and went over to pull her inside, "Why have you come yourself, it would have been fine to send a maid with a message."

"I wanted to ask if your master would be returning to the Daoist Temple today, to invite him to join us for the autumn festival?" Mrs. Wang regained her focus, pointing at the pile on the ground, "But, these things, are you busy with them?"

"Oh, they’re gifts from others. Mother, if you see anything you like, feel free to take a couple of pieces to wear."

Mrs. Wang walked over and looked down, although the jewelry was placed haphazardly and some designs appeared rather outdated, their craftsmanship was extremely exquisite; they were old but exuded a profound rustic charm, and the materials used were also top-notch.

Qin Liuxi watched her bend down to pick up a phoenix beaded hairpin and carefully examined it in her hands, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Mrs. Wang examined it carefully; she knew its value. This phoenix hairpin was even more precious than the one worn by the Empress.

Then the question arose, who gave it to her?

Mrs. Wang put the hairpin back and looked at Qin Liuxi, fell silent for a moment, then spoke, "You are sensible, I won’t ask who gave you these treasures. But Xixi, a woman’s reputation is most important. Private exchanges between men and women are inappropriate; if word got out, it wouldn’t matter to him, but we women would suffer. If these items were really given by someone you fancy, and he is sincere, you can let him come and propose formally."

Qin Liuxi was stunned.

Qihuang bowed his head and covered his mouth with a handkerchief, thinking that the Eastern Ghost King’s cave might need to move even further away.

Eastern Ghost King: I am not, I had no intention, and I certainly do not dare to covet the adult; I am already dead!

Mrs. Wang watched Qin Liuxi’s expression, seeing her bewildered look, she wondered if she was too blunt, but she had not been with Qin Liuxi long, and if she spoke in a roundabout way, she might not understand. Rather than guessing intentions, it’s better to speak frankly as now.

She watched Qin Liuxi’s expression carefully, saying cautiously, "If you think my words are unpleasant, you don’t have to mind them..."

How strange, why is she speaking so humbly to someone younger?

Qin Liuxi smiled and said, "Mother is overthinking it. These items aren’t tokens of affection; a friend knew I gained two younger brothers and sent these as a congratulatory gift. You need not worry that these items will tarnish my reputation; even if taken out, their origin cannot be traced—the person who gave them has been dead for hundreds of years."

Mrs. Wang furrowed her brows: "Dead for hundreds of years?"

Indeed, since they hadn’t been together long, was there a generational gap in their communication? How could he send gifts if he was dead?

Qin Liuxi touched her nose and said, "It means just act as if that person never existed."

The Eastern Ghost King, who couldn’t even be considered an old friend, silently shed tears of sorrow.

Seeing this, Mrs. Wang changed the topic and asked about Master Chi Yuan.

"My master left not long ago, and I don’t know when he will return to the temple. People from the Mystic Sect don’t pay much mind to worldly festivals; mother, don’t worry."

"That’s fine then, I was just asking. You can go on with your tasks," Mrs. Wang stood up to leave.

"Mother, wait a moment," Qin Liuxi picked up the phoenix hairpin and handed it over, "If mother likes it, please take it."

Mrs. Wang smiled and shook her head: "It’s not that I like it, just that its craftsmanship is quite admirable, even more exquisite than the phoenix hairpin worn by today’s Empress. Since it was given to you, keep it safe for your future dowry. But remember, it’s wise not to flaunt wealth."

It’s no wonder Qihuang tried to stop Mrs. Xie; if she came in and found these things, wouldn’t that be a disaster?

Mrs. Wang added, "Your second aunt loves to take small advantages; in front of her, there’s no need to show off, it’ll save you future trouble. Also, your birth mother does like these items; if you are inclined, you could give her something, after all, she is your mother and did suffer giving birth to you. She is perhaps not very sharp and quite simple, but she is not malicious."

Qin Liuxi did not express agreement or disagreement, just watched her leave, then looked down at the hairpin in her hand and placed it into the bowl.

Indeed, she had her own opinions about who in the family was good and who was not.