Chapter 11: Ten Thousand Gold Pieces—All Thanks to Making Things Up

Green Vine noticed that Xia Jiujiang was toying with her food but hadn’t taken a bite, so she leaned in and asked, “Why isn’t Your Highness eating?”
Xia Jiujiang replied, “It’s nothing. I was just thinking how well the Xia family lives.”
With a heartfelt sigh, Green Vine said, “Your Highness’s good days are coming too.”
Looking at Green Vine’s innocent face, Xia Jiujiang let out a cold laugh. The Xia family’s good life was built on the flesh and blood of the Jiang family, trampled upon Xia Jiujiang’s own dignity.

The birthday banquet progressed halfway, the clinking of glasses and lively conversation filling the hall, until it was time for the main event—the presentation of gifts, which Xia Jiujiang had been waiting for.
The grandchildren from each branch took turns presenting their gifts. This was a showcase of each branch’s generosity, as well as a stage for the younger generation to display their talents and earn a reputation among the gathered dignitaries. A promising debut here would be the talk of the capital by tomorrow.

First to present was Concubine Wei’s daughter, Xia Chan, from Qinglin Courtyard. She offered a golden beast ornament symbolizing prosperity, and a hand-embroidered tapestry of myriad blooming flowers. Xia Chan explained, “The tapestry signifies the Prime Minister’s manor flourishing with prosperity and peace.”
The Old Madam beamed at the golden beast, her smile broadening. “Excellent, excellent!” she exclaimed.
The assembled nobles admired the tapestry, its embroidery vibrant and exquisite, clearly the product of months of meticulous work. They couldn’t help but think Xia Chan, the third Miss of the Xia family, was both lovely and filial.
Xia Chan, feeling smug, cast a triumphant glance at Xia Jiujiang. Such handiwork was beyond Xia Jiujiang’s reach; Xia Chan felt certain that this appearance would outshine her.

Next was Xia Yue’er from Lingxiang Courtyard, the main wife’s daughter. The highlight was always saved for last, and Xia Wentao had spared no effort to secure his daughter an impressive debut.
Xia Yue’er was famed for her elegance, dressed in a pleated skirt the color of misty green grass adorned with scattered blossoms, paired with a snow-feathered shawl. She eschewed ostentatious jewels for a refined, understated beauty—her skin like jade, her demeanor as gentle as an orchid. Xia Yue’er was celebrated as a talented lady throughout the capital.
She instructed her maid to unfurl a grand painting and announced, “Though my skills are modest, I present ‘The Crane’s Vigil: Longevity as the Southern Mountains’ to wish Grandmother endless blessings.”
This painting was Xia Yue’er’s handiwork, a majestic piece that instantly demonstrated her artistry.
With a modest smile, she added, “Lingxiang Courtyard has also prepared a set of Eight Treasures Jade for Grandmother. Jade brings warmth and longevity; I hope Grandmother will like it.”
Lingxiang Courtyard had indeed outdone themselves, presenting a complete jade tableware set—bowls, chopsticks, cups, dishes, as well as hairpins and bracelets—each piece of the finest color and quality, arranged on a tray to create an impressive spectacle.
The Old Madam’s delight was obvious. “Wonderful, wonderful, truly well done, Yue’er. Such thoughtfulness is rare.”
Xia Yue’er, with a hint of implication, remarked, “Our gifts are simple compared to Eldest Sister’s. Now that she’s the Princess Consort of Jin, the present she’s prepared for Grandmother is surely unmatched.”
Xia Jiujiang glanced at Xia Yue’er—she was not to be underestimated. Bringing up Xia Jiujiang, knowing full well the latter’s reputation as a useless figure in the capital, yet pretending her own gift couldn’t compare, was clearly a ploy to embarrass her.
The Old Madam narrowed her eyes. “I wonder what Jiang’er has prepared for me.”

The Old Madam’s solemn demeanor made it clear she intended to humble Xia Jiujiang at this moment.
Xia Jiujiang rose from her seat, casting a glance at Xia Yue’er. For reasons she couldn’t explain, Xia Yue’er felt a chill pierce through her, a murderous aura that made her hair stand on end. But when she looked again, Xia Jiujiang’s gaze was elsewhere—it seemed it was all her imagination, yet the coldness lingered.
Xia Jiujiang declared, “Green Vine, present my gift.”
To everyone’s astonishment, the gift was a large, unremarkable black stone, pitted and rough, the sort one would ignore by the roadside.
Neither gold nor jade, but a bizarre, ordinary rock.
The Old Madam’s smile faltered. She had anticipated that, with the Princess Consort of Jin returning and the Prince at her side, Xia Jiujiang’s gift would be extraordinary—perhaps something bestowed by the palace. She had not expected a stone. Was this some kind of mockery?
The Old Madam seized the chance to criticize her in front of the nobility: “What is this, Your Highness? A gift should reflect sincerity. This is your grandmother’s birthday, and look at your sisters—one brought a tapestry months in the making, the other a painting—and you bring this? Is this not a lack of respect? Or do you, as the Princess Consort, no longer care for your grandmother?”
Her words were meant to brand Xia Jiujiang as impious and disrespectful, damaging her reputation.
But Xia Jiujiang, uncharacteristically demure, replied, “Grandmother’s rebuke is just.”
A flash of pride crossed the Old Madam’s face.
Xia Jiujiang continued, “I know well a birthday banquet values sincerity above all. This stone was my own oversight. Green Vine, put it away. Here is a Longevity Scroll I wrote myself to wish Grandmother blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea.”
No need for ‘longevity as the Southern Mountains’—live too long and you become an old demon.
Green Vine put away the stone and presented the scroll. From afar it looked like a single ‘Longevity’ character, but up close, it was densely inscribed with the text of the Sutra of Blessings and Longevity.
Since the Old Madam wanted sincerity, this should suffice.
One granddaughter brought embroidery, another a painting; so she would present a piece of calligraphy.
The Old Madam’s expression soured—was she to be fobbed off with this? Yet, as the words had come from her own mouth, she could only feign happiness. “Very good, very good, Your Highness is most thoughtful.”
Returning to her seat, Xia Jiujiang remarked, “What a pity for the Stone of Fortune and Longevity.”
The Old Madam paused. “What Stone of Fortune and Longevity?”
Xia Jiujiang replied, “Grandmother may not know, but to find this treasure for your birthday I searched every street and alley. I happened upon this marvel on Xishui Street.”

Xishui Street, also called Waterside Street, was a market where seaside dwellers sold treasures dredged from the sea, and many shops held auctions for rare items.
Xia Jiujiang went on, “This Stone of Fortune and Longevity was won at auction for ten thousand taels of gold. They say it is warm in winter, cool in summer, promotes health and long life—a genuine treasure.”
The Old Madam’s excitement was palpable. “Such a treasure? Bring it here at once—”
Xia Jiujiang sighed. “But in Grandmother’s eyes, no treasure is as precious as sincerity. It seems this stone will have to return with me for my own use.”
Her words landed like a slap, and the Old Madam’s eagerness, so evident when she heard ‘ten thousand taels of gold,’ was witnessed by all—only to be thwarted in the next moment.
If she insisted on the stone, she’d contradict her own claim that only sincerity mattered. If she asked for it, her greed would be plain for all to see. The Old Madam turned pale with anger.
Struggling for breath, she managed, “Jiang’er is right… Your Longevity Scroll… is enough.”
The reluctance in her tone was unmistakable, her anger palpable.
The onlookers’ eyes toward the Old Madam shifted subtly.
Jun Wuwen whispered, “When did you go to Xishui Street? When did you spend ten thousand taels of gold?”
Xia Jiujiang replied softly at his ear, “Just picked it up by the roadside.”
The rest was pure fabrication.
She only wanted everyone present to witness the Old Madam’s greedy, repulsive face.
Jun Wuwen, observing Xia Jiujiang’s calm composure, murmured, “You’re bold indeed. Aren’t you afraid of being exposed?”
Xia Jiujiang sipped her tea. “The Old Madam has already lost face at her own banquet—she’ll just want to move on quickly. Besides, I never said which shop I bought it from. The Xia family wouldn’t risk further embarrassment by investigating.”
Once is humiliation enough; the Prime Minister would not tolerate a second.