CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162: FAMILY AFFAIRS (2)

The Grand Dowager saw her come in, and her eyes lit up with a smile: "It’s a congratulatory gift from the lady of the family, made together by several young ladies... why didn’t you let anyone announce your arrival?" Her gaze quickly swept behind him, and Xiao Yanyi stepped aside upon hearing this, calling towards the door: "Fourth Brother, since you’ve come, why be so timid? This isn’t like you."

Immediately, the voice of Fifth Young Master Xiao Yanting from the Xiao Family came from behind the partition: "Fourth Brother, Second Brother is right. I’ve never seen you act so uncomfortably."

A cold snort emerged, and Fourth Master Xiao entered with hands lowered, his eyebrows slightly furrowed upon seeing the Grand Dowager, he bowed and saluted: "Mother." Then he straightened up without saying anything more.

The Grand Dowager also snorted, turning her head to look at Xiao Yanting: "Don’t always accommodate your wife, you should focus on studying for the autumn examination."

Xiao Yanting, dressed in a lake-blue coat, was not as tall as Fourth Master Xiao, but he inherited the unique phoenix eyes of the Xiao Family, with a full forehead, a handsome and genial appearance. He bowed with a smile to the Grand Dowager: "I understand, Mother." Then he respectfully performed a grand rite: "I wish Mother blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity akin to the Southern Mountain."

The Grand Dowager nodded with satisfaction, smiling: "Sit down, all of you, standing like this, it tires me just looking at you."

Xiao Yanyi took the lead and sat down in the chair, while Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanting sat across from him according to their respective seniority.

Xiao Yanyi smiled and looked at Fourth Master Xiao: "Fourth Brother, didn’t you prepare a gift for Mother? Why not bring it out?"

The Grand Dowager’s eyes flickered as she drank tea quietly, the room fell silent until Fourth Master Xiao finally said after a moment of contemplation: "I forgot to bring it, I’ll have someone send it over tomorrow."

"Don’t bother, it’s just a casual birthday," the Grand Dowager replied coldly, and Fourth Master Xiao, expressionless, didn’t even look at the Grand Dowager, merely replying nonchalantly with an "Hmm."

The Grand Dowager’s hand shook, making her teacup tremble with anger, seeing this, Xiao Yanyi and Xiao Yanting quickly moved to soothe the Grand Dowager: "When will the longevity noodles be ready, Mother? I’ve been hungry since last night, waiting for your longevity noodles."

After Xiao Yanting spoke, he winked directly at Fourth Master Xiao and cheerfully asked: "Fourth Brother came back also thinking of Mother’s longevity noodles, every year if I don’t eat a bowl of Mother’s noodles, I feel this year’s meals would lack flavor."

Unexpectedly, Fourth Master Xiao not only didn’t respond but instead sat coldly, acting as if he hadn’t heard, his expressions detached.

The Grand Dowager was not pleased but increasingly angry, Xiao Yanyi sighed inwardly, stood up and said to the Grand Dowager: "Since the longevity noodles aren’t ready yet, let’s return to the outer courtyard, it wouldn’t do for us to linger here when Mother has female guests."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fourth Master Xiao stood up coldly and said: "I’ll go see Second Sister." Saying this, he stepped away from the partition and exited the room.

The Grand Dowager, infuriated, slapped the table and exclaimed: "Stop!"

Fourth Master Xiao hesitated for a moment but ultimately stopped with his back to the Grand Dowager.

The Grand Dowager spoke in anger: "Go pack your things, starting tomorrow, move back to live here." Fourth Master Xiao was stunned, he turned back to look at the Grand Dowager, his long eyes narrowing slightly, only after a pause did he say: "I’m about to leave the Capital, let’s discuss this when I return."

"You..." The Grand Dowager pointed at him and said: "Your elder brother is fighting the enemy in Fujian with great merit, your second brother manages the affairs and is busy with government office matters, even the Fifth has put aside his books to help your sister-in-law, and you... what have you done for the family, always hiding in that smoke-filled place to muck around, or hanging out with those friends, absolutely clueless!"

The words were heavy-handed, Xiao Yanyi smiled as he stepped between them, saying to the Grand Dowager: "Please calm down, Mother, Fourth Brother really has matters to attend to, when he returns I’ll personally help with the move, he will surely move back."

The Grand Dowager snorted coldly, remaining silent.

Nanny Wu sighed, saying it wasn’t anger, yet here she turned around so furious.

Fourth Master Xiao’s fists clenched tightly at his sides, he flung his sleeves, and without turning back walked briskly out!

Xiao Yanyi was also full of helplessness as he spoke to the Grand Dowager: "I’ll go check on Fourth Brother!" Then he nodded to Xiao Yanting, signaling him to console the Grand Dowager, while he turned and chased after.

Nanny Wu also came to comfort the Grand Dowager: "Please don’t let your anger affect your health, Second Young Master went to chase after him, once they return you can reprimand them." The Grand Dowager massaged her forehead, shaking her head weakly: "I don’t know whom he takes after, being impervious to both soft and hard tactics."

Xiao Yanting half-knelt before the Grand Dowager, holding her shoulder: "Fourth Brother is just like that, but he really cares about you, otherwise why would he come back today... He did prepare a gift, I’ve heard from his servant that it was prepared a month ago... he simply forgot to bring it today."

The Grand Dowager forced a smile: "Who’s interested in his things!" Yet her demeanor slightly improved.

"Shall I accompany you for a stroll in the garden? There’s the Lingbo Hall in the back garden, and boats on the lake, Mother also had water lilies planted before the new year, don’t know if they’ve bloomed yet." Xiao Yanzheng and Xiqiu came out from the bedroom, returning to the room where they had been drinking tea, sitting across the table to chat.

Xiqiu smiled and shook her head: "No need, it’s nearly time, soon we’ll have to trouble others to find us." She wasn’t interested in these man-made plants, however beautiful, having traces of artificiality being penned within yards.

Xiao Yanzheng also wasn’t very interested, lowering her head rubbing her forehead with her fingers, seeing this, Xiqiu frowned and asked: "Are you feeling unwell?"

"No worries," Xiao Yanzheng shook her head and said: "It’s probably due to the hot weather, just feeling a bit dizzy."

Xiqiu handed over tea: "Don’t you carry medicine with you, take one to prevent it; if it gets bad, lie down and rest, don’t wear yourself out." Her illness couldn’t be stressed nor exhausted, otherwise it’s easy to trigger it.

"Thank you." Xiao Yanzheng took the tea, drank a sip, shook her head: "It’s nothing really, quite usual!" Saying this, she worried about Xiqiu, so she smiled saying: "Heard that before your second sister-in-law was pregnant, you made her a pregnancy dream? Is it true?!"

Xiqiu smiled slightly, not intending to deceive Xiao Yanzheng: "Elder Sister’s pregnancy is her good fortune, what’s it got to do with me." Showing she’s reluctant to talk more, Xiao Yanzheng, thinking she’s shy—as a young girl experiencing such a dream can be somewhat bashful—laughed: "But surely you made the cloak, I saw it too, the puppy seemed alive, it’s quite amusing." She side-eyed Xiqiu: "If not, how about making one for elder sister-in-law too? Maybe she could get pregnant like second sister-in-law."

"Your elder sister-in-law?" Xiqiu waved: "No, no! It’s just a piece of clothing; making it for the Marchioness Xuanning wouldn’t be impossible, but the cloak itself holds no special meaning, if the gift is taken seriously but she doesn’t get pregnant... wouldn’t it cause hope and then disappointment."