CHAPTER 299: CHAPTER 299: DOWRY (1)

"As long as you’re okay!" Xiqiu said, though she felt that of all the things she mentioned, it was only when she brought up Jiang Shilin that Tong Xiyan’s emotions were stirred. It seemed she hadn’t forgotten Jiang Shilin at all!

She sighed, coaxed Tong Xiyan to sleep, and the next day went to the outer courtyard to find Tong Shen Zhi. When Tong Shen Zhi saw her arrive, he asked, "Sixth Sister, is there something you need?"

Xiqiu took a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Tong Shen Zhi: "Big Brother, I know this might be considered improper, but for Fourth Sister’s sake, can you help deliver this letter to Vice Minister Jiang?" Tong Shen Zhi furrowed his brow upon hearing this, but he knew Xiqiu wouldn’t say something like this without reason. He asked, "Why?"

Xiqiu then told him about the conversation with Tong Xiyan the previous night. Tong Shen Zhi looked at the letter in Xiqiu’s hand without speaking for a long time, his expression changing unpredictably, seeming very troubled. Xiqiu understood how difficult the matter was for Tong Shen Zhi. Yet she couldn’t resign herself without trying, especially since Jiang Shilin had left without saying a word. She didn’t know his true feelings—if he had forgotten Tong Xiyan, rejecting her would allow everyone to move on. But if he still cared, wouldn’t it be a chance for both?

Tong Shen Zhi remained silent for a long while, ultimately not taking the letter from Xiqiu’s hand, but instead said to her, "I will pass your words to Vice Minister Jiang, but as for this letter, it’s inappropriate in terms of etiquette. Sixth Sister, it would be better to burn it." Xiqiu laughed upon hearing this; Tong Shen Zhi’s method was indeed better, as writing a letter was against the rules.

That day, Xiqiu didn’t know how Tong Shen Zhi had relayed the message to Jiang Shilin, but three days later, Jiang Shilin arrived, and he spent a long time talking with the First Master in the study. That evening, she heard Madam Xia say, "I saw that Young Master Jiang myself; he indeed looks quite talented. If he really becomes the Tong Mansion’s son-in-law, it would be ideal." Madam Xia had heard of the matters between Tong Xiyan and Jiang Shilin, and thus expressed some sighs now.

Xiqiu asked, "Did Father agree?" Madam Xia nodded and said, "They say in a few days, Young Master Jiang will send someone to propose marriage!"

The First Master had vaguely heard from Tong Shen Zhi about Jiang Shilin and Tong Xiyan, and although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Jiang Shilin, he couldn’t ignore his sincerity, even considering Tong Xiyan when thinking about rejecting him.

Xiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. After going through so much turmoil, they were finally together.

The roll concludes.

The summer night’s breeze was cool and pleasant, gently blowing through the half-open window, bringing tranquility to the room...

Xiqiu set down the ledger in her hand, turned around, and removed the overcoat she had put on. She then turned off the lamp and lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. In the dim light, she stared at the canopy above her head. The canopy was sent by Madam Luo, said to be in the style that was popular in Yongzhou this year, with opulent peonies embroidered at the top. The flowers were embroidered with plump, colorful patterns, pink petals outlined with gold thread, accompanied by pale green leaves, all done in Su Embroidery. The entire scene seemed alive, swaying gently with the movement of the canopy.

She couldn’t help recalling what Chunyan said when she hung the canopy: "Nanny Cai in the kitchen heard that Miss got a fine-looking canopy. Coincidentally, her daughter-in-law recently acquired a pair of matching canopies said to be for Miss, not as something great, but just to add some flair."

Nanny Cai, as Xiqiu remembered, used to help in the kitchen but was demoted to guarding the gates after making a mistake. In recent days, she frequently lingered around her. Though her talk was a bit repetitive, she was still hard-working, especially her skill in cooking. Just as the chief mama in the main kitchen was suffering from lumbar disease and needed to go home for recovery, leaving a vacancy, Xiqiu allowed her to return to the kitchen.

"She only knows how to do that, always sticking close to the master. Otherwise, how could Third Miss have fallen into the water and been scolded by the First Master!" Chunliu dismissed Nanny Cai contemptuously, saying, "In my opinion, she deserved to guard the gates!"

Hearing the conversation between the two, Xiqiu smiled, saying, "Let’s not talk about Nanny Cai. She just wants to gain some advantage in the kitchen. As long as she stays in line, it’s mostly a matter of turning a blind eye." Managing the household herself for only a year, there were things she couldn’t handle with too much sensibility, considering Madam and Seventh Brother’s stay in the mansion; gaining people’s hearts is always useful.

Chunyan, having hung the canopy, clicked her tongue in admiration: "Madam Luo really knows well. Hanging this canopy in the room makes it feel much brighter!" The Miss’s room was indeed too plain.

Xiqiu nodded slightly, thinking Madam Luo was not just considerate; she also sent a silver note worth two hundred taels as bride price for her!

Just then, Xi’er came hurriedly into the room, sweat dripping from her forehead. Chunliu took out a cloth to wipe her sweat, and poured her a cup of tea on the table, saying, "In this heat, where have you been running around like a madwoman?"

Xi’er giggled, "I’m all grown now, not like before when I always played around. Besides, I never really played much back then. Sister Chunliu saying that hurts my feelings." Chunliu laughed, tapped Xi’er’s forehead, and teased, "Stop being cheeky! So tell me, rushing in like this, is there something you need to tell Miss?"

Xi’er looked at Xiqiu with a peculiar smile: "The servant was helping Sister Daijuan pick flowers in the garden with Liufu earlier. Heard Fourth Miss’s illness has acted up again, probably due to increase in some unknown flowers in the garden. So we filled the basket and threw them away. Liufu felt reluctant, so she said she’d take them, dry them, and put them in Seventh Young Master’s pillow. Better than a sachet."

Liufu said this, wiping sweat off her forehead: "We three stayed in the garden all morning. Guess what we saw?" When she finished, seeing Xiqiu raise her eyebrows with interest, she continued, "We saw Lady go out!"

Xiqiu was surprised—Lady had been bedridden from a stroke for a month, how could she go out? Chunliu didn’t believe and quickly asked, "Explain clearly; how did Lady go out, did she walk out on her own?"

"Of course not." Xi’er waved her hand in denial: "Nanny Fang called for a litter to carry her out."

"Where to? Lady hasn’t left the mansion in months!" Chunliu spoke, puzzled, then looked at Xiqiu. Xiqiu asked, "Is she going to see the First Master?"

"Yes!" Xi’er nodded enthusiastically: "The servant quietly followed and saw Lady going to the First Master’s study, with Nanny Fang delightedly following beside her..."

Xiqiu nodded; ever since Lady withdrew from the Zhou Family engagement, her condition worsened. Nanny Fang went out frequently, often visiting Chen Mansion, asking Madam Chen for a suitable match for Tong Xiyan. Whether Madam Chen agreed or not, Xiqiu didn’t know... Later, Lady even summoned Tong Xiyang back, asking her to gather information through sister-in-laws.

The First Master kept Jiang Shilin’s matter from Lady and Nanny Fang, not letting even a hint slip out, until yesterday when the Jiang Family came to propose, causing a sensation in the whole mansion. Nanny Fang surely was informed, and thus Lady knew as well.