CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 320: COMING OF AGE (4)

Xiqiu bowed and greeted Old Madam Shen. Old Madam Shen beckoned her over, saying, "Come, let me have a look at you." Xiqiu lowered her head and walked over, and the Grand Dowager took her hand, looked her up and down, nodding repeatedly and praising, "Indeed, you’re a lovely child." She then gently squeezed Xiqiu’s hand, and suddenly, a letter appeared in Xiqiu’s palm.

Xiqiu was slightly stunned and looked up at Old Madam Shen, who was speaking kindly to Second Lady, her demeanor unchanged. Xiqiu was secretly shocked, but she kept up her normal expression as she withdrew her hand and hid the letter in her sleeve.

What happened next, or when the Grand Dowager left, Xiqiu couldn’t recall. After seeing off the guests, she hurried back to her room!

Holding an unsigned leather envelope, Xiqiu felt the paper’s weight as she never had before. Her heart was pounding...

Slowly opening the letter, four large characters immediately leapt to her eyes...

Wait for my return!

Four words, merely four words, without any extra words, not even a drop of ink...

Xiqiu’s vision suddenly blurred, unexpectedly, as she clutched the letter. At the moment her tears fell, a smile of relief appeared on her lips.

This person hasn’t changed his ways; everything he does is always so surprising!

Given that he could write a letter, although the script was hurried and messy, it at least proved he was alive and well, able to have someone deliver the letter back. As for why there hadn’t been a military report to the capital, or why they ventured alone into the grasslands, those answers could only be unraveled upon his return.

Xiqiu breathed a sigh of relief, carefully stored the letter, leaned against the bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep, the most restful in a long time. When she awoke, the room was lit, and Chunyan and Chunliu were whispering outside...

Upon hearing movement inside, the two hurriedly opened the door and, seeing Xiqiu awake, they smiled and said, "Miss finally woke up. If you hadn’t, the First Master would’ve gone to fetch Doctor Hu."

Xiqiu checked the time; it was already the beginning of the hour of You. She had slept a full four hours.

"Miss, the meal is still warming on the stove, should I bring it for you?" Chunyan suggested, and Xiqiu nodded, saying, "Set it outside!"

Chunyan watched in awe as Sixth Miss drank two full bowls of porridge.

After July 20th, Mrs. Liu, the matchmaker from the Jiang Family, came daily to nag. This time Lady had no choice, and with the First Master, they set the date for August 2nd, originally planned with the Zhou Family. Later, when the Jiang Family proposed, both parties had intended for August, but the First Master hesitated due to the Zhou Family. Now, with the Jiang Family having urged for the third time, they simply set it for August 2nd.

On July 30th, Tong Quanzi rushed over from Baoding. Lord Xu from Shandong also sent advisors to Tong Mansion, and Zhang Mansion from Yingtian sent Fourth Uncle as well. Xiqiu was called outside to greet him, receiving a glistening jade pendant as a meeting gift, then withdrew with Tong Xiyu, leaving Tong Xiyan and Tong Shen Zhi to speak inside.

It was heard that Fourth Uncle met Lady, and the siblings cried together, realizing that the concubine had fallen seriously ill after returning to Yingtian, now bedridden, and the young master remains missing. Some say he’s been seen in Penglai, others in Yuhang, yet each search results in mistaken identity or the person having already left.

The concubine’s worry about this, coupled with being stranded in Yingtian by Lord Xu, caused her to fully collapse. Zhang Family’s uncle, known for his fiery temper, promptly expelled the concubine from the mansion. Fortunately, he was not entirely ruthless, providing her with a residence outside Zhang Mansion and servants to attend to her.

The concubine now lay alone in bed daily, requiring assistance with every meal and sip of water.

Xiqiu, upon hearing this, said nothing but felt anxious for Xu Tianqing. Lord Xu was a legitimate official, with considerable authority in searching, yet the continued lack of news concerned her deeply, worrying whether Xu Tianqing truly...

She didn’t wish for harm upon Xu Tianqing. The past events weren’t entirely his fault. Suddenly, she recalled a saying her old roommate often shared: meeting the right person at the wrong time could only lead to heartache!

Could this apply to them?!

"Sixth Sister!" Tong Quanzi pulled her into conversation, "I’ve heard about the Grand Commander Xiao situation. Don’t worry, given my understanding of his martial arts, mere Mongolian soldiers can’t harm him!" After half a year, eleven-year-old Tong Quanzi had grown much taller, darker, and stronger, speaking in a low, confident hum!

Xiqiu looked at Tong Quanzi in surprise, suddenly curious about what his uncle looked like. People say nephews resemble uncles, and since Tong Quanzi didn’t resemble Tong Family males, he must resemble maternal relatives.

"Third Brother, how have you grown so much taller in half a year?" Tong Minzhi puffed his chest as he stood beside the towering Tong Quanzi, significantly shorter by half a head, begrudgingly saying, "Why haven’t I grown?"

Tong Quanzi laughed heartily, with a hint of a warrior’s demeanor: "You spend all day reading endlessly and eat little, unlike me who trains with teachers daily, eating enough to match your’s three-day meals in one sitting!"

Tong Minzhi, unconvinced, frowned, "Stop boasting, we’ll see who’s better later!" He then tugged Xiqiu’s arm, "Sixth Sister, you’ll judge us later."

Xiqiu simply smiled and nodded.

Elsewhere, as Tong Xiyan emerged from the main courtyard, eyes red, Xiqiu approached. Tong Xiyan wiped his tears and looked at them, saying, "Why are you standing here talking?" Xiqiu replied with a smile, "Third Brother was bragging about his appetite, challenging us to a contest!"

Tong Xiyan laughed, "That’s easy enough; why don’t you come sit inside, and I’ll have Daiju prepare food. You can compete right here!"

"Let’s go!" Tong Quanzi swung his arm, dragging Tong Minzhi towards the West Courtyard, with Tong Xiyan lifting her skirt to follow, discussing whether to compete over meals or buns, leaving Xiqiu to watch them helplessly, knowing Tong Xiyan was fearful inside, hence insisting Tong Quanzi and Tong Minzhi create an uproar, distracting her.

They created a ruckus in Tong Xiyan’s room until late at night. If Tong Minzhi hadn’t yawned and fallen asleep on a chair, Tong Xiyan wouldn’t have let them leave. Xiqiu promised to come early the next day, so Tong Xiyan released Tong Quanzi and Tong Minzhi.

Early the next morning, the Jiang Family delivered betrothal gifts and arranged for Tong Xiyan’s dowry to be sent back. Firecrackers sounded throughout and outside Tong Mansion while Xiqiu was dragged by Tong Quanzi to the main house to see the goose sent by the Jiang Family... "Isn’t it supposed to be a goose? Why was it changed to a goose?"

Tong Minzhi patted his head, "Geese aren’t easily caught. Many with merit and aristocracy nowadays use geese as a replacement for weddings!"

"Oh!" Tong Quanzi seemed somewhat enlightened and, with Tong Minzhi, ran off to check the bride price, while Xiqiu with Chunyan and Biwu quietly headed to Tong Xiyan’s courtyard.