CHAPTER 335: CHAPTER 336: ENTERING THE PALACE (PART 4)

Xiqiu followed Fourth Master Xiao half a step behind, and the three of them were led by the eunuch back to the Xuanning Marquis Mansion located at the South Arch.

Xiao Yanyi’s carriage took a different path halfway, while Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu went to the Grand Dowager’s room. The Grand Dowager was wearing glasses and looking at the accounts with Nanny Wu. Seeing the two enter, she removed her glasses and pointed to the chairs in front of her, saying: "Sit down." After Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu sat down, the Grand Dowager asked: "What was discussed at the palace?"

"Mentioned the Princely Heir Shen, and asked about the canal transport we discussed some days ago," replied Fourth Master Xiao.

The Grand Dowager squinted her eyes; she had just learned about it, yet the Empress Dowager already knew. She raised an eyebrow and asked: "What did you say?"

"I told the truth, mentioned that Prince Rong is also interested in participating, and the Empress Dowager suggested he discuss the approval with the Emperor," Fourth Master Xiao slowly sipped his tea and spoke, while the Grand Dowager listened with a fierce glint in her eye: "If the Emperor inquires about this matter, act as if you know nothing. After all, Prince Rong is involved."

Fourth Master Xiao understood, and nodded his head accordingly.

The Grand Dowager then looked at Xiqiu and asked: "How is the Empress?" Xiqiu relayed the Empress’s words verbatim and took out the box of incense she had gifted: "It has a pleasant fragrance and she suggested I try it at home."

The Grand Dowager’s taut face visibly relaxed a lot; she sighed: "I was afraid you might be nervous going to the palace, so I wanted your second sister-in-law to accompany you, but she was occupied today... Nevertheless, you managed to handle it well."

Nanny Wu’s eyes twinkled as she smiled and said: "Fourth Madam is indeed clever. Even when two decrees came down yesterday, she handled it calmly. Madam, you were worrying too much."

"You are the cleverest," the Grand Dowager laughed and continued: "Go and prepare the meal!"

Nanny Wu left the room, and as the door curtain was lifted, two children aged two to three burst in, indistinguishable in size. Both wore the same bright red Shu brocade jiaao, though one looked skinny with signs of weak blood and energy, while the other appeared white and plump, with half a dimple by the corner of his mouth, looking adorable and spirited.

The two children ran in, with their nannies protecting them while nervously shouting: "Young Master Xin, Young Master Min, slow down!"

It turned out to be Xing and Min!

Xiqiu examined the two children carefully. The skinny one had some features resembling Xiao Yanyi’s, including the Xiao Family’s distinctive almond-shaped eyes, while the chubby one was presumably Min.

They had grown so much!

"Grandmother, Grandmother!" The two children threw themselves at the Grand Dowager’s legs: "Fifth Uncle won’t play with us, Fifth Uncle won’t play with us!" The Grand Dowager dropped her previous indifferent expression and cheerfully caught the two kids: "Alright, alright, sit down properly. Look at how dirty you are..." She then looked at Min: "Your father and mother are here, go ahead and greet them!"

Min turned his head, seemingly only now noticing Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu sitting there. When his eyes met Fourth Master Xiao’s glance, his brash demeanor immediately turned solemn, and he slipped off the Grand Dowager’s leg, clasped his small fists, and said: "Father!"

Fourth Master Xiao looked at him and gently replied with a "Hmm." The nanny beside him pulled Min towards Xiqiu: "Quick, call your mother!"

Min turned around, squinting his large eyes at Xiqiu, reluctantly paused there... Fourth Master Xiao frowned slightly, let out a light cough, and Min’s expression became stern. He bit his lip, turned his gaze, and bowed, saying: "Mother!"

No calling of "Mom," showing some reluctance.

Xiqiu smiled, a grin reaching her eyes, and said to Min: "Min Ge’er is so good." Min then turned away and huddled next to the Grand Dowager, whispering something in Xing’s ear. Xing blinked his long lashes, looking curiously at Xiqiu.

The Grand Dowager kissed Xing’s head: "Quick, call Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt." Xing called out obediently: "Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, Xiqiu smiled at Xing, and Xing tilted his head at Xiqiu, seemingly puzzled.

"Where have you been playing? Why mention Fifth Uncle again?" The Grand Dowager laughed, took the warm hand towel offered by the nanny, and personally wiped their small hands while asking.

Min glanced cautiously at Fourth Master Xiao without speaking; Xiqiu noticed him nudging Xing with his little foot. Xing then raised his head, watching the Grand Dowager and replied: "Fifth Uncle is at the garden helping Auntie measure the size of the house... didn’t allow us to measure..."

The words were somewhat garbled, and the meaning unclear, but the Grand Dowager understood and laughed: "Are you saying Fifth Uncle is measuring the dimensions of the greenhouse for Auntie? You two caused trouble there, so Fifth Uncle sent you back?"

Xing nodded repeatedly, but Min seriously corrected: "Grandmother, that’s not it; Xing and I came back on our own."

The Grand Dowager laughed at this and pinched Min’s nose.

Xiqiu also chuckled inwardly; Min seemed quite clever. With this thought, she glanced at Fourth Master Xiao and found him lowering his eyelids, slowly sipping tea, seemingly unaware of the happenings around.

No wonder Min was scared when facing him!

"Grand Dowager, the meal is set. Shall we eat now or wait a bit?" Just then, Nanny Wu came in, lifting the curtain and asking at the door.

The Grand Dowager handed the two children to their nannies, and waved her hand: "Let’s eat now; if we wait a bit longer, the weather will turn cold." Hearing this, Xiqiu obediently stood up: "I’ll set the tableware."

She stood at the table with the Grand Dowager’s main maidservants, Ziwei and Lianqiao, and together set the tableware. The Grand Dowager and Fourth Master Xiao then came out, while Xing and Min were carried by the nannies to eat in the Warm Pavilion.

Not speaking while eating or sleeping, the three of them were served by their respective maids as they ate, and Nanny Wu arranged for the tea to be served again.

The Grand Dowager drank the tea and said to Fourth Master Xiao: "You’ve worked hard on your elder sister-in-law’s matter. She lives alone without much furniture, and when she wants to do something, make sure to help her thoroughly and let her enjoy it."

The Old Marquis liked flowers and plants, so the Grand Dowager must have enjoyed seeing family members busy with flowers and plants too! Xiqiu thought internally and then heard Fourth Master Xiao say: "Last year, eight new rooms were built in the backyard of Wujin Bo Mansion, done by Steward Liu and his team. I’ve seen them, and though not as grand as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they are hard to find in the Capital."

The Grand Dowager nodded in reassurance: "You two can rest for a while and meet in the afternoon."

Fourth Master Xiao then returned to his room with Xiqiu.

Xiqiu hadn’t slept more than an hour last night, and having been tense all morning and running around until now, felt quite tired and had no other thoughts. She told Fourth Master Xiao: "I’ll sleep for a bit," then lay down fully dressed on the bed and fell asleep.

Fourth Master Xiao crossed his hands and went to the study, where Tianyi was organizing the desk. Fourth Master Xiao sat at the desk, wrote a letter, and handed it to Tianyi: "Go to Count Wuchang’s Mansion this afternoon and hand this letter to the Princely Heir Shen."