CHAPTER 343: CHAPTER 344-345: TESTING THE WATERS (4)

Xing stopped timidly, while Min giggled and threw himself into the Grand Dowager’s arms: "Grandmother, why are you dizzy? Let Min give you a rub!" Just as he finished speaking, he saw Xiqiu come in with a radiant smile as Ziwei lifted the curtain. Min immediately rose from the Grand Dowager’s arms, stood on the bed, looked at Xiqiu, and solemnly greeted her: "Good morning, Mother!"

Xiqiu nodded to him and then paid her respects to the Grand Dowager, who gestured at the stool in front of her: "Have a seat." She then looked at Xiqiu and asked: "Is your health well?"

"I suppose I’ve been exhausted these past couple of days." Xiqiu smiled, thanking Ziwei for the tea: "I’ve been making Mother worry..."

The Grand Dowager nodded slightly, then turned back, pulling Xing, who was staring at Xiqiu in a daze, and raised her eyebrows: "What’s the matter? Quickly, greet your Fourth Aunt!"

Xing smiled, showing tiny rice grain-sized teeth, and sweetly called out: "Good morning, Fourth Aunt." Xiqiu nodded with a smile and replied: "Good morning, Xing! Did you have breakfast?"

"I did." Xing obediently replied: "With Grandmother... ate, newspaper!" Compared to Min’s clear articulation, his pronunciation was a bit off, making Xiqiu smile and nod: "Xing is so good."

Listening to Xiqiu’s praise, Xing beamed with joy, while Min sat to the side, secretly tugging Xing’s clothes.

The Grand Dowager, seeing Xing’s joyful expression and then Xiqiu, appeared pensive.

"Mother." Xiqiu looked at the Grand Dowager and asked: "I want to invite the accompanying maid to the manor this afternoon for a meeting... I’m not well-versed in the rules, do I need to obtain a token from Second Sister-in-law?"

The Grand Dowager instructed the nanny to take Xing and Min out to play, while she herself had Ziwei put on shoes. Sitting properly on the bed, she replied: "No need, each room has its own token. The maids can come and go as they report to their respective masters!" Just then, Nanny Wu came in with medicine, and the Grand Dowager asked: "Do you know who keeps the token for the Fourth Master’s side?"

Nanny Wu glanced at Xiqiu, nodded with a smile: "Not too sure either, perhaps Ziyang or Treasure Bead!"

Xiqiu furrowed her brows secretly, realizing that each room had different tokens, wondering why she was never told!

"I’ll inquire later!"

She watched as Nanny Wu handed the medicine to the Grand Dowager, who drank it in one gulp, and Xiqiu obediently brought over a dish of candied fruits from the table on the bed: "Is Mother’s body unwell anywhere?"

The Grand Dowager paused, unexpectedly eyed Xiqiu, picked a candied fruit from the dish and held it in her mouth, replying faintly: "Old ailment from the time in Miaojiang!"

Xiqiu reflected thoughtfully but said no more, then excused herself from the Grand Dowager and escorted maids and servants back to her courtyard.

After Xiqiu left, the Grand Dowager leaned back on the bed and asked Nanny Wu: "Did none of the maids from the dowry follow her here?"

Nanny Wu packed up the bowl, wiped her hands, sat on the footrest below the bed and started massaging her legs: "I’ve heard she doesn’t have any, only a big maid named Chunyan leads the way, and she’s just about fourteen or fifteen years old, always seems too young..."

The Grand Dowager sighed without responding, while Nanny Wu wanted to say something but noticed the Grand Dowager had furrowed her brows and closed her eyes. After a long time, the Grand Dowager finally spoke slowly: "Starting tomorrow, have the nurse bring Min to pay respects to her. After all, she is the legitimate mother, and the etiquette must not be lacking!"

Nanny Wu laughed, nodded: "I understand!"

Returning to her room, Xiqiu called for Ziyang and Treasure Bead. In Fourth Master Xiao’s quarters, only two maids and four servants attended the place. Fourth Master Xiao was seldom around, so compared to other rooms, the maids and servants tended to be somewhat lazy, especially since Xiqiu hadn’t had the time to manage things these days, and today she definitely needed to inquire.

Ziyang and Treasure Bead, through these days of observation and interaction, had relaxed their initial wariness considerably.

After paying respects, Xiqiu asked: "Today you’re summoned not for anything urgent, I’m new to the household and unfamiliar with many matters, so I’d like to ask you." Pointing at the stools in front, she said: "Sit down and speak!"

Ziyang and Treasure Bead hesitated, their newly lowered guard rose again, and they cautiously refused: "We’ll stand to answer. Whatever you wish to know, we will certainly speak without reserve."

They originally wanted to see how Fourth Master treated Fourth Madam because, without strong family backing, she would be hard-pressed in the household if Fourth Master didn’t support her. If that were the case, they, too, would need to measure their actions carefully...

Xiqiu didn’t force them, simply nodded and asked: "Regarding Fourth Master’s quarters originally managed by Treasure Bead, are his clothes and socks kept there, or are they elsewhere?" She had seen Fourth Master Xiao’s wardrobe; inside was a scattered pile of clothes, mostly semi-old, some unworn, all apparently neglected.

Treasure Bead replied with her head down: "Fourth Master’s garments are partially stored in the room and partially in the study, even in the outer study. Usually, we only fold the clothes Fourth Master intends to wear, and as for which one he chooses, it’s always his decision."

No wonder the situation was as such, he chose clothes at hand without bothering to search elsewhere.

"Who’s responsible for managing the garments in both studies?"

"It’s handled by Tianyi, who serves by Fourth Master’s side. However, when clothes are changed, Tianyi brings them in for us to wash, and after sorting, we return them." Ziyang interjected.

"Thank you for your effort." Xiqiu showed appreciation and asked again: "Is there anyone on duty in the courtyard, who is arranging it, and I’ve noticed a small kitchen, are there cooks assigned?"

Ziyang replied: "Fourth Master seldom resides in the manor, even when he does return, we aren’t needed for duty. The courtyard affairs are managed by me, and the kitchen nowadays only boils water, while meals are uniformly brought from the main kitchen." Ziyang answered clearly, always keeping her eyes downcast, never looking up at Xiqiu.

Treasure Bead, on the other hand, while speaking, occasionally glanced at Xiqiu from the corners of her eyes.

Xiqiu carefully observed their expressions, made mental notes, then looked at Treasure Bead and suddenly asked: "Who currently holds the Deacon’s Token in the room?"

Ziyang’s complexion changed at once, looking at Treasure Bead, who raised her head calmly and replied: "In response to Madam, originally Tianyi held the Deacon’s Token in the room, but after Madam married in, Tianyi handed the token over to me. You’ve been busy these days; I planned to bring it to you but couldn’t find the right moment!" She paused, lifted her head and smiled obsequiously at Xiqiu: "I’ll fetch it for you now."