CHAPTER 346: CHAPTER 348: TOSSING AND TURNING (2)

It seems like someone was saying bad things about her.

Xiqiu was surprised and was just about to ask who Xing was talking about, when Bihuai arrived with a servant carrying a food box. Accompanying them was Ziwei. Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, and Bihuai quickly explained with a smile, "I mentioned that there aren’t many people serving the Madam here, and I fear Young Master Xin might not be well attended. So I consulted Nanny Wu, and she sent Sister Ziwei to accompany me here."

Xiqiu gave Bihuai a long look, then turned her head and instructed someone to place the buns and porridge on the table by the bed, then greeted Ziwei, "Ziwei, please have a seat!"

Ziwei sat half-seated not far from the nanny, laughing, "Nanny Wu was worried that Young Master Xin might trouble the Fourth Madam, so she sent me along to keep an eye on things!"

She was explaining it to her, and Xiqiu nodded with a smile, understanding Nanny Wu’s kindness and naturally wouldn’t refuse it: "Thank you for the trouble, Miss Ziwei."

Then turning her head again, she asked someone to hand a napkin to wipe Xing’s face, who was already leaning over the table, staring wide-eyed at the buns about the size of his fists. Xiqiu was perplexed and asked him, "Why aren’t you eating?"

Xing tilted his head, gazing at the buns for a moment before suddenly saying, "Last night, I dreamed about buns."

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow: "Oh. And then?" Xing thought some more and replied, "I also dreamed about Fourth Aunt."

What do buns have to do with her? Xiqiu chuckled, nodding: "Ah, so you’re just staring at the buns?" trying to guide him into speaking more.

Xing mulled it over before trying hard to articulate: "I... I’m telling the buns that I dreamed about them last night." Suddenly, he lifted his head to look at Xiqiu: "Fourth Aunt, did you dream of me?"

Hearing this, the nanny and Ziwei’s faces changed slightly, glancing at Xiqiu with some embarrassment.

Xiqiu was taken aback but responded truthfully: "Fourth Aunt did not dream of you." After speaking, fearing his disappointment, she added an explanation: "Fourth Aunt rarely dreams when she sleeps."

Xing was full of confusion, looking at Xiqiu puzzled: "I dreamed of you, why didn’t you dream of me?" With large eyes, he looked straight at Xiqiu before suddenly scooting over to her, pulling her hand with his chubby little hand, staring intently at her: "I see you right now, don’t you see me too?"

This sentence was quite long, and he said it without missing a beat!

Xiqiu didn’t understand his implication, so she nodded: "I see you, you are right in front of Fourth Aunt."

The nanny, Ziwei, and Chunyan exchanged baffled looks, unsure of what Xing was trying to say.

Xing pursed his lips, looking a tad confused: "I saw you in my dream, so you should see me too."

So that’s what he meant!

Everyone in the room turned their heads and secretly chuckled!

But Xiqiu was somewhat troubled. Should she explain what dreams are?

The nanny noticed Xiqiu’s apparent difficulty and immediately went to pick up Xing: "Young Master Xin, let’s return to the Grand Dowager lest she worries about not finding you." But Xing was not pleased: "I haven’t eaten the buns yet!"

He then wriggled out of the nanny’s arms, returning to the table to take small bites of the bun.

The matter of dreams was brushed aside, and Xiqiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief!

It’s not that she couldn’t explain it; it’s just that given Xing’s status, it wasn’t her place to take over his education.

Xing ate more than half a bun and drank a couple of sips of porridge, then patted his little tummy, smiling contentedly: "I’m full, thank you, Fourth Aunt."

"You’re welcome!" Xiqiu was just about to say more when the door curtain lifted, and Min’s small figure appeared at the door. He dutifully greeted Xiqiu: "Mother." Then turned frowning at Xing: "Why are you here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere!"

Xing looked at Min, huffing indignantly and turning away: "Hmph!"

Min’s round face showed a hint of embarrassment, glancing sideways at Xiqiu, blushing: "I... I’ll let you play with Tiao Tiao, come back with me to Grandmother’s?"

Xing, hearing about Tiao Tiao, immediately clamored for the nanny to put on his shoes, eagerly asking Min: "You’re really giving it to me?" Min nodded seriously.

"Alright!" Xing beamed, getting off the bed. Min immediately went over to grab his hand: "Tiao Tiao is in Grandmother’s room, I’ll give it to you when we get back."

"Then let’s go back." Xing, suspecting nothing, nodded quickly.

Xiqiu noticed a wiggling strand of grasshopper’s antenna peeking out from Min’s small pocket, evidently trying to lure Xing away from here.

She laughed; Min was indeed very clever, especially for a child not yet three years old.

The two of them held hands, bouncing happily out the door while their respective nannies hurried to follow. Ziwei showed an awkwardly apologetic expression: "Fourth Madam... the two little masters..." Unsure of what to say! She didn’t dare say more, worried Xiqiu might take offense!

Xiqiu looked at the two little figures, waving with a smile: "I’m fine, you go on, don’t let them wander off elsewhere."

Ziwei nodded, bade farewell, and quickly chased after them.

After they left, Bihuai anxiously stood before Xiqiu: "Madam, I only took the liberty of inviting Miss Ziwei here because I feared Young Master Xin might cause trouble." She glanced at Xiqiu with trepidation.

"You did well." Xiqiu acknowledged appreciatively: "Xing is young and doesn’t understand things; although we can’t refuse his visit, we must still be cautious given his status here!"

Bihuai sighed in relief.

She was really afraid the Fourth Madam would accuse her of overstepping. The Marquis Mansion was not like the Tong Mansion, and since her arrival, Bihuai had been on high alert every day, fearing making any missteps. When she saw Young Master Xin in the room, her heart tightened. Young Master Xin was the future Princely Heir of this mansion—many coveted his position. Moreover, his situation was complicated, with his biological mother having passed away, and now having a high-status stepmother. If anything went amiss, in her opinion, it would be quite usual!

If anything happened to Young Master Xin, it didn’t concern her, but she couldn’t allow it to implicate the Fourth Madam either!

So, she went to report to Nanny Wu and invited Ziwei to come!

With her previous worries dissipated, Bihuai cautiously informed Xiqiu: "Madam, earlier when I went to the Grand Dowager’s courtyard, I happened to see the Imperial Physician leaving her room."

Xiqiu slightly raised her eyebrows, asking: "The Grand Dowager’s room?" She recalled the medicine the Grand Dowager drank in the morning, said to be for a condition she had since returning from Miaojiang. Was it an old ailment? But judging by Nanny Wu’s demeanor, it didn’t seem serious. What illness could it be?!

"Nanny Wu personally escorted the Imperial Physician out. That’s when I happened to meet her..." Bihuai was still speaking when Biwu entered from outside with some pastries, placing them on the table. With a smile, she told Xiqiu, "These were sent from the kitchen, made by Second Madam for Young Master Xin. Hearing that Young Master Xin was here, they sent them over!"