CHAPTER 348: CHAPTER 350: TOSSING AND TURNING (4)

The Grand Dowager thought about what Ziwei mentioned in the afternoon regarding how Xing seemed so happy in Xiqiu’s room...

After all, there is a layer of blood ties, even if they’ve never met, they are closer than others.

She nodded slightly, "Go ahead!" After speaking, she continued to listen to Min recite the Three Character Classic.

Xiqiu walked into the green gauze cabinet where Xing was standing on the bed reaching for the hook that held the curtain, his nursemaid looking on nervously, holding out her hands protectively, afraid he’d fall off the bed.

Xiqiu smiled as she approached, "Xing." She walked to the bedside, smiling, "What are you trying to get?"

Xing stopped, glanced at Xiqiu, and stood on tiptoe on the pillow to reach. Xiqiu extended her hand to help him take it down, "Xing wants this?"

Xing nodded, holding the round, tasseled curtain hook, and sat on the bed playing, quite different from his animated demeanor that afternoon.

"What’s wrong with him?" Xiqiu quietly asked the nursemaid.

The nursemaid also looked puzzled, furrowing her brow, "I don’t know either, since coming back from your place this afternoon, he’s been looking a bit unhappy, he wouldn’t even answer the Grand Dowager much when she spoke to him."

Xiqiu nodded but didn’t approach, instead standing with the nursemaid by the bed, watching Xing. Suddenly, Xing raised his head, looked at Xiqiu, and said, "Aunt, I have something to ask you."

In an adult-like manner, with a serious tone.

Xiqiu responded earnestly, "Alright, Auntie is listening, Xing, ask away!" Xing tilted his head, looking at Xiqiu, and asked, "They say you are my sixth aunt, not my fourth aunt, is it true?"

Xiqiu was taken aback, then her face fell. When Xing was about a year old, Princess Chengning married into the family. At that time, he was so young and wouldn’t understand much, and the Grand Dowager certainly wouldn’t deliberately explain his own birth circumstances to him, so who told him that his biological mother was not the Second Madam, but someone else!

Moreover, it’s true she is his sixth aunt, but now, everyone in the Man Mansion avoids mentioning Tong Xihua, fearing it would upset the Second Madam. If Xing were to call her sixth aunt, wouldn’t it be like reminding the Second Madam that she is the second wife and that Xiao Yanyi’s first wife was from the Tong Family and not her!

She has no intention of competing with anyone or seeking justice for Tong Xihua, but Xing is a child, innocent. Who would use a child like this, and for what purpose?

Xing naturally didn’t know how much Xiqiu thought in that moment. He just tilted his head, waiting for her answer.

Xiqiu thought about it, walked to the bedside, sat on the edge, looking at Xing, and said, "It doesn’t matter what others say. Although I am your sixth aunt, I am now more your fourth aunt, so Xing only needs to know that I am your fourth aunt!"

Xing seemed to understand and asked with childlike innocence, "Do you know my mother? What does she look like, is she as pretty as the sixth aunt?"

"I’ve seen her!" Xiqiu laughed, "She’s very pretty, prettier than the sixth aunt!" After speaking, wanting to steer away from the topic, she said, "Who was Xing playing with this afternoon? What time did you come back to Grandmother’s side?"

She thought Xing would shift the topic just like at noon, but unexpectedly, he was serious as he looked at Xiqiu with bright eyes, "Is it true what you said? Is my mom really very pretty, is my mom the best person in the world?"

No child thinks their mother is ugly, Xiqiu nodded, "Yes, she is very pretty... and a very good person too!" She paused and said, "But your current mother is prettier, isn’t she? She is very good to you too, so Xing should think more of your current mother, understand?"

Xing didn’t understand, still thinking about his mother. Suddenly he glanced behind Xiqiu, his eyes lit up, and he rushed over, "Auntie." He opened his arms to be held by the First Madam.

The First Madam, a bit thinly angry, came over, scooped Xing up into her arms at the bedside.

Xiqiu stood up and glanced at the First Madam, calling out, "Sister-in-law!"

The First Madam gave Xiqiu a cold look, holding Xing, and walked out of the green gauze cabinet. Xiqiu was stunned... did she think that Xing knew about Tong Xihua’s existence because Xiqiu told him?!

The nursemaid followed Xing out, and when Xiqiu also stepped out, the First Madam and Xing were talking with the Grand Dowager. She looked calm and unperturbed, but she always kept her head turned, not looking at Xiqiu!

It really was a misunderstanding, Xiqiu sighed helplessly, but had no desire to explain!

The Grand Dowager didn’t notice anything unusual, when Xiqiu sat down, she asked the Grand Dowager, "I heard you called for the Imperial Physician in the afternoon, are you feeling unwell?"

The First Madam also raised her head to look at the Grand Dowager.

"Nothing!" The Grand Dowager’s eyes softened slightly, "The usual medicine wasn’t enough, so I called the Imperial Physician to prescribe some more." She didn’t wish to say more.

The First Madam held Xing on her lap, softly brushing his head as she spoke to the Grand Dowager, "Mother, your health has always been delicate, if you feel unwell, you must tell us. You keeping it from us is good for our sake, but we are worried about you, and this uncertainty makes us more uneasy!"

This was the longest sentence Xiqiu had ever heard the First Madam say, as she was usually concise.

The Grand Dowager laughed, seemingly very pleased, "With you all here, I must take good care of myself, don’t worry!"

Xiqiu also breathed a sigh of relief.

The Fifth Madam entered, surprised to see the First Madam there too.

"Mother." The Fifth Madam came over and took the Grand Dowager’s arm, smiling, "I just talked to Zhou Dao Po for a while, so I came late, I hope you won’t blame me!"

The Grand Dowager’s smile waned slightly, without immediately responding to the Fifth Madam’s words. Instead, she handed Min a book, "Go wash your hands with Xing, and come out to eat later." Min then led Xing, both of them getting down and heading inside...

The First Madam also stood up, "I’ll go check on them." Without greeting the Fifth Madam or waiting for the Grand Dowager to speak, she had already pulled both children into the green gauze cabinet.

Only then did the Grand Dowager furrow her brows at the Fifth Madam, asking, "What was the fuss again this morning? Everyone in the Man Mansion heard you two bickering."

The Fifth Madam’s face changed quickly, she glanced at Xiqiu, her eyes reddening, "Mother, it wasn’t me causing a scene this time, he was acting inexplicably from the early morning, saying all sorts of bizarre things."

"Is this how you speak of your husband?" The Grand Dowager’s face turned displeased, "The Fifth’s temper is usually gentle, always yielding to you. For him to lose his temper in such a manner, there must be a reason. Why didn’t you find out what it was!"

Xiqiu listened, lowering her head to sip tea. She hadn’t anticipated the Grand Dowager would bring up these matters with the Fifth Madam, otherwise, she’d have surely excused herself.

The Fifth Madam listened with a face full of grievances, the Grand Dowager sighed heavily, "Forget it!" After hesitating, she added, "I can’t manage your affairs in the future, but if you argue, you should do it away from the children."