CHAPTER 349: CHAPTER 351: TOSSING AND TURNING (5)

The Fifth Madam wiped away her tears and lowered her head: "Understood!"

The Grand Dowager said no more, turning her head to ask Xiqiu, "Has Fourth spoken about when he will return?"

"He mentioned it would take about two or three days." Xiqiu replied with a smile.

It was at that moment that Nanny Wu entered to ask where the meal should be served, and the Grand Dowager said, "Serve it in the adjoining room." Nanny Wu then left with a smile, and the Grand Dowager called for Ziwei, "Go and see if the Second Madam has arrived."

Ziwei acknowledged and left, and Xiqiu glanced at the Fifth Madam before standing up: "Mother, I’ll go help Nanny Wu set the tableware." The Grand Dowager nodded, and Xiqiu left the Warm Pavilion.

The Fifth Madam stood behind and looked at Xiqiu with disdain.

She wiped her tears and sat beside the Grand Dowager, speaking softly, "Mother, I was wrong, please don’t be angry with me!" As she spoke, she also clung to the Grand Dowager’s arm.

The Grand Dowager’s gaze flickered slightly, and she glared at the Fifth Madam with some annoyance: "Don’t speak to me about this; you handle your own life’s matters from now on!" The Fifth Madam’s body stiffened, and she clutched the handkerchief in her hand: "Mother, I didn’t intend to argue with him. It’s because he heard something from Fourth brother over there and came back insisting that it was me who spoke. He said many harsh things without distinguishing right from wrong. How could I not be upset with him!"

The Grand Dowager knitted her brows and asked, "Why is this involving Fourth again?"

The Fifth Madam wiped her tears and said, "I don’t know either. Luckily, Fourth sister-in-law is here. Mother, why don’t you ask Fourth sister-in-law!"

"Xiqiu?" The Grand Dowager hesitated, squinting at the Fifth Madam with scrutiny, her gaze as sharp as arrows with an unusual sternness, she rebuked, "She just married into the family a few days ago. Even if there were issues, she wouldn’t spread them. Don’t try to fool me with words!"

The Fifth Madam was taken aback, not expecting the Grand Dowager to defend Xiqiu, and she said with a slightly displeased expression: "Mother, I’m not saying Fourth sister-in-law spoke about it. It’s just that Fourth sister-in-law knows about this matter. Yesterday, discussing the feng shui layout of the residence with Fourth sister-in-law, we mentioned the greenhouse that First sister-in-law wants to build. Fourth sister-in-law also felt the feng shui was important and thought of advising First sister-in-law to choose another location!" She paused, "If you don’t believe me, Mother, go ask Fourth sister-in-law."

The Grand Dowager waved her hand, her face completely cold: "I’m not senile yet, don’t talk to me about these useless things." With that, she stood up: "It’s late, Sheng is home alone, you’d better hurry back!"

She didn’t even ask her to stay for dinner!

The Fifth Madam’s face turned pale as she muttered and retreated.

When the Second Madam arrived, Xiqiu accompanied the Grand Dowager for the meal, and they each had tea before leaving the Grand Dowager’s presence.

She was heading in the same direction as Mrs., but Mrs. walked straight out without even greeting her, making Chunyan feel indignant: "That’s so bully!"

Xiqiu also sighed. She didn’t want to open her heart to others, and naturally, she couldn’t expect others to be enthusiastic toward her. If everyone continued to be polite, it wasn’t a bad thing.

She feared someone might even refuse to maintain that level of politeness!

With this thought, her gaze fell towards Pinglan Pavilion’s direction.

Once Xiqiu and the others had left, Nanny Wu spoke with the Grand Dowager in the room: "They started arguing right after returning, and now they’re behind closed doors in an argument!"

The Grand Dowager placed the teacup on the tea table, her face angry: "Let them argue; it’s just about building a greenhouse, yet so much trouble has been stirred up."

Nanny Wu sighed without speaking.

The Grand Dowager then asked: "What is the Fourth family doing?" Nanny Wu replied with a smile: "She’s back in her room, and when I went by, she was sketching designs on the bed, and next to her was Fourth Master’s shoe pattern, it seems like she’s planning to make shoes for him."

The Grand Dowager’s expression finally softened a bit: "Yesterday, Fifth’s went to visit her, and I thought today she might start putting her trust in those supernatural beliefs...Lucky she’s clever!"

Nanny Wu nodded quietly; although Fourth Madam had just married into the family, over the past couple of days she had observed quietly, the Fourth Madam was much more astute than she had imagined. She had initially worried she wouldn’t be favored by the Grand Dowager, causing unnecessary trouble, or perhaps she’d align with the Fifth Madam, trying to build alliances to secure her footing in the household.

But now it seems she understood clearly that to secure her position in this family, Fourth Master was her utmost priority!

Xiqiu, returning to her room, picked up a brush to sketch designs for a while. Chunliu, standing beside her, seemed gloomy and hesitant, until she looked up at her and asked, "What is it?"

Chunliu snorted and said, "Miss, let’s petition the Grand Dowager to move out. The people in this mansion treat you poorly, and we’re just suffer unjustly here!" Saying this, she sat to the side in frustration.

Xiqiu set the brush down, smiled, and said, "Isn’t it the same no matter where we are? Do you think that by moving out, all troubles would cease? The Grand Dowager is living here; can we completely detach ourselves? Things might become even more complicated than being inside the mansion."

"Miss." Chunliu walked over and looked at Xiqiu: "You should do something after all. If the Grand Dowager likes you, with her support, your life in the mansion would be much easier!"

Xiqiu smiled quietly, saying nothing.

Chunliu was anxiously worried but didn’t dare to say anything further.

After washing up, Xiqiu was preparing to rest when Xiao Yanzheng suddenly rushed over at night, rubbing her hands and squeezed into Xiqiu’s room: "I can’t sleep alone, I’ll stay with you tonight."

Xiqiu was taken aback, pulling her in, "If you wanted to come, you should have come earlier, why come so late?" While speaking, she let her in, "Did you tell Mother?"

Xiao Yanzheng removed her overcoat, crawled onto the bed, and curled up: "No! Mother must be asleep by now, I’ll tell her tomorrow." Having said that, she peeked out her big eyes and blinked at Xiqiu.

Xiqiu chuckled and called for Chunyan: "You take a servant and run a trip, tell Nanny Wu that Second Miss is sleeping here tonight."

"Understood, I’ll go now." She said taking the lantern from the corner and leading a servant with her, heading out of the courtyard toward the Grand Dowager’s abode.

"Fifth Young Master, Fifth Young Master, where are you going?" Qingshuang followed him out from the room, pulling Xiao Yanting’s hand: "The Madam was just speaking out of anger, don’t take it to heart."

Xiao Yanting flung Qingshuang’s hand away disdainfully, left without looking back.

Qingshuang’s expression changed, stamping her feet into the room, grabbing a cloak: "Fifth Young Master, it’s cold at night, wear this cloak." She said, chasing him out of the courtyard.

As Xiao Yanting walked out, he thought about the Fifth Madam’s unreasonable behavior: "That Soul Suppressing Array, Zhou Dao Po and I put so much effort into it, and now it’s broken so easily by First sister-in-law. Sheng is our only child, how can you not care about his safety for First sister-in-law!"

Xiao Yanting’s face was full of anger, scolding: "What does this have to do with Sheng’s health!" The Fifth Madam squinted and replied: "Don’t worry about this matter, just heed my word. Tomorrow you must ask First sister-in-law to relocate the greenhouse, anywhere else is fine, just not there."