CHAPTER 371: CHAPTER 373: THE CONSERVATORY (4)

Tong Xiyan wore a pine green and garnet rabbit fur collar cloak when she arrived today, with a dark blue front-closing overcoat edged in silver underneath. Her skin appeared pale with a hint of redness, her face glowing. She was having Xinqin help her with the cloak while talking to Xiao Yanzheng. Upon hearing the Grand Dowager’s query, she nodded and smilingly replied, "Very healthy. Every morning after reciting scriptures in the room, a few laps around the courtyard..."

The Grand Dowager nodded, praised, "That’s the way it should be. The older generation’s good health is your blessing indeed!"

Tong Xiyan nodded repeatedly.

After chatting for a while, Xiqiu smiled and said to the Grand Dowager, "Mother, I’m going to accompany my sister-in-law and Sixth Sister to my place for a bit." The Grand Dowager nodded and said, "Go on!" She then told Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan, "Join us for lunch here at noon."

Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan thanked her and paid their respects to the silent First Madam and the Fifth Madam, who was drinking tea with her head lowered. Xiqiu remembered that Xiao Yanzheng said she needed something from her, so she turned back with a smile and invited, "Why don’t you come to my place?!"

Xiao Yanzheng waved her hand, "You go ahead. I’ll find you later."

Xiqiu did not insist, so she left with Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan.

At the door, Treasure Bead was nowhere to be seen, leaving only Bihuai on guard. Xiqiu slightly raised her eyebrows but said nothing.

On the way, Tong Xiyan saw Tong Xihua’s old courtyard and lowered her voice to ask Xiqiu, "Why haven’t I seen Xing?"

Xiqiu laughed and replied, "When you arrived, he was taken out by his nursemaid to play. You should be able to meet him soon." Madam Jiang, hearing this, also looked a bit moved.

Upon entering Xiqiu’s room, the three sat on the couch one by one, and Madam Jiang smiled, "It was your brother who told us. I’ve been preparing things for Father to bring back for the past couple of days. If he hadn’t told me, we’d still be in the dark."

"Of course, the Sixth Sister is the first among us sisters and the first in the Tong Mansion." Tong Xiyan said with a smile, inspecting Xiqiu from top to bottom, "Let me see if there’s anything different."

Xiqiu pushed her away playfully, "Brother-in-law Jiang now holds a high position, and I’ve heard that the Emperor placed him as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, intending to groom him for future membership in the cabinet?!"

Tong Xiyan blushed upon hearing this and pinched Xiqiu’s arm, "How can you say my brother-in-law is so highly esteemed, now holding a First Rank position in the court..."

Madam Jiang could not stand it anymore and interrupted, "Don’t let others hear, or they’ll mock us for days. Two sisters praising each other like this, indeed."

Saying this, they all burst into laughter, and even Xinqin and Chunyan, who were standing by, could not help but chuckle softly.

Xiqiu then asked the First Master, "Have they set a day for departure?"

Madam Jiang replied, "They say it will be by the end of the month."

Then they won’t be home for New Year, but luckily, Madam Luo will be there to attend to him, so he’ll have company.

Tong Xiyan lowered her face and said to Xiqiu, "My husband said that if Father wants to stay in the Capital, it might require longer consideration." Xiqiu was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The Emperor is still holding a grudge over Second Uncle’s affair and has quite a few criticisms about Father." She turned to Madam Jiang and added, "Fortunately, Brother has Scholar Liu’s support; he has always had a good reputation in the court and the Hanlin Academy, which makes entry into the Hanlin Academy smoother."

It seems the ripples from the Second Master’s affair are not easy to quell.

"Let’s not talk about this." Madam Jiang smiled as she took a few packets of herbs from her maid. Xiqiu was confused as she accepted them, and Madam Jiang gave a meaningful smile, lowering her voice to say, "I’ve also given some to Fourth Aunt. They were sent back by my elder brother from Yingtian, where there’s a doctor with extremely high medical skills, his remedies proving quite effective. These three doses, if taken well, only require ten in total. If effective, I’ll have my brother bring more."

Xiqiu glanced at Tong Xiyan, who covered her face and giggled. Then she looked at Madam Jiang, who encouraged her with a smile.

She also hoped that the Tong family ladies would stand firm in their respective in-laws’ families, which would always assist the Tong family being in-laws.

Xiqiu was surprised. Could having a boy or girl be affected by medicine?

Though she disagreed inwardly, she still accepted the medicine with a smile and thanked Madam Jiang, instructing Chunyan to store them carefully. She then said to Madam Jiang, "Then in not too many days, I will become an aunt and an auntie!"

Madam Jiang blushed and gave Xiqiu a glare, while Tong Xiyan held Xiqiu’s shoulders and laughed, "I think we’ll all soon be aunts."

The affection between Tong Shen Zhi and Madam Jiang was indeed great.

Madam Jiang, embarrassed, turned away to sip her tea while diverting the conversation to other matters.

The three chatted for a while longer, and outside, soft snow began to fall. Ziwei came in and announced, "The Grand Dowager invites the family madams and ladies over for lunch." Xiqiu accompanied Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan to the Grand Dowager’s room for a meal.

Min and Xing were in the courtyard, each holding a small wooden basin, crouching to catch snowflakes. The nurse stood worriedly behind them, unable to use an umbrella, continually beseeching, "Young Master Xin, Young Master Min, come inside quickly. If you catch a cold from the wind, what will we do?"

Min ignored her, while Xing casually waved her off, "Nurse, you go inside. I’m fine." He stretched his slender little hand to catch the snow, and as it melted in his palm, he giggled uncontrollably.

Upon entering, Xiqiu witnessed this scene: two little figures squatting in the snow, big eyes intently watching their basins, whispering secrets to each other, incredibly cute!

"Xing." Tong Xiyan laughed, running over to lift Xing and plant a kiss on each cheek, "You’ve grown so tall, Xing!"

Xing, apparently not recognizing Tong Xiyan, looked at the nurse in confusion. The nurse squatted to salute Xiqiu, Madam Jiang, and Tong Xiyan, and pointed to Madam Jiang, instructing Xing, "Call her Auntie." Then pointing to Tong Xiyan, "This is Fourth Aunt!"

Xing’s eyes brightened, and he called crisply, "Auntie, Fourth Aunt." Madam Jiang laughed, approached, and fixated her gaze on Xing’s face, smilingly saying, "Xing is such a good boy!" She then offered a string of six shiny golden pigs to Xing, "Auntie brought these for you to play with."

"Thank you, Auntie." Xing accepted them, bowed to Madam Jiang, and Tong Xiyan handed him a pocket as well...

Min found himself alone, silently stood up, slowly retreated to the side with his head down... Xiqiu observed him, walked over with a smile, and squatted in front of Min.

Min was startled, immediately stepping back, warily looking at her. Xiqiu smiled and asked, "What were you just doing, Min?"

"Nothing." Min glanced at the wooden basin, and fearing further questions from Xiqiu, he added, "Really, nothing."