CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 385: CARE (3)

Xiqiu did not turn her head, but looked down at the road beneath her feet, and replied indifferently, "Indeed, the Marquis is thoughtful."

Mrs. paused her steps, carefully examined Xiqiu, and noticed her expression was calm and indifferent, without a trace of joy or sorrow. Doubt arose in her mind, and her previous suspicions became uncertain.

She frowned as she looked ahead, but did not respond further.

Sure enough, Fifth Madam arrived with Sheng, mother and son kneeling on the cold stone path. Fifth Madam, with swollen eyes, pulled Sheng to kowtow, saying, "Madam! Your daughter-in-law and Sheng have come to bid farewell!" Her tone was one of sorrow.

Perhaps due to the cold and hard ground, Sheng twisted his body look of displeasure on his face.

The Grand Dowager stopped her steps and looked sternly at Fifth Madam, without a hint of emotion, instead showing a face full of anger as she pointed at Fifth Madam, "If you wish to court death, go by yourself. Why involve Sheng?" Then, she paused and beckoned Sheng, "Sheng, come to Grandmother."

Sheng was delighted, pushed away Fifth Madam, and ran over to the Grand Dowager, calling crisply, "Grandmother!" The Grand Dowager looked at him with affection, rubbing his hands and asked, "Sheng, do you want to stay in the mansion?"

Xiqiu was stunned by what she heard, as were the Second Madam and the First Madam, witnessing Fifth Madam’s face showing joy.

Sheng nodded repeatedly, "Sheng can’t bear to leave Grandmother, doesn’t want to move out!"

The Grand Dowager nodded, "Sheng is so good, knows how to be filial to Grandmother!" Holding Sheng’s hand, she squinted toward Fifth Madam!

Fifth Madam kneeled straight, crawled up to the Grand Dowager, and urgently said, "Madam, please forgive us, I swear to behave properly from now on, won’t cause trouble anymore, I’ll heed your and Fifth Young Master’s words!"

She looked at the Grand Dowager with hope.

Xiqiu watched the Grand Dowager, her momentarily confused expression returned to indifference.

Then, the Grand Dowager coldly laughed, pointing at Fifth Madam, "From today onwards, Sheng will stay in the mansion, and you and Fifth will move out!"

Fifth Madam was stunned, not understanding the Grand Dowager’s meaning.

The Grand Dowager was already holding Sheng’s hand, walking around Fifth Madam, asking him, "How about staying with Grandmother? Eating and living with Xing and Min, are you willing?"

Sheng nodded vigorously, forgetting Fifth Madam’s words, laughing, "Sheng is willing!" He laughed happily.

Fifth Madam knelt on the bluestone path and finally realized the Grand Dowager’s intention was to leave Sheng in the Marquis Mansion and have them move out alone.

Fifth Madam exclaimed in surprise, shouting, "Madam, Sheng is my lifeline, you can’t do this."

The people walking ahead did not turn back to look at her.

Fifth Madam stood up, rushed over and tightly held Sheng, "Come home with Mother, if Grandmother shows no mercy, we won’t stay in this mansion." Finished saying, she pulled Sheng and attempted to leave!

"No!" Sheng shook off Fifth Madam’s hand, "You and Father always fight, Sheng is scared, I want to stay with Xing, Min, and Grandmother." Finished saying, he ran over to nestle in the Grand Dowager’s arms, looking timidly at Fifth Madam.

Fifth Madam looked at Sheng with eyes full of despair.

The Grand Dowager coldly laughed at Fifth Madam, "Even your own son doesn’t want to live with you, you should reflect on where you’ve gone wrong!" After a pause, she continued, "I see you’re not fit to teach children, better leave him with me, if you wish to see him, send in a card, I’ll allow you to see him once every half a month!" Finished speaking, she ignored Fifth Madam’s tearful and pained expression, holding Sheng’s hand, and walked away without looking back.

Xiqiu followed behind, turned around to glance at Fifth Madam, then turned expressionlessly.

Fifth Madam kneeled in the back and called, "Sheng..." But Sheng clearly made up his mind to follow the Grand Dowager, not looking at Fifth Madam!

Xiqiu then heard a gentle sigh from Second Madam.

In the courtyard, there were only a few wax-plum trees, buds waiting to bloom on the branches, amusingly contrasted with the unthawed snow. After a few glances, the Grand Dowager lost interest, turned her head, sat up on the sedan chair, and the group returned to the courtyard.

Thinking about the companions coming to the mansion today, Xiqiu stood up smiling and bid farewell to the Grand Dowager, "...Several companions are coming, I’ll go and see."

The Grand Dowager nodded, "Go!"

Xiqiu smiled and greeted the Second Madam and First Madam before returning to her own courtyard.

Chunliu informed her, "Housekeeper Hu is already arranging people to move things for Fifth Madam, half of it is already moved out, Fifth Madam is crying in the house refusing to leave, it’s Fifth Young Master with a stern face dragging her out of the mansion!"

Xiqiu nodded, without speaking further.

Chunliu seemed very happy, she smiled at Xiqiu, and solemnly bowed to Xiqiu, "Thank you, Madam!" Finally venting her anger.

Xiqiu pursed her lips without speaking, if possible she certainly hoped to live peacefully with everyone, she didn’t wish to see such scenes... but things had come to this, she could not yield!

Chunliu seemed to remember something, suddenly restrained her smile and asked Xiqiu, "Madam, will Fourth Master find out anything?"

Xiqiu heard and raised an eyebrow, showing a slight smile...

Chunliu watched with full mansion’s confusion but dared not ask further.

Zou Bochang and Zhu Sancheng arrived, standing side by side before Xiqiu, reporting, "I went to Tongzhou and Zhu San went to see the shops on West Street and the houses in Yangpi Lane."

Xiqiu nodded, did not ask why Jin Dairui didn’t come, but raised her eyebrows showing an intent to listen, "Tell me, what’s the situation at each place?"

Zou Bochang glanced at Zhu Sancheng and reported to Xiqiu, "The land in Tongzhou is a total of one hundred and ten acres, located at the base of a hill, thirty miles away from the Canal, with the left side adjacent to the land of a local merchant named Zhou, which is five hundred acres. The right side is from a branch of the Marquis Jinxiang, totalling eight hundred acres!" After saying, he paused and looked at Xiqiu again, "The field currently planted with wheat, I’ve checked, the growth isn’t good, possibly due to the heavy snowfall this year, much of it hasn’t emerged and already froze to death... I’ve inquired, the tenants at the manor plan to plant some cotton in spring."

It seems, both sides are large estates except for her hundred acres wedged in the middle.

She asked, "What are the crops on the lands to the left and right?" Zou Bochang replied, "The left eight hundred acres are partly planted with potatoes, partly wheat, and some fruit trees also." He also said, "On the right, half is wheat, and half is castor beans."

Isn’t it lowland, how come they’re growing these crops?