CHAPTER 399: CHAPTER 401: SEPARATION OF THE FAMILY (PART 1)

She bit her lip in anger, looking at Xiqiu’s upright back, thinking of her composure and dignity, comparing it to her own days of humility at the Marquis Mansion. Her heart filled with hatred, wishing she could rush up and tear her face apart.

Yet today, this person she hated most came to the mansion to stand up for her...

Tong Xiyang clenched her fists tightly.

"Third Young Lady!" Madam Jiang went to support Tong Xiyang, advising, "Third Master Ren, from what I observed today, may not have much order, but he has a soft spot for women... Third Young Lady should consider carefully." Being always virtuous, gentle, and respectful to one’s mother-in-law and raising heirs, might work with most men, but evidently not with someone like Third Master Ren.

If you want to keep him in the room, the most direct way is to work on him.

Madam Jiang thought this was the last piece of advice she could offer.

She wearily stood up and told Xiuyun, "Serve well." After speaking, she also left the room.

Outside the door, Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan were talking in the courtyard. Tong Xiyan looked displeased, angrily saying, "How can it just end like this? Even if she doesn’t go back, she should take people back with her. How can she let it slide here and be humiliated?"

Xiqiu held her back, advising, "Just say one less sentence. The matter’s over. What’s the use of talking about it now?" After speaking, she saw Madam Jiang coming out and smiled as she approached her, "Sister-in-law, let us go back."

Madam Jiang nodded. At this moment, a strange young maid came in from outside and bowed to the Third Madam, "Fourth Madam Xiao, Fourth Master Xiao said he’s waiting for you at the second gate."

"Got it." Xiqiu turned back to look at Madam Jiang, "Let’s go!"

Madam Jiang, Tong Xiyan, and a few maids and grannies went out together, bid farewell to the Countess, and accompanied by First Young Madam Ren, they took a soft sedan chair to the second gate. Fourth Master Xiao was indeed waiting by the carriage. Upon seeing Fourth Master Xiao, Xiqiu felt relieved, and a slight smile appeared on her face.

Madam Jiang noticed and felt happy too, smiling, "It’s still good to have a brother-in-law like him!" First Young Madam Jiang also covered her mouth and laughed, "Grand Commander Xiao is truly considerate."

Tong Xiyan glanced sideways and replied tactfully, "Brother-in-law is worried Sixth Sister might be wronged, so he rushed to meet her." The implication was directed at First Young Madam Ren, implying the Ren Family is bullying others!

First Young Madam Ren’s face changed, standing there awkwardly.

Xiqiu didn’t care what they said, and turned back to Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan, "I’ll see you two back." Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan waved their hands repeatedly, "No need, we’ll take our own car back. Sixth Sister, go quickly, don’t keep brother-in-law waiting."

First Young Madam Ren also echoed, "Sixth Young Lady, take care." But there was envy in her eyes.

Xiqiu didn’t stand on ceremony, walked to the carriage, and Fourth Master Xiao cast a mild look at a few people. He nodded almost imperceptibly and helped Xiqiu into the carriage.

The carriage clattered away from the Marquis Mansion, and Xiqiu let out a long breath.

Fourth Master Xiao took out a teapot from a secret compartment, poured tea for Xiqiu, and handed it to her, asking, "What’s wrong? Are you tired?" Xiqiu took the tea, sipped it, and turned to look at Fourth Master Xiao with a sigh. Resting against his chest, she thought of Ren Jun’s heartlessness and the societal norms and men’s assumptions, she murmured, "Fourth Master, in the future, when I grow old and lose my looks, will you also surround yourself with concubines, remembering only the new ones who laugh?"

Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows, and after Xiqiu spoke, she froze, immediately sitting upright from his embrace, holding the tea in her hand, she lowered her head to drink, unable to hide a faint embarrassment on her face.

Since when did she become so presumptuous? After marrying into the Xiao Family, she became Xiao Family’s person, an appendage to Fourth Master Xiao, not an independent entity. If he wanted to take concubines, did she have the right to stop or refuse?

She knew she didn’t have the right!

Xiqiu furrowed her brow, drank the tea in her cup in one gulp. Was it because he had been obedient and caring recently that she forgot her position?

With a stern face, after taking a deep breath, her embarrassment slightly alleviated.

On the other side, Fourth Master Xiao watched her with a big smile, long phoenix eyes as bright as stars, showing a hint of mischief...

Because of the awkwardness in the carriage, Xiqiu went directly to the Grand Dowager’s room after getting off.

The Grand Dowager had just woken from her midday nap. Min, Xing, and Sheng were in the courtyard, skipping rope with Ziwei, sweating profusely. But upon seeing Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu, they immediately stopped their actions. The courtyard fell silent, and the three stood straight and bowed to the two.

Xiqiu was not in the mood to chat, nodded to the three without further words. Fourth Master Xiao noticed Min panting from jumping rope and hesitated in his steps, prompting Xiqiu to lead the way into the house.

The Grand Dowager was sitting on the kang, wearing glasses and holding a few pages of Xuan paper. Seeing Xiqiu come in, the Grand Dowager waved her over, "Come see, Min’s morning practice writing."

Xiqiu was puzzled, Min hadn’t started tracing the red characters yet, was he already writing?

She smiled and walked over, finally seeing the words on the Xuan paper were scribbled, uneven in size, indistinguishable unless scrutinized. She raised an eyebrow, "Mother, did Min write this?"

The Grand Dowager chuckled and nodded, "He said he wanted to write, so he went to your second brother’s study to find a poetry collection and copied a gourd. I think it’s not bad!"

Listening, Xiqiu examined it carefully, identifying the scribbles as the poem "Toiling Farmers."

She raised her eyebrows and suddenly recalled how Min reluctantly had to eat that day...

"Quickly keep it away." The Grand Dowager handed it to Nanny Wu, laughing, "This is Min’s first time writing!" After saying that, she laughed heartily again, looked at Xiqiu, and said, "Sit down and chat."

Xiqiu sat in front of the Grand Dowager, who asked, "Where’s the fourth? Didn’t he say he went to pick you up?" As soon as she finished speaking, Fourth Master Xiao already entered with hands behind his back, the Grand Dowager glanced at him then at Xiqiu, frowning slightly.

Once Fourth Master Xiao sat down, the Grand Dowager asked Xiqiu, "How is your sister’s health?"

Xiqiu replied, "Her health is a bit frail, but there’s nothing else." She omitted the events at the Ren Family, "The Countess said she’s been unwell recently and sent me to greet you."

The Grand Dowager knew it wouldn’t be that simple, but Xiqiu had her reasons for withholding. She nodded slightly, "As long as there’s nothing wrong, that’s good! Being young, don’t overthink things, ruin your health for nothing."