CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 64: VISITING AS A GUEST (2)

Is it worth the cost, when what you gain in return might be an even more difficult predicament?

She never embarks on uncertain ventures!

Xiqiu seriously looked at her, her gaze carrying a subtle warning: "It’s best not to entertain such thoughts in the future!"

Sixing felt a chill in her heart; what she wanted to say was completely shattered by Xiqiu’s gaze. She lowered her eyes and curtsied: "I’m being foolish, my lady." Xiqiu, not wanting to embarrass her further, smiled: "Don’t overthink it. If I can’t get through this situation, I’ll surely find you a good family and arrange a grand wedding for you."

Sixing’s face blushed, and she muttered, "Miss, you’d better consider your own situation first." She lifted the curtain and left the room.

Watching her back, Xiqiu sighed helplessly!

Chunyan went to Third Miss’s courtyard and stayed there for about half an hour. As soon as she left, Shuixiang hurriedly rushed into the main room and spoke with Tong Xiyang for quite a while, and then later in the evening, Shuixiang sneaked her way to the East Cross Courtyard, slipped some money to the gatekeeper, and quietly made her way into Madam Wang’s courtyard...

Early the next morning, a gatekeeper from the outer courtyard hurriedly left carrying a box.

At the Zhiqu Courtyard, not yet dawn, Lady had already sent a woman over. Xiqiu asked her to sit in the side room while she took Sixing and Siliu to choose clothes. Siliu was fine, but Sixing was nervous and knocked over the rouge, scattering it everywhere. She turned pale and said, "Miss...I..."

Xiqiu smiled at her and held her hand: "Nothing is certain yet, no need to be so nervous." She pointed to the spilled rouge on the floor: "Let the little maid come in and clean up. You go bring in some snacks."

Sixing looked at Xiqiu, who was calmly seated in front of the dressing table, with a gentle smile on her face and eyes sparkling like autumn water. Sixing suddenly felt relieved, her tension eased, she curtsied to Xiqiu and left the room.

Xiqiu took out the hairpins that Sixing had just inserted, asked Siliu to find two plain pearl flowers, and after tidying up, she ate a few snacks, then leisurely took Sixing and Siliu to Zhui Garden.

Lady was sitting at the table having breakfast, and upon seeing her enter, her brows furrowed deeply. Xiqiu was wearing a scallion green overcoat, a skirting of lake green with embroidered patterns underneath, styled in a falling horse bun adorned with two pink and white ruby flowers on each side, along with a jade hairpin studded with emeralds, and earrings with pearls and rubies, her face akin to white jade with an inner charm that’s suppressed by her entire attire...

Just four words sufficed: green, dull!

Lady, displeased, pointed to her bun, instructed Nanny Fang: "Go, find the Red Jade Bead Phoenix Head Gold Hairpin from my makeup box." She then pointed to Zijuan: "Fix Sixth Miss’s makeup, add some rouge."

Zijuan curtsied in response, immediately came over to pull Xiqiu, and without allowing any argument, pressed her beside the dressing table. Xiqiu inwardly sighed; she just wanted to appear younger but didn’t anticipate Lady leaving her no chance.

Once Zijuan and Nanny Fang finished fixing her makeup and added accessories, changing the pearl flowers to pink fluffy flowers, earrings to pendants, the hairpin jingled with elegance, displaying a calm yet sophisticated look infused with youthful shyness...

Yet Lady was still unsatisfied, about to comment on her entire green attire, when the woman outside reported: "Madam, Madam Chen has arrived, she’s already at the second gate."

Lady’s brows lifted in evident surprise at Madam Chen’s arrival, and Xiqiu was equally puzzled because, considering her status and the stage of developments, Madam Chen shouldn’t have come personally; yet she defied norms and arrived. Is she truly impatient, or is there something unexpected?

Without giving Lady much time to ponder, she promptly cleared the table and personally went out to greet her. As soon as she stepped out, she heard Madam Chen’s cheerful voice: "Madam, I am quite the uninvited guest!"

Lady also wore a full smile, approached and took her hand: "Your visit is a wish come true for me, how could you be uninvited." Xiqiu quickly stepped forward to pay respects, obediently following Lady back inside.

Madam Chen glanced at her and smiled: "Sixth Miss is becoming more beautiful." She then looked around and asked Lady: "Why is there only one Miss here, where are the others?"

Lady’s brows twitched, confused why Madam Chen inquired about the other Misses, and replied: "Today they’re at the Marquis Mansion watching the opera. I’m worried they’d be too noisy, so I only brought Sixth Girl, exempting the others from greetings."

Madam Chen paused, and with Lady on her left and right, sat on a chair with vermilion lacquer and carved designs in the central hall, accepting tea from a maid, she smiled: "Since it’s an opera, more people make it lively. I see those kids are quiet, why not bring them all, after being cooped up for a winter, it’s good to let them unwind."

This surprised not just Lady but added suspicion, why suddenly require her to bring the other girls, is there some unexpected turn?

Madam Chen clearly observed Lady’s expression, glanced at Xiqiu, showing a hesitant demeanor.

Xiqiu tactfully stood up and somewhat awkwardly said: "I left my handkerchief in the room and would like to fetch it!" Lady laughed: "This child, always careless." Yet felt pointing out Xiqiu’s faults in front of Madam Chen wasn’t appropriate: "Perhaps too happy... quick, go and return soon."

Xiqiu curtsied to the two, then left with Sixing and Siliu.

Xiqiu didn’t go far; instead, she turned and entered the little garden before Zhui Garden. Tong Mansion isn’t large, it contains only three main courtyards, Lady also separates a small courtyard, which during those days was where the eldest master lived. Later, as the eldest master grew older, he couldn’t continue living in the inner courtyard, so Lady discussed with Second Master and Second Lady. They built a new courtyard in the second section, for the young masters to live in, since the second section has fewer people and is much more spacious.

The garden isn’t exquisite, at least incomparable to some renowned gardens she saw in her past life, Xiqiu instructed Siliu to keep an eye on the entrance of Zhui Garden while she sat on a Taihu Stone by the rockery. Suddenly, a flash of red caught her eye; she saw a hurried back silhouette on the path, Xiqiu furrowed her brows... Shuixiang hiding here, is she waiting for someone?

Waiting for whom? Last night she passed the message to Tong Xiyang, given her style, having done so much for this engagement beforehand, it’s impossible she’d do nothing at this critical juncture. Did she really become completely passive due to Madam Wang’s matter and let Lady arrange everything?

Intuition told her it’s impossible; even if Tong Xiyang was willing, Madam Wang wouldn’t agree. She invested so much, the child in her belly is gone; her only reliance now is Tong Xiyang. If Tong Xiyang marries into a high and noble family, she could turn her fate around and have leverage to fight Lady. But if Tong Xiyang is ultimately married off casually by Lady or sent far away, it would be hard for her to rise again!