CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68: ACCIDENT (1)

Very thoughtful!

As a group of people just walked in, First Miss Tong, Tong Xihua, came over with a young lady, greeted Countess and Old Madam Lou, and exchanged courtesies with several other ladies. Countess, holding her hand, said, "You stay with your mother, let Miss Xiao accompany the young ladies of the Tong family."

Xiqiu slightly arched an eyebrow, realizing she was the sister of Marquis Xuanning.

Tong Xihua responded with a full smile, "Now I am the guest, naturally the guest follows the host’s arrangements... Even if you arrange for me to sit in a carriage, I would still be willing."

Countess smiled at Lady, "This child is a treasure of ours, with her around, there’s no need for drums, it’s lively enough!"

Lady also smiled and said, "Always a little troublemaker since childhood." Then she looked at Tong Xihua, "Have you settled everything for your husband?" Tong Xihua affectionately took Lady’s arm, "Don’t worry, he’s here today as well, in the outer courtyard."

Lady’s eyes flashed, showing a thoughtful expression. Tong Xihua whispered in her ear, "The Fourth Master is here, Mother-in-law asked him to come and see."

With a raise of her eyebrow, Lady began to laugh, and Xiqiu along with others immediately approached Tong Xihua to pay respects, "Big Sister!"

Tong Xihua glanced over her three younger sisters with a smile, "The Third Girl looks especially beautiful today." Then, glancing at Second Miss Xiao standing aside, she took her hand, "This is Second Miss."

"Greetings, Second Miss." Xiqiu glanced at her, approximately fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a plain light purple overcoat, with a red gold tassel hairpin and a red hairpin in her hair. She had a slender figure with an oval face and slightly upturned phoenix eyes, appearing indifferent. Xiqiu couldn’t help but think of the Fourth Master Xiao she had seen outside Puji Temple that day, noticing the striking similarity in their eyes, though Second Miss Xiao’s eyes were much brighter.

As the thought passed, Second Miss Xiao had already turned slightly to return the greeting.

"Second Miss rarely comes out, go sit with the Third Girl and the others," Lady suggested to her daughters, "Accompany Second Miss and have a chat."

The group seated themselves on stools beside Lady and Tong Xihua, while Second Miss Xiao sat next to Tong Xiyu, saying nothing with her eyes lowered, as if indifferent to the lively scene before her.

Tong Xiyang seemed like a social debutante, and in less than a moment, she was already friendly with Miss Fang. Miss Fang appeared very familiar with the Marquis Mansion, prompting Tong Xiyang to subtly probe her.

Soon, the sound of drums began, and the atmosphere quieted down...

It was a play Xiqiu had never heard before, with singing similar to Peking Opera, but the costumes resembled Kun Opera. She didn’t quite understand, only knowing it was about a scholar meeting a beauty under the moonlight, and later learned the first play she heard was called "Jade Linglong."

It was a love story triggered by a child.

During this, maids quietly entered and exited, serving tea and tending to needs, while Lady chatted with Countess, Old Madam Lou, and Madam Lou. Madam Chen, with her shrewdness, conversed everywhere, "Second Madam looks well, her cheeks seem a bit fuller." Madam Chen laughed, scrutinizing Tong Xihua.

Lady also turned to look at Tong Xihua carefully, a flash of realization in her eyes, while Tong Xihua touched her face, "Really? I didn’t notice myself."

Madam Chen covered her sleeve and laughed, "Looking every day, you can’t see it."

Lady laughed as well.

Countess looked over with a smile, "What are you talking about that’s so funny, let us hear too..." Old Madam Lou seemed more serious and didn’t join in, while Madam Lou appeared uninterested, sitting by. Madam Chen laughed, replying, "We were talking about Second Madam, seeing her after a few days, she looks more striking."

Tong Xihua turned her flushed cheek aside with a smile, "Madam is teasing me." Countess’s gaze swept over Tong Xihua’s face and she smiled, "Hearing this, I do notice a bit of it, indeed she looks better than before!" She then looked at Lady, "In the past, Madam Tong didn’t come out often, and we used to think the Tong Mansion had only one young lady as beautiful as a flower. Now, it seems each of them looks like they’ve stepped out of a painting."

"Indeed!" Madam Chen chimed in, "I saw the same when I looked the other day."

This mention made all eyes shift to the young ladies behind Lady. Third Miss was speaking with a smile to Miss Fang, charmingly and gracefully, Eighth Miss sat reserved, and Sixth Miss, though sitting upright, showed a hint of timid shyness between her brows.

Illegitimate daughters are, after all, not comparable to the grace and composure of legitimate daughters. Madam Fang subtly smiled at her own daughter, feeling she stood out even more.

Lady slightly furrowed her brow, then smiled, "Madam, please don’t praise them too much. These girls are quite mischievous in their daily lives; if praised today, I don’t know how proud they’ll become." Meaning the Tong Mansion raised both legitimate and illegitimate daughters equally, allowing them much freedom in life and action.

Countess laughed, "At their age, they should be lively." She then pointed to First Young Madam Ren, "They probably don’t enjoy this opera, why not send a few reliable maids to accompany them for a walk in the garden, to stretch their legs!"

First Young Madam Ren smiled and agreed, coming forward, "If any of the young ladies find it dull, I can have someone accompany you to the rear garden for a stroll. There’s a peach grove in full bloom over there, would you like to see it?"

The young ladies glanced at each other, with Miss Fang taking the lead in standing up, "Then I’ll trouble you, First Young Madam." She turned to Xiqiu and others, "Sisters, come with me."

"Alright!" Tong Xiyang immediately followed Miss Fang and stood up. Tong Xiyu looked at Xiqiu, and Xiqiu looked to Lady. Lady turned her face, her gaze briefly sweeping over Tong Xiyang with a hint of coldness, then she smiled, "Go ahead, it’s better than disturbing the ladies’ enjoyment of the opera here."

Xiqiu had to rise with the others, while at this time, only Second Miss Xiao remained seated. First Young Madam Ren smiled, "Second Miss, are you tired? Shall I have someone accompany you to the side room to rest?"

Xiqiu’s eyes flashed with a trace of doubt as she looked at Second Miss Xiao, who smiled and said, "I’m fine, just sitting here and listening is good enough." As if she truly enjoyed the opera.

First Young Madam Ren seemed accustomed to her preference, nonchalantly smiling, "Then Miss Xiao, please sit a while, I’ll send some fruits and snacks for you." She turned around and pointed to a senior maid, "Take a few maids and accompany the young ladies to Taohuawu, and be attentive along the way."

The maid curtsied in consent, then made a curtsey to Xiqiu and the others, "Ladies, please follow me."

The group bid farewell to the ladies and gracefully took the path to the rear garden.

As soon as the young ladies left, the resting drums resumed, and Lady started talking to Madam Chen, "Why haven’t I seen Second Young Madam?"

Madam Chen cheerfully replied, "She’s just conceived, in her first three months." Lady nodded with understanding, "The first three months do need extra care. I recall this is Second Young Madam’s third child, isn’t it?!"