CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 80: THE SITUATION (1)

Xiqiu looked at Chunyan with gentle eyes and nodded with a smile: "Do you understand?"

Chunyan nodded: "I understand!" Then she wondered, "The most important thing for Miss right now is Count Wujin’s wedding. But Madam Luo is in the inner courtyard, and if Miss can’t handle it, how can Madam Luo manage it?"

"She has more ways than I do." Xiqiu laughed, "At least in the Wujin Bo Mansion, she does!"

Chunyan suddenly recalled hearing from Sixing that the other day, when they went to the East Cross Courtyard, Miss and Madam Luo closed the door and chatted for half a cup of tea’s time. Could it be that Madam Luo said something to Miss, or did the two reach some agreement, which made Miss trust her so much?!

"Chunyan." Xiqiu’s eyes showed seriousness: "I know you’re worried. Compared to Siliu and Sixing, you must accompany me as a dowry, so you are more nervous and concerned, aren’t you?"

"Miss!" Chunyan was startled, sliding off the stool, kneeling on the ground with red eyes: "Miss, I don’t mean anything else, I just... just..."

Xiqiu waved her hand: "Don’t misunderstand!" She stepped off the kang to help Chunyan up, then pressed her back onto the stool, and the two sat face to face: "It’s natural for you to care about my marriage and your future; how could I blame you for that? Although you haven’t been with me as long as Sixing and Siliu, you are the most capable one. Next time such a thing happens, I will definitely inform you. Don’t live in fear every day, trying to inquire about everything, okay?"

Chunyan was surprised; it was the first time she heard Xiqiu praise her. Although Miss was never stingy with words of praise usually, it had never been as solemn as this time, even telling her she is her most capable...

"I understand! I won’t take matters into my own hands again."

Xiqiu nodded, and the two exchanged smiles: "Quick, wipe your tears. Things haven’t reached an irreversible point yet. These are just our speculations. No one knows for sure Count Wujin’s intentions until the end!" Even Lady couldn’t sway the decision of the Countess on whom she wants to marry into her family as a daughter-in-law!

It was already April, and by noon, the sun hung high in the sky, making the room somewhat stuffy. Sixing, with Xi’er, propped up stools to replace the cotton curtains in the Warm Pavilion, and several spots in the bedroom of Zhiqu Courtyard, with cotton gauze, and then removed the window paper.

Xiqiu’s yard had three rooms, the left being the bedroom, the right the living room with a Warm Pavilion. The left and right wings housed Sixing and a few second and third-class maids, while the backward-facing rooms accommodated two servant women and two young maids.

"Miss, what color should the fine gauze be?" Siliu brought out five or six kinds of fine gauze fabrics from the storeroom and spread them on the kang for Xiqiu to choose.

Xiqiu put down the pen in her hand and put away the floral designs she had just sketched. She picked up a piece of red silk and put it back down, pointing to the pale green: "The green one; when sunlight shines in, the light green looks like a grassland, full of vitality!"

"Grassland?" Siliu held the pale green fine gauze, blinking her eyes and asked, "Miss, what does a grassland look like?"

Xiqiu leaned back against the soft cushion behind her, wearing a half-old pink overcoat, resembling a peach blossom petal on a branch, clean and clear. She squinted her eyes, as if seeing a vast expanse of green, speaking with a tone full of not longing but nostalgia: "Everywhere you look, it’s lush green grass, gently swaying like ocean waves in the breeze. The air is filled with the rich fragrance of grass, refreshing and invigorating enough to make you forget everything, as if you also become a blade of grass, a flower, a wisp of breeze..."

"Oh?" Siliu tried hard to imagine what the grassland looked like, but since she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, it was difficult to imagine: "Is it all grass? Aren’t there cows grazing? Otherwise, the grass grows for nothing. And... how does Miss know?"

Xiqiu paused, suddenly laughed, and pondered why she was talking about this with Siliu. She couldn’t help but pick up the pen again and drew another piece of paper: "It’s just imagination. Go and continue with your work."

"Oh!" Siliu carried a bunch of cloth out again, and with Sixing and Xi’er, they surrounded the round table, cutting with scissors, rolling the edges, and pasting them on the windows. By the time they all finished, Xiqiu had also finished writing the letter in her hand, handing it to Sixing, saying: "Give it to Laiwang’s wife, and have her deliver it to the Xuanning Marquis Mansion."

Sixing wiped her hands, took the letter, and tucked it into her bosom, saying: "That Miss Xiao sure writes frequently, sending a letter almost every three days."

Sixing took the letter out, and Siliu went to get lunch and returned. After Xiqiu had finished eating, Sixing came back, almost running in, and excitedly said as soon as she entered: "Miss! Laiwang’s wife said that the First Master has reached Tongzhou and will rest there tonight, and he will be back home tomorrow."

Xiqiu was drinking tea, and her motion paused: "Really?" Sixing nodded vigorously, afraid Xiqiu would not believe, and emphasized: "The First Master sent a servant to return early to inform us saying he’ll be home by tomorrow evening." She said excitedly: "The First Master will surely let Miss pay respects, won’t he? Will Lady perhaps then lift your confinement?"

Xiqiu was not concerned about this. She said: "Later, head to the Outer Courtyard to inform the Seventh Young Master, so he can properly review the lessons the teacher taught, to avoid being inarticulate when the First Master returns and inquires about his studies." She thought of the First Master’s attitude toward Tong Minzhi and the rumors, determining to clarify the reasons this time to prevent anyone from spreading rumors and causing issues again, so as not to leave a shadow in his heart.

Sixing nodded repeatedly: "I will go right away." She said, then turned to leave, but suddenly paused and added: "By the way, when I returned, I think I saw Madam Chen’s carriage."

Has Madam Chen come again?

Nanny Fang stood at the entrance of the storeroom, personally supervising the young maids, and took several large packages back to the Main Courtyard, unpacking them one by one for the Lady to inspect: "The antler is from last year’s gift by the Eldest Miss, the Ah Jiao brought by the concubine, some large dates from Shandong, and some specialties mailed back from Yongzhou."

Lady nodded with satisfaction: "You take the maids and personally deliver them."

"I will tidy up and go at once!"

Lady smiled happily, looking at these return gifts for the Wujin Bo Mansion, and her anger of recent days vanished entirely. Thinking of Tong Xihua’s people coming back to inquire several days in a row, she called Zijuan and instructed: "You and Nanny Qian go to the Matron’s side. Tell her in detail what she wants to know."

Zijuan responded and went to pack up. As she was about to leave, the Marquis Xuanning’s carriage had already reached the second gate, and Lady personally went out to greet them. Seeing Tong Xihua, surrounded by maids and servant women, walking along the covered walkway toward her, she had the maids and servant women leave once they entered, and with a stern face, asked, "Why did you suddenly return? Did you inform your mother-in-law?"

"Rest assured, I mentioned it earlier this morning, and Mother-in-law agreed to let me return for once." Tong Xihua said indifferently: "I’ve long wanted to come back, but Mother-in-law’s illness relapsed, and the affairs in the mansion keep my sister-in-law busy, while Fifth’s wife is pregnant, so only I can toil a bit more."