CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: SHIFTING TIDES (PART 3)

"Hehe... She really did it. I asked the Imperial Physician about that Heavenly Fire Grass, and he said pregnant women shouldn’t consume it at all, yet she ate so much of it at once. Serves her right!" she said gloatingly. However, Lady’s eyebrows twitched, and she appeared to be in deep thought.

Tong Xihua, unaware, kept talking to herself. The two of them continued chatting for a while until Tong Xiyan arrived. Overjoyed, Lady sent someone to invite Tong Shen Zhi. They had lunch together with the children at Lady’s place, and only then did Tong Xihua return to Xuanning Marquis Mansion, while Tong Shen Zhi went to the study.

Lady and Tong Xiyan leaned against each other, taking a nap. As Lady had just dozed off, Nanny Qian tiptoed in and whispered in Lady’s ear, "Madam, Madam Chen has arrived."

"She’s here?!" Lady sat up in surprise, fearing to disturb Tong Xiyan. She gestured to Nanny Qian, and the two of them went outside the room to talk in the main hall: "Did she come alone? Where is she now?"

Nanny Qian replied, "She’s already at the second gate, walking here with Laiwang’s wife."

"Help me change clothes!" Lady said as she re-entered the room. With Nanny Fang around, Nanny Qian wasn’t very familiar with these tasks. Fearing she wouldn’t find the clothes, Lady lifted the curtain and called Zijuan in. The two of them helped Lady change her clothes and redo her hair. Meanwhile, Madam Chen’s voice could already be heard from the outer room, and Lady immediately got up to greet her.

"You’ve arrived!" Lady went forward to take Madam Chen’s hand, "Why didn’t you let us know beforehand so I could send someone to greet you?"

Madam Chen, wearing a crimson overcoat and a light blue gauze skirt, rushed in with a laugh, "It’s a celebration, and I was eager to congratulate you, so I forgot about those formalities!" She grabbed Lady’s hand in return, and the two walked into the main hall together.

Accompanying Madam Chen were Laiwang’s wife, Nanny Qian, and Zijuan, who were all frozen with astonishment, lifting their eyes to look at Lady.

Lady also paused in her steps, surprised, "Celebration? What kind of joyous occasion?" However, she didn’t sit in the main hall but instead led Madam Chen to the Warm Pavilion.

Lady and Madam Chen sat down face-to-face across the kang table. Zijuan served tea while Nanny Qian and Laiwang’s wife retreated outside, closing the door behind them.

Madam Chen smiled happily as she drank her tea and raised an eyebrow before smiling, "I’m not here just to visit today; I’m here entrusted by someone to propose marriage."

"A proposal? I wonder from which mansion they are proposing, and for which young lady of my family?" Indeed, it was about this matter, and Lady was secretly pleased. However, regarding such matters, Lady maintained the necessary decorum, following the saying that one should act with grace when marrying off a daughter or taking in a daughter-in-law.

"It’s from the Wujin Bo Mansion, in the service of the late Emperor, the Inner Palace Seventh-Grade Banner Holder, the legitimate Third Young Master Ren!" Madam Chen paused and smiled, "And the proposal is for your Third Miss."

Lady paused with her tea, raising an eyebrow to look at Madam Chen, "Third Miss?"

Outside, though Nanny Qian, Laiwang’s wife, and Zijuan stood with lowered heads, each of them perked up their ears to listen carefully. But due to the door being closed and Lady and Madam Chen being in the distant Warm Pavilion, they only caught the words ’Wujin Bo Mansion’ and couldn’t hear the rest clearly...

Laiwang’s wife grew anxious. Her eyes flickered as she smiled at Zijuan and Nanny Qian, "Maid and Nanny, please keep watch here. This morning, the young master asked some people to dismantle the flowerbed outside his courtyard. I’ll go take a look and then return."

Nanny Qian chuckled, "Go ahead. If Lady comes out, I’ll let her know for you." Zijuan also nodded.

Laiwang’s wife then left Zhui Garden with a young maid.

Leaving the courtyard, Laiwang’s wife whispered a few words in the young maid’s ear. The young maid nodded with a smile, bouncing onto the path leading to the West Courtyard, while Laiwang’s wife went alone to the outer courtyard.

The young maid ran all the way to Zhiqu Courtyard, where Chunyan and Chunliu were sitting side by side embroidering by the gate. Spotting a small maid poking her head around, Chunliu put down her embroidery frame and asked, "Which courtyard are you from, and do you have any business?"

The young maid timidly replied, "I am Cuicui, from Liawang’s wife’s side, seeking Sixth Miss for a matter."

Chunyan’s expression changed, and she pulled Cuicui inside, "Miss is bathing; Maid Cuicui, please sit with me for a while." She then turned to Chunliu, winking. Chunliu understood and, keeping a composed expression, stayed by the door.

"Did Laiwang’s wife have any message for you to pass to Sixth Miss?" Chunyan grabbed a handful of melon seeds to place in Cuicui’s hands, adding candies to her pocket.

Cuicui, looking about six or seven years old, grinned at the candies and said something seemingly random, "Nanny asked me to tell Sixth Miss that after the beginning of spring, it’s all blossoms and warm sunshine."

Delight surged in Chunyan’s heart; she excitedly grasped Cuicui’s hand, pouring the table’s melon seeds, pastries, and candies into Cuicui’s pocket, babbling, "Thank Nanny on behalf of our Miss... as long as it doesn’t rain."

Cuicui, a bit confused, nodded dazedly and left.

As Cuicui departed, the curtain inside the room was drawn open, and Sujin, from Madam Luo’s side, emerged. Without a word, she nodded at Chunyan and Chunliu before swiftly exiting to a nearby bamboo grove, avoiding the eyes of others.

Chunyan instructed Chunliu to continue guarding the door and then entered the room through the lifted curtain. Inside, Siliu and Sixing sat with smiles, recalling Sujin’s words: "In the Wujin Bo Mansion, rumors are swirling about Sixth Miss Tong hitting her illegitimate sister. The Third Miss Tong, being kind and gentle, didn’t take issue with her younger sister... After hearing this, the Countess said nothing but immediately called Madam Chen and the Second Lady over; they discussed with the door closed for half a day." The two stifled laughter.

Xiqiu also glanced at Chunyan, a faint smile in her eyes.

Chunyan let out a long sigh of relief. She knew, the storm had passed!

In the afternoon, Madam Chen left. Xiqiu didn’t know what Lady and Madam Chen discussed, but Lady didn’t seem pleased. When First Master returned in the afternoon, the entire mansion cheerfully welcomed him. The main hall was set up with table settings, and Second Master Tong Zhengchuan, Second Lady, Tong Shen Zhi, Tong Xiyan, Xu Tianqing, Tong Minzhi, and Tong Quanzhi were all present. Luo Mei and the two concubines from the main house stood aside, helping the maids serve tea.

First Master Tong Zheng’an, clad in a dark green gown, stood tall, around forty years old. His fair complexion and presence suggested that, if one ignored his deep and dark eyes, he might not seem like someone who had navigated the complex world of officialdom for years, but rather a seasoned teacher.

He scanned the assembly with a smiling gaze, then looked at Lady with puzzlement, asking, "Why is only Xiyan present?"

Lady sat on his right, her face also beaming with joy. Having anticipated this question, she had carefully considered her reply: "The Third Girl is not feeling well, the Sixth Girl is accompanying her concubine mother in a vegetarian meal, and the Eighth Girl is busy in the kitchen!" In the presence of the second branch, she didn’t mention anything about the young ladies being confined.