Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 683 - 685: Closing In (Part 4)

The Third Madam let out a soft moan, nodded gently, and breathed warm air beside his ear, "I know, I know, I just think these methods are too uninteresting."

"Is that so!" Xiao Yancheng bit down on her nipple, eyes filled with malice, "Then let’s make it interesting." Saying so, he swung out an arm and took down the waistband hanging on the screen, tying the Third Madam’s hands and lifting one leg to bind them together.

The Third Madam showed excitement, giggling, "How stimulating will it be?"

Without warning, his finger explored inside, Xiao Yancheng knelt on one knee in the water, whispering in the Third Madam’s ear, "...just a test..." As he spoke, the Third Madam’s body softened, moaning incessantly.

The fourth brother is cautious and thorough in his actions. With his full effort in planning, things would inevitably go wrong... as long as we stall him...

Xiqiu woke up and vomited twice more. Madam Shen, Madam Jiang, and Tong Xiyan had all visited. Xiqiu managed to eat something and lay in bed. Fourth Master Xiao rubbed her head and sighed, "Would you eat some more?"

"No more." Xiqiu waved her hand and said, "I feel fine now, except for some nausea. Eldest Sister-in-law also said she felt this way when she was pregnant with Kun. The smell of food would make her want to vomit, and that’s how I feel now too." She touched her belly and sighed to the baby, "Such a good child, so quiet all day today."

Fourth Master Xiao looked at her tenderly, full of affection, "Silly girl, what does he know? You have to take care of yourself first." Xiqiu smiled and agreed, then looked at Fourth Master Xiao and asked, "What has Fourth Master found?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Though he said nothing, she knew he had sent someone to investigate. Fourth Master Xiao couldn’t help showing a look of helplessness, so he explained the situation to her. Xiqiu listened and frowned, "Fourth Master’s meaning is that the incense was switched?"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded, and Xiqiu’s heart sank. The person who switched the incense must know Fourth Master Xiao’s methods, only changing it after his inspection. Who would know Fourth Master Xiao so well, to calculate so precisely?

Also, she felt the other party didn’t intend to kill her, as if it was just a warning or there was another motive?

Her mind quickly turned, considering all the possibilities...

"Don’t overthink." Fourth Master Xiao said softly, "Even the Empress Dowager wouldn’t resort to such methods. I have some idea of the person behind it, just rest at home!" The Empress Dowager wouldn’t intervene in matters outside her palace. This must be plotted by someone even more thorough than her.

"Understood." Xiqiu replied, her stomach churning again, needing to vomit... From then on, it happened almost daily. Knowing a pregnant woman needs nutrition, like Madam Jiang before, she would eat from a box, vomit, and eat again despite the discomfort, forcing herself to consume some soups and liquids. The Shen Family even brought over two sheep. Every day, Nanny Cen would milk them and cook it, and Xiqiu pinched her nose, forcing herself to drink some each day.

On the day of the Laba Festival, the palace sent Laba porridge, silver frost coal, and a Nine-nine Cold Relief Map. Mid-month, officials Zhou, Fan, and Cheng sent by the court to Liaodong set off in the snow.

Having this matter, Xiqiu stayed home with a justified reason, sending yearly gifts to various residences. Mr. Song also stopped his lectures, and she spent every day with Min in her room. Min would read and practice writing while she was there doing needlework. Xiao Yanzheng often kept her company, and Fourth Master Xiao kept Tianjing and Tiancheng in the inner courtyard, adding guards throughout the outer courtyard, while he stayed busy. Shen Ji, Qian Zhong, and Huang Da, who worked at the West Mountain Camp, came to the residence daily, leaving only after dinner.

On November 23rd, Nanny Cen led people to dust and worship the Kitchen God. That day, Fourth Master Xiao returned early, with an exceptionally gloomy face. Xiqiu welcomed him onto the heated bed, poured tea for him, and asked, "Did something happen?"

"The three officials were ambushed and killed on Liaoyang Road○1."

Xiqiu sat up in shock, looking at Fourth Master Xiao and asking, "Any clues left?" Fourth Master Xiao shook his head, replying, "All three hundred and twenty guards escorting them were sacrificed."

What audacity, to act as soon as they left the Capital!

"Did the Emperor say anything?" At this point, both sides were at a critical juncture. The Emperor would definitely be furious and couldn’t abandon the matter halfway. The only recourse now is to send more forces to Liaodong. If the issue isn’t thoroughly investigated, those people will only become bolder and more reckless, without fear.

Fourth Master Xiao nodded, "The Emperor asked for my opinion, and I recommended Huang Da."

Former Liaodong General Huang Da, who had been reassigned back by the Emperor to semi-retirement, Liaodong was Huang Da’s stronghold, making him the most suitable choice to return. She looked at Fourth Master Xiao and asked, "Did the Emperor agree?"

"Yes. Huang Da was appointed Liaodong Governor, set to depart in three days. The appointment document was issued today." Huang Da, being a military general with battlefield experience, would not be as easily ambushed as the previous three civil servants.

Xiqiu said nothing more, and three days later, before the New Year’s Eve, Huang Da, with four hundred guards, had set out from the Capital. Many shops in the Capital had already closed. Ruan Jingliu was brought back from Shandong by Tiancheng. As Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao had predicted, this year a continuous heavy snow fell for over ten days. Not only was the northern snow disaster severe, but also Jiangnan and Hu-Guang suffered significantly. Particularly in Wei Hui Prefecture, where floods in July and August had only recently receded. People could hardly catch their breath before winter brought a once-in-a-century snow disaster. Wei Hui Prefecture was filled with cries and wails, the land littered with corpses of those who died of hunger. Even on the 29th, Fourth Master Xiao hadn’t rested, transferring grains with Shen Ji overnight, who was responsible for sending them to the disaster areas.

Just like the previous year, many refugees gathered outside the city gates, and Xiqiu sent Tiancheng, Nanny Cen, and Nanny Rong to set up a porridge stall outside the city. Ruan Jingliu brought people from the medical hall to treat and deliver medicine to the refugees, despite the harsh weather. Ruan Jingliu sighed, "So many don’t have serious illnesses, but something as simple as chills can take their lives." His tone was full of sighs.

"We can only do our part." Xiqiu also wore a worried expression and asked, "Did you tell them in Shandong to come to the city after spring? I don’t have the heart to manage the estates now, so it’s better to delay it."

"I did." Ruan Jingliu replied, "Rest assured, the three estates are being run quite well, but with the heavy snow this year, it might affect next year’s harvest."

Ever since she took over the estates, things had not gone smoothly. Xiqiu could do nothing about it. Farming depends entirely on the heavens. If the heavens don’t allow the people to eat well, she could only sigh with resignation.

On New Year’s Eve, the family gathered for the reunion dinner. On the second day, Fourth Master Xiao took Min back to pay respects to the First Master for the New Year. Many people came and went in the residence to offer New Year’s greetings. The Grand Dowager and First Madam brought Xing for a visit, and the bustling New Year passed by.