Zhi is playing in the yard with Xing and Sheng, the three of them looking up at the sky. Xing wears a light blue jiaao with buttons down the front and dons a bejeweled crown, his body slender and tall. Xiqiu observes his back with a momentary daze but recalls when Xing turns and smiles at her, his long phoenix eyes gentle and bright, his lips bearing a warm, gentle smile yet still youthful... she realizes that the person before her is not Xiao Yanyi!

"What are you looking at?" The Grand Dowager imitates the three, looking overhead as Sheng cheekily replies, "Looking at the celestial phenomena!" Sheng’s voice is changing, now rough with the demeanor of a young man.

"Celestial phenomena?" The Grand Dowager is puzzled, "What can be seen during the day?" She shakes her head, clearly thinking the children are speaking nonsense.

Xing laughs and answers, "Mr. Song says that by observing celestial phenomena, we’ll see more snow tomorrow. We’re trying to figure out how Mr. Song predicted it."

The Grand Dowager chuckles, while the First Madam and Xiqiu can’t help but smile too. The First Madam says, "If you’re interested, I have a book on celestial phenomena; you can come to take a look if you wish."

"Thank you, Aunt," Xing smiles eagerly, "We’ll come over after school to fetch it!"

The First Madam nods slightly; Zhi seems uninterested and helps the Grand Dowager inside the house, while Xing steps back, walking alongside Xiqiu, asking softly, "Fourth Aunt..."

Xiqiu stops to look at him, "Hmm?" Xing lowers his head, "Have there been any letters from Father?" In past years, Xiao Yanyi always sent letters around this time; indeed, it should be time.

"Not yet." Xiqiu shakes her head, "But I’ve heard that Liaodong is snowbound, the letters may be delayed on the road." She pats Xing’s head, knowing his struggles over the past two years. Learning the mansion’s affairs bit by bit from Housekeeper Hu, she’s heard that his room stays lit nearly all night, unaware of the amount of effort behind his public calm, preserving his childhood innocence and goodness.

As the Princely Heir, these duties are his to learn, responsibilities he must shoulder, but it pains her to see him bear them at such a young age.

"Perhaps..." Xiqiu smiles, "Perhaps he’s on his way back, so there’s no need for a letter."

Xing brightens at this, his earlier disappointment replaced by endless expectation, nodding while smiling, "I think so too." He laughs along with Xiqiu, who continues, "We should always approach things positively, it gives us motivation, right?"

"Yes!" Xing nods vigorously. Xiqiu smiles, "But our Xing is indeed impressive, I’ve heard from Hu that you now make decisions for the outer courtyard, often devising better solutions than he does. Fourth Aunt is very proud listening to this!"

Xing shyly smiles, "Hu is just exaggerating."

Returning in the evening, Xiqiu asks Fourth Master Xiao, "Any news from Second Brother?" This year, Fourth Master Xiao already requested Lord Huang from Liaodong to send people outside the border to look for Xiao Yanyi.

"Not yet." Fourth Master Xiao shakes his head, "But someone saw him outside the border, thereafter no more sightings." The endless grasslands, countless nomadic villages; finding a person is truly difficult.

Xiqiu sighs; if Xiao Yanyi opens his heart after these three years of travel, embarking on a new life of his own, their worries and waiting over these years will be worth it.

The couple sits in silence briefly; Xiqiu shifts the topic, "How come you’re back so late today, was there a matter in court?"

"Yes." Fourth Master Xiao replies, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs is organizing next year’s tendering, Qian Zhong is overwhelmed, so I’m helping him."

Tendering again; Xiqiu thinks of the Teng Family’s matter and asks, "Which families are involved? Any acquaintance among them?"

"Indeed, someone you know." Fourth Master Xiao nods with laughter, "Tongxuan Hall is included!"

Xiqiu raises an eyebrow; Tongxuan Hall’s business spans various fields these two years, from basic necessities to imperial porcelain tributes. Indeed, First Master Qin’s business skills are remarkable.

"There’s an issue." Fourth Master Xiao pauses, looking at Xiqiu, "Chief Lei sent a message saying in Fujian there’s a Shipping Canal Gang that’s grown astonishingly in just two years, now owning dozens of large ships and countless small ones... recently, they’re negotiating with him, intending to undertake next year’s Maritime Trade Bureau shipments, quoted at an exorbitant price."

"This is news." Xiqiu knows Fourth Master Xiao wouldn’t mention it without reason, displaying curiosity while already guessing most of it.

Fourth Master Xiao sees her expression, recognizing her thoughts, laughs, "The gang’s head is someone you know—Qin Yuanfeng."

As expected, it’s him; vanished for two years without a trace, unexpectedly, he went to Fujian!

As they talk, a scent of incense wafts from their main hall outside, prompting Xiqiu to ask, "Is it Nanny Cen?"

"It’s me, Madam, do you have any instructions?" Nanny Cen replied from behind the curtain, Xiqiu smiled helplessly and said, "No, you go ahead and get busy."

Nanny Cen responded affirmatively and withdrew.

Fourth Master Xiao glanced at Xiqiu. Ever since Consort Le had brought the Child-Giving Guanyin, though she had not sincerely prayed to it, Nanny Cen diligently lit three sticks of incense morning and night without fail, and Xiqiu did not stop her, only smiled indifferently. However, he understood that she still wished for another child; otherwise, with her personality, matters concerning faith would have been put to a stop long ago.

With these thoughts in his mind, he smiled and approached, speaking softly, "Is Zhi asleep?"

Unexpectedly, his enlarged handsome face blocked her view, Xiqiu looked at Fourth Master Xiao’s smiling eyes, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Fourth Master Xiao put down the teacup and immediately lifted her up, saying, "Then let’s rest as well."

Though such actions were common, Xiqiu was still startled by the sudden elevation, and clinging tightly to Fourth Master Xiao’s neck, she angrily scolded, "But I haven’t washed up yet."

"Let’s do it together," Fourth Master Xiao whispered in her ear, "It’s been a long time since we bathed together." Saying this, he noticed her face flushed and unintentionally seductive, couldn’t help but kiss her lips. Light wall-framed pants emerged, and after a long time, Fourth Master Xiao reluctantly let her go, gently saying, "The Guanyin is back, naturally we cannot defy the will of Buddha."

Xiqiu buried her head in his arms and chuckled softly.

After a night of lingering affection, Xiqiu woke early from the effects. After sending Fourth Master Xiao off, she went to the backyard to see Zhi practicing boxing in thin clothing. She wiped his forehead with a cloth and asked, "Did you have breakfast?"

"No." Zhi carelessly wiped his forehead’s sweat, Xiqiu then instructed Chunliu to prepare breakfast, Zhi pulled her and asked, "Mother, is Third Uncle coming back?"

He kept track of time, knowing Third Uncle had been away from the capital for three full years after the New Year.

"We haven’t received his letter; he should return soon." Xiqiu said with a smile, "Matters in the army are unclear, but if you miss him, just write a letter to ask him."

Zhi nodded, and together with Xiqiu, went inside the room. Dongling helped him with hot water, Zhi wanted to bathe, and Xiqiu naturally followed behind to enter, but Zhi blushed blocking the door: "Mother, please wait outside."

Xiqiu was taken aback, looking at her blushing son, then laughed heartily, pinching Zhi’s cheek: "Alright, Mother will wait for you outside."

Unknowingly, Zhi had grown up!

Once he finished bathing, Xiqiu helped him dress, she softly said, "Today, go ask Mr. Ji when the holiday starts this year." Pausing, she continued, "Your Twelfth Aunt won’t be able to come to the mansion next year; let’s give her a farewell, shall we?"

"Why can’t she come?" Zhi tilted his head looking at Xiqiu, puzzled why Kun could but not Tong Xihua. Xiqiu explained with a smile, "The ancient teachings say that women lacking talent is virtuous; Twelfth Aunt has had the opportunity to study with Mr. Ji for four years, which many women yearn for but cannot achieve. Starting now, she must focus on learning homemaking, sewing, cooking, and other things women should learn." Though she felt it was unfair, the societal rules were such, she was powerless to change them and could only adhere.

"Oh." Zhi nodded, "Then I’ll remember to ask Mr. Ji today."

A few days later, Xiqiu hosted a small farewell banquet for Tong Xihua, inviting Xing and Sheng, and went to bring Nian and Xing as well as Xiao Yanzheng’s family’s Yong and Xuan. A roomful of children chattered lively throughout the day.

Tong Xihua reluctantly bid farewell to Zhi and Kun, though they would still often meet, it would no longer be in Mr. Ji’s classroom.

"Sixth Sister." Tong Xihua, red-eyed, said, "Thank you." Xiqiu touched her face, smiled, and shook her head, "Why thank me? From now on, at home, learn sewing well with your concubine. I’m looking forward to wearing the clothes our Huan makes for me."

Tong Xihua tearfully responded, "Mm!"

After sending the roomful of children away, the sky was already dusky; Xiqiu then instructed for the room to be tidied and rested.

Once Little New Year passed, it was New Year. Xiao Yanyi still hadn’t returned during New Year; Xing sullenly ate New Year’s Eve dinner, holding back tears while accompanying everyone’s chats. Grand Dowager’s heart also felt empty, reminding Fourth Master Xiao, "Once the snow melts, immediately send someone outside the border to search."

"Understood." Fourth Master Xiao responded.

With Xiao Yanting lighting the fireworks, colorful and brilliant fireworks bloomed over the Xuanning Marquis Mansion. When the whole city was immersed in New Year’s joy, elsewhere in the city, mourning bells began to toll!