The childbirth ceremony went smoothly, and the two babies were surprisingly well-behaved. They only opened their eyes in shock when dipped into the water, but soon fell back into a deep sleep.

Madam Chen, having previously spoken her piece, did not speak further. After watching the ceremony, she bid farewell to Xiqiu, escorted out of the residence by Madam Jiang.

Madam Ruan came to bid Xiqiu farewell, "Rest well during your confinement. I’ll come visit you when I have some free time." She then glanced at the two babies beside Xiqiu, "...They’re truly good and lovely to watch."

"Take care on your way," Xiqiu instructed someone to see her off. Madam Ruan and the other ladies took their leave individually.

Tong Xiyan and Tong Xiyu also came over; earlier, the room was crowded, so they chose to accompany the Grand Dowager instead and only came over to watch the ceremony. Tong Xiyan couldn’t take her eyes off Ying, "Though a bit thin, she looks so much like you. She’s truly beautiful!"

Xiqiu glanced at the two children, her eyes filled with tenderness, and she said with a smile, "Having two at once, they’re naturally a bit smaller." She gestured with her hands, "When Zhi was born, he was much bigger than them."

"It’s nothing," Tong Xiyan wanted to hold the baby but found her own belly in the way, leaned closer for a better look, "They’ll grow soon enough."

Madam Jiang looked at her and laughed, "Look at our Sixth Lady; she would like nothing more than to take Ying home with her." Tong Xiyan nodded repeatedly, "...just worried Sixth Sister would be unwilling."

Madam Jiang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Meanwhile, Tong Xiyu stood behind them, peeking inside, casually glancing at the two children but said nothing.

Seeing her pale face, Madam Jiang thought she was saddened by some memory and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps you should rest in Sixth Lady’s room for a while?"

"It’s nothing," Tong Xiyu recalled her wild night with Second Master Lou and blushed, adding, "I’m just here to chat with Sixth Sister and listen to your parenting tips to gain some experience."

Madam Jiang’s eyes lit up, "Eighth Lady, could you be also..." Tong Xiyu hurriedly waved her hands, "No, no!"

Madam Jiang’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment as she ceased her probing. Then, Madam Xia and Madam Luo, led by Nanny Cen, entered the room. Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan said, "Let’s go to the main hall to chat with the Grand Dowager and the Old Madam." In doing so, they left Xiqiu and Madam Xia space to talk.

Everyone exited the room sporadically. Madam Xia, moved to tears, approached the bedside to gaze at the two children, her eyes reddening. Madam Luo, unable to contain her joy, smiled broadly and said, "What a beautiful pair of children." She looked at Xiqiu, sincerely praising, "Our Sixth Lady is truly blessed."

Xiqiu’s confinement went very smoothly. Since knowing he had a younger brother and sister, Zhi became more well-behaved and sensible. The two infants, possibly due to being premature, spent the entire confinement period in a sleepy haze, waking only occasionally for meals and basic needs, and sleeping the rest of the time.

The Grand Dowager, worried about their health, decided to move in temporarily. This was both to assist Xiqiu in managing household affairs and to help care for the two babies.

At the full-month celebration, Madam Jiang and the Tong Xiyan sisters came to enjoy the banquet. Though not intending to hold a grand celebration, it turned into a lively affair. A temporary troupe was invited to perform in the courtyard, and a female storyteller narrated tales of famous generals from the Three Kingdoms, captivating the children gradually.

From morning until night, the festivities included fireworks in the evening. Once all the guests were seen off, calm returned to the household.

Xiqiu, massaging her waist, laughed with Fourth Master Xiao, "What a tiring day." Yet, reluctant to sleep, she looked fondly at the twins. Due to their being fraternal twins, they looked quite similar at birth, but a month later their features had started to distinguish—Gong inherited the Xiao Family’s fine genetics, with bright and handsome phoenix eyes, whereas Ying had round, playful, and adorable eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Fourth Master Xiao sat over and held her in his arms, also gazing down at the children. Ying happened to wake, her bright eyes looking like pearls wandering the room, eventually landing on Fourth Master Xiao’s face. Suddenly, she smiled, with dimples appearing on her cheeks, captivating Fourth Master Xiao as his heart melted like water.

"What’s so funny?" Without thinking, Fourth Master Xiao picked Ying up, dotingly gazing at her, "Do you want to go outside? It’s dark now, but how about Daddy takes you out when it’s bright?"

Ying gazed unwaveringly at Fourth Master Xiao, her dimples grew more adorably sweet. Fourth Master Xiao commented to Xiqiu, "...She looks so much like you."

Xiqiu, amused by Fourth Master Xiao’s happiness, chuckled lightly, "It’s still too early to tell whom they resemble. I think her nose and eyes look a bit like Yanzheng." Fourth Master Xiao, disagreeing, furrowed his brows, stared at Ying, and smiled foolishly, holding her with a fatherly affection.

"They truly were the stars of today’s event," Xiqiu skillfully changed Gong’s diaper while chatting with Fourth Master Xiao, "Madam Jiang and Ms. Song each took one out to show all the ladies..." She patted Gong’s little exposed bottom, which had rounded over the past few days, "He even opened his eyes and smiled at everyone."

Fourth Master Xiao burst into laughter, pacing the room with Ying in his arms. Ying, comfortably yawning, appeared to be dozing off.

"Mother." The door creaked open, and Zhi tiptoed in, "Father."

Upon hearing Zhi’s voice, Xiqiu wrapped up Gong and turned to him, extending her hand with a smile, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

"I came to see Ying and Gong," Zhi noted his father’s arms were occupied and leaned over to look at the baby in the bed. He turned to Fourth Master Xiao, extending his hands, "Father, let me hold Ying."

Fourth Master Xiao was busy coaxing Ying to sleep, and she was on the verge of dozing off. If he were to hand her to Zhi, all his previous efforts would go to waste. He frowned and suggested, "Why don’t you hold Gong?"

Zhi, grinning, approached merrily, "Gong isn’t fun; he just sleeps all the time. I want to hold Ying."

Xiqiu laughed heartily, pulling Zhi close, "You’re still young. Wait until you’re older, okay?" But Zhi protested, "When I get older, they’ll be bigger too, and then you’ll say I can’t hold them anymore." He patted his chest reassuringly, "I’m strong; don’t worry."

Xiqiu, unable to refuse him, turned to persuade Fourth Master Xiao, "Let him hold her for a moment." Fourth Master Xiao hesitated briefly but finally handed Ying to Zhi cautiously. Zhi received her, emulating Xiqiu’s usual manner of holding, and immediately beamed, "She’s so light." He looked at Ying’s drowsy eyes and called, "Ying, don’t sleep yet; let’s have a chat."

As if sensing the summons, Ying opened her eyes to look at her brother. Zhi laughed heartily, "Such a good listener!" Imitating his father, he paced the room, chattering away.