Chapter 896: Chapter 894: Each Their Own (4)

Little Min just smiled without speaking, while Sheng quietly asked Zhi, "Have you done what I asked you to do?"

Zhi nodded mysteriously, "I have. When will you go over, big brother?" Sheng turned back to look at Xing, who replied softly, "In two days, when Mr. Song takes a break, we’ll head over."

"Hmm, then we’ll wait for you!" Zhi nodded, and with a playful wink at Min, they all shared a secretive smile.

The Grand Dowager posed an unhappy look and said, "Why are you keeping things from us, secretly discussing something?"

The children waved their hands in unison, saying "No, no!" Sheng then led Zhi saying, "Grandmother, while you adults are talking, I’ll take the younger brothers to play in the courtyard."

"Go on, go on!" The Grand Dowager laughed, "It’s getting dark, don’t run around!" The children nodded in agreement and walked out while bowing.

Nanny Cen followed the children out, and in the courtyard ran into Nanny Zhang from the kitchen, where they started chatting in front of the Grand Dowager’s residence. Nanny Zhang said, full of envy, "You’re fortunate, being with Fourth Master in the new mansion is way better than me spending a lifetime cooped up in the kitchen. I should’ve gone to serve in Fourth Master’s rooms with you, enjoying bliss now."

Nanny Cen chuckled, "Everyone has their own blessings, you’re now the housekeeper, aren’t all the kitchen affairs at your discretion? No need to be modest."

Nanny Zhang laughed, "You’re praising me too much. The kitchen’s just a small place compared to you, Fourth Madam has entrusted you with managing the entire inner courtyard." Nanny Cen paused and asked, "Hearing your words, is something amiss?"

Nanny Zhang waved her hand, "Well, it’s not really a big deal, we servants should dedicate ourselves to the masters." She pointed southeast, "In the whole estate, it’s those two over there who are hardest to serve."

Nanny Cen was surprised; that’s where Mei Garden is, where the two concubines reside. Her gaze shifted, she didn’t ask further, but Nanny Zhang continued, "When the masters are fine, it’s just them who keep things busy, claiming to be hungry at midnight and insisting on lighting the stove for bird’s nest porridge."

"It’s not easy for them either, rare to get hungry at night, and seeking you for help, why not accommodate them?" Nanny Cen smiled.

Nanny Zhang had a mysterious air, saying, "... Heard that Madam Wang’s period has been absent for over ten days." After a pause, she added, "Upon calculation, the Marquis spent a night in her room last month."

Though household affairs appear secretive, the servants see everything clearly. Nanny Cen was unsurprised, smiled, "That’s a happy occasion, why not report to the Grand Dowager and invite a doctor to take a look."

"Probably afraid of celebrating too early, wanting to confirm before announcing," Nanny Zhang paused and added, "Even without certainty, she’s already acting like the mistress, meddling in kitchen affairs, imagine if she truly conceives how she will act."

Nanny Cen agreed but felt Lianqiao wasn’t really like that, thinking Nanny Zhang exaggerates.

"You’re out of the estate; otherwise, you’d know." Nanny Zhang saw Nanny Cen’s disbelief and was about to speak when Madam Shen’s voice suddenly came from behind, "Nanny Zhang!"

Nanny Zhang was startled, turned to see Madam Shen standing behind her, instantly changing to a cheerful demeanor, "Madam," she curtsied.

"Who is Nanny speaking with?" Madam Shen, wearing a pink and purple floral overcoat, hair styled in a falling horse bun, walked over gracefully, gazing behind Nanny Zhang and then smiled, "Oh, it’s Nanny Cen."

Nanny Cen paid her respects, "Madam." Madam Shen sidestepped to return the gesture, giggling, "Haven’t seen Nanny in days, why visit today?"

"Came with the Madam!" Nanny Cen replied, intending to leave, as Madam Shen belonged to the second household, it was inappropriate to linger. But Madam Shen approached, glanced at the Grand Dowager’s courtyard, "So Fourth Madam is visiting."

Nanny Cen smiled faintly, and Madam Shen glanced at Nanny Zhang, smiling, "On the way here, heard the kitchen lost a fragrant chicken needed for sticky rice chicken preparation tonight, should Nanny return to check?"

This couldn’t be ignored, upon hearing, Nanny Zhang was startled, quickly excusing herself to return to the kitchen from Nanny Cen and Madam Shen.

Nanny Cen pondered, then Madam Shen approached, asking Nanny Cen, "Did Fourth Madam and Fourth Master bring the young masters too?"

"Yes, visiting the Grand Dowager, returning soon," Nanny Cen replied.

Madam Shen nodded warmly, then said to Nanny Cen, "We meet by chance today, or else I’d have arranged for someone to visit you at the new mansion soon." Nanny Cen raised an eyebrow, curious about Madam Shen’s intention when she continued, "Recently, I acquired an exceptional fabric from Gu Rong, made several fluffy flowers, gifted to the estate’s senior maidservants, wanted to send some to you and Chunliu at the new mansion, hope you and the girls won’t mind."

Realizing the purpose, Nanny Cen nodded, "Madam’s work is always marvelous, we’ll be overjoyed, no chance of disliking it." Madam Shen laughed, "Why don’t you join me, I’ll fetch them for you from my quarters, shouldn’t take long?"

Nanny Cen glanced back at the courtyard, contemplated for a moment, and nodded, "I’ll shamelessly accept Madam’s kind offer."

Madam Shen smiled softly, and Nanny Cen headed to Mei Garden.

Xiqiu was discussing Zhi’s enlightenment with the Grand Dowager, asking further about the First Madam’s well-being, "Old Madam Tang seemed fine recently, how has she fallen ill suddenly?"

The Grand Dowager replied, "That’s how it is with age, the Imperial Physician said she’s unable to eat, survives on daily ginseng soup..." Xiqiu sighed, about to speak when the curtain lifted, and Xiao Yanyi entered; Xiqiu stood to greet, Xiao Yanyi nodded, exchanged greetings with Fourth Master Xiao, sitting beside him.

"Is the little Min doing well in the palace?" Xiao Yanyi asked, Fourth Master Xiao nodded and replied, "The first day went well!"

Xiao Yanyi nodded slightly, while the Grand Dowager asked, "You returned late, was there an issue at the office?" Xiao Yanyi replied, "Not much, the Ministry of Internal Affairs received a batch of herbs, the Imperial Hospital declared them low quality, Qian Zhong and I found the supplier to discuss it."

Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows, asked, "Supplier from where?" Xiao Yanyi replied, "Recommended by Lord Zhang, Tongxuan Hall in the Capital."

Surprisingly, not only Fourth Master Xiao but Xiqiu was also taken aback, Tongxuan Hall’s business was indeed thriving, even supplying herbs within the Imperial City.