Chapter 897: Chapter 895: Each Their Own (5)

"Grand Dowager." Nanny Cen walked in with the big maid Jinhong, who followed behind her, causing the Grand Dowager and several people including Xiqiu to be somewhat taken aback. Jinhong glanced at Xiao Yanyi and then knelt down. The Grand Dowager frowned and asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Replying to the Grand Dowager," Jinhong replied with some fear, "it’s our Madam Wang, she says her stomach hurts and wants to ask the Grand Dowager to summon an Imperial Physician."

Xiao Yanyi furrowed his brow and said to Jinhong, "You can go to the outer court and find Housekeeper Hu directly, tell him to summon an Imperial Physician from the palace." Jinhong agreed, kowtowed, and ran out.

Xiqiu glanced at Nanny Cen, who discreetly placed her hand on her stomach.

Xiqiu was taken aback, surprised.

With this matter at hand, the mood was not as high as before. The Grand Dowager then said to Ziwei, "Go have a look at her. She’s usually so well-behaved, what’s suddenly causing her stomach to hurt?" Ziwei agreed and went out.

After a while, the Imperial Physician came and was directly led to Lianqiao’s courtyard. Ziwei returned smiling and said, "Congratulations to the Grand Dowager and the Marquis, the Imperial Physician said Madam Wang is with child!"

The Grand Dowager’s eyes brightened, her face overflowing with joy, she nodded with a smile and said, "It’s been a long time since there was a happy event in the mansion." She then looked at Xiao Yanyi and said, "She is with child, you should go and see her, lest she overthink things!"

Xiao Yanyi quickly glanced at Xiqiu, nodded, stood up, and said, "Alright!" Saying so, he walked out with his hands behind his back, without much joy on his face.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao took the two children and bid farewell to the Grand Dowager before returning to the mansion.

Upon hearing Nanny Cen talk about Madam Shen’s matter, Xiqiu was quite surprised too: "Did they say anything else, just brought back fluffy flowers?" Nanny Cen agreed, and then thoughtfully said, "But it seems these flowers look freshly made, when I went there, there were still scraps of cloth on top of the brick bed..." She paused and added, "The maids in the mansion move in and out, Madam Shen gets along well with the maids, and upon hearing that Madam Wang was unwell, she nervously ran over to personally serve tea and water..."

Madam Shen has always been smart, being able to do this is not surprising, but why did she suddenly do this?

Ever since she lost her child, she’s been discreet in her actions and conduct in the mansion, rarely going out, why did she suddenly start being so prominent without any reason?

Her face showed doubt.

Nanny Cen looked at Xiqiu and explained, "Madam, do you think Madam Shen is..." She’s from the Shen family, her every word and deed are impossible to act casually. A concubine moving so frequently must be for the sake of offspring or status, but Madam Shen can’t do it for those reasons, it might be related to her family.

Could it be that the Empress or Old Madam Shen had given her directions?

Xiqiu was also thinking along the same lines; she furrowed her brows and instructed, "Just keep this matter in your heart, and someday tell Nanny Tang to keep an eye on it. Don’t speak too much about anything else since she hasn’t done anything overstepping." Xiqiu was alert, worried about the identity of Min from the bottom of her heart.

Now that Min is by the Empress’s side, and Madam Shen is the Empress’s sister, she couldn’t help but think more about these things.

Nanny Cen agreed, nodded and said, "I understand, madam." Xiqiu pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Also, you’ll go back tomorrow, send some things to Lianqiao, it’s a happy event that she’s pregnant. You should also have a chat with Nanny Tang, pay respects to the First Madam, and inquire about Old Madam Tang’s health."

Nanny Cen agreed and then went out.

Xiqiu returned to the room; Fourth Master Xiao had finished freshening up and was leaning against the bedside. Xiqiu asked, "Fourth Master, are you hungry? I’m feeling a bit peckish, suddenly feel like eating something."

Fourth Master Xiao asked, "What would you like to eat, I’ll have the kitchen prepare it." Xiqiu nodded and instructed Bihuai to have the kitchen make some noodles. After a bit, Bihuai brought in the noodles; Xiqiu felt comfortable after eating and let out a satisfied sigh: "Did we eat too early today, I feel painfully hungry now and much relieved after eating."

Fourth Master Xiao took a cloth to wipe her mouth, smiled and said, "...Even put on some weight, too thin!"

Xiqiu chuckled lightly, thinking she had to stitch a schoolbag for Min, she said to Fourth Master Xiao, "Fourth Master should rest first, I’ll finish Min’s schoolbag, it will be ready for use tomorrow."

"I’ll keep you company." Fourth Master Xiao brought the lamp from the corner and brightened it further: "I don’t have anything else to do."

Xiqiu smiled and picked up her sewing basket, sitting opposite Fourth Master Xiao, head lowered sewing stitches, while Fourth Master Xiao sat across flipping through a book, occasionally looking up at her and then back at the book. Xiqiu unintentionally asked: "Have the dates for Lord Han’s wedding been set?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Fourth Master Xiao turned a page of the book, replied: "Set for the second day of the second month." Xiqiu smiled, nodded: "Second day of the second month is a good day, we must send a generous gift then."

"Mm." Fourth Master Xiao agreed, looked up again at Xiqiu, thinking about the upcoming ninth day of July, remembering their idyllic time at the villa many years ago, he asked with a smile: "In a few days shall we go live at the villa for a few days?"

Xiqiu was taken aback, looked at him and asked, "Why suddenly go to the villa?" as she spoke she suddenly thought her birthday was approaching, her face blushed and said: "It’s better to stay at home, going there back and forth, the children, what would they do!"

Fourth Master Xiao said nothing, thought for a moment and didn’t insist, then asked, "What do you want?" Xiqiu was taken aback, realizing he meant birthday presents, tilted her head, smiling: "With you and the two children is the best gift, if Fourth Master really wants to gift, how about just taking a day off and staying home."

Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze was smiling, he put down the book, reached over to hold her hand, nodded: "Alright!"

The next morning, Xiqiu carefully wrapped a few pastries in a handkerchief and put them in Min’s bag, instructed Wuzhong and Erquan, relayed a message to Tong Shen Zhi, and only then felt reassured to let Min go out. When Min returned at night, he smiled and said: "...ate two pastries during afternoon tea, not hungry."

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, instructed the kitchen to make different kinds of pastries, and secretly sent some to Tong Shen Zhi, which Min would bring over.

Fourth Master Xiao teased her for that: "It’s less like a scholar studying, more like a mouse in the kitchen." Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh.

The next day Xing and Sheng came over, gathered with Zhi hiding in the room whispering, not knowing what they were planning. Xiqiu asked the three and they kept secrets mysteriously, she let them be.

Nanny Cen came back to report to Xiqiu: "Madam Wang sent thanks for the gifts; she said she couldn’t come personally to thank you." Then out came two pairs of shoes: "She made two pairs of shoes for the two young masters."

Xiqiu glanced at the two pairs of shoes, nodded: "Put them away." Nanny Cen agreed and added: "Nanny Tang said First Madam has also taken note of Madam Shen’s affairs, said she’s been very close to Ziwei and Bilian these two days, and it’s not clear what her intentions are. We can only wait for news."

Xiqiu nodded, hoping she was just overthinking!

However, Old Madam Shen is truly astute, and even a hint she might detect, calculating against the unprepared, she fears defensive actions may not be enough.

That evening, after consideration, she discussed with Fourth Master Xiao: "Should we send someone to investigate?"

Fourth Master Xiao furrowed brows thought and said: "I’ll handle this matter, it’s inconvenient for you to go running around."

Xiqiu worriedly asked: "Back then when First Master Tang met Min, he was so amazed..." She paused and asked Fourth Master Xiao: "Does Min really resemble the Emperor?"

"About forty percent similar." Fourth Master Xiao replied indifferently: "More resembles the late Empress."

Xiqiu’s heart tightened: "First Master Tang had that reaction, wouldn’t Old Madam Shen and the Empress possibly have the same feeling?"

Fourth Master Xiao seemed to have thought about it before: "I know what to expect, don’t worry!"

Xiqiu still felt a little uneasy.

On the day of Qixi, Nanny Cen and Nanny Rong gathered everyone to make Qixi fruits, and brought Chunyan into the mansion. A big group of maids filled bowls with water under the eaves, dried their hair, and at night set chairs and tables in the courtyard. Biwu held a bowl and solemnly made a wish towards the moon. Bihuai pulled her and asked: "What wish are you making?"

Wenyu teased before Bihuai could speak: "Sister Biwu must be wishing for the kitchen to make more delicious food tomorrow." Biwu glared, chased Wenyu around the courtyard for half a day.

Xiqiu arranged to buy spiders and sent a familiar share to each of the young misses in the mansion, while Madam Ruan received an extra share. Madam Le still stayed at the Marquis Jinxiang’s place, naturally Miss Le’s gift shouldn’t be missing.

After Qixi passed, it was Xiqiu’s birthday, and since the eighth day, gifts began arriving one after another from outside!