Qiuping cautiously comforted, "Even though few guests ca today, all the affairs, big and small, in the outer court require the Second Young Master’s decision. There’s no need for you to worry, Madam. Once the Second Young Master finishes with the birthday celebration for the Grand Dowager, he will return."
Tong Xihua waved her hand in disappointnt and sighed, "You needn’t say more, I know his thoughts better than you do." Regardless of his mind, she was now carrying his child.
Qiuping hesitated to speak, also full of disappointnt.
Xiqiu returned to her room, and Qiuluo had already brought the al. She smiled apologetically and said, "I thought, given the ti, Miss would have eaten by now. It’s my negligence for not knowing that Miss didn’t eat." Saying this, she perford a formal bow as an apology.
Sixing hurriedly went over to help Qiuluo up, smiling, "Sister, why do this? It’s not your fault. It’s we who’ve been negligent and didn’t inform you. I hope you’ll be more patient with us."
Qiuluo exchanged a few polite words, and Xiqiu smiled and said, "Hurry and get busy, Sister. We can’t do without you now."
"Then, enjoy your al, Sixth Miss." With that, she bowed and left.
Sixing’s expression turned cold, yet she dared not speak ill of Tong Xihua. However, she couldn’t help but mutter to herself. Among all the sisters, the First Miss didn’t even ask whether the Sixth Miss had eaten. If it weren’t for the Eldest Master, Sixth Miss would have gone ho from this social gathering on an empty stomach.
Chunyan set the dishes on the table, poured Xiqiu a cup of tea, and placed it aside. Xiqiu pointed to a chair and said, "You sit down and eat with us."
Sixing and Chunyan sat down across from Xiqiu, but Xiqiu didn’t even pick up her chopsticks. Sixing looked up at her, "Miss, at least eat a bit. Who knows when we’ll be able to return? You can’t make yourself unwell by going hungry."
Xiqiu shook her head and said, "I’m not hungry, you go ahead and eat." Saying this, she got up and sat on the bed, leaning against the pillow with her eyes closed.
In the afternoon, Lady arrived with Tong Xiyan and Tong Xiyu. The Grand Dowager also ca, and Qiuluo ca to knock on the door: "Sixth Miss, the Grand Dowager and Lady are here, they want you to co over."
Xiqiu imdiately opened her eyes, not a trace of sleepiness left. She asked Sixing to open the door and said to Qiuluo, "Thank you, Qiuluo. Let’s go!" and left the room. Qiuluo was montarily stunned, her eyes glanced over the bed inside the room, noticing the bedcovers were as neat as ever. She was secretly surprised...could it be that Sixth Miss hadn’t actually slept?
The thought flashed through her mind as she looked at Xiqiu again. Still composed and gentle in appearance, she had a friendly smile. Although there was so fatigue between her brows, she stood with her back perfectly straight. Qiuluo said with a smile, "A little maid from the Second Miss’s room ca to say that the Second Miss has woken up and assured you she’s fine now."
Xiqiu’s brow furrowed subtly, smiling, "I got it." The little maid ca to talk about Xiao Yanzheng but didn’t co to see her?!
Entering the main room, the Grand Dowager and Lady sat on the kang, with Tong Xihua beside Lady, and Marchioness Xuanning was seated on the chair to the right. The other ladies were not present, which suggested the gathering had ended. She walked in with a smile, first paying respects to the Grand Dowager, then addressing Lady as "Mother", and turned to Marchioness Xuanning to pay her respects.
The Grand Dowager imdiately held her hand, affectionately patting the back of it, "You’ve suffered, good child."
Xiqiu glanced at Lady and then lowered her face, "It doesn’t hurt. After applying the dicine you gave , it’s likely already scabbed over."
The Grand Dowager nodded secretly, smiling, "Later, have Yanzheng apologize to you. Since she caused it, she must give you an explanation." Xiqiu quickly shook her head, "Second Miss didn’t an it, Grand Dowager, please don’t insist."
Lady smiled broadly, nodding, "It’s just a bite, and the Second Miss is so delicate, she wasn’t seriously ill. After applying dicine and resting for a few days, it will be fine. Asking Second Miss to apologize would rather embarrass her."
The Grand Dowager’s gaze shifted slightly, "Otherwise, stay here for a few days. Stay with , and I’ll invite an Imperial Physician to take a look. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease."
"How could we impose on you like that! This girl’s appearance might be frail, but she’s quite robust. Don’t worry about her!" Lady smiled at the Grand Dowager, imdiately declining her invitation.
"Alright then!" The Grand Dowager nodded and turned to instruct Nanny Wu, "Go to the storeroom and pack so ginseng and bird’s nest for the Sixth Miss to take ho."
Nanny Wu quickly complied.
Lady glanced at Tong Xihua, then smiled and said to the Grand Dowager, "Sorry to trouble you." The Grand Dowager helplessly waved her hand, "It’s Sixth Miss who suffered."
Tong Xihua imdiately got up, walked to the Grand Dowager’s side, and embraced her with a smile, "Don’t dwell on it. What’s important is Second Sister’s health. If you’re worried about Sixth Sister, have soone send a note to the palace and invite an Imperial Physician to check tomorrow, so you can be at ease."
The Grand Dowager nodded, "That’s a good idea. Tomorrow morning, when the second goes to the palace, have him handle this matter." Talking about Xiao Yanyi, the Grand Dowager asked, "He went to see Madam Zhou off, said he’d be back later, and asked to tell you."
Tong Xihua’s brow furrowed slightly, her thoughts sarcastically cold. When has he ever inford beforehand when he went out? Every ti I had to ask around the outer court to find out where he had gone, once he went to Ruizhou, and it wasn’t until two days later that I found out!
Thinking of this made Tong Xihua feel a persistent dull ache, yet she maintained a bright smile, "I wondered why when I sent sobering soup to the outer court, they said Second Young Master wasn’t there. Turns out he went to see Madam Zhou off." As soon as she spoke, the Grand Dowager’s eyes narrowed slightly, and without comnting, she patted Tong Xihua’s hand.
Xiqiu stepped back silently, and Tong Xiyan imdiately grasped her hand, softly asking, "Does it hurt?" Xiqiu shook her head, Tong Xiyan’s brow remained furrowed, yet she couldn’t speak ill of Xiao Yanzheng in front of the Grand Dowager, choosing instead to hold Xiqiu’s hand tightly, "As long as it’s fine."
Xiqiu smiled at her, realizing a gaze lingered on her the whole ti. She raised her brows to find it and saw Tong Xiyu staring blankly at her, seemingly in deep thought or perhaps daydreaming. Xiqiu coughed lightly and asked, "Eighth Sister, what’s up?"
Tong Xiyu started, her face reddening, shaking her head, "N...nothing." Xiqiu was puzzled, then heard Tong Xiyan speaking in restrained anger, "What do you an nothing? She’s been out of it all day, claiming she lost her handkerchief. I accompanied her back to find it, during which she also wanted to visit the restroom and stroll in the garden. We finally reached the First Sister’s place only to find the handkerchief safe and sound in her pocket."
Though Tong Xiyu seldom spoke, she was not careless, and even if she were, didn’t she have Cuiyu and the others around? How could they not know whether the handkerchief was lost or not? Xiqiu sighed and stopped looking at Tong Xiyu, telling Tong Xiyan, "She’s young; it’s not unusual for her to be confused at tis. Don’t be upset."
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