Chunyan held Xiqiu’s hand, then paused in surprise: "Miss, why are your hands so cold?" She checked Xiqiu’s forehead: "Why are you sweating?"
Xiqiu smiled at her indifferently: "Maybe I just moved a bit while changing skirts, so I broke a sweat, it’s nothing." Chunyan nervously fastened the cloak in her hand onto Xiqiu, carefully tidied it up, and then supported Xiqiu as they left the room.
Qiuping stood at the door, seeing Xiqiu coming out, she smiled and said: "Is the Sixth Miss feeling better?" Her gaze landed on the skirt Xiqiu had changed into, then her brows furrowed. How could she forget, all of Second Madam’s skirts were the gauze kind worn by married won, the Sixth Miss wearing it seed sowhat inappropriate...
But now, the mistake was made, she certainly couldn’t trouble the Sixth Miss to change again, right?! Besides, there were no styled skirts here with the Second Madam, if they needed to change, they could only go to the Second Miss.
Qiuping thought it over and eventually did not bring up the skirt issue again.
Xiqiu seed not to notice Qiuping’s change in expression, smiled and said: "Eighth Sister and Nanny Lin are still waiting in the courtyard, let’s go." Qiuping followed Xiqiu back to the courtyard.
In the courtyard, a maid had already brought a chair for Tong Xiyu to sit on, Nanny Lin stood beside her, the two of them chatting intermittently, while Xi’er had long thrown the previous unhappiness out of her mind, chatting with the maids who were sweeping the courtyard. As soon as she saw Xiqiu co out, Xi’er ran over eagerly to support Xiqiu.
Nanny Lin looked disapprovingly at Xi’er, went up with a smile to Xiqiu: "Sixth Miss, let’s go!" Xiqiu nodded slightly, supported by Chunyan, while Chunyan, displeased, glared back at Xi’er: "Behave yourself!"
Xi’er stuck her tongue out playfully at Chunyan.
Tong Xiyu also walked over to Xiqiu’s side, looked her over in the skirt she was wearing, frowned slightly but smiled and chatted with Xiqiu: "Sixth Sister finally ca out." Xiqiu smiled at her without speaking, Tong Xiyu then took Nanny Lin’s hand...
They left the courtyard, onto the path at the gate, where the apricot blossoms had sprouted new branches, so flower buds were peeking through. Tong Xiyu stopped to take a look: "The flowers in the garden are almost in bloom, it really is beautiful." She turned to Nanny Lin and asked: "Where’s Nanny taking us to see flowers today?" She seed full of anticipation.
Nanny Lin replied with a smile: "As for the garden scenery, the top choice would be the plum garden beside Lingbo Hall in the rear garden, but Eighth Miss ca late, and the wax plums have already withered, to see them again, you’d have to wait until year’s end. When the red plums bloom amidst the snow, it’s truly stunning! But the scenery in the birch forest nearby is also good, with shimring lake water beside it, the sound of rustling leaves in the birch forest and crisp bird calls, it’s quite nice." Nanny Lin paused, as if rembering sothing, and added: "Eighth Miss can ask Sixth Miss, she and our Second Miss visited last year."
Tong Xiyu turned timidly to Xiqiu and asked softly: "Sixth Sister, is it beautiful?"
"Beautiful!" Xiqiu praised truthfully: "Just as Nanny Lin said, stunning!" Tong Xiyu nodded sowhat disappointedly, Xiqiu smiled and consoled her: "Eighth Sister need not be disappointed, wait until year’s end to see it again!"
Tong Xiyu nodded, Nanny Lin’s eyes glinted and she said: "If Eighth Miss truly wishes to go, we can go take a look, though the plum blossoms aren’t there, the lake and birch trees’ vibrant spring scenery is worthwhile too!"
Tong Xiyu looked delighted, nodded, and smiled: "Then let’s listen to Nanny."
They took a small detour, and suddenly, Xi’er beside Nanny Song yelled: "Nanny, my stomach hurts, I need to go to the toilet!" Nanny Song frowned and, without thinking, scolded: "You little wretch, always causing trouble as soon as you leave the house, there’s no restroom in this garden, just bear with it!"
Xi’er’s eyes turned red from holding it, clutching her stomach and squatting, Nanny Song was about to scold her when Xiqiu turned back upon hearing the commotion, frowned, and asked: "What’s wrong?"
"Miss, I need to go to the toilet, but Nanny Song won’t let !" she said with a face full of grievance, Xiqiu turned back embarrassed to look at Nanny Lin, Nanny Lin frowned and said: "This is the garden, there’s no toilet..." She seed sowhat displeased due to the delay caused by Xi’er, then looked at Xiqiu who stood still, so reluctantly she pointed at a little maid and said: "You accompany the girl back, no need to go far, just return to the Second Madam’s courtyard!"
The little maid nodded, but Xi’er waved her hands and said: "No need to trouble the sister to take back, I know the way back to Great Aunt’s courtyard, just follow this road." Clutching her stomach, she sprang up from the ground, clutched her legs, and ran back: "Miss, you go on ahead, I’ll find you later!" She was quite unruly.
Xi’er was Xiqiu’s maid, also a maid of Tong Mansion, Xiqiu’s face flushed slightly, and Nanny Lin, unable to embarrass the Tong Mansion in front of the Xiao Mansion’s servants, could only wave off the guiding maid, turning back with a smile: "She’s young but has a good mory and full of energy, Sixth Miss needn’t worry about her getting lost!" A child of only seven, it’s unlikely she’ll cause any trouble.
Xiqiu blushed, seeming a bit embarrassed due to inadequate supervision, Nanny Lin, fearful of more incidents: "Let’s move on."
Xiqiu raised her eyebrows, said nothing, and followed Nanny Lin forward.
As they walked along, new buds sprouted on either side of the path, flower buds ready to bloom, a gentle fragrance with a lush green presence, the Marquis Mansion’s garden was indeed many tis more beautiful compared to Tong Mansion’s. Tong Xiyu seed amazed, her headpiece jingled as she walked, though she still spoke softly and timidly, but compared to before, she appeared extraordinarily lively and cute, full of youthful energy.
She walked alongside Nanny Lin, but Nanny Lin frequently turned back to talk to Xiqiu, who was supported by Chunyan, walking with intermittent stops. Nanny Lin was surprised and said: "Is Sixth Miss tired from walking? There’s a pavilion up ahead, let’s rest there for a bit!"
Xiqiu did not speak, but Nanny Song smiled and said to Nanny Lin: "Our Miss has a leg ailnt, it gets a bit painful when it’s cold or when she’s tired, but it’s nothing serious, Nanny, please continue forward!"
Chunyan snorted at the nose, about to speak, but Xiqiu tugged at her sleeve, gently shaking her head, Chunyan then bit her lip and said nothing.
Nanny Lin looked understanding, Tong Xiyu turned to Xiqiu and said: "Sixth Sister, walk slower, we are just strolling in the garden, there’s no need to rush." Her own pace wasn’t slow at all!
Xiqiu nodded and smiled: "Eighth Sister is right, though it’s a garden stroll, I shouldn’t delay your pace. How about this, you go ahead, I’ll follow from a distance." Nanny Lin frowned, but Tong Xiyu had already nodded: "Then Sixth Sister, be sure to keep up!"
Xiqiu nodded and smiled, Nanny Lin swallowed back her words and had to walk ahead with Tong Xiyu, while Xiqiu let Chunyan and Nanny Song fall behind, waiting until Nanny Lin and Tong Xiyu’s figures disappeared around a corner, Xiqiu glanced back at the deserted path, suddenly frowned, stumbled slightly, making Chunyan exclaim: "Miss, are you alright?" Xiqiu’s face turned pale as she shook her head: "It’s nothing, let rest for a while!"
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