"In the Fourth Madam’s room." Xiuyun recounted the matter of moving Min back to the Fifth Madam: "Even Young Master Sheng and Young Master Xin stay there daily and refuse to leave... they’re very close to the Fourth Madam."
The Fifth Madam listened, tightly twisting her handkerchief, and said through gritted teeth, "She’s really good at playing the good person, winning people’s hearts!" Xiuyun’s eyes flashed as she leaned closer to the Fifth Madam’s ear and said, "Concubine asked to tell you that Madam Hu has visited the mansion several tis recently; concubine wants you to reach out to Madam Hu."
The Fifth Madam was stunned, not understanding Teng Qiuniang’s intention, so Xiuyun explained: "...The Second Miss Hu is ill and has asked the Grand Dowager to find a doctor. The Grand Dowager entrusted this matter to the Marquis, but there’s been no news. Even the Fourth Master doesn’t know yet."
"Is she suggesting..." The Fifth Madam thought quickly, and Xiuyun added, "The Young Master asked our concubine to request the Marquis to et with the Young Master, but after our concubine’s last plea, the Marquis left without a word. It’s our concubine’s turn to attend to him these few days, but the Marquis rested at Lingbo Hall instead. The concubine fears failing in the task given by the Young Master, so she thinks you should start with the Fourth Master."
The Fifth Madam understood Xiuyun’s aning and said, "You an to have Madam Hu et the Fourth Master in our house and ask him to find a doctor for Second Miss Hu? The Fourth Master once took care of the Hu Family, and now that he’s inford, he would surely lend a helping hand to the Hu Family again?"
This matter has many possibilities. If the Fourth Master truly still has feelings for the Hu Family, he would not stand idly by. In that case, as the interdiary, the Fourth Master will surely rember her favor, making it easier to ask him for help with the eldest brother’s affairs. If the Fourth Master doesn’t appreciate her favor, with the connection between Second Miss Hu, the Hu Family, and the Fourth Master, it might still be possible to make good use of it.
The Emperor has assigned Chief Lei to Tongzhou, which has severely impacted the Teng Family’s business there. Even the business within the palace’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has seen a few more competitors since the start of the year. The eldest brother is anxious on both ends, seeking help everywhere, spending untold amounts of silver, and after the Emperor dismissed several cabinet ministers’ objections to reinstating the Mariti Trade Bureau, no one was willing to speak for the Teng Family.
Currently, aside from the two Masters at the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, there is no other option.
The image of Young Master Sheng acting spoiled in front of Xiqiu appeared in the Fifth Madam’s mind. She squinted her eyes and said, "Tell Qiuniang that I understand now."
After sending the Fifth Madam off, Xiuyun closed the door and returned to the second chamber.
The Second Madam was sitting on the large heated brick bed by the window drinking tea, her face showing a smile, as Zitan quietly reported, "Xiuyun went to the corner gate to et the Fifth Madam; I was too far to hear clearly, but I did hear her ntion the Marquis."
"Let them be." The Second Madam said with a smile, "Close the door early tonight, and stand guard by the door. When you see the Marquis, tell him I’m not feeling well and let him rest at Madam Teng’s room instead."
Zitan was startled, evidently not understanding the Second Madam’s intention.
The Second Madam just smiled faintly and said, "The Marquis did not stay overnight in Madam Shen’s room at the end of last month, so at the start of this month, he should rest in Madam Teng’s room. Otherwise, if anyone hears, they might think I don’t have the magnanimity to accommodate others."
Zitan smiled in agreent, understanding the Second Madam’s intention. It was only natural to keep the balance between the two concubines; whichever was favored or ignored, the other would inevitably feel uncomfortable. The Second Madam’s idea was to let the two concubines compete, and regardless of who wins or loses, the one benefiting might not be just the Second Madam.
Just as Zitan was about to leave, the Second Madam put down her tea cup and said, "Go, and take so Da Hong Pao awarded by the Empress Dowager to Madam Teng."
Zitan accepted the order, packed the Da Hong Pao, and after taking a stroll in the courtyard and chatting with the maids and matrons for a while, she leisurely went to Madam Teng’s room.
The Grand Dowager was also talking to Xiao Yanyi: "Has that Nurse Zhang been found?"
Xiao Yanyi frowned and said, "It’s said that she went to Yuhang and will take a few more days to return to the Capital."
The Grand Dowager nodded slightly and frowned, saying, "Send soone to inquire about any good doctors; we should help with the Hu Family’s matter if we can. When the marriage was not arranged back then, this could be considered a favor in return."
Xiao Yanyi nodded in agreent, saying, "How about inviting the Imperial Physician from the palace to take a look first?"
The Grand Dowager sighed and nodded, "Tomorrow, let Chief Zhao bring a badge to invite them. We cannot afford to delay if a life is at stake." She added, "Make sure not to let the Fourth Master know about this past matter. If Xiqiu finds out, she might feel uneasy."
Xiao Yanyi naturally wouldn’t ntion it: "Hmm." The Grand Dowager then said, "How are the Teng Family’s affairs now? I heard that in March, the Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to open bidding for supply contracts."
"That’s right. This is also the Emperor’s intention, after checking the financial expenditure of the palace during the late Emperor’s reign to cut costs. It has been proposed as a way to economize, and it has received widespread support in the court, even overshadowing the recent sea ban issues."
"The Emperor is becoming increasingly steadfast." The Grand Dowager praised, "With such diligence in governance and economizing, one can earn widespread acclaim."
Xiao Yanyi smiled slightly; even if he wanted to, he couldn’t manage the Teng Family’s affairs. The Emperor surely had plans concerning the Teng Family long before, and how could he alter the Emperor’s decision?
In Xiqiu’s room, she and Min were dining in the side chamber, Tianyi called from behind the curtain: "Madam, the Fourth Master said he has matters and won’t return for dinner tonight, so you needn’t wait for him."
"Understood." Xiqiu replied, letting the nurse take Min back to rest, and instructed Chunliu to keep the door open, then returned to her room to rest.
"Has the gift been sent to the Jiang Mansion? Did the Fourth Sister say anything?"
Xiqiu sent Min to the school. After returning from the Grand Dowager, Chunliu, having returned from the Jiang Mansion, answered her inquiry: "The Fourth Mistress said it’s just a little birthday, and it’s a bother for you to rember." After a pause, she added, "The Fourth Mistress also asked if you’re going ho for lunch today."
On the second day of February in the Capital, newlywed daughters and their husbands are supposed to go back to the maiden hos for lunch. Gradually, these customs have waned, with so families not observing them if busy, so Xiqiu didn’t take it to heart.
"Understood." Xiqiu said indifferently, "Did you see Old Madam Jiang?"
Chunliu thought for a mont and replied, "Yes, I did. When I went, the Fourth Mistress and Old Madam Jiang were taking a walk in the courtyard, but the Fourth Mistress didn’t look too well." She saw that the Jiang Mansion’s courtyard was planted with many flowers, obviously newly planted, with fresh soil freshly turned.
Xiqiu listened and knitted her brows, knowing that Jiang Shilin was aware of Tong Xiyan’s pollen allergy; why still plant flowers in the courtyard?
"When I left, I saw the Tong Mansion’s carriage at the gate. It seed like Nanny Fang also went."
It was reasonable for Nanny Fang to attend Tong Xiyan’s birthday, as Mrs. Tong sent her.
Xiqiu nodded without saying more; then, when Min ca back at noon, she and Min went to the Grand Dowager’s room for Longxu noodles. In the afternoon, letters arrived from the estates from Zou Bochang and Zhu Sancheng. Zou Bochang reported that the terrain in Shandong is too high; Steward Liu inspected and suggested planting drought-tolerant crops like cotton or sweet potatoes at the end of the year, but the corn in the fields is growing well.
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