For the mansions of Count Jinyuan, Marquis Wuwei, and Count Wuchang, they visit each other during festivals and keep up appearances, but privately there is not much interaction between the households. Another list ntions re acquaintances, such as Marquis Huaining and Lord Yang’s Mansion, to be treated with formal courtesy.
Xiqiu did not expect such ticulousness, making it easier to draft the guest list.
"Wait for Chunyan to return tonight and have her make a copy for us to keep!" Xiqiu instructed Chunliu. Among the girls, Chunliu was literate but not skilled in writing. Bihuai and Biwu were the sa, only Chunyan had practiced writing diligently with her, and handling correspondence was not an issue.
"Madam." Chunliu looked at the list of frequent visitors to the mansion and said, "This list, of course, includes all those to be invited, but what about the other two? Invite them or not?"
Xiqiu picked up the list that included Count Wuchang and pointed to Count Jinyuan’s Mansion, "Add Madam Huang," and then to Marquis Wuwei’s Mansion, "Include them as well."
Count Jinyuan’s Mansion is related by marriage to the First Madam’s family, and First Young Madam Tang is from Count Jinyuan’s Mansion. anwhile, Madam Lin of Marquis Wuwei’s Mansion is connected by family to Madam Ruan of Marquis Jinxiang, as Madam Lin’s niece is married to Madam Ruan’s second son.
These intricate relationships an that inviting one family necessitates inviting the others. If others are distant, it’s fine to omit them. It’s not a formal wedding, so sending an invitation later won’t matter.
Chunliu looked puzzled and asked, "What about the other families?" Xiqiu thought for a mont and nodded, "Take them all to Grand Dowager tomorrow, and she’ll decide if anyone needs to be added or removed."
"Understood." Chunliu bowed her head to continue sorting, as several people busied themselves carefully under the palace lantern.
Even Min quietly returned to his room to do his schoolwork after classes. Seeing him back, Xiqiu put aside what she was doing and went to Min’s room, asking with a smile, "Father hasn’t returned yet, would you like to have so snacks if you’re hungry?"
Min shook his head and said, "Mother, I’m not hungry!" He stepped forward from the table, smiling as he recounted today’s happenings at the school: "Today, the teacher switched to a new book, teaching us the ’Five Character Mirror.’ He talked about the ’Taotang Chronicles,’ Mother, shall I recite for you?"
"Sure." Xiqiu’s eyes lit up as she took Min’s hand with a smile, "Can you explain every story in it?"
Min nodded earnestly, "The teacher told us the story of Shun and his brother Xiang..." He intended to narrate to Xiqiu. Xiqiu listened quietly, nodded with a smile, and praised him while patting his head, "How about reciting it to your grandmother tomorrow?"
Min pondered and then nodded, "Okay!" Xiqiu hugged him and kissed him, saying with a smile, "You’re so good. Tomorrow, when you go greet your grandmother, if your second uncle is there, recite it with Xing. If not, wait until he is present. Rember that?"
Min was puzzled, not grasping Xiqiu’s aning. Xiqiu smiled, stroked his head, and said, "Your second uncle always thinks Xing isn’t smart, but Xing is actually very clever, isn’t he?" Min nodded in agreent. Xiqiu continued, "So, we must help Xing and show him how smart Xing is, so your second uncle will like Xing even more."
Seemingly understanding, Min nodded, "I rember now."
After speaking, Xiqiu held Min’s hand, saying, "Let’s go greet Grandmother." The two then headed to the Grand Dowager’s room.
The Grand Dowager’s face was full of cold anger as she said, "How dare she make a fuss? Do as Chengning suggested and send her to the Iron Pestle Temple tomorrow, not allowing her to stay in the mansion for even a day!" After a pause, she added, "Give her so dicine, say she caught smallpox and send her to the temple to recover."
Nanny Wu agreed and added, "Or should I interrogate her again? She has never left the mansion; how could she have Miao dicine? Soone must have given it to her secretly." The Grand Dowager cald slightly and said, "No need. Since she admitted to harming Shen, she won’t say anything else no matter how we ask." After a pause, she continued, "Send her tomorrow and assign maids to watch her from afar to see who she contacts."
It turned out the Grand Dowager intended to use Madam Teng as bait to lure soone out. If there was indeed soone behind her, they would inevitably erge when she left the mansion.
Just then, Ziwei entered, announcing, "The First Madam is here!" As she spoke, the First Madam stepped inside, and the Grand Dowager wiped the cold look off her face, saying, "Today is cloudy; it might rain tonight. You could have sent soone instead of coming yourself!"
"I co every day, and leaving a day empty would feel strange." The First Madam replied with a smile, accepting the tea offered by Ziwei. She glanced at the Grand Dowager and asked, "I heard you detained Teng Qiuniang?"
The Grand Dowager nodded, and the First Madam, understanding, advised her, "Such a person cannot remain in the mansion. You should not vex yourself over her and risk your health."
The Grand Dowager sighed, took the First Madam’s hand, and patted it saying, "Alas!" The two sat in silence until Xiqiu and Min, led by Ziwei, entered. The Grand Dowager smiled upon seeing Min, "Min, co to Grandma!"
"Grandmother!" Min let go of Xiqiu’s hand and ran to the Grand Dowager, who cuddled him affectionately, kissing him several tis before asking, "Were you good at school today? Did the teacher scold you?"
"No," Min thought of what Xiqiu had said, seeing Xiao Yanyi was absent, and said, "The teacher praised all three of us for being good!" Having finished, Min also greeted the First Madam, "Aunt!"
The First Madam nodded slightly.
At this mont, Xing and Sheng, hearing the commotion, ca running over from the adjoining room, and the three children clustered around the Grand Dowager, chattering away.
The Grand Dowager was beaming with joy and laughed heartily.
The First Madam observed them with a tender smile.
After a burst of rrint, the wet nurses and maids led the three children out. The Grand Dowager then smiled at Xiqiu, saying, "Have the household tokens and account books been sent over? Is there anything unclear or difficult?"
The First Madam paused slightly with a hint of confusion, so the Grand Dowager explained with a smile, "Chengning is pregnant, and you always keep to yourself, so I’ve asked Xiqiu to manage the internal affairs. Once Chengning gives birth, she can resu, but in the anti, it’ll be hard on Xiqiu handling those responsibilities."
The First Madam glanced at Xiqiu, her expression unchanged, and she nodded slightly toward her, saying, "Thank you, fourth sister-in-law."
Xiqiu blushed, "Second sister-in-law manages the household affairs so ticulously and organizes everything properly. I’m rely following the rules and doing the chanical tasks; it’s not hard at all."
The Grand Dowager nodded in satisfaction.
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