Fourth Master Xiao held her and replied, "If you don’t go, Min can take Tiancheng along instead!"
Xiqiu was noncommittal. She looked at Fourth Master Xiao with a smile and said, "If Fourth Master is genuinely inviting , then I will reluctantly make this trip!" Fourth Master Xiao was amused by her tone and laughed, dispelling his earlier gloom, and pinched her nose as he replied, "I’m truly indebted to you, madam."
Xiqiu leaned in his arms, giggling. Fourth Master Xiao glanced sideways at her, rembering the various speculations and doubts she had shared with him, along with the small sches she used privately. He found both her ticulous thinking and cleverness amusing and felt his heart soften, holding her affectionately as he said, "Next ti such matters arise, you must tell . Rember, I will always be behind you, supporting you!"
Xiqiu wrapped her arms around his waist, nodded her head sullenly, then raised her head to look at him with an expression of genuine admiration: "Yes, with such a great tree like Fourth Master, I certainly want to enjoy the shade beneath it!"
Fourth Master Xiao, feeling masculine and upright, was instantly elevated by her words to a higher level and couldn’t help but laugh heartily while he tousled her loose hair: "When did you learn to flatter, hmm?" Xiqiu, held by him, quickly shook her head and sincerely replied, "Every word I say cos from my heart, without any falsehood. I ask Fourth Master to see the sincerity!"
Fourth Master Xiao grew even more delighted, feeling he couldn’t be satisfied without absorbing her entirely, so he turned and pressed her beneath him, raising his eyebrow, "If that’s the case, then enjoy the shade under this big tree."
Hinting that she could undress for him.
Xiqiu laughed...
With a face full of calmness despite her bashfulness, she undressed him, showing none of her usual shyness. Fourth Master Xiao couldn’t help but look at her with suspicion, and Xiqiu couldn’t suppress her laughter and fell to the side...
"No need." Fourth Master Xiao held her: "It’s alright to wait a few more years, until you’re older."
Xiqiu laughed and said, "I still need more ti to grow..."
All of Xiqiu’s resistance transford into whispered moans...
Second Madam listened as Nanny Xing reported, "Manager Rong said Teng Family’s salt is illicit, and if he’s right, the Imperial Decree to deal with the Teng Family will be sent out in the coming days, punishnt of confiscation, disbandnt, and exile can’t be avoided!" Second Madam nodded knowingly and replied, "Go back and tell my brother to be cautious and not to be careless."
Nanny Xing nodded.
"Madam, Commandery Prince asked you to tell the Marquis that Prince Mansion will host a banquet during the Dragon Boat Festival and invites the Marquis and Fourth Master Xiao to enjoy the wine and flowers."
"Go back and tell my elder brother that I’ve got the ssage." After speaking, she thought of Teng Qiuniang’s last words before her death and Xiao Yanyi’s behavior in the Grand Dowager’s room today, her heart gradually sank...
Accidentally revealed a hopeful look, such a gaze she had never seen before.
The next morning, Nanny Xing returned from Prince Mansion, hurriedly closed the door as she entered and asked Zitan to guard the outside.
Second Madam had just changed clothes intending to pay respects to the Grand Dowager, saw Nanny Xing so flustered, thought sothing had happened to Prince Rong, her face turned pale, and she stood up looking at her and asked, "What happened to make you so nervous?"
Nanny Xing lowered her voice and responded quietly, "Madam, the Commandery Prince asked to tell you that the Marquis submitted a petition to the Ministry of Rites this morning." Second Madam relaxed slightly, as submitting a petition was common, but she then thought that Prince Rong wouldn’t ntion such a matter without reason, so she corrected her expression and asked, "What’s in the petition?"
Nanny Xing responded indignantly, "It’s a petition to establish a Princely Heir."
Bang!
The teacup in Second Madam’s hand fell to the ground, her face instantly filled with irrepressible anger, and she asked, "Is my brother sure it’s a petition to establish a Princely Heir?"
Nanny Xing nodded affirmatively.
Xiao Yanyi! Such a significant matter you didn’t even ntion to , and just went ahead with it.
You put in such a position!
She breathed heavily, and Nanny Xing was also furious, supporting Second Madam and said, "Please don’t be upset, this matter still needs verification from the Ministry of Rites before approval, perhaps we could ask the Empress Dowager to intervene!"
Second Madam waved her hand, sneering as she said, "I never cared for the Princely Heir title. If he had discussed it with and established Xing, I would have nothing to say as he’s the legitimate eldest son left by Tong Xihua. But now, without even consulting , he directly submitted the petition, I can’t swallow this."
She thought of the story about brotherly strife that Xing ntioned the other day, as taught by his tutor...
"Madam, should we block the petition or not?" Nanny Xing asked, and Second Madam replied without hesitation, "Of course, we must block it." Before establishing the Princely Heir, if Xing died prematurely, it would just be the death of the Marquis Mansion’s legitimate eldest son. But if the Princely Heir is established and then dies, it would be the death of the Princely Heir of the Marquis Mansion...
Whether for succession or funerary rites, they’re completely different.
Second Madam narrowed her eyes, the cold light flashed as she sneered, close to Tong Xiqiu...
Then let your Fourth Aunt personally send you off!
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