"No!" Xiqiu grabbed him: "The people from the Jiang Family are very... Fourth Master, you’d better not go." If Old Madam Jiang, who doesn’t respect authority or hierarchy, says sothing unpleasant in front of Fourth Master Xiao, how could he argue with an elder, let alone make a move? He would be at a disadvantage for nothing.
"Let’s leave this matter for my elder brother and sister-in-law to handle." She adjusted Fourth Master Xiao’s lapels: "Fourth Master is not one for negotiations anyway. When you stand there with a stern face, who would dare speak to you! Even if soone gathered enough courage to speak, they might end up tongue-tied."
Fourth Master Xiao was taken aback, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Is it really so?" Xiqiu imdiately nodded and said: "When have I ever deceived you? Let my brother and sister-in-law handle it."
"Then, you’re not upset anymore?" Fourth Master Xiao asked, holding her hand, but he couldn’t help feeling her previous expression was a bit odd!
Xiqiu replied: "I’m only upset on behalf of my fourth sister; I thought Brother-in-law Jiang was soone she could trust her life with, but who knew it would end like this."
Fourth Master Xiao pulled her into his arms, raising an eyebrow: "So, what kind of person do you think is worth trusting one’s life with?" Xiqiu was startled, then laughed, the heaviness in her heart dissipating quite a bit, realizing Fourth Master Xiao was trying to comfort her, she followed along: "Soone who is courageous and patriotic outside, gentle and caring at ho, who doesn’t indulge in vices or gamble, doesn’t fight, doesn’t take concubines or fool around, and loves and cares for his wife and children wholeheartedly is the kind of man a woman can trust with her life without regret."
"Hmm?" Xiqiu saw Fourth Master Xiao’s eyebrows furrow, then relax, then furrow again, and finally furrow tighter...
She couldn’t help but find it amusing, stood up without looking at him, and said: "I’ll go check on Min." Planning to leave quietly.
As she reached the door and was about to open it, everything spun around, and she found herself being lifted horizontally by Fourth Master Xiao. Startled, Xiqiu grabbed his lapel and heard Fourth Master Xiao ask deeply: "Is only such a man worth trusting for a lifeti?"
He asked very earnestly.
Xiqiu suddenly stopped smiling. She looked at Fourth Master Xiao and realized how clearly she saw the image of the man before her. He is patriotic and protective, gentle and caring, he doesn’t indulge in vices, at least not now, doesn’t fight because no one dares with him, doesn’t take concubines, doesn’t fool around...
Fourth Master Xiao also looked at her, as if waiting for her answer.
Xiqiu thought, lifted her head, and kissed his cheek, nodding seriously: "Yes, a man like Fourth Master is worth a woman trusting her life with!"
Fourth Master Xiao laughed, his smile bright and pure.
Just then, a knock on the door abruptly interrupted the mood Fourth Master Xiao was brewing. His brow tightened, his face turning cold, while Xiqiu chuckled, tilted her head asking: "What’s the matter?"
"Madam!" It was Chunliu’s voice, hesitatingly saying: "Second Miss asks you to co over, saying a thread is out of her wedding dress, what should she do about it?"
"Understood." Xiqiu looked at Fourth Master Xiao and shrugged: "Fourth Master, take a rest. I’ll be back soon."
Fourth Master Xiao moved his mouth but eventually set her down.
Xiqiu smiled at him, opened the door, and left the room. Chunliu imdiately took her aside: "It’s not Second Miss looking for you; I knew Fourth Master was inside, so I casually made up an excuse." Xiqiu nodded, and Chunliu said: "Zijuan is here, saying Second Madam has a high fever again and wants to use the token to call the Imperial Physician."
"Let Housekeeper Hu go." Xiqiu thought for a mont and said: "Send whatever they lack over there; the weather is gradually getting hotter these days, don’t let the ice run out."
Chunliu agreed and added: "The custom furniture has already been delivered today. I’ve checked the Second Miss’s room, and most of it is ready. Does Madam have anything else to instruct?"
"I’ll ask Grand Dowager later." Thinking further, she added: "Have the invitations been sent out by Housekeeper Hu? Also, urge the tailoring room to finish the tablecloths in the mansion quickly. Send a few maids with Second Miss, the maids’ clothes should also be ready. I rember the makeup box and hand warr ordered from Brocade Pavilion haven’t arrived yet; make sure to send soone to fetch them, account and add them to the dowry list."
Chunliu rembered each instruction and replied: "The invitations have been sent, and the red envelopes prepared by Quan Furen have been packed as instructed. The matchmaker’s clothes and shoes have also been sent over."
Xiqiu thought for a mont, feeling nothing was left out, then walked out with Chunliu: "At that ti, Quan Furen can take Siliu’s two little ones to roll on the bed, and Siliu should go too, more people might scare the children."
Chunliu agreed, and Xiqiu stopped at the door: "I’ll go check on Min now, later I will pay respects to the Grand Dowager. Tell Nanny Cen to prepare the yam paste for Xing, I’ll bring it along later." She turned and went into Min’s room. The wet nurse and Dongling saw Xiqiu co in and imdiately ca forward to greet her. Xiqiu glanced at Min, who was tracing characters by the study desk, nodded to both: "Are your injuries healed?"
The wet nurse, a bit embarrassed, nodded, and Dongling replied: "Thank Madam for your concern, the injuries no longer hurt."
Xiqiu nodded, speaking to Dongling: "You’re young, take care of yourself, and don’t stop the dicine, it would be a sha if scars remained."
Dongling’s eyes turned red, looking down as she agreed.
Min set down his brush and ran over, holding Xiqiu’s hand: "Mother, I’ve finally learned the tune the teacher taught , can I play it for you?"
"Of course." Xiqiu smiled and asked: "Mother has always been waiting to hear our Min play the flute."
Min smiled, took the flute from Dongling, placed it horizontally to his mouth, and played "Gusu March," not very lodious or continuous, but Min played with great effort.
She rembered what Mr. Song and Chunliu had said: "Min is very clever, but not outstanding with musical instrunts."
This is probably the individual strengths of each, with Xing already playing his flute quite well, and Sheng able to calculate sums just by looking at numbers, such skills might be hereditary.
"That was wonderful!" Xiqiu smiled at Min, used a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, seeing a bit of discouragent and uncertainty in him, added: "Min played very well!"
Min bead, asking Xiqiu: "What song does Mother like to listen to?" Xiqiu thought for a mont and replied: "Autumn Lake Moon Night."
"Oh, got it!" Min took note secretly and asked Dongling to put away the flute. Xiqiu smiled and said: "Let’s go find Father, then we’ll visit Grandmother to pay our respects, all right?"
Min nodded, agreeing, and went off holding hands with Xiqiu to find Fourth Master Xiao.
Fourth Master Xiao watched the mother and son holding hands coming towards him, his eyes lingering briefly on Xiqiu’s hand, as he walked ahead with them.
The three of them went to the Grand Dowager’s room to discuss Xing’s schooling, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious, while in the Tong Mansion it was as silent and heavy as still water.
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