Xiqiu was slightly stunned, then watched Nanny Wu happily setting up the bowls and chopsticks.
"Although your birthday has passed, it could be considered that the Fourth Master celebrated it just for you. Today, we’ll make it up at ho!" the Grand Dowager said with a smile. Xiqiu walked over, took her hand, blushed, and said, "Such a small birthday, yet I’ve..."
Unable to continue.
The Grand Dowager seed very happy, and everyone followed her into the room and took their seats. They joyously ate their al and had longevity noodles, then returned to the room to drink tea. The First Madam smiled as she brought out a gift, "You grow Panax notoginseng in your backyard, so perhaps this book can help you."
Xiqiu thanked and accepted it, noticing the yellowed, slightly brittle pages. The title read "Herbs." Xiqiu was surprised and said to the First Madam, "This book has long been lost, it’s so precious, sister-in-law."
"It’s of no use to ," the First Madam said indifferently, "You often deal with dicinal herbs, so giving it to you is putting it to good use."
Xiqiu thanked her again and had Bihuai carefully put it away.
Sheng ca running out from the green gauze cabinet, carrying sothing, and eagerly shoved it into Xiqiu’s hands, saying, "Fourth Aunt, I made this myself, it’s for you!"
"Thank you, Sheng." Xiqiu picked up the pile of odds and ends, and upon shaking it open, found it to be a centipede lantern with many legs. She smiled and said, "It’s really beautiful, thank you, Sheng."
The Grand Dowager was all smiles, and Sheng’s face turned red, saying, "Actually... it wasn’t just who made it, Mr. Song helped too."
"Really? But our Sheng is still very impressive, making this lantern must have taken a lot of effort. Fourth Aunt loves it, thank you!" Xiqiu embraced him, ruffled his hair, and thanked him.
Sheng’s eyes sparkled brightly, and he nodded quickly, snuggling up to Xiqiu.
Xing and Min each held a flute, with Min carrying a xiao (a kind of vertical flute), and Min said, "Mother, Xing and I don’t have gifts..." He looked at Xing and continued, "How about we play you a song?"
Xiqiu nodded with a smile, looking as if she’s all ears: "Sure!"
Xing and Min each stood on one side, trying their instrunts for a while before Xing began. The two of them expertly played a duet of "Autumn Lake Moon Night," the lody graceful and rhythmic. Min had improved a lot compared to before, and Xiqiu was stunned as she watched, realizing that the two of them must have practiced for a long ti.
Once the song was over, the Grand Dowager applauded and laughed, "So lovely, Xing and Min are almost as good as the musicians."
The First Madam nodded slightly, and even Xiao Yanyi nodded and said, "Though the timing was a bit rushed, capturing the spirit of the piece is quite comndable." Xing and Min grew even more excited, their little faces flushed with joy.
Xiao Yanyi looked at Xing, his gaze passing over Xiqiu’s face, his hand moving within his sleeve only to seemingly abandon the action.
When Xiqiu and Min returned to their room, Xiqiu asked him, "Have you been practicing for a long ti? When did you start?"
Min lowered his head, speaking softly, "Since last ti when Mother said she liked Autumn Lake Moon Night, I’ve been practicing." Xiqiu smiled and kissed him on the cheek, then turned to look at Fourth Master Xiao, who stood by with hands behind his back, her face full of warm smiles.
The next morning, Xiao Yanzheng returned hurriedly from the Pang family, carrying a gift: "I wanted to co back on the eighth, but then I heard you and Fourth Brother went to another villa, so I held back." After finishing, she leaned in and whispered with a smile to Xiqiu, "I heard there’s a hot spring behind the villa, which others don’t have. Did Fourth Sister-in-law and Fourth Brother try it?"
Xiqiu blushed and pushed Xiao Yanzheng aside with a smile, saying, "Truly, once a maiden marries, the things she says are different from those said at ho." She then laughed, "And how are you and Master Pang?"
Now it was Xiao Yanzheng’s turn to blush deeply. She patted Xiqiu’s hand and laughed, "Isn’t marriage just like that, neither good nor bad." After saying that, she blushed and quietly said to Xiqiu, "I was unwell the other day, and he sat by my bed all night without sleep to keep company."
"What was bothering you?" Xiqiu, listening, thought it was her old ailnt acting up. Xiao Yanzheng quickly waved her hand in explanation, "No, it was... my ti of the month, and for so reason, it was very painful suddenly. He stayed by all day."
Upon hearing this, Xiqiu sighed in relief and held Xiao Yanzheng’s hand, saying, "Look, our Master Pang is indeed quite attentive."
Xiao Yanzheng blushed but didn’t refute. Seeing her like this, Xiqiu knew she was happy and felt relieved. As for the concubine in the Pang family, since Xiao Yanzheng didn’t mind, Xiqiu wouldn’t deliberately bring it up.
After escorting Xiao Yanzheng to the Grand Dowager’s room, Nanny Qiu arrived, bringing gifts from Madam Jiang, Tong Xiyan, Tong Xiyu, and also Madam Xia and Madam Luo. What surprised Xiqiu the most was that even Madam i sent a pair of personally embroidered knee pads.
She accepted them and had Nanny Qiu take the return gifts back. Shortly after, the madams serving Madam Qian, Madam Ruan, and First Young Madam Tang arrived one after another, all carrying gifts. Accustod to such exchanges, Xiqiu had people register the gifts and prepared return gifts to be sent back. Later, Madam Shen, Madam Lu, and Madam Han also sent gifts.
Even Princess Rong had Nanny Rong present a chicken-wing wood screen. Rembering seeing it once at Xiao Yanzheng’s wedding, Xiqiu accepted it with a smile and asked with concern, "Isn’t the Princess Consort’s delivery date this month?"
Nanny Rong replied with a smile, "It’s at the end of the month, but it could be earlier or later!" Xiqiu nodded and smiled, "Please thank the Commandery Princess on my behalf. I should pay a visit to express my gratitude, but I’m afraid going now might trouble her. So, I’m thinking of joining the celebration for the baby’s third day to share in the joy and have a cup of congratulatory wine."
"If Fourth Madam attends, the Princess Consort will certainly be pleased."
Xiqiu arranged for Chunliu to accompany Nanny Rong to visit the Second Madam.
After receiving so many gifts, she felt that things were developing sowhat beyond her expectations.
In the evening, when Fourth Master Xiao returned, she showed him the list of gifts received throughout the day: "... how co they knew about my birthday and sent gifts so grandly?"
"You are a Second-rank Lady, and the Fourth Madam of the Marquis Mansion," Fourth Master Xiao said nonchalantly, "It’s no surprise they send gifts to you, just accept them."
Xiqiu, however, felt uneasy in her heart and sighed, "If it were my mother’s birthday and we received gifts, it would make sense, but I rarely interact with them, so accepting these gifts makes feel a bit uneasy." Especially Madam Shen’s gift, a green jade carving of Ma Gu Offering Longevity about half the size of a bed table; its jade quality alone spoke of great value.
She suddenly thought of Fourth Master Xiao, asking, "Is there any movent in the court recently, or has Fourth Master received so important assignnt?" Otherwise, it’s hard to explain these people’s actions.
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