"Replace Mr. Song with a new tutor?" Min appeared thoughtful. They all liked Mr. Song, so naturally, they were reluctant to change tutors. Although the two mansions were close, commuting back and forth every morning and evening would be too tiring for the children, especially in winter.
"Can I think about it?" Min asked softly.
Xiqiu nodded and replied, "Of course, this is for you to decide, Min. When you’ve made up your mind, let Mother know, and both Mother and Father will respect your decision."
Min nodded.
"Shall we go pay our respects to Grandmother?" Xiqiu took his hand and stood up. She had woken up late in the morning, and the Grand Dowager had sent word that she didn’t need to co over. Now that she was awake and had nothing to do, she wanted to visit the Grand Dowager, considering relocating is a big deal.
Min agreed, and Xiqiu led him by the hand as they walked slowly down the path to the Grand Dowager’s courtyard.
The Grand Dowager was talking with the First Madam. Seeing Xiqiu co in, she imdiately beca tense and asked Nanny Wu to assist her, "Didn’t I tell you not to co? Why have you co anyway? This is your first child, and it’s the critical first three months!"
"I’m fine, Mother." Xiqiu said as she let Nanny Wu help her sit across from the First Madam. "Staying in the room all day is dull." She looked at the First Madam, nodded, and asked, "What are you and Sister-in-law talking about?"
The Grand Dowager replied, "We’re discussing your relocation, planning to send Housekeeper Hu to check what is lacking so we can supplent it."
Hearing this, Xiqiu quickly waved her hands, "No need, no need!" She replied, "How could I let Mother and Sister-in-law spend extra? Fourth Master said everything is ready over there; we can just move in."
The First Madam’s expression was calm as she responded, "No need to be polite, Fourth Sister-in-law. Now that you are not in the condition to tire yourself, let Mother and handle these matters. It will save you so worry when you move in." She paused and looked at the Grand Dowager, "Mother, we still have ti, so there’s no hurry!"
The Grand Dowager nodded with a smile.
Seeing this, Xiqiu felt a subtle sense of relief.
The next day, Xiqiu sent Nanny Cen to the Tong Mansion again. Her pregnancy was not yet confird, and she planned to send word back in half a month to deliver the good news. anwhile, she was concerned about the concubine, wondering if she had morning sickness and how her health was, and also about Madam Jiang, who was near delivery. Not being able to see them, she had these two matters weighing on her mind daily.
Nanny Qiu returned at noon and reported, "The concubine looks well, saying there are no signs, only an improved appetite and drowsiness. However, the First Young Madam has started vomiting again. It’s been about two or three days, and she’s been unable to eat, losing so weight."
Upon hearing about the concubine, Xiqiu thought of her own symptoms. Could such pregnancy signs be hereditary?
"How can you still have such symptoms near delivery?" Xiqiu, having never heard of this before, furrowed her brows. Nanny Qiu chuckled as she replied, "So people do. As the baby grows bigger, it presses against the stomach, so there’s no space for the food to stay, and it cos out."
This didn’t particularly matter, so Xiqiu didn’t refute Nanny Cen. Feeling worried, she said, "I don’t know when she’ll give birth. Once she has the baby, Sister-in-law won’t have to suffer like this anymore!"
"Madam!" Nanny Cen thought for a while and added, "On the way back, I heard sothing, and I don’t know whether I should tell you." Xiqiu sat up straight and asked, "Hmm, what is it?"
Nanny Cen said, "I heard that Old Madam Jiang entrusted Lady Ma of Qintian Zheng to propose a marriage to the Chen Mansion!"
"Ah?" Xiqiu listened, slightly shocked, "Which Madam Chen?"
Nanny Cen explained, "It’s the wife of the forr Minister of Rites, Lord Chen, who was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. Madam Chen is a descendant of the famous previous dynasty Yuan Tixing, Lord Yuan!"
Xiqiu suddenly recalled that this Madam Chen was the one who had proposed marriage to Count Wujin’s mansion back then...
The Capital is indeed small with intertwined relationships; who would have thought the Jiang Family would propose to the Chen Family.
How could Old Madam Jiang not inquire about the ties between the Chen Family and the Tong Family? Moreover, knowing Madam Chen, after hearing about the Jiang Family and Tong Xiyan’s matters, how could she willingly marry her daughter into the Jiang Family!
She couldn’t help but shake her head and had to admire Old Madam Jiang’s abilities.
As she thought, she glanced at Nanny Cen, who seed to have more to say.
Seeing Xiqiu look, Nanny Cen thought for a mont and continued, "I found out about sothing involving the Jiang Family and Fourth Lady of your maiden family and secretly inquired a bit. It turns out the one orchestrating this is the Third Young Madam Ren."
Xiqiu furrowed her brow, thinking of Tong Xiyang’s silent, cold deanor, as if hiding in the shadows and observing others. What was she trying to do, and why would she have the Jiang Family propose to the Chen Family?
"What is the Chen Family’s attitude?" If Tong Xiyang was the one connecting them, surely Madam Chen would consider it carefully, not to ntion she should think of Count Wujin Mansion’s face.
Nanny Cen thought for a mont and replied, "There’s been no engagent announced, presumably because the Chen Family hasn’t agreed. However, I’ve heard Miss Chen is skilled in the arts and favored by the Capital, with Madam Chen having high hopes for her!" The implication being that it’s unlikely she would agree to the Jiang Family.
"Indeed. Although Lord Chen is only fifth-rank, the family has a hundred-year history of literary achievents, hosting esteed guests. Even though Lord Jiang is of equal rank, they appear sowhat lacking in family background..." Considering this, she turned to Nanny Cen, "Since the matchmaker is the Third Young Madam Ren, have you heard if she’s visited the Jiang Mansion recently?"
Nanny Cen nodded and replied, "...I heard they opened an embroidery shop on Long Street with Madam Jiang, and it just opened a few days ago." She gave Xiqiu a cautious glance, "It resembles the store of Fourth Lady of your family!"
Tong Xiyang indeed partnered with Madam Jiang in business, even opening a similar embroidery shop to Tong Xiyan’s, clearly targeting Tong Xiyan.
Could it be that she is retaliating against the Lady because of Madam Wang’s death?
A couple of days passed, and for the matter of the new mansion, Xiqiu discussed with the Grand Dowager what items to add, where Min’s room should be placed, and how it should be decorated. The Grand Dowager appeared very concerned, sending Housekeeper Hu twice to list nurous items for the staff to purchase, and in the mansion, she selected several cooks who hadn’t had much success, thoroughly checking their backgrounds before assigning them to Xiqiu to take along, ensuring she wouldn’t have to adjust to new hands cooking in the new mansion.
Obviously, Xiqiu couldn’t refuse.
On the morning of the twenty-second, she had just tidied up and eaten when Nanny Qiu ca in with a worried expression. Seeing her deanor, Xiqiu’s heart rose, "What’s happened?"
"Sixth Lady, the Master sent to tell you to invite Nurse Zhang to the mansion quickly." Xiqiu nervously grabbed Nanny Qiu and asked, "What happened? What’s the matter?"
"It’s the First Young Madam." Nanny Qiu’s eyes reddened as she started to cry, "She started feeling abdominal pain since last night, and although she hasn’t given birth yet, she’s lost a lot of blood. The midwife was so scared she collapsed and dared not move. The Imperial Physician could only say to choose between the child or the mother, and the Master wanted the mother, but the First Young Madam cried heartbreakingly, wanting the child saved..."
"Nurse Zhang is highly skilled; perhaps Nurse Zhang can save the First Young Madam." Saying this, Nanny Qiu knelt down, "I beg you, Sixth Lady!"
Xiqiu’s heart suddenly felt as if drenched in cold water; birth had high risks of complications at this ti. A woman undergoing childbirth was akin to traversing the gates of hell; Jiang... Jiang... She anxiously clasped her hands together in prayer like the Lady, silently reciting "Amitabha Buddha!"
"I’ll have Nanny Cen accompany you to fetch Sister Jingliu!" She quickly summoned Chunliu to call Nanny Cen, briefly instructing them, and Nanny Cen and Nanny Qiu hurried off to find Ruan Jingliu, while she paced nervously in the room.
With Jiang’s pregnancy difficult from the start, hopefully, she could safely give birth to the child!
Yet even while reassuring herself, her heart couldn’t help but beat anxiously.
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