Fourth Master Xiao listened and squinted his eyes, the cold air was captivating, and he had already tightly clenched the letter in his hand. Tiancheng cautiously asked, "Fourth Master, would you like to go there yourself?"
If it were any other ti, Fourth Master Xiao would have gone without hesitation, but now... He turned to Tiancheng and said, "Since he has returned to the Capital, then let’s wait for him in the Capital."
Tiancheng lowered his eyes, thought for a mont, and asked, "Should we inform the Marquis?"
Fourth Master Xiao snorted coldly at the tip of his nose and replied, "Since we have received the news, surely he will know in a few days as well." The implication was that there was no need to especially notify Xiao Yanyi.
Tiancheng nodded and asked again, "Should we send more people to keep an eye on them?" If coming to the Capital from Kaifeng Prefecture, it could take as little as half a month, or longer if there are delays...
Fourth Master Xiao waved his hand, sat down behind the desk, and replied, "Six carriages, such a big commotion is just to let us discover him. Even if we don’t send anyone to follow, he won’t go missing."
Tiancheng nodded without speaking, but felt uneasy in his heart; over the years, every ti Fourth Master ntioned Third Master, he would inexplicably get angry. Tiancheng had started following Fourth Master outside the mansion, then followed him back after he returned to the Marquis Mansion, so he was not clear about the matters between Fourth Master and Third Master, nor did anyone in the mansion ever talk about it. At first, he was puzzled, but later found out that those who knew the inside story from before, besides a few masters, all the servants were no longer in the mansion.
So now, no one in the Marquis Mansion knew what really happened back then.
Two days later, Madam Ruan and Madam Qian ca together, and Madam Xu, Madam Huang, and the two Miss Huangs also ca, all to congratulate her on her pregnancy and her new house. They brought gifts, and Xiqiu smiled and said, "I originally wanted to hold a banquet to invite you all to liven things up, but right now my body is not convenient, and Fourth Master said we often visit each other’s hos, we’re like one family, no need to be so formal, so I lazily didn’t send out invitations, causing you to co all the way here."
The ladies naturally didn’t say anything, and after so small talk, they took their leave and returned ho.
A day later, Tong Xiyan also ca, seeing Xiqiu with a half-angry, half-annoyed look, "It’s been two months, right? So when you went back last ti, you were already pregnant? You even hid it from completely."
"Good sister." Xiqiu smiled and said, "I wasn’t very sure, so I didn’t say anything at first. As soon as I was sure, I went back and told you."
Tong Xiyan feigned anger, then looked at her belly with envy, "By this ti next year, I’ll be an aunt, won’t I? Ti flies so fast. I still vaguely rember our childhood, and in the blink of an eye, you’re a mother."
Speaking of it, Xiqiu also sighed a little. She had imagined many aspects of her future life, but never actually thought of what kind of child she’d have. Now that it’s real, she sotis wakes up and still can’t quite believe it.
Tong Xiyan then ntioned Madam Jiang, "Sister-in-law is in good health but worried you don’t have capable people around, she was thinking of sending Nanny Qiu to serve you for a while." Xiqiu imdiately waved her hands, "That would never do. She’s in her postpartum confinent, she can’t be without Nanny Qiu around. Besides, I have Nanny Cen and Sister Jingliu. Help tell sister-in-law not to worry about ."
"I said the sa." Tong Xiyan replied, "After much persuasion, sister-in-law finally gave up on the idea."
Xiqiu was relieved and nodded, "I do want to go back to see Kun, but right now, I’m afraid to move carelessly. I’ll have to wait until the full moon feast to see if I can go back for a bit."
Tong Xiyan took her hand and smiled, "This is a special ti, you don’t have to worry about such rules. Neither sister-in-law nor brother would bla you."
Xiqiu agreed, and Tong Xiyan said, "The shop on East Street, I had soone carefully inspect it, and whether in terms of area or location, it’s excellent. My father, brother, and I borrowed so silver and decided to take it. Thanks to you."
"You should not thank ." Xiqiu laughed, "Thank Sister Jingliu. She thought it was good, but we didn’t have the capacity to open two dical halls, so we kept you in mind to see if you’d be interested since good shop locations are hard to find."
Tong Xiyan nodded, and the two of them talked about Tong Xiyang’s matter. Xiqiu did not ntion that Tong Xiyang had co to see her, but Tong Xiyan ntioned many things about business competition in the shops...
For several days in a row, Xiqiu was busier than before, without ti for naps during the day. She couldn’t help but sigh to Nanny Cen, "If you have ti, go out and walk around. If anyone asks, say that I don’t have a good look for pregnancy, and didn’t even go to greet the Grand Dowager on the fifteenth."
Xiqiu had decided to pay respects to the Grand Dowager on the first and fifteenth of each month. But on the fifteenth this month, she overslept in the morning, just when she was about to send soone to the Grand Dowager, Nanny Wu ca and said it would be unnecessary due to her pregnancy, and that she could visit after giving birth.
Xiqiu didn’t insist.
Xiuzhi and Nanny Qiu ca to the mansion to greet her every three days, and the First Master also sent soone to inquire about her health. Madam Jiang was in postpartum confinent and couldn’t co and go as she pleased, and Tong Xiyan’s status ant she couldn’t frequently co out either, so they could only send Nanny Qiu and Xiuzhi.
Nanny Cen and Nanny Rong in the mansion managed the maids and servants with a strong hand, one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop. Within half a month, everything was as neat as it should be.
Gradually, fewer people ca to the mansion, and Xiqiu was finally able to relax.
At the beginning of October, on the day Fourth Master Xiao was off, Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao went to the rear garden to see the callias. The two sat in the pavilion, brewed tea, and watched the shimring lake water. The callias’ fragrant elegance brought charm, and Xiqiu laughed, "If it’s sumr and the lotus in the lake blooms, we can even sail the boat to pick them."
Fourth Master Xiao nodded with a smile, "If you like it here, we might as well move to Lin En Hall!"
Lin En Hall is near Qing Lake. Sitting in the pavilion, Xiqiu’s line of sight was filled with Lin En Hall. She thought for a mont and said, "No need for such trouble. But if it gets hot in the sumr, we could move here for a few days."
Fourth Master Xiao smiled, and both of their eyes simultaneously fell on the bank. Tiancheng, with a solemn expression, was walking towards them. As he entered the door, he hesitated, giving Xiqiu a glance.
Xiqiu’s heart paused, and she looked towards Fourth Master Xiao, seeing his face turn cold and the earlier delight instantly vanished.
"Speak." Fourth Master Xiao said with a cold voice.
Tiancheng thought for a mont and replied, "Third Master... has returned."
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