Tong Xiyu’s gaze was on the paper kite, clutching a handkerchief in a manner that was uncertain if she was indecisive or afraid of offending soone. Miss Fang, seeing them like this, threw the paper kite down in disappointnt: "You two younger sisters don’t need to be troubled." She sat idly by, lost in thought.
Xiqiu skewered a piece of sweet lon with a bamboo stick: "Sister, please rest as well. This place is both cool and fragrant; just sitting here is very pleasant."
"The Sixth Miss speaks well!" Before Miss Fang could speak, Bihuai added with a smile as she replenished their tea: "When the Count has free ti, he invites a few advisors to play chess and drink wine here. Even the Count says it’s quite spacious."
Xiqiu smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
At this mont, the sa nanny returned, whispered a few words in Bihuai’s ear, and Bihuai’s expression changed several tis before she whispered, "Wasn’t he supposed to be in the outer courtyard? How did he suddenly co back?"
The nanny was also confused and at a loss. Bihuai frowned, as the Third Master, though esteed, was a man, and it was all young ladies here. If they ran into him, what then? Moreover, the Third Master was reckless by nature; if sothing happened, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough to bear the bla.
Although Bihuai’s voice was low, it was still clear to others’ ears. It caught Xiqiu’s attention, and she looked at Tong Xiyang, but saw her just sipping tea with an appearance of not having heard anything at all.
Could it be that she was overthinking it?
Bihuai could not sit still, stood up anxiously, and smiled: "Please stay seated, Misses. I will be back shortly."
Tong Xiyang wore a bright smile on her face: "Sister is busy, we can take care of ourselves." As if to prove a point, she pulled Miss Fang: "Miss Fang, didn’t you want to fly a kite? How about I join you?"
Bihuai’s gaze lingered on Xiqiu, who also smiled and said: "Sister can go about her business. If we tire, we can simply have soone take us back."
"I will be quick in returning." She gave a respectful bow to several people, taking two nannies with her as they exited the pavilion to a side path.
Tong Xiyang held the paper kite in one hand and Miss Fang in the other, looking at Xiqiu with a defiant gaze before calling out to Tong Xiyu: "Sixth Sister is tired, Eighth Sister, co with ." Tong Xiyu looked at Xiqiu with an uneasy expression but still followed Tong Xiyang, and the group left with the nannies.
For a mont, it fell silent, leaving only Xiqiu and her maidservants in the pavilion. Tong Xiyang intended to isolate her!
Xiqiu gently held her teacup, maintaining a proper smile on her face, but her eyes swept past the recently returned nanny, then to Sixing. Siliu instantly understood, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and handed them to the nanny with a smile: "We are just visiting today; I’m afraid we have tired you out with all the running back and forth. There are no outsiders here. Please sit on this stone stool and rest your feet with us."
The nanny looked surprised at Xiqiu, but seeing that she appeared calm and without displeasure, reached out with a smile and accepted: "Miss, as a guest, we should naturally make sure you’re well taken care of. How could this be considered tiring?" She stuffed the seeds into her pocket: "Besides, it’s within our duties as servants to do these things." She sat on the stone stool outside the pavilion with Sixing and Siliu.
"Exactly!" Sixing said with a smile: "From the mont I saw you, I felt we were compatible. What is your family na?"
"Not worthy of ’honorable,’" she replied, "My family na is Luo. You can just call Nanny Luo." Sixing praised her a few more tis then looked worriedly and said, "I just saw Sister Bihuai leave in a hurry. Is there sothing urgent going on that you need to check on? I hope I haven’t delayed your important tasks!"
Nanny Luo waved her large, fan-like hand dismissively: "It’s just that the Third Master unexpectedly returned to the house to change clothes. No need for such tension."
Sixing’s expression subtly changed, and she looked at Xiqiu.
Xiqiu’s hand paused in its motion to drink tea. It wasn’t strange for Third Master Ren, staying in the inner courtyard, to return to change clothes. What was strange was the timing coinciding with their visit. Could it be that soone had inford him to return at this ti?
She looked again at Nanny Luo. Since she had the status to greet female guests, she must hold a certain standing in the Marquis Mansion, being adept at reading situations and knowing what to say and what not to say. That she so easily divulged the Third Master’s return—could she be hinting at sothing?
A chill ran through her heart at the thought. She raised her head to search for Tong Xiyang, but suddenly her expression changed. On the open ground, only Tong Xiyu and Miss Fang were left; Tong Xiyang was nowhere to be seen.
Could it be?!
A sudden intuition flared in Xiqiu’s mind, and she rose, telling Sixing: "I’ve rested enough as well. You stay and chat with Nanny Luo. I’ll take Siliu for a walk in the woods."
Nanny Luo imdiately stood up: "Let accompany you."
Xiqiu waved her hand with a gentle smile: "No need, Nanny, I’m just looking around here. I’ll call you if anything cos up." Sixing also quickly reassured Nanny Luo: "Please rest a bit longer, Nanny. Our young lady has loved peach blossoms since young. Our estate doesn’t have such a large grove, so she naturally wants to explore."
"Then please call for if you need anything!" Nanny Luo didn’t insist further, sitting back down with Sixing, while Xiqiu led Siliu leisurely into the grove of peach trees.
As she entered the woods, she saw Moxiang lurking at the entrance. A spark flashed in her eyes as she took a detour, quickening her pace to avoid Moxiang, heading directly westward. Along the way, she had no mind to admire the peach blossoms, her eyes scanning around the forest. Siliu didn’t know what she was up to and was about to speak, but Xiqiu motioned with a hand and lifted her skirts to move faster.
Siliu’s heart chilled as she saw the direction Xiqiu was running in, spotting a flash of rose-red in the distance, slipping towards another side.
It was the Third Miss! Siliu’s face turned serious. She was aware that heading west led to Third Master Ren’s courtyard. What did the Third Miss intend?
The thought passed, and she saw the Sixth Miss already giving chase.
"Third Sister!" Xiqiu called out, stopping behind Tong Xiyang, eyes smiling at her.
Tong Xiyang’s body stiffened before she turned abruptly, her face showing panic, surprise in her eyes as she looked at Xiqiu: "Sixth Sister!?"
"It’s !" Xiqiu smiled as she stepped forward: "Where is Third Sister rushing off to?" Tong Xiyang mumbled nervously, "I accidentally stained my dress earlier and was planning to find a maid to help change into another one."
Xiqiu’s smile held a faint edge: "If Third Sister was looking for soone, you should have gone back to the pavilion and called out; there were seven or eight maids waiting there." She smiled, taking a few more steps, her gaze fixed intensely on Tong Xiyang: "Third Sister, with no maid beside you and having gone the wrong way, why not return with ? The grove is vast, after all."
Tong Xiyang’s face changed: "What do you an by that, Sister? How could you know if I’ve gone the wrong way?" She turned and continued ahead: "Sister, you should mind your own business and not ddle in other’s!" Her steps sped up again.
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