Min’s eyes halted, and Xiqiu, smiling yet fearing he might overthink, explained, "Rong’en Courtyard is also close by and connected to this side. Living there is convenient, and you will have your own independent courtyard, so you can decide what you want to do and how you want to do it!"
"Mother!" Min’s lips moved, and Xing had already moved out of the Grand Dowager’s green gauze cabinet. However, he didn’t go to the outer courtyard to open his own, but instead built a new courtyard behind the Grand Dowager’s courtyard. Xing loved it, and even set up flower racks and swings in the yard...
In fact, he was sowhat envious, knowing that it was an independent courtyard and a space of his own. He knew if he ntioned it to his mother, she would certainly agree, but he feared she would overthink and believe he wanted to move out, so he hesitated. Unexpectedly, his mother ca to discuss it today.
Min was sowhat excited and looked at Xiqiu asking, "Mother, you want to move to Rong’en Courtyard?"
"Yes." Xiqiu nodded and asked, "What’s the matter? Do you think it’s too small?" Xiqiu thought for a mont, realizing Rong’en Courtyard wasn’t very big. Still, since it was close, she explained, "So of the courtyards in the residence are a bit remote. There are two main courtyards which are quite large. I intend to reserve them for you when you grow up, so you can settle there after getting married. For now, staying there temporarily, is that okay?"
"No, no!" Min’s face reddened. "I am willing to live there."
Xiqiu looked at his flushed cheeks, chuckled lightly, and nodded, "If you have no objections, I’ll have Nanny Rong take people over to tidy it up for you tomorrow. As for the servants in your room, you can choose yourself within the mansion. Keep whoever you fancy." Min’s wet nurse had long since left, and now only Dongling was the big maid by his side.
"Two senior maids, two second-class ones, and four junior maids... As for the older won, let Nanny Cen select them for you. As long as they’re honest and reliable. What do you think?" Min was older and more sensitive than other children, so Xiqiu often spoke with him in a consultative tone on many matters.
Min nodded and responded, "I’ll leave it to Mother to decide."
Xiqiu slightly nodded; Zhi, on hearing, curiously asked, "Where is Brother moving? I want to move too!"
"Brother is just next door." Xiqiu pulled Zhi up and wiped the glue off his nose. "You can go play, but you can’t move over!" Zhi tilted his head, displeased, and said, "Then why can Brother move?"
"Because Brother has grown up. When you are his age, you can move too. When you’re older, you can even live in the outer courtyard; it’s all up to you..." Xiqiu spoke softly.
Zhi frowned, showing a look of distress, then glanced at Min, "When will I grow as big as Brother..." Min listened, ca over to hold his hand, and crouched by the kite, "Tell what you want to do now, I’ll help you!"
Zhi’s attention was quickly drawn to the kite, and he pointed here and there, with Min diligently following his instructions. As Xiqiu saw the two engrossed in kite-making, their innocence and adorableness brought a smile to her face. After watching for a while, she turned to Qingshan and Qingyuan, "It’s empty in the outer courtyard; why don’t you two move here too? It’s closer to Zhi, saving you the trouble of running back and forth, and it will ease your mother’s worry."
Qingshan, being more lively, responded with a smile, "We’ll talk to Mother and let you know tomorrow if that’s okay?"
"Sure," Xiqiu smiled, "And tell your mother to co over when she has ti."
Qingshan showed a troubled look, "Mother hasn’t been feeling well these past two days, lying at ho all the ti..." Xiqiu paused and asked, "What’s the matter? Have you called a doctor?"
"I don’t know. I asked her, but she won’t say, and Father also won’t tell us!"
Xiqiu showed a puzzled expression, then called for Chunliu, "When you have ti, go to Siliu’s place. Qingshan said she wasn’t feeling well, but they didn’t know what’s wrong. Go check, then I can rest assured."
"I understand," Chunliu responded and went to Siliu’s that afternoon. Returning, she was all smiles, "Madam, she’s not unwell; she’s pregnant."
Xiqiu laughed, "Pregnant?" No wonder she didn’t tell the children. "It’d be good for Qingshan and Qingyuan to stay here too; it could ease her mind." After saying this, she looked at Chunliu, "Later, choose so items from the storeroom to send over, and take two bolts of fabric. If she lacks anything, she can co here and let know anyti."
Chunliu nodded with a smile, then added, "When I returned, I also stopped by Chunyan’s. Her daughter is now walking and running around the house, and she’s constantly following behind, too busy to manage. She wanted to co to the mansion to pay respects, but..."
Chunyan had a daughter last year.
Xiqiu chuckled, "Having children is like that. She doesn’t have in-laws to help, nor has she hired anyone, and Tianyi is busy with the dical hall and pharmacy. How could she manage it all!" Chunliu smiled at this, her face looked beautiful, and Xiqiu glanced at her with a slight frown, noticing that while Siliu and Chunyan have children, Chunliu still stays by her side. After a brief pause, she said to Chunliu, "Go tend to your duties, and when you leave, send Nanny Cen over."
Chunliu agreed, turned, and left the room. Xiqiu ntally reviewed the young n and stewards she rembered in the mansion, but she didn’t co up with anyone suitable. As she pondered, she thought of the Marquis Mansion. She planned to visit and ask Housekeeper Hu for a recomndation, as it seed less feasible to keep Chunliu by her side forever.
"Madam!" Nanny Cen entered the room, and Xiqiu greeted her with a smile, "I have sothing to discuss with you, have a seat."
Nanny Cen complied and sat on a stool, and Xiqiu asked, "I’m not familiar with the servants and stewards in the outer courtyard, but I have a general impression... You interact with them often, have you co across any servant boy who seems decent?"
"There truly aren’t many suitable ones in our mansion," Nanny Cen replied with a smile. "Though there are so capable ones, in several steward’s families, the sons are reasonably good, yet there are always issues of one kind or another, so none caught my eye." Knowing Xiqiu’s intention, she asked, "Are you planning to find soone for Chunliu?"
"Do you have soone in mind?" Xiqiu responded with a smile.
Nanny Cen chuckled, nodding with bright eyes, "Indeed, the one I have in mind is from Madam’s entourage." Xiqiu was taken aback, and Nanny Cen whispered, "It’s Yiquan!"
Ah, him! How could she have forgotten him!
"You might not know, Yiquan in the Marquis Mansion is already a steward, and from what I observe, Housekeeper Hu holds him in high regard, forecasting a promising future for him. Besides, he and Chunliu are of similar age. Judging by this, it’s quite a match in my opinion!"
With Nanny Cen’s revelation, Xiqiu nodded in agreent. Yiquan’s capabilities are indeed noteworthy, and Chunliu, who had expressed her desire to stay in the mansion as a housekeeper, faced a rule where both spouses couldn’t serve within the sa residence. But if Chunliu was matched with Yiquan, there wouldn’t be such reservations. Yiquan could stay in the Marquis Mansion, while Chunliu could continue serving by her side.
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