Min walked over, stood in front of Xiqiu with his head lowered, and called out sowhat guiltily, "Mother!"
Xiqiu smiled gently at him and nodded, "Let’s eat first!" Then she took Zhi’s hand in one hand and Min’s hand in the other as they entered the room.
"Go and see if Fourth Master has returned."
Bihuai acknowledged, lifted the curtain, and was about to head out when Fourth Master Xiao had already entered the room with his hands behind his back. His gaze landed on Min’s face, paused slightly but didn’t change much, as Xiqiu had already approached, "Fourth Master, let’s eat!"
Was she afraid he’d scold Min? Fourth Master Xiao nodded.
The maidservants arranged the dishes, and the family quietly sat down at the table to eat.
Zhi seed to sense the unusual atmosphere, occasionally grinned, showing his mouth full of rice grains to make everyone laugh. Xiqiu smiled lightly and picked up a piece of chestnut chicken for him, causing Zhi to smile broadly. Min watched him and also smiled, imitating Xiqiu by serving him food, which made Zhi very happy, and he started eating.
After the al, Xiqiu asked Mrs. Zhou and Wenyu to accompany Zhi to play in the courtyard. Min nervously placed his hands on his legs, watching Zhi’s back before glancing at Fourth Master Xiao...
Fourth Master Xiao held the tea, his expression showing no emotions.
"Min." Xiqiu smiled at him, "Xing and Sheng ca today, did you see them?" Min nodded. Xiqiu continued, "Have you finished the assignnts given by the teacher?"
Min nodded again.
Xiqiu looked at him and said, "You’ve been tired all day, you should go back and rest early!" She didn’t ntion yesterday’s event or the earlier situation, just told him to rest.
"Mother!" Min was startled and then said, "I know I was wrong."
Xiqiu raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled, "Silly child, you weren’t wrong!" Xiqiu was glad he was willing to open up to her, and beckoned him over, "Co sit here."
Min glanced at Fourth Master Xiao and saw that he still maintained a calm deanor while sipping tea. So he walked over and sat next to Xiqiu. Xiqiu looked at him, speaking softly and gently, "Why do you feel you were wrong?"
Min lowered his head, thought for a mont, then raised it, "I shouldn’t have left the Chengyi Bo Mansion without telling anyone yesterday... And I shouldn’t have worried Father and Mother, and today... Today, I recklessly ran to the outer courtyard." He then looked at Xiqiu and saw her still looking at him with a smiling expression, which eased his heart. He then said, "Actually, First Master Tang didn’t say anything wrong, I was just overthinking."
"Min!" Xiqiu gazed into his eyes at his level, "Can you tell Mother what First Master Tang said to you yesterday?"
Min hesitated before recounting the events to Xiqiu in detail, "I was very angry." Feeling cautious, he glanced at Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao, worried about involving his birth mother, fearing Fourth Master Xiao might be angry and Xiqiu would be concerned.
"I see!" Xiqiu nodded. When First Young Madam Tang ca to visit, she found it odd. Min’s temperant was always gentle, why such a strong reaction this ti? She said to Min gently, "You were right to be angry, and you did the right thing!"
Min was stunned; his mother also thought he was right to be angry?
He had assud that after his reaction throughout the day and ntioning his birth mother, although convinced his mother wouldn’t be angry, he still felt uneasy inside. However, unexpectedly, his mother not only didn’t mind but agreed with his actions.
"Mother?" Feeling sowhat emotional, Min looked at Xiqiu.
Xiqiu, as usual, patted his head with a sincere expression, "If it were , I would be angry too." She nodded, "The grace of birth is greater than the heavens. No matter her status, high or low, these factors cannot deny her qualifications as a mother." She paused and continued, "Moreover, gossiping behind soone’s back is inherently wrong. This matter was First Master Tang’s fault, not yours. I’m sure he knows he was wrong, otherwise First Young Madam Tang wouldn’t have co to apologize today, so you don’t have to feel guilty about this!"
Min let out a long sigh of relief, and furtively glanced at Fourth Master Xiao, seeing his unchanging expression as before. He felt greatly encouraged, and nodded deeply, "Thank you, Mother."
"Min." Xiqiu smiled while addressing him. Min earnestly listened to her words, "Since your heart is clear, you shouldn’t get upset over these groundless matters. You know, only when our hearts truly let go and have a peaceful mindset, whatever others say becos unimportant to us, don’t you think?"
Min thought for a while, then nodded, "I understand now, I won’t get upset over such things anymore." Xiqiu laughed, "Indeed, a true gentleman is self-assured while the petty worry a lot... Our Min is a noble gentleman."
Min burst into laughter, but Xiqiu shifted topics, asking, "So, because First Master Tang said you look like the Emperor, you wanted to verify it, right?"
"Yes." Min nodded, looking at Xiqiu without the previous uneasiness, "He was very certain with his words, which sparked my curiosity... What does the Emperor look like..." Saying this, he glanced at Xiqiu, then lowered his head, "Because First Master Tang’s gaze upon felt akin to Grandfather’s, filled with puzzlent and suspicion, it compelled to check."
It turns out he really cared about First Master’s gaze. Children are quite sensitive; sotis what you assu they don’t notice or mind, they are not only aware but also rember deeply. She nodded earnestly, "So after checking, do you think you look alike?"
Min shook his head, "Not at all!" He shook his head further, "But, yes, the eyebrows do seem a bit similar, quite thick..." Glancing at Fourth Master Xiao, he whispered, "Father also has thick eyebrows..."
So, more than the Emperor, he thinks he more closely resembles Fourth Master Xiao!
Xiqiu smiled and nodded, turning like Min to look at Fourth Master Xiao, "Yes, Father has thick eyebrows too."
Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows, seeing the mother and son talking, now involving him, coughed slightly, and spoke to Xiqiu, "The Emperor rewarded him with a pocket watch, let soone place it on his room’s offering stand later."
Xiqiu responded, "I understand, shortly I’ll have Nanny Rong and others move the stand over." She turned to Min, "A lengthy offering stand with just one item will look sparse. Would you like to join in the storeroom to pick so decorations?"
"Sure." Min nodded, and Xiqiu pulled him up, turning to Fourth Master Xiao, "Would Fourth Master like to co along too?" The atmosphere beca relaxed.
Fourth Master Xiao was montarily stunned, looking at the happily smiling Xiqiu and the previously downcast Min now uplifted. His gaze lingered before he replied, "I’m heading to the outer courtyard!" He didn’t look at them further.
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