Xiqiu had to greet everyone and leave the hall to stand at the doorway, yet saw no one outside. The night sky had mysteriously darkened, even extinguishing the lanterns under the eaves. As she was about to call soone to relight them, a loud bang resounded. A burst of silver light soared into the sky. She paused and looked up, seeing a seven-colored radiance explode above, like a blooming flower. Before she could regain her senses, several more silver blossoms unfurled in succession, brightening the courtyard like daylight...
She laughed, standing there with her gaze cast into the distance. Amidst the dazzling lights, she saw Zhi jumping with joy, Min smiling with pressed lips, Xing excited, and Sheng bending down to light the fire with a torch. Tong Minzhi was standing there, holding a large firework and wiping his sweat, grinning foolishly...
Xiqiu’s eyes instantly moistened, finally realizing that the children had been busy for days, all for her birthday.
"So beautiful!" Tong Xiyan was the first to run out: "I told you Seventh Brother was being secretive, turns out he was preparing fireworks." People inside also walked out, all raising their heads to watch the sky filled with blooms of light, one following another without pause...
Madam Le, standing behind the children, pointed helplessly at Le Yao, who was laughing, and said with a smile: "Look at her, not at all like a girl..."
Grand Dowager also laughed, aningfully saying: "The performance isn’t over yet." Everyone was puzzled, and before they understood, the sound of flutes and xiaos echoed amidst the fading fireworks. In this leisurely tune, Zhi began clapping along and sang "Song of the Traveler" clearly and fluently, his childish voice tender and pleasant... Several children approached with smiles.
Even the Grand Dowager couldn’t help but have moist eyes, happily saying: "All my care for you was worth it." Xiqiu took a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, accepting Zhi who ran over, and beckoning to Min and Xing and Sheng, saying: "Thank you all."
Sheng just grinned, cupping his fists and bowing deeply: "Happy Birthday, Fourth Aunt!" Xing, Min, and Zhi also bowed along with him.
Tong Minzhi chuckled softly.
Xiqiu nodded: "Fourth Aunt is very happy today, thank you!" Madam Ruan looked at Xiqiu with a smile: "These children can be so naughty sotis you feel like giving them a beating, but then they can be so considerate that you just want to cherish them with all your heart."
Xiqiu agreed, and Grand Dowager nodded at the children, pulling Zhi over and saying: "Our Zhi just recited ’Song of the Traveler’ really well, why haven’t I heard it before?"
Zhi giggled and said: "I just morized it." Xiqiu chuckled, rembering the day before when he was struggling on his feet, not expecting he was morizing poems.
Le Yao and Ruan Pingrong ca holding hands, looking at Tong Minzhi and asking: "Was this idea yours?" Embarrassed, Tong Minzhi nodded and replied: "Yes!" Le Yao nodded approvingly: "You’re really clever, what is your na?"
Tong Minzhi’s face turned redder, stamring: "Tong... Tong Minzhi!" Le Yao seed thoughtful, as if she admired him greatly.
With the children’s surprise, everyone shared laughs and chatter for a while before going back to their respective hos.
Xiqiu spoke to Fourth Master Xiao about the children’s affair: "I really didn’t expect them to plan all this..." Thinking about the night’s events, her heart nearly lted with warmth: "What have I done to deserve their love? Such purity makes feel unworthy."
Fourth Master Xiao embraced her, kissed her forehead, and whispered: "Children are straightforward. If you treat them well, they will repay you many tis over!" Xiqiu nestled in his arms, the two of them leaned against the window watching the star-filled sky "...just deeply moved in my heart."
Fourth Master Xiao chuckled gently, feigning dissatisfaction: "What about then." Rembering he was alone at the outer courtyard today, Xiqiu’s face was full of apology: "It’s all my fault, my oversight."
Fourth Master Xiao laughed heartily, tapped her nose, and handed her a box he brought from behind. Xiqiu raised her eyebrows and asked: "A jade hairpin carved by your hand, Fourth Master?"
"You knew?" asked Fourth Master Xiao, amused. Xiqiu imdiately replied: "I’ve already received five such black wood boxes, including this one today it’s six..." She paused, revealing a playful look: "...when I get old, I will see how many of these boxes I can collect."
Fourth Master Xiao laughed heartily, his laughter bright and joyful.
On the day of the Ghost Festival, Madam Xia sent a ssage saying that Tong Minzhi hurried out after receiving a letter at the residence. Recently, he often received letters, and according to Liufu, the handwriting was dainty like a woman’s signature, never seen before. Xiqiu was amazed upon hearing this; Tong Minzhi was usually honest, could he have t a girl from a family?
The next day, she called Tong Minzhi over for questioning, and he mumbled: "It’s a friend from the school inviting to a temple fair." Having said this, he looked at Xiqiu, trying to stay composed: "Did the concubine tell you? She must have ntioned the letters are from a girl, right?"
Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, and considering his usual sensible nature, Xiqiu didn’t think too much about it and nodded: "Yes, she ntioned it. Since there’s no such thing, you should let her know later, so she doesn’t worry."
Tong Minzhi acknowledged this, then turned to ask Xiqiu: "Where’s Zhi?" Xiqiu laughed: "In the backyard, playing and practicing pitch-pot with Qingshan and Qingyuan!"
"I’ll go take a look." He said this as he went out, and happened to et Min at the entrance. Hearin Min’s voice, Xiqiu smiled and asked: "Did you co back with Father or Uncle?"
"Chief De brought back," said Min, his tone sowhat rigid, causing Xiqiu to pause and ask: "Why did Chief De bring you back?"
Min entered the room, sowhat awkwardly keeping his right hand hidden behind him, and replied: "The Emperor went to Wenhua Hall this afternoon and tested our lessons from the past few days. Since Father went to the military camp in the suburbs, seeing no one there to pick up, the Emperor instructed Chief De to bring back."
Chief De was the eunuch by Le Xiu’s side, so why did the Emperor instruct him to bring Min back? Xiqiu was puzzled by his words and just as she was about to ask, she noticed his clothes had been changed; they were not the sa ones he wore when he left this morning. The typical school bag he carried was also absent: "Did you go back to change your clothes first?"
"Yes, yes..." Min hesitated, quickly replying and then changing the subject as he stood up: "Mother, I’ll go find Seventh Uncle and Zhi in the backyard."
Xiqiu watched him with suspicion: "Wait a minute!" She looked at his hand: "What happened to your hand?"
Min froze, then quickly hid his hand behind his back. Xiqiu’s face darkened and she reached out in front of him: "Let see your hand."
Min reluctantly extended it, and Xiqiu saw a red mark on his wrist erging from his sleeve, as if scalded by hot water...
Xiqiu held his hand, prompting him to flinch and draw back, Xiqiu furrowed her brow and rolled up his sleeve. From the wrist upwards was a red mark the size of Zhi’s palm, with several places already blistering, before her eyes.
It was definitely scalded.
"What happened?" Xiqiu asked him.
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