First Young Madam Tang asked Xiqiu, "Didn’t you see the boy? Is he left at ho alone?" Xiqiu shook her head and replied, "He’s at the Marquis Mansion, bothering the Grand Dowager and my elder sister-in-law to look after him for the night." As she said this, she paused and asked about Old Madam Tang’s health, "I talked about it with my sister-in-law today, is the old lady’s health okay?"
First Young Madam Tang’s smile faded a little, and she sighed, "The Imperial Physician said careful nursing is needed, the dicine is taken daily, but there is no improvent."
"It’s truly hard on you, having to serve your mother-in-law and care for the whole family," Madam Qian held First Young Madam Tang’s hand, "You must take care of yourself, and if there’s anything you need help with, just let know."
First Young Madam Tang nodded with emotion, "Definitely!" The group had already reached the palace gate, and Xiqiu saw Fourth Master Xiao with Min waiting outside their carriage, so she bade farewell to everyone and went over there. Fourth Master Xiao nodded to Xiqiu, "Elder Brother and Xing are in front, we’ll talk when we get back."
Xiqiu raised her brow to look, and indeed saw the Marquis Mansion’s carriage parked by the roadside, she responded, and boarded the carriage with Min. Fourth Master Xiao rode alongside them, and the group headed to the South Arch to pick up Zhi.
"Mother," Min helped Xiqiu sit down on the mat, took a teapot from the secret compartnt, and poured her a cup of tea. Xiqiu took the tea and said, "You probably didn’t get to eat anything tonight. I’ll have the kitchen make sothing for you when we get back."
Min nodded in agreent, and Xiqiu didn’t ask about the situation of answering questions in the hall.
When they entered the Grand Dowager’s courtyard, Xiao Yanyi, Xing, and the First Madam were already inside. Everyone greeted each other, and the Grand Dowager urgently asked, "... I heard the Emperor praised our Min in front of all the courtiers, is it true?"
Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, while Xing smiled and said, "He praised Min for his unique insights, truly talented."
The Grand Dowager was stunned, feeling the praise seed a bit exaggerated.
Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao exchanged glances without speaking, while Min was talking with Zhi. Zhi, holding a book of poems, was still reciting verses, promising to recite them to Fourth Master Xiao tonight. Hearing the conversation, he seriously nodded, "I think the Emperor also has unique insights!"
Everyone was taken aback and looked at him, the Grand Dowager asked, "Do you know what ’unique insights’ an?" Zhi shook his head, then nodded, "He praised Third Brother, saying Third Brother is smart, so he must be smart too."
Even the First Madam couldn’t help but laugh, patting Zhi’s head.
After a while of laughing, Xing took Min and Zhi to the courtyard looking for Sheng. Xiqiu then ntioned Consort Le, "... I heard the Emperor spoke of Second Sister-in-law, said it’s truly hard on the Marquis." After speaking, she looked at Xiao Yanyi.
Xiao Yanyi’s hand paused while drinking tea, but he didn’t imdiately speak. The Grand Dowager said, "It seems peace is again elusive." She paused and looked at Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao, "Find a day to discuss and announce it, settle this matter so no one else can interfere."
Second Madam had been mad for many days, the Emperor chose to ntion it now, the implication couldn’t be clearer.
Fourth Master Xiao said nothing, while Xiao Yanyi nodded, "Understood."
The First Madam said, "If according to their intention, it is too hard on the second brother, but the matter cannot wait. Who knows what else might happen."
Since Second Madam’s affair was Madam Shen’s doing, Old Madam Shen must know. If they keep delaying announcing Second Madam’s death, who knows when her involvent in a brothel might leak out.
By then, Xiao Yanyi’s reputation would be irreparable.
Only announcing Second Madam’s death can truly resolve the matter.
The Grand Dowager sighed, "You two brothers should discuss this matter." She paused again, "It’s getting late, go back and rest early."
Xiqiu agreed, and along with Fourth Master Xiao, took the two children and bid farewell to the Grand Dowager, escorted by the First Madam to the courtyard gate, and then took the carriage back to the new mansion.
"You should go back and rest early too, you’ll have to go to Wenhua Hall tomorrow." Xiqiu held Min’s hand and tidied his clothes, "Do you have any howork left?"
"The teacher didn’t assign howork today," Min said softly, then nervously asked Xiqiu, "Mother, did I do sothing wrong tonight? I shouldn’t have answered the Emperor’s question."
Xiqiu shook her head and replied, "No, in the great hall, you naturally should answer. You did very well." With so many people present, being Fourth Master Xiao’s son, he must consider his father’s reputation.
Min sighed with relief, feeling at ease, bid farewell to Fourth Master Xiao and Zhi, and returned to his courtyard.
Xiqiu took Zhi back to the Chongen Residence, Zhi looked up at his father, "Father, I’ve morized five poems, let recite them to you now." Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow and nodded, "Alright, I’m all ears."
Zhi recited Lu You’s poem "Bu Suan Zi" while walking.
As the father and son entered the room, Xiqiu turned to ask Nanny Cen, "Is everything alright at ho? Did you all have dinner?" Nanny Cen replied, "Everything’s fine, we ate together as you instructed, then let so of the married maids and nannies take turns going ho to reunite."
Xiqiu nodded and walked into the room with Nanny Cen. Nanny Cen further detailed who left the mansion, paused and said, "Ziyang also took a two-hour leave to go out, saying she was going to visit a friend." She checked the ti, "She should be back by now."
Ziyang went out too? She hasn’t ntioned having any friends in the Capital for years, could she have gone to the Marquis Mansion?
Xiqiu only thought about it casually, then rembered Min hadn’t eaten anything in the palace, so she ordered Nanny Cen to prepare so food to be sent over, "Send so here too, I’m feeling quite hungry now." In the past, hunger wasn’t this uncomfortable, but recently if she’s even slightly hungry, she’d feel her stomach clenching painfully.
Nanny Cen agreed, then looked at Xiqiu, "You’ve been eating a lot more these days, should we call Nurse Zhang back to check your pulse?"
"Let’s talk about it tomorrow, I have to go to the Marquis Jinxiang Mansion in the morning to see Madam Le, on the way back, I’ll stop by the dical clinic."
Nanny Cen didn’t say anything further and respectfully withdrew.
Min ate two pastries and then noticed the fruit platter on the table, "Dongling, did Ziyang send this fruit platter?" Such elaborate designs could only be crafted by Ziyang.
"Yes, Sister Ziyang sent it," Dongling happened to carry water in, placing it on the rack and wiping her hands, "Would you like so, it’ll help with digestion too."
Min selected a small piece of mango to eat, chilled, it was refreshing and not too sweet, satisfying him to eat another piece. Dongling smiled quietly, thinking to herself to inform Ziyang to send more tomorrow.
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