CHAPTER 149: CHAPTER 149: A HAPPY OCCASION (4)

"Yes!" Several people curtseyed in response, but Tong Xiyang did not approach the Lady as usual and instead stood silently beside Xiqiu. The Lady suddenly stopped her steps and looked at Tong Xiyang, saying, "You shouldn’t go. Go back early and finish embroidering your dowry; that’s the real business. Don’t bother with anything else; you’re someone who will marry soon."

Tong Xiyang halted her steps rigidly, looking at the Lady in disbelief.

Xiqiu frowned slightly, puzzled. Logically speaking, a concubine’s daughter without a mother marrying into a prestigious family should be cared for to gain her loyalty. Wouldn’t she treat her stepmother as her real mother in the future? The Lady would surely think of this, yet she didn’t act this way. Perhaps she, like the First Master, dislikes someone so much she avoids anything related to them.

She couldn’t believe the Lady was such a person; it could only mean one thing. The Lady was testing Tong Xiyang’s character, waiting to make her yield to the Lady’s will...

"Yes!" Tong Xiyang lowered her face swiftly, paid respects to the Lady, and then hurried away, not even looking at her sisters, who quickly took the path.

The Lady returned the gaze with an ambiguous smile, saying, "Let’s go!" as she led Xiqiu and the others back to the main room.

Upon entering, Xiqiu was stunned. On the main room’s table were many food boxes, trunks, and bags of various sizes. They didn’t look like luggage. Just as she was wondering, she heard Tong Xiyan asking the Lady, "What are these things piled here?"

Nanny Fang responded with a smile, "These are holiday gifts from Wujin Bo Mansion. We’re counting them now and will send return gifts in the afternoon, along with presents for other mansions."

The holiday gifts from Count Wujin’s Mansion? Is this why the Lady sent Tong Xiyang away? Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, as Tong Xiyu smiled and spoke to Nanny Fang, "So many things, Mother, you’ve been working hard." The tone visible with flattery since the incident with Caitao; the Lady has been cold with Madam Mei and her daughter. Tong Xiyu’s words were merely trying to please the Lady.

Nanny Fang’s eyes flickered, she laughed, "Eighth Miss wouldn’t know, delivering holiday gifts isn’t hard. The difficult work is done by the boys outside the mansion. I mostly accompany the carriage to the mansions to greet and bid the missus well, often receiving meet-and-greet rewards. What the Lady appointed for me is a pleasant task!"

The Lady smiled playfully at Nanny Fang, "Being cheeky!" Nanny Fang chuckled back at the Lady, content that the Lady seemed to have shed recent unhappiness.

People followed each other into the room; the Lady sat at the head of the bed. Daihe served tea and handed a towel for the Lady to wipe her hands. Only then did the Lady take a sip from her teacup. Tong Xiyan eagerly asked, "Mother said there was something to discuss; what is it?"

The Lady shifted her gaze as if changing her mind, then smiled, "Just wanted to chat with you, nothing special." She then looked at Nanny Fang and said, "It’s some time until lunch; fetch the dish of lotus seed pastries leftover from the morning for them to snack on." This swept the topic aside.

Nanny Fang agreed and left. Xiqiu wondered internally what the Lady originally intended to discuss, but outwardly she smiled and spoke to the Lady, "Mother, I have something to tell you." The Lady raised an eyebrow, asking, "What is it?"

Xiqiu avoided mentioning Tong Minzhi’s situation, recounting the events of last night and ended with a smile, "The First Master casually pointed and gave Siliu to Fugui." She lowered her head, showing an expression of helpless compliance, "A date has been set for the tenth of May... I have no experience, and my mind is a mess."

Once she finished, Tong Xiyu looked oddly at Xiqiu, surprised that such a big uproar resulted in Siliu being given to Fugui instead of Caitao, which cost Caitao her life. She felt slighted for Caitao, rushing into the First Master’s room instead of begging him to choose her for Fugui and doing something so foolish!

The Lady’s eyes flickered; she had already heard about this, which confirmed Nanny Fang’s prior suspicions that Laiwang’s family had chosen a maid long ago!

Going past her to plead with the First Master; they underestimated the whole family.

Xiqiu noted the Lady’s uncertain expression, realizing the Lady already knew this waited for her to bring it up herself. Such matters may have caused the Lady to hold some criticism towards Laiwang’s family. However, no need to worry; though the Lady has influence, she can’t casually decide on the Chief Steward’s matters outside the courtyard. Moreover, Laiwang has long been dear to the First Master.

While unwelcome, as the decision was made by the First Master, the Lady could not embarrass him. The Lady then graciously agreed, "That maid is fortunate; Fugui is a good lad!" She added, "I’ll have Daihe give ten taels of silver to keep at the bottom of her chest tomorrow; this fulfills my duty as a master. As for the dowry, if you’re unsure, have Nanny Fang assist you. There are rules for young ladies and maids marrying; it should be measured rightly!"

Xiqiu appreciatively nodded, then walked to the curtain’s edge and called out, "Siliu, come inside to thank Mother."

Siliu obediently entered and performed the grand ceremony, kneeling on the ground, "Thank you, Lady, for your grace!" The Lady laughed, letting her rise, "Once you wed Fugui, you’re family; no need for such politeness!"

Despite her words, Siliu didn’t dare disobey. After bowing three times, she cautiously retreated to the door, coinciding with Nanny Fang entering.

Nanny Fang ran in joyfully and raised her voice upon seeing the Lady, "Lady, guess who’s here?" Before waiting for the Lady to speak, she eagerly exclaimed, "It’s Nanny Lin."

"It’s her!" The Lady stood up, gesturing to Nanny Fang, "Let her in quickly." As soon as the words left the Lady’s mouth, the curtain at the door lifted to reveal a woman’s face. Xiqiu turned to scrutinize the newcomer, about fifty years old. She looked familiar, but Xiqiu couldn’t recall where they had met. The woman upon seeing the Lady approached and knelt, saying, "Slave Lin greets the Lady with blessings."

The Lady personally raised her up, and Nanny Fang brought out a stool, which Nanny Lin refused to sit on. She contentedly told the Lady, "Lady, it’s truly wonderful news. The young lady... is pregnant." She hadn’t changed titles, still calling Tong Xihua "young lady" like Nanny Fang and the other elders did.

"Ah!" The Lady trembled with excitement, holding her teacup, "Indeed... indeed pregnant?"

Xiqiu was secretly surprised—is she really pregnant?

Tong Xiyan also approached, grabbing Nanny Lin’s arm, jubilantly asking, "Is older sister really pregnant?"