CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: HEALING MEDICINE (5)

Tong Xiyan let out a cold snort, not replying, Xiqiu showed a hint of surprise, could it be that the situation is not as simple as she described?

Over here, Lady had finished speaking with the Grand Dowager, and was about to take her leave: "We’ve disturbed you for a day, it’s time for us to return." The Grand Dowager responded, "I wanted to have you stay for a night, but I know you’re worried about the affairs at the Mansion; sit for a little while longer until the Second Young Master returns, he will escort you back."

Lady laughed and said, "The son-in-law is busy, don’t have him running around, it will just tire him!" The Grand Dowager waved her hand and said, "He is your son-in-law, half a son, you may command him at will!"

Xiqiu couldn’t help but admire how well the Grand Dowager spoke; even compared to Lady, she seemed to be in a different class.

Sure enough, Lady smiled brightly and stopped declining, exchanged a few more sentences, when a young maid reported that the Second Young Master had returned, saying the carriage was ready and waiting at the gate for Lady in-law.

Tong Xihua’s eyes dimmed, but Lady stood up smiling: "How considerate... then I shall take my leave." Tong Xihua also stood up: "Let me escort you to the gate."

Lady scolded her with a glare: "You’re not allowed to go anywhere in your condition, just obey the Grand Dowager and take good care of yourself."

The Grand Dowager nodded as well: "The first three months are critical, don’t take it lightly; Lady in-law is not an outsider, having the Second Young Master is sufficient." Lady busily nodded in agreement.

Tong Xihua swallowed her grievances, initially intending to confide in Lady, now could only suppress down again, as Marquis Xuanning saw this, he smiled and stood up saying, "I will escort in place of my second sister-in-law."

She was Tong Xihua’s sister-in-law but even more so Marchioness; Lady was about to decline, but the Grand Dowager already nodded: "It’s good that you go!"

Xiqiu, Tong Xiyan, and Tong Xiyu stepped forward to bid farewell to the Grand Dowager and Tong Xihua, the Grand Dowager held Tong Xiyan in one hand and Xiqiu in the other, smiling at Tong Xiyu: "All the children are adorable, even if your mother is busy, you all may often come visit the Mansion."

Xiqiu originally wanted to greet Xiao Yanzheng, but now it seemed there was no opportunity, she could only go back and write a letter to explain.

The group went to the gate, sure enough, they saw Xiao Yanyi standing in front of the carriage waiting for them, he immediately spotted Xiqiu, surrounded by maids, walking with Tong Xiyan and Tong Xiyu; at this moment, Xiqiu also raised her head, their gazes met in mid-air, Xiqiu’s heart jolted, and she quickly averted her eyes...

Xiao Yanyi retracted his gaze and went to help Lady onto the carriage.

The crowd bid farewell to Marchioness, Xiqiu rode with Tong Xiyu in one carriage, while Lady and Tong Xiyan were in another; behind them, the servants loaded things into two more carriages, after some time the carriages finally began to move, Tong Xiyu kept watching out the curtain until the carriage turned out of Marquis Mansion, she awkwardly turned to Xiqiu and said: "Sixth Sister is so lucky, even with just a minor injury, Grand Dowager rewarded so many medicines and supplements."

There wasn’t any sarcasm or bitterness, instead a hint of envy; Xiqiu’s heart trembled, the vague speculation in her mind finally confirmed, she couldn’t believe... Tong Xiyu was only eight years old!

She frowned in acceptance, forced a smile at her.

If they were true sisters, maybe Tong Xiyu would listen to what she said, but given their current relations, if she spoke, Tong Xiyu might not only reject but resent her, this fruitless task, Xiqiu wouldn’t do!

Outside the carriage, Xiao Yanyi rode on a tall horse, his back straight and elegant, Tong Xiyu’s gaze was fixed on his back through the curtain, clutching the handkerchief tightly in her hand...

Xiqiu endured the journey, finally returning to Tong Mansion, after seeing Xiao Yanyi off, she returned to her room; as soon as she entered, she instructed Siliu: "Fetch me some hot water, I wish to bathe."

Siliu looked puzzled at Sixing and Chunyan, both shook their heads indicating they knew nothing, Siliu could only take the young maid to heat the water, soon the bucket was full, she said to Xiqiu: "Let me assist you."

Xiqiu shook her head: "No need, you stay behind the screen and talk to me."

Siliu moved a stool and sat behind the screen, Xiqiu entered the water and finally sighed comfortably, asking Siliu: "Did you go to the market today?"

Siliu nodded: "Yes, bought some daily essentials, two mirrors, saved on rouge and powder, bought two bolt of red cloth, and four sets of inner garments; also bought two ancestor boxes... they were heavy, Nanny Song called for a cart to pick them up."

"Nanny Song went too?"

Siliu pouted: "I planned to request Nanny Duan or Nanny Qian, but Nanny Song said instead of calling others, better she accompany me, otherwise having an old maid at home needing to call others, it might be assumed there is discord in the courtyard! I couldn’t argue with her, and her reasoning made sense, so I went with her."

Siliu finally learned to compromise, knowing when to step back, she smiled: "Only bought these? I heard that on Big Sister’s wedding, there were eight ancestor boxes, isn’t two a bit few for you?"

"No need for so many!" Siliu laughed: "Besides, if I run out of ancestor boxes, at the Lai Family would they let me solve things anywhere!"

Xiqiu burst out laughing, the gloom of the day lightened considerably, she laughed and said: "I really wonder how Fugui will endure you in the future!"

Siliu nonchalantly replied: "When I was little, I heard my mother say, living a married life, the most important thing isn’t what you can see, but..." Xiqiu listened curiously, asking from behind the screen: "What’s important?"

"Is... is the little thing between husband and wife."

Xiqiu couldn’t help laughing, never expected Siliu’s mother to have such a modern understanding!

In the evening Xiqiu went again to pay respects to Lady, who asked in detail about Xiao Yanzheng, then in deep thoughts let everyone return to their rooms, letting some servants deliver the ointments and supplements sent by the Grand Dowager to Xiqiu, Chunyan frowningly commented: "I remember the back was loaded with half a cart of things..."

After dinner, Chunyan led the servants to inspect the courtyard, about to lock up, when she saw an unfamiliar servant sneaking up from the gate: "Girl, I wish to see Sixth Miss."

Surprised, Chunyan assumed it was something about Seventh Young Master, she let the servant into the room without asking, Xiqiu stared at her in surprise: "What’s the matter?"

The servant said nothing, surreptitiously pulling out a red lacquered golden box to hand to Chunyan, who refused to take it, frowning: "What lack of propriety, this is the lady’s room, what is such an unidentified and unclean thing, dare to deliver here?!" Could it be another thing sent by the cousin young master?