CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: AT EASE IN EVERY SITUATION

But she knew, what the young lady wanted was not just these!

She thought about the changes in their status within the mansion over the past five years, and put away her playful smile, looking seriously at Xiqiu...

As long as the young lady made a decision, it would not be wrong!

On the second day of the second month, Xiqiu wore a pale green lotus-patterned overcoat with a simple moon-white embroidered skirt, which was eye-catching yet understated.

Sixing smiled as she held a makeup box, picked out a red gold with green jade hairpin after much consideration: "Why not wear this, young lady, it’s both elegant and festive."

Xiqiu held her hand and put the hairpin back in the box: "With so many people and so many things happening today, it’s better to wear something light, lest it gets lost and becomes unattractive!"

Sixing, unwilling to give up, continued to persuade: "Precisely because it’s today, young lady should dress more presentably..." Xiqiu waved her hand and interrupted her: "It’s not my birthday, why go to great lengths." Saying so, she picked up a jade plum blossom hairpin and put it on.

She straightened her clothes and walked out the door.

Entering Zhui Garden, Xiqiu’s eyes lit up, Third Miss Tong Xiyang was gentle and beautiful, Fourth Miss Tong Xiyan graceful and splendid, and Eighth Miss Tong Xiyu elegantly poised. If Eleventh Miss from the second household weren’t absent due to illness, it would truly be a gathering of beauties in a splendid scene.

Lady was sitting on the kang, beside her sat the Second Lady of Tong Mansion, Madam Yan. She had dimples at the corners of her mouth when she smiled, and if you didn’t know her age, she could easily be mistaken for eighteen or nineteen.

"Quickly, see where the Eldest Young Master is." Lady, dressed in a red robe with an endless pattern, appeared spirited and energetic. She held Second Lady’s hand: "It’s a coincidence, he has a day off today!"

Second Lady laughed, her dimples sweet: "Last night, Second Master mentioned him, saying Scholar Liu from Hanlin Academy praised him without end, and he gets along well with colleagues."

Lady was even more delighted, the Eldest Young Master had always been her pride. To join the cabinet and have her title officially recognized wasn’t unthinkable!

Soon, a maid stood outside the door reporting: "Second Master is in the study speaking with the Eldest Young Master, Cousin Young Master, Third Young Master, and Seventh Young Master. They plan to dine in the outer courtyard and won’t come in to join us."

Second Lady, fearing Lady might think the Second Master was being inconsiderate by keeping the Eldest Young Master during Fourth Miss’s birthday, added: "Things at the court aren’t very stable recently, and the situation in Fujian is also unsettling."

Second Master serves as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and his high regard for the Eldest Young Master was something she couldn’t be happier about, she laughed: "Then let us ladies enjoy the meal ourselves." Then she instructed Nanny Fang: "Serve the longevity noodles."

Longevity noodles were placed on a redwood round table with a magpie-and-plum design in the west side room, everyone seated according to hierarchy, Lady presented a red lacquered phoenix box to Tong Xiyan, with slightly moist eye corners, she sighed: "In the blink of an eye, you’re already thirteen."

Tong Xiyan also had moist eyes, respectfully kowtowing to Lady: "Thank you, Mother!" Then she personally opened the box, inside was a bracelet of verdant jade, appearing as though water flowed through it, clearly a valuable inheritance!

Second Lady also had a box, seeming even more precious than Lady’s: "This is a gift from your Second Aunt, wishing our Fourth Miss good health and a lifetime of happiness!"

Tong Xiyan rose again to receive it, kowtowing once more.

Lady’s smile overflowed from her eyes, the gift from Second Lady was a set of Dobao Pavilion’s golden headpieces, roughly estimated to weigh six or seven taels, considering Second Lady’s status and that it was a minor birthday, such a gift was very generous.

Nanny Fang then presented a pair of red gemstone earrings left by the concubine to Tong Xiyan. The eldest young lady sent a maid with a set of Flower Smoke Purple Double Gold Robe, a pearl-studded pink gauze skirt, and a box of jewelry along with various medicinal items and knick-knacks...

Third Miss Tong Xiyang sneered, staring at the shimmering boxes. These things were only valued by the shallow-eyed; what the concubine brought home yesterday, now that was truly precious!

With a cold laugh in her heart, she stood up smiling, presenting her prepared gift, a painting of the Longevity Star, well crafted, and nicely mounted.

Lady subtly frowned, it was just her painting, did she truly think it was a masterpiece?!

Sixth Miss Xiqiu presented a screen, a foot wide and about three feet high, not yet mounted on a base frame, holding it in hand was enough to make Lady’s eyes brighten, on a snowy white background, a single red plum blossom bloomed, defying the chill with spring-like vitality!

Tong Xiyan, captivated, could not let go: "This must have taken a lot of effort..."

Second Lady, marveling at the screen, said: "I hadn’t noticed how skilled Sixth Girl’s embroidery has become, it looks so real, I’ll have a chicken-wing wood frame and base added, so when our Fourth Miss marries, it will be a suitable part of her dowry."

Lady intentionally glanced at Tong Xiyang and smiled: "Sixth Girl is indeed thoughtful, preparing something that took such effort, surely started long ago."

Xiqiu lowered her head, stood, and gave a courtesy: "I don’t dare to accept Mother and Second Aunt’s praises. I am slow-witted, unable to match Third Sister and Fourth Sister in literature, nor Eighth Sister in culinary or musical skills, so I focus more on embroidery, though it still isn’t presentable."

Second Lady, being the youngest at home and doted on by everyone, had few concerns, she laughed: "What are you saying, a woman’s virtue lies not in talent, those things like music and calligraphy are merely decorative, only embroidery is truly practical, and I’m the best example!"

With one sentence, the expressions of the young ladies present changed, the atmosphere turning quite awkward.

At that moment, the curtain lifted, Tong Xiyu led Zijuan and a few others in, she lowered her head shyly saying: "This little sister knows nothing, only..." gesturing for Zijuan and the others to place the plates on the table: "only made some simple efforts, I hope Fourth Sister won’t mind."

The blue and white porcelain lids were lifted, revealing three plates of birthday peaches, plump and rosy, dotted with red yeast, exceedingly cute.

Tong Xiyan naturally had no complaints, smiling her thanks.

After eating the longevity noodles, and playing a few rounds of leaf cards, by noon Xiqiu, along with a few young ladies, bid farewell to Lady and Second Lady, heading excitedly to Zhiqu Courtyard.

On the way, Tong Xiyang frequently glanced eastwards, seemingly unintentionally reminding: "We’re heading there first, has anyone been sent to invite Big Brother and Seventh Brother’s side?"

With the concubine gone, if only Eldest Young Master and Seventh Young Master were invited, slighting Xu Tianqing, it would seem like Tong Mansion was being petty.

Xiqiu smiled at her: "Someone has been sent to invite them, Third Sister, do you want to take a look?"

Tong Xiyang unusually refrained from sarcastic remarks: "With so many maids, there’s no need for me to go personally. Since Sixth Sister has sent someone, we shall wait."

Tong Xiyan’s eyes carried an undertone of mockery, yet she smiled as she held Xiqiu’s arm: "I have a pair of palace lanterns, sent by Big Sister the year before, they light particularly well, but I already have one, keeping it would be unnecessary, so I’ll have it sent over to you, it would help with embroidering at night."

Xiqiu covered her mouth laughing: "Then I’ll say thank you in advance!" The two exchanged a smile, their atmosphere harmonious.