CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 306: ELDEST SISTER-IN-LAW (1)

In the room, Madam Xia was speaking with Dongqing, "Was it his servant who came to take the items?"

"Yes, when I went out, the person was already outside and didn’t say much. After handing over the items, I came back in," Dongqing paused and added, "Madam, the Sixth Miss won’t find out, right?"

Madam Xia waved her hand and said, "If we don’t speak of it, how would the Sixth Miss know?" She sighed, "In such hot weather, traveling on the road, who knows if they’ll stop to rest and avoid the heat for a while!"

Dongqing covered her mouth and laughed, and Madam Xia glared at her, "What are you laughing at?"

"Madam makes me think of how my mother looked when my eldest sister got married," Madam Xia was taken aback, laughing as she asked, "What was she like?"

"A mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, the more she looks, the more she loves!"

Madam Xia blushed and couldn’t help but laugh, sighing, "I only want him to treat the Sixth Miss a bit better. I initially thought of him as a frivolous young master, but who would’ve thought he’d be so considerate, sending ice for fear that the Sixth Miss is hot, sending fans, and also bringing so much fabric..." Her heart finally felt at ease, hoping he truly could be entrusted with a lifetime, and that the Sixth Miss would be happy; then she could be content.

Dongqing nodded in agreement, "I’ve heard that when the Marquis was still the eldest son-in-law, his relationship with the eldest miss was excellent, but he didn’t do such attentive things. Our Sixth Miss is truly blessed."

Madam Xia pinched Dongqing’s nose, laughing as she said, "You little thing, and you understand these things!" Dongqing pouted, "Why wouldn’t I understand? I wish I could go out and tell everyone that the Great Governor feared the Miss’s dowry silver was tight, and quietly brought over ten thousand taels... there isn’t anyone in Great Zhou like our young master!"

Madam Xia’s brows and eyes were full of smiles. She was startled when she received the silver note; Fourth Master Xiao said nothing, just had someone bring it over at night, saying it was for preparing the dowry. She had her eye on a redwood and chicken-wing wood inlaid screen, but secretly lamented the lack of silver. She wished she could get the best things for the Sixth Miss, but even adding what the First Master left to hers, it was only six thousand taels. It was enough for the dowry, but not enough to get the best of everything.

This ten thousand taels was like timely rain, but she dared not use it. She sent a nanny to ask Fourth Master Xiao, who simply said, "If it’s not enough, I’ll send more in a couple of days!" The nanny sent was so shocked she couldn’t speak.

The next day, indeed, another ten thousand taels was sent.

With such a young master! Any ill impressions Madam Xia had of Fourth Master Xiao were completely replaced by satisfaction!

Xiqiu listened expressionlessly, and after a long time said nothing, suddenly turned to leave the courtyard. Chunyan and Chunliu saw her face was troubled and cautiously asked, "Miss, you’ve come all this way, why not go in and sit for a while?"

Xiqiu didn’t speak, went into the room without lighting the lamp, and silently sat in the room for half the night. Chunyan and Chunliu were worried all night; when dawn finally broke, there was movement in the room. Chunliu immediately fetched water and went in, seeing Xiqiu leaning against the bed with her eyes closed, resting. Chunliu whispered, "Miss, would you like to get up now?"

Xiqiu opened her eyes, with a hint of bloodshot, she smiled at Chunliu, "No rush, you can put the water there. Go find me those few pieces of Hangzhou silk, and get two pieces of black cotton brocade too!" Chunyan and Chunliu were puzzled, "Does Miss want new inner garments? Let us make them for you!"

Xiqiu waved her hand, "No need, I’ll do it myself." Saying this, she turned into the room to draw embroidery patterns on shoe surfaces, Chunyan and Chunliu secretly wondered, Madam Xia was making clothes for others, why was Miss suddenly in the mood for this as well?

Xiqiu didn’t leave the house for several days, made two sets of inner garments, and two straight jackets and put them away, made four pairs of black layered soles embroidered with ripple-patterned round mouth shoes. By the time all these were done, half the summer had passed.

No good news from Liaodong, Xiqiu sighed and rushed to make a jiaao and a fur coat.

She wrote a letter to Xiao Yanzheng, who immediately replied, saying the Marquis Mansion could send it via the Ministry of War postal route. It would take no more than half a month to reach Liaodong, but it would probably need to be handed off to the Marquis to send. Xiqiu thought for a while, packed the finished shoes and stockings, called Siliu in, and sent her to the Marquis Mansion to personally hand them to Xiao Yanzheng.

When Xiao Yanzheng received the package of clothes and shoes, he was all smiles, eagerly went to the Grand Dowager’s side, "Mother, look what this is!" The Grand Dowager, lying on the eight-step bed enjoying a nap, was groggily fanned by Nanny Wu. Hearing Xiao Yanzheng’s voice, she opened her eyes, "What is it, making such a fuss?"

Xiao Yanzheng placed the bundle beside the Grand Dowager’s arm, opened it for her, "Look at these clothes and shoes, guess who made them?"

The Grand Dowager’s eyes swept over the clothes and shoes. The clothes’ lines were soft and looked well-fitting, and the shoes were exquisite, with stitches dense despite one less layer of fabric. Her eyebrows raised slightly, "Who made them?"

Xiao Yanzheng leaned in close to the Grand Dowager, smiling, "It’s Xiqiu, made for Fourth Brother, asked me to get Second Brother to send them to Liaodong via the Ministry of War postal route."

The Grand Dowager’s eyes squinted slightly, looking at Xiao Yanzheng, "Did she really say that?" Xiao Yanzheng nodded eagerly, "Everything’s here, how could it be false?"

The Grand Dowager exchanged a look with Nanny Wu, who smiled as she took out the shoes, praised, "The Sixth Miss’s craftsmanship is truly impeccable, even skilled embroideresses might not compare." She then looked at the Grand Dowager, "Why not send it along with the things you have to send, don’t let the Second Miss do it!"

Xiao Yanzheng’s eyes twinkled, brightly smiled, nodding, "I was worried Second Brother would find me meddlesome, and who made these things suspicious, if you send it, it would be even better." Saying this, he hooked the Grand Dowager’s arm, laughing, "I’ll thank mother on behalf of future Fourth Sister-in-law!"

The Grand Dowager chuckled, "You little rascal, your face is red from the heat. Though it’s autumn, it’s still hot, why not go rest quickly." Xiao Yanzheng laughed gleefully as he got up, "Then I’ll go now, mother please do arrange it."

The Grand Dowager nodded slightly, exchanging a glance with Nanny Wu, whose smile carried a hint of ambiguity, "The Sixth Miss is truly thoughtful."

The Grand Dowager’s gaze was dark and murky, resting on the pile of clothes, her voice heavy, "I hope so! Later, take these things to the outer courtyard, give them to Housekeeper Hu, let him handle it, don’t bother Yanyi!"

Nanny Wu began to laugh, nodding, "While Housekeeper Hu hasn’t gone home for dinner, I’ll take it now." Saying this, she happily carried the bundle out the door.