CHAPTER 318: CHAPTER 318: COMING OF AGE (2)

Even if Lady doesn’t do anything, she cannot have such an attitude!

The thought flashed by, and Madam Jiang dared not say more. She lowered her head and replied, "Your daughter-in-law will remember. The furniture in the new room has been made, the rest of the dowry is ready, and Fourth Sister from the second house has been visited several times. The affairs of the estate, both big and small, are clear. According to your wishes, Dai Juan was left behind, and Dai Ju and Dai He went away, along with two newly purchased little maidservants, Xinlan, Xinqing, and two servants..." She paused, then continued, "Only the nanny accompanying them hasn’t been decided yet."

Lady furrowed her brows, revealing a thoughtful expression. Madam Jiang glanced at Lady and whispered, "Fourth Miss wishes to bring back original Nanny Duan..." Tong Xiyan had always been thinking about the matter of Nanny Duan returning, and if she could bring Nanny Duan back, it would be the best.

For now, Lady had no choice for a nanny, so Nanny Fang said, "Regarding the nanny accompanying them, let the lady think over it for a few days before responding to the Eldest Young Madam."

Madam Jiang obediently nodded her head.

Madam Jiang left Lady and, after exiting, went to First Master’s room. After coming out of First Master’s study, she went directly to the outer courtyard to find Second Lady and discussed with her. There was an official decision for Eleventh Miss to take charge, and the praiser was chosen as Madam Jiang herself together with Tong Xiyan. As for the hairpins, First Master said he would entrust someone to custom-make them at Brocade Pavilion.

Having discussed with Second Lady, Madam Jiang returned to Xiqiu’s room to briefly inform her of the arrangements: "The hairpin, the hairpins, the hairpin, Father said they were custom-made at Brocade Pavilion and will be delivered to the mansion in a few days." She paused and continued, "Does Sixth Sister have any objections to this arrangement?!"

Xiqiu shook her head: "I will follow Sister-in-law’s arrangements." She didn’t care about such things. Whether she celebrated her birthday or not, she would turn one year older with or without a coming-of-age ceremony. To her, it was just a formality!

Moreover, in Great Zhou, holding a coming-of-age ceremony for girls didn’t have to wait until adulthood. If one was engaged at a young age, the ceremony could be held in advance, often as a hint or symbol, letting the world know that our family has a grown-up daughter. If not yet engaged, matchmakers might come forward to propose.

But what does it mean for her... She couldn’t help but think of Fourth Master Xiao.

Who knows if those warriors found the person? They have been trapped on the steppe for such a long time. What do so many people eat, drink, and how do they rest? Have they even succeeded in capturing Dai Qin alive?!

Madam Jiang said this, and she saw Xiqiu’s gaze slowly drift as she stared blankly out the window. She couldn’t help but follow Xiqiu’s gaze outside, where there was nothing but mismatched bamboo heights.

How can Sixth Sister be staring so seriously!

"Miss." Chunyan awkwardly pulled Xiqiu’s sleeve, and Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, turned her head to look at Madam Jiang, and smiled, "I indeed have something I wish to discuss with Big Sister."

Madam Jiang was taken aback and, seeing Xiqiu’s expression return to normal, smiled and nodded, "What is it? Sixth Sister, speak your mind."

Xiqiu then turned around and took out an ebony double-button box from under her pillow. She opened the box, revealing a mutton fat jade hairpin: "Why not use this hairpin for the coming-of-age ceremony?"

Madam Jiang was stunned. The jade of this hairpin was fine, but it was too simple... The hairpin and hairpin were best paired for good fortune.

Chunyan was also stunned. Whose gift was this hairpin? Miss had been keeping it close by recently and often stared at it in a daze. Now, using this hairpin for the coming-of-age ceremony, she grew more curious about who the man by the Lotus Pool that night was!

Over here, Madam Jiang pondered for a moment and decided to nod, "I will speak to Father. If Father has no other intentions, how about using this one as Sixth Sister prefers?"

Madam Jiang was in a difficult position; many things she couldn’t decide on her own. Xiqiu understood this and nodded, "Thank you, Big Sister."

Madam Jiang smiled and said nothing more.

After two more days, Shen Mansion received a reply, saying that the warriors had discovered Great Zhou’s warhorses dead by the roadside in the steppe, and there were still no other clues... A hundred of them split into three paths, continuing into the steppe, and Huang Da sent scouts to investigate, yet news of Dai Qin remained elusive.

It’s said Consort Chen cried bitterly in the palace. Shen Ji was her only brother and the future of the Shen Family; should something truly happen to him, how would the Shen Family’s glory help them? Only for just decades!

When Xiqiu heard the warhorses had died by the roadside, she was secretly shocked. Being in the steppe, it was unlikely the horses starved to death; they might have died from exhaustion. More likely, Xiqiu believed they must have run out of food and killed the horses to eat...

With no food left, why don’t they think of returning? Xiqiu helplessly shook her head and continued to weave knots, when Biwu walked in with a smile: "Sixth Miss, Second Miss Xiao from the Marquis Mansion has arrived."

Xiao Yanzheng has come, Xiqiu was shocked when she heard. The Grand Dowager rarely let her out, so she didn’t expect her to come to Tong Mansion.

Xiqiu went to the second gate to meet Xiao Yanzheng, who was just escorted down the carriage by a servant. As soon as she saw Xiqiu, her eyes turned red: "Xiqiu," she said, her voice choked, "Fourth Brother he..."

This is not the place to talk, Xiqiu held her hand and wiped her tears, saying, "Let’s talk over at my place." Xiao Yanzheng quickly held back her tears and walked side by side with Xiqiu to Zhiqu Courtyard, where they coincidentally met Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan, who heard the news. Madam Jiang said, "Second Miss Xiao has arrived."

Xiao Yanzheng looked at Xiqiu, and Xiqiu introduced, "This is my Big Sister."

"Big Sister." Xiao Yanzheng followed Xiqiu’s call and bowed slightly, and Madam Jiang sidestepped with a smile, "There’s no need to be formal among family. Second Miss Xiao must be tired from the journey, please sit for a while in Sixth Sister’s room. I’ll go to the kitchen and see what Second Miss might like to eat."

Xiao Yanzheng hastily raised her hand, "There’s no need, Big Sister. I’ll sit for a moment and be on my way!" Over here, Tong Xiyan heard and interjected, "You just arrived, why hurry to leave?" Saying this, she turned her face to speak to Madam Jiang: "I’ll accompany Big Sister to the kitchen. I know what Second Miss Xiao likes to eat."

Xiao Yanzheng showed a slightly embarrassed expression, and Xiqiu thought about it and smiled, "Then I trouble Big Sister and Fourth Sister." After speaking, the four of them parted ways on the path, Xiqiu and Xiao Yanzheng headed to Zhiqu Courtyard, while Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan went to the kitchen.

Entering Zhiqu Courtyard, Xiqiu offered Xiao Yanzheng a seat, and Xiao Yanzheng took the tea and said, "I heard you’re holding a coming-of-age ceremony on the eighth?"

Xiqiu was dumbfounded. Only those within Tong Mansion knew about this, yet now Xiao Yanzheng knew. As if sensing Xiqiu’s question, Xiao Yanzheng smiled with narrowed eyes and said, "It was Fourth Brother, he wrote to me post-New Year telling me about it."

"Your Fourth Brother told you?" Xiqiu was secretly startled, and Xiao Yanzheng smiled and said, "Yes, he said I should prepare a gift for the ceremony... I have never seen Fourth Brother care about anything like this before." She held Xiqiu’s hand and said, "Even when it comes to marriage..." She paused, and her face turned somber.