CHAPTER 341: CHAPTER 342: TESTING THE WATERS (PART 1)

Madam Xia looked surprised and asked puzzled, "What do you mean by sending off the Eldest Young Madam? What’s wrong with her?" Xiqiu explained the situation in Lady’s room to Madam Xia, who sighed, "... It’s not easy for her either!"

With a rare return, Xiqiu didn’t want to discuss others’ affairs. She accepted the tea brought by Xiuzhi and began to ask about Tong Minzhi, "How many days are the exams in total?"

Madam Xia replied, "They say it’s for two days, and today is the second day!" After a pause, she added, "They say once the exams are over, he’ll come to the Marquis Mansion to find you."

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, "I acquired a good inkstone, perfect to give him when I see him next!" She then asked Madam Xia, "Are you well?"

Madam Xia covered her face with a smile, "What could be wrong with me... but you, how is your husband treating you? Are the people in the Marquis Mansion friendly, and is everything alright?"

Xiqiu only shared the good news, "Everything’s pretty good... You don’t need to worry." Madam Xia still wasn’t entirely assured, "The Second Madam of the Marquis Mansion is the noble-born Commandery Princess Chengning and also Xing’s stepmother. You should be polite when dealing with her, just live peacefully, and listen more to the Fourth Son-in-law, understand?"

Xiqiu smiled and murmured with a nod.

After speaking with Madam Xia, a person from Madam Jiang had already come to invite Xiqiu. After bidding farewell to Madam Xia, she returned to the front courtyard where Fourth Master Xiao and the First Master were conversing in the hallway, "Though the Hanlin Academy position is minor, it holds significant authority, and it’s a place of noble stature. Wenxian has always been steady, and his future official career is boundless."

The First Master wore a pleased expression, resembling more and more a private school teacher with his composed demeanor.

Xiqiu approached and greeted the First Master, who smiled and said to her, "Follow Fourth Master back. Serve your mother-in-law well and do not act willfully. Remember this, my daughter?!" Xiqiu lowered her head and replied, "I remember, Father."

The First Master nodded, "Then I’m relieved as your father."

Xiqiu was startled by his words, as if he was explaining something and asked with surprise, "Are you returning to Yongzhou, Father?" Did the matters for staying in the Capital remain unresolved?

The First Master nodded slightly with a broad smile, "My term isn’t over yet; as your father, I need to return to handle the transfer matters, and I’ll come back to the Capital in spring."

So, it’s resolved? Xiqiu showed a pleased smile.

Soon, the Second Lady came with Tong Xiyan, Tong Xiyang, and Tong Xiyu, while Tong Shen Zhi, Jiang Shilin, and Ren Jun emerged from inside. At the doorway, the group bid farewell. Jiang Shilin and Tong Xiyan, Ren Jun and Tong Xiyang all had to return to their residences... After bidding goodbye in Lady’s room and taking leave from the First Master, Xiqiu turned to ask Nanny Qian, "How is my sister-in-law?"

Nanny Qian lowered her voice to reply, "Madam didn’t take her medicine at noon, and she’s currently in the kitchen brewing it!"

Xiqiu nodded, and Tong Xiyan came over to say goodbye, "Visit Jiang Mansion when you’re free, or if it’s difficult, just write to me. We used to be together every day, and now I’m not quite used to being alone."

The days at Jiang Mansion aren’t easy either; Jiang Shilin has a sixty-year-old mother at home!

"Okay!" Xiqiu walked hand in hand with Tong Xiyan behind Fourth Master Xiao and Tong Shen Zhi, while Ren Jun and Jiang Shilin walked side by side, engaged in conversation, unintentionally leaving Tong Xiyang alone, cautiously supported by the maids as he walked behind.

By the time Xiqiu returned to the Xuanning Marquis Mansion at the South Arch, it was nearly dark. Just as she sat down and had a cup of tea, Chunyan came in to report, "Madam, the Fifth Madam has arrived!"

Xiqiu glanced at the time; in winter, it gets dark early, and it was only 5 p.m.

She wondered why the Fifth Madam had come to find her, so supported by Chunyan, she came out of her room to see the Fifth Madam standing in the main hall with a smiling face, "Fourth Sister-in-law, coming this late didn’t disturb you, did it?"

"Of course not." Xiqiu replied with a smile, her face full of warmth, "I’m so happy you came, please have a seat!" She turned to Chunyan, "Please go brew some tea for the Fifth Madam!"

Xiqiu spoke while guiding the Fifth Madam to a chair and seated herself at her right. The Fifth Madam was wearing a peach-colored narrow-sleeved jacket with a diagonal collar and a honey-colored gauze skirt embroidered with large lotuses. Her lively and alluring appearance prompted Xiqiu to say, "The night is chilly; if you need anything, just let someone know without coming yourself. You might catch a cold, and that wouldn’t be good."

The Fifth Madam was in the midst of receiving the tea placed on the table by Chunyan. Her eyes flickered quickly as she listened, and she replied with a smile, "We haven’t had a private chat since you joined the family. Seeing you return today and with Fourth Brother away, I thought I’d come for a visit." As she spoke, she looked around the room, taking in the Eight Immortals’ "Crossing the Sea for Longevity" painting, the usual porcelain and jade carvings on the two treasure cabinets, and the eight-panel chicken-wing wood screen with a mundane peony design. The redwood furniture was luxurious, yet both outdated and somewhat drab, lacking personality.

Thinking this, she sneered internally and glanced at Xiqiu’s attire, noticing her plain and slightly worn-out lotus-colored overcoat with a mutton fat jade hairpin in her falling-horse bun. It seemed so bare... Even while still newlywed, she dressed so simply.

She thought of Fourth Master Xiao’s character, cold and distant, always responding to people with a frosty demeanor; he must be difficult to get along with?!

With this thought, the Fifth Madam looked at Xiqiu with a trace of pity, "Being married must be tiring. I see fatigue written all over you, Fourth Sister-in-law."

What exactly did she want to convey?

Xiqiu replied with a smile, "Not tiring, I mostly sit in the carriage coming and going... It’s you all who are tired because of our wedding, so busy all around..."

The Fifth Madam laughed, covering her mouth and waving her hand, "Fourth Sister-in-law is too polite. We’re all family. Seeing Fourth Brother getting married fulfills a major wish of our mother’s, and we’re genuinely happy. Even the busyness is a joy," she said, affectionately across the table to Xiqiu, "Besides, it’s you Fourth Brother married, and I’m thrilled about it."

"Hear what you’re saying, Younger Sister-in-law." Xiqiu raised an eyebrow slightly and pushed a plate of candied fruits in front of her with a smile, "Try these, brought over from home today, they’re quite nice. If you like them, I’ll have someone pack some for you to take with you."

The Fifth Madam wrapped her hand in a handkerchief, picked a piece, and placed it in her mouth, squinting her eyes, "It’s really nice, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it is." She seemed genuinely curious and took another small bite.

Xiqiu smiled and said, "It’s bayberry, dried in the summer and brought from Suzhou. I find them refreshing as well." The Fifth Madam showed a look of realization.

"Sister-in-law, have some tea!" Xiqiu, noting that the Fifth Madam didn’t state her purpose, assumed she was simply visiting. Considering that Fourth Master Xiao should return from the study soon.

Indeed, after having a sip of tea, the Fifth Madam proceeded to the main topic, "This tea is nice, so light and refreshing," she said, pausing, "But on regular days, I love adding some floral tea to my cup. The combined flavors of green tea’s bitterness and floral tea’s fragrance make it quite extraordinary."