CHAPTER 347: CHAPTER 349: TOSSING AND TURNING (3)

"Leave it over there." Xiqiu’s gaze fell on the plate of Osmanthus and Furong Cakes, her lips curling into a faintly sardonic smile!

In this household, indeed no one is simple.

Biwu looked at the plate of Osmanthus and Furong Cakes, swallowing her saliva. Seeing her this way, Xiqiu smiled and shook her head: "You can take it to eat!"

"But... it’s for Young Master Xin..." Biwu’s face was filled with reluctance as she smacked her lips!

Bihuai twisted her ear, frowned, and said: "All you think about is eating, you dare to eat anything!"

Biwu looked extremely aggrieved: "If one doesn’t eat, one will starve to death." Then she looked at Xiqiu: "Madam, since Young Master Xin isn’t here, I will send it to Grand Dowager’s side."

"There’s no need. Carrying it back and forth, it will cool down." Xiqiu waved her hand and sat back down at the edge of the kang to cut shoe patterns: "You take it to eat, leaving it there is wasteful."

Upon hearing she could truly eat it, Biwu’s face immediately lit up with a big smile. Happily, she went to grab the plate and ran outside. Bihuai stomped her foot: "Madam, you spoil her too much!" Saying that, she chased out and caught Biwu at the door, frowning, she scolded: "You’re so grown-up, all you do all day is think about eating. Did Second Madam send cakes to be eaten!"

Biwu was full of confusion and asked blankly: "If it’s not for eating, what’s it for?"

Bihuai showed a disappointed face: "It’s Second Madam’s reminder to our Madam, Xing is her son!" Biwu listening to this was astonished, her face falling as she held the plate, suddenly finding it hot to the touch.

"Bihuai, Biwu, what are you doing here? Is Madam not in?" Treasure Bead smiled as she came in from outside the courtyard, saw the two standing at the door speaking, and walked over. Seeing Biwu holding a plate of Furong Cake, her brows raised with a slightly jealous tone: "Is it bestowed by Madam?"

Biwu’s eyes turned, blocking in front of Bihuai, she spoke and giggled, nodding: "Yes, saying you and Sister Ziyang have worked hard, she wants me to give these to you."

Treasure Bead was pleasantly surprised, disbelieving, she asked: "Bestowed to us, what about yours?" Biwu responded with a serious face: "We’ve eaten ours, but you were not here, so we saved this for you." Saying that, she thrust the plate into Treasure Bead’s arms: "Eat while it’s hot, it’s warm!"

"Really?" Treasure Bead was skeptical, glancing at the steady Bihuai, who secretly laughed in her heart but outwardly nodded: "Yes!"

Listening to this, Treasure Bead laughed, cheerfully taking the pastry away.

Biwu rolled her big eyes, looking smugly at Bihuai.

Bihuai chuckled!

Xiqiu cut two pairs of shoe patterns, tidied up, and took Chunliu and Chunyan out of the courtyard. Just as they exited through the Ruyi Gate and went up the side gallery, they saw from a distance Fifth Madam talking to an elder in a gray outfit and round-top hat. Xiqiu approached, Fifth Madam only stopped briefly to greet her, before leading that oddly dressed elder away without looking back.

Chunyan was full of doubt: "What happened to Fifth Madam? Fourth Madam didn’t offend her, why the bitter face?"

Xiqiu also wondered in silence, Fifth Madam clearly seemed angry at her, pondering Xiqiu shook her head: "We just need to manage ourselves!" Saying so, they rounded the corner and left the side gallery.

Grand Dowager was laughing cheerfully listening to Min recite the ’Hundred Family Surnames’, while Xing played nearby. Second Madam sat properly beside Grand Dowager, sipping tea, her gaze on Xing, somewhat ambiguous.

Seeing Xiqiu enter, Min immediately stopped, looking warily at Xiqiu, while Grand Dowager noticed his unusual behavior and turned to the door, saw Xiqiu enter, and smilingly pointed to a stool to nod: "Sit down!"

"Mother!" Xiqiu walked over to salute, then also saluted Second Madam, Second Madam slightly nodded, smiling: "Fourth sister-in-law."

Min called out "Mother" with a fist salute, while Xing stopped his hand from playing with a cotton ball, staring at Xiqiu, reacting differently from before.

She secretly wondered, sitting down on the stool. Grand Dowager said to Min: "Lei He Ni Tang... What follows?"

Min glanced at Xiqiu, lowered his eyes, and continued reciting.

Though seated apart, Second Madam looked at Xiqiu, asking with a smile: "Fourth Brother went out? When will he return?"

"Yes, he left in the morning." Xiqiu replied with a smile, noting her relationship as Prince Rong’s sister, thus intentionally vague, smiling she said: "In the afternoon, Second Sister-in-law sent Furong Cakes over, Xing already returned to Mother, I thought carrying pastries here and there they would cool, so I left them in my room!" Second Madam listened with slight frowning, then heard Xiqiu cover her mouth with a laugh: "I snuck a taste, benefited from Xing’s fortune, it wasn’t too greasy and it was crispy... One day I must try to make it."

Lightly laughing she had a touch of red cheeks, bright-eyed and sincere looking at Second Madam.

Second Madam’s afternoon vigilance and occasional displeasure dissipated, perhaps... she thought too much! Second Madam smiled and nodded: "I’ll have someone send you the recipe." Then seemingly remembering something: "Isn’t there insufficient staff in your courtyard’s small kitchen, how about this, I’ll assign two women from the large kitchen, usually meals are sent from here, but having a small kitchen is convenient for making pastries or midnight snacks!"

"How could I dare." Xiqiu gratefully looked at Second Madam: "Fourth Master and I alone, there’s no need for kitchen staff, to avoid troubling Second Sister-in-law."

Second Madam laughed casually: "No worries, I have been running to the palace these past days, haven’t checked on Fourth Brother’s married courtyard matters closely. Hearing you mention pastries today, I realized I overlooked this!"

Xiqiu blushed and laughed hiding her face: "Then... thank you Second Sister-in-law." Glancing, Xing was slyly watching her.

Second Madam was about to speak, but a stranger elderly woman peeked in, Xiqiu somewhat recognized, likely Nanny Xing from Second Madam’s side. She smiled, saluted Grand Dowager, greeted Xiqiu, and spoke to Second Madam: "Nanny Tian from the Prince Manor came, said she has a matter for you."

Second Madam stood up, looked at Grand Dowager: "Mother, I’ll go and see!"

"Go on!" Grand Dowager waved her hand: "Since Second and Fourth are not here, come for dinner tonight." Second Madam nodded, agreed, and said to Xiqiu: "Fourth sister-in-law, stay a while."

Xiqiu stood to escort Second Madam to the door.

Upon return, Min had already changed to reciting ’Three Character Classic’, at such a young age knowing so much, she couldn’t help but feeling impressed!

Xing ran inside the green gauze cabinet, with nanny calling after him: "Young Master Xin, be careful." Grand Dowager felt uneasy listening, looking around to find Nanny Wu, Xiqiu watched and stood up: "I’ll go have a look!"