CHAPTER 365: CHAPTER 367: BESTOWAL OF A LADY’S TITLE (3)

After she finished speaking, her gaze softened as she looked at the child in the nursemaid’s arms, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Fourth Master Xiao, seeing Xiqiu, looked her up and down, then asked, "Are you alright?" Xiqiu shook her head and replied, "Madam Shen took the child and chatted with the Empress for quite a while!"

Fourth Master Xiao showed a thoughtful expression. The two of them got onto the carriage, and Xiqiu asked Fourth Master Xiao, "Master Si, has the Princely Heir Shen’s legitimate son been ennobled?"

"Yes!" Fourth Master Xiao nodded, saying, "Ennobled as Count Cheng’en, delivered with your decree from the palace this morning."

Xiqiu listened and remained silent. Fourth Master Xiao looked at her, then wrapped his arm around her waist, asking, "What are you thinking about?" Xiqiu lifted her hand to adjust the heavy pearl crown on her head, revealing a puzzled expression: "I’m just wondering if there’s any precedent in our dynasty where the son was ennobled before the father."

Fourth Master Xiao smirked and then laughed, raising his hand to scratch Xiqiu’s nose: "There’s always someone setting a new precedent!"

Xiqiu agreed with that, acknowledging the rationale, and sighed, "The Emperor indeed showers the Empress with endless favor!" Bearing the same surname Shen, she thought of the late Empress and how the Shen Family, who had spearheaded the Second Prince’s bid for the throne, ended up being sacrificed in the torrent of history, whereas Count Dongchang’s Shen Family, taking up the baton from the maternal family, met a completely different fate!

People always see the smiles of newcomers and never remember the tears of the past!

"Are you thinking about the late Empress?" Unexpectedly, Fourth Master Xiao spoke softly.

Xiqiu was taken aback; it was already the third time Fourth Master Xiao guessed what she was thinking before she spoke. Xiqiu looked up at him, nodded, and said, "Just lamenting that those with the same surname can meet different fates!"

Is she lamenting her own fate or the fate of the two Shen Empresses?

Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze flickered slightly, and he tightened his embrace around Xiqiu, trying to move her onto his lap. Xiqiu pushed him away, her face blushing: "I’m wearing a pearl crown."

Fourth Master Xiao frowned, glancing at the heavy pearl crown atop Xiqiu’s head, his lips moved but did not insist further. Xiqiu smiled, looking up at Fourth Master Xiao: "I haven’t thanked you, Master Si." Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you, Master Si, for requesting the imperial decree for me." A smile appeared in Xiqiu’s eyes; her face, lightly dusted with powder, hid some of her usual liveliness, and he nodded his head in satisfaction, stretching his face to Xiqiu’s opposite and teasing with his lips: "So, have you thought about how to thank me?"

Xiqiu blushed, but tried to stay composed and asked, "How does Master Si want me to thank you?" Fourth Master Xiao thought of his wardrobe, neatly arranged, clothes laid out on the bed in the morning, and he whispered in Xiqiu’s ear, smiling: "Use yourself to thank me!"

"Master Si!" Xiqiu’s cheeks flushed: "We’re in a carriage, and everyone can hear us."

Fourth Master Xiao burst into hearty laughter, his laughter filled with fondness and joy...

When they arrived at the Marquis Mansion to greet the Grand Dowager, Fourth Master Xiao went to the outer study, and Xiqiu returned to her room first. She changed into her Xia Pi, Chunyan smilingly received it, carefully ironing it and hanging it to air, planning to put it away carefully in the evening.

Xiqiu looked at Chunyan and said, "Don’t you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Why don’t you rest another day?" Chunyan had been resting for two days; she had instructed the maids and old women in the courtyard not to mention anything about that day.

So Chunyan still didn’t know what had happened that day.

"I’m fine." Chunyan smiled, sitting at Xiqiu’s feet, wanting to massage her legs: "I’ve rested for two days already. If I rest any longer, I might get lazy."

Xiqiu pulled her up, looked at Chunyan’s delicate eyebrows, and said with a smile: "For now, let Ziyang and Treasure Bead handle the errands. You can stay by my side, chat with me, and manage the household affairs."

Biwu, tidying the table on the side, turned and smiled: "I can do errands too!"

Chunyan’s face showed a moment of surprise, then she smiled and nodded: "Alright, I’ll do as Madam says." Then, jokingly said to Biwu: "You said it, you’ll be running errands in the future!"

Biwu eagerly nodded: "Sure, just instruct me."

At this moment, Chunliu entered, holding a tray with several golden oranges, smiling as she spoke: "While you weren’t present, Sister Ziwei from the Grand Dowager’s place sent this, saying it was delivered from Yingtian on a fast horse to the Capital." She then brought it to Xiqiu: "Miss, look, the leaves are still on them."

The entourage of First Young Madam Hua from Yingtian had already returned yesterday morning.

Biwu craned her neck, smacking her lips and said: "Oh my, such small oranges, I’ve never seen these before." Chunliu tapped her forehead, jokingly scolding: "Look at you, such a glutton! These are rare things, if you’ve seen them before, that would be quite something."

Biwu pouted, looking at the golden oranges, her eyes almost turning green.

Xiqiu looked at the plate of petite golden oranges, which indeed had green leaves attached, and she smiled: "How many did they send?" Chunliu answered: "Half a crate, the rest I’ve saved."

"Send half back to the concubine and the Eldest Young Madam, and keep the rest for yourselves." Chunliu listened, delighted: "Alright, I’ll deliver them this afternoon and also bring the good news to the concubine; she’ll be very pleased."

She was referring to the good news of Xiqiu being granted the Second-Grade Imperial Decree.

Xiqiu didn’t object, adding, "Also, see if Third Young Master is around, if he is, ask him to visit the mansion." Chunliu was taken aback and asked: "Does Madam have something for Third Young Master?"

"Yes." She also took out an inkstone that Chunyan had wrapped up earlier: "Take this to Seventh Young Master and ask what he’s been up to these past days." He mentioned visiting after his exams, but several days had passed without seeing him.

Chunliu took the items and responded: "I understand."

Biwan came in with two older women carrying meal boxes, asking: "Madam, where should the meal be served?"

"Go to the outer courtyard and ask where Fourth Master will dine." Biwan nodded and left the meal boxes, then went out. After a short while, she returned, saying: "The outer courtyard said Fourth Master isn’t at the mansion; they said the Princely Heir Shen came, and he and Fourth Master went out together."

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, calculating that the Princely Heir Shen should have come directly from the Imperial Palace to the Marquis Mansion, shouldn’t he?!

"Then let’s eat by ourselves." Xiqiu instructed them to serve the meal, and after dining in the side room, she and Chunyan sat facing each other for a while, embroidering. Just as they were about to take a nap, Fourth Master Xiao returned.

A faint scent of alcohol wafted from him, his steps unsteady as he walked. Xiqiu went to support him: "Master Si, have you been drinking?"

"Yes." As Xiqiu was unbuttoning his clothes, Fourth Master Xiao naturally embraced her, leaning half of his body onto her...

The alcohol-tinged breath whispered in her ear, Xiqiu teased, "I’m helping you undress now." Seeing Chunyan and Biwan still at the door, Xiqiu’s face instantly flushed, trying to push away Fourth Master Xiao: "Master Si, let me help you wash your face."