CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: COUNTERATTACK (7)

Lady, Third Miss, Madam Wang, Madam Mei, and even herself, Sixth Miss did not miss calculating anyone, she understood each of their temperaments this thoroughly!

She couldn’t help but think of Madam Xia’s sudden trip to the temple. She originally thought that Madam Xia went to worship Buddha, but now she realized it was just Sixth Miss arranging for her to avoid trouble!

A series of moves, without a single flaw!

"What a pity!" Madam Luo shook her head; if such a clever child were born to Lady, how could she live such a diligent and scheming life, she ought to be as carefree as Fourth Miss, waiting for her mother to arrange everything appropriately, and someday meet a good husband to spend her life happily.

Sujin looked confused: "What a pity?" She poured another cup of tea for Madam Luo and probed, "Aunt, shouldn’t we do nothing and wait for Lady to handle it?"

Madam Luo chuckled, "Of course, we must act! Not only that, we also need to deliver it ourselves."

The Tong Mansion was in chaos, but the Zhiqu Courtyard was calm and tranquil.

Xiqiu sat on the kang, drawing patterns, Siliu sat beside her drying the finished ones, after a while, Siliu couldn’t hold back and asked, "Miss, what do you think really happened to Madam Wang’s child?"

Xiqiu kept her head down, a vivid azalea blooming under her hands, her face calm, and said, "Didn’t Lady say that she caught a cold at night, had diarrhea, and slipped in the restroom?"

"I don’t believe it." This explanation clearly did not satisfy Siliu’s curiosity: "Madam Wang treasures her own safety, how could she catch a cold?"

Xiqiu smiled without saying a word. Ultimately, what truly happened is not for them to decide, nor for Lady to decide. When it comes to the Tong Mansion’s lineage, it depends on whom the First Master believes.

Some matters, even if you wish to remain uninvolved, depend on whether others are willing to give you that chance.

As they were talking, Nanny Fang walked in with a smile, her gaze fell on the table of patterns: "Sixth Miss is drawing patterns." She picked up one and praised, "This is drawn so realistically. In this entire mansion, Sixth Miss’s hands are the deftest."

Xiqiu stood up and curtsied to greet Nanny Fang, offering her the seat of honor. Nanny Fang refused, saying, "I cannot sit, Lady Wang’s side is in disarray, and Lady wants me to go to Eldest Aunt’s place, I’m about to set off."

Xiqiu smiled and instructed Siliu to pour tea, while she sat on a rosewood chair opposite Nanny Fang, showing a look of regret on her face: "I also heard about Madam Wang’s matter, what a pity!"

This was no secret. It wasn’t strange for Sixth Miss to know, and Nanny Fang didn’t mind, agreeing: "Yes indeed, such a young master is gone just like that!" Yet her words lacked any true regret.

Xiqiu lowered her face, not responding.

Nanny Fang suddenly laughed, patting her forehead, "My, I’m getting old, look at my memory! I came to ask Sixth Miss for help."

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and seriously looked at Nanny Fang: "Tell me whatever you need, Nanny." Her tone was solemn, as if she valued her greatly.

Nanny Fang returned Xiqiu’s gaze, feeling much more at ease, her earlier wariness relaxed. Her eyes shifted, looking troubled, "This morning Eldest Aunt sent someone asking what book mentioned the Heavenly Fire Grass, for me to copy a book list and send it to her. I’ve been so busy all morning, it’s only just now I remembered, so I came straight to ask you if you could list the books for me to take to her."

Xiqiu nodded knowingly, "So that’s it, no need for a list." She stood up and went to an eastern room used as a study, pulling out a book wrapped in a cover and handing it to Nanny Fang: "Take this to Elder Sister; it’s an old book by a folk doctor from the previous dynasty, called Flowers Record."

Nanny Fang showed surprise, reaching out to take it. Yet as Xiqiu seemed to recall something, she withdrew her hand, went to the table where she had been drawing, flipped through the book, and suddenly said, "Found it!" She slipped a bookmark into it and handed it to Nanny Fang: "I marked the page about the Heavenly Fire Grass, so Elder Sister can find it easily." Her face remained calm, looking entirely sincere.

Nanny Fang paused, flipping open the book, indeed finding a pink and white bookmark with a painted butterfly and orchid. She beamed, "Sixth Miss, you’re so thoughtful, I’ll take it to Eldest Aunt immediately."

Xiqiu saw her to the door: "I have nothing special to gift to Elder Sister, this was just a convenient task." She remained by the door for a while exchanging pleasantries with Nanny Fang, and only turned back inside after watching Nanny Fang’s figure disappear through the courtyard gate.

Shortly after, Chunyan entered with a puzzled look, just like Siliu: "Miss, why did Nanny Fang suddenly come to borrow books from you? What kind of books wouldn’t the Xuanning Marquis Mansion have?"

Xiqiu smiled without explanation, resuming her place and continuing to draw patterns.

Nanny Fang returned to Lady, recounting everything: "When I arrived, Sixth Miss was drawing patterns with dozens stacked on the table, I mentioned Madam Wang’s matter, and Sixth Miss was full of regret... I couldn’t see anything else, she likely doesn’t know the inside story." She offered the book to Lady, turning to the bookmarked page: "...She heard it was for Eldest Aunt, she searched for a while to find the page and marked it with a bookmark."

Lady flipped through the book in her hand, still new yet clearly used, some pages filled with small script notes, the ink showed it wasn’t recent, coinciding with her uncertainty about the Heavenly Fire Grass mentioned the other day.

It seems, she misunderstood the Sixth Girl.

Nanny Fang, with a faint smile, said, "If I may speak frankly, Madam Wang was asking for this misfortune! Being pregnant yet so greedy, she brought it upon herself."

Lady closed the book, reclined against a pillow with eyes shut, whether by coincidence or design, the outcome suited her needs. If the former, she welcomed it; if the latter, daring to scheme under her nose would come at a cost!

Lady mused for a moment: "Go see what Madam Mei and Madam Luo did afterwards!"

Nanny Fang’s eyes flashed, nodding in compliance.

The next morning, Xiqiu went to pay respects and surprisingly encountered Madam Luo at Lady’s place. In the past years, Lady had the concubines observe rules, serving dishes and setting chopsticks, but as Tong Shen Zhi grew up with a smooth future ahead, she spared the concubines the morning and evening salutations, keeping out of sight, out of mind.