Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 419 - 421: Second Wife (Part 3)

She spoke and sat down opposite Xiao Yanyi.

Xiao Yanting paused with his tea, recalling the beautiful stars and dots last year at the Prince Manor in the Man Mansion. However, arranging them would be troublesome, especially thinking of Xiqiu’s legs, he frowned slightly. As he turned to say something, he saw the Second Madam looking at him with a smile, and he swallowed his words.

He nodded faintly, saying, "Then you should send more maids, these tasks aren’t easy."

"The Marquis is indeed thoughtful," the Second Madam laughed. "Fourth Brother treasures his wife so much, if she gets tired, he’ll surely hold a grudge against me." She laughed behind her hand as she spoke.

Listening to this, Xiao Yanyi lowered his face to drink tea.

"Marquis," the Second Madam thought for a moment and said, "I’ve heard many households have set up porridge shops outside the city. I thought since everyone is doing it, we might seem out of place if we don’t. What do you think?" As she shifted the topic, Xiao Yanyi raised his face and nodded, "I was just about to talk to you about this. I have already instructed Housekeeper Hu to set up a porridge shop outside the city according to last year’s example. Let Housekeeper Hu handle the rice and flour, but you might need to transfer some people from the inner courtyard to handle those madams and maids."

"Alright," the Second Madam replied with a smile, "I’ll arrange it later." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Xiao Yanyi nodded and said nothing more.

Teng Qiuniang had been standing for half an hour, with Xiao Yanyi and the Second Madam speaking as if they hadn’t noticed her. It wasn’t until Xiao Yanyi got up to go to the Grand Dowager’s room that the Second Madam grabbed the cloak from the wall corner, saying, "It’s cold outside, be careful underfoot on your way."

Xiao Yanyi let the Second Madam tie his cloak, nodded faintly, and said, "You should rest inside too." Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly saw Teng Qiuniang still standing at the door. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

"No," Teng Qiuniang replied with a smile, "I’m here to send off the Marquis." Xiao Yanyi glanced at her, nodded, and turned to go out.

The Second Madam, without speaking, smiled and joined Teng Qiuniang in sending Xiao Yanyi to the door. Before Xiao Yanyi could leave the courtyard, Teng Qiuniang turned to bid farewell to the Second Madam, "I’m taking my leave now."

"Go on!" The Second Madam cast a glance at her and turned back to her room.

Once Teng Qiuniang left, the Second Madam returned to her room and signaled her maid with a look. The maid quickly left, soon running back in: "...She chased after the Marquis, crying and kneeling. I didn’t dare get too close, so I don’t know what she said."

The Second Madam sneered, sipping her tea with disdain. "What could she say? Just lamenting her circumstances, no doubt." The Teng Family’s current situation was dire; with the Fifth Madam out of the Marquis Mansion, First Master Teng only had Teng Qiuniang left to rely on.

"Let her be, she can’t stir up much trouble," the Second Madam said nonchalantly. While appearing indifferent, there was a hint of disdain.

After receiving her tasks from the Second Madam, Xiqiu returned to the Grand Dowager’s room. The Grand Dowager was talking with Xiao Yanzheng. Seeing her enter, Xiao Yanzheng greeted her with a smile, asking, "What did Second Sister-in-law ask you to help with?"

Xiqiu saluted the Grand Dowager with a smile, "Second Sister-in-law bought a lot of silver trees, saying that next year is mother’s birthday. Although we can’t be extravagant, we shouldn’t be as quiet as in past years... She plans to decorate the garden to make it lively."

The Grand Dowager sighed, "She is thoughtful!"

"This sounds fun!" Xiao Yanzheng laughed, linking arms with the Grand Dowager. "In past years, these things were always handled by Fifth Brother. This year, with him not here, Second Sister-in-law has no one else to turn to. But knowing her perfectionist character, she wouldn’t trust others with it, so she turned to Fourth Sister-in-law." Xiao Yanzheng spoke with a wide smile, thinking about Fourth Master Xiao’s demeanor. How could the Second Madam dare assign him such tasks? After a moment of thought, she said, "Mother, let me assist Fourth Sister-in-law. I have experience decorating the garden."

The Grand Dowager’s smile extended to her eyes, nodding with a laugh, "Go ahead, go ahead, but don’t cause trouble for your Fourth Sister-in-law." She looked up at Xiqiu and said, "This task isn’t easy; get more maids to help. For some of the heavier work, go to Housekeeper Hu in the outer courtyard and ask him for some help."

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, "Mother, I understand!"

At noon, Xiqiu stayed in the Grand Dowager’s room for lunch. Returning to her room, she instructed Chunliu, "In the afternoon, take Nanny Cen to the Second Madam and collect the items. Make sure to check the quantities thoroughly, understood?!"

Chunliu nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "The courtyard is so big, this task from the Second Madam is quite demanding." She spoke while turning to close the door, signaling to Bihuai guarding the door, then returned to Xiqiu, "Madam, regarding the investigation you asked, I’ve found something out...." She whispered in detail by Xiqiu’s ear, "Lately, besides being in the Grand Dowager’s room, she’s often visiting the Second Madam and getting close to a maid named Xiuyun."

Listening, Xiqiu raised her brows slightly. Chunliu continued, "I found out that Xiuyun is a close maid of Madam Teng, from the Teng Family, always accompanying Madam Teng."

Xiqiu listened quietly, saying nothing. She stood holding a tea cup by Fourth Master Xiao’s desk, which was as large as half a brick bed. The desk was neatly arranged with books and various sized letters and memorials. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

Chunliu worriedly reminded, "Madam, I sense this maid is up to no good and getting too close to the Second Chamber. We can’t let this continue." Recalling the last incident with Chunyan, if not for her delay, that wouldn’t have happened.

"She’s just a maid," Xiqiu smiled. "Though she comes from the Grand Dowager, sending her back is simple if needed."

Chunliu’s eyes lit up, "Madam, you mean...?"

Xiqiu nodded faintly. She didn’t necessarily intend to send her away. After all, with such a large courtyard and more than ten maids and matrons coming and going, a few aren’t united, which is not surprising. As long as they adhere to their duties, there’s nothing to worry about.

However, with Treasure Bead now getting close to Teng Qiuniang, who knows what might happen; it might be better to send her back to the Grand Dowager!

"You go ahead with your work, I have it in mind."

Chunliu knew that once the Madam spoke, she was already resolved. She smiled and nodded, "Then I’ll go to the Second Madam."

Xiqiu nodded, "Go on!"

Chunliu went to the Second Madam to collect materials. By afternoon, Housekeeper Hu and Tianyi brought people to dismantle the flower racks in the mansion. Xiqiu had Chunyan follow along.

Chunyan purposely went to speak with Tianyi, "Tianyi, where did Fourth Master go? Why aren’t you with him?"