Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 426 - 428: New Year (Part 1)

"Fourth Master!" Xiqiu also straightened her body, turning to look at Fourth Master Xiao and said: "Back then, when Fourth Master was able to risk his life to save the Emperor and leave the city, and later endured months of hardship outside, I suppose Fourth Master wasn’t this cautious, was he?" She paused and continued: "Is it because Fourth Master always knew, no matter what they do, right or wrong, just or unjust, only one person can decide, and that is the Emperor, isn’t it?"

No matter the bowl of rice, no matter the grandeur of the favor, only the rice bowl given by the Emperor, only the favor acknowledged by the Emperor, is indestructible even if slammed with silver or gold.

Fourth Master Xiao pursed his lips and smiled lightly, looking at Xiqiu with penetrating eyes: "Madam, in your opinion, should we also send a gift to the Shen Mansion?" Xiqiu covered her mouth and laughed lightly, nodding: "I suspect Fourth Master has already made up his mind."

Fourth Master Xiao laughed heartily, embracing Xiqiu and kissed her forehead several times, saying with a smile: "Today, Princess Changning praised you, saying you are gentle and kind, and invited you to visit often."

Xiqiu was stunned, then her face drooped showing an apologetic expression: "If Fourth Master meets Princess Changning again, please convey for me that I will certainly visit when I have time."

Fourth Master Xiao looked at her, smiling even more!

Their conversation was not wrong. That night, Princess Changning returned to her mansion very late from the palace. She had opened a residence in the Shen Mansion’s backyard for the newly arrived Madam Li. Madam Shen, holding her child, cried all the way to seek comfort from the Empress in the palace; the Empress, troubled by the matter, complained to the Emperor, but the Emperor said indifferently: "It is also the Empress Dowager’s kind thought, Shen Ji should accept it!"

The Empress was stunned upon hearing this, and her eyes turned as she devised a plan. She returned to the palace and summoned her mother to the palace. After discussing, the mother and daughter chose a legitimate daughter of a smaller branch of the Shen Family, beautiful and dignified. Under the training of the palace nanny day and night, she was brought into the palace. The day before the New Year, Marquis Xuanning Xiao Yanyi was summoned to the palace.

In the evening, a small sedan chair was carried from the side gate of the Xuanning Marquis Mansion into the Marquis Mansion!

The entire mansion was in an uproar, no one expected that in the struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Shen Family, Xiao Yanyi became the innocent sacrifice!

The Second Madam was sitting in her room, asking coldly to Nanny Song beside her: "Is everything arranged?" Nanny Song replied: "Arranged, just behind Madam Teng’s courtyard."

"Where is the Marquis, where is he?" Nanny Song’s eyes flashed briefly and replied: "Still in the Grand Dowager’s room, hasn’t come out yet."

The Second Madam sneered, recalling the feeling of her heart pounding when she first met Xiao Yanyi. Knowing he had a verbal betrothal with the Tong Mansion, she still pleaded with the Empress Dowager to grant the marriage. Even marrying as a second wife, she was happy.

As for Xiao Yanyi, he was not bad towards her, but she still knew all he married her for was to safeguard the overall situation.

Now the Empress has bestowed a beautiful concubine, and given his usual conduct, for the sake of the bigger picture, there is no way this house wouldn’t be complete!

Thinking of this, she grasped her handkerchief, her eyes reddening, instructing Nanny Song: "Go there and have a look, if something is missing, have someone deliver it. Since the person is sent, regarding face, we mustn’t let people talk about us behind our backs, right?" Saying this, she sneered softly.

Nanny Song looked at the Second Madam with heartache, responding in a low voice.

After finishing, the Second Madam stood up herself and said: "I will go to mother’s place to have a look." Saying this, she took the maidservants and grandma, carrying lanterns, and went to the Grand Dowager’s side.

Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi were sitting in the room. The Grand Dowager looked at the two sons and said calmly: "Since the person is sent to the mansion, just receive them properly!" She paused and continued: "Tomorrow let Chengning go to the palace to express gratitude!"

Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao didn’t say anything. Since the Marquis Mansion is an outsider, it must always maintain the posture of an outsider. Chengning married Xiao Yanyi and is a member of the Xiao Family; the matters of the Empress Dowager and the Empress are royal household affairs, the Xiao Family’s reach isn’t so far-reaching to interfere in royal household affairs!

"Mother!" The Second Madam entered from outside, with a faint smile on her face. She entered and nodded to Fourth Master Xiao, then said to Xiao Yanyi: "Marquis is here too." Finished, she sat beside the Grand Dowager, smiling and said: "Madam Shen has been settled. The room’s arrangement was a bit rushed, and it will be carefully sorted after the New Year." Finished, she looked at Xiao Yanyi with a smile.

Xiao Yanyi held the tea, his expression calm, without joy or anger.

The Grand Dowager smiled, holding the Second Madam’s hand: "Chengning has worked hard, don’t mind other matters, let’s all enjoy the festive season lightly." Then she looked at Fourth Master Xiao: "It’s getting late, Xiqiu is alone in the room, you should return early."

Fourth Master Xiao stood up, greeted Xiao Yanyi and the Second Madam, and told the Grand Dowager: "I am going back." Finished, he strode out the door. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Xiao Yanyi glanced at the Second Madam, then stood up and said indifferently: "I will go to the outer courtyard, will return later!"

The Second Madam raised her eyebrows, surprised in her eyes. The Grand Dowager waved her hand: "Go ahead!" She didn’t say more, nor did she instruct him to go to Madam Shen’s room.

The Second Madam stayed on Grand Dowager’s side, and the two spoke in low voices.

Xiao Yanyi returned all the way to the study; his gentle features gradually turned stern. He frowned, took a key, and opened a box placed near the treasure cabinet, taking out a scroll... then slowly spread it on the table.

"Madam." Biwu entered excitedly: "Madam, this servant..."

The words got stuck in her throat; upon seeing Fourth Master Xiao sitting at the head of the kang, she immediately covered her mouth, bowed her head and saluted Fourth Master Xiao: "Fourth Master!"

Fourth Master Xiao glanced at her; at this moment, Xiqiu came out from the clean room, seeing Biwu inside, raised an eyebrow and asked: "Anything wrong?"

Biwu carefully peeked at Fourth Master Xiao, quickly shaking her head: "No...nothing." Finished, pointed outside: "This servant... this servant still has things to do, going now!" and slipped out swiftly.

Obviously, she was cautious about Fourth Master Xiao being in the room, not daring to speak further.

Xiqiu pursed her lips, laughed lightly, and looked at Fourth Master Xiao: "I plan to have the silver tree from each room sent over later, does Fourth Master have any other orders?"

Today is New Year’s Eve.

Fourth Master Xiao stood up, looked at Xiqiu and said: "I and my elder brother will go to the ancestral hall, it’s slippery outside, let the grandmothers do it, rest here in the room." Finished, he nodded to Xiqiu, then turned and left the room first.

After Fourth Master Xiao left, Xiqiu also left the room. In the distance, she saw Biwu peeking around from the side room and smiled, beckoning Biwu over and asking: "Early morning, do you have something to say?"

"Madam." Biwu smiled and approached with a look of gossip: "This servant saw the newly arrived Madam Shen this morning."

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and sat in the hall’s armchair: "You went to the Second House early to watch the excitement?"

"No, no." Biwu laughed, waiving her hand: "Many maids in the garden used various excuses to go to the Second Madam’s side, and this servant’s curiosity couldn’t resist following, Madam Shen was serving tea to the Second Madam." She paused and continued: "She really is beautiful, more beautiful than Madam Teng, who seems a bit... small-minded because of her petite nature, but Madam Shen is different, very dignified, with the grace of a noble lady in every gesture."