Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 429 - 431: New Year (Part 4)

Perhaps she was overthinking it, after all, everyone is giving gifts, right?

"Thank you, elder sister-in-law," Xiqiu said with a smile. "I don’t really have anything to give you in return, I feel rather embarrassed."

The First Madam had a gentle expression, shaking her head, she said, "No worries, it’s just a small gesture... But the Clivia is delicate, please take good care of it, sister-in-law."

Xiqiu nodded in agreement.

The Grand Dowager watched her two daughters-in-law converse, feeling increasingly pleased.

"Aunt, if you can’t think of what to give in return, Xing will help you think of something, okay?" Little Xing slid down from the Grand Dowager’s back, sat on the kang, and reached out to Xiqiu. Xiqiu went over, held Little Xing, and said with a smile, "Oh? What good gift does Xing have in mind for Aunt’s return gift?" Carrying Little Xing, she sat down on the chair and lowered her head to speak with him.

Little Xing wore an innocent look with a smiling face, which made everyone laugh continuously. Xing, however, tilted his head seriously and said, "The flowers from Aunt are fragrant, but the flowers embroidered by Auntie are beautiful too. Auntie should embroider flowers for Aunt."

Hearing this, Xiqiu raised her eyebrows, and the Grand Dowager laughed heartily, "What a good idea, our Little Xing is truly courteous, knowing that receiving a gift requires giving one in return."

Xiqiu patted Little Xing’s head and nodded, "Yes, Xing’s suggestion is very good." Upon hearing this, Little Xing’s eyes lit up, worried that the First Madam might not believe him, he stuck his head out from Xiqiu’s arms, explaining to the First Madam, "Auntie, I’m serious, Auntie’s embroideries are really beautiful!"

This time, even the First Madam couldn’t help but laugh.

Xiao Yanzheng came over, tapping Little Xing on the head, "You’re the cleverest, helping others think of return gifts. Then tell me, I gave you a pocket in the morning, what will you give in return?"

Little Xing heard this, and his little face immediately wrinkled, seeking rescue by looking at Xiqiu.

Xiqiu, full of smiles, hugged Little Xing and said, "Didn’t Xing and Min learn the Three Character Classic together? Perhaps you can recite a section for your aunt!"

Xiao Yanzheng reluctantly nodded, "If the recitation is good, I’ll gladly accept it as a gift."

Little Xing’s eyes brightened, and he started shaking his head, reciting the Three Character Classic.

When Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi entered the room, they saw this scene: Xiqiu hugged Little Xing with a beaming smile, her eyes warm and affectionate. Little Xing nestled in Xiqiu’s arms, nodding his little head, full of innocence, mumbling the Three Character Classic unclearly.

Xiao Yanyi’s gaze flickered, and his eyes warmed a bit.

Fourth Master Xiao entered with a calm demeanor.

The two entered one after the other, and as soon as Little Xing saw them, he immediately stopped talking. Min and Sheng slid down from the Grand Dowager, wore serious faces, and put their shoes on to get off the kang.

The room suddenly quieted down.

"Mother," Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi greeted the Grand Dowager with courtesy, the Grand Dowager nodded in response.

The First Madam and Xiqiu led the children, greeting Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao, and the Grand Dowager smiled and said, "Meeting every day, you don’t need to adhere to such formality, take a seat and have a chat."

Although she said this, the children no longer had the vibrant laughter from just now, and Little Xing quietly climbed down from Xiqiu.

The Grand Dowager looked at her two sons and asked, "Have the door gods been posted?" Xiao Yanyi nodded and replied, "Yes, they have been posted!"

The Grand Dowager, full of smiles, then looked at Little Xing, "You haven’t finished reciting the Three Character Classic yet, recite it again in front of your father." Little Xing was scared, shrinking behind the nanny, completely lacking his previous cleverness. Xiao Yanyi glanced at Little Xing and frowned a bit. The Grand Dowager, afraid of causing displeasure, looked at Min, "Min, you’ve recently learned some Childhood Learning, how about reciting some for your father?"

Upon hearing this, Min’s little face turned pale, looking timidly at the expressionless Fourth Master Xiao, shrinking backward. The Grand Dowager encouraged him by holding his hand and nodding.

Min then lowered his voice, bowing his head, and started reciting word by word, "In the beginning of chaos, heaven and earth were just established. The light and ethereal qi rose to form the heavens, while the dense and murky qi condensed to form the earth..."

Min recited smoothly, much clearer than Little Xing’s unclear diction. His recitation had a certain rhythm and tone, yet Min was only four after the New Year. Such advanced learning made her slightly furrow her brows.

After reciting a small portion, Min became somewhat stammering as if not very familiar with the passage... Xiqiu’s eyes subtly flickered. Just at this moment, the Second Madam entered, and she stood up with a smile to speak with the Second Madam, "Sister-in-law is here."

Thus interrupting Min’s recitation.

The attention of the crowd shifted over, and Min secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He cast a grateful glance at Xiqiu, then sneaked a look at Fourth Master Xiao, noticing his expression was much softer than before. Min met his gaze, and Fourth Master Xiao gestured him over, "A teacher will be invited after the New Year. You must apply yourself like this and study diligently!"

His father didn’t scold him, and instead indirectly praised him, which made Min exceptionally happy. He nodded, "I will certainly study hard with my teacher and read diligently!"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded, "Remember what you said!" Min earnestly promised.

Xiao Yanyi listened, his gaze gently turned to glance at Little Xing, with an expression somewhat ambiguous.

The Second Madam entered with a smile, saying, "Mother, Marquis, Fourth Brother, we can begin the feast!"

Everyone cheerfully moved to the next room. The Grand Dowager more joyously stated, "Bring some Jinhua Wine, let us have a drink today." Nanny Wu replied with a face full of smiles.

The children, along with Nanny Wu, Ziwei, and Nanny Song by the Second Madam’s side, sat at a separate table. After the New Year’s Eve dinner, everyone moved to the Warm Pavilion to drink tea. The sky had already darkened, and the children were getting restless, wanting to set off fireworks.

"Go ahead, go ahead!" the Grand Dowager laughed, "Let Housekeeper Hu accompany you, but be careful."

The children excitedly jumped up and ran outside.

Soon the sound of fireworks could be heard outside the house. The Grand Dowager, laughing, stood up, supported by the Second Madam to stand, "Let us go have a look too."

Xiqiu accompanied the Grand Dowager out the door, standing in the corridor. In the sky, colorful lights were bursting open against the night sky, falling into the courtyard where the silver tree stood, twinkling and splendid like mesmerizing neon lights from a past life, almost surreal.

Xiqiu looked up, her dark eyes illuminated by the dazzling fireworks. She suddenly wondered what Fourth Master Xiao would look like at this moment and secretly glanced in the crowd to find him. She saw him in a bluish-brown long robe, billowing in the wind, dark hair tied with a jade hairpin, his face carved with distinguished, cold features, standing with hands behind his back, gazing deeply like a deity...

She slightly raised her eyebrows, feeling as if Fourth Master Xiao seemed somewhat... displeased!

They originally intended to stay up all night, but the Grand Dowager, being of age, got tired after a while. After the children fell asleep on the Grand Dowager’s kang, tired out, the Grand Dowager, feeling weary, waved her hand saying, "Let’s disperse, everyone go to your rooms to keep watch. Come earlier tomorrow."