Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 438 - 440: Avoidance (3)

When Fourth Master Xiao came out, Xiqiu left with him, and they parted ways at the door. He went to the outer courtyard, and Xiqiu went to the Grand Dowager’s room.

Just as Fourth Master Xiao had said, the Grand Dowager’s room was filled with laughter and joy. Madam Qian, Madam Ruan, and Madam Lou were all seated, along with the First Madam’s family, and the First Young Madam Tang from the Chengyi Bo Mansion.

The Grand Dowager was wearing a dark red overcoat with a crane and longevity design, and a dark blue headband with cloud patterns. She sat with a broad smile on her face. To her left sat the Second Madam, and to her right was the First Madam. The Grand Dowager was talking to Madam Qian, "Why didn’t you bring Qing along to play? And hasn’t Jin grown taller? He must be nine years old now."

Madam Qian laughed and said, "You’re right, he is nine this year. He’s always so mischievous. If I brought him along, he would have turned this place upside down."

"No worries, no worries," the Grand Dowager chuckled. "All children are like this. Who grows up without getting into a little mischief?"

First Young Madam Tang laughed and said, "Speaking of mischief, my son, a few days ago, led a group to fish in the Tongji River. Someone told him that the fish under the ice are especially delicious, so he wanted to bring some back to make soup for his grandmother." She laughed behind her sleeve and said, "His father gave him a good scolding and punished him to kneel in the ancestral hall for several hours."

The Grand Dowager was taken aback, "How could this be allowed? The child is still young and the ground in winter is cold. What if he caught a cold?" She paused and continued, "He went fishing out of filial piety; how could he be punished for that?"

First Young Madam Tang laughed, "That’s how my husband is. When he’s riled up, not even the Grand Dowager can stop him. That day, he really worried the Grand Dowager..." She glanced at the First Madam.

The First Madam looked at the tea cup in her hand, her expression indifferent, not showing any response.

First Young Madam Tang pursed her lips and stopped talking.

Madam Lou, listening nearby, her eyes flickered. She thought of her own disappointing son, who, despite being married, still lives a life of revelry every day. He was now even getting involved in opening a tavern with Prince Rong, despite the family rules being enforced. Yet he remains obstinate.

The daughter-in-law at home is also not in good health, and her worries seem endless!

Thinking of this, Madam Lou sighed, losing interest in speaking further.

The Grand Dowager loved children, so everyone talked about children around her. Just then, the Fourth Madam came in, causing everyone to pause and look up at her.

She was wearing a pink plain collar overcoat and a shallow green gauze skirt with rimmed edges, with a Treasure Bead glass and jade hairpin and a pink and white pearl flower in her hair. She had a tourmaline jade bracelet on her hand, with a long tassel hanging from it. Her graceful stride immediately caught everyone’s attention, and her delicate smile was like a budding flower in spring.

Radiant yet dignified.

In the room, Xiqiu, being the youngest, walked over with a smile, paid her respects to the Grand Dowager, and called out, "Mother."

"I heard you’re unwell. Have you called for a doctor to take a look?" the Grand Dowager asked with concern.

Xiqiu blushed and replied, "No." She continued, "It’s just that the firecrackers are loud these days, and I haven’t been sleeping well. I felt a bit dizzy this morning, worrying mother unnecessarily."

The Grand Dowager breathed a sigh of relief, "That’s good, as long as you’re fine."

Xiqiu then turned to pay her respects to the First Madam and Second Madam, then turned to greet Madam Lou, calling out, "Madam Lou." She also paid her respects to Madam Qian, who looked at her with a flicker of her gaze and nodded. First Young Madam Tang warmly took Xiqiu’s hand and laughed, "So this is the Fourth Madam. Oh my, I’ve heard that the Fourth Madam is beautiful, and now I’ve finally seen it." She remarked to Madam Qian, "Madam Qian, look, compared to Fourth Madam, we really seem like old hags."

Madam Qian laughed and teased, "I’m the old hag, but First Young Madam isn’t. Fourth Madam is young and beautiful, and you don’t lose out standing next to her at all."

First Young Madam Tang spat playfully at Madam Qian, "Can’t you say something nice? I’m all plump; how could I dare compare to the Fourth Madam?" Madam Qian insisted, "There’s beauty in being thin, and there’s charm in being plump. I’m complimenting you."

The room burst into laughter, and Xiqiu said to First Young Madam Tang, "First Young Madam is being too modest. I agree with Madam Qian; you’re just right."

First Young Madam Tang giggled, "Fourth Madam really knows how to talk."

Xiqiu then paid her respects to Madam Ruan and finally sat down on a stool nearby, in close proximity to Madam Ruan. She smiled and asked, "How is your third sister from your maternal family?"

Xiqiu was taken aback, not expecting Madam Ruan to ask about Tong Xiyang. She suddenly remembered that the Second Young Madam Ren was a distant relative of Madam Ruan. After some thought, Xiqiu replied, "With the new year just passed, I haven’t had a chance to visit, but my sister-in-law says she’s recovering well."

Madam Ruan leaned in and whispered, "You might not know, but the child in Third Young Madam’s womb was caused by Ren the Third."

Xiqiu furrowed her brows, looking closely at Madam Ruan. If even Madam Ruan knew about this, it seemed everyone did. She arched an eyebrow and smiled, "I hadn’t heard of this, but the child in Third Young Madam’s womb is Third Master Ren’s. I doubt he would do such a thing, perhaps it’s a rumor..."

Appearing somewhat skeptical.

Madam Ruan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, "You might not know this, but with such matters, if it were anyone else, I might not believe it. But with Third Master Ren, I have to believe it. Do you know how the previous Third Young Madam died?"

Xiqiu was startled, having heard she died of illness. Could it be related to Ren Jun too?

Seeing Xiqiu had not heard, Madam Ruan lowered her voice and said, "She was beaten on the head by Third Master Ren and lay in a stupor for about three months before passing away." She sighed, "Poor Third Young Madam was such a good person."

Xiqiu was filled with astonishment, not expecting the previous Third Young Madam to have been beaten to death by Ren Jun. The Ren Family had truly kept this under wraps. This Ren Jun had quite a notorious reputation.

"Madam must be joking," Xiqiu laughed. "No matter how unruly, Third Master wouldn’t do such a thing, would he?" Despite this, her brows furrowed tightly.

Madam Ruan couldn’t quite gauge Xiqiu’s attitude and wanted to say more, but Ziwei called from the door, "Grand Dowager, Madam Hu is here."

Xiqiu had heard from Xiao Yanzheng that Madam Hu was her and Lord Pang’s matchmaker.

The Grand Dowager smiled and said, "Please, invite her in." The Hu Family had been officials in the capital before. First Master Hu had risen to the third-rank, but after his passing, the Hu Family had somewhat declined. In recent years, the two Hu brothers had studied hard day and night. They came to the capital to take the imperial exams each year but had failed every time.