Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 454 - 457: Legal Mother (5)

Chunliu acknowledged, then lowered her voice to reply, "Madam, Yiquan sent a message saying that on the eighth, Housekeeper Hu went to the side room for an inspection, asking about everyone’s situation. At the time, he didn’t think much of it, but in the past few days he noticed Housekeeper Hu visiting every day and often talking to him. Today, Housekeeper Hu even suggested Steward Liu teach him the abacus. He felt it was strange and sent a message to ask if you have instructed Housekeeper Hu to look after him..." Chunliu furrowed her brows, her face full of surprise, "I also find it odd. Do you think this is Fourth Master Xiao’s intention?"

Xiqiu listened, startled, and asked, "Housekeeper Hu specifically instructed Steward Liu to teach Yiquan the abacus?"

Chunliu nodded, "Yes, he’s very attentive."

Xiqiu furrowed her brows. If Fourth Master Xiao intended to employ Yiquan, he would have mentioned it to her. Since he didn’t mention it, it seems he hadn’t thought of it. Who then spoke to Housekeeper Hu about this?

She wondered secretly.

"Instruct Yiquan to be alert. Since Housekeeper Hu has shown this intention, have him learn carefully!" Xiqiu said slowly, and in the evening when Fourth Master Xiao returned, she tested him by saying, "I took Erquan to see mother this afternoon. Mother said the child is clever and is a good fit by Young Master Min’s side."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded indifferently, not surprised at all.

Xiqiu tilted her head, increasingly puzzled by Housekeeper Hu’s sudden actions!

A few days later, early in the morning, Young Master Min came to greet Xiqiu. They had just finished breakfast when Xiqiu noticed Young Master Min was eager to go to school. Xiqiu rarely saw Young Master Min so anxious, so she asked, "What did the teacher teach these past two days?"

Young Master Min replied word by word, "The teacher explained the Thousand Character Classic in the morning, and taught us to make kites in the afternoon, saying he would take us to fly them today in the afternoon."

So they were going kite flying in the afternoon, no wonder he was so eager.

Xiqiu smiled and said, "Is it in the outer courtyard?" They wouldn’t take the children outside; they must be flying them in the outer courtyard.

Young Master Min nodded and replied, "Yes! In the outer courtyard." Xiqiu nodded and turned to give instructions to Erquan, who now followed Young Master Min, "You follow closely and don’t let him get hurt."

Erquan, though short in stature, was sturdy and bright-eyed, and responded cleverly, "Madam, I’ll definitely stick closely to Young Master Min!"

Xiqiu nodded, thought for a moment, then added, "Thank you for your effort." Erquan came into the residence in the morning and out in the evening; the back-and-forth was indeed quite tiring.

Erquan smiled, showing his small tiger teeth, scratching the back of his head while grinning, "My mother says it’s my blessing to follow Young Master Min, this bit of hardship is nothing compared to farming at home."

Xiqiu smiled with her lips pressed, nodded, then asked Chunyan to grab some candied fruit and dried goodies to stuff in his pocket, and also packed two pieces of yam cake for him. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Young Master Min didn’t mind Erquan. Seeing him this way, while he didn’t smile, he also didn’t rush to leave.

After they left, Xiqiu went to the backyard. Tianyi already set up the shed. Xiqiu had planted some Panax notoginseng seeds and needed to check on them daily. In the afternoon, just as she got up from her nap, Erquan rushed in hurriedly, "Madam... Madam, something... something bad happened." His dark little face was flushed with urgency, and Xiqiu, startled by the sight, asked, "What’s going on? Speak slowly."

Erquan stammered, "Young Master Min... Young Master Min fell and... hurt his head!"

Xiqiu was shocked and asked, "How did he fall just like that? Is it serious?" Erquan replied, "I went to get tea for Young Master Min, and when I returned, I saw him lying on the ground, blood... bleeding... Mr. Song asked Housekeeper Hu to fetch the Imperial Physician, and Young Master Min and Young Master Xin were taken to the room to lie down." After a pause, he added, "Young Master Xin... also fell."

Young Master Xin also fell? This time, Xiqiu stood up abruptly. Given Young Master Xin’s status, if he got injured because of Young Master Min, and considering his poor health, it would be a disaster if something were to happen.

She hurriedly changed her clothes: "Let’s go together." She was already heading out, asking Erquan as she went, "Has it been reported to the Grand Dowager and Second Madam?"

Erquan nodded, "Housekeeper Hu sent someone to report it."

Xiqiu said nothing more and didn’t have time to sit in the sedan chair, so she led the maids and older female servants straight to the outer courtyard.

Young Master Min was lying in the side courtyard of Tihu Hall, and Mr. Song had stepped out for a moment. As Xiqiu entered, she saw Young Master Min, such a small figure, lying on the bed with a face as pale as death, his forehead bandaged with a cloth, seeping into a large bloodstain, while the wet nurse stood by the bed crying her eyes out, completely distressed.

As soon as Xiqiu entered, the wet nurse knelt on the ground, but Xiqiu had no mind for her and walked over in a few strides to embrace Young Master Min. She noticed that his outer jiaao was likely tarnished with blood and had been removed, leaving him in just a thin inner garment. She wrapped a blanket from the bed around Young Master Min, and unwrapped the cloth on his head, revealing a fingernail-sized wound below the hairline, with a significant blood loss...

She turned to Erquan and instructed, "Go fetch some warm water and some salt." Erquan hurried out. Xiqiu instructed Chunliu and Bihuai, "Bihuai, go back to fetch a jiaao for Young Master Min, and Chunliu, go next door to check on Young Master Xin."

Everyone in the room took on their tasks and left. Xiqiu then instructed the wet nurse who was kneeling and crying on the floor, "Find some clean cloths, rinse them with boiling water and bring them back."

The wet nurse scrambled out in a panic.

Xiqiu skillfully helped Young Master Min with bandaging the wound and then fed him some water.

In the moment Young Master Min opened his eyes, he was slightly startled, realizing he was lying in his stepmother’s arms—fragrant, warm, and soft. He looked around and saw many bloodstains on her goose-yellow overcoat, her hair slightly disheveled, with a few strands hanging down...

He then glanced at his stepmother’s face; she was intently dressing him, brows tightly furrowed, her face full of tension and concern.

He secretly observed his stepmother, his eyes flickering.

Suddenly, his stepmother seemed to notice his anomaly, halted her actions, and softly called, "Young Master Min."

Young Master Min quickly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

His stepmother didn’t call him again but gently dressed him and cradled him in her arms.

He once more stealthily opened his eyes to look, but as soon as he did, his gaze met his stepmother’s. Their eyes locked, and Young Master Min awkwardly looked away, but his stepmother, with concern, said, "Young Master Min, you’re awake. Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Young Master Min was stunned; his stepmother didn’t blame him for pretending to be asleep.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, looked up again, and replied, "No, nowhere is uncomfortable!"

In truth, he was in pain, but he didn’t dare to cry, as Aunt Ping had told him he was different from Young Master Xin; he had no right to cry!