Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 461 - 464: Visitor (2)

There wasn’t much happening over in Tongzhou at the moment, but Zhu Sancheng was a surprise to him; within just a few days, he got acquainted with the steward from the adjacent Marquis Jinxiang Mansion’s manor!

Xiqiu continued to study the crops in "Four People’s Monthly Orders". She often thought that perhaps there was a natural talent required for farming. Even if she memorized these things, when it came to practice, merely following the book might not be enough!

She sighed, put down the book in her hand, and thought of Tong Minzhi. With the county exams approaching, she wondered how well he was preparing. Thinking about it, the next day after sending Min to school, she would dismiss the Grand Dowager and make a trip back to Tong Mansion. The First Master had written a letter back from Yongzhou, saying he would set out in early March. In the letter, he urged Tong Minzhi to study hard for the exam without any psychological burden. Tong Shen Zhi also often had long candlelit talks with him at night. Madam Xia was nervously burning incense and praying before Buddha every day, and even Madam Jiang couldn’t help but feel nervous, discussing daily with Madam Jiang about changing the kitchen’s recipes for Tong Minzhi.

Xiqiu felt somewhat relieved at heart, and after having lunch, she returned to the mansion.

Two days later, Fourth Master Xiao returned from the government office. Tianyi met him at the entrance, following behind and reporting, "Fourth Master, Nurse Zhang has already arrived in Tongzhou and said she should arrive tomorrow." After speaking, he handed a letter to Fourth Master Xiao: "I dispatched someone to fetch her this morning as per your instructions."

Fourth Master Xiao took the letter indifferently, opened it, glanced over the contents, and slightly raised an eyebrow, smiling, "Unexpectedly, after meeting once, they even developed some affection for each other."

Tianyi didn’t understand what Fourth Master Xiao meant and, tilting his head to think, asked, "When the person arrives, should I take her directly to Hu Mansion, or...?"

Fourth Master Xiao returned the letter to Tianyi, striding toward the inner courtyard, saying as he walked, "First bring her to the mansion; she wants to meet the madam." Pausing, he added, "You take care of things at Hu Mansion. If they need anything, satisfy them, but don’t bother telling me about other matters."

Tianyi nodded in agreement and further said, "First Master Teng has sent another invite, and Fifth Young Master also came today... What do you think?"

Without a second thought, Fourth Master Xiao waved his hand, "Tell them I’ve said all that needs to be said and there’s no need to meet again!"

"Understood!" Tianyi stopped at the Yimen in the second gate.

When Fourth Master Xiao entered the courtyard, he saw a group of servant girls and older maids gathered there. Xiqiu, with Min, was drawing something on the ground in the courtyard. The two of them squatted on the ground, whispering and laughing. Xiqiu said, "Exercise also requires moderation; you should learn more from your father. He practices martial arts, and every day he gets up early to practice swordsmanship to strengthen his body."

Hearing Xiqiu’s praise, Fourth Master Xiao’s mouth formed a wide smile.

After speaking, Xiqiu clapped her hands and stood up. Min stood beside her with a face of reluctance, while Erquan watched curiously from the side.

Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze also landed on the ground, seeing white stone powder sketching many small squares on the flat bluestone, and at the top of the squares, another square like a rooftop was drawn, with a stone placed inside...

Fourth Master Xiao stood at the entry corridor, observing the mother and son with tender eyes.

"Hop on one foot!" Xiqiu pulled Min, "Give it a try."

Min didn’t move, so Xiqiu pointed to Erquan and said, "Erquan, you demonstrate."

Following the order, Erquan tucked his clothing into his belt, lifted his left leg, and jumped step by step from the leftmost grid at the bottom all the way to the roof. He turned around carefully, kicked the stone, and returned to the starting point.

Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow, curious about this new game.

Xiqiu seriously looked at Min, "Quick, give it a try!"

Min looked pleadingly at Chunliu, and then at his nursemaid, but they all looked away. Min knitted his short brows, reluctantly lifted his leg to jump, but since he was too young, he stumbled after a few tries, setting his foot down. Xiqiu then said from the side, "Go back to the starting point and start over."

Fourth Master Xiao finally understood that Xiqiu wanted to cultivate Min’s childhood interest, allowing him more innocence while also strengthening his body.

This kind of game... He raised an eyebrow, somewhat dismissive.

Min stood there troubled, looking at Xiqiu, puzzled why his stepmother thought of such a game for him to play. He’s not Xing, after all, and he has several pages of writing unfinished, and hasn’t completed the lessons assigned by his teacher.

"Mother!" Min said reluctantly, "I still have things to do and don’t want to play anymore."

Xiqiu was taken aback upon hearing this. It was the first time Min expressed his own opinion in front of her.

Seeing her expression, Min was also startled, realizing his attitude might be inappropriate. He nervously stepped back half a step, but then remembered that Xiqiu had always been kind, never truly scolding him. Thinking of this, he retracted his half step back.

Standing there, he met Xiqiu’s gaze, not yielding an inch!

Xiqiu laughed, suddenly squatting down to kiss Min on the face, and smilingly said, "Then get up early tomorrow morning and run five laps around the courtyard. If you agree, I’ll let you go back to practice writing now."

Min was already accustomed to her affectionate gestures and didn’t even bother wiping the wet mark on his cheek. He furrowed his brow, nodded, and said, "Can it be three laps?"

He had even learned to bargain, Xiqiu raised an eyebrow.

Just as she was about to speak, a deep voice behind her suddenly sounded: "What your mother says goes. Since when did you learn to talk back?"

Upon hearing the voice, Min instinctively recoiled, inadvertently swaying into Xiqiu’s back. He peered over, and then realized his reaction was inappropriate. He stepped forward, respectfully bowing, and said, "Father!"

His nursemaid watched Min, her eyes gradually moistening. Since Min was born, she signed papers at the Nursery to come to the Marquis Mansion, watching him grow up day by day. She knew Min’s personality better than anyone, observing him being respectful to everyone, yet guarded against them all!

However, since the Fourth Madam entered the mansion, she could almost see Min’s changes day by day until just now when Min "talked back" to Xiqiu and hid behind her... The nursemaid knew that not only had Min psychologically accepted Xiqiu, but compared to his previous defensiveness and introversion, he now displayed much more innocence and childlike behavior.

The nursemaid quickly wiped away her tears and smiled!

This was precisely what Xiqiu wanted to give to Min. Shielding Min, she smiled and saluted Fourth Master Xiao, saying, "Fourth Master!" She added, "Fourth Master hasn’t eaten yet, right? The meal is ready and waiting for you to come back."

Saying this, she naturally led Min to stand aside and instructed Chunliu, "Go fetch water for Fourth Master."

She shifted the topic away from Fourth Master Xiao’s words.

Min breathed a sigh of relief, his small hand tightly clutching Xiqiu’s fingers.

Seeing the mother and son cooperate so seamlessly, and Xiqiu’s protective nature, Fourth Master Xiao couldn’t help but find it both amusing and exasperating. Though he inwardly shook his head, he was reluctant to say anything. He simply pretended he had said nothing, and turned to enter the room.

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