Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 466 - 469: The Delicate Guest (Part 1)

It is often said that although the lady whom Fourth Master Xiao married does not have high status, her appearance is among the best in the Capital...

Hu Suqing glanced at her own attire, her eyes shimmered, and she softly called out, "Fourth Madam!"

Xiqiu nodded with a smile.

The Grand Dowager looked at Madam Hu and her daughter and said with a smile, "You’ve been here all afternoon and must be hungry. I’ve had a feast prepared. You and the Second Miss should have some food."

Madam Hu thanked her with a smile, "Always causing trouble for you!" Then she turned to Xiqiu and said, "Suqing hasn’t thanked Fourth Madam for her recovery." After speaking, she pulled Hu Suqing and said, "Quickly thank Fourth Madam. Without Fourth Master and Fourth Madam, your illness wouldn’t have recovered so quickly."

Hu Suqing stood up again, bowed to Xiqiu, and said, "Thank you, Fourth Madam!" She quickly glanced at Xiqiu, then added, "I’ve heard that Madam’s embroidery skills were renowned even among the young ladies in the cabinet. Suqing has made no progress in embroidery despite all efforts and has long wished to seek Fourth Madam’s guidance. Unfortunately, I was not well, but now that I’ve recovered somewhat, I wish to come frequently to seek your guidance, if possible?"

Xiqiu did not answer immediately. A glance at the Grand Dowager showed that her expression was calm, but her brow furrowed slightly. Only then did Xiqiu reply with a smile, "My embroidery skills are merely average, unworthy of being called guidance!"

A very subtle refusal!

"Here again?"

Teng Qiuniang raised her eyebrows, looking at Xiuyun. Xiuyun nodded with a smile, "I heard she came yesterday to seek embroidery advice from Fourth Madam but was refused. Today, she hasn’t gone to find Fourth Madam but has gone to the Second Miss’s place instead."

"This Miss Hu!" Teng Qiuniang laughed and said, "Certainly didn’t disappoint me."

Her intentions couldn’t be more obvious to any keen observer!

Xiuyun was also smiling, asking, "Aunt, do you think Fourth Madam might let her in as a concubine?" If she truly entered, it would be like a loud slap to Fourth Madam’s face. After only being married to Fourth Master for a few months, bringing in a concubine would be uncomfortable regardless of how magnanimous she is.

Teng Qiuniang thought of Xiqiu’s calm and composed manner as if nothing could disturb her pace, always so stable and composed. She couldn’t help but smile with delight, observing that more people would make the place livelier.

Xiuyun’s smile widened as she nodded.

As the two chatted, a maid outside announced, "Madam Shen is here, Aunt."

Teng Qiuniang raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Coming to show off so quickly?"

Xiuyun pursed her lips. Wasn’t it just last night that the Marquis stayed at her place, asking for water in the middle of the night... The Marquis was always like this, treating every new wife equally, neither favoring nor disliking anyone!

Just this one or two times, and is it worth showing off?

Teng Qiuniang had already greeted her with a smile, only to see Madam Shen gracefully making her way into the courtyard. Seeing Teng Qiuniang, she smiled and called out, "Sister!" offering a half-curtsy.

"Sister is here," Teng Qiuniang returned the gesture with a smile, "I was just thinking of you, and here you are. Isn’t it that we sisters have a telepathic connection?"

Madam Shen had an oval face, willow-like eyebrows, and eyes full of expression, carrying a hint of a smile even when she wasn’t actually smiling. Her demeanor exuded the elegance of a lady from a great family, though Teng Qiuniang secretly despised her, thinking that those trained by palace nannies certainly had an air about them, as if they were born solely for the amusement of men.

"Indeed. Meeting you felt like meeting an old friend, naturally leading to a mutual understanding," Madam Shen laughed, covering her mouth with her sleeve, "Won’t Sister invite me in to sit?"

Teng Qiuniang stepped aside with a welcoming gesture, smiling, "Sister, please come in!" As they walked and laughed, she commented, "I went to greet Madam this morning but didn’t see you. I heard you were unwell and was planning to visit you."

Madam Shen blushed, pretending to be angry, glanced at Teng Qiuniang, and laughed, "Sister is always teasing me." She paused and then continued, "Actually, it was because the Marquis didn’t sleep well last night. I didn’t sleep soundly either, serving him, so the Marquis instructed the maids not to wake me early this morning, which is why I slept in!"

To share such a subtle matter with Teng Qiuniang suggested they were becoming quite close!

Teng Qiuniang snorted inwardly, smiling and saying, "Sister had it tough!" Madam Shen laughed, "We all serve the Marquis, there’s no talk of hardship or not."

After sending off Madam Shen, Xiuyun coldly chuckled, "What’s there to be so pleased about? It takes skill to bear a child!" She paused and whispered into Teng Qiuniang’s ear, "Second Madam intentionally scheduled her at the month’s end. It’s said her period is usually around the twentieth each month. Just four or five days after it ends, she’s summoned to the Marquis’s bed, making it impossible to conceive!"

Teng Qiuniang frowned slightly, feeling that with Madam Shen’s capabilities, she shouldn’t be so helpless!

Meanwhile, at the Grand Dowager’s, she was talking to Xiao Yanyi, "How did the matter with the Hu family reach Fourth Master’s ears? Wasn’t it kept from him?"

Xiao Yanyi also frowned, looking displeased, "Fifth Brother mentioned having business, waiting several days at the government office... he saw Madam Hu at the Hu family’s." After a pause, in a slightly stern tone, he looked at the Grand Dowager and said, "Could Madam Hu have said something? As for Fourth Sister-in-law’s side..." He stopped, realizing this wasn’t his place to interfere as an elder brother.

The Grand Dowager gave Xiao Yanyi a glance, her tone shifting from slightly cold to indifferent as she replied, "There’s nothing much. Xi Qiu didn’t say anything!" Clearly not wanting to pursue the topic further.

Xiao Yanyi said no more.

After Xiao Yanyi left, the Grand Dowager asked Nanny Wu, "Did he rest at Madam Shen’s last night?" Nanny Wu replied with a smile, "Yes, even requested water in the middle of the night!"

The Grand Dowager sighed, "I wonder about Chengning’s health." She then asked, "No medicinal decoction sent to Madam Shen?"

Nanny Wu shook her head, whispering, "Second Madam said that since the Marquis has few heirs, there’s no need for medicinal decoctions for Madam Shen..." She paused and added, "Though Madam Shen’s period is at the month’s end."

The Grand Dowager furrowed her brow, aware she couldn’t overly meddle in her son’s household.

"Go check on Yanzheng’s side, see what she and Suqing are up to."

Nanny Wu obliged and went to Xiao Yanzheng’s courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard, she saw Hu Suqing and Xiao Yanzheng in the garden, pointing at plum blossom racks, seemingly drying them...

Nanny Wu stood at the doorway for a moment before returning to report to the Grand Dowager.

Xiao Yanzheng looked down at the plum blossoms, frowning, "I don’t think Sister-in-law does it this way. I should go ask her."

Hu Suqing, dressed in a peach-pink overcoat, her face like a peach blossom, wore cat’s eye stone earrings and a pure gold choker, which added a delicate charm of femininity. She smiled and said, "Even if you don’t trust me, you should trust my sister. This was her method while she was alive. I used to follow her often and remember it clearly."