Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 499 - 503: Maternal Family (2)

It seemed like wanting to say something but couldn’t bring herself to.

Xiqiu was stunned, watching Tong Xiyang stride into the main room.

Biwu furrowed her brow and asked, "What happened to Third Madam, acting so strangely?" After she spoke, Xiqiu turned her head to look at her and said with a smile, "That depends on you!"

"Madam!" Biwu pouted and said, "Do I have to go inquire again?"

Xiqiu raised her eyebrow and nodded slightly. Biwu sighed resignedly, "Alright!" Bihuai coldly looked at her from the side and said, "How could it be so hard to do a task Madam gave you? Go quickly!" Then she added, "And after you inquire, go to the carriage and take out the sweets we brought for Nanny Qian and deliver them."

They entered the mansion together, and their bond was much closer than that of others.

Biwu acknowledged and bowed to Xiqiu, saying, "Madam, I will go then." Xiqiu nodded and said, "Don’t make it too obvious."

Bihuai watched Biwu leave, then stepped up to Xiqiu and said, "I specially brought some sweets for Nanny Qian and had wanted to tell you, Madam, but it completely slipped my mind along the way. It was careless of me."

Xiqiu waved her hand nonchalantly and said, "Your own matters, of course, you can decide on your own. There’s nothing right or wrong." If she didn’t want me to know, she could have delivered it secretly later without having Bihuai deliver it in front of me.

Bihuai was thoughtful, but over these days of observation, once she has made up her mind about someone, she’s wholeheartedly devoted to them.

Bihuai followed behind Xiqiu and went to the East Cross Courtyard.

The room in Madam Xia’s quarters was exceptionally lively. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by Madam Xia, dressed in a sky-blue overcoat, sitting in the main seat. To her left sat Madam Luo, wearing a peach-red broad-sleeved, flower-embroidered overcoat, every gesture filled with charm just like three years ago. Opposite Madam Luo was Madam Mei with a round bun, dressed in a crimson, gold-edged, stand-collar overcoat. The room was filled with laughter as they chatted.

"Sixth Lady is here." Madam Mei was the first to notice Xiqiu and immediately stood up with a smile to greet her at the door, warmly saying, "We were just talking about you with the two sisters, and here you are." Extraordinarily enthusiastic.

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, saying, "Madam Mei."

Madam Xia also stood up, beaming at her, with a deep sense of affection in her eyes. Xiqiu knew she must be worried about the Hu Family rumors from a while back and the constant gossip about the shrew and lack of talent or virtue that followed. Xiqiu smiled broadly, nodding as she greeted, "Madam!"

Madam Xia came to greet her, discreetly observing her up and down, not relaxing until she confirmed that Xiqiu had not lost weight or looked worn out and seemed well-spirited. She nodded at ease and said, "Come in and sit!"

Xiqiu entered the room.

"Sixth Lady," Madam Luo stood up from her chair, beaming at her, sighing, "Three years no see, Sixth Lady has grown into a great beauty."

Xiqiu smiled at her and said, "Madam, likewise, you haven’t changed in three years but seem even younger."

Madam Luo giggled, and Sujin, standing behind her, laughed and said, "Sixth Lady mustn’t compliment our Madam, or she’ll be delighted for half a day, thinking herself eighteen again."

Sujin had become quite more prominent than three years ago, her bearing more steady.

"You talk too much!" Madam Luo was especially happy, with Madame Wang gone and Lady sick like this, now that she’s back in the house, she feels even the skies above Tong Mansion are much bluer than before, her mood exceptionally bright.

She looked at Xiqiu, thinking of the words spoken before. Indeed, she hadn’t been wrong about Sixth Miss.

She couldn’t help but be pleased with the decision she made back then to help her. Even if she were married off from this house, the person who would have a say at home in the future would no doubt still be this Sixth Miss Tong, who had been a small concubine daughter yet kept advancing and changing step by step to the present.

They all laughed and sat down, and Madam Luo said with a smile, "The Capital is truly cold, if it were Yongzhou, we’d have switched to spring clothes already this month... I’m somewhat unaccustomed to it."

"Yongzhou is in Jiangnan, with a humid climate and an early spring," Madam Xia said with a smile, "but in a few more days, we’ll also switch to spring clothes."

Madam Luo nodded in agreement, saying, "Returning has its benefits too, winter won’t be so cold from now on!" Madam Xia covered her face and laughed.

Among the three concubines, only Madam Mei hadn’t been to Yongzhou.

And Xiqiu hadn’t been anywhere outside of the Capital, so she naturally didn’t know about other places.

Madam Xia and Madam Luo exchanged a few words, then they stopped talking, and Madam Xia turned to ask Xiqiu, "Did Young Master Min return?" Xiqiu replied with a smile, "He went out to play with the third and seventh younger brothers."

Madam Xia nodded with a smile, "I’ve made a few jackets for him, shoes made by Xiuzhi, you can take them back along with you later."

"Okay!" Xiqiu nodded and smiled.

"I have some too," Madam Mei suddenly said, "Been idle these past days, made a few clothes and some single shoes, though may be a bit rough compared to Madam Xia’s stitches, if Sixth Lady doesn’t mind, you could take them along too."

This Madam Mei, truly hard to tell what a smooth operator she is.

Indeed, Madam Luo gave Madam Mei a long look. The Xiao Family didn’t just have Young Master Min, but also Xing, left behind by the First Lady. It made sense for Madam Xia to make clothes solely for Young Master Min, but Madam Mei making them separately was a bit too obvious.

She thought of the unmarried Eighth Miss, seemingly really anxious.

Madam Luo shifted her gaze, stood up with a smile, and said, "You two talk, I’ll go back first; there are still things in my room to tidy up."

Madam Xia stood up to see her off and nodded, "Come over for lunch at my place." Madam Luo nodded, "Can’t avoid this meal with sister."

Xiqiu nodded at Madam Luo, and Madam Luo left with Sujin.

Once Madam Luo left, it became difficult for Madam Mei to stay even if she wanted to. She stood up with a smile and said, "Then I’ll go back too, the kitchen’s heating something for First Young Madam, I’ll go and have a look."

"Then I won’t see you off." Madam Xia still escorted them to the door, Xiqiu smiled and greeted them, and the room was left with just Madam Xia and Xiqiu.

Xiqiu went over and held Madam Xia’s hand, and the two entered the bedroom to chat. Xiuzhi brewed a new pot of tea for Xiqiu and brought it in, then closed the door and stood guard at the entrance.

Madam Xia anxiously asked, "The matter with the Hu Family, it’s been on my mind. But you weren’t coming back, and I couldn’t daily have someone ask at the Marquis Mansion, so I could only let Xiuzhi hear what others had to say in the streets. Nothing’s come out from within the Marquis Mansion, right?"

"No." Xiqiu smiled and said, "No one’s speaking of it inside the mansion; even if there were, it would be in private. Since I don’t hear it, let them be. Could I really stop others from speaking?"

Madam Xia sighed and replied, "You’re right." And added, "What about the Grand Dowager and the Fourth Son-in-law, and what are the First and Second Madam’s attitudes?" Since the Hu Family incident passed, Fourth Master Xiao swore not to take a concubine, and the outside talked about Xiqiu being a shrew, controlling her husband not to take a concubine. Such a reputation was unpleasant to hear, yet if Fourth Son-in-law said so himself, Madam Xia was more pleased than worried.