Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 529 - 532: Death (4)

As for the others, like the wife from the needlework room, she squints at people when speaking. Even though Xiqiu sits on the left, she pretends to calmly look to the right. Xiqiu understands that she must have been doing needlework for too many years, making her eyes unable to see clearly, but she’s afraid of being found out, so she stubbornly remains here.

Having listened to the reports from various places, Xiqiu retained Nanny Li and handed her the guest list drafted yesterday: "Please trouble Nanny to make a trip to the outer courtyard and inform them that these invitations must be sent out today."

Nanny Li took the list and quickly scanned it with her eyes. Then, her expression almost imperceptibly faltered.

It was exactly the same as the list originally drafted by the Second Madam.

Later, go find out if this list was drafted by the Fourth Madam or ordered by the Grand Dowager.

She accepted the list with a smile and agreed: "I will go immediately!"

Xiqiu nodded.

Chunliu helped Xiqiu back to the room to change clothes. Min had already finished breakfast and was being served by Dongling, carrying his school bag. When he saw Xiqiu return, Min asked, "Mother, do I still have to pick up Xing today?"

Xiqiu thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Yes, you do!" After a pause, she added, "Mother will go with you."

Min and Xiqiu held hands as they stepped out. Min tilted his head to look at Xiqiu, thought for a moment, and said, "Mother, the teacher asked if I should learn the xiao, the qin, or the flute..."

Xiqiu smiled and said, "Min should learn whatever he likes." Min showed a hesitant look for the first time: "I..." He didn’t like any of them.

"What is Xing learning?" Xiqiu asked.

Min replied, "Xing is learning the xiao, but Sheng said he wouldn’t learn it, and the teacher didn’t insist."

Xiqiu thought about it; she still felt it was good for children to have a hobby, especially music. For the listener, it might just be an auditory experience or deeper comfort or solace for the soul... But for the performer, it’s more about "venting" emotions, good, bad, sentimental, angry... etc. All emotions can be expressed through music; it’s an excellent soothing way. Everyone has emotions that need to be vented, and this method is better than venting at people or bottling up emotions like Min does.

"How about learning the flute? The flute has a melodious sound; Mother likes it very much!"

Min’s eyes lit up at hearing this, and he nodded without hesitation: "Alright, then I’ll tell the teacher I’ll learn the flute!"

Xiqiu also laughed.

At the entrance of the Grand Dowager’s place, they saw Nanny Wu and Nanny Liu leading servants far off towards the Second Madam’s courtyard.

Perhaps they are planning to send Teng Qiuniang away now!

Xiqiu’s gaze paused slightly, then she and Min entered the Grand Dowager’s courtyard.

She reported to the Grand Dowager about meeting with the various stewards in the morning. The Grand Dowager listened and chuckled without asking what she talked about with Teng Qiuniang last night. After sitting for a while, Xiqiu excused herself and returned to her room.

In the afternoon, Biwu hurried in while Xiqiu was discussing with Nanny Quan about the items needed for the twenty-eighth, preparing them in advance to avoid chaos then.

Seeing Biwu hesitating to speak, she dismissed Nanny Quan and asked Biwu: "What is it?"

Biwu furrowed her brow and said, "The Fifth Madam has entered the manor and is now crying in the Grand Dowager’s room." After a pause, she added: "I heard that last night, a merchant ship from the Teng Family sank in the canal, the entire shipload of salt sinking to the river bottom. The First Master Teng was in the Ministry of Internal Affairs talking to Lord Qian at the time, and upon hearing the news, he fainted and, when revived, hurried by carriage towards Tongzhou, only for the horse to inexplicably go mad midway, plunging horse and carriage off a cliff."

It is said that the place where they fell off is the very cliff the Emperor jumped off outside the city before.

Quite a coincidence indeed.

Biwu paused again and said: "At noon, the Teng family’s servants went down to search. The carriage was shattered, and as for the First Master Teng... they say he was found crushed under the horse, barely recognizable."

Xiqiu was not shocked; she was mentally prepared for such an outcome, but she didn’t expect First Master Teng to die so tragically.

"What did the Grand Dowager say?" She thought of Teng Qiuniang.

Biwu replied, "The Grand Dowager instructed Housekeeper Hu to dispatch guards and assist the Teng family’s servants. By now, the First Master Teng’s body is probably already on its way back to Tongzhou!"

The weather is getting hotter, and there’s no time to delay on the road!

"The Fifth Madam is crying her heart out, pleading for the Grand Dowager’s grace, allowing her to take Teng Qiuniang along to Tongzhou for the funeral!"

Xiqiu’s gaze hardened slightly, funeral? With First Master Teng dead, the Teng Family might not be able to hold on. If things are as she suspects, Teng Qiuniang might not have the opportunity to attend a funeral!

The Second Madam suddenly sat up, furrowing her brow in disbelief and confirmed: "Are you sure this news is reliable?" Nanny Xing, being somewhat old, didn’t usually go out, but she was responsible for the communication between the Second Madam and the Rong County Prince Mansion.

She nodded: "Absolutely true!" After a pause, she added: "Otherwise, the Fifth Madam wouldn’t have ignored the Grand Dowager’s orders and barged into the manor because of this matter!"

The Second Madam’s expression finally darkened; she never expected First Master Teng to die like this. Regarding the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she had thought that as long as the Empress Dowager exerted more pressure on the Emperor, the Teng Family would be secure. Helping Teng Qiuniang was not only because of their transaction but, more importantly, the Teng family’s assets were far more substantial than what appeared to outsiders. Only by controlling the Teng Family...

"Quickly go to the Prince Manor to inquire about the source of the Teng family’s sunken salt ship!" Nanny Xing furrowed her brow, immediately nodded and left.

The Second Madam then summoned Nanny Li, whispering close to her ear: "Personally take people to the Iron Pestle Temple, remember not to be seen, and inform Teng Qiuniang about the Teng family’s matters..." After a pause, she added: "Do you know what to do with the rest?"

Teng Qiuniang mustn’t stay; without the Teng Family’s restraint, who knows what chaos she might cause!

Nanny Li’s expression turned solemn, and she nodded in agreement: "I understand clearly!"

The Second Madam then slowly reclined in her chair, her hand naturally resting on her abdomen, gently caressing.

At nightfall, Nanny Li returned silently with her people. The Second Madam was having dinner, and seeing Nanny Li return, she quickly covered her mouth and nose, frowned, and instructed: "Go wash up first, you’re a mess."

Nanny Li paused, immediately nodded, and turned to wash up.

By the time the Second Madam finished dinner and drank her tea, Nanny Li had washed, carrying a faint scent of orchids. The Second Madam nodded satisfactorily, holding her tea, she asked: "How did it go?"

Nanny Li slightly nodded imperceptibly, paused, and with a hesitant look thought for a moment, then said: "She left a message for you before she died."