Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 532 - 535: Undercurrent (Part 2)

The Grand Dowager said nothing, and the Second Madam went to see Xiao Yanyi, whose gaze briefly fell on the doorway.

Her hand holding the teacup tightened.

Children’s laughter had already begun to penetrate the courtyard, followed by Xiqiu entering through the gate with three children in tow. They each greeted the Grand Dowager, Xiao Yanyi, and the Second Madam. The Grand Dowager laughed gleefully, hugged Xin and Min, and kissed them, asking, "Went for a walk?"

"Yes, Fourth Aunt took us for two laps." After a pause, he added, "I’m not tired at all!"

The Grand Dowager looked at Xin’s rosy cheeks, a satisfactory smile emerging, and turned to Xiqiu, "Sit down and let’s talk."

Xiqiu greeted the Second Madam and Xiao Yanyi again, then took a seat opposite Xiao Yanyi, pulling Sheng over with her, helped him with his little backpack. Sheng smiled and said, "Thank you, Fourth Aunt." Xiqiu smiled and patted his head, prompting the Grand Dowager to beckon Sheng over and say with a smile, "Don’t forget our Sheng; let Grandmother give him a kiss!"

Sheng laughed happily.

Min looked to Xiao Yanyi on the left and the Second Madam on the right, recalling his mother’s instructions from a few days before, immediately raised his face to the Grand Dowager and said, "Grandmother, the teacher praised us yesterday."

The Grand Dowager raised her eyebrows, "What did he praise?" Min was about to speak when Xin interrupted, "He praised Min for his recitation skills!"

The Second Madam listened with a slight smile, while Min quickly waved his hand and said, "He also praised you for reciting well." Then he turned to the Grand Dowager and said, "All three of us recited well!"

This time, Second Uncle should consider Xin very smart.

He secretly glanced at Xiao Yanyi, who, as expected, was looking at Xin.

"Oh, what did you recite? Where did the teacher teach you? Are you still talking about the Thousand Character Classic?" The Grand Dowager asked with a smile.

"No," Sheng waved his hand and said, "We talked about the Five Character Mirror. The teacher said that we finished the Thousand Character Classic and should review it on our own." The Grand Dowager nodded, and Min had already said, "Grandmother, shall we recite it together for you?"

"Yes, yes," the Grand Dowager seemed delighted, nodding repeatedly.

Min grabbed Xin’s hand encouragingly, "I’ll start, and we’ll recite it together." The three gathered, whispering to each other a bit, and Min began: "Emperor Yao of Taotang, his benevolence spread throughout the world. Lush grass grew untended, soil steps formed three tiers. Mints grew in the courtyard, observing days and months..."

The recitation was very neat.

Xiqiu watched with a smile, listening attentively.

After reciting a long passage, Xin wasn’t nervous for the first time. He sneaked a look at Xiao Yanyi, noticing that although his father’s expression was indifferent, there was a glow of satisfaction in his eyes, making Xin stand straight.

"You recited very well!" The Grand Dowager laughed joyfully, "You’ve even reached Taotang Chronicles..." Xin paused in surprise, eyes wide, and asked the Grand Dowager, "Grandmother, you know this too?"

The entire room erupted in laughter, and Xiao Yanyi frowned, speaking in a deep voice, "Watch your words, and apologize to Grandmother."

Xin froze, lowered his head, and said, "Grandmother, I’m sorry!"

"It’s alright, it’s alright!" The Grand Dowager waved her hand at Xiao Yanyi, then smiled at Xin, "Xin just taught Grandmother; Grandmother isn’t as impressive as Xin, able to recite so much." Xin was increasingly happy from the praise, forgetting his earlier unease and twisting his head to say, "I even know several stories inside."

Clearly eager to show off.

Xiao Yanyi frowned slightly, and the Second Madam raised her eyebrows, taking up the conversation to praise, "Xin is truly formidable, tell us more."

Xin glanced at the Grand Dowager, who nodded, and Xin said with a smile, "The story of Shun and his brother Xiang, Xiang always bullied Shun... Shun didn’t hold any grudges and even promoted Xiang to a high-ranking official..." He recited it fully and then talked about other stories.

However, the room lapsed into an eerie silence.

Except for Xin’s voice, there were no other sounds.

The Grand Dowager’s hand trembled slightly as she drank her tea, her good mood evaporating instantly, and she turned to see Xiqiu, who was smiling intently listening to Xin, her expression unwavering beyond the smile. This made the Grand Dowager pause, causing suspicions to surface.

Xiao Yanyi also was surprised, with so many stories in the Five Character Mirror, Xin chose a tale of fraternal conflict... His gaze fell on the Second Madam’s belly, as she touched it, her brows tightly furrowed.

That evening, the Grand Dowager summoned Nanny Wu and instructed, "Go to the outer courtyard and ask Mr. Song what he has been teaching these past few days." Nanny Wu’s expression grew serious, agreeing immediately and departing.

She returned shortly after and replied, "He spoke of the Five Character Mirror, discussed many anecdotes, and taught Xin Xiao and Min the flute..."

So, Xin telling this anecdote was really just a coincidence?

Xiao Yanyi left the Grand Dowager’s room, dismissed his servant, and walked alone through the garden, mind repeatedly playing Xin’s voice, fraternal conflict... His fist clenched, face growing ever more intense, until he unknowingly arrived at the courtyard where Tong Xihua lived, the Ruyi Gate closed. Outside the courtyard wall, the apricot tree was in full bloom with pink and white flowers, petals floating down to the ground. He remembered Tong Xihua pulling his hand with her last breath.

He promised Tong Xihua to make Xin the Princely Heir.

Delayed in doing so due to Xin’s long-standing health issues, but recently he daily saw Xin walking robustly in the garden, his complexion healthy, his body’s vigor visibly increased, and even his voice sounding louder than before.

The old concerns had gone, but new worries arose. The matter of making him the heir could wait no longer.

Having thought it through, he returned to the Grand Dowager’s courtyard.

The Grand Dowager paused when she saw him return, then understood immediately. She knew her son best, and asked, "Is it regarding Xin?"

"Yes," Xiao Yanyi looked at the Grand Dowager, pondered for a moment, and said, "Mother, I want to establish Xin as the Princely Heir. If you have no objections, I’ll submit the memorial to the Ministry of Rites tomorrow."

The Grand Dowager held her tea without drinking, pondering for a while before nodding, "Very well, we initially worried about Xin’s poor health possibly causing variables in the future, but now he is vigorous, even able to walk with Sheng around the garden every afternoon, growing sturdier day by day..." After a pause, she added, "Have you discussed it with Chengning?"

"I’ll inform her once the approval comes through; it’s not urgent." This decision was already settled long ago; Xin is the legitimate son and eldest, it’s only fitting to make him heir. Whether it’s discussed beforehand doesn’t matter!

The Grand Dowager frowned, saying, "Though you appear amiable, you’re the most stubborn... You can’t make such a significant decision without consulting her, especially now that it’s coincidently during her pregnancy, how do you expect her to react?"