Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 751 - 752: Bestowal of Rewards (Part 2)
The First Madam contemplated for a moment and eventually said, "Second Brother is alone in the mansion with no one to look after him, I should go back." Although there was no one at home, the Second Madam was still confined in the second house, along with two concubines.
The Grand Dowager said nothing more.
At noon, Xiqiu tried to nurse Zhi once more. This time, the little thing seemed quite cooperative, suckling many times with a smack, while Xiqiu endured the pain, letting him suckle. However, there was still no milk, and she was secretly anxious. Although the nurse’s milk was good, it wasn’t colostrum. Having the means and conditions, she felt even if it was not for long, the colostrum should still be fed to him to improve his resistance and immunity in the future.
So, she called over Nanny Cen, "Find some folk remedies for increasing milk supply, whatever works to produce milk will do." Nanny Cen originally thought Xiqiu was just trying for novelty, since nursing wasn’t an easy task, but seeing Xiqiu’s demeanor, she couldn’t help but sigh and nodded, "When I was back at my hometown, I heard that cow nose is good for increasing milk. I’ll fetch some to make soup for Madam to try!"
In this area, Xiqiu wasn’t knowledgeable, so she nodded and said, "Please do as you see fit." Then she paused and added, "Where is Sister Jingliu, I haven’t seen her."
"Nurse Zhang went to the medical hall; someone from there sought her out saying there was some trouble, she just went to see and will return soon." Nanny Cen frowned slightly and replied, then added to ease Xiqiu’s worry, "It shouldn’t be anything major. Now everyone in the entire Capital knows you have a share in the medical hall, so who would dare cause trouble? It might just be some inexperienced people new to this."
Though Xiqiu wouldn’t bull people with her power, neither would she refrain from using it. Letting people know the connection between the medical hall and the Governor Mansion made things easier for Ruan Jingliu and the others when they needed to move around outside. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Listening, she nodded and didn’t think it was a big deal. Then she asked, "Has Chunliu returned?"
Nanny Cen shook her head, "That girl is probably having lunch with her Grand Aunt."
Xiqiu’s eyes moved slightly, but she said nothing more, "You should take a rest too, you’ve been working hard these past few days." Then she added, "I think Lyuzhi is quite good, if you are too busy, let her gain some experience outside the courtyard, she can become capable too."
Nanny Cen also liked Lyuzhi and nodded in agreement. Xiqiu then instructed, "In the external courtyard, I’ve seen some young unmarried lads and sons of stewards. If you think someone’s looks and character are appropriate, arrange a marriage for her sister. It’s not good to have someone grown up remain at home."
She was referring to Baizhi, and Nanny Cen responded, "I’ll keep that in mind and find someone suitable." Then she stepped out.
Come afternoon, after Xiqiu woke from a nap, the rewards from the palace were delivered. Nanny Cen coordinated the counting and sent them to the warehouse for storage. Fourth Master Xiao didn’t return and went directly to the Marquis Mansion, respectfully presenting Xiqiu’s gold-embellished imperial decree to the ancestral hall.
The entire mansion had been bustling all afternoon before finally settling down.
Xiqiu asked Bihuai, "Has Chunliu not come back?" Bihuai, holding a food box, nodded, "She hasn’t returned yet. If you are uneasy, I can go and check."
"No need," Xiqiu waved her hand, showing a contemplative expression.
She had her afternoon snack, the door curtain lifted, and Fourth Master Xiao walked in. He looked at Zhi lying beside Xiqiu first, then sat down next to Xiqiu, "Were things okay today?"
"I’m fine, and Zhi is very well-behaved!" Xiqiu replied with a smile, "Did Fourth Master have lunch before coming back?"
Fourth Master Xiao nodded, "I ate something at the palace." Xiqiu nodded in response, then asked, "About the rewards from the Emperor, were they only for our family, or were all the meritorious families included this time?"
"Three families were rewarded." He paused before adding, "Madam Huang received a third-rank imperial decree, and Madam Han was posthumously honored as a Secondary First Rank..."
This meant they weren’t the sole prominent family, nor were they the only mother and child honored. Xiqiu felt reassured and beamed, "What did the Emperor say when Fourth Master went to the palace?"
At this moment, Zhi puckered his small lips, looking as though he was about to cry, and Fourth Master Xiao immediately furrowed his brows, making a move to hold him after hesitating for a while. After repositioning him repeatedly, he imitated Mrs. Zhou’s holding posture, cradling Zhi in his arms.
Regardless of whether the posture was comfortable, the little guy didn’t cry, and seemed delighted, sleeping even sweeter than before.
Fourth Master Xiao exhaled in relief and said, "Nothing much was said, mainly concerning the punishment of Prince Rong." He paused, "The person can’t be kept around, but how to pursue responsibility up the chain is the question." Typically, when a Prince or Commandery Prince commits an offense, especially one as grave as usurping the throne, they are stripped of the title and the red book and iron certificate, and their ancestor’s title is also rescinded.
Meaning, even if the ancestor has passed, they too suffer the consequences.
But Prince Rong’s ancestor was none other than the former Crown Prince, going further up would implicate the late Emperor and even the current Emperor, so how these consequences are pursued needs careful consideration.
Xiqiu didn’t ask further, but Fourth Master Xiao seemed to have something he wanted to say, hesitatingly glancing at her. Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Wujin Bo Mansion," Fourth Master Xiao frowned, "is likely unable to be saved."
Although she had mentally prepared for this, Xiqiu couldn’t help but be startled. It seemed the Emperor intended to thoroughly resolve all related parties. She asked, "And what of Ren Jun, what decision has been made?"
Though he and Ren Jun shared a bond in their younger years, it was merely a friendship of the table, and Qingxiu had helped and advised Ren Jun on numerous occasions. Yet they severed contact entirely after Wujin Bo Mansion was found to have secret dealings with the Third Prince. In this matter, he couldn’t meddle, and besides, Ren Jun’s involvement in the salt mines at Liaodong was undeniable, and the armed killing incident at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion wasn’t baseless slander.
With irrefutable evidence, they could only await the verdict. Xiqiu knew a capital punishment was unlikely since the Emperor wouldn’t want to be too ruthless in making high-ranking families feel disheartened, but punishment was inevitable. She pondered and heard Fourth Master Xiao say, "Exile is likely."
"Exile?" Xiqiu sighed in relief, as in some sense, exile was better than imprisonment because at least one’s movement was free within a set area. If the exile period was long enough, family could accompany them. "Have they decided on a location?"
Holding Zhi in his arms, Fourth Master Xiao walked slowly back and forth in the room and replied to Xiqiu, "If it’s a thousand-mile exile, then Liaodong would be unsuitable, Hu-Guang, Fujian, and Guangxi are unlikely too, it seems it would be towards the west..." He paused again, stopping his steps, "It should be in the Pingliang area."
Pingliang, located in the Shanxi region, was a place Xiqiu had only heard of but never visited. However, she could imagine it to be a northwest highland filled with sand, where life couldn’t compare to the bustling Capital. She wondered if Ren Jun, who was used to a life of comfort, could adapt or for how long he could tolerate it!
And Tong Xiyang, would she go?
Xiqiu sighed, as Fourth Master Xiao, standing still, his expression gradually stiffened, prompting Xiqiu to ask in surprise, "What’s the matter?"
