Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 195 Out of the Pass (2)

"I missed you guys too," she said with a gentle smile as she looked back at the two of them.

"Cousin, I’m going back first. See you in a little while," she said, turning to address Jueqing.

"Alright, see you soon." He nodded and then headed back to Songhe Garden.

Yingsu waited until Jueqing was out of sight before moving closer and saying, "Miss, the bathwater is ready. We’ve been waiting for you to return."

"Yes, the room is nice and warm, and your clothes are all prepared; we’re just waiting for you, Miss," Baihe added cheerfully as she approached.

"You two know me best. Let’s go. I reek," Feng Xuxu said as she walked ahead, observing the silvery landscape outside. Unknowingly, a year was about to pass. Reflecting on the past year, she realized she had indeed accomplished a few significant things. She shook her head with a smile and walked towards her Qinxin Garden.

Feng Xuxu soaked in the warm water, noticing the petals floating on top, probably picked by the two maidservants during her seclusion.

"Miss, should I add some more hot water?" Baihe asked, carrying hot water from the outer room into the inner chamber.

"No, I’m done," she replied, shaking her head. She had been soaking for almost half an hour already.

"Let me help you, Miss." She picked up a towel that was kept aside and carefully began to wipe the water droplets from her mistress’s body.

"Miss, your skin is so delicate," she remarked, noticing how even a gentle wipe could leave a red mark on the mistress’s tender skin.

"You cheeky girl, making fun of your mistress now," Feng Xuxu said, shaking her head with amusement as she watched Baihe’s envious expression.

"I would never, Miss." Baihe picked up the underclothes and handed them to her mistress.

After Feng Xuxu was dressed, she turned to Baihe and said, "Go have someone dispose of the water." She sat in front of the bronze mirror, vigorously twisting her hair with the towel.

"Yes, Miss." Baihe left the room and, in no time, several old maidservants came in to carry away the bath tub, reducing the steam in the room.

She put on the prepared clothes, only to realize that either the sleeves were too short or the chest was too loose, and it was then she noticed she had grown taller.

Watching the maidservants hastily altering the clothes, Feng Xuxu was at a loss for words.

"Miss, try it on now!" Baihe brought the altered clothes for her mistress to put on.

After Feng Xuxu put on the clothes and turned around, she found the adjustments quite satisfactory and praised, "The alterations are well done; I didn’t expect Baihe’s sewing skills to be so exceptional."

"Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Miss. This is all thanks to the sisters’ hard work." Baihe gave a playful bow to her mistress and didn’t forget to praise her sisters.

"Let’s go. I’ll pay a visit to Grandpa and Grandma," she said as she donned a cloak and its hood, leading the way out of the room.

Arriving at Songhe Garden, she could see from a distance Aunt Yun looking around, her gaze wandering to the entrance from time to time.

"Oh my, Miss Cousin, you’ve arrived!" Aunt Yun said, seeing Feng Xuxu’s slim face framed by the hood of her cloak, no longer the baby-faced girl but now with delicate features.

"Aunt Yun, why are you standing outside in such cold weather?" She went up to cover Aunt Yun’s cold hands, expressing her concern.

"It’s not cold, it’s not cold. The lady is worrying about Miss too much, letting me wait here for her." She grinned at Feng Xuxu, who had grown noticeably taller.

"Let’s go, let’s hurry inside. I’ve missed grandma and grandpa too." She took Yun Auntie’s hand while Baihe followed, lifting the thick cotton curtain behind them.

After entering and releasing Yun Auntie’s hand, she passed the side hall and stepped into the inner room, where grandma was anxiously looking toward the entrance. The moment she saw Feng Xuxu, she excitedly stood up and quickly advanced a few steps.

"Grandma, I’m here." Grandma tightly gripped Feng Xuxu’s hand, but found herself unable to speak.

"Grandma, please sit." She helped grandma into the chair, then knelt to look up at her, saying, "Grandma, I’ve missed you." She leaned against her grandma’s legs, enjoying the warmth from her kin.

"Finally, you’re here. I’ve been looking forward to it every day. I missed you too, Xuxu." She patted Feng Xuxu’s hand and spoke with trembling, excited lips.

"Cough cough cough." Grandpa, with a sullen face, coughed pointedly from the side.

Seeing this, Feng Xuxu exchanged a glance with grandma and then pretended to be perplexed as she said, "Grandpa, are you ill? You don’t need me to check your pulse, do you? I’ve already learned how to do it." Saying so, she stepped forward to take his pulse.

"You girl, I’m perfectly fine." He glared at Feng Xuxu with displeasure.

"Grandma, why do I smell a strong scent of vinegar?" Feng Xuxu playfully winked at grandma.

"Yes, I smell it too," grandma winked back at Feng Xuxu.

"Dad, Mom, what are you smelling?" Xuanyuan Yan had just set foot in the room when he heard his mother’s words and asked curiously.

"Hehehe, Uncle."

"Xuxu, what are you all talking about?" Uncle took off his cloak and walked to the brazier, warming his hands and sniffing around.

"Cough cough cough." Before Xuxu could reply, grandpa began coughing again. Feng Xuxu turned to see grandpa winking and making faces at her, along with a look of appeasement, making her burst into laughter.

"I feel like eating West Lake Vinegar Fish. I was thinking of having the kitchen add it as an additional dish," Feng Xuxu blinked at grandpa and then said to uncle.

"That’s easy to do." He turned to Yun Auntie and instructed, "Yun Auntie, order the kitchen to add a dish."

"Yes, I’ll go right away." Yun Auntie cheerfully agreed and turned to head for the kitchen.

At the lunch table, uncle kept ladling West Lake fish into Feng Xuxu’s bowl. Whenever Jueqing tried to take some vinegar fish, he would inexplicably find himself glared at by his father. Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that nearly all of the fish had ended up in his cousin’s bowl.

Feng Xuxu, faced with a mountainous pile of fish in her bowl, was speechless and could only slowly make her way through it.

In the following days, aside from visiting grandma and grandpa, Feng Xuxu hardly left Qinxin Garden. She was constantly reviewing the industries of the Xuanyuan Hidden Clan, analyzing their values and profits, making continuous adjustments and a series of deployments. It was only when she finished that she realized the New Year was fast approaching, and the annual Lunar New Year’s Eve was upon them.

Since the Empress Dowager’s birthday fell on the Lantern Festival, Feng Xuxu prepared in advance for the trip to Capital City. After several busy days, she finally decided to set out early on the third day of the Lunar New Year, with the Castle Lord of Jueqing Castle and the Holy Maiden making the journey to Capital City to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday.

On the third day, Feng Xuxu was ready and appeared in Songhe Garden to say goodbye to grandma and grandpa. With their reluctant gazes upon her, she boarded the lavish carriage of the Holy Maiden and headed straight for Capital City.