Nanny Qian peeked from outside the curtain.
Tong Minzhi looked dejected and jumped down from his chair: "Sister, wait for me a moment." Saying this, he hopped like a little rabbit into the Warm Pavilion and returned in the blink of an eye, holding a carved wooden box as if it were a treasure: "I bought this when I passed by, one for you and one for Aunt."
Xiqiu opened it and found two wooden hairpins lying side by side in the bright red Gu Rong box, one carved with a camellia and the other with a pear blossom, the craftsmanship a bit coarse.
Hairpins again. Xiqiu nearly laughed.
"Thank you, I will take it to Aunt." Although it might not be needed, she would keep it carefully.
Tong Minzhi seemed excited, his eyes bright like stars in the night sky.
Xiqiu turned and went down the steps, but as she was leaving the courtyard, she heard a crisp yet pretendingly steady voice behind her shout: "Sister!"
Xiqiu turned to look at him.
Tong Minzhi blushed, lowered his head in embarrassment, and came over quietly saying: "I bought it with my own money... I know it's not good, but I will buy you and Aunt better ones in the future."
Xiqiu's eyes reddened slightly, and she left the courtyard without turning back.
His own money, how did he earn it? Xiqiu couldn't help worrying again, then felt she was like an old woman, thinking no matter what, he was the young master of the Tong Mansion, with servants and attendants at his side, it shouldn't be too outrageous.
The thought passed, and she felt the box in her hand suddenly seemed heavier, did she have the ability to protect him, let him grow up healthy?
She was deep in thought, so she didn't notice the person coming face to face until Sixing spoke up, and the person was already within reach.
"Sixth Sister." Xu Tianqing stood in front, gazing at her, visibly surprised but more delighted.
Xiqiu stopped in her tracks and gave a nod to Xu Tianqing: "Cousin." She said no more.
She forgot that Xu Tianqing also lived here, only remembering he and Xiao Yanyi went to the study.
Nanny Qian immediately smiled and came to greet him: "Greetings, Young Master!"
Sixing and the others also paid their respects.
Xu Tianqing put away the smile on his face and adopted a demeanor Xiqiu had never seen before, slightly authoritative: "I came back to fetch something, leaving Brother-in-law alone in the study. I would trouble Nanny and a few young ladies to go and keep an eye, lest the unaware servants slack off."
There were servants in the outer yard to serve, no need for the inner yard people, especially since it was the young master, how could the young ladies' maids go.
Besides Nanny Qian, no one else was suitable.
"The young ladies have to serve the miss, better that this old woman goes." Nanny Qian, being an old hand in the mansion, was naturally astute, immediately smiled in agreement.
Xu Tianqing slightly nodded: "I'll trouble Nanny then."
Nanny Qian also gave a nod to Xiqiu: "Miss, wait a while. It's windy and you didn't bring a hand warmer, don't catch a cold."
Xiqiu smiled and nodded: "It's so cold, I also need to visit Lady's room to sit for a while. Nanny, mind the slippery road."
Nanny Qian saw that not only had she understood her meaning, but she also hinted at visiting Lady's room later, there was no need to say more, so she took a turn, walked over the bridge, and entered through the side door.
Xiqiu turned and said something to Sixing, who followed Nanny Qian, while Chunliu immediately led the maids to wait on the side in the corridor.
Xu Tianqing turned to look at her: "Sixth Sister... how have you been lately?"
Xiqiu half-turned, her eyes lowered: "Thank you for your concern, Cousin, everything is fine."
Her detached tone, indifferent attitude, made Xu Tianqing's smile stiffen, but then he thought that they hadn't seen each other in two years, both had grown up, a bit of awkwardness was not unexpected.
"About those hairpins... Sixth Sister, don't think much of it, I exchanged for them with a copy of 'Heavenly Observation Scripture', my mother... doesn't know."
'Heavenly Observation Scripture'? Xiqiu had seen it mentioned in 'Miscellaneous Talks of All Families', a book on stars and celestial phenomena, rarely circulated today and hard to come by, yet he not only had it, but used it to exchange for hairpins.
Xiqiu did not know what to say.
"Does Sixth Sister not like it?" She hadn't worn the hairpin he sent, Xu Tianqing assumed the gift wasn't to her liking.
Xiqiu was taken aback, thinking for a moment before understanding he was asking if she liked the hairpin.
How should she say, like it or not?
"The hairpin is beautiful." Xiqiu noticeably felt Xu Tianqing heave a sigh of relief: "But I rarely go out, so such a precious thing is not needed for me, it's better kept with Cousin."
How would it be appropriate to keep it with him? He knew it was an excuse from Xiqiu, his face dimmed, and he waved his hand: "No… now that it has been given, it's Sixth Sister's, you should keep it." He seemed afraid she might say more, quickly changed the topic: "Yesterday, my eldest brother introduced me to Third Scholar Jiang, we drank half the night, and after a long talk with him, I truly understood the difference between the autumn examination and the county and state exams."
The tone carried a sense of nostalgia and sentiment.
Xiqiu also did not want to continue that topic, Third Scholar Jiang, whose real name was Jiang Shilin, had won third place in the palace examination and entered the Hanlin Academy, last year for some reason had a quarrel with the Third Prince, resigned in a fit of anger and opened a private school on the outskirts, causing a stir in the court, now becoming a leading figure of the intellectual elite, highly regarded by scholars.
He and Tong Shen Zhi were from the same discipline, their acquaintance was not surprising, just from his tone it seemed they had a deep relationship, which differed from Xiqiu's impression of Tong Shen Zhi.
"Though there are some differences, Cousin has prepared for a long time and often receives guidance from Lord Xu, with your talent the autumn examination should be easily yours, no need for needless self-disturbance."
It's natural that the imperial examination is hard, otherwise why would there be so many candidates who have been trying for decades, desperately studying, and why the reaction of Fan Jin upon passing would exist.
The ancient imperial exam was the forerunner of modern test-oriented education, rote memorization plus some ingenuity, of course, this ingenuity varies with the individual, but has some correlation with having a renowned teacher's guidance, and on top of that, demands solid psychological resilience to perform on spot and good health foundation, don't let the person faint during the three-day exam!
These conditions, Xu Tianqing all possessed, if everything proceeded normally, Xiqiu believed the provincial exam would not be difficult for him.
Xu Tianqing couldn't conceal the joy on his face: "Does Sixth Sister believe I can pass?"
Xiqiu nodded earnestly: "Do you have plans for next spring's palace examination, Cousin?"
Directly skipping the scholar level aiming for advanced scholar.
Xu Tianqing was momentarily disheartened, but remembering Xiqiu's confidence in him, his morale was greatly boosted: "Cousin must strive hard not to disappoint Sixth Sister."
What does this have to do with me? Even if you become an advanced scholar and enter officialdom, I will still be circling in the inner courtyard, maybe just moving from one piece of land to another, changing a bed at most.
It was as if Xu Tianqing knew what she was thinking: "Linzi is beautiful, Sixth Sister should visit if she has the time." After saying that, he felt the words were inappropriate and added: "I will invite Aunt to Linzi."