Xu Tianqing's gaze fell upon Xiqiu, who had her hair styled in a falling horse bun, adorned with a jade lotus flower and green feather hairpin and a light pink pearl flower the size of a thumbnail, sitting properly. A hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
He had thought she would like it.
Then he thought of her caution and blamed himself for overthinking.
As the thought crossed his mind, the voices of the maids and servants greeting from outside became incessant, and Xiqiu quickly stood up, intending to hide behind the screen.
Lady waved her hand, signaling that they did not need to avoid: "They're all family, no need for so much formality. Besides, the lord and second uncle are not at home, and your eldest brother has also gone to the pavilion. The son-in-law won't stay long, let's chat for a while."
Xiqiu's face changed slightly, and she sat down to the side with her head down.
As soon as they sat, the curtain was lifted.
Miss Tong Xihua rushed in like the wind, her oval face slightly thin, wearing a red gold-leafed flowered robe, a golden silk white patterned rain silk skirt, a Phoenix Spreading Wings Six-sided Jade and Seven Treasure Bright Gold Hairpin gleaming with golden light, illuminating the entire room.
Yet it couldn't hide the gloom between her brows.
Following her came a man, whom Xiqiu quickly glanced at. He was dressed in an ice blue straight robe, with a dark green silk belt with embroidered cranes at his waist. His figure was tall and slender, with gentle and elegant brows, a slight smile at the corners of his lips, giving an impression of spring breeze, ethereal and unrestrained.
Standing with the rising Xu Tianqing, Xu Tianqing, with a high nose and sharp brows, fair complexion, looked slightly immature but possessed youthful vigor, while he was mature and steady, handsome and noble, each having their merits.
Xiqiu thought of a word from her previous life: tall, rich, and handsome.
With these two styles, if you add Tong Shen Zhi, it's feared that the old, middle-aged, and young are all captivated.
Sure enough, Tong Xiyu's cheeks turned pink, and she lowered her head, not daring to look up.
Tong Xiyang sat upright, and Xiqiu was secretly surprised when she noticed the handkerchief in her hand was deformed.
Perhaps due to blood relations, Tong Xiyan rose gracefully, happily looking at her sister.
Xiao Yanyi and Tong Xihua both greeted Lady, then bowed to Concubine, and then greeted the sisters. Tong Xihua sat next to Lady, while Xiao Yanyi sat on a redwood lingzhi chair on one side, lowering his eyes to sip tea.
"You're still like a child, acting impulsively. I thought you'd arrive by late morning, but you came so early," she looked at Xiao Yanyi, gently saying, "So let the son-in-law take the trouble."
There was a sense of pride in her words.
Tong Xihua shyly disagreed: "Mother..."
Xiao Yanyi put down the teacup, got up, and elegantly bowed: "Xihua misses mother-in-law, as a son-in-law, accompanying was only appropriate, not tiring."
The noble son-in-law respected her so much and protected her daughter, warming her heart, she nodded in approval: "Has there been any news from the Marquis, is his health well?"
Xiao Yanyi replied: "Everything is well with elder brother, he sent a letter just last month."
Lady relaxed, then affectionately pulled her daughter's hand: "Why were you so eager to come back, is there something?"
Tong Xihua smiled sweetly, though Xiqiu felt the laughter was somewhat dry: "There's nothing, just knowing aunt and cousin are here, I wanted to come back and see."
While speaking, she examined Xu Tianqing and then glanced over the elegant and beautiful face of Tong Xiyan, pondering something.
After all, they belong to a Marquis's noble family, incomparable to our external officials. If they could extend some support, Xu Tianqing's official path would be much smoother!
The thought flashed, and Concubine's attitude became more cordial: "I was just talking to your mother yesterday, saying if you didn't come back, we should send a post and visit in person. Glad we were all thinking alike, and here you are."
Tong Xihua clutched Concubine's arm, her tone coy, like when she was pampered before marriage: "You could send someone to relay the message, no need for aunt to personally come."
Lady chuckled: "You're always so clever." Then she looked at Nanny Fang: "Has the Master been notified?"
Nanny Fang beamed: "Master has already sent word, saying he'll come back after the academic session and let cousin accompany the son-in-law for a while."
Lady nodded contentedly.
Xu Tianqing gracefully addressed Xiao Yanyi with a hand gesture: "I just arrived yesterday, but I found many renowned calligraphy works in elder brother's study, would you like to take a look, brother-in-law?"
Implying they'd talk among men.
Xiao Yanyi got up, bowed gracefully, and went to the study with Xu Tianqing.
Concubine's eyes were full of satisfaction.
As the men left, the atmosphere in the room clearly relaxed, and Tong Xihua pulled Tong Xiyan in front of her: "Haven't seen you in a month, the fourth girl seems to have grown taller."
Lady smoothed Tong Xiyan's not-so-untidy sideburns: "Indeed, the clothes made earlier this year seem much shorter now, had I known, I would have saved the trouble."
Tong Xiyan, her hand around Lady, leaned against her sister's shoulder with gentle eyes: "Even if mother doesn't make them for me, I can ask for them from elder sister, and now that aunt is here, I'm not afraid of running out wearing autumn clothes."
Concubine shook her head, tapping Tong Xiyan's forehead: "Oh, you already have plans for aunt being here, I better hurry back tomorrow, lest you sell me for clothes."
The whole room burst into laughter.
Tong Xiyang covered her mouth corner, playfully adding: "If aunt goes back, take me along too, lest fourth sister runs out of clothes another day and hauls me off for a trade!"
Concubine's eyes twinkled, smiled: "That's a good idea, I'll take everyone but the fourth girl back to Shandong."
Tong Xiyang's eyes showed a hint of disappointment.
Tong Xiyang's eagerness to please appeared clownish in Concubine's eyes. Although her face wore a smile her attitude was perfunctory, clearly looking down on these concubines' daughters.
Xiqiu frowned secretly, wishing she could step up and stop her from talking.
Tong Xihua's gaze fell on the carefully dressed Tong Xiyang, with a slight hint of ridicule: "Third sister is becoming more clever, will you reach the coming-of-age next year?!"
Tong Xiyang's eyes brightened, somewhat expectantly looking at Lady.
Lady suppressed her displeasure, glancing coldly at Tong Xiyang: "Just past your fourteenth birthday." Meaning she's still young, no hurry for marriage.
Tong Xiyang grew anxious; settling an engagement now and going through all the ceremonies would take until the year after next, time was not abundant, but Lady's attitude clearly showed she didn't care.
Usually, she only saw Xu Tianqing as handsome and gentle, but today standing with the noble and elegant Xiao Yanyi, he was no less impressive.
Her heart jumped uncontrollably!
Xu Tianqing currently holds no title; she still had a glimmer of hope, but if she waited for him to become a scholar or advanced scholar, she'd be out of the running!
Her gaze fell on the legitimate daughter Tong Xiyan beside her, and there was also Xiqiu, truly wolves in front, tigers behind…