Xiqiu shook her head, mentally going over the accounts, and said, "Tomorrow, take ten taels of silver to Laiwang's wife, have her help buy two jars of the finest Jinhua Wine. Be discreet and don't let anyone see. When she brings the wine, keep a bottle for her. Don't say much else. Take the other bottle to the Seventh Young Master and have him deliver it to the teacher."
"I understand." Chunyan didn't ask for reasons, memorizing everything, and then asked, "What about Fourth Miss's birthday? What will you give her?"
Xiqiu tapped her fingers on the table, producing a crisp sound. After a while, she said, "I'll think about it. There are still a few days, aren't there?"
Chunyan didn't say more, appearing as though she wanted to speak but hesitated. Xiqiu shook her head and said, "Go eat first, and we'll talk later."
That night, Chunyan and Sixing switched night shifts, sitting on a small stool at the head of the bed, recounting the day's findings: "After leaving, I went straight to the Minister Mansion, waited at the side gate for half the day, but no one came out. As it was getting late, I considered pretending to be thirsty to ask the doorkeepers for a cup of water and inquire about things. Coincidentally, a carriage came out, and I overheard the doorkeeper chatting with the driver: 'Mingdong Family, where are you off to again these days? You've been busy.'"
The carriage driver laughed arrogantly, glanced at them, and said, "I've been ordered by the Lady to deliver a return gift to the Wujin Bo Mansion." Then she drove the carriage out of the alley.
Chunyan kept a calm face: "Then I heard the doorkeepers spit on the ground, muttering how sycophancy knows no bounds. With just a few glances from the Lady and two days in the Duke Mansion, they think themselves above others, as if made princes or imperial grandsons."
Chunyan detailed everything she heard, seeing Xiqiu sitting cross-legged on the bed with her eyes lowered, she cautiously asked after a while: "Miss?"
Xiqiu looked up and suddenly smiled: "It's nothing, you did well. Don't tell anyone else about this; this is the end of it!"
Confused, Chunyan nodded, and under the dim lamp light, Xiqiu's features were somewhat blurred. She suddenly remembered that since Miss suffered a severe illness five years ago, she changed after waking up, speaking less and becoming much steadier. She even started learning embroidery, something she once disdainfully dismissed. Sometimes, she really couldn't figure out what Miss was thinking. Her once clear bright eyes seemed to have deepened, becoming enigmatic.
Xiqiu picked up the half-finished embroidered screen of snow on red plum blossoms, continuing to stitch slowly by the light. Yet, these few days her heart was the calmest. If indeed the First Lady's visit to the Minister Mansion was related to the Marquis Mansion, it must be about arranging matches for the young ladies. The Marquis Mansion's status was high, they wouldn't consider these concubine-born daughters, likely it concerned Tong Xiyan's marriage.
Being the First Lady's biological daughter, the First Lady wouldn't harm her, it wasn't her place to worry. She just hoped that person would cherish her more and that her life would go smoothly.
At this thought, she was suddenly startled, wondering about the meaning behind her elder sister's words before she left today? Suggesting they should go together with the First Lady to visit the Xuanning Prefecture when there's free time, as once they each have their own families, it won't be as convenient as it is now.
The smile on her face, and the joy the First Lady couldn't suppress, was it possible there was something she didn't know, or the situation wasn't as simple as she thought?
Xiqiu abruptly put down the screen. She was already twelve, how much longer could she evade matters? It was time to think for herself.
"When is the First Master returning to the capital?"
The sudden question caught Chunyan off guard; after a moment of bewilderment, she replied, "They say by the end of March."
Indeed, officials had a set time for reporting back to the capital, and the First Master had just a month's time; she needed to seriously consider what to do.
"Try to find out what exactly the First Lady and elder sister discussed that day."
Chunyan glanced at Xiqiu, pondered for a moment, then nodded: "I understand."
For some reason, the atmosphere became somewhat oppressive. In the deep night, neither felt any sleepiness and they fell into a long silence.
Sixing lifted the curtain and entered, seeing Xiqiu holding a book absentmindedly, not turning a single page for quite some time, unsure of what she was thinking. Gently, she said: "Miss… Laiwang's wife is here at the mansion for some official business, and wishes to come in and pay her respects to you."
Xiqiu raised her brows, closed the book, carefully placed a bookmark in it, and smiled: "She's a smart woman, let her come in."
Laiwang's wife, around thirty, had a round face, slightly plump, appeared amiable and easy to get along with, smiling before speaking three parts: "I'm here at the mansion on Lady's orders, and holding Miss in my heart, thought to come in and pay my respects. The bottle of Jinhua Wine Miss gave to Chunyan, my husband is reluctant to drink it. He wants to seal it up and bring it out when our ungrateful son gets married, to honor the ancestors."
Extending her words, she truly knelt down to kowtow.
Xiqiu hurried off the kang, while Sixing swiftly supported Laiwang's wife, smiling: "Mama, what are you doing? You're an elder in the mansion; when the Old Lady was alive, she esteemed you so much. All your care for our Miss, both overt and covert, is remembered in our hearts, and we see you as an elder. Kowtowing to our Miss would only shorten her longevity."
Laiwang's wife repeatedly said she dared not and took the momentum to stand.
Sixing quickly brought a stool for her to sit, she half-sat on it.
Xiqiu also smiled and said, "That's exactly the point, though you don't often come to the mansion, Sixing and the others often trouble you to bring things in and out. Acting like this makes us seem estranged."
Laiwang's wife just smiled, secretly nodding inside. People said the Sixth Miss was someone like dough, easy to shape as they wished, but she knew, the Sixth Miss was by no means simple. Though everything seemed harmonious inside and out in the mansion, the First Lady was honey-tongued and stone-hearted, difficult to get along with. She didn't stand out or compete yet was able to live steadily here. Whatever Fourth Miss and Third Miss had, she had too. Such situations wouldn't be possible without scheming and tact.
"I'm a servant; when my master gives face, if a servant also climbs up the pole, it's truly insolent." With that, she took out a bundle from behind, revealing a stack of silk and velvet flowers in various colors: "These, I found on the street yesterday, looked pleasing, and brought some for your young misses. They're nothing precious; just a change of style for a bit of novelty." She passed the whole bundle to Sixing and then produced a box from her bosom: "This medicine was specially ordered from Doctor Liu on East Street, excellent for treating external injuries. Please pass it to Maid Siliu, Sixing."
Sixing glanced at Xiqiu from the corner of her eye, seeing no displeasure, boldly accepted it, and took out a few crimson silk flowers from the bundle, smiling, "Thank you, Mama, I find these things quite nice. Not long ago, Siliu was saying she had nothing to wear."
Everyone knew Siliu never fussed about food or clothing, always asking about the cost of anything. Saying so was merely telling Laiwang's wife that she'd ensure things are delivered with care.
Laiwang's wife rose, thanked again and again: "Apologies for disturbing you, Miss. I'm tasked by the Lady to deliver medicinal ingredients to the First Young Mistress; the Lady is still waiting for my report."