Sending medicinal herbs? What doesn't the Xuanning Marquis Mansion have that Lady would need to send medicinal herbs?
"Is it that elder sister is not feeling well?" When she returned the other day, although her health wasn't great, she was quite spirited.
Laiwang's wife understood clearly, glanced at the door and saw Chunyan sitting on a stool at the door doing embroidery, then smiled and said, "The First Young Lady's health has never been too good, but since she saw Doctor Feng on East Street last August, taking medicine every day has gotten much better. The Lady sends some warm and nourishing medicine; it seems she's about seventy to eighty percent cured."
She knew Doctor Feng, who should be considered an expert in infertility according to clinical classification.
Seems she overthought it!
Xiqiu no longer inquired further, smiled and said, "That's good, that's good!" Repeatedly saying 'good,' her joy unhidden.
Laiwang's wife had a look of appreciation in her eyes, and stood up accordingly: "Miss is busy, I shall take my leave."
Xiqiu quickly got up to see her off: "Nanny, come by more often if you're free; although the First Master will be back in some time, we should start preparing, and you might be even busier. If there's anything needed, feel free to instruct a few maids."
Laiwang's wife smiled broadly, her white teeth gleaming brightly: "I'm just afraid the young ladies might complain I'm being too...
Xiqiu laughed and said, "Someone as kind as you, what could they possibly complain about."
Saying this, both laughed, and Xiqiu saw Laiwang's wife out. Sixing was holding a bundle and a black lacquered orchid box, muttering something unknown.
Xiqiu smiled, "What are you doing?"
Sixing put down the bundle and took out a four-part silver ingot from her pocket: "Miss, since when has Laiwang's wife been so generous?"
"Why? Is she usually stingy?" Xiqiu climbed onto the kang casually, not in the mood for reading, picked up the screen beside her, and continued embroidering.
Laiwang's wife's actions were merely to convey that she thinks highly of Siliu, and the marriage was agreeable to them. Her visit today was to show their attitude.
Xiqiu mentioning the First Master was also a reminder that the Lady's side wouldn't work; the Lady must still remember last time's incident, and mentioning marriage now would only show something between them, equal to slapping the Lady. The Lady might not only disagree but find a way to deal with Siliu. They must wait for the First Master to return.
Once the First Master speaks, no matter how much the Lady disagrees, she can't say anything.
Siliu being inclined, she naturally is willing to fulfill this matter; though she doesn't know her own future, she doesn't want to spoil others' lives for it.
Sixing went out with the items, and after a while, Siliu came in, holding that black lacquer box, asking directly with disbelief that it was given by Laiwang's wife.
Xiqiu smiled faintly, best to not say anything unconfirmed.
In the evening, a little maid from Tong Minzhi's side came in to report: "The wine, Seventh Young Master took it to the teacher this morning. The teacher loved it, opened it by midday, drank half a cup, and kept praising its quality. Seventh Young Master asked the maid to tell you he understands your intention, so miss shouldn't worry."
Xiqiu smiled with relief, asked Sixing to grab some fruits for the little maid, also gave dozens of Copper Coins as a reward, and before she left, had Chunyan bring out the Osmanthus Cake she personally made at noon for the little maid to take to the Seventh Young Master: "Remind him to go to bed early, so he doesn't catch a cold from staying up too late and can't get up in the morning."
The little maid, holding the Copper Coin and fruits, carrying the lunchbox, nodded repeatedly before returning with a lantern.
The next day, when paying respects to the Lady, entering the yard she indeed saw in the corner flowerbed several newly planted green plants.
The day before, Chunyan reported: "Zixia stood outside the porch and couldn't make it out clearly, only knowing that the First Young Lady brought back some kind of Heavenly Fire Grass from Miaojiang and ordered someone to plant it in the courtyard and watch it closely. The Lady even came out herself to take a look, chanting 'Amitabha Buddha' happily..."
Xiqiu didn't understand the implication at the time, but after Laiwang's wife's words, she finally figured it out — the First Young Lady probably has hopes of being pregnant!
Since it wasn't what she was worried about, Xiqiu felt at ease.
Left thinking of Chunyan's expression when mentioning this grass: "It looks so strange, befitting something brought back from Miaojiang." Full of curiosity for mysterious and unknown things.
She chuckled softly, Heavenly Fire Grass!? It seemed to her to be nothing more than a few aloe plants!
Entering the room, several young ladies were already there, the Lady after eating had a maid serve her tea, took a sip and said: "It's ten days until the second day of the second month, your elder sister sent someone yesterday saying she wants to hold a birthday for Fourth Girl this year. I thought it wasn't her real birthday so didn't agree, but couldn't refuse as she kept insisting. What do you think, any good ideas?"
Tong Xiyang's eyes darkened. On her birthday, the Lady said the same, saying it wasn't a real birthday and didn't need to be celebrated, only giving a set of silver hairpins, and elder sister only sent someone to make her a dress. But when it comes to Tong Xiyan, it's too important to refuse!
Truly ridiculous.
Xiqiu raised her head, smilingly looking at Tong Xiyan: "Fourth sister's health isn't good, elder sister is only feeling for her by doing this. Though it's not the real birthday, it's a blessing to be a daughter beside one's mother, so mother should agree."
The Lady's smile overflowed from her eyes, looking satisfied at Xiqiu: "What you said is true, when you all become wives, you'll miss the good times at home in these years."
Xiqiu cooperatively blushed.
Tong Xiyan leaned next to the Lady, coyly saying: "It's my birthday, but I feel like celebrating for mother. If not for mother's labor, how would there be me?"
The Lady was moved, hugging Tong Xiyan, wiping her eye corners with a handkerchief, saying after a while, "Such good children."
Nanny Fang glanced at the other three young ladies, coughed and said: "What's the matter with you, Lady? Talking about happy things and you end up crying. I feel like with this good weather, how about moving chairs to the yard to enjoy the sun and discuss what to do."
The Lady kept nodding, maids and older women bustled in with tea and chairs, busy for half a day before everyone settled under an evergreen tree in the yard.
Tong Xiyu stood obediently next to the Lady, taking Zijuan's Beauty Hammer to gently pound the Lady's legs, softly saying, "Mother, why don't we invite an opera troupe for a family show? It's been a long time since we had some fun in the house."
The Lady's eyes lit up, then she shook her head, saying: "The First Master is about to take office soon, we shouldn't be so extravagant, lest we invite gossip from those Imperial Censors. I think just set up two tables at home, invite Second Uncle, Second Aunt, and some cousins over for a meal would be fine."
Xiqiu had no particular opinion, just smiled at whatever the Lady said.
Tong Xiyang kept her head down and didn't say a word, and Tong Xiyan being the one related to the matter couldn't say much, leaving the relatively reticent Tong Xiyu to chime in with the Lady, though not very effectively. Nanny Fang couldn't bear to see it anymore, intervened: "In my opinion, the young ladies are all grown, after everyone has birthday noodles, let them have some time to themselves in the afternoon to relax."