Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Surface (1)
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan changed their clothes and, accompanied by Qiuluo, went to the front courtyard.
Tong Xihua was sitting on the kang in the Warm Pavilion. Seeing Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan enter, she smiled and said, "Are you done tidying up? Don’t rush, take your time." Tong Xiyan and Xiqiu paid their respects, and Tong Xiyan replied, "We have rearranged some things, Nanny Qian is still tidying up."
Tong Xihua nodded, turned to Qiuping, and said, "Serve the meal. No need to go to any trouble to move elsewhere, these two sisters are not outsiders. We shall eat here in the Warm Pavilion today..." Suddenly, she paused, frowning, which puzzled Xiqiu, but then she saw Qiuping anxiously supporting Tong Xihua, "Second Madam, are you alright?"
Tong Xiyan hurried over, "Sister!" Tong Xihua touched her belly, frowned for a while, then waved her hand and smiled, "It’s nothing, just a small kick, a bit stronger than usual, took my breath away for a bit!"
Xiqiu furrowed her brow, raising her eyes to examine Tong Xihua. She recalled Siliu’s rosy complexion and fuller figure during her pregnancy, in contrast to Tong Xihua’s sallow complexion, as if the powder on her face merely floated. Her gaze fell on her slightly lower protruding belly, only being seven months along...
She wondered discreetly, as Qiuping laughed and said, "The young master will surely be accomplished in both literary and martial arts, with such strong kicks."
"You talk too much!" Tong Xihua glared at Qiuping, then turned to Xiqiu and said, "She has been with me since entering the mansion, truly spoiled." Xiqiu smiled and said, "I don’t feel that way..."
Tong Xihua’s face was full of smiles, her hand gently stroked her belly. She had asked Daoist Hong for a divination, who said this child was a boy; and there was also the Sixth Sister’s dream... Thinking of this, she smiled and said, "Enough chatter, let’s get the meal ready; perhaps he’s also hungry and causing a fuss inside."
Tong Xiyan tilted her head and asked Tong Xihua, "Can my nephew also eat?"
Tong Xihua laughed heartily, grabbing Tong Xiyan’s hand, pinched her nose and said, "Sixth Sister didn’t ask, but you did, you’re such a simple-minded girl!" Tong Xiyan immediately blushed.
Maids came in and out, setting the meal on a black lacquered round table in the Warm Pavilion, Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan sat down with Tong Xihua, Qiuping stood behind Tong Xihua helping with the dishes, Daijuan stood behind Tong Xiyan, while Sixing attended to Xiqiu. Just as they were about to eat, Qiuluo’s voice came from outside, "Second Young Master is back!"
Tong Xihua’s eyes lit up instantly, Qiuluo put down her chopsticks to lift the curtain, and Tong Xiyan and Xiqiu stood up, immediately spotting Xiao Yanyi stride inside, his gaze sweeping over Tong Xiyan and Xiqiu. The two of them curtseyed to Xiao Yanyi, who nodded slightly, and Tong Xihua greeted him with a smile, "Why are you back? Have you eaten?"
Xiao Yanyi replied, "I came back to have a look, but I’ll have to go to the Qian Mansion later." Then he looked at Tong Xihua and the two sisters, "Go ahead and eat, I’ll go change my clothes."
This meant he hadn’t eaten!
Tong Xihua glanced at Tong Xiyan and Xiqiu, "The two sisters are not outsiders, Second Young Master, have some food before you go."
Xiao Yanyi looked hesitant.
"Fourth Sister and I will eat when we go back!" Xiqiu said to Tong Xihua with a smile, "We’ve just arrived, it’s also a good time to get familiar with the environment." Tong Xiyan nodded in agreement.
Tong Xihua did not have any objections!
Xiao Yanyi, however, reacted quickly and said, "No need for the trouble, I’ll eat in the outer courtyard!" With that, he turned and left the room, and Tong Xihua followed him out.
Tong Xiyan lowered her head, frowning slightly, while Xiqiu raised an eyebrow slightly, could it be that their relationship was not as good as the rumors suggested?!
After a moment, Tong Xihua returned, holding her waist and pointing at the table, "Let’s eat, the food will get cold soon." She made no further mention of Xiao Yanyi. Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan quietly sat back down, the three of them ate in silence, and then Qiuping brewed some tea as Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan resumed their seats, the three sipping tea in the Warm Pavilion.
"It’s said that Lord Qian returned, the Emperor summoned him to the palace urgently last night, and only when he got back home did he call your brother-in-law for a meeting, I wonder what for." Lord Qian, of course, is Madam Qian’s husband. Tong Xihua paused before pointing upward, "I hear that there’s a secret to longevity from Penglai. Lord Qian spent three months traveling there and only returned yesterday. Who knows if he found it."
Xiqiu was taken aback; had the Emperor started seeking secrets to longevity now?
Tong Xiyan was equally shocked, her expression surprised, "Longevity is just a legend. How could the Emperor believe in it?"
"Hush!" Tong Xihua whispered, "Ordinary folks wish for eternal life, let alone an emperor, but it’s hard on Lord Qian, traveling for three months over long distances, if he indeed found something it’d be worth it, but if not... I fear the Emperor’s wrath might result in failure being blamed on him!"
This was indeed a calamity from nowhere! Xiqiu listened silently, knowing full well Tong Xihua’s real intent was not to discuss court affairs with them. Her thoughts were interrupted as Tong Xihua continued, "It’s said the Third Prince went to the palace last night as well."
So that’s it!
She was informing Tong Xiyan that the Third Prince’s power was growing stronger by the day, and Jiang Shilin, who had always been at odds with the Third Prince, probably wouldn’t make a comeback; as long as the Third Prince was around, Jiang Shilin would remain a teacher among the countryside sheds!
If Jiang Shilin’s future was such, it was better for Tong Xiyan to give up that notion.
Sure enough, Tong Xiyan’s expression shifted slightly as she hung her head... That was enough, Tong Xihua watched Tong Xiyan with a satisfied smile, then turned to Xiqiu, "Sixth Sister will be thirteen after the New Year, right?"
Xiqiu nodded, "Yes!" Tong Xihua nodded, "See, they say pregnancy makes one forgetful, and if it weren’t for the incident with Third Sister earlier... you’d already be engaged by now." She laughed as if realizing her words weren’t quite right and added, "Have some tea, try this Wuyi Dahongpao."
Xiqiu’s gaze flickered slightly as if she didn’t understand Tong Xihua. She obediently took a sip of tea, blushing slightly, "I don’t know much about tea, I feel like it’s like a cow chewing peony petals."
"It’s fine not to know much." Tong Xihua chuckled, "No need to be picky, as long as it’s tea, if it quenches thirst, it’s good tea. Like me, when I was at home, I followed behind Mother and loved to have Laojun Mei, other teas didn’t taste right. But after getting pregnant, my taste changed. Now, apart from Da Hong Pao, even Laojun Mei doesn’t suit me anymore!" She laughed, hiding her face, "I can only tell you this, others might say I’m being pretentious."
Is she indicating that status is different in every way, even in tastes? Xiqiu laughed and said, "I also heard Mother say when Sister was young, she liked to compete with her for tea..." She added, smiling, "She also said Sister is most like her!"
Tong Xihua giggled nonstop, glancing at Tong Xiyan’s absent-minded look. She frowned deeply, prompting Xiqiu to take Tong Xiyan’s hand and ask, "What do you think, Fourth Sister?"