Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Son (4)
The same scholar, the First Master of the Tong Family remains in Yongzhou, while the Second Master has now entered the cabinet as a minister. Once the Third Prince ascends the throne, the position of Grand Secretary will surely fall to the Second Master. The Tong Family no longer needs the primary branch, for the Second Master alone could ensure prosperity for twenty years.
Lady felt a pang of jealousy in her heart, but kept up her smile as she went to speak with the Second Lady.
The Second Lady covered her mouth with a sleeve and smiled, her eyes delighted as she said, "Look at what Sister-in-law says, we are all one family, why make such clear distinctions!" After speaking, she too stood up. "I heard that Madam Yang has been ill for several days. I had wanted to visit her these past couple of days, but the city was under lockdown and I couldn’t go. Now that it’s finally calm, I should take a walk over."
Lady smiled and said, "Then I won’t keep you, Sister-in-law. My health isn’t the best; otherwise, I would accompany you." The Second Lady waved her hands, "Sister-in-law, take care and rest well. The carriage ride would be uncomfortable... I’m leaving." With that, she left escorted by the nanny accompanying her.
Lady tiredly closed her eyes and said to Nanny Fang, "Go tell Manager Lai to send the thief we caught last night to the Capital City Government!" Nanny Fang nodded, and only then did Lady notice Xiqiu, asking, "Was everything alright on your end last night?"
"Nothing at all!" She smiled and said, "Mother was thoughtful, having an old lady keep watch at the door. I was startled when the gong was sounded last night, but thankfully there was someone at the door, or I would have been at a loss."
Lady nodded slightly, as if remembering something else, she instructed Nanny Fang, "Have Manager Lai look around the city for a martial artist and invite one to teach the young men in the outer courtyard some self-defense, so that we won’t be unable to catch even a habitual thief like last night!" Nanny Fang nodded, "I will go right away! Anything else you wish to instruct, Lady?"
Lady waved her hand, "Go."
Nanny Fang went out, leaving Xiqiu with a puzzled expression, wondering if last night’s thief wasn’t caught by Manager Lai and his men.
As she left Lady’s room, Sixing was already waiting outside, approached Xiqiu and said, "Miss, Siliu is in, and she has brought both children."
Xiqiu’s face lit up with joy, smiling she said, "Let’s go!" The two walked back to the courtyard, where Siliu was standing at the door holding a child. She looked plumper than when she was in the household, her face rounder but more charming, she greeted Xiqiu with a smile, "Miss!" Xiqiu hurried to help her, her gaze falling on the child in her arms, who was chubby and cute with big round eyes: "Is this the elder or younger one?"
Siliu smiled and said, "This is the younger one." Just as the words were spoken, Chunyan came out carrying another child from inside, "Miss, I’ve got the elder one here."
The two children looked exactly the same, difficult to distinguish, and bore some resemblance to Siliu, lively and adorable!
"Come inside quickly, there’s a breeze outside!" Sixing lifted the curtain, and Xiqiu entered the room with Siliu. As soon as they entered, Siliu’s expression turned serious. She whispered, "Miss, whose child is this inside? How come it’s you who has to take care of them?"
Xiqiu showed a helpless expression, "I don’t know whose child it is either. Last night someone left them on my bed, asking for help to take care of them for the night, promising to pick them up tonight. I thought I couldn’t just leave the child, but keeping them might cause suspicion, so I thought of bringing you in. With three children around, even if one cries it wouldn’t be a big issue!" She left out any mention of Fourth Master Xiao. Last night the streets were chaotic, Fourth Master Xiao was covered in blood... some things are better left unknown!
Siliu entered Xiqiu’s bedroom holding the younger child. Chunliu was sitting with the child in a chair, smiling as Xiqiu returned, saying, "Miss, this child is really good, hasn’t cried once yet!" Xiqiu smiled and indeed saw the child lying quietly in Chunliu’s arms: "Put him on the bed, holding him all the time is exhausting."
Chunliu shook her head nonchalantly, "Not tired! He’s so small and weighs like a teapot tray. When I first entered the household, Nanny Fang taught me the rules, and holding that teapot tray for two hours was much more tiring." The child suddenly burst into tears, responding to Chunliu’s words, startling her so much she almost dropped the child...
"What’s wrong, is he uncomfortable somewhere?" Xiqiu was also taken aback, she took the child from Chunliu and held him, shaking gently but the more she shook, the harder the child cried...
"Unwrap the bundle and see, did he soil himself or wet himself?" Siliu handed her child over to Chunliu, expertly took over the child from Chunyan, and unwrapped the bundle to check, then laughed, "This child is smart, knowing to cry when uncomfortable!"
Xiqiu sighed silently, relieved that Siliu was experienced, otherwise she didn’t know how things would turn out. Thinking of Fourth Master Xiao, she couldn’t help gritting her teeth!
Siliu placed the child on the bed. Three or four people surrounded him, changing clothes, then Siliu, openly undid her collar and held the child while saying calmly, "He must be hungry too, let’s tide him over with his brothers’ food." The child naturally responded to breast milk, eagerly nursing at Siliu’s chest!
Siliu was unfazed, but Sixing and the others turned bright red, chiding, "You should at least avoid some semblance of decorum!" Siliu disinterestedly replied, "What’s there to be shy about? When you have children, no matter how many people there are, you won’t mind so much when the child cries!"
Sixing and the others, embarrassed, shuffled their feet and fled outside!
Xiqiu watched the child feeding contentedly in Siliu’s arms, occasionally making soft sounds, and she smiled slightly...
After feeding the child, Siliu’s own two children began to cry, and Xiqiu quickly took over from Siliu, then went out to call Chunyan and Chunliu in... Five people stayed in the room, attending to the three children all day long, feeling like this day had gone exceptionally long...
Finally, when evening came, Siliu coaxed her two children to sleep in the Warm Pavilion, turned to Xiqiu and said, "Miss, when that person comes, let me stay with you, in case they’re up to no good?"
Fourth Master Xiao would do harm? Thinking of his smirking expression, Xiqiu shook her head, "No worries, the person means no harm. Just wait outside, don’t come in without my word." Siliu, being uneasy, tugged at her, "Let me stay with you, Miss. Didn’t a thief sneak into the household last night too? Father says the attendants have become complacent and couldn’t resist if something really happened. If not for the help of a heroic warrior last night, that thief wouldn’t have been captured so easily!"
Xiqiu’s eyebrows lifted slightly, "You say the thief last night was captured by a black-clad warrior? Did you see the person’s face?" Siliu shook her head, "Father said he didn’t see him. The person stood on the wall and flicked a stone, knocking the thief off the roof. Everyone was so startled, and when they came to their senses and went to look for that person, he was nowhere to be found!"