"Madam, you are being too polite. Sister Jingliu and I hit it off right from our first meeting. She usually takes care of me," Xiqiu said with a smile. "Rest assured, if I see her, I will surely convey your words to her."

Madam Zhou thanked her repeatedly.

The carriage conveniently stopped right at the entrance of Count Dongchang’s residence. Madam Zhou bid farewell to Xiqiu, "Fourth Madam, do visit me when you have the time. Though not as grand as the Governor Mansion, the surrounding hills and waters offer a unique rustic charm."

The Zhou Family had moved to the suburb of the capital, rumored to be not far from West Mountain. Xiqiu nodded with a smile, "Certainly!"

Madam Zhou then stepped off the carriage with a smile. Seeing her enter the door, Xiqiu instructed the driving matron to return to the Governor Mansion.

Where on earth has Ruan Jingliu mysteriously gone to? She usually would inform before leaving, and even if delayed, she would write back. But this time, nothing was said at all. A month has passed, and not one letter has come back.

Xiqiu recalled Madam Zhou’s words, growing increasingly curious about Ruan Jingliu’s past.

Returning home, from afar outside the courtyard, she heard Zhi’s cries. Xiqiu quickly hurried in to find the Grand Dowager sitting on the rose bed in the secondary room. Mrs. Zhou was holding Zhi, pacing around the room. The Grand Dowager anxiously said, "He’s neither hungry nor wet, yet he cries so loudly. Perhaps it’s best to have someone fetch the Imperial Physician from the palace..." Her words trailed off as she spotted Xiqiu entering. "You’ve returned just in time. Quick, take a look. He’s been crying for almost half a cup of tea’s time. I hope he’s not unwell."

Xiqiu wiped her hands with a damp cloth, took Zhi from Mrs. Zhou, and gently touched his tear-streaked little face with her cheek. Brow furrowing, she reported to the Grand Dowager, "No fever on his forehead." The Grand Dowager, full of concern, asked, "Then why is he crying like this? He refuses to eat or drink, and it’s breaking my heart." As she reached for Ziwei beside her, she rose, and leaned over to look at Zhi, "I think we should call the Imperial Physician."

"Let me check first," Xiqiu said, placing Zhi on the bed to examine him. She checked his small arms and legs thoroughly but found nothing amiss. She turned back to Mrs. Zhou and asked, "Did he have a bowel movement today? How many times? How many times did he have milk?"

Mrs. Zhou, looking uneasy, replied, "He had one bowel movement and drank milk three times. I saw it was hot, so I gave him water once more..."

There seemed to be no problem. Xiqiu watched Zhi, who was still crying incessantly, puzzled and pained. She held him, walking around the room... after a few turns, she noticed that each time she approached the door curtain, his cries would lessen. When she walked back, his wails would intensify again.

She tested it and found that standing by the door curtain made Zhi’s crying stop instantly. The Grand Dowager, noticing the peculiarity, came over and asked, "Why did he stop?"

Xiqiu realized that for the past mornings and evenings, she’d taken him out for walks in the courtyard. Now his crying was certainly because he wanted to go out.

"Mother, it’s nothing. He just wants to go out for a walk," Xiqiu reassured the Grand Dowager. \The Grand Dowager chuckled, "This child... but he mustn’t go out now. It’s like a steamer outside; we can’t let him get too hot."

Xiqiu nodded, brought Zhi back into the room, placed him on the rose bed, and pulled out a bunch of small handheld drum rattles to amuse him. She then took out the rattle made by Tong Minzhi and gently shook it by his ear. After a long effort, his crying finally ceased.

The Grand Dowager, full of smiles, sat by Zhi’s side and stroked his little face, "When he grows up, he’ll surely be very clever." Xiqiu sighed as she watched him, then kissed him, "Mother was gone half the day, yet you didn’t miss me. Only interested in going out to play, you little rascal..."

Watching Xiqiu’s moving lips, Zhi broke into a smile, his laughter crisp and clear. Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh too, "Truly mischievous!"

Mrs. Zhou breathed a quiet sigh of relief, poured a cup of tea for Xiqiu, and stood aside. The Grand Dowager then asked Xiqiu, "Is everything well with the Ren Family? I heard Madam Ren is ill?"

"Yes, I didn’t see Madam Ren when I went, heard she was ill, but a few sisters-in-law are managing the house well," Xiqiu said while teasing Zhi, responding to the Grand Dowager. The Grand Dowager nodded at her words and asked again, "What about the Third Aunt? She won’t be able to visit Pingliang for now, right?"

She hadn’t heard mention of this before, but seeing the state of Tong Xiyang’s room today, it didn’t seem like she was planning a trip soon. She replied, "I haven’t heard her mention going to Pingliang. She probably won’t go, with seven or eight illegitimate children, the house without her would be chaotic."

"She’s had a hard life," the Grand Dowager said, shaking her head, then turned to Xiqiu, "And Old Four, why haven’t I seen him all day?"

Xiqiu handed the small drum’s handle to Zhi to hold, answering, "He said he’s taking advantage of today’s break to handle something, didn’t specify." Xiqiu asked the Grand Dowager, "Do you need anything?"

"I’m planning to take Xing back to live," the Grand Dowager said, smiling. "Staying here all the time isn’t ideal. You have to care for Zhi, and still manage my Xing. I went back, you’d be less burdened."

Listening, Xiqiu handed Zhi to Mrs. Zhou, turned and sat beside the Grand Dowager, "Mother, how could you be any trouble to me here? I’m thrilled to have you, and Xing is so well-behaved, even helps me care for Zhi. The house with you both is much livelier." The Grand Dowager chuckled, showing no intent to change her mind. Xiqiu knew she had Xiao Yanyi in mind, so she said, "Why not this, from now on, you can spend some days at each place? Your room here will stay yours, both are your homes."

"Very well, very well!" The Grand Dowager patted Xiqiu’s hand, smiling broadly, "As you say."

In the evening, Fourth Master Xiao returned. Xiqiu was sitting on the bed talking to Zhi. Seeing him enter, she got down to greet him, "Did Fourth Master go out of the city today?" Fourth Master Xiao nodded at her words, "I went to the barracks, Elder General Chen is drilling troops these days, so I went to have a look."

Xiqiu handed him a cup of cool tea, sat with him beside the bed. One watched Zhi, the other sipped tea. Xiqiu said, "Today, I met Madam Zhou of Marquis Jinxiang’s at Wujin Bo Mansion."

"Hmm?" Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow. Xiqiu recounted Madam Zhou’s words to him, "These things, Sister Jingliu never mentioned to me, nor did you to me."

Fourth Master Xiao seemed genuinely unaware, "I haven’t heard about this either." He appeared somewhat surprised. Xiqiu saw he wasn’t feigning ignorance, "Does Fourth Master truly not know?"