"Then this servant will report back as such." The maid placed the teacup down and stood up: "I shall return now to deliver the message, so as not to disturb the Madam any further."

Xiqiu did not ask her to stay and instructed Biwu to see her out.

Early the next day, Ruan Pingrong and Le Xiu arrived at the mansion, accompanied by Miss Huang. The three were surrounded by a group of older women and maids, chatting and laughing as they entered. Xiqiu came out from the side room, looked at the three young women, and smiled: "I thought you would come a bit later."

"Madam!" The three of them greeted Xiqiu with a bow. Ruan Pingrong laughed and replied, "I was dragged out of the bed by my cousin."

Le Xiu blushed and shot Ruan Pingrong a chiding glance, apologetically turning to Xiqiu: "She is always so unruly with her words, please don’t mind her, Madam." Xiqiu shook her head with a smile: "Not at all!" Then she added, "Please come in, we shouldn’t be standing in the courtyard talking. Otherwise, Madam Ruan and Madam Huang might blame me for not treating guests well."

The three laughed and followed Xiqiu inside. Ruan Pingrong casually sat down on the rose bed, looked around, and asked, "Where are the two boys?"

"Min is at the academy, and Zhi is taking a walk in the garden with the nursemaid." Xiqiu smiled as Bihuai served the tea. Le Xiu took the tea and thanked her, sitting quietly on the side. Ruan Pingrong nodded and her gaze fell on the clothes placed beside Xiqiu. With raised eyebrows, she asked, "Madam, do you make clothes yourself?"

"Just to pass the time," Xiqiu replied with a smile, then pointed to the platter of dried fruits in front of them: "These are grapes dried from last summer, have a taste."

"Grapes?" Ruan Pingrong picked one up and popped it in her mouth, chewing with her eyes squinted in satisfaction: "Hmm, really sweet." Then she turned to Le Xiu and Miss Huang: "Try it, it’s delicious!"

Miss Huang picked one up and ate it, while Le Xiu was more refined, wrapping her hand in a handkerchief before taking a bite. Miss Huang nodded while eating and reached for another, smiling: "It’s really delicious, as sweet as crisp sugar."

"You’re just good with words." Ruan Pingrong simply dragged the tray in front of her, took a few more, and sipped her tea: "But she’s not wrong, the usual dried fruits aren’t this sweet."

Xiqiu watched them and laughed, instructing Bihuai: "Bring a box and pack some for the three ladies to take home." Bihuai acknowledged, and Xiqiu said to the three, "If you like them, send someone to get more."

Ruan Pingrong nodded: "Thank you, Madam." Le Xiu secretly shot a glance at Ruan Pingrong but turned to Xiqiu with a smile: "How can we accept this? We’ve already bothered you by coming, and now we’re taking things back..."

"It’s no trouble." Xiqiu waved her hand and looked at them again: "Would you like to take a walk in the garden? You didn’t have the chance to last time. Right now, the camellias are in bloom in the back garden."

Ruan Pingrong seemed ready to agree, but Le Xiu waved it off: "Let’s not, it’s too much trouble for Madam." She gave Ruan Pingrong a look, and Ruan Pingrong pouted: "If you don’t enjoy now, you might not have the chance later."

Xiqiu listened, puzzled, and Ruan Pingrong’s expression changed. Miss Huang innocently asked: "Why not have the chance? The Fourth Madam’s house is very close; we can visit often."

"You don’t understand!" Ruan Pingrong, not wanting to explain to a child, looked at Xiqiu and explained: "My cousin is entering the palace on the tenth. If she’s chosen, she’ll stay in the palace. If not, she’ll likely marry far away upon returning. There won’t be a chance to play." Then she turned to Le Xiu: "Am I wrong?"

"Pingrong, don’t speak nonsense!" Le Xiu showed a trace of anger, not appearing happy. The matter of choosing concubines was the Emperor’s affair, and they dared not speak or plan openly. Keeping it in mind was one thing, but she openly spoke about it.

Ruan Pingrong stuck out her tongue in defiance but said nothing more.

Miss Huang suddenly understood and pondered: "So Sister Le is a concubine candidate this year. Does that mean we can only meet in the palace in the future?" She paused, then walked over to hold Le Xiu’s hand: "Sister Ruan wasn’t wrong. We won’t see you as often anymore."

Le Xiu lowered her head, her eyes reddening.

Xiqiu finally understood why Madam Ruan had brought her niece over for visits. Le Xiu was a concubine candidate this year... Given her family connections, she would likely stay in the palace. The Le, Ruan, and Qian families must have prepared thoroughly if they intended to send their daughter to the palace.

The power of the three families could surely secure a noble concubine.

She turned her thoughts and looked at Le Xiu again, thinking she must understand too. This time going in, there’s little chance of returning to the outside world. After entering the palace, whether the Emperor favors her depends on her own efforts and management, and the expectations of the three families likely weigh heavily on her.

She felt strange, thinking such a wonderful girl would spend her days within that confined space. It seemed a pity. But turning her thoughts, she found it amusing. Which woman doesn’t end up living out her days in some confined place? Even she is no exception.

After a brief silence, Le Xiu spoke anxiously to Xiqiu, "Please don’t blame us, Madam, Pingrong speaks without thinking." She stood up as she spoke, "Pingrong, let’s not disturb Madam any longer, let’s head back quickly."

"No!" Ruan Pingrong waved her hand, "It’s not easy to visit, and we haven’t even asked what we wanted to ask Madam yet."

Le Xiu’s face turned even redder, looking at Xiqiu in embarrassment, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Xiqiu smiled slightly, looked gently at Le Xiu, then turned to Ruan Pingrong and asked, "What question?"

"It’s about our cousin." Ruan Pingrong didn’t look at Le Xiu, whose expression had changed, "She’s curious, saying Grand Commander Xiao used to be such a playboy, why has he become so good after marrying Fourth Madam?"

Xiqiu was sipping her tea and almost choked on it. No wonder Le Xiu’s face looked so bad. She regarded Ruan Pingrong and found this girl truly frank and endearing.

"Pingrong!" Le Xiu stomped her foot, full of embarrassment, and said, "If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll tell Auntie when we get back and see how she punishes you."

Ruan Pingrong stood up too, unwilling to back down, "It was your curiosity that I helped ask, and now you’re blaming me, humph, if you don’t want to ask then don’t!" She turned her head away from Le Xiu.

Miss Huang watched the two glaring at each other, timidly advising, "Please, both sisters, don’t be angry, let’s talk nicely."

The two of them did not respond.

Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh, suddenly wondering if she had grown old since she never seemed to have carefree days like these with no worries, and she laughed as she spoke to Ruan Pingrong, "Didn’t you just say your cousin is going to enter the palace soon, and won’t have many chances to come out and meet? If that’s true, you won’t see each other often in the future. It’s rare to be together, so why quarrel with her?"

She spoke softly with a smile, and Ruan Pingrong’s expression relaxed a bit. Xiqiu then turned to Le Xiu, smiling, "I wasn’t even offended, yet you’re upset first." She covered her mouth and laughed, "Quickly sit down and talk, today you’re even more reserved than yesterday."

Le Xiu looked at Xiqiu, her face froze, indeed, Xiqiu wasn’t angry but she quarreled with Ruan Pingrong in someone else’s house. Her usual refined and restrained manners seemed to be thrown away. She looked at Xiqiu again and saw her smiling warmly at her, her heart paused for a moment, then her gaze fell on the clothing made for the stepson behind her...

It became clear why Grand Commander Xiao would change so much for her.

Le Xiu’s complexion gradually recovered, and she smiled at Xiqiu, saying, "Madam is right, it’s Le Xiu who was impolite." She exchanged a glance with the now calm Ruan Pingrong, and they both smiled.

Miss Huang wrinkled her nose and said, "Just like children, one moment arguing, the next reconciling."

The three of them started laughing together, each sitting back in their respective seats.

Le Xiu’s gaze fell upon Xiqiu, observing her every smile and expression.

Xiqiu, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, Ruan Pingrong didn’t pursue the earlier question again, otherwise she really wouldn’t know how to answer.

After seeing off the guests, Xiqiu was busy for the next two days with Lady’s mourning ceremony, bringing Xing over, inviting Master Puning to conduct a Water and Land Dharma Assembly at the mansion, holding the mourning ceremony. Xing changed into bright clothes, looking very happy, holding Xiqiu’s hand and saying, "Fourth Aunt, these clothes are so beautiful." He had never worn such bright colors before, and was especially excited.

Xiqiu also changed into a pink floral overcoat, and dined with the Grand Dowager and Mrs. in the mansion. The next day, she went to the Tong Mansion to offer incense for the Lady...

On the tenth, the Capital was unusually lively. Bihuai and Biwu went to the street to see, and upon returning, told Xiqiu, "Madam, it’s really bustling outside, sedan chairs with pink tops, one after another, and carriages adorned with flowers, even the maidservants accompanying them looked beautiful..."

"You’re exaggerating," Bihuai scoffed, "They seem glamorous now, but once those people enter the palace, it might be a lifetime they’ll never get out, their sedan chairs may look pretty, but who knows how they’re crying inside."

Biwu, having cold water poured on her enthusiasm, wilted.

Xiqiu, however, said nothing, gazing at the Red Jade Bead Phoenix Head Gold Hairpin sent as a return gift by Le Xiu’s messenger, and fell into a slight daze.