"It’s good to learn more things. I see our Xing is even more sensible than before."

Xing was somewhat comforted by the praise, but he still looked dejected. Min tugged at his hand and said to him, "Let’s go wish Grandmother a happy birthday first."

Xing smiled, nodded and said, "Okay." Each took Zhi by the hand and headed to the Grand Dowager’s room.

Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao followed the First Madam into the room, while the accompanying maids and Nanny Cen went to chat with Nanny Tang and help in the backyard.

"Wishing Grandmother good fortune and health, longevity like pine and cypress!" The three children knelt side by side, clasped their fists, though Zhi naturally didn’t speak. Min and Xing spoke in their childish voices. The Grand Dowager watched the three children with delight and pointed at Ziwei: "Good, good, rewards for all!"

Ziwei then brought three red envelopes, giving one to each child.

The three had no concept of money, and quickly turned around to hand them to their respective nannies, then rushed into the Grand Dowager’s arms affectionately. Zhi mimicked them and also lunged over, the Grand Dowager embraced one, held one, and had one sitting on her lap. Xiqiu watched with concern and said, "Quickly get down, don’t tire Grandmother."

"No worry, no worry! I’m delighted with them here, how could I be tired?" The Grand Dowager spoke as she kissed Zhi on the cheek: "Our Zhi can already walk, such a good child!"

Today, the Grand Dowager wore a bright red overcoat with endless longevity patterns, a dark teal gauze skirt, wrapped in a red headband, with a peacock silver hairpin dangling from her silver strands, looking spirited. Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao also approached to kneel and pay respects, offering birthday gifts, which delighted the Grand Dowager greatly. She said to Bilian, "Place it in the Warm Pavilion!"

Chunliu stood at the door, peeping and secretly smiling, she was indeed not mistaken.

"When the Peony Pavilion reached the Capital, I asked someone to invite them, they were free today, so we set up a stage in the backyard," the First Lady said calmly. Upon hearing this, Xiqiu’s eyebrows slightly raised and she asked, "Are they performing Kun Opera?"

The First Madam was slightly surprised, nodded and said, "Have you heard of it?" Xiqiu shook her head, recalling the time after their first visit to the Wujin Bo Mansion, they heard everyone talk about the Kun Opera-performing Peony Pavilion. At that time, they listened to Qiong Opera at the mansion, but the First Madam had always liked Kun Opera but had never heard it; surprisingly, today by chance, they invited the Peony Pavilion, which hadn’t come to the Capital for years.

She smiled lightly and said, "I’ve just heard it’s good!"

"This, I don’t quite know," the First Madam said slowly and then looked at the Grand Dowager. "Mother also suggested changing it up, always listening to Qiong Opera, it started feeling tedious."

Xiqiu nodded in agreement, about to speak when Xiao Yanyi walked in briskly. Xiqiu hadn’t seen him for long; he appeared slightly leaner than before, wearing a deep blue gown, looking invigorated. As he entered with a smile, Xiqiu stood up and curtsied, Xiao Yanyi glanced over her face, nodded faintly, then he looked at the Grand Dowager: "Mother!"

The Grand Dowager nodded, then he greeted the First Madam and Fourth Master Xiao.

The children properly paid their respects too, and Xiao Yanyi’s gaze fell on Zhi. Zhi stared back at him, Xiqiu chuckled and said, "Zhi, call him Second Uncle."

Zhi shifted, looked at his father, then slid off the Grand Dowager and snuggled beside Fourth Master Xiao.

Fourth Master Xiao held Zhi and looked very pleased, Xiao Yanyi turned his gaze and asked Fourth Master Xiao, "Later, Qian Zhong, Shen Ji, and several cabinet ministers will come, would you join me?"

Fourth Master Xiao’s eyes flickered, then he nodded, "Alright."

After chatting for a while longer, Xiao Yanzheng and Pang Guibin returned, paid their respects at the Grand Dowager’s birthday, then Pang Guibin joined Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao in the front courtyard. Xiqiu entrusted Zhi to Xiao Yanzheng and Mrs. Zhou’s care, and along with the First Madam, went to the entrance to receive guests. Several visiting madams came in over time...

Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan entered with Tong Xiyu. Madam Jiang wore a water-blue overcoat embroidered with gold flowers, paired with a grass-green gauze skirt, her hair was neatly styled into a round bun with a comb on each side, and a coral and pearl hairpin slightly swayed. Nanny Qiu behind her held Kun, while Tong Xiyan walked on the right, dressed in a peach pink plain overcoat with a magnolia white gauze skirt, on her falling horse bun there were two red Gu Rong stacked flowers, a honey crystal hairpin, and a golden-thread eight treasure pearl hairpin. Her face was rosy, bearing the innocence of a young girl but also the elegance of a woman.

She smiled softly at Xiqiu and approached, Xiqiu slightly nodded, looking at Tong Xiyu beside her, in a magnolia colored velvet-bordered cloud-patterned overcoat, ivory skirt with decorative lines, taller than Tong Xiyan by half a head, with a graceful and slender figure. Her Willow Braid had two simple jade hairpins, one chrysanthemum enamel hairpin, walking gracefully, all Xiqiu could think was how stunning she was...

"Sixth Sister." Tong Xiyu bowed gracefully, shyly showing half of her snow-white neck.

Xiqiu came back to her senses, noticing Tong Xiyan with a smile that seemed full of deeper meaning. She nodded with a smile: "Eighth Sister!" Then she paid her respects with Madam Jiang, and led them to go inside.

As they chatted and laughed, ready to enter, someone announced on the side, "Marquis Huaining’s First Young Madam Ma, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Madam Jiang has arrived!"

Xiqiu paused, looked at the First Madam, who nodded slightly indicating they hadn’t invited the Marquis Huaining.

Xiqiu was puzzled, then saw Tong Xiyan’s expression slightly change as she looked over. Xiqiu took her hand and glanced back, seeing First Young Madam Ma had already disembarked from the Clear Curtain Small Oil Car, wearing a purple overcoat with gold embossed peony patterns, walking with grandeur. But what caught their eyes was the woman beside her, with a round face and large eyes, not very tall, looking quite young, smiling with dimples at the corners of her mouth, wearing a red wide-sleeve embroidered silk overcoat, dark purple gauze skirt, styled with a matron’s bun. Her Nine Phoenix Pearl Gold-Plated Hairpin was dazzling...

This is Jiang Shilin’s newly wed wife, Ma’s?