Little Zhi grinned, following behind Little Min and called out loudly, "Hello, Aunt!"

"Hello, hello!" Madam Jiang glanced at Little Min and then at Little Zhi, nodding with a full smile. Little Zhi then shifted, looking behind her, "Where’s Cousin?"

"In the room." Madam Jiang replied with a smile, looking at Little Zhi, "Playing in the room with your Twelfth Aunt."

Little Zhi turned and looked at Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao, seeming to ask: Can I go find Twelfth Aunt and Cousin to play?

"Can you wait a little while?" Xiqiu laughed, touching his head, "We need to greet Grandfather and Eldest Uncle." Little Zhi obediently nodded.

Madam Jiang looked at Fourth Master Xiao, "The First Master and the First Master are in the study, Sixth Son-in-law and Sixth Lady can head over first. I’ll go ahead and see if Master Puning needs anything else."

Xiqiu replied, "Tiancheng went to pick up Little Xing, he should be here soon." She paused and then said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll have to speak with you later." Madam Jiang nodded, "I’ll have Nanny Qiu go to the second gate to meet them, Sixth Lady, we’ll talk in my room later."

Xiqiu nodded, parting ways with Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang went to Lady’s main room, while Xiqiu took Little Min, Little Zhi, and Fourth Master Xiao to the First Master’s study.

As Xiqiu and the others entered, Tong Minzhi came out to greet them, "Great Governor, Sixth Sister!" Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, Xiqiu asked, "Father and Elder Brother are inside?"

Tong Minzhi replied positively, stepping aside to invite them in. Little Min stepped forward, saluting and calling, "Seventh Uncle." Tong Minzhi nodded with a smile, "Little Min, come to my room later, I’ve got a good book saved for you."

"Really?" Little Min beamed, "Thank you, Uncle!"

"What about me, what about me?" Little Zhi ran over and hugged Tong Minzhi’s leg, looking up and asking, "Seventh Uncle, I want one too!" Tong Minzhi laughed, picking up the little one, "Oh, Uncle can hardly lift you now." He said, holding Little Min’s hand as they walked inside, replying as they went, "Uncle has something even more fun prepared for you, oh."

Little Zhi’s eyes lit up at this, clinging to Tong Minzhi’s neck, "What is it, is it a talking parrot?" Sheng promised to get him a talking parrot, but after many days had yet to fulfill his promise, making Little Zhi repeat it every day, he said unhappily, "...Seventh Uncle, my sparrow died."

Tong Minzhi hadn’t known about the sparrow, so he looked at Little Min, who explained for Little Zhi, "A few days ago, with Qingshan and Qingyuan, we caught a sparrow, but it died after being kept for a few days."

"So that’s how it was." Tong Minzhi nodded thoughtfully, then leaned to whisper in Little Zhi’s ear, "Uncle will find a way to catch one for you, alright? We can go fishing by the river later."

Little Zhi brightened up at this, nodding repeatedly, "Alright, but Seventh Uncle has to keep his word, can’t be like Big Brother, oh."

Xiqiu couldn’t bear it anymore, saying, "Little Zhi, you should not speak to Uncle like that." Little Zhi pouted and looked at happy Tong Minzhi, "Sorry!"

"It’s okay, it’s okay, Uncle’s not mad." After Tong Minzhi said this, they had all already entered the room, Little Zhi happily clung to Tong Minzhi, raising his little face joyfully, "Seventh Uncle is the best."

Fourth Master Xiao showed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth as they entered. Xiqiu’s gaze fell on the slightly uneasy Little Min, who raised his eyebrows slightly, went forward and held Little Min’s hand. Little Min blinked, turned to look at her, seeing Xiqiu smiling tenderly at him, the warmth he knew in her eyes. He smiled shyly, cleverly following beside Xiqiu.

"Grandfather!" Little Zhi spotted the First Master sitting behind the desk, and immediately slid off Tong Minzhi, running over like a little bird, and leapt into the First Master’s arms, "Grandfather, did you miss me?"

The First Master laughed heartily, lifted Little Zhi up onto his lap, nodding, "I did, Grandfather thinks of our Little Zhi every day."

Little Zhi giggled, touching the First Master’s beard enviously, "Grandfather, your beard is so nice." The First Master laughed even more heartily.

"Hello, Grandfather!" Little Min bowed to the First Master, who nodded slightly towards him. Little Min then saluted Tong Shen Zhi, who nodded slightly. Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao also exchanged salutations with the First Master and Tong Shen Zhi.

After Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao sat down, Tong Minzhi picked up Little Zhi and said to the First Master, "I will take these two to play in the outer courtyard."

The First Master glanced at Little Min, then at Fourth Master Xiao, who nodded slightly. Xiqiu smiled, telling Little Zhi, "Little Zhi, listen to Seventh Uncle and don’t run around!"

Little Zhi nodded energetically, leaving the room with Little Min and Tong Minzhi.

"Father, is your health alright recently?" Xiqiu looked at the First Master, studying him and noting he seemed very well, full of vigor.

The First Master nodded with a smile, "I’m old, there’s nothing much to say about condition!" His tone was relaxed, as if he had seen through everything, and he asked Fourth Master Xiao, "Is the Grand Dowager’s health good?"

"Quite good!" Fourth Master Xiao replied with a smile as the First Master nodded slightly. Xiqiu continued, "Little Xing will arrive shortly, will that delay us?"

The First Master paused briefly, considering his grandson whom he had only seen a few times, easily counted on one hand, thinking of Little Xing brought to mind Tong Xihua, then Lady, causing his face to show a hint of gloom...

"It won’t delay us." Tong Shen Zhi glanced at the First Master and responded coolly to Xiqiu.

Xiqiu nodded slightly, she thought the First Master still had feelings for Lady, otherwise he wouldn’t show such an expression.

Fourth Master Xiao didn’t dwell on this, sipping tea, said, "...The harbors everywhere have long gone unrepaired, perhaps Father could bring this up with the Emperor." Prompting the First Master to suggest repair of harbors. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The First Master was startled, glancing at Xiqiu. This was a court matter, yet Fourth Master Xiao spoke of it in front of Xiqiu naturally, without any avoidance. His eyebrows furrowed but soon relaxed, Tong Shen Zhi raised a brow looking at Fourth Master Xiao, asking, "Great Governor’s meaning is, the sea ban issue is urgent now?"

"Indeed!" Fourth Master Xiao nodded, "The situation is stable now, Fujian and other places have been peaceful for several years, the Emperor won’t delay the reestablishment of the Maritime Trade Bureau and Supervision Office in Fujian and other places." He then looked at the First Master, "Once Chief Lei returns to court, this matter should be raised."

The First Master stroked his beard, nodding slightly, "If that’s the case, I will draft the memorial tonight, and after discussing with Lord Huang tomorrow, I will present it to the Emperor."

The First Master understood Fourth Master Xiao’s meaning, so no further explanation was necessary. Fourth Master Xiao looked at Tong Shen Zhi, "In the Ministry of Personnel’s duty reporting, has Wenxian met with Lord Jiang?"