Xiqiu and First Madam exchanged a glance, then entered to offer incense to Second Young Madam Lou, and then stepped back outside.

Returning home that night, Xiqiu lay on the bed and sighed, turning to look at Fourth Master Xiao, saying, "I went to the Lou Family today." Then, with some sadness, she said, "... She was just in her twenties..." Such a blooming age.

"Don’t dwell on it." Fourth Master Xiao held her and said softly, "I heard she has been in poor health all along, fed by medicine since she was young. To marry into the Lou Family and receive love from her in-laws is her fortune!" After saying this, he gently brushed aside the stray hair by Xiqiu’s ear and said in a low voice, "Are you going again tomorrow?"

"We’ll see what Mother thinks." Xiqiu lowered her head, playing with the bead string in her hand. Hearing this, Fourth Master Xiao nodded and said, "It might be better to rest at home to avoid putting you in a bad mood again when you return."

Xiqiu nestled against his chest and said no more, while Fourth Master Xiao gently stroked her soft, slender back: "Is the trip to Puji Temple ready?"

"Yes, Nanny Cen went there today and arranged everything." Speaking this, she paused, recalling the appearance of the Grand Dowager today, and recounted to Fourth Master Xiao: "She didn’t remember Second Sister being pregnant, didn’t remember Nanny Wu passing away... She didn’t even recall us moving out..." With this pause, she furrowed her brows and said, "Otherwise, how about letting Sister Jingliu go to check on Mother? I always worry about her..."

Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brows tightly as well, his face showing an unreadable expression. After a moment of silence, he nodded and said, "Then you can schedule Nurse Zhang to go and see Mother another day."

Xiqiu agreed, her heart like a stone weighing heavily; neither spoke further...

The next morning, Xiqiu let Nanny Cen go to Shouning Bo Mansion on her behalf. She sent Min to the outer yard and walked in the courtyard with Zhi, when Nanny Qiu came, smiling and said: "... First Young Madam asks the servant to inform you that Scholar Qian has officially invited the matchmaker. He should visit to propose soon within these days."

"Is that so!" Xiqiu smiled and asked, "Which specific day? I’ll also go to congratulate Eighth Sister."

"On the eighteenth of this month." Nanny Qiu smiled and said, as Xiqiu calculated the days and nodded: "I know, I’ll definitely return by then."

Tong Xiyu’s marriage was settled, and she breathed a sigh of relief!

"How is Fourth Sister?" Xiqiu asked.

Nanny Qiu responded: "Quite well, I heard the goods from both embroidery shops have been bought out these past couple of days, and they’ve been busy restocking, even Manager Lai and Fugui have been so busy their feet don’t touch the ground!"

The business was so good, Xiqiu replied with a smile: "That’s indeed good news!" Nanny Qiu agreed, and after a few remarks, she returned to Tong Mansion.

The Lou Family kept the vigil for seven days before holding the funeral, and it was said that the eldest illegitimate son from the second branch carried the coffin, adopted under Second Young Madam Lou’s name after she passed, becoming the legitimate son... That day Xiqiu and First Madam went another time, returning only at dusk.

On the sixteenth day, early in the morning, Xiqiu and First Madam, and Grand Dowager, with Sheng, Xing, Min, and Zhi were grandly escorted by Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao along with a team of guards to Puji Temple; Master Puning said that the mountain gate would be closed to ordinary pilgrims, which Xiqiu found too ostentatious, thus decided against it, so when they arrived, several carriages were already parked in the temple with pilgrims coming and going.

Xiqiu got off the carriage with Zhi, Grand Dowager and First Madam were already off, and Master Puning greeted them with a smile: "Grand Dowager, First Madam, Fourth Madam!" Then she turned to salute Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao: "Marquis, Grand Commander!"

"Pardon the trouble today." Grand Dowager greeted Master Puning: "No need to mind us, just find a novice to lead us around, you must be busy, tend to your matters."

"Nothing much today, it’s rare for you to visit, I should accompany you around." Master Puning spoke with a smile, her gaze falling on Xiqiu’s face, she nodded slightly, before turning her eyes to Zhi, showing a trace of affection. Xiqiu smiled and said: "Master!"

Master Puning nodded and came over, looking at the curious Zhi: "This must be the second young master." She smiled while touching Zhi’s head, and produced a string of small leaf red sandalwood Buddha beads: "Take these to play with, young master."

"Thank you, Master." Xiqiu said with a smile to Zhi, who then beamed at Master Puning and hugged his fists: "Thank you, Master!"

Nearby, several children also greeted Master Puning, and she responded with smiles, the group then went into the back yard of Puji Temple, where the maidservants had already tidied up the rooms in advance, and Xiqiu entered with Grand Dowager into one of the rooms, several children pointed eagerly outside, wanting to play, Grand Dowager chuckled and said: "Go on, go on, but don’t run about, bring more people along."

Sheng, being the eldest, responded: "Grandmother, understood." After saying this, he pulled Min and Xing to leave, then turned to see Zhi looking at him with a fiery gaze; Sheng awkwardly reached out his hand: "Come on, let’s take you along."

Zhi turned away, ignoring him completely.

Sheng turned red-faced, his outstretched hand awkwardly hung in the air while Min and Xing couldn’t hold back their laughter, Grand Dowager saw and squeezed Zhi’s cheek asking: "Why aren’t you acknowledging your eldest brother?"

"He didn’t keep his word." Zhi wrinkled his nose and glared at Sheng: "He promised to find me a talking parrot, but I’ve been waiting forever without seeing one." After saying this, he thought briefly and added red-faced: "He talks all puff and no substance!"

Grand Dowager laughed heartily, pointing at Zhi, and said to Sheng: "You think because he is young, you can make empty promises without consequences... Apparently, his memory is even better than yours."

"I... I..." Sheng scratched his head, his face a full shade of crimson.

Watching, Xing secretly signaled to Zhi not to speak further and turned to comfort Sheng: "You should coax him, lest he keeps holding on to this grievance."

"Good brother." Sheng listened, then went over to pull Zhi’s hand: "I really planned to get you a parrot but..." However, since his fourth uncle warned him last time, he dared not venture out...

Zhi raised an eyebrow without speaking, Min walked over and smiled: "There’s a Lotus Pool in the rear hill, Copper Coins float when thrown in, shall we go see?"

Zhi’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, clearly intrigued; he hesitated for a moment then handed his hand to Sheng, speaking earnestly in a childish voice: "Then you can’t lie to me anymore."

"Hehe!" Sheng laughed, rubbed his neck and nodded with assurance: "I promise!"

Zhi jumped off the bed, and the group of children gathered and laughed together, while Xiqiu remained silent, not intending to intervene, believing the conflicts among children are best resolved by themselves – fortunately, whether it was Sheng or Zhi, or Min and Xing, they were all quite sensible, though sometimes willful, their nature was innately kind and gentle.