"Madam!" Biwu turned back and responded to Xiqiu: "I went to inquire and found out that Eighth Miss has already been up the mountain three times in the past two months. Sometimes she stays in the main hall for a while, sometimes she wanders around the back mountain, but she always leaves shortly after, with nothing particularly unusual." After speaking, she again showed a look of doubt: "Did she not do anything out of the ordinary?"

"No!" Bihuai shook her head.

Xiqiu tightly furrowed her brows, her gaze falling on the mountain gate. The angle wasn’t right for her to see the road at the mountain’s base, yet her heart secretly built up suspicion. Why has Tong Xiyu suddenly been visiting Puji Temple so frequently?

As she mulled it over, Zhi below waved at her from the Lotus Pool: "Mother, Mother!" shouting.

"Forget it, let’s talk about it when we get back." Xiqiu withdrew her gaze, spoke to Biwu, and waved to Zhi, then she glanced distantly at the courtyard to the west, sighed inwardly, and turned to descend the boardwalk. Twists and turns along with some slipperiness made her walk cautiously, reaching back to grip Biwu’s hand: "It seems steeper than the last time we came..."

"Hmm." Suddenly, her hand was grasped by someone, causing Xiqiu to startle, realizing Biwu was nowhere to be seen, and Fourth Master Xiao stood behind her, holding her hand. Xiqiu smiled and said, "Fourth Master has returned; Second Master Lou has left?"

"Hmm. He’s gone back." Fourth Master Xiao held her hand naturally, disregarding the maids and servants around: "Where did you go just now?"

Xiqiu’s body stiffened slightly, her guilty cough was a cover, replying: "I spoke with Master Puning." Images of Xiao Yanyi’s solitary and lonely figure flitted through her mind, she hurriedly dismissed the thoughts and cheerfully said: "I just ran into Eighth Sister."

Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows: "Oh?" acknowledging: "I did not see her when I came up, has she already left?"

Xiqiu responded: "Yes!" then paused and looked at Fourth Master Xiao: "Didn’t see her going down the mountain?" With Puning Temple having two courtyards atop and below the mountain...coming from the foot requires entering through the temple gate, but perhaps Fourth Master Xiao hadn’t seen or noticed.

Fourth Master Xiao responded nonchalantly. Xiqiu wanted to ask further, but by then, Zhi was crawling in a dog-like fashion upwards from below: "Mother, I’ve come to get you." thinking Xiqiu was afraid to go down the boardwalk.

"Slow down!" she gasped, relieved that Qingshan, Qingyuan, and Min had already run forward and caught Zhi. Xiqiu turned back to Fourth Master Xiao, saying: "Fourth Master, please go down first; I will go slowly."

Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze paused as he looked at his own son, yet his grip on Xiqiu’s hand didn’t loosen until they reached the bottom, where Zhi had already rushed forward: "Mother, are you afraid? It’s very high here, isn’t it?"

"Yes! Mother is very scared." she said, leading Zhi: "Did you see anything fun?"

"My copper coin sank." Saying this, he dragged Xiqiu to the side of the Lotus Pool, pointing below: "It’s that one, it’s that one!" With the pool full of copper coins, Xiqiu couldn’t distinguish which one he meant and randomly nodded: "Look, all the copper coins have sunk!"

"Mother, you try tossing one." Zhi tugged Xiqiu, but Xiqiu laughed and shook her head: "Mother will sink just like you do." Seeing Xiqiu unwilling to toss, Zhi turned to plead with his father: "Father, you toss one and see."

Xiqiu laughed, fearing to affect Fourth Master Xiao’s impression in the children’s minds, she stopped Zhi: "Don’t toss copper coins, there are many things to play with around here..."

Sheng called out: "Zhi, come over, there’s a river down here, and someone’s fishing!" Upon hearing "fishing," Zhi immediately released Xiqiu’s hand and ran to Sheng’s side...

Xiqiu chuckled, her gaze falling on the river in front of the courtyard down the mountain. Unexpectedly, she recalled the scene of first meeting Fourth Master Xiao, and said to him: "Does Fourth Master know where our first meeting was?"

Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows and replied: "Wasn’t it outside Father-in-law’s study?"

"No." Her smile playful, Fourth Master Xiao showed a hint of doubt; he didn’t recall ever meeting her there. If they had met, he shouldn’t have no memory of it...

Seeing his puzzled appearance, Xiqiu pointed below the mountain gate and replied: "That spring I visited here with Lady, you and Third Master Ren were at the mountain’s base with many others when the mountain gate was shut... You and Third Master Ren were waiting outside the gate... Third Master Ren even hit a young nun, do you remember Fourth Master?"

Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze turned distant, seemingly pondering which day Xiqiu was referring to, while hearing Xiqiu say: "You stood by the carriage speaking with Lady; Fourth Sister and I secretly lifted the curtain, only seeing you clad in jet black attire...though just from a side view."

Suddenly recalling it, Fourth Master Xiao laughed and nodded: "Seems there was such an occasion!" Then he looked at Xiqiu: "You were inside?" with a tone of regret.

Listening to his tone, Xiqiu couldn’t help but smile.

Afterward, she spent some more time playing with the children. At noon, Master Puning accompanied them for lunch; during the meal, Xiqiu didn’t see Xiao Yanyi anymore as Grand Dowager mentioned he returned due to matters at the government office... Xiqiu thought nothing of it since it was Grand Dowager’s birthday; everyone also ate longevity noodles, Master Puning accompanied with an hour-long scripture recitation, while Fourth Master Xiao accompanied the children fishing at the lakeside; there were colorful little stones in the water...

Later, Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu strolled around the back mountain, surrounded by verdant greenery. Xiqiu lifted her skirt, following Fourth Master Xiao, the two chatted casually, inadvertently bypassing the mountain gate...ahead suddenly clear...

Only saw a hill approximately half an acre in size planted with many Wooden Hibiscus, pink petals scattered like a red carpet extending to the end...

In Xiqiu’s eyes, revealed a look of amazement: "How beautiful!" How had she never noticed this place had Wooden Hibiscus before.

Fourth Master Xiao, however, furrowed his brow, pointing to the base of the tree: "Seems newly transplanted here." Xiqiu was stunned by the words, following his gaze to the tree roots indeed finding fresh soil, her face full of surprise: "So many trees, all newly transplanted?"

Some incredulity.

Fourth Master Xiao’s brow gradually tightened!