"No problem, no problem!" Xiqiu waved her hand, thinking about Fourth Master Xiao’s "repeated occurrences" last night and secretly grinding her teeth, Chunliu looked at Xiqiu with a puzzled expression. When she helped Xiqiu get dressed and saw the red and purple bruise marks the size of fingernails on her neck, she suddenly understood why Xiqiu seemed a bit fatigued today...

Her face instantly turned red.

"Later, we will make a trip to Tong Mansion." Xiqiu rolled up her sleeves and entered the restroom, then turned back and said: "Prepare for it in a while."

Chunliu nodded in agreement.

After washing up, Xiqiu went out and had breakfast alone, thinking about going to Tong Mansion later, she went out to the backyard to greet Fourth Master Xiao and Zhi. Along the way to the Qing River, she saw from afar the father and son each wearing a big bamboo hat, covering their heads and faces under the hat, sitting directly cross-legged on the pier, with Zhi’s laughter clearly audible across the river as he talked to Fourth Master Xiao.

She also smiled knowingly and walked over, Fourth Master Xiao saw her first, his gaze scanned her to confirm that her walking posture was correct and showed no dissatisfaction... The corners of his brows lifted in delight, Xiqiu saluted and called out: "Fourth Master!"

"Mother!" Zhi saw Xiqiu approaching and immediately waved to her: "Mother, come quickly, Father and I are fishing."

Xiqiu walked over with a smile and squatted down next to Zhi, asking: "Did you catch anything?" Zhi shook his head, wiped his sweat haphazardly with his sleeve, and asked: "Is it because the fish think it’s too hot outside and don’t want to come out from home?"

"Zhi is so smart, to even think of this." Saying this, she took a handkerchief and wiped his face, and then said: "You shouldn’t keep fishing, go back with your father and rest, it’s too hot outside."

Zhi waved his hand: "Mother, I want to catch a big fish to make soup for you tonight." After saying this, he earnestly focused on the water surface again, Xiqiu was helpless, she turned to talk to Fourth Master Xiao: "Fourth Master, I wish to visit Tong Mansion, I estimate I can only return by noon."

Fourth Master Xiao looked at her, nodded and said: "Go early, if it’s too hot at noon, stay until the afternoon and I’ll come pick you up."

Xiqiu nodded, and softly said: "It will be quite hot by noon, try not to get heatstroke."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly.

Xiqiu then left Qinghe with several maids, and before boarding the blue-roofed sedan chair, she turned to instruct Nanny Rong: "Have the kitchen make some mung bean soup and chill it with ice, later send it to Fourth Master and Zhi, and also send some to Min and Mr. Ji in the outer yard." After a pause, she added: "Steep some chrysanthemum tea for Min to refresh and invigorate."

Nanny Rong acknowledged, and Xiqiu got into the sedan.

Upon arriving at Tong Mansion, as there was no prior notice, Madam Jiang had returned to her parental home, Tong Xiyan had gone to the embroidery shop, and First Master and Tong Shen Zhi were in the government office, Xiqiu could only first go to Madam Xia’s room and talked for a long time with Tong Xihua. Then Xiqiu said to Madam Xia: "There’s really no need to rush Seventh Brother’s marriage; he’s still young and has no titles or achievements. It’s better to wait a few more years, by then we can choose a girl from a good family."

"I understand." Madam Xia nodded: "Seventh Young Master has hinted at this too, although I am anxious in my heart, I know a man’s career should be prioritized." Saying this, she looked at Xiqiu again and said: "... and understood the principle of letting nature take its course."

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, finally feeling at ease.

As noon approached, Madam Jiang hadn’t returned, but First Master came back from the government office and went directly to Madam Xia’s courtyard. Seeing the three of them - mother and daughters - huddled together chatting, a smile flashed in his eyes, and he asked: "Qiu’er has returned."

Madam Xia, Xiqiu, and Tong Xihua all stood up to salute First Master, Xiqiu replied: "Yes, there are matters I wish to discuss with Father, so I came over."

"Okay." First Master nodded: "Let’s go to the study and talk." Xiqiu agreed, and First Master told Madam Xia and Tong Xihua: "No need to come out, it’s hot outside!" The mother and daughter agreed.

Xiqiu turned back to look at Madam Xia, with eyes full of gratitude, feeling that First Master was much more considerate and meticulous now than before.

The two sat down in First Master’s study, ice blocks were placed in the room making it much cooler than outside. First Master asked directly: "What’s the matter?"

"It’s like this." Xiqiu told him about her acquaintance with Madam Zhou, Madam Zhou’s illness, and the content of her conversation with Madam Zhou yesterday: "I didn’t give a firm answer, just said I’d come back to ask your opinion."

First Master hadn’t expected this to happen. He was aware when the Zhou family broke off an engagement; Although he appreciated Zhou Bohan, ultimately the fault was with the Zhou family in the past. While there were some interactions at court, they weren’t deep acquaintances. Now that Madam Zhou is critically ill, he never expected they would want to ask for Tong Xiyan again.

First Master furrowed his brows deeply, Xiqiu paused before continuing: "Father, consider this matter carefully, after all, it concerns Fourth Sister’s lifelong happiness..."

"Hmm." First Master remained silent for a long time before replying to Xiqiu.

Xiqiu chatted with First Master for a while, then someone reported that Madam Jiang had returned, so Xiqiu took leave and went to Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang, indeed was so shocked that she couldn’t speak, rubbing her forehead and said: "What a coincidence it is." After a moment’s thought, she sighed: "In my opinion, Lord Han would be better, he has waited two years for Fourth Sister, and loves with deep emotion. If Fourth Sister indeed married him, Lord Han would surely treat her well." She paused and continued: "However, Madam Zhou..."

She also knew Madam Zhou and since it was her dying wish, she felt some reluctance in her heart.

Xiqiu didn’t say anything, after sitting for a while, just as she was about to leave, suddenly Nanny Qiu lifted the curtain and came in, with an odd expression on her face: "First Young Madam, Sixth Lady, there’s a Madam Hong outside asking to see you."

"Madam Hong?" both Xiqiu and Madam Jiang looked puzzled, they had never known a woman surnamed Hong. Madam Jiang furrowed her brows and asked Nanny Qiu: "Did you inquire which family’s madam she is?"

Nanny Qiu nodded, looked at Xiqiu and then at Madam Jiang, and replied: "She said she’s from Lord Han’s residence."

Han Family’s concubine?

Madam Jiang was startled, looking at Xiqiu in surprise, Xiqiu was also taken aback and didn’t expect Han Family’s concubine to come.

"I’ll go and see." Madam Jiang furrowed her brows and said to Xiqiu: "Sixth Lady, stay here for a moment." Xiqiu nodded, then Madam Jiang went out with Nanny Qiu and walked all the way to the main courtyard, from afar she saw a tall and plump woman dressed in a rose-red overcoat. Unlike the usual soft beauty of ordinary women, she had somewhat dark skin but a healthy kind of beauty. Upon seeing Madam Jiang approaching, she bowed and saluted from afar: "First Young Madam."

"Madam Hong, hello." Madam Jiang smiled and nodded: "I’m sorry for the long wait, apologies!"