"This is outrageous!" Tong Xiyan paced back and forth in the room, fuming, "I must go and reason with them."

Daiju held her back, "Miss, please calm down." After a pause, she added, "If you go, by tomorrow, it won’t just be the people in the mansion; the entire Capital will know."

Tong Xiyan stopped in her tracks, but felt a fire burning inside. She swept the teacups and dishes off the table onto the floor, and still not appeased, she grabbed an inkstone and threw it, tears falling from her eyes.

Daiju supported her, wiping her tears, feeling heartbroken. The young lady has been unlucky; living honestly since she left the Jiang Family, she never expected to get caught up in such a baseless affair. The Han Family is deliberately trying to ruin her reputation!

Xiqiu returned to the mansion; Fourth Master Xiao and Zhi were not back yet. She changed clothes and asked Nanny Cen, "Why is no one here? Hasn’t Min returned either?"

"Young Master Min sent word that he is having lunch with Mr. Ji in the outer courtyard. Seeing that you weren’t back, I took it upon myself to have the kitchen prepare a meal and sent it out," Nanny Cen explained, then hesitated, "Fourth Master and the boy are still in the outer courtyard, but..." She looked uneasy, making Xiqiu raise an eyebrow at her. Nanny Cen lowered her head and continued, "Fourth Master is taking the boy swimming in the Qing River..."

Though the weather was hot, the water was still cold. How could Fourth Master Xiao take Zhi swimming? Xiqiu didn’t have time to ask, she hurriedly changed her clothes and rushed to the backyard.

Sure enough, seven or eight people stood on the riverside boardwalk, all staring at the river. Her gaze fell on the waters, and she saw Fourth Master Xiao holding Zhi in the water. Like a duck, Zhi was splashing happily, laughing, "Father, let go, let go, I can swim!"

Upon hearing this, Fourth Master Xiao actually let go. Xiqiu broke out in cold sweat, shouting, "Fourth Master, Zhi," fearing that Zhi might choke on the water.

Fourth Master Xiao turned his head to look at her, while Zhi kept flapping his arms and legs, oblivious to Xiqiu’s voice. Xiqiu, with her heart in her throat, watched Zhi closely, seeing him flapped about ten times, then began to sink little by little. Xiqiu quickly called, "Fourth Master, he’s sinking!"

Fourth Master Xiao curved his lips slightly, lifted his hand, and effortlessly brought Zhi back to the surface.

It turned out his hand never left Zhi’s stomach. Xiqiu sighed in relief, saying, "Wait a few days to learn swimming, the water is still cold, don’t catch a chill."

Fourth Master Xiao was indifferent, as was Zhi. Zhi turned back and waved to Xiqiu, "Mother, I’ll learn how to swim soon, it’s so much fun in the water."

Xiqiu was both exasperated and amused.

"Madam, we are all here keeping watch, plus Fourth Master swims excellently; nothing will happen," Tiancheng came over from a distance, reassured Xiqiu.

Xiqiu nodded, standing on the bank watching the father and son enjoy their time in the water.

"Madam!" Tianjing approached quietly, "Lord Han is here."

Xiqiu was startled, could he be here specifically because of the Han Family concubine visiting the Tong Mansion? Why else would the timing be so close?

"Go tell Lord Han that Fourth Master is busy right now and ask him to wait a bit!" Xiqiu replied softly, looking at Fourth Master Xiao.

But Tianjing didn’t move, looked at Xiqiu, and said, "He said he’s not here for Fourth Master..." Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, and Tianjing continued, "He said he’s here to see the lady."

He’s here to see her?

Indeed, he must be here because of the matter just now, but what can he accomplish with her? Why not go directly to the Tong Mansion to find Madam Jiang?

She shook her head and told Tianjing, "Go tell Lord Han that I can’t help him!" Tianjing hesitated, looked curiously at Xiqiu. Lord Han hasn’t even stated his purpose, how does the Madam know what he wants?

He nodded and said, "I’ll go tell Lord Han right away." Then, he turned and retraced his steps.

By then, Fourth Master Xiao had already carried Zhi back to the shore. Xiqiu quickly wrapped Zhi in a large towel, holding him in her arms, "Are you cold?"

"Not cold!" Zhi shook his head, still excited, turned to Fourth Master Xiao, "Father, when will you have another day off to teach me again?"

Fourth Master Xiao, his clothes wet, Xiqiu worried they might catch a cold, quickly urged, "Hurry, go bathe, don’t stand here talking." With that, she carried Zhi back inside, and Fourth Master Xiao, moving his lips, followed her back into the house.

After carefully bathing Zhi with Mrs. Zhou, the little boy complained of hunger. Xiqiu instructed Mrs. Zhou to feed him first, "Start with some ginger soup." Mrs. Zhou nodded in agreement.

Xiqiu returned to her room, where Fourth Master Xiao had finished freshening up and sat by the table drinking tea, hair down. Xiqiu glared at him, "What if you caught a chill?" She fetched a towel to dry his hair, couldn’t help but say, "Fourth Master acts like a child himself, causing trouble!" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"If you didn’t get in, you wouldn’t know." Fourth Master Xiao looked at Xiqiu, seeing her anger hadn’t subsided, explained, "The water isn’t cold at all, trust me!"

"Fourth Master just likes to trick me."

Fourth Master Xiao laughed heartily, grasped her hand, pulling her close, "Did you tell Father-in-law about the Zhou matter?"

Talking about this made Xiqiu angrier, so she sat in front of Fourth Master Xiao, recounting the whole incident about the Han Family concubine, Fourth Master Xiao raised his eyebrows, "There is such a matter?"

Xiqiu nodded, was about to speak when Chunliu spoke from outside the curtain, "Madam." Xiqiu hummed, Chunliu continued, "Tianjing says Lord Han hasn’t left yet."

Fourth Master Xiao was unaware of Han Cheng’s visit, Xiqiu lightly explained, then paused and asked Fourth Master Xiao, "Should I meet him? Given the ties between the two families."

Fourth Master Xiao pondered for a moment, nodded, "Meet him, hear what he has to say."

Xiqiu complied.