Min wore a short robe of celestial blue, his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes exuding a scholarly charm. Zhi wore a short robe of sapphire blue, his phoenix eyes lively and adorable. Xiqiu looked at the two children and smiled slightly, taking one by the hand and walking outside: "Mother is quite bored at home, how about you accompany her for a walk?"

Zhi nodded first, "Good!" Min was a bit skeptical. Xiqiu turned and asked him, "What’s the matter?"

Min shook his head, "Nothing!" Still feeling strange, he wondered why Mother suddenly wanted to visit another mansion today.

Seeing Min’s puzzled look, Xiqiu smiled and said, "It’s not really a sudden outing; it’s just that yesterday, Madam Le from Marquis Zhongshan arrived in the Capital, so I wished to pay her a visit."

Min was taken aback, realizing that Xiqiu was explaining to him, he then asked, "Marquis Zhongshan of Huainan?"

Xiqiu nodded slightly, saying, "Yes, it’s indeed Madam Ruan’s family, also the family of Consort Le from the palace."

Min nodded thoughtfully.

Zhi didn’t understand, so he raised his head and asked, "Mother, aren’t we going to play with Cousin and Twelfth Aunt?" Xiqiu pinched his cheek, "When you begin your studies next year, Cousin and Twelfth Aunt will come to accompany you every day."

"Oh!" Zhi nodded, then asked, "When is next year?"

Xiqiu was pondering how to answer this question, when Min leaned over to Zhi, explaining, "It’s summer now, after autumn and winter it’ll be New Year, and after New Year it counts as next year."

"Oh!" Zhi blinked, clearly pondering the relationship of time.

The mother and sons went to the Yimen gate, then boarded a carriage. Nanny Cen brought several maids along with Mrs. Zhou, Erquan, Qingshan, Qingyuan sat in the carriage behind, while the others followed on foot.

It was also Xiqiu’s first visit to the Marquis Mansion, though it wasn’t far from the Dongchang Bo Mansion. This mansion was bestowed during Emperor Wen’s reign; it was large but because many offspring were thriving over the years, it didn’t seem spacious. The carriage entered the second gate of the mansion, and the informed Madam Ruan, accompanied by Ruan Pingrong, were early waiting at the entrance.

"Fourth Madam!" Madam Ruan greeted with a smile: "You are truly a distinguished guest; I could hardly believe it when I heard you were coming."

Xiqiu, supported by Bihuai and Biwu, descended from the stool; Erquan carried Zhi down, and Min jumped off the carriage, which then returned back.

Xiqiu smiling walked to Madam Ruan’s side: "I haven’t seen you for a long time, so I thought to visit you." Then she glanced back at Min and Zhi, and the two children politely saluted Madam Ruan.

Ruan Pingrong, dressed in a pea-green overcoat and a faded thread skirt, with a Willow Braid looking graceful, smiled charmingly and saluted Xiqiu: "Greetings, Fourth Madam!" Xiqiu looked at her, it had been two years since not seen, and now she had grown into a graceful young lady, resembling Madam Qian. She smiled approvingly: "Pingrong has become more distinguished."

Ruan Pingrong accepted generously, causing Madam Ruan to remark: "Fourth Madam, you can’t praise her; she wouldn’t know how to feel embarrassed." Then she approached Zhi and Min: "Come, quickly, let’s go inside, it’s quite hot outside."

The group exchanged the carts and entered the inner courtyard, where Xiqiu first paid respects to Old Madam Ruan. The old lady, being of advanced age, couldn’t handle the din, so after bowing, everyone retreated. Madam Ruan accompanied Xiqiu to meet several other ladies from Marquis Jinxiang’s family. Due to the sheer number of visitors, Xiqiu was busy handing out greeting gifts, while Zhi and Min were occupied with receiving return gifts ... After more than an hour of bustling, they finally rested in Madam Ruan’s room.

"The house is really lively." Xiqiu took a sip of tea, expressing: "There are always people coming and going, and conversations abound every day."

Madam Ruan laughed helplessly: "There are advantages to having many people, as well as having few. I envy you the most, having a family of four living separately, it must be very carefree!"

"Though a bit lonely." Xiqiu smiled, to which Madam Ruan responded, "It’s tranquil too; otherwise, in such a large family, I’m always busy with household matters, rushing summer clothes and then winter clothing, coordinating meals for eight chambers with eight different menus needing approval, assigning maids here and sending matrons out there ... I really am ..." she lamented, rubbing her forehead.

Xiqiu understood, in such a large family even the smallest matters were magnified, keeping the mistress occupied for at least half a day with everyone’s issues.

"Here is iced plum soup for you to taste!" Madam Ruan personally served the soup to Min and Zhi, who graciously received and thanked her, sitting obediently nearby.

Madam Ruan was full of admiration: "These two children are really well-behaved." She then observed Zhi: "Time has flown, he’s grown up so much."

Xiqiu chuckled softly: "Indeed, children grow quickly, unnoticed by us while we are getting older." Madam Ruan pretended to complain: "Mentioning age before me, isn’t that talking down to me?"

Saying so, they both laughed, with Ruan Pingrong also giggling beside them. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Xiqiu then inquired: "I heard Marchioness Zhongshan arrived in the Capital?"

Just as Madam Ruan was about to respond, a voice came from outside: "Who’s speaking of me here?" In a cheerful tone, causing Madam Ruan to smile and get up: "Speak of Cao Cao, and he arrives!" She went out to greet personally.

Xiqiu also stood up alongside her, and saw the curtain lifted, revealing a lady dressed in a crimson peony embroidered overcoat, a moon-white Lan Border Skirt, with a round bun adorned by two hairpins, about forty years of age, looking petite, elegant, and dignified. She smiled as she held Madam Ruan’s hand: "Auntie, I heard guests arrived, which lady are they?" Looking at Xiqiu, her eyes lit up with admiration before Madam Ruan could speak, she continued, "Oh my, such a handsome wife, at my age I haven’t seen such a remarkable beauty yet."

Xiqiu returned the smile, respectfully greeted Madam Le, and Madam Ruan introduced, chuckling: "Sister-in-law, this is the wife of Grand Commander Xiao, Fourth Madam of Marquis Xuanning, whom I often mentioned to you."

"Indeed." Madam Le released Madam Ruan’s hand and approached: "I thought, there’s only one well-known beauty in this Capital, the Fourth Madam. Today I truly hit the jackpot, seeing such a sight."

"A humble appearance, your compliments are too generous." Xiqiu responded with a smile, modestly standing with grace: "It is you who possesses remarkable poise."

Madam Le laughed, "She’s quite deft with words as well." Xiqiu covered her mouth laughing, glancing at her sons, Min then led Zhi in saluting Madam Le: "Greetings, Madam!"

"Such adorable children." Madam Le supported Min with one hand and held Zhi with the other, sighing, "What a stunning family!"