Chapter 934: Chapter 930: Gradual Progress (5)

Xiqiu replied: "The Imperial Supervision Office has already intervened, this matter is no longer just the Imperial Censor’s impeachment; I fear it will be thoroughly investigated."

Madam Lou nodded in agreement.

Tong Xiyu paused with the teapot in her hands, silently returned to her seat, and her expression was somewhat unsightly.

Madam Lou sat for a while longer, discussed with Madam Jiang about setting a date for the auspicious ceremony, and then excused herself with the matchmaker to return to the mansion.

Xiqiu turned to speak with Tong Xiyu: "The date is set for next year, and there isn’t much time left. I fear Eighth Sister will be quite busy." Tong Xiyu lowered her head, her face blushing, and said, "I’ve caused Sixth Sister to worry about my affairs."

"No need to be so polite," Xiqiu said blandly, then added, "I’m going to visit Sister-in-law." With that, she took Bihuai, Biwu, and Lyuzhi to Madam Jiang’s room.

Zhi, Kun, and Tong Xihua were playing in the courtyard when Xiqiu entered. Tong Xihua ran over charmingly, calling sweetly, "Sixth Sister." Xiqiu responded, asking, "What are you playing?"

"We’re playing house. I’m the mother, Zhi is the father, and Kun is the baby." She gestured to the red veil on her head, "Doesn’t it look nice?"

Kun had a serious, displeased expression on his face, while Zhi looked at Tong Xihua with boredom.

Children’s favorite game, Xiqiu nodded and said, "It looks nice."

Madam Jiang came out, and when Xiqiu entered the room with her, Madam Jiang anxiously asked, "What exactly did First Master say to the Great Governor when he went to the mansion that day? Why did he come back looking so upset? Even Father was exceptionally cross."

Xiqiu raised her eyebrows, recalling Tong Shen Zhi’s expression when he left the mansion that day, and his somewhat haggard appearance upon his visit the next day. She surmised that Min’s origins had been quite a shock to him and the First Master.

"I haven’t heard any word from Fourth Master; perhaps it’s matters of the court," Xiqiu replied slowly. "Has Father been well these past few days?"

"Nothing’s happened these days. His complexion has improved significantly, but he’s been much busier than before, often discussing matters with First Master until dawn, and even Lord Zhou has visited several times."

It must still be about court matters. She nodded, looked at Madam Jiang, and said, "Thank you for managing the household affairs. You’re the one handling everything."

Madam Jiang smiled with her lips pressed together and nodded towards the direction of the West Courtyard: "I have help now. Yesterday, Madam Mei spoke to Father and said she wants me to guide the Eighth Sister in managing household affairs and teaching her about internal affairs."

Xiqiu was taken aback and asked, "Did Father agree?"

"No, Father didn’t say anything," Madam Jiang said indifferently. "I accepted. The year-end is approaching, and I do need help. Besides, she’s a lady of the mansion, and if she doesn’t do well when she marries out, it would also reflect poorly on me, wouldn’t it?"

Xiqiu smiled wordlessly, pressing her lips together and nodding.

After speaking with Madam Jiang for a while, since Tong Minzhi had gone to the academy, Xiqiu took Zhi to visit Madam Xia and then returned to the mansion.

"Madam!" As soon as she entered the door, she saw Chunliu, wearing a crimson bijia and with her hair styled in a round bun, standing in the courtyard with Yiquan, holding a bundle, and as soon as they saw Xiqiu, they knelt down in the courtyard: "Your servant greets Madam." Yiquan also softly said, "I pay my respects to Madam." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Xiqiu then remembered, calculating that today was Chunliu’s visit day, so she smiled and said, "Rise, won’t you stay a few more days? There isn’t anything urgent."

"I cannot linger," Chunliu said, glancing at Yiquan. "Moreover, he needs to report for duty at the Marquis Mansion; though Housekeeper Hu hasn’t hurried him, many tasks have piled up in his absence, and it’s better to get back early."

"Let’s talk inside," Xiqiu said with a smile. Yiquan responded, "I came to greet Madam and escort her here, and will not further disturb you. I will go report to Housekeeper Hu immediately."

Xiqiu smiled slightly and nodded, "I won’t keep you then, you may go." Yiquan then exited the gate.

After Yiquan left, Nanny Cen came over with a smile and said, "Madam, compared to before, Jin Yiquan’s wife seems much plumper; marriage indeed makes a difference."

Once Chunliu married, she had to take her husband’s surname, now she was known as Jin Yiquan’s wife, rather than Chunliu.

Chunliu blushed, feeling a bit unaccustomed to the title, while Biwu curiously observed her. Nanny Cen pinched Biwu’s ear and said, "Young girl, don’t stare. I think your time will come soon too."

Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh along.

Life in the mansion was calm and peaceful. Xiqiu frequently invited Tong Minzhi to have conversations due to her concern for him, but the court’s situation was escalating, primarily due to two issues: the first being Lord Zhang’s corruption and bribery case, which implicated six officials from the Ministry of Personnel, and even some from the Ministry of Rites, with Jiang Shilin being the most prominent. By the end of September, Jiang Shilin was ordered by the Imperial Supervision Office to suspend his duties and cooperate with the investigation.

Min was indeed safer in the palace. Since Consort Wen had the assistance of Le Xiu, she had actively plotted for the Second Prince’s future. The Second Prince found himself almost daily at Le’an Palace, and the Emperor was also growing closer to him.

The Empress was furious, and Consort Wen had shed her previously meek demeanor to such an extent that even Le Xiu had to regard her with newfound respect!

At the beginning of October, the Empress slipped in the frozen Imperial Garden and suffered a miscarriage after only a month of pregnancy; the Old Madam Shen, upon hearing this, fell ill in rage, demanding that the Emperor harshly punish the negligent palace servants...

The Emperor, contrarily, entrusted the investigation of the incident to Le Xiu and Consort Wen, further assigning them to manage affairs of the harem jointly during the Empress’s convalescence.

The Old Madam Shen failed to inflict damage and instead suffered a blow, swallowing her rage and humiliation, but believed that, as long as the Eldest Prince’s position remained secure, the future of the world would still belong to them. With this in mind, her anger dissipated. She vigorously urged Shen Ji to search for the late Empress’s posthumous son, yet Shen Ji had no progress and eventually lost track of even Shen An and Shen Ning.

Even Shi Shengjie, whom the Emperor dispatched to assist in the search, had not a single lead.

Zhi found in the storeroom the bow once given by the First Madam for his first birthday, which had been Xiao Yanji’s, and every day, he and Erquan thoroughly studied it, sweating fiercely in the cold wind but finding immense joy in it.

"Madam, Third Young Master has returned." Xiqiu was changing Zhi’s clothes when she was taken aback by the news and turned to ask, "Which Third Master?" Was it Tong Quanzhi?

"It’s the Third Uncle." Biwu ran in smilingly and said, "He’s talking with Fourth Master in the outer courtyard and will be here soon."

Indeed, it was Tong Quanzhi. That fellow had promised to return in August; she had sent several letters to ask, yet only today did she see him.

"Has Uncle Three indeed returned?" Zhi was brimming with excitement; now that Uncle Three had returned, he wanted to witness Uncle Three’s martial arts, and with that thought, he quickly leaped off the bed and dashed out.