"Mother."

When Xiqiu entered the room, the Grand Dowager was playing with Xuan. Seeing Xiqiu come in, she waved with a smile and said, "Just now, Xuan was asking about her Fourth Aunt." As she spoke, she kissed Xuan on the face, and said happily, "Isn’t that right, Xuan?"

Xuan nodded sweetly and said to Xiqiu, "Yes, Xuan misses Fourth Aunt a lot."

Xiqiu laughed, bent over to look at Xuan, and said with a smile, "Do you miss me in your heart or with your mouth?" She poked Xuan’s little face as she spoke.

Xuan blinked her big eyes and pouted her rosy little lips, "I miss you everywhere." She reached out to Xiqiu, "Hug me!"

The Grand Dowager laughed heartily, pinching Xuan’s little face, "Oh you little thing, you forget your Grandmother when you see your Aunt." She handed Xuan over to Xiqiu, who stood up with her in her arms. Xuan hurriedly explained to the Grand Dowager, "No, Xuan also likes Grandmother." She seemed both anxious and eager to please.

Xiqiu and the Grand Dowager both laughed heartily.

"Where is your Big Sister-in-law?" Xiqiu sat down with Xuan in her arms, and the Grand Dowager replied, "She has gone back to her family. Old Madam Tang’s health is uncertain, and she’s been running back and forth with difficulty."

Xiqiu sighed, and then lowered her head to talk to Xuan, "Who brought you here? Is your mother well?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Father brought me here. Mother is doing well, and my brother is also doing well." Xuan nestled prettily in Xiqiu’s arms, playing with a green agate button on her chest, and asked with a smile, "Fourth Aunt, why didn’t you bring Fourth Cousin? Xuan misses him."

The Grand Dowager also nodded, "It’s been several days since I last saw Zhi. Why didn’t you bring him along?"

"Him?" Xiqiu chuckled lightly, "A few days ago, Fourth Master taught him a new set of martial arts. He’s fascinated by it, practicing it in his room every day, and won’t come out!"

The Grand Dowager shook her head with a smile, and added, "That boy is the one most like our Xiao family among those brothers."

As Xiqiu was about to speak, Xuan tilted her head and asked, "What does it mean to be like the Xiao family, Grandmother... and am I like them?"

The Grand Dowager was amused, nodding repeatedly to humor her, "Yes, our Xuan is very much like them." Then, she asked Xiqiu, "I had someone notify you yesterday. Is there something going on?"

"Nothing important, I just missed you and wanted to come see you." She lowered her head to tease Xuan. The Grand Dowager nodded slightly, seeing how much Xiqiu liked Xuan, and thought of last year’s miscarriage, sighing softly...

Xiqiu stayed with the Grand Dowager for a while longer. Sheng and Xing had returned from their studies, entering one after the other. When Xing saw Xiqiu, he smiled and called, "Fourth Aunt." He walked over and asked, "Did Min and Zhi come with you?"

Xiqiu helped Xing remove his outer cloak and shook her head, "Min went to Wenhua Hall, and Zhi is at home." Sheng, meanwhile, cupped his fists and saluted Xiqiu. The nine-year-old Sheng was growing more and more like Fifth Young Master, although his temperament was more forthright than Fifth Young Master’s.

Xing played with Xuan before going over to chat with the Grand Dowager.

Xiqiu nodded slightly and said, "In such cold weather, are you not tired traveling back and forth between the two mansions every day?" Sheng waved his hand, "Not tired, Father sends me every day."

"Really, are your father and mother doing well? The last time I saw them was during the New Year, it’s been a while," Xiqiu asked him with a smile. Sheng nodded and replied, "They’re doing well, but Mother seems a bit unwell; she didn’t eat dinner yesterday."

The Grand Dowager looked at Sheng deeply without saying anything. Xiqiu subtly raised her brows and asked, "Where does she not feel well? Did they call a physician to take a look?"

Sheng shook his head, "No, she said it was nothing, so Father didn’t call a physician. But when I went to pay my respects this morning, she was still leaning on the bed and spoke weakly."

Could she really be ill? Xiqiu turned to the Grand Dowager and said, "Mother, should we call an Imperial Physician over to take a look? Fifth Brother went to the government office, and Fifth Sister-in-law is home alone; if something happens, there’s no one to take charge."

Sheng also looked at the Grand Dowager, who paused and responded flatly, "Let Housekeeper Hu call a physician to take a look."

Sheng smiled and nodded, "I’ll go tell Housekeeper Hu." As he was about to leave, the Grand Dowager stopped him, "It’s cold outside, let one of the maids go instead. You stay inside."

"Oh," Sheng responded obediently, sitting down beside Xiqiu. Xuan looked at Sheng from Xiqiu’s arms, tilting her head, "Big Cousin, is Fifth Aunt sick?"

Sheng replied with a smile, "I don’t know, we’ll know after the Imperial Physician takes a look."

Xiqiu stayed and had lunch with the Grand Dowager, but couldn’t stop worrying about Zhi being home alone, so she sent Chunliu back to check. In the afternoon, Housekeeper Hu returned with news, "The Imperial Physician said there’s some excess liver heat, but otherwise, she’s fine."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Dowager paused before responding indifferently, "I wonder what she’s been up to!" After saying this, she fell silent.

Xiqiu asked smiling, "What was Fifth Sister-in-law doing when you arrived, was she up?" Housekeeper Hu thought for a moment and replied, "She was up. When she heard we were there, she even came to meet us. When we left, she seemed to have some business and left the mansion in a carriage. It seems there should be no major issues."

Xiqiu nodded slightly and didn’t ask further.

"Enough about her, you should head back early as well. Zhi is home alone; who knows if he ate lunch," the Grand Dowager took Xuan and urged Xiqiu to return home.

Xiqiu nodded, "Then I shall take my leave. The weather is cold, please take care of yourself."

The Grand Dowager responded, "Yes, yes, now go!" She looked impatient but was smiling all the while.

Xiqiu smiled as she left with a few maids. Upon returning home, she instructed Tiancheng, "Find out what Fifth Madam has been up to these past few days, and report everything to me in detail."

Tiancheng was taken aback, not understanding why his mistress was suddenly interested in Fifth Madam’s affairs, but he nodded nonetheless, "I understand, I will make the arrangements."

Xiqiu nodded slightly; she knew Fifth Madam well, someone who valued money more than her life. With the Teng Family’s previous support and living in the Marquis Mansion, she was better off, but living independently now, the Teng Family probably needs her support. How could she be content if she can’t recover her interest?

Such a person might do many things for money. While not necessarily doing anything outrageous, she might do something ludicrous and bring shame. If the Grand Dowager finds out, it will surely cause more unnecessary anger.

In the afternoon, Tianjing returned and reported what he had found, "Fifth Madam went to the shop in the afternoon. It looked like she restocked goods and paid the staff." After pausing, he continued, "Then she returned to the mansion, but Third Young Madam Ren visited, staying for about half an hour before leaving. Afterward, Madam Jiang from the Jiang Mansion arrived, and it sounded like they argued. When Madam Jiang left, she needed support!"