Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 585 - 587: Prince (4)

Fourth Master Xiao leaned against the carriage, furrowing his brows as he said, "What is it? Are you unhappy?"

"No!" Xiqiu waved her hand in response, "It’s just that my mother’s health isn’t good, and I am a bit worried."

Hearing this, Fourth Master Xiao looked at her with suspicion. Fearing he might ask more, Xiqiu quickly changed the topic, "Weren’t they supposed to start the military exercises outside the city today? Why is Fourth Master here so early?"

"That was the plan, but the Emperor changed the schedule last minute." He paused, his voice carrying a hint of heaviness that was hard to detect, "The Empress might be going into labor."

Xiqiu was taken aback, suddenly remembering how easily the Empress had agreed to Madam Shen’s help. Perhaps she had her own motives, with the Empress Dowager absent, perhaps she’s more at ease in the palace?

"That’s a happy occasion." Xiqiu said, linking arms with Fourth Master Xiao, "If the Empress gives birth to a young prince, he’d be the Eldest Prince, and the entire nation should celebrate." She spoke with raised eyebrows, spiritedly as if truly happy, unconsciously affecting Fourth Master Xiao who then smiled, "And if she gives birth to a princess?"

Xiqiu naturally replied, "Then she’d be the Eldest Princess!"

Fourth Master Xiao burst into laughter, embracing Xiqiu, "Madam, you’re truly clever!" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

It was clearly teasing, and Xiqiu accepted it with grace, nodding along, "Thank you for the compliment, my husband."

The slight gloom from earlier was also lifted by her, as Fourth Master Xiao said, "I ran into my father-in-law at court today." Xiqiu was taken aback, no wonder Fourth Master Xiao knew she was here without going home.

"What did Father say?" Xiqiu asked.

Fourth Master Xiao replied, "From what Father-in-law mentioned, he seems worried about Prince Rong’s reaction upon returning to the capital, and advised us to be prepared!"

What First Master said made sense, Xiqiu looked at Fourth Master Xiao asking, "What did Fourth Master suggest?"

Fourth Master Xiao replied, "After the Emperor confiscated the Teng Family’s properties, he reopened the Taicang Huangdu Customs and Ningbo Port along the Canal..." Xiqiu was confused, then heard Fourth Master Xiao explain, "The late Emperor once bestowed a fiefdom to Prince Rong, which is in Jiaozhi, Yunnan, you know there’s a foreign port there?"

Xiqiu seemed to have heard of Jiaozhi, it seems close to the region of Vietnam, having a port wouldn’t be surprising, she furrowed her brows asking, "Does that mean Prince Rong and the Empress Dowager oppose the Emperor lifting the sea ban?" She realized the reason and added, "Once the Emperor reopens Jiaozhi, wouldn’t the offerings and benefits of Prince Rong’s fiefdom be impacted?"

In reality, reopening a port is beneficial, merchants trading around would pay taxes here, boosting the local economy. But if this port is state-run, then the benefits meant for the locals would now be shared with the state, possibly partially, or entirely taken.

No one would be willing to accept this.

Xiqiu understood why Fourth Master Xiao appeared confident, for now establishing the Maritime Trade Bureau, the Emperor entrusted Shen Ji entirely. Since Shen Ji and Fourth Master Xiao are comrades in arms, whatever Prince Rong intends to do, he must consider carefully!

The two chatted for a while longer, the carriage had already entered through the side door. Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao directly headed to the Grand Dowager’s room, where Min, Xing, and Sheng were talking with the Grand Dowager. First Madam sat smiling to the side, not sure what was being said, Xing laughed heartily. Upon seeing Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao enter, Xing was even quicker to react than Min, immediately reaching out, "Fourth Aunt, you’re back."

Xiqiu smiled, walking over to hug Xing, tapping his nose as she asked, "What’s the matter? Does Xing miss Fourth Aunt?"

The Grand Dowager and First Madam watched with smiles.

Clutching Xiqiu’s neck, Xing said, "Grandmother said, if you agree, I can have sticky rice chicken!"

Xiqiu was briefly stunned, looking towards the Grand Dowager who chuckled, "He said having porridge every day lacks flavor, he wanted to eat something tasty, so he pestered Nanny Wu to make sticky rice chicken..."

"So Xing wanted sticky rice chicken." Xiqiu tilted her head, thinking for a moment, then looking at Xing’s tense and expectant little face, she said, "Grandmother is right; you can’t eat it yet."

Xing’s little face fell in disappointment, seeing this, Xiqiu laughed and said, "But, we can make chicken porridge. How about that?"

Chicken porridge? At least it had chicken, better than nothing. Xing tilted his head, thought for a moment, reluctantly nodding, "Okay then!"

Xiqiu stifled her laughter, setting Xing down, "It’s a deal then; Fourth Aunt will have the kitchen make chicken porridge, but you can’t pester Grandmother for sticky rice chicken anymore." Xing nodded, then softly said, "I wasn’t pestering..."

The Grand Dowager chuckled pleasantly.

Xiqiu also patted Min and Sheng on their heads before turning to greet First Madam.

"How is Madam’s mother-in-law? Any better?" the Grand Dowager asked.

Xiqiu sat down across from Fourth Master Xiao, replying, "Her illness is a bit more serious than before, but the doctor said there is no immediate danger." The Grand Dowager, hearing this, sighed with relief, "She’s so young, it’s such a pity."

Xiqiu bowed her head, remaining silent.

In the evening, after having dinner with the Grand Dowager, Xiqiu held Min’s hand as their family of three headed back, on the way Min asked Xiqiu, "Mother, will Grandmother die?"

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, looking at Min asking, "Why do you suddenly ask this?"

"It was Sheng who said it, he said his eldest uncle died, and Fifth Aunt and Uncle went to Tongzhou for the funeral and haven’t returned yet." Saying this, he looked at Xiqiu with worry, asking again, "Will Grandmother die?"

Xiqiu shook her head, answering, "Grandmother won’t die." Pausing, she added, "At least not now."

Min seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to.

Fourth Master Xiao watched the conversation between mother and son, a smile slowly forming. Upon returning to their room, Xiqiu had Chunliu bathe Min and put him to sleep. Returning to the room, Fourth Master Xiao was reclining on the cool bamboo couch reading a book; as Xiqiu entered, he set the book aside, gesturing for her to come over.

Xiqiu walked over, and Fourth Master Xiao asked, "Is Min asleep?"

"Yes." Xiqiu nodded in response, then asked, "Isn’t Fourth Master going to the outskirts tomorrow? You should rest early."

Fourth Master Xiao didn’t move, embracing Xiqiu’s waist, asking, "I heard you plan to plant medicinal herbs in Tongzhou and Shandong?" Xiqiu nodded, "Yes, once the crops are harvested by the end of May, I’ll start planting some to try out."

"That’s good." Fourth Master Xiao nodded, then shifted a bit to adjust his position, pulling out a piece of paper from beside him, Xiqiu raised her eyebrows taking it, asking, "What is it?"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded his chin, signaling her to see for herself.

When Xiqiu opened it, she was startled; it was a land deed for 500 acres, she looked at Fourth Master Xiao in astonishment.