Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 615 - 617: Adding to the Family (2)

The three of them nodded and couldn’t stop asking questions about the state of the other courtyard, the appearance of the mountain, whether they could fly kites, and if Xiqiu rode a horse.

Xiqiu replied with a smile, while Chunliu and Bihuai followed behind holding umbrellas. Worried that the three might get sunburnt, Xiqiu called for a sedan chair, and they all headed to the Grand Dowager’s courtyard.

The Grand Dowager, seeing her return, looked her over and asked, "...I haven’t been there for many years, is it still tidy over there?"

Xiqiu replied with a smile, and the Grand Dowager brought out a redwood box from behind her and handed it to Xiqiu, "Since you didn’t celebrate your birthday at home, consider this as a make-up present." Xiqiu was taken aback and said, "It’s just a small birthday, you shouldn’t have troubled yourself, Mother."

The Grand Dowager waved her hand nonchalantly, "I am old, and these things are no longer of use to me. I might as well give them to you... Open it and see if you like it."

"Thank you, Mother." Xiqiu took the box and opened it to find a dazzling Phoenix Spreading Wings Six-sided Jade and Seven Treasure Bright Gold Hairpin lying against the crimson lining. Surprised, she looked at the Grand Dowager and said, "Mother, this... is too precious." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The Grand Dowager, seeing her delight, chuckled and said, "It’s not about whether it’s precious or not. Marquis gave it to me when I was young, but I wasn’t interested in these things at the time. Now that I want to wear it, I can’t, but it suits you perfectly."

Xiqiu thanked her again, had Bihuai put it away, and then took a bundle from Chunliu’s hands, saying, "I took a detour to Puji Temple and saw these interesting things at the mountain gate, so I bought them casually." She then took out a ceramic hand warmer, embossed with a pattern of the Longevity Star on blue and white stripes, with handles on both sides, allowing hands to slip through without fear of dropping it in winter.

The Grand Dowager, watching as Xiqiu handed it to her, exclaimed in astonishment, "Is this for me?" taking the hand warmer with a chuckle, examining it around, and said to Nanny Wu, "This little thing is indeed clever, just the right size for ladies."

"It can’t compare to your things, Mother, but it has its charm."

The Grand Dowager nodded and replied, "Good things are precious, and one must be careful while making them. Merchants dare not make odd things in case they ruin the market for good items. On the contrary, these inexpensive things often have surprising looks."

Xiqiu agreed, then handed a Beauty Hammer wrapped in a red flower cloth to Nanny Wu, who took it with a smile. The three children surrounded the bundle; Sheng took a wooden sword, Xing got a bamboo flute, and Min received a nine-square puzzle box.

The room was full of laughter and chatter, and they talked about the wild vegetables Biwu picked, which were hard to eat. Blushing, Biwu said, "...My mother often made them for me when I was young, and they tasted good, but now they don’t taste the same."

The Grand Dowager, laughing and pointing at Biwu, said, "This girl, what tasted good when you were young may not taste as good now; tastes change as one ages."

Biwu repeatedly agreed.

Mrs. entered from outside, and upon seeing Xiqiu back, smiled and nodded, "I thought you’d arrive at night... Why not stay a few more days?" Xiqiu greeted her with a smile and replied, "I was anxious about matters at home, and I wouldn’t feel at ease even if I stayed."

Mrs. nodded and said no more, smiling as she sat across from Xiqiu.

Xing took a wooden scoop from the bundle, "Aunt, Aunt!" he said, showing it off, "Fourth Aunt bought this for you to water the flowers."

Mrs. raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at Xiqiu, who smiled and said, "It looked interesting, so I bought it casually."

"Thank you!" Mrs. took it and handed it to Nanny Tang beside her, saying with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Fourth Sister-in-law."

Xiqiu smiled without saying more.

The Grand Dowager chuckled, "You just returned, covered in dust. Get cleaned up and change your clothes first, then join me for dinner tonight."

Xiqiu nodded in agreement, greeted Mrs., and went to her room to wash and change.

Chunliu followed her in to assist, and Xiqiu asked, "Did anything happen at home today?" Chunliu glanced at the door and replied, "Nothing else, but there are two matters from the second household."

Xiqiu washed her face and answered while wiping it with a handkerchief, "Oh?" Chunliu replied, "Zijuan came to get the token twice, once saying there were no blood swallows left in the second household and took four taels back, and once saying that the Second Madam felt cold and couldn’t get warm even under the quilt, so she needed frost charcoal!"

Xiqiu was puzzled and looked back at Chunliu with raised eyebrows, "Feeling cold, she needs charcoal?"

Chunliu also found it strange and, uncertain, asked, "I also found it odd, so I only gave her half, and I personally delivered the other half. When I went in, I indeed saw curtains hanging on the Second Madam’s door, with steam billowing out."

What exactly is the Second Madam thinking? Feeling cold in the middle of summer, is it really cold, or is there another reason?

"Does the Grand Dowager know about this?" Xiqiu asked.

Chunliu nodded, "Nanny Wu also went to see, and like me, she found it unbelievable. She even invited the Imperial Physician to the mansion, but the Imperial Physician couldn’t identify the illness, yet the Second Madam just feels cold."

Xiqiu frowned but said nothing, then asked, "And what about the other matter?"

"It’s about Lianqiao," Chunliu said, "She was raised to the status of a concubine by the Grand Dowager."

Xiqiu was taken aback, but then it seemed expected. Lianqiao had such ambitions due to the issue with Zitan: "Did the Grand Dowager intend to raise her, or was it the Marquis’s decision?" She knew that the Grand Dowager had selected several outstanding maids for Nanny Wu to train, which would later be sent to Xiao Yanyi’s room. Since she hadn’t chosen Lianqiao initially, she wouldn’t temporarily pick her now.

"It was the Marquis’s wish," Chunliu recounted the events of that night to Xiqiu and added, "...spent the night in Lingbo Hall."

Even the Second Madam had only been to Lingbo Hall twice, yet the Marquis left Lianqiao there overnight.

Xiqiu nodded thoughtfully, "Later, go to the storeroom and pick some festive cloth, then choose a set of jewelry to give to Lianqiao as a congratulatory gift from us."

Chunliu agreed.

Xiqiu changed her clothes and came out, only to be met by a servant reporting, "The Second Madam says not to send any food to her room in the future; all of her meals will come from the small kitchen."

"Then follow her arrangements. When buying ingredients as usual, set some aside for her," Xiqiu responded without hesitation. Some servants in the kitchen were initially placed by the Second Madam. Even if she disagreed, they would secretly send it over, so why play the villain on the surface?

The servant agreed and withdrew.

When Fourth Master Xiao returned, Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao went to the Grand Dowager’s room together. It seemed deliberately prepared; two tables of dishes were set in the side room, and when Xiqiu went to help set the tableware, the Grand Dowager chuckled and said, "No need, just sit and rest."