Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Chance Encounter (2)
The Grand Dowager waved her hand nonchalantly, saying, "They’re just lifeless objects, why bother with them! It’s good to account for them, so I can know exactly how much property I really have." After saying this, she slowly sat down in the chair. Nanny Wu silently took out the key, retrieved the account books one by one, and then brought out a black lacquered box with double copper surfaces and placed it on the table. She went out and called Qingyue in, and they began to compare the accounts in front of the Grand Dowager, book by book.
After a moment, a maid reported through the door from outside the room, "Grand Dowager, Madam Qian is here!"
"Understood," the Grand Dowager stood up and said to Nanny Wu and Qingyue, "You two continue; just focus on what you’re doing." She then walked out by herself.
Madam Qian had already entered. Today, she wore a dark red padded jacket with a light blue floral overcoat and a Zhuque hairpin in her hair, adorned with a jade hairpin on each side. She warmly linked arms with the Grand Dowager as they headed towards the Warm Pavilion, "How have you been these days?!"
The Grand Dowager replied with a smile, "What’s there to be good or bad about, just these old bones!" As they entered the door, a maid had already made tea for Madam Qian and quietly exited. Madam Qian took a sip of tea and said to the Grand Dowager, "You must have heard, my husband got a good scolding from the Emperor yesterday."
The Grand Dowager nodded, "The Second Master mentioned it some. You don’t need to worry; the Emperor merely scolded a bit. If he was truly angry, it wouldn’t have been just scolding!" She still remembered the time when she and the Old Marquis had returned to the capital alone to face the Emperor. The Emperor stood tall above the city gates, looking down at them with a confident and strategic demeanor, as if everything was within his grasp. At that moment, both the Marquis and she knew they had lost the opportunity, and they had felt fortunate about their decision.
Now, twenty-one years later, the Emperor was still the same Emperor, yet he no longer had the wisdom and brightness of those days. Like all other emperors, he too was tempted by the pursuit of immortality!
The Grand Dowager shook her head, and Madam Qian continued, "I think so too, and I haven’t taken it to heart. My husband has been scolded many times. I just didn’t expect the Emperor even reprimanded the Second Prince!" In ordinary families, a father scolding his son is merely out of earnest hope for their success. But in an imperial family, any minor disturbance can stir up hidden currents. The Second Prince’s kneeling changed many people’s directions, causing sleepless nights and potential court changes. She shook her head, thinking that compared to the Third Prince, the Second Prince was far too kind-hearted.
These thoughts she only kept to herself, not daring to easily share even with the Grand Dowager. She looked at the Grand Dowager and said, "I met the Second Prince Consort a few days ago. She mentioned she was due by the end of the month, but I don’t think she looked well!"
"Oh, let’s not talk about these things. Things are still uncertain now, and who isn’t simmering in the water?" The Grand Dowager waved her hand and asked Madam Qian, "Have you come for anything in particular?"
Madam Qian smiled and said, "I won’t hide it from you, I heard that Fourth Miss from the Tong Mansion is a guest at the Marquis Mansion. A few days ago, I heard she was ill, so I thought to come and check in." The Grand Dowager looked at her, smiling deeply, "She came with Sixth Miss yesterday. If you go, I’ll ask Nanny Wu to accompany you to see her."
Madam Qian hurriedly waved her hand, "There’s no rush; I still want to chat with you."
"No need to play tai chi with me!" The Grand Dowager chuckled, "The foundation of the Tong Mansion might be shallow, but there are no fools in that house. First Master Tong, Second Master Tong, one in the court serving as a minister, entering the cabinet, while the other stays away, holding a fifth-rank official position. Such a balance of defense and offense, look around the entire capital, how many are like them." She paused, "I’ve met Fourth Miss too, you don’t need to be indecisive. These marriage proposals may seem like they’re reaching high initially, but to be blunt, your brother’s family isn’t the legitimate branch, and Lord Zhou is only a fifth-rank magistrate. It’s considered a suitable match for the Tong Mansion."
Madam Qian smiled sheepishly and affectionately said to the Grand Dowager, "I’ve looked at so many prospects my eyes have turned blind, seeing flaws in everyone. Coincidentally, rumors of Fourth Miss’s illness reached my ears the other day, how could I not think deeply?"
"There’s nothing wrong with her, she seems full of spirit to me." After saying this, Madam Qian laughed, "Go and see her, you’ve put your heart into caring for your nephew. Taking a look will give you some peace of mind."
Madam Qian smiled, as the Grand Dowager was about to call for Nanny Wu, Fifth Madam entered. Today, she wore a double-breasted jiaao with a pink background and intertwined floral patterns and a honey-colored embroidered skirt below, her hair styled in a Willow Braid. She entered with a smile and greeted the Grand Dowager and then Madam Qian. A maid brought over a stool, and Fifth Madam sat down on it by the Grand Dowager’s feet: "I saw Madam Qian’s maid when I entered the courtyard, so I knew she was here... What were Mother and Madam Qian discussing?"
The Grand Dowager glanced at Madam Qian and said, "We were just talking about seeing Xihua, I was about to ask Nanny Wu to accompany her." She then asked Fifth Madam, "Why didn’t you bring Sheng for me to see? I’ve been missing him for days!"
Fifth Madam replied with a smile, "He woke up early this morning and probably got tired of playing. After eating, he went back to sleep... I’ll bring him over for you to see when he wakes up." The Grand Dowager nodded without refuting, while Fifth Madam looked around for Nanny Wu, not seeing her, she said to Madam Qian, "Nanny Wu is busy right now, how about I accompany you for a stroll."
Madam Qian hesitated, "I wouldn’t presume to trouble you." Fifth Madam waved her hand, "What’s so presumptuous, go ahead and use me!" Then she covered her face with laughter.
The Grand Dowager slightly nodded, "Then let the Fifth Madam accompany you for a walk, it’s not far anyway. Come back for lunch!" Madam Qian nodded, stood up, and said to the Grand Dowager, "I dare not linger long, I have to visit my mother’s home later."
Madam Qian’s mother-in-law and the Grand Dowager were childhood friends, and the two families have always had close ties. Madam Qian often visited the mansion, coming and going freely, so the Grand Dowager didn’t hold her back and nodded, "Go ahead!"
Fifth Madam stood up and led Madam Qian to walk ahead, the two of them leaving the room side by side. Outside, the maidservants and elderly women from both sides gathered around them, escorting the two out of the courtyard. Fifth Madam discreetly tugged on her maid’s hand and whispered, "Go find the Miss!" The maid understood and subtly stepped back.
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan had gone to pay respects to the Grand Dowager early and then returned to Tong Xihua’s courtyard. Tong Xiyan said she wanted to sit in the courtyard, while Xiqiu replied, "I won’t accompany you then, I’ll go back and rest for a while."
"Go ahead, though you don’t have to walk much, it’s still tiring, and if something really happens to your leg, I’d be guilty for life." Tong Xiyan held Xiqiu’s hand tightly with a look full of guilt. Xiqiu smiled, "There’s nothing wrong; taking good care will see it improve gradually." With that, assisted by Sixing and Chunyan, she said, "I’m heading back," and returned to her room.