Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Frail Child (Part 2)
Xiqiu saw Tong Xihua propping herself up with her arm, looking eagerly towards the door. Lady also stood up, and Fifth Madam greeted with a smile, "Ah, our little Xing is here!" She reached out to hold him, but Lady’s eyes flashed, and she smiled to the nanny, "Quick, bring him in, there’s a draft at the door!"
The nanny glanced at Fifth Madam, then looked at Lady, curtsied to Fifth Madam, and walked towards the bed. Fifth Madam stood awkwardly at the door.
The room felt awkward for a moment. Madam Qian smiled and said, "Let me have a look!" She leaned in to look closely, praising, "Oh, doesn’t he look just like Second Young Master?" Second Madam Qian nodded in agreement, "This face looks just like our Second Madam’s, a perfect melon-shaped face, he’ll definitely be a handsome man when he grows up!"
Old Madam Tang, sitting in her chair, waved to the wet nurse, "Bring him here for me to see." The wet nurse glanced at Lady, who nodded. The wet nurse handed little Xing to Old Madam Tang, who cradled him lovingly, exclaiming, "Even though he’s premature, he’s not short at all."
Thinking about how Marchioness Xuanning had been childless for years, and although Tong Xihua had a difficult time, she finally had a child. Lady beamed with joy, and Grand Dowager also seemed very pleased. Tong Xihua, lying on the bed, showed a knowing smile, looking tenderly at little Xing. Old Madam Tang pointed to the bed and said to the wet nurse, "Quick, take him to let his mother have a look, or else her neck will grow three inches longer."
Everyone in the room chuckled softly. The wet nurse obediently took little Xing to Tong Xihua, who propped herself up and took him into her arms, kissing him repeatedly. But in just this short moment, she was already sweating profusely, swaying unsteadily while sitting.
Grand Dowager frowned slightly, but since it was her daughter-in-law, she couldn’t say much. Eventually, even Lady couldn’t bear it anymore and walked over to take little Xing, saying to Tong Xihua, "You should lie down and rest a bit!" She signaled to Qiuping, who helped Tong Xihua lie down. Tong Xihua, holding her hand, whispered, "Where is Second Young Master?"
Qiuping replied softly, "He came while you were asleep and talked with the ladies for a while. Later, when the other Madams arrived, Second Young Master left to avoid them. I’m not sure where he went."
Tong Xihua frowned without saying anything; Qiuping sighed internally... Fifth Madam, standing behind Grand Dowager, glanced at Tong Xihua, a fleeting smile of derision on her lips.
Lady handed little Xing to the midwife, who, along with the two nannies, began to undress him. When Xing’s clothes were removed, Xiqiu’s brows furrowed slightly. Being premature, the child was quite small and very thin, with a slight indentation in his chest as he breathed, which was somewhat abnormal!
Her heart skipped a beat as she diverted her gaze to look at Grand Dowager, who was also staring at little Xing’s bare body, tears glistening in her eyes.
As these thoughts flickered by, the midwife had already dressed little Xing and wrapped him in a blanket. Throughout this process, little Xing kept his eyes closed without making a sound.
"What a well-behaved child!" Second Lady beamed at little Xing. Fifth Madam chimed in, "Indeed, from birth until now, I’ve never heard him cry, unlike our little Sheng, who was fussing incessantly since birth."
Lady’s brow furrowed, her expression changing several times, yet Fifth Madam seemed unaware. "At the three-day ceremony, our Fifth Young Master personally carried him out. He moved around in Fifth Young Master’s arms, almost falling to the ground. It scared Fifth Young Master!"
Xiqiu frowned, looking at Fifth Madam. Her words were clearly meant to provoke Tong Xihua. During Sheng’s three-day ceremony, Fifth Young Master personally carried him out, yet today, Second Young Master avoided attending to dodge the other Madams. Tong Xihua must feel upset. She’s also comparing Sheng and Xing, implying Xing is premature and weak, even lacking the strength to cry!
Indeed, Tong Xihua glared angrily. Lady gave her a comforting look; with Grand Dowager here, she would keep things fair. She couldn’t let the two daughters-in-law mock each other in front of outsiders, causing a spectacle...
Tong Xihua clenched her fists, swallowing her anger, tears in her eyes as she looked at Grand Dowager, who frowned at Fifth Madam, then stood up and said to Madam Tang, "Let them rest a while, let’s go to my place for a visit."
Fifth Madam pursed her lips, seemingly unaware, turning to chat with Madam Qian.
Old Madam Tang laughed as she stood up, "Alright... let them rest well!" After speaking, Madam Zhou, Madam Qian, and Second Madam Qian also stood up, bidding Tong Xihua farewell, "Rest well, we’ll see you another day."
Tong Xihua, with a pale face, nodded slightly, saying, "Thank you all for your concern!" Tearfully, she turned to Lady, "Mother, please keep me company for a while."
Lady wanted to talk with her, but with so many Madams present, it wasn’t appropriate. Still, Madam Qian smiled, "We’ll head to Grand Dowager’s place first; once the guests arrive, we’ll come back for drinks."
Lady laughed, "I wouldn’t dare drink with you; you’re quite the drinker." Madam Qian covered her mouth in laughter, and Grand Dowager turned to Lady and Tong Xihua, "We’ll head over first." She also looked at Xiqiu, Tong Xiyan, Tong Xiyu, and Tong Xijia, "Ladies, join us, let Yanzheng accompany you!"
Xiqiu and the others curtsied, "Yes!"
The group followed Grand Dowager and Old Madam Tang out.
They had only just stepped out of the courtyard when they were met by an elegantly dressed woman. Upon seeing Grand Dowager, she knelt to pay her respects and greeted Old Madam Tang. She then curtsied to the other Madams, and Grand Dowager smilingly asked, "What brings you here? How is your mistress?"
Old Madam Tang looked at the woman, furrowing her brow for a while before suddenly realizing, "Oh, this is Nanny Jiang from beside Old Madam Lou. Why didn’t your mistress come? She just sent you?"
Nanny Jiang responded with a smile, "She caught a cold recently and didn’t dare to go out. Yesterday, First Madam went to Puji Temple to ask for a peace charm for the young master. Old Madam sent me to deliver it and asked about his name and appearance." She handed a pocket over. Nanny Wu accepted it with a smile, and Grand Dowager chuckled, "He’s called little Xing, and he looks like Yanyi." Nanny Jiang praised him, and Grand Dowager added, "Tell her to rest well, and once things settle here, I’ll visit her."
Nanny Jiang nodded with a smile, "I won’t disturb Grand Dowager and the Madams any further. I’ll go to the outer court to light incense for the Marquis and then head back."