Free Web NovelChapter 1068: Chapter 1058: Second Step (2)
"No need." Fourth Master Xiao smiled and said, "I dare not drink much, Your Majesty."
The Emperor looked surprised and then furrowed his brows, sniffing the air: "Why is there a smell of medicine?" Fourth Master Xiao placed the wine cup down and stood up: "I didn’t notice, perhaps the scent is coming from me."
"What’s all the fuss about? It’s not like I can’t stand the smell of medicine. Sit down." The Emperor waved his hand, and after Fourth Master Xiao sat down, he asked again: "Why do you have a medicinal smell on you?" Naturally, he felt that Fourth Master Xiao couldn’t possibly be sick and taking medication.
Fourth Master Xiao paused for a moment, a fleeting expression of helplessness on his face: "It’s my wife; she has been using medicine ever since childbirth, and perhaps over time, our clothes have also absorbed the scent." He smiled and shook his head: "I hadn’t noticed myself."
Min was stunned, recalling the white powder on Xiqiu’s palm from the other day, and then he felt relieved.
"Should we call the Imperial Physician to your residence to check her pulse?" The Emperor was momentarily taken aback. Fourth Master Xiao thanked him and said: "I’ve already invited the physician. He said that postpartum weakness might be difficult to recover from quickly." He looked a bit hesitant: "Women’s ailments are quite troublesome."
The Emperor seemed thoughtful, then picked up his wine cup: "Let’s drink, let’s drink, no worrying thoughts today." Fourth Master Xiao complied, accompanying him in drinking a few more cups.
"Rui, offer a toast to the Grand Commander." The Emperor said with a smile.
Min was a bit excited and went to lift his wine cup, his eyes quickly scanning Fourth Master Xiao’s face before lowering them. He felt the wine cup was heavier than ever. Fourth Master Xiao had already stood up, holding his wine cup: "Let me offer a toast to His Highness instead." He said, and then drank all the wine in his cup.
Min paused, his dry lips tugging into a semblance of a smile, nodding slightly: "Grand Commander Xiao, please!" He also drank his wine.
"Everyone, sit down!" The Emperor raised his wine cup, his face full of smiles.
Xiqiu amused Ying with various colored cloth strips waving before her eyes, smiling and muttering: "Father has been gone for so long and hasn’t returned. What do you think the Emperor wants with him?"
Ying showed her toothless smile, staring and laughing at the waving cloth strips.
Looking again at the other child lying beside her, sleeping soundly, oblivious to the noisy conversation around him, only focused on his sweet dreams.
Xiqiu pinched Gong’s little cheek: "...Such a sleepyhead." Then she teased Ying: "And your fourth aunt, I wonder if she has given birth."
A few days earlier, good news came from the Han Family; Madam Han had given birth to a daughter. At the third-day ceremony, Xiqiu feigned illness and didn’t attend but sent gifts instead. This morning, she sent Nanny Cen to the Zhou Residence to check on Tong Xiyan. Tong Xiyan hadn’t given birth yet, making her worry and have Nanny Cen check daily. Today, Nanny Cen returned saying Tong Xiyan had started labor.
It’s already noon; I wonder if the baby has been born.
She’s both worried about Fourth Master Xiao and Tong Xiyan, somewhat absentmindedly chatting with Ying.
At noon, after coaxing the two children into an afternoon nap, she spoke with Zhi, who was anxious about Master Wu, and asked: "Mother, when will you bring the master back for me?" Though his third uncle had taught him for a few days, he was busy with many things and needed to go to the palace, leaving Zhi mostly practicing on his own.
"Soon." Xiqiu smiled at him: "In a few days, a master will come, someone quite excellent." Zhi’s eyes lit up: "Really?"
Xiqiu nodded to confirm, making Zhi so happy that he jumped up: "Then I’m off to the outer courtyard; Kun is still waiting for me."
"Be careful!" Nanny Cen sidestepped at the door, letting Zhi dash by, causing her to break into a cold sweat. Zhi laughed and said: "Nanny must trust my skills!" His voice echoed even as he vanished from sight.
Though startled, Nanny Cen laughed cheerfully, bowed to Xiqiu: "Madam." Xiqiu nodded slightly and asked, "How is it, has she delivered?"
Nanny Cen responded: "Yes, she has. It’s a daughter, weighing six pounds four ounces, mother and child are safe, and the Zhou Family will come this afternoon to share the good news."
Xiqiu smiled, nodding: "That’s good, that’s good."
Xiqiu asked Nanny Cen many detailed questions before she left.
Xiqiu was happy too; Tong Xiyan had a son, Nian, before, and now a daughter; a pair of children feels complete. If Madam Zhou knew, she would be very pleased.
"What are you thinking about?" Fourth Master Xiao strode in from the doorway, noticing Xiqiu sitting alone on the Kang, uncertain what she’s pondering, her face radiating smiles. He didn’t wait for her reaction, went and hugged her: "So happy?"
Xiqiu came to, looked him over, and smelled the faint smell of alcohol: "Been drinking? With the Emperor?"
Fourth Master Xiao held her and nodded.
"I’ll get you some water." She was about to get up to pour him some, but Fourth Master Xiao held her tight: "No need, I’m not drunk." After a pause, he added: "Just had a few cups."
Xiqiu thought it over and agreed; drinking with the Emperor couldn’t get too excessive, so she didn’t insist — instead, she asked: "What’s up? What did the Emperor say to Fourth Master?"
Fourth Master Xiao rested his head on hers, silent for a long time; Xiqiu tried to look up but couldn’t see due to the angle. After waiting a while, she finally heard his voice above, asking an unrelated question: "Where would you like to visit first?"
Xiqiu was stunned; why suddenly talk about visiting places?
She was about to retort, but suddenly understood, nervously pushed Fourth Master Xiao away and held his sleeve, asking: "What did the Emperor ask of Fourth Master?"
Fourth Master Xiao chuckled, touching Xiqiu’s face, not entirely happy or sad: "Nothing much, just invited me to a meal." He mentioned Min accompanying him at the table.
Having always been detail-oriented, Xiqiu listened to his words and asked: "What does Fourth Master plan?"
"What do you think?" Fourth Master Xiao pinched her nose and gestured to the medicine bowl on the table: "Time to use that."
Xiqiu gazed unblinkingly at him, afraid to miss any sign of sadness on his face.
"Silly girl." Fourth Master Xiao said as he looked at her: "I’m fine."
Xiqiu continued to gaze at him until she confirmed he was truly fine, then she eased her concern. Fourth Master Xiao leaned in again, holding her, breathing deeply: "If I’m idle at home, loafing every day, would Madam despise her husband?"
"I would." Xiqiu giggled, embracing Fourth Master Xiao, feeling hollow inside. Everything he had today was achieved through his own hard work. Now, asking him to give it all up, leaving aside whether he’d become depressed, forcing him to remain idle and confined in the inner courtyard like her, would truly be unjust to him.
"I’m just worried that Fourth Master will find it boring and refuse to stay with us, wandering around the flower streets and willow lanes all day!" Xiqiu pouted, pretending to be unhappy. Her playful demeanor lifted Fourth Master Xiao’s mood, making him laugh heartily: "If I really went, what should Madam do?"
Xiqiu raised her eyebrows: "Naturally lock you out and serve you a washboard." Fourth Master Xiao laughed exuberantly, his laughter loud and resonant.
They joked and teased for a while; Xiqiu brewed tea for Fourth Master Xiao, helping him recline by the Kang. She softly asked: "Then the matters of Marquis Taiping, does Fourth Master plan on delegating them to Marquis Ruan and Lord Qian?"
"Yes." Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, eyes closed, speaking calmly: "They’re more suited to handle this than us."
Xiqiu agreed, acknowledging that what Fourth Master Xiao said made sense. Though handling it might not be easy, she hoped Marquis Ruan and Lord Qian could manage it successfully.
