Free Web NovelChapter 988: Chapter 984: Yin and Yang (2)
"I understand," Xiqiu nodded and said, "I just can’t help but let my imagination run wild."
Fourth Master Xiao stroked her head and chuckled softly, "Go to sleep." He turned around to extinguish the lamp and gently held Xiqiu in his arms, softly caressing her back. After a long while, the person in his arms finally emitted soft breaths.
He sighed lightly and lay there for a while longer, then estimated the time and got dressed in his court attire to go to court.
When Xiqiu woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. She sat up suddenly and saw Bihuai standing at the foot of the bed with a cheerful smile. Xiqiu rubbed her forehead and asked, "What hour is it?"
"It’s almost 7 a.m." Bihuai lifted the canopy and said, "Madam has slept so soundly; Nanny Qiu has been waiting for you all morning." As she spoke, she handed a cup of warm red date honey tea to her.
Xiqiu took a sip and raised her eyebrows, asking, "Nanny Qiu is here? What’s the news?"
"The First Young Madam is expecting," Bihuai said with a smile, covering her mouth in amusement. "I heard she fainted in the room last night, and it was only when the doctor was called that we found out she’s already two months along." freёwebnovel.com
Xiqiu also smiled. A few years ago, during Tong Shen Zhi’s mourning period, the couple had been apart for three years. Later, Madam Jiang didn’t have any good news for more than a year, which secretly had her worried. Now, hearing this good news today, she handed the cup back to Bihuai, got out of bed, and said, "It truly has been one good thing after another recently." As she headed to the bathroom to freshen up, she asked Bihuai, "How is Chunliu these days? Still feeling sick?"
"Much better, she can eat some now." Bihuai followed inside, helping Xiqiu roll up her sleeves, and applied tooth powder on the toothbrush for Xiqiu to freshen up. Xiqiu took it and said, "I remember there’s still some pickled cabbage at home, let Nanny Qiu take some back later, the concubine also likes to eat it... send some to Chunliu’s side as well."
Bihuai agreed with a smile. After Xiqiu finished freshening up, Lyuzhi carried a tray of food inside, containing several types of pastries. Upon seeing it, Xiqiu said, "Let’s use the adjacent room, can’t let Nanny Qiu wait too long."
Lyuzhi nodded and agreed, carrying the tray to the adjacent room.
Nanny Qiu told Xiqiu about Madam Jiang’s situation again. Xiqiu was extremely happy, and she instructed Bihuai to find many items from the storeroom for Nanny Qiu to take back. She also started thinking about Tong Xiyan, who was now eight months pregnant, wondering about her condition.
On the day Tong Xiyan gave birth, it was the first snowfall in the Capital. Xiqiu accompanied Zhi, Tong Xihua, and Kun right after lunch, and a few people were playing chess in the Warm Pavilion. Zhi hesitated with his Xiang chess piece, while Kun, like a meditating monk, waited for Zhi to make his move without urging him, just waiting quietly.
Zhi made a careless move and chuckled, "I can’t eat your Xiang, but surely I can eat a pawn for a snack?" Kun didn’t even lift his eyebrows, using his cannon to leap over, and Zhi realized he had fallen into Kun’s trap, laughing heartily, "So you were waiting for me here!" He patted his head, "I lost big time."
Kun watched him and a smile emerged at the corner of his mouth. Pointing at the chessboard, he succinctly said, "Move one step, calculate three steps!"
"That’s you," Zhi shook his head and said, "If it were me, I’d solve the problem with a punch."
Kun frowned and taught him, "A gentleman uses words, not fists!" Zhi furrowed his brows, "What if the other party is no gentleman?"
"You..." Kun was stumped by his words, pondered for a long while, and then replied, "Conquer with virtue!"
Upon hearing this, Zhi looked surprised, recalling the way his uncle spoke, and said disdainfully, "Not everyone can be like that." After speaking, he placed his chess piece, leaned over and stared at Kun, suddenly raised his fist and waved it in front of him, "I’ll use this to teach a lesson!"
Kun couldn’t help but move back and pursed his lips without speaking.
Tong Xihua was obediently helping Bihuai divide the thread for Xiqiu. Hearing their words, afraid they’d start fighting, she smiled and said, "I think being both scholarly and skilled in martial arts is the best." Then she looked at Xiqiu and said to Zhi, "Like the Great Governor."
Zhi and Kun both said nothing, revealing thoughtful expressions.
Seeing they no longer argued, Tong Xihua sweetly smiled and asked Zhi, "Zhi, why do you like practicing martial arts so much? Do you plan to go to the battlefield in the future?"
Xiqiu couldn’t help but look at Zhi.
Without thinking, Zhi nodded and said, "Of course. I was born into the Xiao military family, but none of my brothers practice martial arts. In the future, if people talk about it, the Xiao family won’t be considered a military family." He spoke righteously, "I want to be like my father, go to the battlefield and kill the enemy!" After he spoke, he furrowed his brows, pondering something, while Kun casually added, "Merely dying for the nation on the battlefield, why need a horsehide shroud!"
