The entire room burst into laughter.
The Third Miss, Tong Xiyang, was not willing to be outdone: "Ah! Unfortunately, I never had the fate to meet my grandmother. If only I could see her, I would have no regrets in this life." She smiled ingratiatingly, appearing even more gentle and charming after her careful grooming.
The concubine was puzzled and raised her eyebrows: "Why is that?"
"Daughter thinks grandmother must have been a goddess reincarnated, otherwise how could she have raised ladies like the First Lady and Auntie, and have such handsome and learned children like our elder brother, cousin, elder sister, and fourth sister?"
Everyone laughed again, even Xu Tianqing couldn’t help but take another look at Tong Xiyang.
The concubine covered her mouth with a laugh, feeling a bit smug: "You child, you seem to be praising yourself."
"Auntie is indeed the descendant of a goddess; even my thoughts are guessed correctly."
The room was filled with laughter that couldn’t be stopped.
Tong Xiyang looked quite pleased with herself, giving a provocative glance at Xiqiu, only to see her eyes curved in a genuine smile, as if she really found the remark amusing.
Once again, there it was, soft like cotton, and in her heart, Tong Xiyang couldn’t help but feel more irritated.
The First Lady quickly hid a trace of ridicule at the corner of her mouth, yet her face still smiled gently: "This Third Girl, just like her aunt, has the most eloquent tongue; but the Sixth Girl, having taken after the First Master, doesn’t speak much but always speaks truthfully."
Xiqiu sighed deeply in her heart, with no choice but to echo: "Daughter wishes to take after mother, but unfortunately doesn’t have the fortune."
The First Lady nodded and smiled.
Tong Xiyang’s smile stiffened.
Xu Tianqing swiftly glanced at Xiqiu: "All my cousins are docile and generous. My mother always tells me she envies Auntie, for her abundant blessings."
This was likely said to prevent her from truly minding inwardly.
Xiqiu sipped her tea, her gaze falling on a window-side verdant jade bonsai, with dewdrops reflecting on it, complementing the green silk curtains, rendering a sense of quiet vitality. The red rosewood blanket on the dovecote of the warm pavilion added a touch of lightness; the First Lady and the concubine who were from noble families would not look kindly upon such illegitimate daughters as them.
"All are lovable," the concubine glanced at her own son: "The Third Girl is clever, the Fourth Girl is composed, the Sixth Girl is docile." She then gestured for Tong Xiyu to come closer: "Why doesn’t the Eighth Girl speak today?"
The Eighth Miss, Tong Xiyu, walked over, standing obediently by the side of the couch, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: "I’ve nothing to say, with my clumsy mouth."
"This child..." The concubine truly had a bit of fondness, as Tong Xiyu’s mother had accompanied the First Lady as a dowry maid, greatly strengthening their childhood bond. Even seeing Tong Xiyu, she felt extra affection.
"Not useful if you can’t speak, whose nature does she take after?" The First Lady sighed.
Tong Xiyu said nervously: "It’s all daughter’s fault."
The concubine laughed: "How could it be your fault? I think your nature is better, countless times more than your aunt’s."
Tong Xiyu’s face turned red, nervously fiddling with a handkerchief, somewhat at a loss.
Suddenly, a maidservant announced from outside: "Madam, the Young Master Tong Shen Zhi and the Seventh Young Master are here."
"Quickly, let them in." The First Lady’s eyes brightened, her face blossoming with smiles.
Everyone turned their gaze towards the door.
Xiqiu noticed Tong Xiyu visibly heaved a sigh of relief.
The Young Master Tong Shen Zhi wore a sapphire-colored robe with willow green bamboo embroidered on the hem, his physique tall and straight, long brows extending to his temples, and lips full and plump, giving the impression of an old sage in youth. One could not deny that apart from the eldest miss, the First Lady’s child-rearing quality was truly excellent.
The Young Master greeted the concubine: "Greetings to Aunt." Then turned to bow to the First Lady, and looked at Xu Tianqing: "The books mentioned in your letter are already in the study; you may go fetch them tomorrow."
Xu Tianqing gave a deep bow, showing he held great admiration for his cousin who was appointed as a scholar, brimming with literary talent yet slightly pedantic: "Thank you, cousin. Those books were elusive for me to find, having to trouble you."
Tong Shen Zhi nodded, saying it was of no bother, then turned to exchange greetings with his several sisters, before sitting in a redwood armchair with longevity arms prepared by Zichai, sipping tea silently without any extra words.
The concubine also wore a broad smile: "It’s been years since last I saw him, Shen Zhi seems more composed now."
"What good is composure? Holding a stern face at such a young age." The First Lady seemed to complain, but there was pride on her face, which quickly darkened at the thought of his marriage.
Xiqiu’s gaze landed on the following Seventh Young Master. Today, he wore a celadon blue gold-threaded roundly embroidered blessings jacket, his hair tied in a small bun with a bamboo hairpin, while the small stature stood straight and firm.
She was slightly surprised yet felt gratified. After Tong Minzhi’s enlightenment at the beginning of the year, she thought he would still be unrestrained, checking on him daily. Unexpectedly, his progress was considerable in just a month.
"Greetings to Aunt, Mother, Cousin, and all sisters." Tong Minzhi, with small chubby hands clasped, cheeks rosy, dimples twinkling playfully, voice clear and bright, was endearing.
The First Lady nodded, turning her gaze aside to the Young Master, unwilling to spare him even a glance.
The concubine glanced at the First Lady with surprise, then held Tong Minzhi: "This child is growing well, what is he studying these days?"
Tong Minzhi raised a smiling face, answering neither humble nor pushy: "To answer Aunt, sir started teaching the ’Thousand Character Classic’ today, while reviewing the ’Three Character Classic’."
Tong Xiqiu smiled knowingly, her gentle gaze falling on Tong Minzhi, in the warm yellow light of the palace lantern, her fair skin shone brightly, like a graceful white tea blossoming in a hidden valley, no matter the unpredictable storm of life, her eyes only held the sight that mattered to her.
Xu Tianqing was slightly startled, as if a piece was missing in his heart, feeling increasingly desolate.
"Good, certainly apply yourself, not to disappoint your father’s expectations." The concubine then patted Tong Minzhi’s head, gifting him a set of writing brushes and ink from Huzhou as a meeting gift.
Tong Minzhi held it with glee.
After all, he was still a six-year-old child! Xiqiu shook her head internally, but outwardly smiled, saying: "Aunt, don’t overpraise him; he’s as naughty as a monkey. It’s because the First Master noticed his endless mischief that he employed a tutor to restrain him. If it weren’t for Mother sending people to supervise daily, who knew how wild he would have become? Still, he gets scolded by the tutor every day. I’ve heard people in the mansion say that when Big Brother was three, he could recite the ’Three Character Classic’ backwards, and now those seated tutors use Big Brother as a model, instructing students."
Those words implied that the Young Master was incredibly talented and wise, a genius praised beyond compare, whereas Tong Minzhi is like rotten mud, unable to be helped unless his kind stepmother, the First Lady, benevolently guided him, otherwise, he would have wasted his life.
Sure enough, the First Lady looked at the Young Master with some pride, though the latter maintained the demeanor of someone detached from worldly matters, focused on drinking tea, without any expression.
Nanny Fang appeared right on time: "Madam, where should the meal be served?"