Once everything was settled, Xiao Yanzheng’s maid came over: "Second Miss." The maid threw herself at her as soon as she entered, looking her over for a long time: "You haven’t..." Her words stopped abruptly when she noticed someone else was present. The maid gave a puzzled bow to Xiqiu: "Greetings, Sixth Miss."
Second Miss Xiao’s gaze flickered: "I’m fine, thanks to Sixth Miss."
The maid’s suspicion faded slightly, and she immediately knelt down to Xiqiu, kowtowing: "Thank you, Sixth Miss." Xiqiu urged her to stand: "Quickly support your young lady, no need for such formalities." She then turned to Second Miss Xiao: "I’ll wait for you outside. We can go back together, so First Young Madam doesn’t need to ask questions."
Xiqiu waited outside, and as soon as Siliu and Sixing saw her coming out, they greeted her: "Miss, Sister Bihuai has come and said the performance is about to end, and everyone in the household is looking for you."
Nanny Luo chuckled: "It’s quite close from here. I can still hear the drums, so there’s no rush."
Xiqiu smiled at Nanny Luo: "Thank you, Nanny." Soon after, Second Miss Xiao, supported by her maid, also came out. Although her complexion was still not very good, it was much better than before, possibly because she had taken some medicine.
"Sixth Sister, let’s go back!" Second Miss Xiao took Xiqiu’s arm, and Xiqiu smiled and nodded, the two walking together back to the small garden.
In the garden, everyone was still watching the opera. Their entrance did not draw much attention, except for the Countess’s gaze which seemed to rest on Xiqiu intentionally or otherwise. Xiqiu gave a slight smile and bowed to her, and the Countess nodded slightly, then looked away.
"Why are you only just coming back?" Lady looked displeased, and then noticed Xiao Yanzheng following along: "Second Miss is here too?!"
Xiqiu smiled and said: "I went to the bathroom and then met Second Miss, so we came back together." Lady dispelled her doubts and nodded: "Quickly go and sit down."
"Are you alright?" Tong Xihua looked at Xiao Yanzheng, perhaps noticing her poor complexion, then looked at Xiqiu, wanting to discern something from her face. However, Xiqiu kept her face lowered, maintaining an obedient and meek demeanor.
"Second Sister-in-law, I’m fine." Xiao Yanzheng’s tone showed little respect.
Tong Xihua breathed a sigh of relief and nodded indifferently: "That’s good." She then instructed the maid beside Xiao Yanzheng: "Take good care of her."
The maid nodded in agreement, and the group sat down on the small stools they had been using.
Lady suddenly thought of something and turned back: "Why aren’t Third Young Lady and Eighth Young Lady with you?" At this moment, Madam Fang also looked over.
Even if there was something to say, now was not the time. Xiqiu smiled: "Third Sister and Eighth Sister went with Miss Fang to Second Young Madam’s place. I was afraid too many people would be noisy for Second Young Madam, so I came back first."
Madam Fang heaved a sigh of relief, but Lady frowned, her face full of displeasure!
Xiqiu said nothing more, her gaze falling on the stage. Another opera was beginning, but it was nearing its end. Sure enough, as the drum sounded, someone came on stage to take a bow, and child actors with painted faces made all sorts of funny faces on stage, making the women in the audience roar with laughter.
The Countess laughed: "Reward them!"
A maid came over carrying a tray, covered with red silk, heavy enough to be sent forward. Once someone received it, they lifted the red silk to reveal ten high-stacked ingots, shimmering in the sunlight.
Everyone on stage knelt and kowtowed in thanks for the reward.
After the hostess gave gifts, guests began to loosen their pockets, tossing various sizes of gold and silver ingots onto the stage. Lady also had a maid throw a ten-tael silver ingot... The courtyard was bustling for a time.
When the drums finally fell silent, the Countess said to Old Madam Lou beside her: "Shall we rest in the main hall? Listening to opera all afternoon makes my ears buzz... It truly feels old."
Old Madam Zheng playfully slapped her: "I haven’t mentioned getting old, yet you’re mocking me." The two laughed as their maids and nannies accompanied them to the main hall.
Lady and Tong Xihua also rose, and Xiqiu silently followed behind Lady.
Tong Xiyang and Tong Xiyu had not yet returned.
Lady instructed Zijuan: "Quietly go look for them." Zijuan responded and left.
Once everyone sat down in the main hall, a maid served tea again. The Countess laughed: "It’s truly been a long time since we’ve had such liveliness, but making some noise indeed makes the heart feel more at ease. It seems living too quietly isn’t a good thing."
Madam Chen, always tactful, sat beside the Countess and chimed in: "Isn’t that the truth? A little hustle and bustle is best!" Just then, a magpie alighted on the tree branches outside, and Madam Chen’s eyes twinkled as she laughed: "Look! Even the birds come to bring you good news. It seems your desire for peace will be hard to come by."
This made everyone laugh.
Marchioness Huaining’s eyebrows lifted, and she, too, smiled: "If there’s something happy, then we can come join the fun again." Her gaze glanced carelessly at Lady.
The Countess laughed and did not deny it: "I’d be glad for you all to come every day!" She then looked at Lady: "Madam Tong is from Jiangnan, I wonder if you’re accustomed to Qiong Opera? I hear Jiangnan is more known for Kun Opera. A few years ago, there was a troupe called ’Peony Pavilion’ that performed at Phoenix Soaring Building for half a month, with every show full. Unfortunately, they left too quickly, and we didn’t get to have them perform here."
Lady said: "I’ve heard Qiong Opera before, and I’ve been in the Capital for decades, so I’ve long since gotten used to it." She continued: "I also listened to ’Peony Pavilion’ when I was young. My mother invited them to our house several times. The prima donna back then was different from now but sang even better than the current one."
The Countess raised her eyebrows, seemingly very interested: "Is that so? They say today’s prima donna’s voice lingers, and I’ve never heard them frequently. Hearing you say so slightly eases my regret."
Old Madam Lou teased with a smile: "These days can never compare to the old ones. Even the singing style falls short."
Marchioness Huaining added: "Indeed, I remember when I was little, there was an actor in Qiong Opera named Xue Rongsheng who played ’Fifth Lady’ in ’Fifth Lady Bids Birthday’. The Empress Dowager liked liveliness and invited Xue Rongsheng to perform at the palace. I also listened to several shows back then. After so many years, the powerful and poignant singing is still fresh in my memory."
The Empress Dowager she referred to was Chengzong’s biological mother, surnamed Xiao, who was also Old Marquis Xuanning’s aunt. It was in that year that the Empress Dowager passed away, and Chengzong abolished the titles of twelve families due to a case.
Such complex relationships, Xiqiu had inadvertently read about in unofficial histories that Xu Tianqing had found for her.
Marchioness Huaining’s words seemed to evoke memories in the other ladies, and the atmosphere gradually became quieter.
At this moment, Zijuan quietly approached Lady and whispered something in her ear. Lady’s expression changed slightly, and she went to give Tong Xihua instructions. Tong Xihua nodded knowingly and then said with a smile: "Madam, why isn’t First Young Madam here? I was hoping she’d see me off."