Qin Yuan's words made Qi Xiaoge nod repeatedly, saying, "Don't worry, Madam, I'll remember everything. I'll definitely keep a close eye on my mother and not let her do any needlework, let alone embroidery. Don't laugh at me, Madam, but I learned to sew and wash when I was just a few years old. Although I'm not very good at it, it's still passable."
Qin Yuan was greatly surprised and asked, "You can also sew, mend, and wash clothes?"
Brother Qi said, "My mother's eyesight has been failing for a long time, and it's not good to always trouble the neighbor's aunt, so I followed her example."
Qin Yuan nodded with admiration: "It's clear that men can also do needlework."
Brother Qi lowered his head in embarrassment.
The blind old woman said, "Madam has many things to do, and we shouldn't be causing trouble, but..."
Qin Yuan asked, "If you have any difficulties, please just tell me, and I will do everything I can to help."
The blind old woman said, "This child is getting old and his health has almost recovered. It's not good for us to stay in the mansion to recuperate all the time. He is now able to move around freely and is very good at taking care of people. Why don't we go out of the mansion and go back to our own courtyard to recuperate, and then go back to work when he is fully recovered?"
Qin Yuan glanced at Hongye and said, "Is it just because of this? Has someone said something? I was thinking of moving you to a different courtyard, but I haven't had a chance yet. If this causes the old lady to hear any gossip, then it would be my fault."
The blind old woman quickly waved her hand and said, "No, this old servant is just worried about breaking the rules of the manor."
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I'll ask when Doctor Li or Xiao Dong arrives. You don't need to worry too much about these things. Getting better is the most important thing. Just relax and stay at the mansion."
After expressing their gratitude for a while, Brother Qi and his mother took their leave.
Hongye followed.
A short while later, Hongye returned and said, "Young Master Qi ran into Miss Qi a few times when he went out, and also encountered Sixth Master's concubines a few times. I had heard the old women mention these things vaguely before."
Qin Yuan nodded.
“I remember now, they are very sensible and know the rules.”
A maidservant outside announced, "Madam, Xiao Dong from Renhe Hall has come to pay his respects."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I was just thinking of asking about the Sixth Madam. Let him in."
Xiao Dong ran in, his head covered in sweat.
Qin Yuan asked, "Why are you all sweaty? Why don't you wipe it off?"
Cuiming handed over a handkerchief, which Xiaodong took and wiped his hands. He said, "I just went to the training ground and rode a horse for a while. I happened to run into Miss Qi riding a horse, so I asked her for a few tips."
"Weren't you supposed to accompany Sixth Master to practice boxing and learn painting?"
Xiao Dong said, "Sixth Master is in Sixth Madam's courtyard. I don't know how long he'll stay, so he told me to go have some fun on my own. I went to see Brother Qi and his mother first, then went to ride a horse. After riding, I went to see them again, but they haven't left yet."
Qin Yuan asked, "Brother Qi and his mother came over just now and said they want to move out. What do you think?"
Xiao Dong said, "Brother Qi's injuries have all healed, but he's still weak and needs to rest. He said he can cook and clean the house by himself, so he should be fine. His mother is blind, but she's very capable. Before she came to the manor, she took care of herself. It's just that the food isn't as good as it was in the manor. We'll just tell them to make sure they eat well."
Qin Yuan nodded, "Then I'll allow them to move out. But if you need to come for a checkup in the future, you'll have to go to their place, which isn't as convenient as here."
Xiao Dong said, "It's alright."
He paused for a moment and then said, "I heard from Brother Qi's mother that the old lady is going to have Master examine Brother Cheng's godmother. Business is getting better and better."
Qin Yuan was completely confused.
What kind of medical examination should we give Sister Cheng?
Xiao Dong chuckled, picked a grape from the table, and popped it into his mouth. He said, "What else could it be? It's infertility, of course. He wants to have a son."
Qin Yuan asked in surprise, "I didn't know about this. How did Brother Qi's mother find out?"
Xiao Dong said, "Don't tell me you don't know, neither do my master and I. When we used to live in the same courtyard, Brother Qi's mother would sit in the courtyard, but no one noticed her. She has excellent hearing, so nothing can be hidden from her, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to make such a great contribution."
Qin Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then said, "That's quite an impressive skill."
Xiao Dong said, "That's right. Even Sixteenth Brother was amazed, saying he had never seen such skill before."
Qin Yuan seemed to be deep in thought.
Xiao Dong ate some fruit, drank some plum juice, wiped his mouth, took a sip of tea, and held a piece of pastry in his hand, busy and happy.
Qin Yuan leaned in and asked him, "What time did you leave yesterday?"
"I left after watching the show," Xiao Dong said. "My master likes watching the show and even hums along, nodding his head and swaying his body. I like watching Wuqiao acrobatics. Those two walking on a rope high in the air is really thrilling. Several times, it scared me so much that my heart jumped out of my chest."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "That's called rope breaking. There are even more thrilling and exciting shows, but you have to go to the entertainment district to see them. If you have the chance, I'll pester my master to take you there. Those troupes have their own venues and stages in the entertainment district. They have more equipment and can perform more freely than in the opera house in the Marquis's mansion."
Xiao Dong exclaimed in surprise, "Even more dangerous than that?"
Qin Yuan nodded.
"Of course, I've seen people standing on ropes with poles on their heads, and then people standing on top of those poles. The really skilled ones can stand several layers high, and each person is spinning a plate in their hand. The one at the very bottom is even walking around while spinning the plate."
Xiao Dong exclaimed in amazement, looking longingly, "Then we must find a way to see if we can. Master has made a lot of money these days, he should be willing to take me to the entertainment district."
Qin Yuan couldn't help but laugh.
Xiao Dong remembered the important matter and said, "Senior Sister, Master said that the Sixth Madam might... You should prepare early and ask the head of the Imperial Hospital to continue treating her. Don't ask us anymore, Master said he can't treat her."
“Hmm,” Qin Yuan replied, unsurprised.
Xiao Dong sighed like a little adult, "Originally, a perfectly healthy person could have lived for another ten or twenty years if they had listened to Master and taken good care of themselves. Now... Master was right, doctors can only cure illnesses, not fates. It's a pity that Kang Ge'er and Fu Ge'er lost their mother at such a young age."
Qin Yuan frowned and changed the subject.
"Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here, and it's time to start preparing the festival gifts. What kind of mooncakes do you like?"
Xiao Dong immediately shed his precocious demeanor and revealed his gluttonous nature, smacking his lips as he said, "There are only two of us, Master and I. We used to go to Hengjie Avenue to watch lanterns and guess riddles, but Master is very stupid and could never guess them. We rarely eat mooncakes, and there aren't many varieties. We usually just buy them from the pastry shop. Does the Marquis's mansion make a lot of mooncakes?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "With so many relatives and friends in the Marquis's mansion, it's natural to make some mooncakes to give as gifts. Now that I'm in charge of the household affairs, is it difficult for me to make some styles and flavors that you like?"
Xiao Dong said, "Beijing-style, Cantonese-style, and Suzhou-style mooncakes are all delicious. I like sweet ones, those with salted egg yolk, and those with meat. But what I really want to eat are the big, round ones that the whole family can gather around and eat together."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan's nose tingled with emotion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
