Chapter 2: The Full Moon Farce

"Sir, what brings you here at this time?" Xiao did not expect Xie Shuyuan to arrive at this moment, feeling only a sense of confusion, and thought he must have some urgent matter to discuss.

The full moon ceremony proceeded very smoothly. Xie Shuyuan specifically sought out a pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants for the two children. The pendants are made of mutton-fat white jade, appearing to be about the size of a child's palm, and the craftsmanship looks quite exquisite. Those with discerning eyes could immediately recognize that these were jade pendants crafted by the renowned artisan Zheng Songling.

Qingxi, indeed carries the character 'Qing' from the male lineage, and just from this name alone, one can see how much Xie Shuyuan cherishes this daughter

At this moment, she watched Xie Shuyuan and Xiao Shi come out hand in hand, with the two children being held by the wet nurse. The smile on her face was no longer so sincere: "Madam, why are you up at this hour? It is said that one should not be exposed to the wind during the confinement period."

On the day of the full moon, the Xiao family had someone prepare a suitable outfit for her early on. The headpiece was a newly crafted golden begonia, made at the most renowned Zhenbao Studio in the city, utilizing the most advanced techniques of inlaid emeralds. The petals of the begonia flower appeared lifelike, and the earrings she wore were adorned with two jade beads that shimmered and swayed as she walked, truly embodying a complexion as smooth as cream and an elegant demeanor.

Logically speaking, this is not his first time being a father, yet it is the first time he has had two children at once, and they are a pair of twins, a boy and a girl

As soon as the few women left, the wet nurse brought over the fourth young lady. This is the second daughter born to the Jiang family. It is often said that flowers bloom before fruit sets, and when the second young lady was born, the aunt comforted herself in this way. When she became pregnant with her second child, the doctor she invited to examine her said it was a boy.

It was born, and surprisingly, it is a girl

As for the Xie family, they naturally dared not delay the full-month celebration for the two young masters in any way. Even Aunt Jiang, who bore the responsibility of the housekeeper, did not dare to play any tricks regarding this matter. It is worth noting that ever since the lady gave birth to the dragon and phoenix twins, the master has been visiting the lady's courtyard to see the pair of twins for several consecutive days. Even on his days off, he only rests in the study.

Xie Shuyuan named his newborn son Xie Qingzhan. In the Xie family, all male descendants are named with the character 'Qing', while all female descendants are named with the character 'Ming'. It is indeed appropriate for the sixth son to be named Xie Qingzhan; however, the name given by Xie Shuyuan to his daughter is Qingxi.

Xiao grew up in the Marquis's residence surrounded by books and paintings, so how could she not recognize the jade pendant crafted by Zheng Songling? In that moment, she was naturally overwhelmed with joy

Xiao's family is usually very polite to Aunt Jiang, not out of fear of her, but rather out of concern for breaking the precious vase while dealing with the mice. The elderly matriarch in the household is particularly sensitive about matters concerning the Jiang family; if any of the maids or servants dare to show even a hint of disrespect towards the Jiang family, she will seek out faults in others.

Because of this matter, Lord Xie Fang has received countless praises from noble ladies in the capital. It is said that one should consider others as oneself, and the emperor's heart is difficult to fathom. If one's own family were to fall one day, who knows how one's in-laws might treat oneself.

Xie Qingxi woke up amidst a swirl of motion. As she just opened her eyes, she heard someone ask: "Is everything ready?"

When the wet nurse first entered the residence, she heard that this Jiang lady was the legitimate cousin of the master, and besides the madam, she was the most favored. Moreover, it was said that Concubine Jiang was expecting a son. The wet nurse was naturally filled with joy, feeling that she had attached herself to a good master

Even someone as reserved as Xie Shuyuan cannot help but feel delighted in his heart when receiving such compliments

When Xie Shuyuan entered, he saw that the Xiao family was neatly dressed, while the two children were wrapped in matching blankets of different colors. He walked over, reached out to lift the small blanket, and gazed at the little faces of the children, feeling a surge of paternal affection in his heart

This sound is melodious and pleasant, much like that person who claimed to be her mother on that day; it is probably her again. However, at this moment, she is peacefully lying in the embrace of her wet nurse

Upon considering this, Jiang's initial reluctance transformed into an overwhelming willingness. The guests attending this full moon celebration were well-known to her; the wives of the left and right inspectors were among the most esteemed ladies in Suzhou.

Xiao seems to be complaining on behalf of her elder brother, yet she is actually seizing the opportunity to mention his name. She followed Xie Shuyuan to Suzhou for an official post, while her legitimate eldest son remained in the capital to honor the old master and mistress. How could this not be a stab at her heart as a mother? Now that she thinks back, she still feels the same heartache as before

"The elder brother will only be nine years old next year, why is this happening so early?" Xiao was somewhat surprised

At that moment, the beaded curtain of the inner chamber was lifted, and the exquisite sound of pearls and jade clashing echoed continuously.

Xie Shuyuan said somewhat seriously, "It is not too early to take the examination for the title of 'Tongsheng' at the age of nine. In my day, I also took the examination for 'Tongsheng' at the age of nine"

The women standing here are all elderly servants who have served in the household for many years, some of whom are even born into the family for several generations. Even if they do not regard Lady Jiang with any respect, they must still consider the Xiao family at this moment

He himself was born of the rank of a top scholar. In the spring examination of that year, he even obtained the title of the top candidate from Zhili. If it were not for the fact that the other two candidates in that examination were truly unremarkable, he could very well have aspired to the title of the highest scholar.

"Master, you cannot indulge them like this." Xiao smiled slightly, and as if recalling something, she added, "I heard that the master was distributing porridge at the door the other day; even when the eldest son was born, the master did not show such favoritism."

Although the lady is usually amiable, if you were to touch upon her sensitive spot, even a long-serving old servant would find themselves embarrassed

At this moment, Jiang was listening to the reports from the maid below and could not help but clutch her handkerchief. The fourth young lady was born merely half a year earlier than the dragon and phoenix twins. Due to the continuous rain in Suzhou for nearly a month at that time, not only did the two wives of the provincial governors not send invitations, but even the full-month celebration was only handled in a simple manner.

Xie Qingxi was momentarily taken aback upon hearing her own name, as it was exactly the same as her name in her previous life, which clearly indicated that fate is indeed predestined.

Even though Si Gu Niang had a high fever last time, the Jiang family did not seem particularly concerned, only allowing the maid to prepare medicine and attend to her, while they themselves would merely inquire once a day and then leave it at that

Xie Shuyuan was unaware of these matters, but he had heard, to some extent, about the importance of the postpartum confinement period. He cast a probing glance at the Xiao family, and that single glance led Aunt Jiang to believe she had found an opportunity

Nowadays, even serving porridge at the doorstep is no longer considered ostentatious

Xiao said softly: "Master achieved the title of 'Flower of the Examination' at just twenty, while our elder brother excels in his studies, yet how can he compare to the master's extraordinary talent?"

The servants in the residence are all aware of this concubine's behavior, and naturally, they secretly mock her incessantly

"It is truly a sin to have given birth to such a debt collector." Although Jiang said this, she still reached out and picked up the fourth girl, spinning around the room while looking at the fourth girl's fair and tender little face, saying, "All you know how to do is cry; if you have the ability, bring your father and your book father here with your cries."

Jiang took advantage of the excuse that the Fourth Young Lady was unwell to invite her twice, yet he still failed to bring her into his own courtyard

***

The wet nurse standing to the side kept her hands down, her eyes cautiously observing, fearing that the Jiang family might accidentally let the fourth young lady fall. It must be said that she had been in this household as a wet nurse for more than six months. The Xie family is a prominent household, and since the pregnant woman had not yet given birth, the wet nurse had already been arranged, anticipating that the young mistress would have no milk to drink once she was born.

It is unclear from which dynasty the unspoken rules originated, but among the top three candidates in the imperial examination, the emperor often selects the one with the best appearance as the "flower" of the examination. Thus, in those years, Xie Shuyuan, known as the "Jade-faced Young Man," was chosen as the flower candidate.

However, upon reflection, it is indeed not a pleasant situation for the wife of a dignified second-rank Minister of Personnel to have her family exiled in its entirety. It does not sound good when spoken of. It is said that when the Jiang family first encountered trouble, the elderly matriarch was so worried that she could not sleep through the night. This was not only due to her concern for her family members but also for her own well-being

Due to the fact that the Xie family was exiled from the capital to serve as officials in Suzhou, they naturally had no relatives in Suzhou. Therefore, they could only invite some superiors and subordinates with whom they had regular interactions. The Xiao family had sent out invitations early to host a banquet, and as soon as the two wives of the provincial governors received the invitations, they sent someone to say that they would definitely attend on that day

At first, she stubbornly refused to believe it, insisting that the lady had deliberately mistaken her son for her daughter. Later, it was Xie Shuyuan who intervened, confining her and punishing several servants who spread rumors, which finally allowed the matter to be put to rest

This time, the full moon celebration has indeed been managed by Aunt Jiang. How could the Xiao family be unaware of Aunt Jiang's little schemes? They simply chose not to mention it before.

In the end, the master imposed confinement on the Jiang family and executed some of the servants who spread rumors, which finally quelled the gossip within the residence. However, since then, the Jiang family has not been particularly fond of the Fourth Young Lady

In the novels and television dramas of previous lives, having seen many examples of the main wife being neglected, Xie Qingxi finally felt at ease at this moment. It seems that her mother in this life is quite capable.

When Xie Shuyuan publicly announced the names of the two children, not only the onlookers but even the Xiao family were somewhat taken aback

As the maid informed them to wait at the front for guests, they had just arrived at the entrance when they encountered the hurriedly approaching Jiang family.

The Jiang family grew increasingly saddened, becoming more impatient with the responses from the old woman. They simply remarked, "This is the full moon celebration for the Sixth Young Master and the Sixth Young Lady. You should understand without me saying it: if you dare to make even the slightest mistake, be careful of your skins."

Generally, when a daughter’s family commits such a serious offense, although it is said that the misfortune does not extend to married daughters, many families would simply send the person to the ancestral temple to settle the matter. However, the old master of the Xie family is indeed a remarkable figure; he remained unmoved, not only refraining from sending Jiang to the ancestral temple but also continuing to grant her the dignity of a legitimate wife

Aunt Jiang, seeing that the situation with the Xiao family was not progressing, said to Xie Shuyuan: "Sir, the madam has just given birth a little over a month ago, and moreover, it was a twin birth. She must be taken care of carefully during this confinement period. If she happens to catch a chill and develops any symptoms, it could be a lifelong issue"

Xie Shuyuan no longer looked at Aunt Jiang, but took Xiao Shi and a group of people away, leaving only Jiang Shi standing in place with a twisted expression.

After speaking, she turned to Xie Shuyuan and said, "Sir, let us hurry over; we must not keep the governor's wife waiting for too long"

Xiao let out a cold laugh and then spoke coldly: "Our family does not have the practice of having a concubine receive guests; that is something only families without proper etiquette would do"

When Aunt Jiang gave birth to a daughter, she became unwilling. Upon waking, she cried and complained that the lady had swapped her child. However, there was not just one midwife present during the childbirth, and given the number of people there that day, how could the child have been quietly swapped? Moreover, the lady herself already had two legitimate sons, and the eldest son was both legitimate and older; why would she care for a child born out of wedlock like you?

She said anxiously: "The washing ceremony for the baby is important, but the health of the lady is equally important. If the lady does not mind, I can hold the baby and bring him over; after all, the baby will only be shown for a short while."

The wet nurse could not tell whether it was an illusion or reality, but she always felt that ever since the Fourth Young Lady had a fever, she had become somewhat different. For instance, in the past, the Fourth Young Lady was very easy to care for; she would not cry or fuss even when held by a maid. However, now she would cry and make a fuss in no time, and it only worked when Aunt Jiang personally comforted her

When the wet nurse brought the Fourth Young Lady over, Jiang expressed some annoyance and said, "What is wrong with her this time?"

Speaking of Qingjun, I received a letter from Beijing a few days ago, stating that his studies have become increasingly advanced. His father plans to have him take the Tongsheng examination next year. Although Xie Shuyuan spoke with restraint, the pride in his words was unmistakable

Little did they know, Xie Shuyuan merely looked up and said, "I will go ahead with you to meet the guests, after all, today is a special day for these two little ones."

As Xie Qingxi, who had been struggling to suppress her drowsiness, heard this, she couldn't help but applaud her mother in this life. It is said that no matter how many things one may endure, flattery is never out of place. Just look at her level of skill; how could she not be favored

"Miss, she has been crying incessantly, and I have tried to soothe her for quite a while without success." The wet nurse, somewhat fearful of Jiang's temper, nevertheless mustered the courage to say, "I noticed that during the previous two occasions, it was the concubine who held the young lady and comforted her for a while before she stopped crying."

Of course, in addition to the two wives of the provincial governors, the Xiao family also invited the wives of the subordinates from the office of Xie Shuyuan. Naturally, upon receiving the invitations, these individuals were very pleased and had already sent people to say that they would definitely attend on the specified day

At this moment, Jiang had just finished her grooming. She thought to herself that since the mistress was in confinement, the celebration for the full moon was entirely her responsibility. Shouldn't the duty of carrying the twins out to show to the esteemed ladies also fall upon her?

After all, it crawled out from my own belly. After holding it a few times, the lingering dislike in my heart has almost disappeared.

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuyuan frowned. If he were in the capital and there were other elders in the family, even if they were of the same generation, he would not allow the concubine to entertain guests in the courtyard. Moreover, among the guests was the wife of his superior.

In ancient times, the full moon celebration was regarded as a rite of passage in life. Therefore, whether among affluent families or ordinary citizens, great importance was placed on the full moon celebration for newborns

She took it for granted to such an extent that when Xie Shuyuan arrived at the Xiao family's courtyard, she was somewhat incredulous upon hearing it

At this moment, Jiang was feeling a bit sore in her arms from holding the child. She had always had a delicate and graceful demeanor, and since she usually did not engage in heavy labor, holding the baby for a while was somewhat taxing for her. As she sat on the edge of the pit, she cradled the fourth daughter in her arms and gently rocked her. Observing the increasingly defined features of the child, she noticed that there were indeed some resemblances to herself, and the baby looked much more pleasing than when she was just born.

The two young masters had already been tidied up by someone. Due to their tender age, they did not dare to wear gold ornaments on their bodies, but only tied red strings around their wrists.