Chapter 72: The Birthday

Chapter 72: The Birthday

Knowing Ge Baor's intentions to harm Xiliu, Lin Yunwan was still somewhat worried.

After all, it was a life at stake. She told Pingye, "Assign a robust nanny to secretly watch her. She should follow her discreetly as soon as she leaves the Yu Xing Pavilion."

Pingye, not wanting to alarm Xiliu, informed her in advance.

Xiliu said to Pingye, "Sister Pingye, you don't need to be too cautious, lest you alert Auntie Ge. I know what to do, you can reassure the lady."

If she remained bold yet composed like this, there would be no trouble.

Pingye said, "Then I'll just have the nanny keep a rough watch over you. Be careful yourself."

Xiliu nodded and returned to the Yu Xing Pavilion, where she encountered Tongliu.

It wasn't just a casual encounter; Tongliu was holding a plate of fruit, coming over to let her try some, and asked with a smile, "Wuer, I see you've been quite close to the people from the lady’s side recently."

Xiliu was very cautious.

Tongliu assured her, "Don’t worry, I absolutely won't tell Auntie Ge. You know how she is; she's one of the lady's people."

Xiliu smiled but declined the fruit, instead asking, "Do you know how to swim?"

Tongliu exclaimed, "Ah, you've asked the right person! I do. Do you remember when we first entered the mansion, I told you about my childhood at the estate, playing in the river with my brothers, catching fish?"

Xiliu asked, "Can you teach me?"

Tongliu was in a difficult position, "How can I teach in this weather? Besides, we are maids; it's not good to be wet every day. I can only teach you how to hold your breath."

Xiliu wanted to learn from her.

Ge Baor, embroidering a shoe pad in her room, felt thirsty and wanted water. Unable to find Xiliu for a long time, a clumsy maid came in to pour water. She called out loudly, "Wuer, Wuer?"

Xiliu hurried over.

Ge Baor asked her with a suspicious look, "What were you discussing with them?"

Xiliu replied, "Auntie, Tongliu, the maid of Auntie Zhuching, was telling me about Young Master Qing’s upcoming birthday."

Ge Baor smiled, "I know."

She caressed the shoe pad in her hands. In just a few months, her son's feet had grown, and she was embroidering this pair just for him.

Xiliu, looking at Ge Baor, added, "The lady is planning a birthday feast for the young master, inviting Old Madam Xia, Auntie Jia, and... Madam Lin and Young Master Lin."

"What? The Lin family is coming too?"

Ge Baor's eyes widened in surprise.

Just as she was dozing off, a pillow from heaven - what an unexpected delight!

Dropping her needlework, she asked excitedly, "When are they coming? Where will the feast be held?"

Xiliu replied, "...I haven't heard about that yet."

Ge Baor, no longer needing her to pour tea, urged her, "Go and talk more with Tongliu, find out all these details. You don't need to serve here, go quickly."

Xiliu, pushed out the door, continued her conversation with Tongliu.

She gathered the information, and they also reminisced about their early days in the mansion, being trained together by the housekeeper.

The two, like sisters, walked hand in hand along the corridor.

Tongliu said with a smile, "Years have flown by in the blink of an eye. Wuer, I was so envious of you back then. You had your parents' support and gradually made your way to serving the old lady in the Shoutang."

She didn't elaborate further; serving Auntie Ge now was certainly not a matter of pride.

Xiliu herself felt somewhat melancholic. Parting ways, she said to Tongliu, "From now on, just call me Xiliu."

Tongliu glanced doubtfully towards Ge Baor and cautiously said, "Won't Auntie Ge be angry?"

Xiliu calmly replied, "The name was bestowed by the lady. Although I am serving Auntie Ge now, she is only half a mistress, and she can’t just change the name given by the lady."

Tongliu patted her hand, smiling, "Alright, I'll call you Xiliu from now on."

After Xiliu left, Auntie Zhuching called out from her room, "Tongliu, come back."

"Coming."

Tongliu hurried in and immediately closed the door.

Zhuching invited her to sit and offered her some snacks from the table.

Tongliu, ever shrewd, recounted everything she had observed.

After listening for a while, Zhuching murmured suspiciously, "What are they planning?"

Why couldn't she see through it?

Not knowing the full situation, Tongliu suggested, "Young Master Qing’s birthday is coming up, should we also prepare a gift for him?"

Zhuching, disinterested, replied indifferently, "Find something suitable and just pick anything for him."

She specifically instructed Tongliu, "Don’t pick anything too expensive; he won’t need it."

After all, Young Master Changgong was the true son in the lady's heart!

\\

"My lady, the Xia family and Young Master Yi have replied to the invitation, confirming they will attend."

Taoye brought in two letters.

Lin Yunwan read the letters and then gave instructions for the banquet.

Pingye entered with a surprised tone, "My lady, Xiliu is here."

"Why has she come?"

Lin Yunwan was also surprised; she had told Xiliu to act as if nothing had happened. Xiliu shouldn't be coming here so openly.

"Let her in."

Xiliu entered, holding a pair of shoe pads, "My lady, Auntie Ge sent me to ask if it’s appropriate to give these shoe pads to Young Master Qing for his birthday."

Lin Yunwan glanced at them casually; they were just ordinary shoe pads.

Taoye found it odd, "Why send you all this way for such a trivial matter?"

Everyone knew, didn't they? People in the mansion disliked this improperly sourced auntie. If she had any sense, she should stay quietly in the Yu Xing Pavilion and not cause trouble.

But people don’t do things without a reason.

Lin Yunwan said, "Tell her she can give them if she wants to."

Xiliu nodded and left.

Lin Yunwan instructed Pingye, "Open the window."

Pingye opened the window, and Lin Yunwan looked out, indeed seeing Lu Changgong and Qingge arrive.

Qingge turned pale when he saw Xiliu visiting Lin Yunwan.

Could the maid be here to complain to the mother!

Lu Changgong nudged Qing Ge'er's shoulder, "Why aren’t you moving?"

Qing Ge'er snapped back to reality and said, "Nothing much." He bravely went in to pay respects to his legitimate mother. Seeing Xi Liu made him uncomfortable, and he felt guilty while talking to Lin Yunwan.

"Mother, mother."

He didn't dare to look up.

Lin Yunwan asked with a calm expression, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Qing Ge'er shook his head and replied, "No."

He relaxed only after seeing nothing amiss on his legitimate mother’s face.

His mother probably still didn’t know about his true identity.

Feeling distracted while sitting with his mother, he soon found an excuse to leave, planning to see his birth mother.

"Mother, I'm so scared! I want to tell father, I'm afraid of what mother and brother will think."

He was so anxious he was almost crying.

Ge Bao'er was very sympathetic towards her son, "My child, don’t be afraid. Mother will take care of it. I won't let your mother find out I'm your birth mother."

Qing Ge'er guiltily lowered his head, "I'm sorry, Mother."

Ge Bao'er hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face, "My good child, call me mother again, just once more."

"Mother."

Qing Ge'er also wrapped his arms around her neck.

Ge Bao'er, resolutely letting go of his hand and wiping away her tears, said, "Mother knows you're scared. Don't worry, from now on, I won’t let you be worried or frightened again." She touched his face reluctantly, "Have a good birthday celebration, make it a lively one."

She turned and walked away sorrowfully.

Even Qing Ge'er, naive as he was, realized something was wrong with his mother.

What was she planning to do?

In a state of anxiety, he awaited his birthday banquet.

"Qing Ge'er, why do you seem so restless?"

Lin Yunwan sat beside him, showing concern.

Qing Ge'er looked up, distractedly replying, "It's nothing, really."

He was preoccupied with thoughts of his birth mother.

"My mother is supposed to come and give me a birthday gift. Where is she? Why hasn't she arrived yet?"