Chapter 39: Planning

Xiao Yao noticed that her family had been treating her with extraordinary care and warmth in the past few days, almost as if she were a fragile porcelain doll.

Her grandfather and father were particularly over-the-top. Every time they saw her, they would first inspect her meticulously from head to toe, then proceed to inquire in detail about her daily life from the maids attending to her.

Even those who were equally concerned about Xiao Yao, such as Li Jiaoying and the others, couldn’t help but roll their eyes. Just how overly worried could these two be? Their constant tension seemed to overlook the feelings of others. “We’re family too, okay?” Xiao Yao felt deeply moved but quickly adjusted her mood and demeanor. As a good child, she knew she shouldn’t worry her family.

Tong Mingyu’s efforts to find suitable little maids for her progressed smoothly. In just three or four days, six or seven suitable candidates were selected from the house-born servants and those living on the estate. Given her daughter’s young age, Tong Mingyu personally chose two of them.

One was a five-year-old girl from the estate named Hehua (Lotus), who was gentle and honest. The other, seven years old, was Xiao Bing’s daughter, Xiao Xiaofu, who was lively and outgoing.

Tong Mingyu didn’t change Xiao Xiaofu’s name but renamed the other child Xiao Hui.

By the time Xiao Yao met the two, the decision had already been made. Tong Mingyu wasn’t seeking her opinion but rather informing her that she now had two new little maids. Xiao Yao feigned a delighted acceptance—what else could she do? It wasn’t as if her under-two-year-old self could lecture her mother about human rights. “Stop joking around,” she thought.

Accompanying Tong Mingyu was another maid, around twelve or thirteen years old, with delicate features and a scholarly air.

“Servant Zhihua greets the Young Miss,” the girl said in a voice as clear and melodic as an oriole.

Xiao Yao looked at Tong Mingyu in confusion. Her room was getting livelier—was this another new addition?

“This girl has a lovely voice, doesn’t she? I personally chose her for you,” Tong Mingyu explained. “She’s had some education, and from now on, she’ll stay in your room. Before your afternoon naps or bedtime, she can read books to you and keep you entertained.”

As she spoke, a few books appeared on the table. Xiao Yao caught a glimpse of Three-Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Essay. She thought to herself, “I’m not even two years old yet. Isn’t it too early for this, Mother?”

Feigning ignorance and innocence, Xiao Yao looked up at her mother with an expression that said, “Please continue.”

“Ahem… She’ll only read to you before sleep,” Tong Mingyu clarified, slightly awkward under her daughter’s gaze. “The rest of the time, you can do whatever you like.”

“That’s more like it,” thought Xiao Yao. She was certain that falling asleep to such a beautiful voice would be easy. Now, she just needed to figure out how to get some travelogues—not to read, but to listen to.

“Sure!” Xiao Yao agreed cheerfully.

Tong Mingyu had expected to explain at length, so she was overjoyed by her daughter’s easy acceptance. She promptly called the maids forward.

“Serve the Young Miss well, and you’ll be rewarded. But if I find anyone neglecting her, you’ll face punishment.”

“Did you all understand Madam’s instructions?” Nanny Zhang asked sternly, scanning the group.

“Yes, we understand,” the three maids replied in unison.

“The Young Miss has delicate health. Stay close and take extra care. If there’s anything you can’t handle, go to Sister Qiaoyue for help,” Tong Mingyu added.

“Yes, Madam,” they answered in unison.

After meticulously detailing everything they needed to be mindful of, Tong Mingyu finally left her daughter’s room, giving the new maids time to familiarize themselves with their young mistress.

While Tong Mingyu was unaware of how her daughter and the maids were getting along, her absent-mindedness did not go unnoticed by her attendants. They assumed she was worried about the Young Miss but didn’t realize her concerns lay elsewhere.

That evening, when Xiao Jingkang returned to Yayuanyuan, he noticed his wife’s troubled expression. After freshening up, he sat beside her and asked, “Is it about Ping’an thinking of Ruyi again?”

Tong Mingyu swallowed the words she was about to say and instead replied, “Ruyi’s been gone for five or six days. Ping’an doesn’t seem to mind anymore, but you and Father are still so tense. Your behavior makes it look like something catastrophic happened.”

“Is it that exaggerated?” Xiao Jingkang questioned. He didn’t think his actions were over the top; if anything, he felt his wife’s description was exaggerated. After all, he was in his thirties before he finally had a daughter—how could he not cherish her? Even if he did go overboard, it was more likely his father, not him.

“I’m worried that if you and Father keep spoiling her, she’ll turn out willful and unruly.”

“My daughter will only become more sensible, never willful or unruly. How could you doubt her character?” Xiao Jingkang felt indignant on his daughter’s behalf. Such a wonderful child being suspected of bad behavior—it warranted some kind of compensation. But what should it be?

“It’s okay to dote on her, but don’t overdo it. That would be harmful, not beneficial.”

“I understand, I understand,” he said, clearly not entirely sincere.

Tong Mingyu decisively ended the conversation.

“After the New Year, Ajun and Ping’an will be two years old. I’ll leave Ajun to you, and I’ll start looking for embroidery and art tutors for Ping’an. As for a reading tutor, my elder sister will handle that. What I’m most worried about is Father. If he decides to teach her martial arts, will he discover her illness?”

“Haha! Hahaha!” Xiao Jingkang burst into laughter. His wife was too amusing. No one in the family had even considered letting Ping’an learn martial arts. Though they were a military family, one tiger cub was enough—there was no need for a tigress.

“Why are you laughing so loudly? Did I say something wrong?”

Xiao Jingkang looked around to ensure no one else was nearby, then leaned in for a quick kiss. Tong Mingyu gave him a harmless glare—one that could only be interpreted as a coquettish rebuke. It made Xiao Jingkang’s heart race and left him parched.

“If this is your worry, you can rest assured. Even if I wanted Ping’an to learn martial arts, Father wouldn’t allow it. He dotes on her too much to let her endure any hardship.”

“If her health were better, I’d actually want her to learn martial arts. Not for anything else, but to strengthen her body.”

“Speaking of Ping’an’s health, I’d like to invite Imperial Physician Sun when Father isn’t at home to check on her. I hope this winter will be easier for her.”

“Yes, let’s hope we can get through this undetected again.”

The couple sat in silence, torn between the pain of their daughter’s illness and the potential punishment their son might face if the truth came to light. Both the palm and the back of the hand were precious—they couldn’t bear to see either suffer.

“Don’t think too much. Let’s rest,” Xiao Jingkang said, pulling up the quilt to end the conversation.

“In a few days, my second brother’s baby, Jiabao, will be one month old. I’d like to visit.”

“Take Ping’an with you. Your father will surely miss his granddaughter.”

“Father probably doesn’t want to see Ping’an right now.”

Xiao Jingkang stared at his wife in disbelief. He even touched her forehead with his lips—no fever. So why was she talking nonsense?

“Mother said Jiabao looks all wrinkly. Father’s been complaining that the essence of the Tong family has all gone to Ping’an, leaving nothing for Jiabao.”

“If they’re jealous of Ping’an, they should just say so. Second Brother isn’t as handsome and dashing as I am, so naturally, his child can’t compare to mine. Ping’an is the best—what’s so strange about that?” he said matter-of-factly.

“Have you thought about what kind of son-in-law you’d like for Ping’an?” Tong Mingyu asked, recalling her mother’s words.

“My ideal son-in-law would be one who marries into the family. As long as he’s better looking than Fourth Brother and can beat Second Brother in a fight, he’ll do. We can build a small house in the middle of her brothers’ courtyards. If Ping’an ever feels wronged, she can just call out, and her five brothers and one younger brother will rush to her aid.”

Such a clever plan! The more Xiao Jingkang thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He was so pleased with himself that his sleepiness vanished.

Tong Mingyu decided to inform her mother during her visit that Ping’an was someone no normal family could handle—because she had an overly protective father.