Xiqiu took it in her hand and laughed, waving to Min: "I’ll reapply the medicine for you tomorrow morning." She took his hand and said, "Our Min is so smart, as the saying goes, ’a fall in the pit, a gain in your wit.’ I’m very happy you can be like this."

Min looked at Xiqiu’s expectant and relieved expression and also smiled, nodding, "I’m sorry for making you worry." Xiqiu smiled and shook her head.

After Min went back to his room to rest, Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brows: "No matter what happened this time, the Emperor already scolded the Eldest Prince. If I’m not mistaken, Madam Shen should come by tomorrow, and you shouldn’t put on any airs; those who are observant will notice."

Are you referring to the Emperor? Xiqiu nodded: "I understand." She then looked at Fourth Master Xiao and asked, "Is there any news from the Shen Family?"

Fourth Master Xiao pondered for a moment and replied, "Shen Ji is investigating what happened that year." Xiqiu was startled at this and asked, "Can he find anything?"

"I’ve made arrangements beforehand." He looked at Xiqiu and said, "You don’t need to worry. As for Madam Shen, I’ve already spoken to my second brother; he knows how to handle it."

Xiqiu nodded and replied, "That’s good. Min’s identity can’t be revealed yet, and nothing else should be mentioned. Given his age, I don’t know if he can handle the impact of his identity change." After speaking, she looked at Fourth Master Xiao with a bit of pleading in her eyes: "I hope he can have a safe and happy childhood. In the future, it will be a beautiful memory for him, whether he lives in the Imperial Family or struggles in the world. Childhood joy is an indelible memory in everyone’s life, and I hope he can grow up as common and happily as ordinary children."

Even though he is growing rapidly now, Xiqiu still hopes to provide him with as much simplicity and normalcy as possible.

Fourth Master Xiao looked at her without speaking and, after a while, gave an almost imperceptible nod, which was his way of agreeing to her request.

The next morning, Xiqiu helped Min change his medicine and gave instructions to Erquan and Wuzhong. It seemed that Fourth Master Xiao had also used his connections, as he arranged his people in Wenhua Hall to ensure heavy protection, which slightly eased her mind.

After seeing off father and son, just as Fourth Master Xiao said, Madam Shen indeed came to visit.

She appeared very anxious and remorseful, saying: "Li didn’t understand and hurt Min; I’m truly sorry." She presented two bottles of ointment and some medicinal herbs: "Use them for Min. It’s heart-wrenching for him to suffer, and I haven’t slept well with my mother-in-law all night."

Xiqiu smiled and replied: "You’re too kind, Madam. Children play without knowing limits, and you really don’t need to dwell on it. I spoke to him when he came home last night, and since Li is younger, we should look after him a bit."

Madam Shen sighed in relief: "Min is truly a sensible child. We must compensate for this; I’m truly sorry." She was very sincere.

Xiqiu had to offer more polite words, and only then did Madam Shen leave with a forced smile.

Xiqiu sighed, and after a while, the Empress sent Nanny Mao with supplements and healing medicine, saying many nice things. Xiqiu thanked her profusely. In the afternoon, the Grand Dowager and the First Madam also hurried over. The Grand Dowager, holding Min upon his return from the palace, wiped her eyes several times, unable to say much. She couldn’t vent her frustration on the Eldest Prince and had to accept it with forced joy.

After the Grand Dowager and the First Madam left, Xiqiu asked Min, "How was today? Getting along with the Eldest Prince and Mr. Shen okay?"

"Mm." Min nodded, appearing somewhat uneasy: "The Eldest Prince apologized to me."

Xiqiu’s expression changed, frowning: "Did he personally apologize to you?" Min nodded, and Xiqiu asked: "Do you know who told him to apologize?"

Min shook his head: "No one. The Eldest Prince apologized to me in front of Mr. Dai. Mr. Dai even praised him for his humility and respect, saying it was a blessing for the country." He clearly saw the smugness in the Eldest Prince’s eyes when he bowed his head.

He understood the logic. If it were him, he would also apologize in public, not only erasing prior rashness and errors but also earning praise due to his status. It was a win-win situation. However, now that the roles were reversed, he felt uneasy.

This young Eldest Prince is not simple. Xiqiu also frowned: "Maybe you should claim illness and stay home for a few days." Min shook his head, looked at Xiqiu, and said: "It’s okay, Mother. I’ll be careful. Mr. Dai’s lectures are truly excellent; I want to listen."

Xiqiu found no solution, so she turned to call for Chunliu: "I remember when I was at home, I embroidered a ’Hundred Sons Painting.’ I left it unfinished as a gift for my older sister. Later, I found it too intricate and never completed it. Do you remember where it was placed?"

Chunliu furrowed her brow, thinking before replying: "I do remember. When Chunyan was still here, it was well kept. After moving house twice, I’m not sure where it is. If you need it, ma’am, I can look for it."

"Please do." Xiqiu nodded and said: "If you can’t find it, ask Chunyan."

Chunliu agreed, taking Bihuai and Biwu to search through boxes. After an afternoon, they finally found it. Chunliu handed over the nearly finished ’Hundred Sons Painting’: "Finally found it." She handed it to Xiqiu: "Ma’am, this painting is so labor-intensive. Do you want to embroider it now?"

"I’m just idle now, so I’ll resume embroidering." Xiqiu took it in her hand. She originally spent years intermittently embroidering it, as it’s very detailed work...

She had Chunliu help separate the threads, with Bihuai assisting on the side. Xiqiu smiled and said: "Come to think of it, I haven’t embroidered anything in a while. I only sew clothes most of the time, so I’m out of practice with embroidery."

Chunliu laughed and said: "Things are different now. If you still had to do it yourself, we maids would deserve to be thrown out."

Xiqiu chuckled softly, lowering her head to embroider bit by bit. Min and Zhi came in and saw a huge embroidery rack next to the rose bed, with children of various forms appearing lifelike on it. Seeing Xiqiu bending over the embroidery, Min exclaimed: "Mother, did you embroider all these? They’re beautiful; I’ve never seen anything like it before." He noticed about a dozen children were unfinished.

Zhi touched it repeatedly, and Xiqiu, worried about his dirty hands smudging it, patted his hand. Zhi pouted and said: "Will this take a very long time to embroider?"

"Yes, it’ll take a very long time!"

In the evening, when Fourth Master Xiao returned and saw Xiqiu with the embroidery needle she hadn’t touched in a long time, he tenderly held her hand, frowning: "Is this necessary? Even if you don’t present such a gift, she’ll look after things when she can and won’t overreach when she can’t. Le Xiu is a smart person; she knows what she should and shouldn’t do."

Xiqiu pushed his hand away with a smile: "I happen to be idle, and this painting has a good meaning. Embroidering it and sending it to her will bring her some joy. As for matters in the palace, we’re powerless, so we can only hope she puts more thought into it."