In a panic, Xie Zhen wrapped the two broken pieces in a silk shirt, clutching it to her chest, and sneaked out of the room.

  She said, “That won’t happen, after all, there’s still me!”


  As they had locked the door, Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan couldn’t go inside. When the two little girls finally came out, they both sighed in relief. Although the maidservants were curious about what they’d been doing in the room, they didn’t have time to ask, as they had to hurry them over to the main hall.

  *

  Apart from Old Madame Gao and a few other Madames, Gao Xun and Gao Tongtong, along with several other children, were all present in the main hall.

  Gao Tongtong had specially dressed up for the occasion. She was wearing a set of new clothes that were especially bright, and she’d also patted a thin layer of powder on her face. As she was only eight years old, even though she looked pretty, her appearance still didn’t suit her age.

  Her hair was combed into a different hairstyle, and she’d pinned a jade cicada hairpin in it. The hairpin was actually quite similar to Leng shi’s own one.

  The moment Xie Zhen and Xie Xun entered the room, the first thing they noticed was the hairpin on her head.

  Leng shi had them separately greet a few elders, before saying, “Ah Zhen, Ah Xun, why don’t you bring these big brothers and sisters over to the Inner Courtyard to play?”


  Hearing this, Xie Zhen nodded, and lead the group of children outside.

  On the way there, Xie Xun constantly looked over to the hairpin that Gao Tongtong was wearing, her face full of curiosity. Gao Tongtong assumed that it was because Xie Xun found her to be very pretty after dressing up, and couldn’t help but raise her head higher.

  Xie Zhen also wanted to take a look but was unfortunately stuck with Gao Xun who endlessly chattered on, so she couldn’t turn around at all.

  Seeing her look of delight, Gao Xun asked, “Ah Zhen, where are you taking us to?”


  Pointing towards the front, Xie Zhen said, “There’s a small courtyard over there, and inside there’s a pond and a swing. There’s also Big Qiansui and Small Qiansui that Ah Xun and I are rearing; I’ll bring all of you over there to look at them!”


  The courtyard was called Spring Flower Dock, and it was specially prepared by Xie Liqing for his two daughters. It was a small garden belonging to the pair, so they could decorate it however they wanted to, and could also rear whatever they felt like rearing. No matter what they did to the garden, Xie Liqing and Leng shi both didn’t care too much. Xie Zhen brought the children over, and they saw that there was actually a small pond, and inside the pond, there were about a dozen carps, along with one big and one small turtle, Big Qiansui and Small Qiansui.

  There was a bridge leading across the pond, and at the other end were some fake mountains. At the foot of these, there were many flowers and lush grass growing. This was Xie Zhen and Xie Xun’s masterpiece. Unfortunately, it was already autumn, and most of the flowers had withered due to the cold, leaving behind a couple of chrysanthemums.

  On the other side of the courtyard were two swing sets. One of them was Xie Zhen’s, and the other Xie Xun’s. Oftentimes the two little troublemakers would swing on these and compete to swing higher than the other, and their laughter could be heard from afar.

  The two younger children, Second and Third Madame Gao’s respectively, immediately ran over to the swing sets, each of them taking up one, and started to swing.

  Xie Zhen pretended to be calm about it and didn’t stop them, but normally she didn’t let anyone touch the swings.

  Gao Xun and her squatted beside the pond, and she hesitated for a while before asked, “Do you know……”


  She was mumbling and stuttering, seeming to be quite embarrassed. Anticipating her question, Gao Xun seemed to be anxious for as long as half a day before she finally asked, “Do you know where Gao Tongtong bought her hairpin from?”


  Gao Xun asked, “You like that one?”


  It wasn’t that she liked it, but it was just that if she knew where to buy it, then she could find a similar one and bring it back. As long as she placed it on Ah Niang’s dressing table, she wouldn’t suspect a thing.

  Despite this, she couldn’t tell him the truth, and could only heavily nod her head. “I think it looks pretty good.”


  Gao Xun thought that his chance had finally arrived, and hurriedly said to the little fairy, “I gave that hairpin to Big Sis for her eighth birthday, so of course I know where to buy it from! If you like it, then I’ll buy one for you tomorrow!”


  Xie Zhen’s eyes lit up, and they sparkled as she asked, “Really? Can you bring me there? I want to look around!”


  Gao Xun’s eyes were even brighter than hers as he answered, “Of course, of course!”


  Having removed the large burden in her heart, Xie Zhen was full of smiles, and sincerely said, “Thank you! You’re truly a good person!”


  Gao Xun’s heart immediately exploded with happiness, and he felt that she was shining so bright that it made him dizzy.

  It was just that he had forgotten, the next day was actually the Mid-autumn festival, and he’d already made plans to go out with Li Yu……Ah, never mind, he could just go with both of them.

  *

  At that time, Xie Xun was still tirelessly following after Gao Tongtong.

  Gao Tongtong was a little annoyed, so she asked, “Why do you keep on following me?”


  Xie Xun was shorter than her by a head, so she craned her neck to look at the hairpin, and step by step she followed after her. “Can, can you let me see your hairpin?”


  The longer she looked at it the more it looked like Ah Niang’s hairpin, so she wanted to know if Gao Tongtong could give it to her. If they placed it back on Ah Niang’s dressing table, would Ah Niang find out?

  Gao Tongtong had zero interest in the courtyard. She’d dressed up so well just for Xie Rong……but after going round and round, she still hadn’t caught a glimpse of him, and due to her disappointment she was a little impatient.

  Gao Tongtong replied, “No way, don’t follow me anymore.”


  Xie Xun widened her footsteps as she ran after Gao Tongtong, and in a businesslike tone said, “I just want to get a glimpse of it……Just a glimpse!” Saying this she pointed one pudgy finger up to show that she just wanted one look at it.

  Still, Gao Tongtong was completely unaffected by her pleas and arrogantly said, “Even one glimpse is not allowed. I really like this hairpin, what if you accidentally break it?”


  Xie Xun rushed to deny this, “I won’t!”


  Again and again she continued to pester Gao Tongtong, and reached out to grab her sleeve, softly pleading, “Big Sister Gao Tong……”


  That was Gao Tongtong’s newest set of clothes, so how could she bear to just let Xie Xun grab it like that? At that time she was quite annoyed, and pushed her away, saying, “If I say that you cannot then you cannot!”


  Xie Xun lost her balance and was pushed quite far away.

  It almost seemed like she would crash into the fake mountain. the fake mountain was quite rough and full of rocks, if she crashed into it, she would probably get injured and start bleeding. From afar Xie Zhen saw this scene, and she anxiously ran over, yelling, “Xie Xun!”


  When she was rushing over, Xie Xun was already in a familiar embrace.

  Raising her head, she saw her big brother Xie Rong.

  Xie Xun was was slightly aggrieved, and pursed her lips wanting to cry, “Big brother……”


  Xie Rong tightly held her and patted her head before turning to look at Gao Tongtong. His expression was stern, and he frowned. Even at a young age, he looked incredibly imposing.

  Even without saying anything, he already made people feel quite pressured.

  Definitions:

  Qiansui: 千岁 means one thousand years old, which is a reference to the long lives of turtles.

  The hairstyle that Gao Tongtong is sporting looks like this:

  Fake Mountain: Basically some rocks stacked together artfully.

  Mid-Autumn Festival:

  An important festival to the Chinese,the festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar when there is a full moon, which is about late September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. Most people celebrate with their family and friends by eating mooncakes, carrying and releasing brightly lit lanterns and watching lion dances. Some people also burn incense to moon deities like Chang E’, who is a famous chinese characeter who some believe to be living on the moon.

  There are also many shops selling sweets and some people also set off fireworks on the streets, which is why Gao Xun planned to go out with Li Yu.