Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Calming the Anger (Part 5)
Xiqiu went to tell Tong Xihua about what was said in her room, then walked around the garden with Nanny Lin. She mentioned the encounter with Xiao Yanyi to the Lady, concealing her subtle maneuvers, and added: "At that time, Eighth Sister and I were so frightened and didn’t know what to do. We wanted to avoid the area, but there was nowhere to hide, so we had no choice but to brace ourselves and greet Brother-in-law."
The Lady furrowed her brows deeply. Xihua had two servant girls called over, indeed because of the Third Prince’s matter. She asked Xiqiu with a frown: "Did you speak to the nobleman?"
"I did," Xiqiu replied, "I told him how beautiful the Marquis Mansion is and suggested my brother-in-law accompany him for a walk." The Lady showed a surprised expression. Xiqiu didn’t explicitly say it, but the Lady understood her. She had heard bits about the Third Prince from the Second Lady; among the princes, he was remarkable in terms of tactics, schemes, and political views, yet he had one disreputable penchant which was widely scorned. Given Sixth Girl’s appearance and age, if the Third Prince wasn’t interested, she would be surprised.
Sixth Girl said the Third Prince asked Yanyi to accompany him around the garden; it was probably to have Sixth Girl accompany him!
But why did it not come to fruition in the end? The Lady asked perplexedly: "Did you end up going for a walk?" Xiqiu shook her head and pointed at her leg, saying: "My leg ailment flared up, and I couldn’t even walk. It was Brother-in-law who called the Imperial Physician for me!"
The Lady squinted her eyes to scrutinize Xiqiu, her gaze sharp and intimidating. Xiqiu lowered her face with a look of grievance. The Lady then smiled and asked: "Did your elder sister send someone to bring you back to the mansion?"
Xiqiu shook her head and replied: "No, it was the Grand Dowager who had Nanny Wu take us. We were in a bit of a rush, and now Nanny Song is still at my elder sister’s place."
The Lady showed a puzzled expression, mingled with a hint of anger: "You little girl, why do you speak half truthfully! How come it was the Grand Dowager who sent you, what about your elder sister?"
Xiqiu replied: "I don’t know what happened to elder sister, she forced herself out of bed and asked me and Eighth Sister to accompany her to the Chang Garden where Fifth Madam used to live to find my brother-in-law. She didn’t let us in, so Eighth Sister and I waited outside the vestibule. Soon, the Grand Dowager came and sent the two of us back."
The Lady placed the teacup on the kang table with a bang, producing a crisp porcelain collision sound. She asked: "Looking for the son-in-law? Who else was in the room besides the son-in-law?"
Xiqiu blushed and hung her head, saying: "It was Teng Qiuniang. When elder sister lifted the curtain, Eighth Sister and I both saw her and brother-in-law together!"
The Lady was so angry she was tongue-tied, trembling as she shouted outside: "Nanny Fang, quickly harness a horse carriage to go see what’s happening at the Marquis Mansion!" She then stood up, angrily eyeing Xiqiu, as if it was because Xiqiu spoke too late that such a mess was caused.
At this moment, Tong Xiyu lifted the curtain and entered. Before she could salute the Lady, the Lady already with a full face of anger barked: "Get out, all of you!" Tong Xiyu was stunned and lifted her eyes to look at Xiqiu. Xiqiu had already got up and bade farewell to the Lady, so Tong Xiyu could only silently follow her out.
Once outside, Tong Xiyu asked Xiqiu: "Sixth Sister, what did you say to mother?" Xiqiu smiled and turned her face to Tong Xiyu, saying: "Nothing much, just told mother everything that happened today as it was." Then, with a pause, she looked somewhat inexplicably at Tong Xiyu: "But rest assured, Eighth Sister, I would never speak of the words between you and Brother-in-law."
After speaking, she left without looking back.
The color drained from Tong Xiyu’s face in a flash. She stood there dazed for a long time before quickly leaving the courtyard, heading straight to the East Cross Courtyard.
Inside the room, Xiqiu asked Chunyan: "Go fetch the medicine, what did Laiwang’s wife say?" Chunyan replied: "Said they’ve found a midwife to check, also called a doctor, but they couldn’t figure it out. They just suggested waiting a bit more." Chunyan said this with a worried look; Siliu’s due date was today but there was still no sign, and with twins someone would naturally be concerned.
Xiqiu also tightly frowned: "Check on her again tonight." After a pause, she asked: "Did the Lady go to the Marquis Mansion in the morning?"
Chunyan nodded and replied: "Last night, Nanny Fang returned at midnight. It was actually the Chief Steward of Marquis Mansion’s outer courtyard who came back with the young noble’s name card, and early in the morning, the Lady didn’t even have breakfast, she just rushed to the Marquis Mansion!" In the Capital, a curfew is imposed after the time of Hai.
The Lady hurried there so early, and Nanny Song didn’t come back with Nanny Fang, it seems that yesterday afternoon Tong Xihua really took the chance to make an uproar.
Chunyan uneasily sat on the footstool by Xiqiu’s feet, with her head down, she said: "Miss, do you think Teng Qiuniang will say it was us who informed her? What would happen if the Lady knew?" Xiqiu just smiled, patted her shoulder and said: "She won’t say that." Not only would she not say that it was she who informed her, but she would even firmly state that she went to Chang Garden to fetch something for Fifth Madam when she coincidently met the Second Young Master, that they merely said a few words in the room and it was Tong Xihua who made a fuss over nothing and blamed them.
Besides, the real point of contention they were arguing about was not why Teng Qiuniang appeared there, because since the last time Tong Xihua caused a scene with Fifth Madam and scolded Teng Qiuniang, who in the Man Mansion isn’t aware of Teng Qiuniang’s feelings for Xiao Yanyi? Now this is happening again, it’s not surprising at all. Even if it was mentioned, with no evidence, no one would believe her.
What truly needs to be discussed is Teng Qiuniang’s staying or leaving!
If she leaves, Tong Xihua certainly won’t easily let her go. Afterwards, Teng Qiuniang will be utterly disgraced; if she stays, as long as Tong Xihua is alive, wishing to become the main wife by the wish of Fifth Madam would be an impossible matter. There would only be a small sedan brought in for her to become Xiao Yanyi’s concubine!
These have nothing to do with her. What she cares about is only Tong Xihua’s health. She lowered her eyes, picking up the embroidery hoop and quietly stitching a flower... Perhaps Tong Xihua won’t even last until Teng Qiuniang enters the door to avenge this deep grudge, who can say!
The Grand Dowager pushed aside the tea offered by Nanny Wu, her face filled with anger as she said: "Did the in-laws’ lady arrive in the morning?" Nanny Wu carefully looked at the Grand Dowager and replied: "Yes, she came early in the morning." After a pause, she cautiously asked: "Are you really permitting the Second Young Master to take Miss Teng to his room?!"
The Grand Dowager sneered: "What else can be done if not this? Things have escalated to such a stage, even if we don’t want it spreading, it can’t be concealed. A well-bred girl ends up as a concubine in the Xiao Family, does that really bring us any glory!" Her anger surged as she said: "Once Xihua’s health recovers a little, proceed with this matter!"
Currently, the title is undecided, the court is surging with undercurrents, yet in the Marquis Mansion, instead of coming together as a strong force, they make such a scandal behind closed doors. How can the Grand Dowager not be enraged!
Nanny Wu sighed and said: "Let me say something presumptuous, this affair is not Second Young Master’s fault. All he did was see off the in-laws’ lady and chat briefly with the Imperial Physician, and then so many things happened..." She left her words unfinished. Aren’t those people seeing that although Second Young Master has yet to inherit the title, it’s only a matter of time? Once he inherits the title, he becomes Marquis Xuanning, and everyone is jumping around wishing to benefit from it!