Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Parting by Death (1)
The Grand Dowager sighed heavily, leaning back against the pillow. Suddenly, the warm pavilion’s curtain was lifted, and Fourth Master Xiao walked in with a cold face and furrowed brows. The Grand Dowager was startled and opened her eyes to squint at him.
Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his voice chillingly cold: "If you can’t handle the matter of the title, let me take care of it. There’s no need to create these petty issues, disgracing the Xiao Mansion for no reason!"
This sentence was both abrupt and rebellious. The Grand Dowager was incensed and shouted, "Fourth, what are you saying!"
Fourth Master Xiao snorted coldly, "Second Sister-in-law asked Second Madam Tong to appeal to Second Master Tong, bringing the Third Prince to our residence, and secretly called over two sisters. Don’t you know what she’s scheming? Considering the kind of person the Third Prince is, if not for Second Brother’s protection, the two girls of the Tong Family might have entered the Prince’s Mansion already. If they were taken from our residence, the Tong Family might disregard their reputation, but our Xiao Family can’t afford that kind of disgrace!" He continued coldly, flicking his sleeves and said, "Don’t concern yourself with the title anymore, I have my ways. And I advise you to keep your distance from the Third Prince; he’s not a righteous person fit for grand undertakings!" With that, he left, sweeping his sleeves grandly!
Mrs. was so furious she nearly passed out, trembling and pointing at Xiao Yanyi’s retreating figure, cursing, "Ungrateful child!"
Nanny Wu was frightened, constantly soothing the Grand Dowager’s breath and feeding her a cup of tea until she finally calmed down, lying back against the pillow. After a while, she turned over Fourth Master Xiao’s words in her mind again, suddenly sat up, squinting, and asked Nanny Wu, "What did Fourth just say? Did Xihua call the two sisters into the residence to give them to the Third Prince?" Nanny Wu nodded fearfully, thinking to herself that Second Madam truly disregarded her dignity for the title. Fortunately, the plan failed; otherwise, both families’ reputations would have been utterly ruined!
The Grand Dowager clutched her chest in anger, "No wonder Old Second always scowls at her, and even someone as patient as he was infuriated this afternoon." She thought it over and pointed to Nanny Wu, "Go tell Fifth not to deliberate the day; tonight, bring that Miss Teng in!"
Nanny Wu was stunned, "Grand Dowager, isn’t this just fanning the flames, causing another scene? Besides, Second Madam’s health..." She had coughed up some blood in Chang Garden in the afternoon.
The Grand Dowager waved her hand, not even looking at Nanny Wu, "I just want her to understand that once the deed is done, one must bear the responsibility. This outcome is of her own making!" She finished speaking and recalled seeing the two young ladies at the passageway in Chang Garden that afternoon. Sixth Miss was lowering her eyes, not daring to look at her, unlike her usual charming and endearing manner. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but thinking back now, the child might already be aggrieved, with nowhere to voice her distress!
Luckily, Tong Xihua’s scheme didn’t succeed; otherwise, the good child would have been ruined!
Nanny Wu dared not contradict the Grand Dowager’s decision; she put down the tea cup, making a final effort: "If Second Madam’s health truly can’t sustain this, what will we do if her family causes a scene?"
"Her family?" The Grand Dowager laughed coldly, "Let’s see if they have what it takes to make a fuss with us!"
Nanny Wu said nothing more, lifted the curtain, and personally went to Fifth Madam’s room.
Fifth Madam was sitting on a chair, her face pale with anger, pointing at her sister and scolding, "How many times have I told you to wait a while? Her health is only this few months of glory, yet you couldn’t wait to see Second Brother, and now you’ve been caught red-handed. Where did all your wits go?"
Teng Qiuniang, with tears reddened eyes, covered the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief and replied, "I’ve remembered everything you, Sister, have said, but I’m leaving for home tomorrow, and who knows when I might return? Besides, you said Second Madam has only a few months, but I see her in good health. Qingshuang also saw her chatting and laughing with two sisters. There’s no guarantee she won’t recover instead of dying. What do I do then? Should I let Mother find me some stranger to marry randomly?!"
Fifth Madam was furious, slamming the table, "If you don’t believe me, you should at least trust Daoist Zhou’s words. When she gave us the medicine, what did she say? At most six months, at least three. It’s only been three months, yet you’re so impatient?"
Teng Qiuniang curled her lips; Daoist Zhou also claimed Tong Xihua would die with the child, yet what happened in the end? She still gave birth. In just three months, how could she let some superstitious old woman’s words decide her fate!
Fifth Madam, unaware of what her sister was thinking, sighed, sitting on a small stool, and tearfully said, "Mother entrusted you to me so I could marry you into a good family. Now look, having found no suitable match, we’ve ended up materializing into a discordant situation with the Xiao Family—neither as in-laws nor as sisters. How will the Teng Family ever face the world again!"
Indeed, she ended up with a Pyrrhic victory!
Teng Qiuniang secretly clenched the handkerchief in her hand, recalling how someone had told her servant in the afternoon that Second Master Xiao was alone in Chang Garden. She hesitated then, fearing it was a trap, yet couldn’t resist the temptation. Looking back, it was likely Tong Xihua’s ploy. The maid who sent the message had been carefully questioned, resembling Sixth Miss’s close servant, but with no evidence, she said nothing when questioned by the Grand Dowager, nor did she even tell Fifth Madam.
In truth, even if she said it, what use was it? The decision had been hers to act upon; no one could have dragged her there against her will!
Teng Qiuniang resigned to her fate, closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them to look at Fifth Madam: "A concubine is just a concubine. I want to see if this Marquis Mansion will ultimately belong to the Tong Family or my Teng Family."
"Second Madam..." Qiuping came rushing in, looking lost, "Second Madam, something’s wrong." Tong Xihua sat half-squinting, speaking with the Lady. Upon seeing Qiuping, the Lady frowned, and Tong Xihua opened her eyes, displeased, "How can you behave so improperly? Didn’t you see the Lady here?!"
Qiuping paused, suppressed her agitated breathing, and bowed to the Lady, "Mother of the Bride." Tong Xihua then asked, "What happened that caused your panic."
Qiuping, pale-faced, replied, "Just now, Nanny Wu went to Fifth Madam’s place, then to notify Second Young Master in the outer yard, saying that tonight Miss Teng would be brought into the mansion." She said this, watching Tong Xihua’s expression change, yet continued: "Nanny Wu said to hold a few more tables of banquet for Miss Teng after the Marquis’s first seven days!"
Tong Xihua’s eyes widened, gradually turning red, while the Lady frowned and asked Qiuping, "Find out why the Grand Dowager suddenly changed her mind." Qiuping glanced worriedly at Tong Xihua, nodded affirmatively, and left.
Tong Xihua began to cough violently, holding her chest and gasping for breath with difficulty. The Lady, along with Nanny Fang and Nanny Lin, busied themselves with feeding her tea and soothing her breath for quite some time before she calmed slightly. The Lady, seeing her daughter’s frail form, couldn’t help but cover her eyes and weep, while Nanny Lin also shed tears in a corner.