Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Parting in Death (3)
Lady sighed softly, glanced helplessly at Tong Xihua, and said to her, "There are things you can do, but be cautious, don’t break the Second Young Master’s heart!" Tong Xihua smiled slightly and replied, "Don’t worry, mother, I know what to do!"
Regarding the matters in her daughter’s room, Lady could only say so much. She stood up and said to Tong Xihua, "There’s nothing much in the house, so I’ll sleep with Xing tonight to avoid scaring him!"
Tong Xihua nodded with relief, "With you here, I can rest assured about Xing." Lady bent over to tuck Tong Xihua in and urged, "You should rest, don’t overthink it. The Imperial Physician has urged again and again that you can’t have more stress."
Tong Xihua obediently closed her eyes, and as soon as Lady left, she suddenly reopened them, revealing a resolute determination in her eyes.
By the afternoon, Lady went to the Grand Dowager’s place. The two chatted superficially about peace, while Teng Qiuniang, who had left the mansion in the morning, was carried back in a small sedan chair through the side door in the afternoon and moved into the courtyard Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan had once lived in. Fifth Madam had already instructed the maid to tidy up the room a bit and light the Dragon and Phoenix Candles. Teng Qiuniang entered the room and closed the door alone, a subtle smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Xiao Yanyi was found outside and brought back. Though he never drinks, he was reeking of alcohol and was directly sent to Teng Qiuniang’s courtyard by the Grand Dowager’s order. Xiao Yanyi, with bleary eyes, lingered in the courtyard momentarily, glanced in the direction of Tong Xihua’s room, and then turned and strode into his own room.
At night, Lady carried Xing to sleep in the Warm Pavilion next to Tong Xihua’s bedroom. Tong Xihua, lying in her bed, asked Qiuping, "Has the Second Young Master returned?"
Qiuping hesitated for a long time, feeling that she couldn’t keep it a secret, then softly replied, "He returned this afternoon, drank, and went directly to Madam Teng’s room." As soon as the words fell, Tong Xihua’s hand hanging by her side clenched tightly into a fist. She painfully closed her eyes, and tears slid from the corners, as Qiuping fearfully went up to console her, "Madam, I see that the Second Young Master is also unwilling. If it weren’t for the Grand Dowager considering the Fifth Madam’s face and forcing him, I don’t think he would enter Madam Teng’s courtyard." Qiuping paused and then showed a slight satisfying smile, "Since she has come into our room, whether she gets squeezed or pinched, it’s up to Madam to deal with her."
Tong Xi said nothing but suddenly insisted on sitting up. Qiuping was startled and pressed down on Tong Xihua, saying, "Madam, the Imperial Physician said your body can’t take any more burdens. Whatever you want to do, instruct your maid to do it. You must take care of your health!"
"Help me up," Tong Xihua said resolutely. No matter how capable Qiuping was, she was still just a maid. She softly said, "I’ll go call Nanny Lin!"
Tong Xihua’s gaze was fierce. She stared and said, "Stop!" Qiuping had to stop suddenly, lowered her head, and cautiously helped Tong Xihua, then helped her get dressed. Tong Xihua instructed her breathlessly, "Let’s sneak out quietly; don’t disturb Lady."
Qiuping was full of hesitation but didn’t dare go against Tong Xihua’s wishes, so she could only support her carefully and quietly went out. The night watchmaid in the courtyard was dumbfounded to see the Second Madam coming out of her room so late. Qiuping squeezed her eyes and shook her head at them. The maid quickly lowered her head, and Tong Xihua and Qiuping passed through the front courtyard, turning into the cloister to the back yard.
The courtyard of Teng Qiuniang was still brightly lit, and through the bright windows, faint shadows of movement could be seen inside. Tong Xihua stopped under a pear tree at the courtyard gate, watching the movements inside from afar. Qiuping was sweating anxiously, thinking that the Second Madam couldn’t intend to watch Madam Teng’s room like this until dawn, could she?!
She opened her mouth a few times, trying to persuade Tong Xihua, but swallowed the words every time. It was uncertain how long had passed when the blazing room suddenly went dark, and Qiuping felt as if the whole world had plunged into a deathly silence, her eyes following the extinguished lamp into boundless darkness.
The Second Young Master... he really stayed in Teng Qiuniang’s room.
Thinking of her destiny, having undergone a face opening yet still a virgin, she thought it wasn’t because the Second Young Master disliked her but rather that he didn’t care about such things, not just towards her but even seldom spent the night in the Second Madam’s room. But the extinguishing of that lamp deeply shattered her fantasy.
It turns out Second Young Master didn’t dislike; he was unwilling to touch her!
She stood there with an ashen face, feeling nothing, as a chill seemed to rise from her feet... It was only after a long time that she became aware of the Second Madam’s silence beside her. She turned to look and saw the Second Madam staring unblinkingly at the window. Silently, if it weren’t for her trembling arm holding onto a branch, Qiuping might have thought...
This Second Madam, like a dying person in their last struggle!
Qiuping, frightened, hugged Tong Xihua and whispered, "Second Madam!" It was alright until she touched her; the moment her hand touched her, Tong Xihua’s body tilted, and a mouthful of blood spurted out suddenly. Qiuping, face full of blood but dared not wipe, hugged the Second Madam, intending to shout for help.
Tong Xihua struggled to retain a trace of consciousness and pressed Qiuping’s hand, intermittently saying, "Take me... back!" Qiuping, powerless, hugged her but couldn’t move her. She could only put Tong Xihua behind her, crouching down to carry her on her back. Having never done such physical work since entering the mansion at an early age, she lost her balance and unexpectedly fell to the ground!
Tong Xihua’s last bit of consciousness was completely extinguished when she crashed to the ground.
Qiuping shook with fear uncontrollably, biting her lip, half-dragged and half-pulled Tong Xihua to the front courtyard. The night watchmaid, seeing Qiuping, was so frightened that they went weak in the knees. Qiuping, glaring, scolded, "Are all of you dead? Hurry over and help!"
The two maids rushed over, and together they managed to carry Tong Xihua into the room.
Lady was startled awake from her dream, sat up immediately, and called Nanny Fang: "Go quickly and see what’s happening outside." Nanny Fang hurriedly put on clothes and climbed out from the footstool, opened the door, and saw the maids carrying Tong Xihua back; she dashed over, "Miss... Eldest Miss!" Lady heard the exclamation from Nanny Fang, immediately got out of bed and ran out barefoot without stopping to put on shoes!
"Quickly call the Imperial Physician!" Seeing Tong Xihua like that, Lady knew what had happened, and immediately sent Qiuping to call the Imperial Physician, instructing her, "Just say the Second Madam’s condition worsened at night; don’t say anything more."
Qiuping nodded hurriedly, lifted her skirt, and quickly ran out of the courtyard.
Lady brought people and placed Tong Xihua onto the bed. The commotion lasted half the night, even alarming the Grand Dowager. She was helped over by Nanny Wu that very night. Seeing Tong Xihua lying on the bed, face full of deathly stillness, the Grand Dowager instructed those outside, "Hurry and get the Second Young Master!"