Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Parting in Death (4)
After a long time, Xiao Yanyi finally came over, followed by Doctor Liu. Xiao Yanyi had changed his clothes and cleaned up, but the smell of alcohol still lingered on him. The Grand Dowager frowned fiercely, and Lady, looking at him at this moment, wished she could go up and slap him twice.
His legitimate wife was bedridden, yet he was celebrating wedding night with a concubine. She had misjudged him!
Xiao Yanyi seemed completely oblivious to their looks, standing calmly in the room, and said to Doctor Liu, "Thank you for your trouble." Doctor Liu nodded and went up to check the pulse without saying much. After a moment, he got up, shook his head, and sighed. Lady was shocked and anxiously asked, "How is it?"
Doctor Liu replied, "When I checked Second Madam’s pulse this afternoon, I advised that her condition requires rest and she should avoid any further stress or shock..." He spoke in vague terms. Lady did not want to listen further and asked directly, "What about now?"
"Beyond help!" Doctor Liu apologized to the Grand Dowager and Xiao Yanyi, clasping his hands, "Forgive this old man for being incompetent! Grand Dowager and Second Young Master should start preparing for the aftercare!"
Lady cried out in shock and rushed onto Tong Xihua, sobbing uncontrollably. Xiao Yanyi stood there, his body trembling, his eyes gradually becoming obscure. The Grand Dowager’s eyes reddened, and she used a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, instructing Nanny Wu to escort Doctor Liu out of the mansion. She then said to Xiao Yanyi, "You’re not allowed to go anywhere tonight, stay here and accompany Xihua."
When a person is about to die, why hold grudges of the past?
Xiao Yanyi did not argue but stood silently in the room. Outside, Qiuping and others began to cry softly, waking Xing. The whole courtyard was filled with the deafening cries of maids, servants, and children.
Tong Xihua, in a daze, woke up and saw Lady crying with red, swollen eyes. She held Lady’s hand, "Mother, I am unfilial and may have to leave early. Please come and see Xing often in the future." Lady did not want her to talk much, just nodded, "Mother knows, you don’t say any more, just rest well!"
"Mother, I have no time left, please let me finish speaking." Tong Xihua shook her head and turned to look at the Grand Dowager, "Mother!" The Grand Dowager covered her eyes and came over, with Nanny Fang arranging a stool behind her. The Grand Dowager sat down and said to Tong Xihua, "Speak, mother is here!"
"Mother, I hope you don’t blame me. Although I’ve made foolish decisions, everything was for the sake of the Marquis Mansion, for Second Young Master’s sake. Can you understand my intentions and forgive me?" The Grand Dowager nodded, and Tong Xihua continued, "Mother, I have a request, please grant it!"
The Grand Dowager nodded, "Speak!" Tong Xihua covered her chest, took a deep breath, and said, "After I pass, I want you to choose one of my two younger sisters to enter the mansion. Xing is too young, and you know his health, I can’t rest easy with him alone..."
Listening to this, the Grand Dowager’s eyes flashed slightly as she glanced quickly at Lady, whose face was also full of surprise. She frowned, comforting Tong Xihua, "Take care of yourself, don’t say such demoralizing things!"
Xiao Yanyi trembled slightly, his gaze dimmed as he lowered his eyes.
Stubborn, Tong Xihua grasped the Grand Dowager’s hand with one hand and held Lady’s hand with the other. She asked the Grand Dowager, "Mother, even if not for my sake, please consider that Xing is the legitimate eldest grandson of the Marquis Mansion, and I beg you to agree to my request!"
For some reason, the image of Xiqiu slightly smiling with her head tilted appeared in the Grand Dowager’s mind. She furrowed her brow and said, "Very well, mother agrees." Tong Xihua was overjoyed, then looked at Lady, "Mother, you and the Grand Dowager can discuss this matter, you can decide between my two sisters. Sixth Sister is smart and sensible, Eighth Sister is also well-behaved and lovely, though younger, but she can marry in first and consummate the marriage in a few years..." More importantly, she can fully devote herself to caring for Xing until he grows up, and even if she has offspring later, they will not threaten Xing’s status!
Lady was tearful, wishing she could die in Tong Xihua’s place, so eager to agree without considering much, she nodded repeatedly, "As you wish, as you wish!" Tong Xihua smiled, holding Lady’s hand, and wrote a word in her palm!
Lady understood the implicit message and quietly nodded.
Tong Xihua sighed in relief. Her blank eyes drifted towards the roof’s ceiling, muttering, "Bring Xing over, I want to see him." The Grand Dowager immediately ordered someone to bring Xing over, and Tong Xihua turned her head slightly to look at Xing, a slight smile appearing on her lips...
She, tirelessly, chatted with Xing but never once glanced at Xiao Yanyi. The room was silent except for Tong Xihua’s faint breathing, until the sky gradually brightened. Nanny Lin and Nanny Song rushed in from outside. Seeing Tong Xihua like this, Nanny Lin immediately burst into tears. Tong Xihua reached out to her, and Nanny Lin took her hand. In front of the Grand Dowager, Lady, and Xiao Yanyi, she whispered something in Tong Xihua’s ear...
Tong Xihua’s lips spread into a broad smile; she held Nanny Lin’s hand and said, "Nanny, help me up. I want to wash and dress..." After a pause, she continued, "Let me wear the wedding dress I wore on my wedding day!"
Everyone in the room began to cry softly!
Xiqiu nervously paced back and forth in the room, occasionally grabbing Chunyan’s hand, saying, "Go again and ask the maids if the baby has been born!" Chunyan pressed Xiqiu down to sit on the couch, "Yesterday, when Doctor Liu left, he specifically instructed you not to overexert yourself. Even if you are worried about Siliu, take care of yourself!"
Xiqiu sighed and sat down, "It’s been a whole night, how has she not given birth?" Siliu had been in pain since 3 p.m. yesterday and endured through the night without any progress. How could she not be worried? "Otherwise, you go see for yourself. The scissors, the cotton cloth she uses, have been carefully boiled, haven’t they? Have the baby’s shoes and socks been properly sun-dried?"
Chunyan was somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry. She had never seen Sixth Miss so flustered and out of sorts, so she comforted her, "I have asked carefully, and indeed everything has been sterilized according to your instructions." Just as she was speaking, Sixing lifted the curtain and came in. Fearing that Xiqiu wouldn’t believe her, Chunyan pulled Sixing over, "If Miss doesn’t believe me, ask Sixing!"
Sixing covered her mouth and chuckled, and Xiqiu sighed, leaning back against the pillow. Sixing then placed the food box down, "Miss, eat something first!" Xiqiu had no appetite to eat and waved her hand, "You eat, I’m not hungry."
Sixing was about to speak when suddenly the door curtain was lifted from outside. Chunliu walked in with a beaming smile, looking at Xiqiu, saying, "Miss, the baby is born!" Xiqiu’s eyes lit up as she leaned forward to ask, "Quickly, tell me!"
Chunliu replied, "Twin sons, both mother and sons are safe!"
Xiqiu let out a long breath, the stone weighing on her heart all night suddenly fell away, "Thank heaven and earth!" Chunyan and Sixing then held on to Chunliu, asking, "Who came to deliver the news? How come there are no red eggs in sight?"