Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Parting in Death (5)
Chunliu replied, "It was a little maid by Laiwang’s wife’s side, she hurriedly ran off after delivering the message!" It seemed Laiwang’s wife’s joy might have made her forget this matter.
For Xiqiu, it was the first time someone around her was giving birth, and she seemed quite happy: "Quickly go ask if there’s anything needed, if Siliu has milk, how much the child weighs, if he cried loudly when born..." She instructed a bunch of things, leaving Sixing and the others dumbfounded, looking at Xiqiu and laughing: "Miss, you seem to be even more meticulous than Laiwang’s wife, who’s the new grandmother!"
Xiqiu also felt her nerves were overly tense and smiled slightly!
After a few people gathered around the table for a meal, Tong Shen Zhi unprecedentedly arrived, his voice heavy through the curtain: "Is Sixth Sister here?" Xiqiu was startled and immediately set down her bowl and chopsticks to personally lift the curtain and go out: "Elder Brother!" Tong Shen Zhi slightly nodded, his expression grave as he said to her, "Mother sent Nanny Fang back, Big Sister... she just passed away!"
Xiqiu’s brows furrowed tightly, she had thought they would wait a few more days, but she didn’t expect it to be so soon, could something have happened last night?
Her face also darkened, nodding at Tong Shen Zhi: "Brother, please wait a moment, I’ll change clothes and come." Tong Shen Zhi nodded, "Go directly to the second gate, we’ll meet and go together from there."
Xiqiu returned to her room, the faces of several maids who were joyful from Siliu’s childbirth now all turned solemn, silently attending to Xiqiu as she washed and changed clothes. Unlike the plain colors worn during the Marquis’s passing, Xiqiu donned mourning attire this time, wearing only two pink and white pearl flowers on her head, and hurriedly went to the outer court with Sixing and Chunyan.
At the second gate, Tong Shen Zhi, Tong Minzhi, Tong Xiyang, Tong Xiyan, Tong Xiyu, and Xu Tianqing were all there. Once Xiqiu arrived, everyone silently boarded the carriages separately. Throughout the journey, Xiqiu could hear the townspeople’s whispers outside the curtains, and the closer they got to the Marquis Mansion, the more frequent the murmurs became.
"So many troubles for the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, the Marquis’s first seven days aren’t even over, and despite the difficulty of getting the imperial decree to confer Second Master Xiao a title, Second Madam was granted the title of First-Grade Lady but left before even receiving the decree! Alas..."
"Indeed, one thing after another, I really don’t know if the Grand Dowager can endure it!"
Xiqiu was stunned, could the Emperor have already approved the title conferment memorandum, meaning Xiao Yanyi was now the Xuanning Marquis?
She shook her head silently, wondering if Tong Xihua had any regrets before she died?
Regret, Tong Xihua would have never expected the decree for title conferment to arrive at this moment. As she lay on her bed, her eyes unfocused, listening to Lady recite the decree’s contents, her tears finally fell. Lady tightly embraced her: "My child, you are now the Marchioness of Xuanning, a First-Grade Lady conferred by the court, you must take good care of your health, be cautious!"
Tong Xihua seemed to realize something, suddenly extending her hand straight, her eyes fixed at the door on Xiao Yanyi, staring at him intently... Lady, anxious, held her: "Xihua, what do you want to say?"
Xiao Yanyi looked at her, slowly walking over to support Tong Xihua’s outstretched hand. This hand had thinned to mere bones, yet exerted surprising force, gripping Xiao Yanyi’s fingers tightly, writing words in his palm, but due to the urgency and chaos, they were unintelligible.
Xiao Yanyi stood quietly, eyes slightly downcast, moving his gaze from his palm to Tong Xihua’s face, speaking faintly: "Rest assured, I will undoubtedly establish Xing as the Princely Heir!" Though the words were light, they left no room for doubt!
As the words fell, the hand gripping Tong Xihua’s suddenly relaxed, a faint smile crossed her lips, and she gradually closed her eyes!
Lady cried out loud, while the Grand Dowager was supported by Nanny Wu, weeping as well!
Xiqiu arrived at the Marquis Mansion when Tong Xihua was already in her first shroud. The Marquis’s first seven days weren’t over, the existing white banners in the mansion remained, the servants still clad in mourning attire, the mourning tents set up in the outer court. Tong Shen Zhi, Tong Minzhi, and Xu Tianqing went directly to the outer court, while Xiqiu, along with Tong Xiyang, Tong Xiyan, and Tong Xiyu, proceeded to the inner court.
Lady collapsed in a chair, her four daughters entered Tong Xihua’s bedroom, and once Xiqiu stepped in, several gazes fell upon her. She furrowed her brows tightly, lowering her face as she followed Tong Xiyang to the bedside.
Tong Xihua’s remains had been washed and dressed, lying peacefully on the bed. Xing, seemingly startled by the heavy atmosphere, kept crying and fussing, as the nurse gently comforted him, while Qiuping and Qiuluo, clad in mourning garb, knelt by the bedside. Seeing the four young ladies enter, they laid cushions in front of the bed, and the four each kowtowed to Tong Xihua.
Xiqiu rose with Tong Xiyang, walked to the Grand Dowager, softly spoke a few comforting words, then moved to stand behind Lady, who leaned forward, crying hysterically onto Lady’s lap, whose hand rested on her daughter’s bony, emaciated back, her gaze landing upon the equally skeletal Tong Xihua, her tears flowing even more fiercely!
Xiqiu went to support Tong Xiyan, while Tong Xiyang’s gaze slightly moved and took a tea cup from a maid who had just entered. "Mother, take care of your health," she urged, offering the tea to Lady. Lady looked up, surprised at Tong Xiyang, seeing a hint of distress between her eyebrows, her eyes red with tears, yet watching her mother with sincere affection. Lady felt touched and patted her hand, accepting the tea.
Tong Xiyu, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, sobbed quietly, leaning against her maid. Lady turned thoughtfully, her gaze shifting from Tong Xiyu to Xiqiu, who was quietly comforting Tong Xiyan, her eyes swollen from crying.
Soon, the Second Madam arrived. Entering with tears in her eyes, she cried before Tong Xihua’s bed, then moved to console the Grand Dowager, "Elder Sister-in-law, you must find peace," she said.
Lady cried in response: "Thank you for bothering yourself!" The Second Madam wiped her tears: "Elder Sister-in-law, don’t be a stranger, aren’t we family!"
Lady mumbled to herself, not replying.
At that moment, someone suddenly announced, "Madam Teng is here!" All eyes switched to the entrance of the bedroom, and Xiqiu saw Teng Qiuniang walk in, clad in plain mourning attire, the pure white linen flowing like water, adorned with flowers on her head, her eyes and nose red yet adding a gentle, poignant beauty.
Xiqiu was momentarily caught off guard; had Teng Qiuniang already moved into quarters in less than a day?
Could it be that Tong Xihua’s sudden deterioration and unexpected passing were somehow related to her?
Xiqiu seemed to have some understanding, but felt the atmosphere in the room was off, particularly the furtive glances from the Grand Dowager and Nanny Wu, which made her uncomfortable!
Upon entering, Teng Qiuniang knelt before Tong Xihua’s bed, nearly fainting from grief. Lady’s sharp gaze lingered on her as someone assisted Teng Qiuniang up after she performed her respects before the Grand Dowager, before doing the same before Lady. Only then did she stand to one side, noticing Xing being held fussily by the nurse, she pulled out a handkerchief to comfort him.