Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Evil Ghost (Part 1)
Fourth Master Xiao nodded and suddenly said, "I’m going to the Dongchang Bo Mansion! I’ll be back later." After saying that, he rushed out the door again. The Grand Dowager stared at him in astonishment, then turned around and asked Nanny Wu, "Is the fourth son reporting his whereabouts to me?" Nanny Wu covered her mouth and laughed, "Yes, Grand Dowager!"
The corners of the Grand Dowager’s eyes revealed a hint of a smile.
Nanny Wu asked, "Do you want to switch to a sedan chair?" The Grand Dowager waved her hand and said, "No need, walk with me!" Silent, the Grand Dowager and Nanny Wu slowly walked back along the path.
"Grand Dowager, are you going to agree to First Madam Tong’s request to marry back Eighth Miss?" Nanny Wu asked as she supported the Grand Dowager, "Now the whole Capital knows that the Second Young Master is engaged to Eighth Miss, if not... it might affect the Second Young Master’s reputation!"
The Grand Dowager showed a cold smile, "Does she think this will force me to agree? She underestimates the Xuanning Marquis Mansion." She paused and then said, "The Tong Family’s eldest son is in the Hanlin Academy, right?" Nanny Wu thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes! I heard he is well-appreciated by Scholar Liu and might stay at the Hanlin Academy after graduation next year."
The Grand Dowager nodded thoughtfully, "Later, go to the storeroom and send some Miao medicine brought back by Yanzhi from Miaojiang to Madam Liu, and tell her the Tong Family has been busy lately, and the eldest son, being the pillar of the family, should take some time off."
Nanny Wu was startled and asked, "Is that okay? But Second Master Tong is in the Ministry of Personnel..." The Grand Dowager confidently waved her hand, "His influence doesn’t extend to the Hanlin Academy, and besides, he climbed up by stepping on the shoulders of his colleagues there; most of the people left are bookish types who aren’t very adaptable and wouldn’t easily show him favor." Nanny Wu nodded in agreement, and the Grand Dowager continued, "In the afternoon, bring Madam Qian to see me, I have something to discuss with her!" She sighed, "This marriage alliance with the Tong Family is unacceptable, a pity for that Sixth Miss..."
Nanny Wu thought of Sixth Miss’s looks, yet she was engaged to someone like the Hong Family, and also sighed heavily... In the afternoon, Madam Qian arrived at the Marquis Mansion, and the Grand Dowager got straight to the point, "This time, I have something to trouble you with!"
Madam Qian chuckled, "If you have something, just tell me to do it, there is no such thing as trouble." The Grand Dowager smiled slightly, "Last time, you mentioned you have a niece from your maternal family, how old is she, has she reached marrying age?"
Madam Qian’s eyes lit up instantly and moved closer to hold the Grand Dowager’s arm, "She turns eighteen this August, and she’s quite good-looking. I’ve been looking for a marriage match for her everywhere."
The Grand Dowager nodded slightly and smiled, "If you have time, bring her over to the mansion someday for a visit, so I can see her as well!" Madam Qian was taken aback. She and the Grand Dowager were close and without much reservation, so she asked, "Isn’t it said that you and First Madam Tong..." The Grand Dowager waved her hand to interrupt, "She thinks I’m the same as before, valuing face over life, hmph... This time, I refuse to save face!" Now only face is at stake, if I agree with her, I’ll lose everything!
Madam Qian laughed, holding onto her arm, "You’ve not lost face, in the Capital everyone is savvy, my mother-in-law said right away you’re likely to be furious this time..." The Grand Dowager also laughed, "You and your mother-in-law are the smartest!" Then added, "Are you acquainted with Lord Wang’s wife from the Astronomical Bureau?"
Madam Qian nodded, "Yes, we were close friends when we were young!" The Grand Dowager nodded, "I might need to trouble you with one more favor."
"Go ahead." Madam Qian listened attentively, and the Grand Dowager said, "Two days later, Old Madam Lou at the Shouning Bo Mansion is hosting a Spring Banquet, invite Madam Wang to go with you, and chat more with those ladies at the time..." Always astute, Madam Qian exclaimed in realization, "You want Madam Wang to say that Xiao Yanyi and Tong Xiyu’s characters are incompatible?"
The Grand Dowager appreciatively nodded, sighing, "This is the last resort!" Madam Qian secretly shook her head; First Madam Tong seemed smart, how did she get into such a muddle? The Grand Dowager fought alongside the Old Marquis, personally killed people, and the Marquis Mansion had gone through ups and downs over the years, seen all kinds of scenes, and wouldn’t be scared of such low-end tricks!
Two days later, at the Spring Banquet in the Shouning Bo Mansion, Madam Wang indeed spread the word as the Grand Dowager said, about the incompatibility of Xiao Yanyi and Tong Xiyu’s horoscopes. First Lady was immediately furious upon hearing this; she gathered her belongings to head to the Xiao Family to see the Grand Dowager when Tong Shen Zhi returned from the academy, surprising First Lady as she asked, "I remember you’re on vacation at the end of the month, why are you home today?"
Tong Shen Zhi calmly replied, "Scholar Liu said my family has been hectic recently, so he ordered me to take a few days off!" First Lady was stunned into speechlessness, a few days off? Is Scholar Liu warning Tong Shen Zhi that next time it might be a complete dismissal?
She couldn’t believe it; Tong Shen Zhi was an imperial student, who had the authority to send them home besides the Emperor? Her fingers trembled in anger, unable to speak for a long time, while Tong Shen Zhi continued to ask, "Did you arrange a marriage for Sixth Sister?"
First Lady frowned and replied indifferently, "It’s arranged, next June!" Once Tong Xiyan is married, that’s Xiqiu!
Tong Shen Zhi frowned deeply, "I heard from Tianqing that Young Master Hong in Dengzhou is a notorious playboy, for the past two years, he’s been staying at home due to leg problems but still causes trouble daily, finding shady friends and making merry at home, with servants carrying people out of the Hong Mansion every few days. Such a family... why are you marrying Sixth Sister off to them?" First Lady, already annoyed, became furious and was about to respond... when the door curtain lifted, revealing Xiqiu with a smiling face. She walked in, bowed to First Lady, and said, "Mother!"
Xiqiu entered and saw Tong Shen Zhi present, then curtsied and greeted, "Big brother!"
Tong Shen Zhi looked at her, her thin face with clear eyes like flowing water, standing there quietly watching him. He nodded slightly to Xiqiu and called, "Sixth Sister." First Lady suppressed the anger within her and turned to Xiqiu, asking lightly, "What is it?"
Xiqiu seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere in the room and smiled, "Siliu had her one-month celebration a few days ago, I would like to invite her over to the mansion for a visit. I haven’t met her two children yet." She said, lowering her face, "Opportunities to meet will be few in the future..."
First Lady’s eyes flickered, suddenly remembering that since arranging the marriage for the Sixth Girl, she had been busy with the Marquis Mansion’s wedding affairs and hadn’t formally spoken to Xiqiu. Thinking of this, she sat down on a chair, pointed to the embroidered stool in front, and said to Xiqiu, "Sit and talk." Just then, Daihe brought in a tea tray, and Xiqiu handed the tea cup to First Lady before sitting on the indicated embroidered stool. First Lady took a sip of tea and asked, "I heard Doctor Liu has been coming to the mansion daily to treat your leg recently? Is it better now?"