Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Evil Ghost (2)
Xiqiu’s eyes fell on that cup of tea. Listening to Lady speak, she slightly raised her brows. This was the first time Lady had inquired about her leg. After thinking for a moment, she said, "It’s much better now, it doesn’t hurt much anymore."
Lady nodded, "As long as your leg is better." She then recalled that it was because of Xiqiu’s leg ailment that Xiao Yanyi had invited the Imperial Physician to treat her, which subsequently led to Tong Xihua’s series of illnesses and eventual death. A pang of acidity arose in her heart, accompanied by a surge of anger. She turned her eyes away and said to Xiqiu, "From now on, you don’t need to come for daily greetings. Avoid seeing too many people, just stay in your room and embroider your wedding dress."
Xiqiu lowered her face, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her cheeks. She gently murmured, "I understand, Mother." Lady nodded satisfactorily, "You may leave, I have something to discuss with your elder brother."
Xiqiu replied affirmatively. Tong Shenzhi observed silently, his brows knitted tightly. The teacup in his hand scorched his palm slightly. Watching Xiqiu rise with a look of utter disappointment, she even forgot to bow to Lady before leaving. Lady coldly snorted, "If not for her, your elder sister would not have..." Now it seemed all the blame was being placed on Xiqiu. Hearing this, Tong Shenzhi suddenly rose with a flick of his sleeves, his face expressionless as he said to Lady, "I need to step out." Lady was stunned, watching him with a hint of displeasure, "Stop right there!" As she spoke, she walked up to Tong Shenzhi, "I’ll accompany you to Scholar Liu’s Mansion. Next year it’s time for your assessment; you can’t keep avoiding the academy!" Lady had high expectations of him!
Tong Shenzhi glanced at Lady, his voice calm and steady, "I’m well aware!" With that, he turned around and left the room.
Lady was so angry she had to grasp the back of a chair, panting heavily. Feeling dizzy, she thumped down onto the chair. Nanny Fang came in to help her catch her breath, but she waved her hand, "I’m fine. Get ready, accompany me to the Marquis Mansion!" Nanny Fang nodded silently, hesitated briefly before advising, "I heard Madam Qian brought a niece from her family to the Marquis Mansion as a guest yesterday..." Lady showed a knowing smile, "So what? She promised Xihua’s last wishes; surely she can’t go back on her word now!"
Nanny Fang said nothing further and accompanied Lady to the Marquis Mansion. She did not go inside but waited outside the Grand Dowager’s courtyard. Inside, Lady and the Grand Dowager’s voices were very low, but after only a moment, Lady came out with a face full of anger. Nanny Fang hurried to support her, "Lady, are you alright?"
Lady only felt dizzy and her heart was churning with discomfort. She clutched her chest and shook her head, "We’ll talk about it when we get back." Nanny Fang carefully supported her onto a palanquin and then onto a carriage waiting at the second gate of the Tong Mansion. Nanny Fang quickly poured Lady a cup of tea. Lady took a sip and suddenly her chest heaved, and before Nanny Fang could fetch a spittoon, she leaned over and began vomiting...
Nanny Fang, pale with fright, patted Lady’s back while shouting to the coachwoman, "Fetch Doctor Hu to the mansion. Steady the carriage!"
The coachwoman immediately complied, quickly steered onto a side alley, and ran to find Doctor Hu.
After vomiting for a while and emptying her stomach, Lady finally caught her breath. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall of the carriage, feeling as though the world was spinning and her feet seemed to step on cotton, her hands drooping weakly at her sides.
Nanny Fang’s heart pounded. She had served Lady for so many years and Lady’s health had always been well-maintained; such an event had never happened before. She urged Lady, "Please lie down and rest for a bit, we’ll soon reach the mansion."
Lady seemed not to have heard, merely grunting faintly from her nose.
Xiqiu left Zhui Garden and, supported by Chunyan, walked slowly in the small garden of the Tong Mansion. Chunyan, her brows furrowed tightly, looked full of anxiety. Xiqiu turned her head to look at her and said, "Are you still worried about the marriage?" Chunyan hesitated for a while before replying, "Miss, Manager Lai said from the Capital to Dengzhou, there’s a place called Quan City on the way, which is said to be very beautiful..." Xiqiu was surprised to hear this and looked at Chunyan, astonished. She had only ever heard about escaping from Siliu’s mouth and never expected to hear such words from Chunyan today.
"Chunyan!" Xiqiu stopped and held her hand, "I won’t marry into Dengzhou, and even if I do, I’ll arrange everything for you all!" Chunyan shook her head, tears falling down, her eyes reddened, "No... wherever Miss goes, I will follow."
Xiqiu sighed softly!
Chunyan wiped her tears and saw Xiqiu holding a pocket. She asked curiously, "Miss, why did you bring the medicine given by the Grand Dowager out with you?" The other day, the Grand Dowager had suddenly sent someone to deliver two patches of ointment to Xiqiu. Chunyan had assumed it was a subtle message or had some other meaning and had inquired with the maid who delivered the medicine, only to find that the Grand Dowager was going to deliver medicine to a Scholar Liu’s family and had conveniently sent Xiqiu two patches of Miao medicine for treating rheumatism from the storage.
She said that without finding a Miao Doctor, the Grand Dowager always kept it in her thoughts...
Chunyan felt a slight disappointment!
Xiqiu looked at the pocket in her hand and seemingly casually placed it back at her waist, smiling, "I just found the fragrance pleasant, so I brought it out..." Chunyan didn’t think much of it and accompanied Xiqiu to walk back slowly. Passing by the corner gate of the West Courtyard, they directly turned to Tong Xiyan’s courtyard. Daijuan was keeping watch at the courtyard gate and, seeing Xiqiu enter, immediately ran inside to announce. Daiju came forward, "Fourth Miss just returned from your courtyard, and hearing you went over to Lady’s, she specifically asked Daijuan and me to stay here and, upon seeing you, to be sure to invite you in." Xiqiu smiled slightly and nodded, "You’ve both worked hard!" Daiju laughed and helped Xiqiu inside.
Tong Xiyan came out from the Warm Pavilion. She wore plain clothing, without a single piece of jewelry, her thin complexion seemed covered with a layer of wax, without any luster. Upon seeing Xiqiu, she took her hand and said, "I heard Mother has arranged a marriage for you? Is it with the Shandong Hong Mansion?"
Xiqiu nodded. Tong Xiyan’s eyes immediately reddened, clutching Xiqiu, "Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to find Mother, we must make her cancel this marriage!" Xiqiu pulled back, shaking her head, "It’s useless, Mother and the Hong Mansion have already exchanged the horoscope documents, how can they easily cancel the engagement."
Tong Xiyan embraced Xiqiu and started crying, "Then we’ll write to Father and have him return. Mother only listens to Father." Xiqiu smiled faintly, "No rush, I want to have a talk with you first."
Tong Xiyan stopped crying, and the two of them went into the Warm Pavilion and sat on the kang covered with a thin sky-blue Gurong Blanket. The room was still filled with the strong scent of books, but it was less lively than before. Xiqiu looked at Tong Xiyan and said, "You’ve lost weight again!"
Tong Xiyan lowered her face and sighed, "It’s just skin deep, let it be!" She appeared dispirited and disheartened. Xiqiu thought for a moment and advised, "I find Madam Zhou to be elegant and dignified in her manners and conversation. Young Master Zhou has now been appointed as a scholar; he’s in the Hanlin Academy with our elder brother, even our elder brother admires him. Surely he’s not bad, why do you always remain hung up in your heart..." She had great confidence in Tong Shenzhi’s eye for judging people. Anyone he was willing to interact closely with surely had acceptable character!