Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Evil Ghost (3)
Tong Xiyan didn’t care at all, emotionlessly saying, "I’ve said before, as long as it’s not him, it doesn’t matter who I marry!" Xiqiu wanted to say something else, but Tong Xiyan changed the subject, "Let’s write a letter to Father!" She felt that when the First Master returned, he would definitely persuade Lady to break off the engagement with the Hong Family.
Xiqiu, however, did not hold out hope, but couldn’t bear to dash hers. So, he smiled and nodded, "Alright!" The two went to the study, where Tong Xiyan sat at the desk and wrote down, word by word, the recent events at home in a letter. Once finished, she asked Daijuan to take it directly to Manager Lai.
Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, pulling Xiqiu along, saying, "Father will definitely come back!" Xiqiu smiled, not responding directly, but said, "Can I stay here and sleep with you tonight? I can’t sleep alone."
Tong Xiyan eagerly nodded, "Of course!" She held Xiqiu’s hand, saying, "We haven’t slept together for so long; I have so much to tell you." Xiqiu also smiled and nodded. After the two had lunch in Tong Xiyan’s room, Daijuan, who had gone to deliver the letter, rushed back, her face not looking good: "Fourth Miss, Sixth Miss... Lady has returned!"
"What happened? Why so flustered?" Tong Xiyan asked, unconcerned. She knew that Lady had gone out, but Daijuan urgently replied, "I heard from Nanny Cai at the gate that Lady fainted on the way back!" Shocked, Tong Xiyan stood up and grabbed Daijuan’s arm, "How could she faint out of the blue? Did you call a doctor?"
Daijuan nodded, "They said they’ve called Mr. Hu!" Tong Xiyan hurriedly got down from the bed to put on her shoes, with Xiqiu also standing up beside her. Daijuan and Chunyan each helped their respective Miss put on shoes. Xiqiu instructed Daiju, "Go to the second house and tell the Second Madam about Lady’s illness." Daiju nodded without hesitation and went out. Chunyan and Daijuan supported them hurriedly out, "Fourth Sister, don’t worry; Mother has always been healthy. Maybe she’s just tired these days." As they walked out the door, they ran into Tong Xiyu and Tong Xiyang. Tong Xiyu smiled slightly at the sight of Xiqiu, curtsying, "Fourth Sister, Sixth Sister."
Xiqiu nodded and returned a half-bow. Tong Xiyu came up and linked arms with her, saying, "I heard Mother arranged a marriage for you, but I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you!" Before Xiqiu could respond, Tong Xiyang laughed behind her sleeve, "I didn’t expect Sixth Sister and I to have such a connection!"
She was referring to how the marriage with the Ren Family was originally meant for Xiqiu, but ended up being hers, while the engagement with Shandong Hong Mansion, originally hers, was passed back to Xiqiu!
Xiqiu smiled at Tong Xiyu, replying, "Thank you, Eighth Sister. Perhaps in a few days, I will have to congratulate you in return." Tong Xiyu’s eyes lit up, blushing bashfully as she smiled, and Xiqiu turned to respond to Tong Xiyang, "As the saying goes, ’sharing the same boat within a thousand years’ karma’...the fact we are sisters in this life surely is fate!"
Tong Xiyang chuckled, "Indeed, our sisters are all promised in marriage, and soon we will each go our separate ways..." She looked at Xiqiu, "Fourth Sister, Eighth Sister, and I are all staying in the Capital, but you, on the other hand, are marrying far away, making even short visits difficult."
Xiqiu responded with a smile, "Shandong isn’t that far, but I suppose Sister might be very busy after getting married. However, if you’re free, please come visit when you can." Ren Jun is constantly away from home; isn’t that busy enough?
Tong Xiyang snorted coldly, flicked her sleeves, and walked ahead. Tong Xiyan, worried about Lady, had no mind for conversation with her, so the four of them hurried toward Zhui Garden.
In the courtyard stood Madam Mei, Madam Xia, and Tong Minzhi as they waited outside. Tong Xiyan rushed in, grabbing Daihe, who was carrying a basin of water, asking, "How is Lady? Has the doctor arrived?" Daihe nodded, "Lady has woken up, and the doctor said it’s liver qi stagnation and excessive liver fire. He’s prescribed medicine and advised resting and avoiding over-exertion..."
Tong Xiyan breathed a sigh of relief and entered the room first. Xiqiu turned to look at Madam Xia, then followed Tong Xiyan into the room. Lady was lying on the bed, a cloth on her forehead, her face slightly pale. Nanny Fang was feeding her medicine spoon by spoon. Upon seeing this, Tong Xiyan’s eyes reddened. Lady had always been full of spirit and energy, and to see her this way brought a heavy blockade to her heart. She threw herself onto Lady, crying, "Mother!"
Lady patted her back weakly, saying, "I’m alright. Don’t cry."
Madam Mei approached, taking the bowl from Nanny Fang’s hands to continue feeding Lady the medicine, "Madam has been too stressed these days. No matter how strong someone is, there comes a time when they are exhausted." She then smiled warmly to reassure Tong Xiyan, "Fourth Miss, don’t worry. The doctor said Madam will be fine as long as she rests well."
Lady leaned against the bed, her gaze falling on Xiqiu standing behind Tong Xiyan, then looking at Tong Xiyu. She recalled what the Grand Dowager had said, "In-laws, you and I have been family for years, and you surely know how I’ve treated Xihua. That’s right, I agreed for Xihua to marry Miss Tong and take care of Xing. For Xing’s sake, I won’t nitpick other matters, but if you persist in deciding on the Eighth Miss, I cannot consent!"
The Grand Dowager’s words were firm and resolute, her brows full of heroic spirit. Only now did she recall how the Grand Dowager had accompanied the Old Marquis, slaying countless enemies in Miaojiang many years ago... Was this a mistaken move?
Lady was still reluctant to give up; she had arranged Sixth Girl’s marriage, how could she vacillate and break off the engagement? Furthermore, Xihua had explicitly asked her before his death to ensure Eighth Girl married into the Marquis Mansion.
As she was about to speak again, the Grand Dowager had already ordered Nanny Wu to see her out, leaving Lady with simmering anger as she stormed out.
Did the Grand Dowager mean that if it were Sixth Girl, she would agree?
She looked at Tong Xiyu, who seemed to notice Lady watching her and silently wept. Strangely, looking at her filled Lady with an irritable vexation. Frowning, she waved away Madam Mei’s spoon, "Nanny Fang is here, that’s enough. You take Eighth Girl and go back." Third Miss, Sixth Miss, and Madam Xia were all present, yet Lady specifically asked their mother and daughter to leave.
Stunned by Lady’s sudden change in attitude, Madam Mei stood frozen, while Tong Xiyu stood there, not knowing what to do. Lady furrowed her brow in irritation as Nanny Fang gently persuaded Madam Mei, "Madam and Eighth Miss, please go back to rest. I’m here for Lady."
Feeling humiliated, Madam Mei couldn’t back down in front of everyone. Tong Xiyu left with reddened eyes, not looking back, while Madam Mei followed her out, catching her at the door and saying, "Don’t cry, or people will laugh at us."
Tong Xiyu sobbed silently, and the more Madam Mei thought about it, the more she felt something was amiss. Lady had fallen ill after returning from the Marquis Mansion, her attitude toward them changed... Could something have happened with the engagement at the Marquis Mansion?