Chapter 248: Chapter 248: Elopement (Part 3)
Xiqiu also curtsied: "Marquis!" Her address made Xiao Yanyi slightly pause, after pondering for a moment, he nodded gently and said: "I heard you were ill, are you better now?"
"Much better." She kept her face lowered and did not raise her eyes to look at Xiao Yanyi: "Thank you for the concern, Marquis." Saying this, she curtsied again: "Please take your time, Marquis!" With that, she leaned on Chunyan’s arm to leave the room, Xiao Yanyi watched her back and asked again: "Has Sixth Sister’s leg fully recovered?"
Xiqiu stopped at the doorway, turned sideways with her head bowed and replied: "It’s about seventy to eighty percent recovered, Doctor Liu said it will be fully healed with some more rest." Saying so, she curtsied again: "I take my leave!"
Xiao Yanyi watched her back, slightly dazed, the hand behind his back clenched tightly into a fist. Just then, the door curtain was lifted, and Nanny Fang walked out with a smile: "The Lady is here!"
Xiqiu had already left the courtyard, and the conversation that ensued behind her was one she could guess even if she didn’t listen. Xiao Yanyi had been given a marriage by royal decree, the wedding date set for August. His visit now would only be to inform his former mother-in-law, the First Madam, about it. As for the previous promise with the Tong Mansion, that was just verbal. Now that the Empress has decreed the marriage, it’s best to say less to avoid unnecessary complications.
Passing by the corner gate of the West Courtyard, she noticed Tong Xiyu’s courtyard door was firmly shut. It was said that she had fallen ill a few days earlier, and even Madam Mei was sick. She had overheard from the servants that when the Marquis Mansion’s Imperial Decree arrived, Madam Mei ran wildly to plead with the First Madam to go to the Marquis Mansion. The First Madam, frustrated by her ignorant and self-righteous speeches, had Nanny Fang throw her out.
She might contend with the Marquis Mansion, but could she dare to contest with the Empress and the Commandery Princess?
The courtyard was quieter than it had ever been as Xiqiu returned to the Zhiqu Courtyard. Without Nanny Song bustling about, it had returned to its usual state. As for Nanny Song, Xiqiu didn’t know how she was faring, but at least the First Madam hadn’t mentioned any intention of bringing her back.
Though it was peaceful on her end, the Grand Dowager was lamenting to Xiao Yanzheng about her: "That child has such a bitter fate!" Originally thought that Yanyi had feelings for her; although young, she was clever, steady, and sensible. It wouldn’t hurt to wait a year as long as they loved each other deeply, but in the end, the First Madam Tong sent her off to Shandong. Then, the engagement was canceled as the other party unexpectedly died. A daughter’s reputation would inevitably be affected; being an illegitimate daughter, finding a good husband in the future would be as hard as reaching the sky.
Xiao Yanzheng also carried a worried look. She had hoped Xiqiu could marry into the Marquis Mansion to be her second sister-in-law, but unexpectedly, the situation flipped as Princess Chengning intervened and became her second sister-in-law instead... these were trivial matters, but it was Xiqiu who suffered in the end!
Luckily, Xiqiu didn’t have to marry into the Shandong Hong Mansion: "That Young Master Hong died a bit too late!" If only he died earlier, Xiqiu wouldn’t have suffered so much. The Grand Dowager was amused and chided: "Such nonsense, even if it wasn’t Young Master Hong, there would have been Mr. Lu and Mr. Lan... as daughters grow older, they inevitably must settle down with a husband."
Xiao Yanzheng pouted and continued: "Mother, could you not ask Madam Qian to help find a decent marriage for Xiqiu?" Xiao Yanzheng held onto the Grand Dowager as she spoke, and the Grand Dowager laughed at her: "Madam Qian only has many nephews, not extensive connections. Plus, her many affairs wouldn’t give her the time." She paused and added: "Besides, if there were a good match, I’d have arranged it for you long ago, instead of having you stay home daily to pester me!"
Xiao Yanzheng blushed crimson and stood up abruptly: "We were discussing Xiqiu, how did it come back to me? I won’t talk to you anymore, I’ll go visit my sister-in-law!"
"Go ahead, it’s just as well for you to keep her company. Sitting idly all day is not good." The Grand Dowager, after instructing her, shared a laugh with Nanny Wu as they watched Xiao Yanzheng’s departing figure. Once she left, the Grand Dowager said to Nanny Wu: "Did the second son go to the Tong Mansion?"
Nanny Wu nodded: "He went in the morning!" Not knowing what harsh words the First Madam Tong might say, Nanny Wu sighed, and the First Madam was indifferent, nodding: "It’s appropriate, even though the outcome wasn’t what we anticipated, the courtesy must not be missed."
The sudden royal decree from the Empress took her by surprise. Not even the day before, when Yanyi had an audience with the Emperor, had the Empress mentioned a word. Had there been any indication, they could have thought of a countermeasure. Being issued a decree so abruptly left them with no reason to refuse. What’s more, given their current standing, what right did they have to reject the Empress?
The Grand Dowager sighed, seeing her expression, Nanny Wu comforted her: "You must keep your mind at ease." The Grand Dowager smiled and said: "Don’t worry, no matter what happens, I will ensure Xing grows up into an adult!" Saying this, she instructed Nanny Wu: "Let’s go and see Xing."
Nanny Wu supported the Grand Dowager to the Warm Pavilion. Xing had just moved in, and some areas were yet to be tidied up. But before the Commandery Princess entered the door, Xing had been brought over.
Early the next morning, as Xiqiu just woke up, Master Puning arrived at the mansion, held a Buddhist altar service, and chanted scriptures outside her courtyard, then headed to the First Madam’s courtyard. Servants and maids throughout the mansion gathered to entertain themselves with the spectacle. Xiqiu also sent Chunyan and Sixing to have a look, while she sat under the eaves outside, embroidering.
At this moment, footsteps approached from outside the courtyard. She thought it was Sixing or Chunyan returning, but when she looked up, she saw Tong Minzhi’s small figure rushing over: "Sister, are you feeling better?" Xiqiu almost couldn’t catch his chubby body, so the two sat side by side on the chair, Xiqiu ruffling his hair bun: "Why didn’t you let Liufu come in and announce your arrival?!"
Tong Minzhi replied nonchalantly: "I couldn’t get in at first, but seeing all the maids and older women from the courtyard went to watch the excitement, I sneaked in along the wall." Xiqiu smiled gently. Tong Minzhi had grown rapidly in the year, at only seven years old, he was already above her shoulder line, bearing more and more resemblance to the First Master and Madam Xia.
A combination of their best qualities indeed!
"Have you had breakfast? Why aren’t you at the academy today?" Tong Minzhi replied: "Our teacher had something to attend to today, so we got a day off." Pausing, he added: "He went to Qianshan Academy."
Qianshan Academy, the one established by Jiang Shilin, right? Xiqiu arched her brows. As Tong Minzhi glanced around and displayed a mysterious look: "Our teacher and Third-Ranked Scholar Jiang are good friends. It’s said that Third-Ranked Scholar Jiang has some big plans lately, and our teacher intends to check it out."
Xiqiu gently patted Tong Minzhi’s head: "You’re always scattered with your studies, where did you get all this gossip?" Tong Minzhi muffled, covering his head and refuting: "I am serious with my studies! I’ve improved a lot recently, even my big brother and cousin praised me."