Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Elopement (Part 5)
Xu Tianqing had been learning the virtues and teachings of Confucius and Mencius about monarchs and family since childhood. Xiqiu didn’t know what kind of internal struggle he had to go through to make such a bold decision. Elopement? She hadn’t even considered it!
"Cousin!" Xiqiu, touched, shook her head and said, "Thank you for your feelings for me, but have you ever thought about what we will live on after we leave the door of this inner residence, even with the documents? Without mentioning that, if we leave like this, have you thought about your parents, about my concubine and brother? Once we leave, we won’t be able to come back. What will happen to them? You’ve studied hard for so many years. The concubine has high hopes for you, and you so easily give up prospect and fame, living a life on the road and enduring hardships for decades... What about her? Can you sacrifice years of hard work and your parents’ care for the sake of love between a man and a woman?" She couldn’t trust him easily. Her modern-day alertness towards men was beyond her imagination. Xu Tianqing’s love was so heavy that she questioned whether she could bear it. She wondered about his capability, whether he could shoulder such a burden, if even for now, what about ten years, twenty years later? Would he regret it, would he blame her for agreeing to elope, dragging him from a high-ranking young man to the most lowly commoner? If he regretted, what could she do then?!
It was too risky. The answer that popped into Xiqiu’s mind was a definitive no.
Xu Tianqing was shocked on the spot. He didn’t know Xiqiu had thought so much in that moment. Indeed, he had considered everything Xiqiu mentioned, asking himself day and night if he could do it. He was sure he could, so he made all the preparations to come and see her: "Sixth Sister, none of this matters; as long as I can be with you, I’m willing to endure any hardship."
When he heard that Lady arranged a marriage for Xiqiu, it felt like a piece of his heart was cut away. Even standing still, not sleeping or breathing, he felt pain in his organs, a pain that prevented him from doing anything. He made unimaginable efforts to restrain from seeking Xiqiu or Lady. After several nights of deep thought, he made this decision. He knew his heart and was glad for his decision.
"Sixth Sister, ever since I saw you for the first time four years ago, you’ve stayed in my heart; nothing can change my feelings for you. Please believe me!"
Xiqiu lost the ability to speak, unsure of what to say to him. Xu Tianqing looked directly at her and saw the calmness in her eyes. Suddenly, he felt a fear that Xiqiu might outright reject him. Uncontrollably, he took a step back and said, "Sixth Sister, I’m not asking you to agree right away. I’ll give you time to think. If you’ve made up your mind in five days, let Sixing find me and tell me the result... is that okay?"
Xiqiu wanted to tell him now, but she nodded. Xu Tianqing smiled, his smile bright and dazzling. He nodded, looked at her reluctantly, and said, "I’ll go back and wait for your news then." With that, he turned around and kept looking back every few steps as he walked into the bamboo grove.
Xiqiu sat on the stone stool, staring in a daze at Xu Tianqing’s back. She seemed not yet to have reacted to Xu Tianqing’s sudden boldness. It wasn’t until Sixing and Chunyan came looking for her that she murmured back into the courtyard.
She thought that after their last conversation, with her attitude so apparent, Xu Tianqing had already let go. Unexpectedly, a year later, he suddenly came to say such things to her. She didn’t know what he thought over the year, but she couldn’t bear to reject him directly...
Unable to sleep all night, Xiqiu went to pay respects to Lady early in the morning. Lady looked much better. The concubine sat beside Lady, and when seeing Xiqiu come in, her gaze fell on Xiqiu’s slender, exquisite figure, silently sighing: Sixth Girl indeed resembles Madam Xia, looking even more beautiful now.
She recalled how Xu Tianqing asked her to propose marriage a few days ago, her eyes narrowing. Sixth Girl, unmarried but widowed, is known throughout the Capital and beyond. Not to mention that her sister will not neglect her choice; even if carefully chosen, she may not find a good family due to her low status as an illegitimate daughter... Perhaps, after a year or two, when Tianqing gets married, she can suggest to the sister to give her to Tianqing as a concubine.
At least it would fulfill Tianqing’s devotion, sparing him from daydreaming and delaying his studies!
The concubine’s thoughts didn’t worry Xiqiu. Even if Lady was overbearing, she wouldn’t send her to be a concubine without regard for face, especially not to her sister’s household. Lady wouldn’t want to lose face between sisters. Xiqiu smiled and greeted the concubine with a bow. The concubine smiled and said, "Quick, stand up! It’s been hard on you lately." Xiqiu lowered her face, showing a hint of grievance, and sighed, "Auntie exaggerates... this is just my fate!"
Showing no intention of blaming the sisters, the concubine displayed a satisfied expression, saying to Lady, "Sister, you are right, Sixth Girl is still obedient and sensible!"
Lady nodded slightly but said nothing. She thought of what Xiao Yanyi said to her when he came. Although his words didn’t express blame, she could see clearly that he had feelings for Sixth Girl. Only then did she understand why Xihua insisted on having Eighth Girl marry him. It turned out that Xiao Yanyi had feelings for Sixth Girl from the beginning.
Her own daughter passed away early and now faced a lost engagement. She gazed at Xiqiu in silent anger, lamenting why Young Master Hong was so short-lived. If he were not, marrying her would not serve as a daily reminder of Xihua’s unspoken grievances before his death.
Lady turned her eyes away, expressionless, and said, "There’s nothing here. You’re not well. Rest back in your room." Xiqiu obediently nodded, "Yes!" Then she gave a curtsy to the concubine and withdrew.
That day, Tong Shen Zhi came back very late and went straight to the Second Master’s room. The two talked behind closed doors for a long time until dusk when the Second Master hurried out. Xiqiu quietly stayed in the courtyard, instructing Chunyan to pack everything Xu Tianqing had sent before into her room, saying, "Once it’s dark, carry it over with Chunliu, but don’t alert Sixing!"
Chunyan, understanding Xiqiu’s intent, silently nodded, arranged the luggage, and waited for nightfall. However, the Capital unexpectedly imposed a city-wide curfew that night, intensifying the atmosphere. The Second Master also sent people to inform Lady to guard the gates. Lady notified each room, and Xiqiu ordered Chunyan to lock the courtyard gate, allowing no one in or out!
It turned out that after several days of deliberation and confirmation by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Justice, along with testimony from local officials in Fujian, the charge of connection with the pirates and covert troop gathering was finally established. The evidence pointed directly to the Second Prince. Enraged, the Emperor decreed to strip the Second Prince of all titles, conferring upon him the title of Prince Pinggui, allocating the thirteen cities of Guizhou as his fief, and ordering departure to the fief within the following day.