Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Son (5)
Xiqiu nodded thoughtfully. Could that person be Fourth Master Xiao?
Xiqiu held the child and returned to her room, sitting quietly to wait for someone who said they’d come tonight to take the child. Sure enough, just like yesterday, at the second watch, a shadow flickered through the intentionally open window and landed in the room.
Xiqiu frowned, displeased, as she looked at Fourth Master Xiao. He strode over, looking at the child sleeping soundly in her arms, and a look of expectation confirmed appeared on his face. Xiqiu said, "You finally came?"
"Since there was an agreement, naturally I must come!" Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back in front of Xiqiu, his demeanor and voice noticeably softer than at the same time last night!
Xiqiu squinted her eyes and asked, "Whose child is this really?" She hadn’t suspected anything at first, but after overhearing Lady and Second Lady discussing this morning, she became suspicious. How could it be such a coincidence that after the Second Prince Consort died with the child still in the womb, a newly born child was brought here?
Could it be that the Second Prince Consort did not die in childbirth and that her child was born successfully? Then taken out by Fourth Master Xiao?
Her heart pounded in shock as she waited for Fourth Master Xiao’s answer.
Fourth Master Xiao observed her ever-changing expressions and then swung his robe to sit on a chair in the room, raising an eyebrow he asked, "Is Sixth Miss very concerned about this matter?" Xiqiu paused, seeing a glint of amusement in his eyes, frowned, and said, "What do you mean? I’ve looked after this child all day, surely I have the right to know how you plan to deal with him?!"
Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, without expression he said, "Sixth Miss overthinks, this child is mine. Thank you, Sixth Miss, for looking after the child. I will repay this kindness another day." With that, he seriously cupped his hands in salute.
"So, Fourth Master intends to take the child back to the Marquis Mansion?" Fourth Master Xiao nodded, then looked at Xiqiu and said, "If Sixth Miss is unwilling to part with him, you may visit the Marquis Mansion frequently, anytime!"
Xiqiu indeed felt some reluctance; regardless of whose child this was, she believed one thing Fourth Master Xiao said — this child will grow up without the role of a biological mother... She sighed, handing the child over, "There’s no need to visit, just ask Fourth Master to treat him well."
Fourth Master Xiao took the child into his arms, his long phoenix eyes appearing even brighter, and said, "You... really like him?" Xiqiu shook her head, then nodded, "No matter what her origins, a child is always innocent!"
Fourth Master Xiao nodded thoughtfully, holding the child as he stood by the window, but suddenly stopped and turned to Xiqiu, "No need to be reluctant, you can always meet again!"
Huh? Xiqiu was filled with confusion and just as she was about to ask what he meant, the window was already empty, with no half-silhouette in sight.
She murmured angrily, shutting the window with a bang, then turned to the door and said, "Come in now, isn’t eavesdropping tiring?" As she said this, the door slowly opened, and Sixing and the others stood awkwardly outside.
"Miss, the voice of that person just now seems very familiar to me." Siliu blinked playfully at Xiqiu and said, "Could that person have something with Miss...?" Sixing frowned at her words, and Xiqiu also patted Siliu, "Don’t think recklessly, go rest early!"
Siliu pursed her lips, tugging Chunyan out the door, while Sixing stayed in the room, looking at Xiqiu with a contemplative expression.
The next day, the people sent by the Third Prince didn’t find the body of the Second Prince at the cliff outside the city but found blood-stained, tattered clothes, and the Jade Pendant he often wore. The Third Prince handed the Jade Pendant to the Emperor, who silently watched it for half a day, and the entire court fell into a dead silence.
The Third Prince’s faction secretly rejoiced, while the Second Prince’s advisors were like startled birds, miserable and self-preserving, causing the atmosphere in the Capital to be even more oppressive than that night! During this time of turmoil, the usually rakish and amorous Fourth Master Xiao of the Xuanning Marquis Mansion inexplicably gained a son, which only caused a small stir before settling down.
It was rumored the child was born to an actor. Fourth Master Xiao once listened to a play and accidentally met the actor. After a one-night stand, he bought her a house in the North Suburb. Later, the actor became pregnant, but as the novelty wore off, Fourth Master Xiao never sought her out again. The actor, unwilling to be lonely, secretly moved on with her senior while the child was born, leaving without seeing the child and eloped with her lover!
Fourth Master Xiao brought back the child, but couldn’t swallow this humiliation, and the next day set off alone, riding swiftly out of the city to find the adulterous couple!
This version of the story came from Tong Xiyan who discreetly told it to Xiqiu in Lady’s room. He said Fourth Master Xiao disappeared for three days, and even the Marquis Mansion Dowager couldn’t find him. The Grand Dowager had no choice but to name the child Min and raise him with Xing under her care!
"What a wastrel and rogue!" Lady’s eyes showed contempt, her face full of anger as she said, "It’s wronged my Xing to have to spend every day with such a low-born child."
Xiqiu lowered her eyes, not saying a word, her mind conjuring up the image of the child’s pout...
When the turmoil subsided, Xiqiu recalled the five-day appointment with Xu Tianqing that had already passed a day. She looked at the gifts neatly packed in a box sent by Xu Tianqing and hesitated again. The concubine had been coming and going in the Tong Mansion these past two days. If she returned this box, it was bound to be conspicuous. She quietly called Chunyan over and said, "Lock this box up and store it carefully. Send it back when there’s a chance in the future." As she spoke, she sat down by the table and said to Chunyan, "Prepare ink for me, I’ll write a letter to Cousin for you to take."
Chunyan nodded and stood by Xiqiu, grinding ink for her while saying, "Miss, actually, I think what Sixing said wasn’t wrong. Cousin treats you well, if you both strive for it together, perhaps the concubine will agree to your marriage. If that’s the case, with Cousin’s protection in the future, Miss’s life would be much better."
Better? Xiqiu thought of the concubine’s demeanor, and shook her head, "You think too simply. If it were Fourth Sister, the concubine wouldn’t oppose, but as a concubine’s daughter and with my mother out of favor in the mansion, why would the concubine let Cousin marry a legitimate wife who offers no benefit to his career? Marrying as a concubine is enough!"
Chunyan murmured speechlessly while Xiqiu had already finished writing the letter. She folded it into an envelope and was about to hand it to Chunyan when out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sixing’s garment flutter by outside the room, prompting a frown, and she hesitated to send the letter!
Chunyan asked puzzled, "What’s wrong, Miss? Didn’t you want to send a letter?"
"Let’s wait a bit longer!" Xiqiu collected the letter and then whispered to Chunyan, "Go see where Sixing went. Don’t alert her, come back and tell me in detail." Chunyan looked surprised, and Xiqiu gently patted her hand and said, "Go! I just worry she might do something foolish."