Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Framed (Part 3)
Xiqiu’s face darkened, pulling Chunyan by the shoulder and said coldly, "Things haven’t reached the worst point. Even if the concubine wants me to be my cousin’s concubine, she has to see if she has that ability." Even if Lady hates her, she won’t easily marry the family’s daughter to the Xu Family as a concubine. Even if she’s forced to agree, she won’t let the concubine control her fate.
Thinking that holding a feather can be an arrow of command?! Xiqiu coldly laughed!
"Sixing might suffer a bit tonight, but the concubine won’t do anything severe to her. Lady must also know about this... She’s not summoning me, so we’ll just wait in the room!" She said, pulling up Chunyan, "If Lady doesn’t call for me tonight, no doubt someone will be sent for me tomorrow. Regardless of what happens, tomorrow morning, wait at the second gate for Master Puning. When she arrives, invite her to Lady’s room, and say I have something to ask of her."
Chunyan was taken aback, even forgetting to cry, "Miss... what are you planning to do?"
Xiqiu no longer looked at her. Sometimes what is bad in others’ eyes might be a good thing for her...
There are no secrets in the inner residence. That night, instead of waiting for Lady, Tong Xiyan came. Just after seeing off Tong Xiyan, Xiuzhi from Madam Xia’s side arrived: "Sixth Miss, the concubine sent me to ask what exactly happened with Sixing, how she ended up in the young master’s courtyard and was caught on the spot by the concubine?"
"Go back and tell the concubine, it’s fine... After I go to Lady’s room tomorrow morning and clarify things with the concubine, it’ll be resolved." After speaking, she pulled Xiuzhi aside, lowering her voice: "You’ve stayed by the concubine’s side longer than I have. No matter what happens tomorrow, you must persuade the concubine not to worry, I know what I’m doing!" Originally expecting Xiuzhi to show a surprised expression, she unexpectedly displayed a solemn look and seriously replied: "The concubine also told me to tell you, do what you need to do and don’t worry about her and the Seventh Young Master!"
At that time, Xiqiu didn’t think much of this remark, assuming Madam Xia was just comforting her. Had she known what Madam Xia would do later, she wouldn’t have chosen this method to handle the current turmoil!
After sending Xiuzhi away, Xiqiu lay down on the bed without taking off her clothes. Over on the concubine’s side, it was unrest all night.
Xu Tianqing knelt on the ground, and the concubine was so furious that she was flushed with anger, holding two Black Wood Tokens of status, glaring at Xu Tianqing, "Is this how you repay my kindness for raising you? Eloping? How dare you..." She threw the Black Wood Tokens on the ground and pointed at Xu Tianqing, scolding, "Even if you’re shameless, think of your father’s face, think of mine. Where would you place the parents who gave birth to you and raised you?"
Xu Tianqing was filled with guilt, yet his eyes showed no sign of retreat, he raised his head to look at the concubine and said, "I know I’m unfilial, but it’s because mother forced me. I wish to marry Sixth Sister, if mother doesn’t agree, even if I can’t take her away, I resolve never to marry in this lifetime!"
The concubine stared at the son she personally raised, shocked to the point of almost swooning, she furrowed her brows, retrieving the feather duster placed in the corner, and started striking Xu Tianqing’s back with fury. Moju, kneeling nearby, rushed over to embrace Xu Tianqing, only to be pushed aside by Xu Tianqing. He stubbornly raised his head to the concubine and said, "Mother, you might as well beat me to death, then I’d be free from this torment!" He remained motionless, allowing the concubine to beat him.
The concubine, driven mad, gritted her teeth and struck a dozen more times, eventually throwing the feather duster aside and bursting into tears. She hugged Xu Tianqing, sobbing, "My son, she’s just a small, talentless common girl, mother can find you countless good-looking women. Why are you so fixated on her!"
Xu Tianqing let the concubine hold him, his eyes turning red as he said, "Mother doesn’t understand Sixth Sister, if you knew her, you would understand why I must do this!" The concubine snorted with disdain, "Just some vixen’s tactics, born from a concubine, her only skill being seducing men."
Xu Tianqing pushed the concubine aside with a frown and said, "Mother, how can you speak of Sixth Sister like this? She’s not that kind of person!" The concubine was stunned by his push, her anger ignited once more, Moju, still kneeling nearby, rushed over, hugging the concubine’s ear, persuading, "Mistress, the young master’s character is unyielding, this approach will not be effective and might drive him to foolish actions..." She paused, seeing the concubine’s face slightly soften, she continued, "Though the Tong Mansion has rules, no daughter is sent to be a concubine, but with Sixth Miss’s current circumstances, an arranged betrothal and being from a secondary wife, bringing her in isn’t entirely impossible..."
The concubine was taken aback, how could she forget this matter, utterly blinded by anger. Initially, she intended to wait a couple of years for the Sixth Girl to become unmarriageable, then have her sister give her to Tianqing as a concubine. Now, with Sixing in hand, isn’t this the perfect opportunity, why didn’t this occur to her, instead disputing with Tianqing!
But as the thought crossed her mind, she glanced momentarily at Moju, then squinted her eyes at Xu Tianqing and said, "If mother agrees to your wish to marry Xiqiu, will you then focus on studying and achieving success?" Xu Tianqing’s eyes lit up, nodding earnestly, "Mother truly agrees for me to marry Sixth Sister home?" The concubine nodded slightly, Xu Tianqing furrowed his brows and earnestly said, "If this is true, I will resolutely study hard and never disappoint mother!"
Merely a concubine taken in for some years, once Tianqing’s novelty fades, she can be handled with a pretext! Besides, a legitimate wife will enter in the future, then such affairs won’t be her concern either, the concubine looked lovingly at Xu Tianqing and said, "Alright, promise mother you won’t act foolishly again, and she’ll help you marry the Sixth Girl."
Xu Tianqing knelt on the ground, kowtowing to the concubine three times, "Mother’s great benevolence and virtue, I will never forget!" The concubine began to smile again and looked heartachingly at Xu Tianqing’s back, her eyes turning red, "Mother was confused from anger earlier, does it hurt?"
Xu Tianqing stood up, shaking his head, "It doesn’t hurt!" After speaking, he hesitated slightly, "Mother, Sixing is innocent, please allow her to return, lest Sixth Sister be worried!"
The concubine smiled, nodding, "Don’t worry, now it’s too late, I’ll let her return first thing in the morning!" Xu Tianqing breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze falling on the two Black Wood Tokens thrown on the ground, full of hope!
"Rest early." The concubine instructed Moju to tidy the room, "I’ll go have a word with your aunt." Xu Tianqing assumed she was going to discuss their marriage with Lady, so with a smile said, "It’s dark, mother be careful on the road."
The concubine nodded and led Moju out, but instead of heading directly to Lady’s room, she turned and went to the room where Sixing was held. With Moju guarding the door, the concubine spent quite some time talking with Sixing before going to Lady’s room.