Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Son (3)
Xiqiu turned around and went back to the room, quickly turned back to close the door, walked to the bedside, and immediately picked up the baby. The baby had fallen asleep again, with tiny hands raised above his head, skin wrinkled and pink, long eyelashes fluttering, with strands of blood in his hair, and breathing lightly; it was clearly a newborn child!
Even though she hadn’t taken care of a child before, her heart softened at this moment. This little one had just been born and was already on the run, perhaps having never even seen his mother before being thrown into a strange environment. Though she was angry at Fourth Master Xiao, the child was left behind and couldn’t be thrown away. She held the baby, pacing back and forth in the room, fearing he would start crying loudly and attract the attention of the woman at the door!
It seems if we want to be safe, those women outside must be sent away. Only when they’re gone can we truly be safe here. She suddenly thought, perhaps Fourth Master Xiao trusted her with the baby, knowing that her place in the Tong Mansion is in the farthest corner, with a rear garden and a bamboo forest in between. Even if the baby cries, it won’t reach the main courtyard?!
What clever calculations!
She walked to the door with the baby, calling Siliu and the others inside. Siliu stared at the baby in Xiqiu’s arms, eyes wide, and said, "Miss... how did a baby get here?" Chunyan was also surprised: "Could it be... was it true that I heard talking from the room? Who brought this child?"
Xiqiu showed a worried look: "Don’t say so much now, perhaps he’s hungry, quickly think of a way to make some rice soup for him." Xi’er happily ran over, tiptoeing to see the baby and laughingly said: "Miss, he’s too small to drink rice soup. How about giving him some water instead?" Saying this, she naively reached out to poke his face, and the baby tilted his mouth, trying to suck on Xi’er’s finger.
Seeing such a cute sight, Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh too.
"She might be hungry." Xiqiu sat on a chair holding the baby: "If rice soup is not possible, then get him some water to drink; he must not starve." Siliu went to get a cup of warm water and fetched a small spoon to carefully feed the baby... Xiqiu watched as the baby drank the water with small pauses, feeling relieved. She looked up at Siliu: "Go and take some silver to those women, telling them there’s nothing outside, so they can find a place to drink and rest." Siliu looked hesitant: "Miss, what if..." Xiqiu waved her hand: "It’s fine. It seems it’s almost dawn, maybe everything is already settled."
Siliu took the pocket and went out, while Xiqiu looked at Chunyan: "At dawn, go to Laiwang’s wife and have her bring Siliu over, saying I want to see Siliu and to bring two children too." Chunyan thought it made sense if Siliu brought her children, then even if a child’s crying was heard from the courtyard, no one would think much of it or know there was an extra child!
Chunyan nodded with a smile: "Alright! I’ll go shortly." She said, showing a hesitant look: "What if Lady asks about it?" Xiqiu waved her hand: "No worries, let Siliu come in directly. Even if Lady is displeased, she wouldn’t turn them away. She may not care about my reputation but will consider Manager Lai’s."
Before long, Siliu returned, and the women outside had dispersed. The sky was gradually brightening, Xiqiu handed the baby to Chunliu, then changed her clothes: "I’ll go to the main house to pay respects. You stay here, and if anyone comes, take the baby to the bamboo grove... it’s secluded and close to the street outside; even if the baby cries, it won’t draw much attention." After saying this, she added: "When Siliu arrives, settle her in the Warm Pavilion. She will likely need many things with two children, so Xi’er, tidy up the Warm Pavilion later!"
The maids each nodded. Xiqiu changed clothes and went to the First Lady’s room, only to find Second Master, Second Lady, and Tong Shen Zhi there, creating a somewhat strange atmosphere. She went in and saluted First Lady, Second Lady, and Tong Shen Zhi, then greeted Tong Xiyan and went to stand beside the First Lady’s bed.
"The Third Prince has already sent people to search, but with such a high cliff, he probably won’t survive!" Second Master said, and Xiqiu noticed a hint of joy in his and Second Lady’s brows. She then looked at Tong Shen Zhi, whose expression was stiff and seemed unhappy, making her secretly wonder what happened last night and what Second Master meant. Just then, First Lady sighed: "The Second Prince and his wife are really unfortunate. Even if the Emperor punished them, there was no need for such extreme actions, leading to the destruction of the family!"
Could it be that the cliff jumping Second Master just mentioned was the Second Prince? Then why did the Second Prince Consort die?
"Right, although the Emperor assigned a distant domain, after a few years, he might forgive. After all, as the saying goes, ’even a father and son, when bones break, are still connected by tendons.’ But who would have thought the Second Prince would gather troops... and kill so many Yulin Guards, really..." Second Lady shook her head in lamentation: "First Lady, you should have seen it, I heard that the blood on Long Street flowed to the city gates, and bones were piled into a mountain; just thinking about it is terrifying."
Tong Xiyan listened, frightened, clutching Xiqiu’s hand tightly, face pale. Xiqiu furrowed her brows deeply. First Lady nodded: "Now at least things are settled, and we should be peaceful henceforth!"
Yes, if the Second Prince was dead, then there’s no one but the Third Prince for the crown prince position. Peace should be ensured, but Xiqiu didn’t think so; court politics would likely be tumultuous soon. The power left by the Second Prince, the Third Prince must take significant actions to eliminate it completely!
"Since there’s nothing here at First Lady’s, I can relax!" Second Young Master said, standing up, and said to Second Lady: "I’m off to the government office, much needs addressing in the aftermath." Second Lady nodded, and Second Master turned to Tong Shen Zhi: "Shenzhi, are you coming with me?" Tong Shen Zhi placed the tea in his hand on the table, stood up too: "I’m on leave today, not going to the office." He then gestured invitingly: "I’ll see you out, Second Uncle!" Second Master nodded, both paying respect to First Lady, and Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan slightly bowed. Second Master and Tong Shen Zhi left one after the other.
With the men gone, Second Lady, who couldn’t speak openly before, showed a terrified expression: "I heard that when the Second Prince Consort died, the child wasn’t even born yet, trapped in the womb for too long, suffocating to death."
Xiqiu was stunned hearing this, her eyebrow barely furrowing.
First Lady displayed sorrow: "Remember a few years ago, at the Second Prince’s grand wedding, the scene of Ten Miles of Red Makeup marrying a Shen family daughter; now the entire Shen Family is in prison, and both the Second Prince and Princess Consort are gone... It was thought that as the elder, the Second Prince would be made crown prince by the Emperor, but in the end, it was the Third Prince. What a fickle world." First Lady spoke ruefully, and just as Xiqiu was wondering, she shifted her tone towards Second Lady: "Still, Second Master was prescient... Congratulations to you, Second Sister-in-law!"