Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Temporary Residence (Part 2)
The carriage was just like the one the Marquis Mansion had sent last time. Xiqiu leaned on the left side seat, and soon Tong Xiyan was carried over by the old maidservants. She wore a thick jiaao, and although she was dressed appropriately, her complexion was still poor. Upon seeing Xiqiu, tears immediately welled up in Tong Xiyan’s eyes. As soon as the carriage curtain was lowered, she leaned on Xiqiu’s shoulder and began to cry...
"Stop crying!" Xiqiu patted her and said, "You’re weak now, you can’t afford to be upset." There were old maidservants and maids both inside and outside, it’s fine if they know, but if not, who knows what rumors might spread upon hearing this.
Tong Xiyan wiped her tears and reached out to touch Xiqiu’s knee, "I’ve heard everything, it’s all my reckless mistake... Is it very painful?"
Xiqiu smiled slightly, looking at her, "It’s just some minor injuries. You gave me a fright, though, doing such a thing." Her gaze fell on a purple bruise on Tong Xiyan’s neck. Although it had faded somewhat, it was still clearly visible. Tong Xiyan held her hand tightly, speaking urgently, "Sixth Sister, he isn’t dead. I heard it firsthand from Nanny Fang."
Xiqiu was taken aback, "Really?"
Tong Xiyan nodded repeatedly, "Nanny Fang said he isn’t dead. I secretly asked my cousin, too. At first, he was unwilling to tell me, but under my persistent questioning, he eventually said that someone did die in the Jiang Mansion, but it wasn’t Young Master Jiang, it was his father. Young Master Jiang woke up yesterday. He has a knife wound in his abdomen and can’t move yet, but he can already speak." She gripped Xiqiu’s hand tightly. "I must find a way to see him!"
Xiqiu smiled at her without picking up the topic. See him? Easier said than done!
Not to mention that Young Master Jiang is currently injured and can barely move, even if he could come out, how would they find a chance to meet?
Tong Xiyan leaned against the thick cushion, suddenly showing a gloomy expression again. She turned to Xiqiu and sighed, "Xinzhu... Xinmei, and Nanny Duan... they’re all gone, no one can help me anymore..." With that, she started to cry again, "I caused their demise."
She recalled the blindingly white ground in the courtyard that day, stained with glaring red patches. For days, it had seared her heart endlessly, the pain was unbearable. She only desired a love where both hearts resonated, why was it so difficult!
"It’s all in the past." Xiqiu suddenly felt at a loss for words to comfort her, and what she said felt dry. The interior of the carriage fell into a long silence, broken only by Nanny Song’s voice coming through the curtain from outside, "Miss, we’re departing now."
Xiqiu replied softly, "Got it." The carriage began to move with a clatter, the wheels creaking against the ground, easing the deathly silence inside. After a long while, Tong Xiyan spoke, "Sixth Sister, do you also blame me, thinking I shouldn’t have snuck out and done what I did?"
"Ah?" Xiqiu turned to look at her, smiling, "It’s all past now. Even Xinzhu said, as long as you’re well, she doesn’t care about anything else. So, don’t keep it on your mind anymore. As long as you don’t regret it, it’s all worth it."
"I regret it!" Tong Xiyan covered her face and cried, "I regret not arranging things for them properly, I regret not thinking about the consequences, I regret involving all of you because of me... I regret it to death..." She paused and continued, "But back then I didn’t know what to do, my mind and heart were all about him. I just wanted to know how he was, whether his wounds were serious, I couldn’t be at ease without seeing him!"
"Hmm! If that’s the case, stop thinking about it. But as for the matter between you and Young Master Jiang, I hope you think it over carefully. Lady still cares about you, so it’s not impossible to get her approval, just don’t use such extreme methods again."
Tong Xiyan nodded without speaking.
The carriage entered the Marquis Mansion via the road they took last time. At the second gate, they switched to a small oil-cart with green curtains, driving into the garden. After passing through the winding corridors, Xiqiu saw Xiao Yanzheng smilingly waiting on the steps from afar.
"Sixth Sister!" Xiao Yanzheng came over, taking Xiqiu’s hand and smiling at Tong Xiyan, "Fourth Miss." She then turned to chat with Xiqiu, "Haven’t seen you in half a year, you’ve grown a lot taller, almost taller than me."
Xiqiu laughed, "How could I be taller than you?" It was Xiao Yanzheng who, after coming of age, seemed to bloom like a flower, her brows and eyes now carried a charming allure.
Tong Xiyan saluted Xiao Yanzheng, who looked at Tong Xiyan and said, "I heard you were sick, are you feeling better now? Why do you look much thinner than last time?! Did you consult the Imperial Physician, what did they say?"
"Much better." Tong Xiyan replied, "It’s nothing serious, just a need for quiet rest."
Xiao Yanzheng nodded thoughtfully, holding Xiqiu with one hand and said to Tong Xiyan, "Then hurry in and rest for a while, mother and second sister-in-law are waiting inside."
Tong Xiyan nodded, and the three, along with the maids and old maidservants, entered the main courtyard.
This time, they didn’t enter the compartment on the left but followed Xiao Yanzheng into the Warm Pavilion in front of the bedroom on the right. The Grand Dowager was sitting upright on the kang, Tong Xihua sitting on her left, Marchioness Xuanning on the right, and Fifth Madam on the lower chair. Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan entered side by side, greeting the Grand Dowager respectfully, then respectfully greeting Marchioness Xuanning and Tong Xihua, before turning to Fifth Madam and saying, "Fifth Madam!"
Fifth Madam, with a smile in her eyes, took Tong Xiyan’s hand and examined her closely, smiling, "Haven’t seen you for a few months, you two young ladies have grown more and more lovely." After saying this, she turned to the Grand Dowager, "Mother, do look, in comparison with the two young ladies, I am simply worlds apart."
The Grand Dowager smiled at her, "Even if you weren’t pregnant, you wouldn’t be half as good as them." She then turned to look at Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan, "You must be tired from the journey, do sit and talk."
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan smiled as they sat down on the chairs below Fifth Madam, and Tong Xihua laughed, "It’s only a few steps away, how could we be tired? I feel like mother is being a bit partial." Saying this, she linked her arm with the Grand Dowager’s, speaking very affectionately.
Xiqiu secretly raised an eyebrow, it seemed to her that there was some tension between Tong Xihua and Fifth Madam. As the thought passed, sure enough, she saw a mocking look in Fifth Madam’s eyes.
The Grand Dowager appeared oblivious to the undercurrents between them, smiling as she asked Tong Xihua, "Is the place arranged for them ready?"
Tong Xihua replied, "It’s arranged, just behind my courtyard, near my room, very convenient to come and go!" The Grand Dowager nodded as if she understood and suddenly said, "I remember it’s near Li Jing Pavilion? Although no one lives there, it’s still improper. If your place is too cramped, perhaps the young ladies could stay with me. They’re close in age with Yanzheng and would have each other for company!"
Li Jing Pavilion was where the Fourth Master lived until he was eight. All the young masters’ courtyards were not far apart. After they reached adulthood, they each moved to live in the outer courtyard. Later, after the Second Young Master married, he moved to his current courtyard, but the Fourth Master always lived outside, leaving Li Jing Pavilion vacant. Tong Xihua once thought about removing the walls to incorporate it into her own courtyard, but the Grand Dowager tactfully declined.