Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Grave Mistake (5)
"With you here, how can I be at ease?" Madam Xia shook her head, desperately holding onto Xiqiu, "You wait, I’ll go beg Lady... beg Lady." After saying this, she released Xiqiu and crawled into the main room.
"Madam!" Xiqiu shouted loudly to Madam Xia, "It was my mistake, the punishment is justified, please don’t go!" The Lady is in a rage right now. If Madam Xia goes to plead, it might backfire and she could end up punished as well.
Madam Xia crawled all the way into the main room, seeing the Lady sitting with a darkened expression on the main seat. Madam Xia knelt at the Lady’s feet, crying, "Lady, Sixth Miss has always been frail, please spare her! I am willing to take the punishment for her..."
The Lady squinted at Madam Xia, sneering, "Can’t handle it now? When she was deceiving me, she should have thought of today. As long as Fourth Miss is unharmed, but if she even has a scratch, none of you can escape responsibility!"
Fourth Miss has not yet returned, the matter is still unclear. She has always been obedient and proper, how could she suddenly do something like this? Someone must have instigated her from behind.
Thinking of this, her gaze at Madam Xia grew colder and more severe.
"It’s all my fault, all my fault!" Madam Xia looked at the Lady and said, "Lady, I know you are concerned about Fourth Miss, but Sixth Miss is so young, she understands nothing, how could she dare to deceive you..." She tugged the Lady’s skirt, "If not, punish me, I am willing to take the punishment for Sixth Miss!"
The Lady’s eyes reddened, shouting, "Drag her out for me!" She stood up, pointing at Madam Xia, "Since you want to be punished, then kneel with me in the courtyard!" Nanny Fang frowned, pulling Madam Xia with disgust, "Madam, stop being unreasonable, just go back!"
Madam Xia brushed off Nanny Fang’s hand, kneeling again, "Lady, it’s all my fault, punish me however you wish. I have no complaints, just spare Sixth Miss."
The Lady was full of impatience, and Xiqiu, kneeling outside, swiftly entered the room, supporting Madam Xia as she knelt at the Lady’s feet, "Mother, please calm down. Madam is just worried about me, she spoke nonsense for a moment. I’ll have someone escort her back now." Holding back from angering her again, she quickly pulled Madame Xia up, "Madam, please go back and rest. Mother is furious, don’t add to her troubles." Despite her tears flowing down her cheeks unconsciously as she spoke.
"Sixth Miss... the snow is so cold, how can you endure it at your young age..." Xiqiu held her hand, stopping her from speaking further, pulling Madam Xia out as she walked, lowering her voice to reassure, "Manager Lai has already gone to look for Fourth Sister. Eldest Brother will be back soon. If I’m here kneeling, others can plead for me. Who will help you if you stay?" She feared Madam Xia wouldn’t listen, clinging tightly to her hand, "It’s just a moment; I can endure it."
Madam Xia cried, gasping for air, and Xiqiu signaled to Xiuzhi and Dongqing at the door. Understanding, they promptly came over, supporting one side each of Madam Xia.
Madam Xia stopped struggling, knowing Xiqiu’s words were sensible. She choked, calling softly, "Sixth Miss..." Watching Xiqiu’s soaked jiaao, her little face already purplish from the cold, yet still smiling brightly at her, she felt an overwhelming heartbreak, biting her lip as bright red blood trickled from the corner of her mouth...
Xiqiu, unable to bear seeing her like this, turned around and knelt down again!
The Lady, watching the backs of the mother and daughter, her smile grew more sinister!
Nanny Fang approached to comfort her, "Lady, please calm down, Fourth Miss has good fortune and will surely return safely." The Lady, restless, paced around the room, seemingly oblivious to Nanny Fang’s words, now and then stopping to point at a little maid, "Go check if Manager Lai has returned."
The sky gradually darkened, and Tong Shen Zhi entered the courtyard through the snow. Seeing Xiqiu kneeling in the courtyard, his expression immediately turned grim, pausing his steps briefly before her. Xiqiu weakly called, "Eldest Brother." Tong Shen Zhi’s gaze swept over her purple-tinged face, then he turned and entered the main room without looking back.
"You’re finally back." The Lady clutched Tong Shen Zhi’s hand, weeping softly. Tong Shen Zhi narrowed his eyebrows, asking, "What exactly happened?"
The Lady held Tong Shen Zhi, crying. Seeing the Lady in a panic, Nanny Fang quietly explained the situation. Tong Shen Zhi’s face turned extremely dark; he released the Lady and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll go to the Five Cities Military Department to find someone and have them send people to search."
The crying paused, and the Lady immediately stopped him, "How can that be, if word gets out, how can your sister face the world later! We must search in secret." If the Zhou Family hears of this, finding a marriage match for her later would be even more difficult.
Tong Shen Zhi frowned, "Matters have priorities. With night falling and the cold freezing weather, the urgent task is finding her first. Don’t think about anything else for now!" He paused before continuing, "No need to worry; she can’t leave the city without identification papers. Since she’s still in the city, we will find her!"
The Lady felt Tong Shen Zhi spoke with reason. Holding him, she added, "In that case, find your brother-in-law as well. He has good connections in the government office. If the Five Cities Military Department isn’t enough, draw some people from the Capital City Government."
Tong Shen Zhi considered briefly and nodded, "Good! Then I’ll go." The Lady waved her hand, "Go quickly!" Tong Shen Zhi turned to leave but suddenly stopped, telling the Lady, "Have Sixth Sister go back. She has always been weak, we can’t have trouble befalling her when Fourth Sister returns safely. The court isn’t peaceful lately, any small incident from any family could be magnified by the Imperial Censor. With Tong Mansion already in the spotlight, we must act cautiously."
The Lady impatiently instructed Nanny Fang, "Send them all away! Lock up those servant girls in a room. No matter what happens with Fourth Miss, these girls can’t stay." Tong Shen Zhi didn’t object, and Nanny Fang stood by the door, instructing a womanservant to lock Xinzhu and the others in the side room. She also had Nanny Duan follow inside, finally telling Xiqiu, "Sixth Miss, go back."
Supported by Sixing and Chunyan, Xiqiu curtsied outside the door to the Lady, then to Tong Shen Zhi, but did not leave immediately. Instead, she frowned, enduring the sharp pain in her knees as she entered the main room step by step.
Tong Shen Zhi looked at her pale face, frowning harshly. The Lady, however, raised an eyebrow watching her.
Entering, Xiqiu stood silently at the side, her jiaao dripping from melting ice, in the warmed room. Maintaining a calm expression, she faced the Lady, "Mother, I’m worried about Fourth Sister and wish to stay here and wait with you for her return. Please, allow me."