Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Life and Death (5)
Chunyan finished applying the ointment to Xiqiu’s leg and was about to leave the room with a towel and a tray when the door curtain was suddenly lifted. Xi’er rushed in hurriedly and said, "Sixth Miss, something bad has happened."
Xiqiu was embroidering a flower and suddenly pricked her finger. She quickly put her finger in her mouth and sucked on it, then asked, "What happened?" Xi’er replied, "Fourth Miss has hanged herself."
Xiqiu froze, looking at Xi’er in disbelief and asked, "Are you telling the truth?" These past few days, she had instructed Xi’er to stay and help in the main courtyard whenever she was free, even sending over Nanny Song. Because of this, Lady had praised her a few times.
Xi’er nodded affirmatively and said, "The eldest young master and the cousin young master have both gone over, even Second Master and Second Lady are there. Lady is crying, and the courtyard is in chaos!" She paused and then added, "However, it seems Fourth Miss might not be dead yet. I saw Second Master send his servant to the palace to summon the Imperial Physician."
Xiqiu breathed a sigh of relief, as long as she was still alive!
"Go and have another look, and come back to tell me if anything happens." There was nothing she could do with so many people there, so she could only wait at home for news.
Xi’er nodded and lifted the curtain to leave.
Chunyan sat down heavily on the ground. She had gone to see Xinzhu the day before, and Xinzhu had asked her to bring a message to Sixth Miss, saying she held no resentment or hatred, and wanted Sixth Miss to live well and not do anything foolish. Knowing Miss was doing well made her happier than anything else.
At the time, she felt a sour and painful pang in her heart and couldn’t respond. She hadn’t even had a chance to deliver the message when Fourth Miss did such a thing!
Such an event couldn’t be hidden. That day, Tong Xihua, accompanied by Xiao Yanyi, was brought back, and the concubine also hurried over. The whole family stayed until midnight. Fortunately, after the Imperial Physician used acupuncture on Tong Xiyan and administered medicine, she finally regained consciousness. Lady was filled with regret and hugged Tong Xiyan, weeping.
Tong Xihua didn’t know what had happened but seeing her once lively sister, now half-dead and lying on the bed, how could she not be heartbroken? She couldn’t ask what had happened in front of the concubine and Second Lady and Second Master, but once Nanny Fang had sent them away, and had Tong Shenzhi and Xu Tianqing accompany Xiao Yanyi to the outer courtyard, she urgently asked Nanny Fang, "What on earth happened?"
Nanny Fang explained the whole situation, leaving Tong Xihua utterly shocked, "It was that Third-Ranked Scholar Jiang?"
Nanny Fang nodded and said, "Isn’t it just him? I thought that although he was full of literary talent and lauded by students, making him an unrivaled scholarly hero, and serving as a leader for guests, seemingly of the highest integrity. Yet, who would have thought he would do such a thing?"
Tong Xihua frowned deeply and said, "Those are just empty reputations. He offended the Third Prince, and if not for the Second Prince’s protection, one doesn’t know how many times he’d have died. Such a person has no future, and if Fourth Sister were to truly marry him, besides enduring hardship with him, what else could she gain?"
"Exactly right! Lady also believed this, which is why she lied to Fourth Miss, saying Jiang was dead. But who would have thought, Fourth Miss..." At that time, the Jiang Mansion indeed announced mourning, but it wasn’t because of Jiang Shilin. It was because Mr. Jiang, deeply shocked by Jiang Shilin’s severe injury and unable to recover, passed away a few days after Jiang Shilin returned unconscious, unable to hold on.
It was just a misunderstanding!
Tong Xihua sighed and, supported by Nanny Lin and Qiuluo, went into the room. When Lady saw her enter, she wiped her tears and said, "Why did you come back? It’s inconvenient for you to move with a pregnancy. What would happen if something went wrong?"
After becoming pregnant, Tong Xihua’s health had been poor. Not only were her legs swollen, but her face was slightly puffy as well. She had no appetite, and while the first few months were manageable, in the later months, she was mostly bedridden due to weakness, nourished daily with bird’s nest and ginseng.
"Fourth Sister is like this, and if I didn’t know, that’d be one thing. But now that I do, how can I be at ease?" She held Lady’s hand to comfort her, "Mother, don’t worry too much. Fourth Sister is young, and after some time, she’ll figure it out." As she spoke, she glanced at Tong Xiyan on the bed, who appeared to be asleep with tightly closed eyes, and continued, "If it really doesn’t work, Mother should just tell Fourth Sister the truth, stabilize her first, then secretly arrange the marriage. Once she’s married and living day in and day out with her husband, forming an emotional bond, leading a normal life, Jiang Shilin wouldn’t dare brazenly come knocking. To Fourth Sister, these matters are mere youthful indiscretions."
As her words fell, Tong Xiyan’s eyelids on the bed fluttered a few times, and her hand, resting on the quilt, clenched into a fist excitedly.
Lady sighed deeply, "It might be our only option. I’m just worried that the Zhou Family might back out when they hear about this." She was genuinely satisfied with Young Master Zhou, who was not only handsome but also learned and courteous.
Tong Xihua showed disdain and said, "Even if Marquis Jinxiang is no longer favored, what of it if he’s influential in the court? He’s just a collateral branch after all. For now, being merely a scholar, we don’t even know if he’ll pass the spring exam next year. How dare he be picky about Fourth Sister? Even if the Zhou Family has other thoughts..." She held Lady’s hand and smiled, "Don’t we still have Madam Qian as a connection?"
Lady also smiled slightly. After several encounters, she knew Madam Qian was a wise woman. Her choice of Tong Xiyan was precisely because of the seemingly simple but intricately connected marriages of the Tong Family. Now that Second Master had joined the cabinet, and with Tong Shenzhi’s future promising and open, the Tong Family’s influence would undoubtedly be unstoppable.
Giving up a good in-law like the Tong Family and finding a match for the Zhou Family would be impossible!
However, turning her thoughts to Tong Xiyan, she was filled with worry, "But, your Fourth Sister..." She never expected Fourth Miss to have such a stubborn nature, getting lost in her thoughts.
Tong Xihua’s eyes sparkled, "I think it best to let her stay with me at the Marquis Mansion for some time. Firstly, as a guest in the Marquis Mansion, she would have to suppress her nature, and even if something does happen, she wouldn’t act recklessly. Secondly, I’m quite bored myself, and she can keep me company and give me someone to talk to."
This was a good idea, but Lady still frowned, "Does your mother-in-law know about Fourth Miss’s situation?"
Tong Xihua nonchalantly replied, "My mother-in-law treats my pregnancy like a treasure, how could she have any qualms about it? Besides, she has always liked Fourth Sister, she’d only be happy if we went."
Lady didn’t say anything but gestured toward the bed, saying, "We should still ask her opinion." Tong Xihua smiled and stood up, winking at Lady, "I’ll go talk to Fourth Sister."
She sat by the bed, took Tong Xiyan’s hand, and smiled, "Fourth Sister, would you like to go live at the Marquis Mansion with me for a bit?" She saw Tong Xiyan’s eyes move slightly and continued, "You can keep me company and chat with me. I spend all day cooped up in my room, and your brother-in-law is very busy. With you there, it would be more lively."
Tong Xiyan suddenly opened her eyes, glanced at Tong Xihua, then looked at Lady and said, "I can go to the Marquis Mansion, but let Sixth Sister accompany me." Although the Marquis Mansion wasn’t like home, it had a more complex flow of people, which made it easier for her to inquire about Jiang Shilin’s affairs.