Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Bad News (2)
"Oh?" Tong Xihua’s face was full of smiles, "You even ran into Second Young Master? What did you talk about?"
Xiqiu replied, "Brother-in-law exchanged a few words with Second Miss. I didn’t interrupt. Second Miss asked if Brother-in-law returned early this morning, to which he affirmed. He was just going to Lingbo Hall to fetch some things, and then he let us come back first." Tong Xihua lowered her head to sip tea, her eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile with deep meaning appeared at the corners of her mouth.
Xiqiu seemed completely oblivious, continuing to speak slowly, "He then went to sit in Second Miss’s room for a while. Grand Dowager sent someone to invite Second Miss away, so I came back!"
Tong Xihua did not speak immediately. She looked at Xiqiu, mocking internally. Being born of the concubine does make a difference; Xiyan was stopped by Teng Qiuniang in front of the birch forest, yet such a big deal she deliberately avoided talking about, showing she hasn’t considered her sister’s concerns at all. If it were Tong Xiyan today, not only would she not hide it from her but could possibly scold Teng Qiuniang on the spot!
"You must be tired too, go on and rest!" Tong Xihua said faintly, her half-lowered eyes filled with detachment and coldness.
Xiqiu knelt to salute, "Yes!" She turned and left. She noticed Tong Xihua’s impatience and coldness but refrained from mentioning Teng Qiuniang’s matter. The Marquis Mansion, while grand, also revolves in a tight-knit network of servants. Some matters, once they occur, can be heard by all the masters in less than a quarter of an hour. Why bother to bring it up? Besides, if it concerns Brother-in-law, she wouldn’t speak of it anyway.
Xiqiu chuckled helplessly and returned to her room. As soon as she reached the courtyard, there was a burst of lively laughter, emanating from Tong Xiyan’s room. Following that, some unfamiliar nannies and wives emerged from the room. When they saw Xiqiu, they curtseyed and hastily left the courtyard.
Xiqiu was very surprised. Tong Xiyan had just arrived at the Marquis Mansion, how could she be associating with these people? She stood at the courtyard gate, and a moment later, Nanny Qian, her face stiff with a smile, escorted seven or eight mothers-in-law to the door. Seeing Xiqiu, Nanny Qian smiled wryly, curtsied, "Sixth Miss!"
Xiqiu asked, "Who are these people?" Nanny Qian lowered her head and replied, "Fourth Miss was strolling in the courtyard and got acquainted with a nanny whose family is from Baoding. Fourth Miss mentioned that the Tong Family’s hometown is Baoding, said despite that, she has never been to Baoding herself, and asked the nanny to talk about Baoding’s culture and interesting stories. That nanny shared many tales, and Fourth Miss, delighted by the stories, invited her into the room. Having been bought into the mansion since childhood, she knows many people in the mansion. Over time..." She gestured to the disappearing figures of the mothers-in-law and wives, "It developed into this situation!"
Xiqiu was surprised, reflecting that Tong Xiyan grew up under Lady’s tutelage and was always distant with servants, even with Nanny Duan. When did she become so warm to a "fellow countryman" she just met? It seemed odd to her, intuitively feeling that Tong Xiyan was up to something!
Turning her thoughts over, she smiled at Nanny Qian, "Take some rest, Nanny!" Nanny Qian acknowledged with a curtsey and turned into the annex.
Xiqiu entered the main room. Tong Xiyan’s door was closed, Daijuan standing guard outside. Inside, it was quiet as could be. Upon seeing Xiqiu, Daijuan curtseyed slightly. Xiqiu indicated the door with a gesture, and Daijuan lowered her voice, "Said she wants to rest a bit and wake her up in the afternoon!"
Xiqiu nodded without a word, turned back to her room, took off her shoes, and lay in bed. Chunyan came with a hot towel to cover her legs, applied some ointment, alleviating much of the pain in her knees. She thought about those self-heating knee guards from her previous life, pondering if her knees would feel better with them constantly warming them!
While she was musing, Tong Xiyan lifted the curtain and walked in. Seeing Xiqiu leaning on the bed and Chunyan tending to her knees, her face darkened. Seeing her enter, Xiqiu asked Chunyan to stop, "Go brew some tea for Fourth Sister!" and turned to Tong Xiyan, "I heard you were sleeping, so I came back first. Are you alright?!"
"What’s there to be alright or not alright about? I heard you went to Plum Garden with Second Miss today, how’s the view there?" Tong Xiyan sat down on the stool by Xiqiu’s bed, took the tea Chunyan brought, and held it in her hands. Her long lashes cast shadows on her face; her mood seemingly low.
Xiqiu nodded, "Not bad, but the wind was strong in the forest; we didn’t stay long before heading back." She asked Tong Xiyan, "What’s up with you?"
Tong Xiyan pondered for a moment, shook her head, and smiled, "I’m fine." Her gaze then fell on Xiqiu’s knee, "It’s best for you to stay in, everyone knows about your leg injury, so even not socializing won’t be blamed on you."
Xiqiu smiled without speaking, and Tong Xiyan sighed, "I don’t know why Big Sister got mad at me all of a sudden!"
Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, "Mad? Why?" Tong Xiyan dropped her head and said, "She accused me of bringing strange mothers-in-law into the room, saying if something got lost, how would I know who to blame?"
This puzzled Xiqiu too, and she said, "Big Sister always cares about you. She must mean well. Just follow her instructions, won’t it be okay?"
At the mention of this, Tong Xiyan’s demeanor changed. Her eyes brightened as she slid from the stool to Xiqiu’s side, speaking in a hushed, conspiratorial tone, "I didn’t talk to them on purpose, do you know why?" She said mysteriously, "I had them send a letter out for me!"
"Ah?" Xiqiu stared at her in shock, amazed by her wits, "How could you send a letter out with the mothers-in-law from the Marquis Mansion, sending it to Jiang Mansion no less. What if word gets out?"
Tong Xiyan was unconcerned, confidently replying, "It won’t! I am sure of it, don’t worry!"
With her saying this, Xiqiu could only sigh, making a move to get off the bed, but Tong Xiyan held her down, "Stay under the covers, what are you getting up for?" Xiqiu answered, "Didn’t you say Big Sister was angry? I’ll accompany you to see her!"
"No need." Tong Xiyan pressed Xiqiu back onto the bed, "Big Sister has gone out!"
Xiqiu was stunned. Tong Xihua rarely went out. Could she have gone to Fifth Madam’s place?
Xiqiu guessed correctly. Tong Xihua indeed went to Fifth Madam’s place and made a scene, saying many harsh words. Teng Qiuniang cried bitterly beside her. Fifth Madam, though justifiably at fault, didn’t yield, and the two completely tore faces. Marchioness Xuanning rushed over, even Grand Dowager was disturbed, and only then did the incident die down. The Grand Dowager decreed that Fifth Madam should send Teng Qiuniang back.
After all, Teng Qiuniang is an unmarried young woman, if something happened in the Marquis Mansion, those aware might say Teng Qiuniang herself was indiscreet, but those unaware might suspect it’s not just a one-sided issue. If Xiao Yanyi weren’t indulging or licentious, how would any woman have laid eyes on him?