Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Chance Encounter (5)
Chunyan also went to support Xiqiu: "Sixing is right, it’s better to go over first. Didn’t Second Miss Xiao say to let you wait there, and she’ll come to play chess with you later?"
The main reason Xiqiu was reluctant to walk around the Marquis Mansion alone was because she wasn’t familiar with the place. She thought it would be better to avoid unnecessary trouble. After pondering for a moment, she hesitantly nodded and said, "Then let’s go over." She then turned back to instruct the maids left behind by Xiao Yanzheng: "You won’t be needed here, tidy up and leave." The maids bowed their heads and agreed.
Xiqiu took Sixing, Chunyan, and the two maids out of the Plum Garden, onto the pebbled path, walked to the fork in the road, and took the path leading to Lingbo Palace. They turned a corner, walked a few steps into a cluster of birch trees, and indeed found a pavilion. Standing on the pavilion, one could observe the entire Lingbo Hall below; the lake waters sparkled, quite living up to the name Lingbo Hall.
The pavilion’s surroundings were indeed as Xiao Yanzheng had described, draped with dark green cotton curtains. There was no brazier inside yet, so Sixing turned back to instruct the two maids: "Please, could you bring a brazier?" The two people crouched in acknowledgment and left the pavilion onto the path.
Xiqiu had Sixing and Chunyan sit down as well. It was indeed much more comfortable with the curtains than in the Plum Garden. Chunyan squatted on the ground to massage Xiqiu’s knees, warming her hands and applying them through the fabric. Xiqiu pressed her hand and said, "No need, it doesn’t hurt much. You don’t have to be so tense." Chunyan had been silent a lot since the incident happened. Xiqiu wanted to talk to her, but couldn’t find the opportunity, so she held Chunyan’s hand and asked, "Do you have something on your mind?"
Chunyan firmly shook her head and replied, "I have nothing on my mind." Xiqiu sighed, "You’ve been with me for years. When something is bothering you, you go quiet and often stand there lost in thought. You’ve been like this these past few days."
"Miss..." Chunyan touched Xiqiu’s knee and said with downcast eyes, "I just... just have some grievances, nothing else."
Xiqiu raised her eyebrow and asked, "What’s the grievance?" Chunyan thought of the First Master, thought of Tong Xiyan, thought of many people, and finally shook her head again, saying, "I don’t know who I’m angry with. But every time I see you walking painfully, my heart aches so much. I wish I could bear the pain for you. I wish I could find someone to scold, but I don’t know who to scold..." She couldn’t scold anyone, everyone was nobler than them!
As Chunyan spoke, Sixing’s mood also became low.
Xiqiu took Chunyan’s hand and looked at Sixing: "Silly girl! Humans are social creatures; how can you be completely independent when living in this world? There’s always this or that entanglement that can’t be untangled, and interests always tangle. If you want to live well, don’t blame others, but make yourself stronger. Only when you become strong, even if similar things happen again, will others leave you alone, and no one will dare to hold you accountable!"
Chunyan seemed to partially understand, only hearing Xiqiu’s advice to make herself stronger. She nodded with reddened eyes, about to speak when Xiqiu placed her finger on her lips: "Shh!" After she said it, Sixing and Chunyan immediately fell silent. The pavilion instantly became quiet, and the wind rustling through the birch trees outside made a shushing sound that could be heard clearly, mixed with the sound of footsteps.
Chunyan whispered, "Is it Second Miss Xiao coming back?" Xiqiu shook her head; if Xiao Yanzheng were returning, the footsteps wouldn’t be so simple. She always had four or five maids with her, and being a lady, there would inevitably be the jingling of accessories making a considerable noise.
"Second Young Master!" A woman’s voice came in, Xiqiu thought it sounded familiar, but the other party was so nervous that the voice trembled, making it hard for her to hear clearly.
"What is it?" Xiao Yanyi’s clear and smooth voice sounded, without the usual amiable smile, mixed with a cold distance that kept people at bay.
Xiqiu was almost certain, her luck today was really bad. She overheard something she shouldn’t have. But in the whole large backyard, why did she just run into it here?
The thought flashed past, and the woman was saying, "Second Young Master, I have something to talk to you about. There’s a pavilion over there; can we go in and sit for a bit? I promise, I’ll just say a few words and leave... after all, it’s not good to be seen here where people are coming and going!"
After a moment of silence outside, Xiao Yanyi’s voice sounded again: "Miss Teng, if you have something, you should speak to the Fifth Madam, or you can also find the Second Madam. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t accompany you."
Xiqiu was startled, finally remembering who the speaking woman was — it was the sister of the Fifth Madam, Qiuniang!
"Second Young Master!" There was the sound of clothing rustling, presumably grabbing Xiao Yanyi’s clothes: "Second Young Master, don’t misunderstand... I just, just wanted to give you this." The sound of taking something out was heard.
After another moment of silence from Xiao Yanyi, he said, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Teng. I’ve been busy with affairs lately, and even this stone has lost its appeal. Miss Teng, you should take it back." After speaking, the sound of him flicking his sleeve was heard, followed by moving footsteps: "Miss Teng, please return!"
Qiuniang seemed to start crying, and Xiao Yanyi stopped his steps again, his voice slightly softened: "Miss Teng is a guest and unfamiliar with the mansion. It’s better not to wander around." After speaking, footsteps were heard again.
At this moment, Xiao Yanzheng’s voice came from outside the curtain: "Xiqiu!" Xiao Yanzheng must have changed her clothes and returned.
Xiqiu sighed miserably, resting her head on her hand, sitting on the stone stool covered with a carpet in the pavilion. Sixing and Chunyan’s expressions changed as well. Originally, they could wait for the Second Young Master and Miss Teng to leave before coming out, so they wouldn’t be discovered inside. But now, with Second Miss Xiao calling out, it has become impossible for Miss Xiqiu not to come out.
Xiqiu awkwardly smiled!
"Second Brother? Miss Teng? Why are you here?" Xiao Yanzheng asked, puzzled, looking between Xiao Yanyi and Teng Qiuniang.
Qiuniang quickly stuffed the stone she was holding into her sleeve, her face turning red as she mumbled and turned to look at Xiao Yanzheng. Xiao Yanzheng’s suspicious gaze fell on her face, then turned to Xiao Yanyi, who remained indifferent and replied, "I was going to the big brother’s study to get something. Why are you here?"
Xiao Yanzheng seemed to understand something, withdrawing her gaze from Teng Qiuniang, she walked over to Xiao Yanyi and smiled, "I was admiring the plum blossoms with Xiqiu in the Plum Garden. Later, I got sweaty and went back to change clothes, asking Xiqiu to wait for me in the pavilion." She then pointed to the chessboard she had brought: "Second Brother, do you have time? We haven’t played chess in a long time."
Xiao Yanyi didn’t look at the chessboard, his gaze directed toward the pavilion in the grove of birch trees. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Sixth Sister is in there?"
"Yes, it’s windy in the woods, so I asked her to wait for me here." Xiao Yanzheng replied, unaware, and called out to the pavilion, "Xiqiu!"
At this moment, Teng Qiuniang’s face, which had turned from red to a dark purplish color, clenched her fingers tightly as she looked towards the pavilion, silently praying that Xiqiu was not inside.