Chapter 172: Chapter 172: The Roulette (Part 3)
Last year during the Qixi Festival, Xiqiu didn’t throw the needle. She felt that such things were merely symbolic. Whether the needle bloomed into some flower in the water signified what kind of future one might have, much like the flower itself. But in reality, it’s just for fun—can anyone’s life truly be determined by a single needle?
However, since Tong Xihua was so enthusiastic about it, Xiqiu couldn’t refuse, so she joined Tong Xiyan and Tong Xiyu in expressing gratitude.
Lady smiled at Tong Xihua, "The girls’ festival happens every year. You can’t wear yourself out because of a few sisters, nor should you trouble my husband over this."
Tong Xihua laughed behind her sleeve, unconcerned.
Xiqiu wasn’t particularly impressed by such festivals. On the day of Qixi Festival, everyone in Man Mansion—maids and women alike—sat under the eaves washing and drying their hair. At noon, Tong Xiyan took Xiqiu to throw the needle. It wasn’t until she reached the eaves that she realized Xiqiu hadn’t prepared anything the night before. She laughed and said, "Watching you all throw the needle is just the same."
Tong Xiyan glared at her and took the maids to the Lady’s courtyard for needle throwing. When she tossed her needle in, it sank right away. She, looking unhappy, glanced at Tong Xiyu’s bowl only to see that Tong Xiyu’s needle, after shaking a few times, floated on the surface and then sank too. Xiqiu couldn’t see what kind of flower it resembled, but the head maid Cuiyu excitedly said, "It’s an orchid for Eighth Miss."
Xiqiu raised her eyebrows and looked at the needles of Daihe and the others—either they floated before sinking or sank directly, with conclusions varying about what kind of flowers they resembled.
While she didn’t care much for these traditions, she was infected by the lively festive atmosphere. When Lady had Nanny Fang bring out fruits and other items to reward the maids, Xiqiu joined Tong Xiyan to get a box of fruits. They returned to the courtyard, and in the evening, Siliu had someone bring in a basket of oranges. Sixing set up a table a few days later, and they ate fruit and chatted in the courtyard until midnight before dispersing.
After Qixi came the Ghost Festival on July 15, then the Mid-Autumn Festival. First Master had many mooncakes sent from Yongzhou, including Su-style ones stuffed with red bean paste or meat. Lady, being from Jiangnan herself, was delighted. Xiqiu received a plate of mooncakes and asked Sixing to distribute them, also sending some to Siliu. When Sixing returned, she laughed and said, "It’s only been three months, but you can already see her belly."
Xiqiu laughed behind her sleeve, "I reckon it’s not a pregnancy; it must be that she’s gaining weight!"
After Mid-Autumn and Double Ninth, in the blink of an eye, it was time for the autumn examination, set for three days on September 11, 12, and 13. The Lady and concubine didn’t associate with each other, and it was heard that the concubine bought a property in Yangchang Alley for Xu Tianqing to move in, but Xu Tianqing insisted on staying in the mansion. Thus, the Tong Mansion was immediately enveloped in a tense atmosphere a few days before the autumn exam. Second Master frequently visited Xu Tianqing’s room from the restaurant and invited several colleagues reputed to have aced the exams to instruct Xu Tianqing. The Lady also arranged for the outside kitchen to prepare additional meals for Xu Tianqing, who shut himself in the room to study all day.
Xiqiu sent Sixing to the outer courtyard to tell Xu Tianqing that although it was still hot during the day, it was cool at night, advising him to prepare a pair of thin cotton trousers so he wouldn’t catch cold at night. Knowing it was Xiqiu’s suggestion, Xu Tianqing immediately agreed and personally rummaged through his trunk to find a pair of cotton trousers to bring along.
On the day of the autumn exam, the Lady took several children to escort Xu Tianqing to the second gate, and Tong Shen Zhi accompanied Xu Tianqing all the way to the examination hall. Meanwhile, the concubine chose to wait at the entrance of the alley outside rather than enter the mansion. The Lady was furious upon hearing this, saying the concubine was heartless.
Nanny Fang consoled the Lady, "The concubine is angry only because you refused the marriage proposal from Young Master Hong, which almost cost Lord Xu his job. Thanks to Second Master’s intervention and the young master’s mediation, Lord Xu now holds the post of Shandong Governor. Her anger should have subsided long ago. She’s holding onto it just to vent, and surely Lady knows her sister’s personality. She’s just like Madam, and once either of you takes a step forward, there wouldn’t be any more grudges or resentment."
The Lady snorted coldly, "Must I, as her elder sister, beg her? One should have a conscience. The marriage with Hong Mansion—wasn’t it right for me to refuse? If not for the young master’s mediation, would Xu’s appointment have been so smooth? And Tianqing, having stayed in the mansion for so long, I treat him as well as Shenzhi, never shortchanging them. Now, just a little upset, they’re demonstrating with me!" She squinted her eyes angrily, "Even without this sister, I would never relent."
Nanny Fang sighed and said nothing more.
In Zhiqu Courtyard, Sixing paced back and forth in the room. Xiqiu sat on the bed embroidering, rubbing her forehead as she watched, "You’ve been pacing all morning; do you think circling around will make cousin perform exceptionally well in the exam?"
"Miss," Sixing paused to sit by Xiqiu’s feet, "Last night, I felt chilly lying on the bed. What if the young master catches a cold? I also heard all they eat in there are steamed buns for three meals a day. What if he goes hungry?"
Xiqiu helplessly looked at her, "You have a blanket and so does he; how could he be cold?" She smiled, "As for the meals, the court has regulations; they’re scholars, not prisoners. All meals are steamed buns? Why don’t you say it’s spoiled food?"
Sixing deflated, leaning against the bed frame, her heart still nervously thumping, and Xiqiu sighed quietly seeing her like that.
The next day, Xu Tianqing finally returned from the examination hall, still accompanied by Tong Shen Zhi to the outer courtyard. Xiqiu didn’t see him return, but Sixing recounted with lingering fear, "In just three days, the young master has thinned considerably; even whiskers appeared on his face. Although First Master prepared food, he didn’t eat and just shut himself in to sleep..."
"Don’t say anymore." Chunyan glanced as Nanny Song entered the courtyard. If she saw Sixing like this, who knows what unpleasant things she might report to the Lady: "Miss hasn’t eaten dinner yet."
Sixing, startled, quickly wiped her tears and apologetically said, "It was... it was the servant’s indiscretion." Then she helped Chunyan set the table.
Xiqiu watched Sixing, slightly frowning, wondering if such unbidden desires could bring her fortune or misfortune!
Xu Tianqing slept straight through to the next noon. The concubine finally couldn’t endure any longer, but biting her teeth, she entered through Second Mansion’s gate, first visiting Second Lady, and then, accompanied by Second Lady, went to see Xu Tianqing. Having bathed, Xu Tianqing was eating, with Tong Shen Zhi sitting opposite him. Tong Minzhi and Tong Quanzi, having finished school in the afternoon, came rushing over, bombarding Xu Tianqing with questions, "Cousin, is it true that a candidate couldn’t answer the questions and strangled himself with his belt?"
Xu Tianqing wiped his mouth. After a sleep, he regained his complexion and smiled, "Yes! It’s said he had already stopped breathing when found. I didn’t see it myself, but they notified his family, and his corpse will be taken home these days."