Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Grave Mistake (1)
Xiqiu had nothing to say. She held Tong Xiyan’s hand and said, "Does this letter have a signature and date? On what day was it sent?"
Tong Xiyan replied, "It was sent at the beginning of October. I don’t know why it was delayed so long on the way. Anyway, receiving it is always a good thing. It’s good that he’s fine!"
Nanny Duan couldn’t listen anymore. Holding back tears, she quickly lifted the curtain and left the room. Deep down, Xiqiu sighed continuously, "Don’t be in a hurry to write to Father about this. It won’t be too late to wait until Young Master Jiang returns. As for Mother, don’t mention it. If you do, and in a fit of anger, she decides on your engagement with Young Master Zhou prematurely, it would be counterproductive."
Tong Xiyan felt that what Xiqiu said made sense, so she seriously nodded, "Alright, I’ll wait until he returns to talk about it." The intermittent sound of Nanny Duan crying outside came in, startling Tong Xiyan, who quickly lifted the curtain and went out.
Nanny Duan couldn’t avoid it, and Tong Xiyan looked at her and asked, "Nanny, why are you crying so well?"
Nanny Duan wiped her tears forcefully and laughed, "I’m crying with joy for Miss." Tong Xiyan also laughed, "I’m also very happy!" She turned back to look at Xiqiu, "It’s late, let’s go to Mother."
Xiqiu feared that once she left the yard, she might hear the servants talking about Jiang Shilin’s matters. However, this matter Xiqiu would find out sooner or later. With resignation, Xiqiu could only nod and say, "I left in a hurry, so I’ll go back to change clothes. You go ahead!"
"Then hurry back. I’ll be worried along the way. If not, let Sixing take it for you, and you can change here!" Tong Xiyan paused and continued, "You’re just too thin. Otherwise, you could wear my clothes."
Xiqiu pursed her lips, smiling, "Not necessarily. Didn’t someone fit perfectly into my clothes yesterday?" Tong Xiyan had lost a lot of weight this month, and her complexion had turned sallow, lacking vitality.
"Quickly, go on!" Tong Xiyan pushed her out: "It’s better than having a lot of weight." Xiqiu left with a smile, but once she turned around, her face darkened. It seemed she had underestimated the feelings between Tong Xiyan and Jiang Shilin.
Anxiously and uneasily, she went to change her clothes. Before she could leave, Xinzhu stumbled and ran in, pulling Xiqiu while crying uncontrollably, "Sixth Miss... our Miss, she..."
Xiqiu’s expression became solemn as she pulled up Xinzhu, asking, "What exactly happened?"
Xinzhu wiped her tears messily and replied, "Our Miss heard about Young Master Jiang’s affair and fainted, Sixth Miss, you should go and see her." She and Nanny Duan were very flustered, and they didn’t dare to tell the Lady, so they thought about coming to Sixth Miss. Fourth Miss always listened to Sixth Miss, and only invited her here.
Hearing this, Xiqiu felt a shock, furrowed her brows, and asked in a lowered voice, "Who told her?"
"It wasn’t anyone in particular," Xinzhu replied hastily. "We overheard two maidservants talking about it while we were on our way to the main house... Fourth Miss went up to question them immediately upon hearing it. The maidservants dared not hide it, and Fourth Miss fainted after listening."
How coincidental!
Xiqiu didn’t have time to change her clothes and already stepped outside while asking Xinzhu, "Has this been told to the Lady?" If the Lady knew, it would be impossible to hide it.
Xinzhu shook her head, "Nanny Duan was afraid of the maidservants spreading rumors, so she detained those two maidservants, who are currently locked in the yard. The Lady doesn’t know yet. I was at my wit’s end, so I could only come to Sixth Miss."
When Xiqiu arrived, Tong Xiyan was still lying on the bed unresponsive. Nanny Duan was anxiously pacing nearby, sometimes wiping her face with a hot towel, sometimes instructing Xinmei to give some water, now desperately pinching the philtrum... Upon seeing Xiqiu, Nanny Duan immediately came forward, "Sixth Miss, please come and see... It’s been a good while, she’s still unresponsive. Could something bad happen?" She was speaking incoherently, the wrinkles on her face seemed to have multiplied instantly!
Xiqiu held Nanny Duan’s hand and comforted, "Don’t worry too much, or you’ll make yourself ill!" She walked to the bedside, her gaze fell on Tong Xiyan’s pallid face. Her red lips, clear and calm eyes, now lacked their usual brilliance and brightness, lips pale, eyes tightly shut... the long eyelashes trembled slightly.
She sighed quietly and turned to nod at Nanny Duan, who looked surprised. Xiqiu lowered her voice and spoke to her, "Take Xinzhu and Xinmei out, I’ll stay with her." Nanny Duan looked gratefully at Xiqiu, who continued, "And release those two maidservants who are detained, or it’ll arouse suspicion. Let’s keep the Lady unaware for now."
Nanny Duan solemnly nodded, "Thank you, Sixth Miss." After speaking, she took Xinzhu and Xinmei out of the room, closed the door behind her again.
Xiqiu sat by the bedside, holding Tong Xiyan’s hand, and sighed, "Fourth Sister... don’t let your thoughts run wild. Although Young Master Jiang is severely injured and unconscious, he has already returned to the Capital. Even the Emperor is aware and sent the Second Prince to visit him. Several Imperial Physicians have gone from the palace. In a short time, he is bound to recover and wake up." She looked at Tong Xiyan, "Your intense reaction, if Mother finds out about your secret exchanges with him, no matter how outstanding Young Master Jiang is, Mother will certainly not agree to your marriage. If you have any mishap, then don’t even think about it."
Tong Xiyan’s closed eyes moved, and Xiqiu continued, "The road ahead is long. If you are determined to be with him, you must plan carefully. In the current situation, you must endure even more."
A tear fell from the corner of Tong Xiyan’s eye. She began to cry softly, and Xiqiu held her hand tightly, comforting her in a low voice, "Both of us are in the inner courtyard, his specific condition is merely heard from rumors of the maidservants. Maybe he only suffered a minor injury, or perhaps he has already awakened. Before things are clear, for the sake of your future, you should be more cautious."
"Sixth Sister!" Tong Xiyan opened her eyes, red with tears, "I’m so worried about him. At this time, I truly hate it, hate being born into the Tong Mansion. It would be so much better if I were a girl from an ordinary family, not needing to stay in a room all day and be unable to go anywhere!"
Xiqiu nodded, "Indeed. If you were a girl from an ordinary family, you wouldn’t have to endure like this every day!" But things are often fair. Although you lack freedom, you have the wealth and luxury that ordinary girls do not. If you enjoy the comfort brought by the Tong Mansion, you must suffer the corresponding due. Xiqiu looked at her, "These are mere complaints. Don’t think recklessly, Young Master Jiang is under the Emperor’s protection, so there won’t be any problem. If you are overly anxious and fall ill, wouldn’t that worry him even more?"
Tong Xiyan, with tears flowing, weakly said, "But I’m truly so worried." She suddenly grabbed Xiqiu’s hand, "I... I want to go see him, even just a glance, I would be more at ease."