Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Shocked (1)
Xiqiu nodded slightly, her voice filled with exhaustion, "Go on!" Chunyan wiped her tears and left the room. Xiqiu sat on the chair, a cold look in her eyes as she got up, sat at the desk, and picked up the pen and ink to write a letter to the First Master!
When she learned Sixing had been caught by the concubine, she knew that Lady could no longer keep her as before. Going to the temple was her only choice, allowing her to avoid this turmoil and temporarily escape Lady’s endless schemes... She couldn’t let Lady marry her off randomly, nor could she let Lady suggest sending her to a nunnery... But now, in the mansion, Lady had all the power, and even with extraordinary abilities, she couldn’t move her. The only person in this mansion who could deal with Lady was the First Master!
She wanted to push things to an irreparable point, forcing the First Master to have no choice but to deal with Lady. Otherwise, Lady would always be like a mountain blocking her path! If not for this incident, she wouldn’t have seen through Lady’s thoughts so easily. She couldn’t help but think of Lady’s change, which seemed to start after Xiao Yanyi arrived... Did Lady see something in Xiao Yanyi that made her hate Xiqiu?
Whatever the situation, she could no longer just seek stability as before. Without opportunities, she had to create them!
In the afternoon, Tong Xiyan came to say goodbye, crying as she hugged Xiqiu but unable to utter a single word. On one side, the concubine was her aunt; on the other, Lady was her birth mother. Even Xu Tianqing and others were cousins. All being family, what could she say!
She stuffed a pocket into Xiqiu’s hand, "Even though the temple is a quiet place, it still requires money. Take this; I’ll send someone to deliver money monthly. Take care of your health, I’ll definitely plead with Mother to let you return soon."
Xiqiu smiled, wiping her tears and shaking her head, "I don’t need money; please take it back." Tong Xiyan refused, forcefully placing it in Chunyan’s bundle, "I will find a chance to visit you. Take more clothes with you as it’s windy in the mountains. If your legs hurt, send a message to me, and I’ll send you medicine!"
Xiqiu nodded slightly!
Tong Xiyang and Tong Xiyu also came together. Tong Xiyu, eyes red, wiped her tears and said, "Sixth Sister, you must take care of yourself!" Tong Xiyang, however, was full of schadenfreude, smiling, "Sixth Sister has to take good care of herself. I’ve heard the temple food is simple; those nuns look like they have jaundiced faces and frail bodies. Not even twenty yet look like old women of fifty. If Sixth Sister is gone for three years and becomes old upon return, she truly won’t be able to marry in this life!"
Xiqiu smiled at Tong Xiyang, nodding in reply, "Congratulations on your marriage, Third Sister. I can’t return due to mourning, so I wish you and your husband a harmonious union and many children!" Tong Xiyang sneered, lifting her head with a face full of disdain!
Xiqiu didn’t want to say more and looked around in the crowd for Tong Minzhi and Madam Xia but couldn’t find either even after long searching. Chunliu whispered in her ear, "Rest assured, Miss. I inquired; Seventh Young Master is at school and didn’t come back at noon. The courtyard door on the concubine’s side is closed; I hollered but no one answered. Only Xiuzhi spoke from behind the door, saying the concubine is asleep and won’t be seeing Miss off, wishing Miss a safe journey!"
Xiqiu was filled with surprise. Madam Xia’s behavior was really too strange!
The Second Lady also sent someone, her personal Nanny Yi, "The Second Lady asked me to give this to Sixth Miss, saying that Sixth Miss’s filial piety pleased her, and she hopes Miss takes good care of herself. If anything arises, send someone back to inform her!"
Xiqiu’s impression of the Second Lady was of her being all-around smooth and tactful, so when the Second Lady sent money now, Xiqiu was not at all surprised. With a thought, she accepted the pocket from Nanny Yi and graciously said, "Please tell Aunt to take good care of herself!" Nanny Yi nodded with a smile.
Not seeing Madam Xia, Xiqiu planned to write back after settling at Puji Temple. She boarded the carriage with Chunyan and Chunliu, leaving Xi’er to guard the gate at the mansion. Xi’er, crying inconsolably, clung to the carriage, and Chunliu kept wiping her tears.
Master Puning came to urge, "Sixth Miss, it’s getting late. Please depart soon." Xiqiu nodded, about to board the carriage when Laiwang’s wife and Siliu came running. Siliu was now free to come and go outside, visiting Xiqiu anytime. Without saying much, Xiqiu bid farewell to everyone and boarded the carriage, which creaked into motion, soon leaving the mansion’s gate!
On Long Street, the hustle and bustle of traffic roared, peddlers hawking their wares in an unending chorus!
Sitting in the carriage, Xiqiu, with no outsiders around, felt no mood to admire the street view. Her mind was on Madam Xia, wondering why her behavior today was so strange. What was on her mind? And if Tong Minzhi returned from school and found her gone to Puji Temple, what would he think?
Chunyan, sitting beside her, finally felt fear retreating, exhaling deeply. She held her chest and murmured, "Miss, my legs are still soft." Chunliu laughed, tapping her on the forehead, grinning, "At worst, it’s death. What’s there to fear? Even risking our lives, we can’t let those people have their way."
Xiqiu looked at Chunliu and smiled faintly. Compared to Sixing and Siliu, Chunliu had spent the least time in her room, so Xiqiu had always been indifferent to her, not as close as the others. Still, she didn’t expect the usually taciturn Chunliu to be so bold and fearless.
"You’re laughing at me!" Chunyan also laughed but soon remembered Sixing. When she went to collect Sixing’s body, there was almost nothing intact except her face, so bloody it was unrecognizable. She asked Manager Lai to buy a thin coffin and buried Sixing outside the East Mountain suburb. She remembered Sixing telling her that her family lived to the east, surviving by fishing until her father did not return from a sea trip. Her mother, unable to support six children, sold four-year-old Sixing to a human trafficker. She was sold from place to place until she finally settled at Tong Mansion at nine.
While enduring hardships together, they often fantasized about different futures, never imagining Sixing would meet such an end.
Her eyes reddened as she turned her head. Seeing this, Chunliu wrapped an arm around her shoulder, smiling, "Isn’t there a Lotus Pool at Puji Temple? I didn’t go with Miss last time. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. This time, I must take a good look!" Understanding Chunyan was thinking of Sixing and fearing her emotions would affect Xiqiu, Chunliu gently changed the topic with a smile.