Chapter 261: Chapter 261: Escape Route (2)
Sixing knelt on the ground, her face full of tears and disbelief, crawling to Xiqiu’s feet, crying, "Miss, you mustn’t go to Puji Temple, do you know what a place that is? How could your delicate body endure such harsh conditions, Miss..." Xiqiu didn’t even look at her. The moment those words were spoken, their bond as master and servant, their sisterly friendship, was severed.
The concubine was shocked. She initially thought Xiqiu would argue with her, and if she did, she could bring out all the things Xu Tianqing had kept of Xiqiu’s over the years, with Moju testifying that last year Xiqiu and Xu Tianqing had been in Tong Minzhi’s room, and the two had been in contact ever since then. She could even bring out those two identity tags as undeniable proof. No matter how she argued, Xiqiu’s reputation would be utterly ruined. If at this time she conceded and allowed Tianqing to marry her, even as a concubine, she should be grateful beyond measure!
The concubine had it all planned, but Xiqiu didn’t give her the chance. Just at the beginning, she abruptly interrupted, "Going to a temple? Your elder sister has been dead for so long, and we’ve never seen you go to a temple to serve her! Yet you bring this up today. Sixth Girl, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Let me tell you, if you don’t clarify this matter today, you’re not going anywhere!"
Although the concubine was Lady’s sister, she was still a guest, yet she was now acting like the host!
Lady furrowed her brow, showing a hint of displeasure.
Xiqiu turned back with a smile, looking at the concubine ironically: "Auntie, I don’t understand your words, and if I must clarify, it won’t be with you!" She turned to look at Lady: "Mother, although I am born of a concubine, you have raised me these years like your own with the same food, clothing, and shelter as the other sisters, never showing favoritism. When you go out, all sisters accompany you, leaving outsiders unable to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate daughters. This kindness remains in my heart, and I dare not forget it till death... It’s said our Tong Mansion’s inner residence is harmonious, even Second Uncle’s side shows no disloyalty. Such a family is hard to part with, and now I only wish to repay Mother’s kindness and contribute to the Tong Mansion. But I’m just a weak girl, so I thought of serving Buddha, only wishing for Mother’s peace and the household’s tranquility!"
She was reminding Lady of her fairness over the years, making it hard for outsiders to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate daughters, and the so-called evidence held by the concubine appeared to threaten her but actually threatened the Tong Mansion, showing they were all bound together, sharing honor and disgrace, and no one would profit from this!
Lady felt a twitch at the corner of her eye, feeling moved inside!
Xiqiu turned to look at the concubine again: "Auntie, there’s no need to say more, though young, I am a daughter of the Tong Mansion. I’d rather cut my hair and remain unmarried for life than become someone’s concubine. If Auntie continues to pressure me, I’ll just crash my head here, and then no one will benefit!"
"I’m pressuring you?" The concubine sneered, wanting to say more, but Lady squinted her eyes to interrupt her, looking at Xiqiu and raising an eyebrow: "You want to mourn for your elder sister?"
Xiqiu nodded earnestly: "Yes! I beg Mother to allow it." The concubine, furious, jumped up from her chair, pointing at Xiqiu: "I think you refuse to admit it. Everything you sent to Tianqing these years is in my hands. If I bring them out, you won’t need to go to the temple to mourn but should cut your hair right away!"
Xiqiu smiled and stood up, slightly taller than the concubine, creating a sense of superiority as they faced off. She smiled softly: "If that’s the case, please bring them out, Auntie. If I don’t admit it, please report me to the Capital City Government, accuse me, Miss Tong, of seducing a cousin, accuse the Tong Family of a corrupt family tradition, and furthermore accuse Father of failing to raise his daughter right, accuse Mother of an inept household management..." The concubine was stunned by her words, and Xiqiu continued, "Auntie, Mother has always been kind to you and treats Cousin as her own. Father often encourages him in letters. Yet Auntie, instead of being grateful, now catches a maid servant’s fault and throws filth on me. I want to ask Auntie, what is your true intention?"
Lady squinted her eyes, finally casting a suspicious gaze on the concubine. Sixth Girl was right; no matter where this went, she was a daughter of the Tong Mansion. Wasn’t the concubine doing this not just to coerce Sixth Girl? What was her true motive?!
The concubine, meeting Lady’s suspicious gaze, pointed at Xiqiu: "Such a sharp tongue!" Her face flushed with anger: "I throw filth on you? Since you say so, I’ll make you admit it!" She turned and instructed Moju: "Go, bring those things. I want to see what Sixth Miss has to say."
Xiqiu kept a calm face: "Please, Auntie!" Lady’s face, however, turned extremely ugly, slamming the table in anger: "Silence, all of you!" She looked at the concubine and said: "Enough about seduction or family disgrace, stop this nonsense!" The concubine frowned, not expecting Lady to betray her, and shouted: "Sister!"
Lady frowned, looking at her: "This matter will not be brought up again. It ends here!" She didn’t let the concubine speak, then looked at Xiqiu with a hint of a smile: "It’s commendable you have such filial piety to mourn for your elder sister." She paused slightly and continued, "You go out first, let Mother think about this!"
Hearing this, Xiqiu’s eyes slightly flickered, bowing to Lady: "Yes!" Turning around to exit, the concubine watched with wide eyes. Lady squinted at her, and the concubine was startled, lowering her face in silence. Nanny Fang and Moju exited the room, followed by two grannies dragging Sixing out. Nanny Fang returned to close the door, and everyone stood waiting outside.
Xiqiu sat calmly in a chair. Sixing, watching her, was full of pain. She knelt at Xiqiu’s feet, crying, "Miss... I really had no choice!" Xiqiu showed a faintly mocking smile, speaking coldly: "There’s no need to tell me this, from today on we’re separate. Your life, your fortune or fame, is no longer my concern. Take care of yourself!"
Sixing sat on the ground in shock, shaking her head desperately but unable to speak... She bit her lip, kneeling at Xiqiu’s feet about to kowtow, and Xiqiu frowned, looking towards Chunliu. Unlike Chunyan, Chunliu went up and pulled Sixing away, her face cold: "There’s no need for theatrics. Someone must have promised you something, so you got what you wanted; you should be happy. This is for whom to see, leave!"
Sixing was pushed to the side by Chunliu, falling to the ground, looking up to Xiqiu with pleading eyes: "Miss, please agree. The temple is bitter, how can you endure, think of yourself, and think of your mother, she would be so worried!" Chunliu clenched her fist, wishing to rip her mouth: "These words you can actually say! Miss treated you well these years, even a dog should be loyal, wagging its tail. And you... you’re not even as good as a dog!"