The door curtain fell once again, separating Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu from inside. Tong Xiyu nervously looked at Xiqiu, as if asking whether they should follow inside or stay outside!
Xiqiu wished she could vanish instantly, disregarding the hesitant Tong Xiyu standing at the door, and turned to step outside, closing the door behind her. Tong Xiyu immediately followed her out, and Xiqiu shut the main door. Turning around, she saw Nanny Lin’s eyes, filled with a mocking anger.
Xiqiu smiled at her slightly, descended the steps, crossed the courtyard, and sat on the rose-red armchair in the passageway.
Nanny Lin looked at Xiqiu in surprise, as if she had never known her before. Xiqiu ignored her reaction, and from inside the room came the sound of porcelain shattering, followed by Tong Xihua’s furious voice: "You accuse me of making something out of nothing, turning black into white? Who is truly turning black into white today?"
"If you were truly innocent, how could you be alone as a man and woman in a room? Do you take me for dead?! Or do you wish I would die immediately so you can marry this vile woman as your continued wife? Let me tell you, even if I were truly dead, I wouldn’t let you have your way."
Xiao Yanyi shouted angrily, "Beyond reasoning!"
Nanny Lin listened, her face showing fear and indecision over whether to enter.
Tong Xiyu clutched her handkerchief in fear as silent as a cicada in the cold, and the room grew quiet, with only the continuous sound of Teng Qiuniang’s sobbing breaking up the silence. Suddenly, the main room’s door opened, and Tong Xihua stood at the doorway like a demon, instructing Nanny Lin, "Go bring the Grand Dowager and Fifth Madam!" Nanny Lin, startled, turned to Xiqiu and said, "Please trouble Sixth Miss and Eighth Miss to stay here." With that, she quickly ran out!
The door half-open, Tong Xihua’s scolding continued: "I want to ask Mother whether I’m the one being irrational, or if your actions, Xiao Yanyi, are too excessive!"
"Second Madam, nothing happened between the Second Young Master and me. I beg of you to calm down..." Teng Qiuniang wailed in desperation, but Tong Xihua roared, "Get out!"
Xiqiu sat unmoving, like a monk in meditation. Suddenly, someone tugged lightly at her sleeve, and Xiqiu turned with a frown to see Tong Xiyu, who pointed fearfully towards the main room, "Will Big Sister be in trouble? Sixth Sister, shall we go in and check?"
Xiqiu wanted to pry open Tong Xiyu’s head to see what it contained. If not for being in the Xiao Family, with her and Tong Xihua tied together in others’ eyes, and fear of the First Lady’s inquiry upon returning, she wouldn’t even stay in the passageway any longer. Smiling slightly, she pulled her hand away: "Why don’t Eighth Sister go instead? My leg really hurts, and I can’t walk at all now!"
Tong Xiyu fell silent, no longer insisting they go inside.
She didn’t understand the Grand Dowager, but if her son was inside being shamed by his daughter-in-law, she would not want more people to witness it!
In less than a moment, the Grand Dowager and Fifth Madam arrived, the Grand Dowager supported by Nanny Wu, without bringing any maids or old servants, while the Fifth Madam entered from another side, accompanied only by Qingshuang. Upon entering the passageway, they saw Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu sitting inside. The Grand Dowager squinted her eyes at Xiqiu, showing a hint of surprise: "Why are the two young misses sitting here?"
Xiqiu lowered her head and stood to address the Grand Dowager, "Big Sister said she would send Eighth Sister and me back to the mansion. Somehow, we suddenly came to be here. Nanny Lin mentioned something and asked Eighth Sister and me to sit here for a while!" She said this while bowing to the Fifth Madam.
The Fifth Madam, anxious to fly straight into the room, had no mind for conversation. The Grand Dowager, realizing the situation, nodded and pointed to Nanny Wu: "In that case, you can accompany the two young misses back." Follow current novᴇls on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu bowed in unison, wishing the Grand Dowager well: "Sorry to trouble the Grand Dowager!" They took their leave without saying more.
The Grand Dowager looked thoughtfully at Xiqiu!
The Fifth Madam, impatient, took hold of the Grand Dowager’s arm, "Mother!" The Grand Dowager waved her hand, watching Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu leave, then squinted her eyes and entered the room.
Xiqiu exited the second gate on her journey, where Chunyan and Xi’er had been waiting for her, relieved to see her arrival, both breaking into smiles. The two maids from Tong Xiyu’s side also came forward, to which Tong Xiyu, surprised, asked, "Why are you here?" The two maids looked at Chunyan, replying, "It’s Maid Chunyan who said Sixth Miss instructed us to wait here for you." Tong Xiyu looked at Xiqiu in astonishment, "Sixth Sister, you... knew all along?"
Xiqiu, too indifferent to answer, allowed Chunyan to assist her as she exchanged greetings with Nanny Wu before boarding the carriage. Chunyan asked while holding her hand, "Nanny Song is still in the Great Aunt’s room."
Xiqiu waved her hand, "She will return on her own." Leaving her in the mansion further emphasized her hurried and helpless departure!
The carriage slowly pulled away from the Marquis Mansion, and Xiqiu exhaled deeply. Upon returning to Tong Mansion, she and Tong Xiyu went straight to the First Lady’s room, only to find her had went to the Second Wife’s. Xiqiu greeted Daihe, who was guarding the door, before first returning to Zhiqu Courtyard. After refreshing and changing clothes, she called Sixing and instructed, "Bring out the pair of mandarin duck swimming pillowcases I embroidered last year." Sixing paused and asked, "Aren’t those prepared for the Third Miss’s bridal chest?"
Xiqiu buttoned up her clothes and shook her head, "Third Sister’s wedding is months away. There’s no rush; I can embroider another set later." Sixing, puzzled for whom Sixth Miss was preparing them, glanced at Chunyan, who also shook her head, uninformed.
Xiqiu walked out while instructing Chunyan, "Let Xi’er rest well, and don’t let her work these few days. Also, ask Laiwang’s wife to get some calming and warming supplements for her, and inquire about Siliu." She had been concerned as Siliu’s due date should be around these days, yet there had been no news.
Chunyan nodded, "I understand, Miss." Holding onto Xiqiu, she asked anxiously, "Miss, are you going to the First Lady’s room?"
Xiqiu nodded, "I must!" Not only must she go to the First Lady’s, but she also had to recount everything that happened today!
As night fell, when Xiqiu approached the side gate of the East Cross Courtyard, she saw a young maid peeping out from the gate of Tong Xiyu’s courtyard. Seeing Xiqiu coming out, the maid quickly ran inside. In a flash, Tong Xiyu came running out, lifting her skirt hem.
Entering Zhui Garden, Xiqiu found the First Lady sitting on the heated bed in the Warm Pavilion having tea. Seeing Xiqiu, she raised her eyebrows and asked, "You’re back? How is your Big Sister?" Xiqiu bowed to the First Lady, tears slightly reddening her eyes, alarming the First Lady as she sat up straighter, "Why are you crying? Did something happen to your Big Sister?"
Xiqiu shook her head, and the First Lady breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "What happened then? Tell me everything in detail."