Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Bad News (3)
Now, the Xuanning Marquis Mansion is in a tumultuous period, she absolutely does not allow such things to happen.
The Fifth Madam was furious, having lost face in front of others, she closed the door and harshly scolded Qiuniang, who only knew how to cry. After venting, the Fifth Madam wrote a letter to her parents in Tongzhou, asking them to send someone to take Teng Qiuniang back.
Xiqiu rested in her room for two days, Tong Xihua threw a tantrum for two consecutive days, sending people to find Xiao Yanyi, but neither the outer yard nor the inner yard could find him, not even the government office. In her rage, she smashed porcelain onto the floor and ran to the Grand Dowager to cry, who said nothing, only sending her back.
Xiqiu understood that with the boldness Tong Xihua showed in stirring trouble, it surely related to the current state of the Marquis Mansion; the Marquis was in a life-threatening situation outside, while Second Master Tong at the Tong Mansion was in his success, further strengthening his power at court. Tong Xihua, now pregnant, was beyond punishment or reprimand, and so she was left to create chaos as she pleased!
The choice for General Xuantong in the court finally reached a conclusion, though there were disagreements regarding the main and deputy generals, causing further delay. The Grand Dowager grew anxious and restless; Xiao Yanzheng, visiting Xiqiu daily, still appeared absent-minded. After resting on her bed for two days, Xiqiu at last got up to pay respects to the Grand Dowager. She sat shoulder to shoulder with Tong Xiyan in a soft sedan chair, and just after descending at the corridor before the Grand Dowager’s courtyard, they saw a servant dressed in haste running in. His body was covered in dust and his clothes were torn; blisters lined his lips, his hair matted into lumps, and his face was dull and ashen. His staggering form mounted the silence, as every place he passed fell into dead quietude, and everyone stopped to watch, standing dumbfounded in place!
It was because everyone recognized that person was a servant who followed the Marquis to Fujian!
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan moved aside, allowing him space in the corridor. He didn’t glance at them but rushed into the Grand Dowager’s main house, leaving Xiqiu standing quietly outside, feeling a chill creep from her soles slowly toward her heart.
Tong Xiyan fearfully leaned closer to her, gripping her hand tightly.
The sound of shattering porcelain confirmed her suspicions, followed by an earth-shattering wail from inside the room. Soon, everyone in the courtyard knelt one after another, the scene swiftly spreading throughout the mansion, with Xiqiu’s ears buzzing as the world around filled with sobs.
Marquis Xuanning, Xiao Yanji, passed away in November of the twenty-third year of Zhengde!
The sky over the Xuanning Marquis Mansion had fallen!
Xiqiu stood in the corridor, as an outsider, she knew the Grand Dowager and Marchioness Xuanning surely had matters to discuss inside, thus she could not intrude, but as a family member, she couldn’t simply walk away upon hearing the tragic news of the Marquis’ death. The soldier who just entered the main room was carried out by two matrons, having fainted from exhaustion... Sixing supported Xiqiu’s arm, appearing as if to hold her, but in reality, her legs had gone weak, almost leaning against Xiqiu entirely.
In a moment, Nanny Wu rushed out red-eyed, shouting aimlessly into the courtyard, "Go fetch the Imperial Physician." The Grand Dowager had fainted!
A matron on the ground scrambled up and ran out hastily, while Xiqiu snapped awake, and without thinking, instructed the matrons in the courtyard, "Stop crying, be quiet!" Everyone turned to look at her, as Xiqiu calmly walked over to Nanny Wu, who stood stunned and looked at Xiqiu. Xiqiu bowed slightly and said, "The Grand Dowager can’t tolerate noise right now, be quiet for her sake!"
Nanny Wu snapped out of her daze, nodded to Xiqiu, and had everyone withdraw outside the courtyard. Those servants, lacking leadership, hesitated to leave the Grand Dowager’s courtyard too far, so they stood quietly outside, weeping softly.
After Nanny Wu spoke, she suddenly remembered Xiqiu knew a bit of medicine, and with the Imperial Physician not yet arrived, she had to beseech the Sixth Miss for help. Her tears welled up as she held the Sixth Miss’s hand and was about to plead with Xiqiu, but Xiqiu nodded and said, "I know a bit about medicine, let me go in and take a look first!"
Nanny Wu looked gratefully at Xiqiu, personally lifting the curtain for her. Xiqiu entered, followed silently by Tong Xiyan, while Siliu and Sixing stood guard outside. After Nanny Wu let the curtain fall, Xiao Yanting, the Fifth Madam, Tong Xihua, and Xiao Yanzheng hurried over from the courtyard entrance. Their faces were ashen, and they exchanged looks, seeing fear mirrored in each other’s eyes.
Upon entering, Xiqiu saw Marchioness Xuanning standing expressionlessly at the Grand Dowager’s bedside. In contrast to the pallor on the Grand Dowager’s face as she lay in bed, the Marchioness’ face showed an abnormal flush; her vacant eyes were fixed on the Grand Dowager, ignorant of the room’s happenings.
Nanny Wu led Xiqiu to the bedside, where without instruments or medicine, Xiqiu could only do a few simple steps. She wrung a towel to wipe the Grand Dowager’s face, who then slowly regained consciousness. Xiqiu quickly had Nanny Wu bring warm boiled water for the Grand Dowager to drink. Once clear-headed, the Grand Dowager held Xiqiu’s hand and nodded weakly; she whispered, "My dear."
Xiqiu nodded slightly, saying, "The Imperial Physician is coming soon, please lie down a bit longer."
The Grand Dowager, however, wanted to get up, supporting herself to sit up. By then, Tong Xihua, Xiao Yanzheng, Xiao Yanting, and the Fifth Madam had entered, with Xiao Yanzheng collapsing into the Grand Dowager’s arms, crying until her organs seemed to shatter, and the Grand Dowager, holding her, sobbed voicelessly, the room thick with a suffocating despair.
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan quietly retreated to the back. After the Grand Dowager cried a while longer, she wiped her tears and looked at Xiao Yanting, saying, "Go find your second brother, and verify your eldest brother’s death in the palace. Even if the body hasn’t returned, the court should have sent documentation!" Xiao Yanting agreed and exited. The Grand Dowager then instructed Marchioness Xuanning, "Give the token to Little Five." The Marchioness nodded woodenly, a flash of light passing through the Fifth Madam’s eyes, and the Grand Dowager turned to her, saying, "It’s unlikely the news is false; you and Nanny Wu prepare mourning clothes, incense, and paper money; the affairs in the inner courtyard will be entrusted to you and Nanny Wu." The Fifth Madam hung her head and complied.
The Grand Dowager then turned to instruct Tong Xihua, "With you being pregnant, avoid moving in and out; if staying in your room is too unsettling, stay with me here, and if someone visits, help me with the pleasantries."
Tong Xihua did not object, nodding in agreement.
Xiqiu discreetly observed the Grand Dowager, who sat upright on the kang, her face composed and stern as she methodically divided the tasks at hand based on each individual’s situation. Xiqiu admired her immensely; to quickly collect oneself from intense sorrow and handle matters with foresight and readiness—such capability could only belong to someone as seasoned as the Grand Dowager, beyond the handle of an ordinary person.
"Dear!" In her stupor, Xiqiu heard the Grand Dowager’s voice, and startled, looked toward her. She and Tong Xiyan slowly emerged, "Grand Dowager!"