Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Startled (5)
Chunyan was full of confusion: "Who on earth is this person?"
"A friend!" Xiqiu turned around and walked toward the walkway: "Let’s go back!" To avoid Fourth Master Xiao saying something strange again later!
Xiqiu gradually walked back to the courtyard. Behind her, under the dim courtyard wall, Fourth Master Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze quietly falling on Xiqiu. He spoke deeply to Tianyi beside him: "Check what exactly happened at the Tong Mansion!?"
"Yes!" Tianyi nodded and rubbed his nearly broken waist: "Fourth Master, should we enter the city to rest for a few days? You’ve been traveling for half a month straight, maybe you should take a break before heading back?"
Fourth Master Xiao frowned slightly, watching the courtyard door of Xiqiu close safely, only then did he turn around and walk back: "Once you find out about the Tong Mansion, we’ll return!" Tianyi was on the verge of tears. Did they rush back at night for Fourth Master to simply visit Puji Temple? He thought about it and couldn’t help but glance back curiously at Xiqiu’s courtyard. And that hairpin, after polishing it for more than half a month, he thought it was a gift for someone, but it was casually given to Sixth Miss Tong?
A thought flashed, and suddenly his eyes brightened, could it be that Fourth Master...
Tianyi felt the ache disappear instantly from his body, and he chuckled softly watching Xiqiu’s back. Fourth Master Xiao turned back to look at him, frowning, while Tianyi simply smiled indifferently...
Although Sixth Miss Tong is a bit young, if Fourth Master likes her, then it doesn’t matter if he endures more hardships or makes a few more trips!
Xiqiu returned to her room and gave the box to Chunyan, instructing her to store it carefully. Chunliu looked puzzled at the black wood box and pulled Chunyan aside to ask, "How did you go out and come back with something extra? Who gave it?"
Chunyan was also full of confusion: "Miss said it’s from a friend!" Chunliu and Chunyan exchanged glances, both utterly bewildered. When did Miss make a friend? Why didn’t they know?!
After the Double Ninth Festival, it got colder day by day. When the first snow fell in the capital, the old servants brought coal to Xiqiu, and Chunliu went back to send extra belongings to Tong Xiyang. When she returned, she brought letters from Tong Xiyan and Xiao Yanzheng. Tong Xiyan mentioned in the letter that there was still no news from Xu Tianqing. Lord Xu even discretely used the soldiers from the government office but still couldn’t find Xu Tianqing. The concubine was gravely ill and remained at the Tong Mansion.
Meanwhile, Tong Shenzhi’s marriage had begun to be discussed.
When Tong Xiyang got married, the Ren Family showed great respect to the Tong Mansion, organizing a grand event. However, Third Master Ren was disappointing. When he came to fetch the bride, before the young ones inside could stop him at the door, he arrogantly had someone place a ladder at the door, tossing a handful of red envelopes inside, and shouted, "Take the money and open the door quickly!"
Lady was furious. When Ren Jun and Tong Xiyang came to pay respects, she spoke many stern words. Ren Jun was impatient, waved his robe, stood up and left, not caring that Tong Xiyang was left behind. Tong Shenzhi suggested calling off the marriage, questioning how the third sister could marry such a man. Yet Lady insisted on having Tong Shenzhi carry Tong Xiyang into the bridal palanquin.
On the third day after the wedding, Tong Xiyang returned home, dressed opulently. However, Tong Xiyan noticed she had dark circles under her eyes and looked haggard. It was only after inquiring privately that she learned during those three days, Ren Jun only spent half a night in the household on the wedding night. The next day, it was Ren Jun’s elder brother and sister-in-law who accompanied Tong Xiyang for the ancestor and family rituals!
It wasn’t until the third morning when the Count was infuriated that they brought him back from the Drunken Workshop Building, had him wash, dressed, and boarded the carriage to accompany Tong Xiyang for the third-day home visit!
Xiqiu could only sigh secretly. Everyone had long predicted Ren Jun’s behavior. Back then, he nearly embraced Tong Xiyang in front of First Master when sending her back. Such a person was bound to have a poor character. She thought about Madam Wang... doesn’t know if after all her contending and scheming for such a marriage, would she be indifferent, or lamenting her daughter’s unfortunate life?
Would she not care, or feel heartache and regret?
Xiao Yanzheng’s letter once again mentioned Princess Chengning and said that Fourth Master Xiao had not yet returned to the mansion. This made Xiqiu secretly puzzled. Could it be last time he came back, he just circled outside the city? She suddenly recalled that last year when accompanying Lady to Puji Temple, she also encountered Fourth Master Xiao outside the city. Could it be that he often comes to Puji Temple, and it was just a coincidence that they met this time?!
Xiqiu didn’t think too much and kept reading. Xiao Yanzheng also mentioned Xing, whose body was still weak, couldn’t eat solid foods, and vomited when he tried. However, Min was doing well, could crawl, sit, tumble, and even smile at people... just couldn’t speak, not even able to call mom or dad!
Xiqiu was full of astonishment, wondering just how long it had been since Fourth Master Xiao last saw his child?
After she finished replying to the letter, Tong Shenzhi hurriedly arrived. Unlike previous times with a gloomy expression, he immediately said to Xiqiu: "There’s news about Madam Xia." Xiqiu nearly jumped up, the anxiety and fear from the past five months finally eased. She smiled brightly and eagerly asked Tong Shenzhi: "Where is she? Is she safe?!"
Tong Shenzhi slightly nodded: "She’s in Hengzhou, father has already sent someone to fetch her!" Xiqiu raised an eyebrow slightly, how did she end up in Hengzhou? She asked: "How was she found, did she say anything?"
"No!" Tong Shenzhi replied: "A chivalrous person delivered the message, left it at the porter and said it must be handed to me personally, then left! It was the same on father’s side, left at the government office to be passed on!"
Xiqiu was quietly puzzled. Who could it be, doing good deeds without leaving a name, knowing the circumstances of both Madam Xia and Tong Minzhi, and also being well-versed with the affairs of the Tong Mansion?
Tong Shenzhi was also puzzled, unable to figure it out, and decided to set it aside for the time being. He said to Xiqiu: "It’s cold, why don’t you stay here temporarily? Before the year ends, I’ll try to find a way to bring you back." Since Lady didn’t agree, he naturally couldn’t go against her. Moreover, given the situation in the household, with the concubine there, perhaps it was for the better that Xiqiu didn’t return!
"No need!" Xiqiu smiled: "I’m fine here, let’s talk about it when father returns." Tong Shenzhi said no more, accompanied Tong Shenzhi out personally, and on the way back, she unexpectedly ran into Xiao Yanyi, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time!
"Marquis!" Xiqiu composed her face and bowed in greeting!
Xiao Yanyi’s gaze fell on her thin face, noticing she had lost weight. He asked, frowning: "I heard from Yanzheng that you’re here, isn’t the temple quite austere?"
Xiqiu didn’t understand Xiao Yanyi’s intent, so she could only follow his words: "Though austere, it’s tranquil." Xiao Yanyi nodded slightly and asked again: "I heard you were ill some time ago, are you feeling better now? Does your leg still hurt?"
"The illness has improved, and my leg doesn’t hurt much anymore. Thanks to the Marquis’ blessing, after Doctor Liu’s acupuncture, I’ve gotten much better, and later Grand Dowager also sent two prescriptions of Miao medicine. This winter is much better than spring!" Xiao Yanyi nodded reassuringly and noted her mention of Miao medicine in his mind.