Tong Xiyan sneered, ignoring Shen’s attempt to stop her, she spoke her mind: "So what if she is of age? She’s not marrying off her daughter, she’s selling her daughter. She accepted a thousand taels of silver yet only prepared a hundred taels as dowry, and the groom is a widower whose previous wife was beaten to death by him while drunk. Marrying into such a family, does she not fear losing her own face?"
Xiqiu frowned upon hearing this, feeling that if this were true, Tong Xiyang’s actions were truly excessive. She herself was also a concubine’s daughter, and no one understood better than them the difficulties faced by concubine-born daughters at ho. She once deeply resented the Lady, but never imagined that years later, she would beco even less than the Lady of those days!
In the afternoon, after sending off Madam Xia, Shen, and Tong Xiyan, Xiqiu was sowhat surprised when Tong Xiyu and Madam Lou, mother and daughter-in-law, ca together to see her. Xiqiu and Madam Lou exchanged greetings and Xiqiu said, "Please have a seat."
"I’ve been concerned about you. Knowing you’ve returned safely, my mother-in-law asked to co and check on you." Madam Lou carefully observed Xiqiu and, seeing she was in good spirits, felt reassured: "Upon hearing about the troubles you encountered in the palace, my mother-in-law and I went to the Marquis Mansion and discussed with the Grand Dowager about personally visiting the Empress, but were finally stopped by the First Madam..."
"Sorry to have worried you." After speaking with Madam Lou, Xiqiu turned to the silent Tong Xiyu standing by: "Eighth sister, help your mother-in-law sit. Why are you being so formal here with ?"
Tong Xiyu replied, "Yes!" She helped Madam Lou sit down on the rose bed and said to Xiqiu, "It’s truly a relief that Sixth Sister is all right." She paused and then added, "Regarding Min, please accept my condolences and let things take their course."
Xiqiu’s face showed sorrow as she nodded, saying, "Thank you!" The two sisters then fell into silence.
Madam Lou glanced at Xiqiu, then looked at Tong Xiyu, who sat woodenly and silently with her head down. Madam Lou frowned slightly and turned her gaze back to Xiqiu, saying, "Is the mourning done at ho? When can the coffin return?"
"The day after tomorrow," Xiqiu sighed, "It’s temporarily at Fahua Temple."
Madam Lou nodded and said, "Then we will send soone to pay respects when the ti cos. You must take care of your health, as there are old and young at ho who rely on you. Everyone in the Man Mansion can’t do without you, so you cannot fall ill."
"I understand," Xiqiu replied, "I will certainly take care of myself, so that everyone isn’t constantly worried about ."
Madam Lou smiled reassuringly, "I’m relieved that you think this way. When I go back, I’ll tell my mother-in-law, and she will be happy for you too." With that, she stood up, "Then we’ll co again tomorrow, get so rest."
Tong Xiyu said no more, but bowed to Xiqiu.
Xiqiu escorted them to the door, and as they boarded the Clear Curtain Small Oil Carriage, Madam Lou sighed to her and asked, "What happened to you today? Soone usually so articulate and clever, yet when faced with your own sister, you lost your voice?"
"Mother," Tong Xiyu shook her head, "I just feel bad for Sixth Sister, so I couldn’t say a word."
Madam Lou gave her a scrutinizing look, then advised empathetically, "I’m not criticizing you, but you should connect more with your sisters from your mother’s family. I’m speaking from experience; in the future, those who can support each other are those siblings who grew up together, especially soone like the Fourth Madam, who is in charge in her husband’s family and influential in her mother’s family, with her husband in a position of power. By staying close to her, your husband’s prospects in officialdom may benefit from this network."
"I understand, Mother!" Tong Xiyu hung her head, but felt deeply aggrieved—Sixth Sister had a capable husband and was cherished by her husband’s family, but her own marriage wasn’t bad either, so why should she have to seek her sister’s favor...
The mother and daughter-in-law conversed as they boarded the carriage together, exiting the Governor Mansion’s gates, just as it passed by the Marquis Jinxiang Mansion’s carriage.
Madam Ruan and Madam Qian arrived, and as they sat down, First Young Madam Tang and Madam Huang seed to co as if by agreent, as well. They all began by inquiring about Xiqiu’s experiences in the palace, and Xiqiu responded briefly, then the group accompanied her in sighing and venting anger, followed by comforting her about Min.
Xiqiu shed tears before changing the subject, asking First Young Madam Tang and Madam Qian, "I heard there was a minor engagent, but I didn’t send a gift. When the wedding day arrives, I will make it up together."
"It wasn’t the actual day," Madam Qian glanced at First Young Madam Tang and replied, "You don’t need to worry about it, just make sure to co to celebrate with us when the actual wedding takes place."
Xiqiu nodded, "I’ll definitely co."
That evening Fourth Master Xiao returned, and Xiqiu assisted him in changing out of his court attire, asking, "How are things in the palace? I heard about the court brawl today?"
"Yes. The Imperial Censorate officials and Shen’s close courtiers brawled, and the Emperor fined each of them half a year’s salary." He said, sipping his tea while looking at Xiqiu, "Do you know who is this year’s spring third place?"
Xiqiu paused, not understanding why Fourth Master Xiao suddenly brought this up, so she asked, "Who is it?"
"You don’t know him, but he has a significant connection to you." Fourth Master Xiao said, placing down the tea cup, "His family is originally from Baoding, of average fortunes, enrolled three years ago under Songlu Academy in Baoding Prefecture."
Songlu Academy?
Xiqiu imdiately thought of Second Master: "Is he one of Second Uncle’s students?" Fourth Master Xiao smiled and nodded, "Today in the great hall, the person who called for the dethroning of the Empress was him..."
She had heard of this matter, and sat up straight, asking, "How did the Emperor respond?"
"Like the others, he fined him half a year’s salary!" Fourth Master Xiao’s tone relaxed with a smile in his eyes.
This third-place scholar was truly courageous. His single statent couldn’t change anything, but it provided a good test of the Emperor’s inclinations, and it seems he was quite successful, attracting attention.
Fourth Master Xiao shifted the topic again, saying, "The Empress has been bedridden and reportedly cried blood last night."
Xiqiu frowned; the Empress’s condition was indeed serious, and with this recent event, it was expected her health would further deteriorate.
"The Eldest Prince and Second Prince arrive in the capital tomorrow?" The Emperor and Fourth Master Xiao had co ahead, leaving the two children and Consort Le and Noble Lady Ying behind, with Min’s "coffin" delayed further, not returning ho but directly going to Fahua Temple.
Fourth Master Xiao affird: "Today, soone has already been sent to Tongzhou to receive them, and they should arrive by tomorrow noon." He said this while noticing the absence of Zhi, asking, "Where is Zhi?"
Xiqiu sat beside him, whispering, "He’s in Min’s room, he won’t co out despite being called." She sighed, explaining Zhi didn’t know the truth, but overhearing Qingshan say Min would never return, he vaguely understood sothing and hid in Min’s room, refusing to co out.
While speaking, Zhi entered, eyes red, head bowed. Xiqiu gently took his hand, softly asking, "Have you been in your brother’s room?"
"Yes." Zhi seed on the verge of tears, sadly asking Xiqiu, "Mother, will Third Brother... really never return?" Xiqiu took his hand, sat him down, wiped his tears and gently comforted, "Brother won’t be gone forever. When Zhi grows up, your brother will return."
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