Chapter 1081: Chapter 1071: Family Matters (1)
Madam Jiang looked at Tong Xiyu, who was lying on the bed with a rosy face, both happy for her and yet growing worried.
She was happy because after so many years of marriage into the Shouning Bo Mansion, Tong Xiyu was finally with child. If this time she gave birth to a boy, she would truly have secured her footing in the Shouning Bo Mansion once and for all. Even if it were a girl, it would not matter; she and Second Master Lou were still young, there would be plenty of chances and time in the future.
What worried her was the thought of the way the Eighth Son-in-law had looked just now in the garden; that appearance was clearly of someone whose body had been hollowed out by wine and women. How was it that in just a short time without seeing him, he had become like this?
The more she thought about it, the more puzzled she felt. The Eighth Son-in-law, because he only held an idle post and had nothing much in hand, did have some of those titled nobles’ idle laxness, but he was by no means a wastrel. She had never heard any rumors of him frequenting the pleasure quarters, and there were no foxy seductresses in his rear court either, so how had he ended up in such a state?
Could it be that during this period, while she was occupied with matters at home and had no time to ask about affairs in the Shouning Bo Mansion, something had happened that she did not know of?
Thinking of this, she could not help but cast a glance at Tong Xiyu, who was leaning on the bed, stroking her belly, brows and eyes full of joy. After a moment’s thought, she still asked, "...Eighth Lady, when I came in just now I ran into the Eighth Son-in-law. Seeing how hurried he was, we didn’t exchange a word. Is there some urgent matter?" As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, her tone sounding very sincere. She truly hoped that the several young ladies in the family would all live well; thus, whatever she could do, she would try her best to do. If they lived well, it would also be a support to their natal family and to the First Master’s future.
Tong Xiyu seemed not to hear the underlying meaning in Madam Jiang’s words; instead she looked very pleased and lowered her voice, saying, "It’s Vice Minister Hu of the Ministry of Industry who came to see him." She spoke with a faint pride: "Vice Minister Hu said that several sections of the dikes along Jiangnan Road were still repaired in the previous dynasty. Last summer, when the water level rose, a few places showed signs of seepage. Though they did not collapse, there are hidden dangers..." She smiled and took a sip of tea. "Back when Vice Minister Hu was down and out, Second Young Master once helped him. This time, the Emperor entrusted the matter of repairing the dikes to the Ministry of Industry, and Vice Minister Hu asked Second Young Master to join in for a share." As she spoke, she held up three fingers. "Invest thirty thousand taels; a year later, not counting the principal, there will be a profit of sixty thousand taels."
Madam Jiang was stunned as she listened. She had heard the First Master and the First Elder Master mention this matter and had kept it in mind, especially because the First Elder Master had once served in the Ministry of Industry and could not help paying extra attention. Now, hearing Tong Xiyu speak of it, she recalled the matter, and as the thought turned in her mind, she guessed: could the Eighth Son-in-law’s gauntness be due to worrying over the river dikes?
Tong Xiyu looked at Madam Jiang and continued, "These past two days, Second Young Master has been staying day and night with Vice Minister Hu, discussing matters together..."
The suspicious look on Madam Jiang’s face gradually faded. She nodded. "The silver is secondary; it is always better for a man to have something to do than to idle about." She looked at Tong Xiyu with earnest concern. "But he must still take care of his health."
Tong Xiyu nodded. "Mm, I’ll also try to persuade him later." Since Madam Jiang had always been meticulous, Tong Xiyu secretly let out a breath of relief.
When Madam Jiang left the Shouning Bo Mansion, Nanny Cen was going to take her leave. She glanced at the sky and remembered that she had not seen Xiqiu for many days, so she said, "Don’t bother taking leave; I’ll go see Sixth Lady as well."
Nanny Cen smiled and agreed. She got into the Governor Mansion’s carriage and followed Madam Jiang back to the Governor Mansion.
Xiqiu was in her room, holding Ying in one arm while turning her head to tease Gong, who was lying in Chunliu’s arms. As the months went by, Ying was becoming ever more adorable; whenever someone played or coaxed her, she would let out a bubbling laugh. She didn’t shy from strangers—whoever held her, she would smile at them, making one’s heart melt just from looking.
Xiqiu kissed her on the cheek and said with a smile, "Shall Mother take you to the courtyard to see the flowers?" Ying giggled, and Xiqiu went on, "The camellias in the back courtyard have bloomed; later we’ll pick some and put them in a vase in the room."
Ying fixed her large eyes tightly on her mother, laughing even more cheerfully.
Xiqiu then lowered her head to look at Gong. Gong was half-squinting his eyes, lying there with an expression of utter enjoyment. Seeing him like that, Xiqiu couldn’t help but laugh. She was just about to speak when Lyuzhi’s voice came from outside: "Madam, Nanny Cen has returned."
As the words fell, the curtain was lifted, but the one who entered was Madam Jiang. Xiqiu, holding Ying, went up to greet her, smiling as she said, "Elder Sister-in-law, what brings you here?" She stepped aside. "Please, sit."
"I ran into Nanny Cen outside the Shouning Bo Mansion. Thinking that I haven’t seen you for quite some days, I came by to have a look." She then took Gong from Chunliu’s arms and held him, smiling as she said, "This child, every time I see him he looks like some rustic old farmer at leisure."
Xiqiu thought so too and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. The two of them played with the children for a while; when they saw the little ones getting a bit tired, they had the two wet nurses carry them away to rest. Xiqiu then asked Madam Jiang, "Elder Sister-in-law has seen Eighth Younger Sister—how is she?"
Madam Jiang nodded and told her about Tong Xiyu’s situation. She hesitated over whether to mention Second Master Lou’s condition as well; the words reached her lips but were swallowed back down.
After all, it concerned the young son-in-law. What she held in her heart was only conjecture; if she spoke it, it would inevitably seem a bit like chasing shadows.
So she ended up only speaking to Xiqiu about Tong Xiyu.
Madam Jiang might not say it, but Nanny Cen had been muttering over it in her heart for a long time. Once Madam Jiang left and she entered the room, she supplemented the story by telling Xiqiu about Second Master Lou. "Though this servant stays in the inner quarters, the several masters at home are all proper men, yet I’ve still seen no small number of such people." She paused, her face showing worry. "Second Master Lou’s appearance is clearly that of someone whose body has been hollowed out by wine and women." She was wondering whether, because Second Young Madam Lou was with child, Second Master Lou had gone and taken up with some improper woman.
Hearing this, Xiqiu furrowed her brows. Nanny Cen had always known her limits and was usually very accurate in judging people. "Elder Sister-in-law has seen Second Master Lou as well?"
"Mm. First Young Madam was also greatly shocked at the time. When she spoke with Second Young Madam Lou, she even purposely asked about Second Master Lou. But Second Young Madam Lou said that these days Second Master Lou has been occupied with the river dikes... so First Young Madam didn’t say anything more."
"I understand." The matter of repairing the river dikes was not the Ministry of Industry’s concern alone. With so many titled nobles in the Capital, such a lucrative opportunity naturally attracted many families to get involved. Each household would symbolically put up some Qian to buy stone or hire laborers, then simply wait to collect the money. There were plenty of people to rack their brains over it; it would hardly fall to Second Master Lou to be the one earnestly straining himself behind them.
So she did not believe what Tong Xiyu had said; but if she had said so, could there be some hidden reason behind it?
Thinking a moment, she added, "We can speak of this later. Since Second Master Lou’s health is like this and neither Old Madam Lou nor Madam Lou has shown any reaction, we’ll just act as though we don’t know." After all, he was her own brother-in-law; she could not say too much about him even to Nanny Cen.
Nanny Cen assented and left the room.
Xiqiu, however, felt a muted unease in her heart. Yet for the moment, she could not put her finger on what exactly felt wrong. Then she remembered that Tong Xiyu was now with child; once the child was born, Second Master Lou would be the support for mother and son. Since Madam Jiang had given a vague reminder, Tong Xiyu would naturally be mindful of her own husband’s health.
Thinking this, she no longer dwelled on it. She called Lyuzhi over and asked, "Has Fourth Master returned?"
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