Chapter 977: Chapter 973: The End of the Story (17)
"Not bad." Fourth Master Xiao replied, "We encountered her in Shandong." He paused before continuing, "She was accompanied by a man with the surname Qin, who seems to be the Second Young Master of Tongxuan Hall. Have you ever heard of him?"
He remembered when he saw Ruan Jingliu, Second Young Master Qin was riding a horse beside her. Ruan Jingliu didn’t bother to talk to him and her tone was poor, but when speaking of Min, Ruan Jingliu did not avoid mentioning him... Second Young Master Qin took Min to his residence in Dengzhou, Shandong, to recover from his injuries. Although Ruan Jingliu had many complaints, she did not object.
Obviously, she trusts Second Young Master Qin quite a lot.
Xiqiu had only heard of him, and whenever Ruan Jingliu talked about him, she always seemed displeased. She did not expect Second Young Master Qin to follow her.
When Ruan Jingliu returns, she will need to ask her properly.
"Fourth Master, Fourth Madam, we’ve arrived!" As they spoke, the carriage stopped at the Yimen gate of the Marquis Mansion. Xiqiu was helped out of the carriage by Fourth Master Xiao, while Xiao Yanyi was waiting by the side, and Xiqiu nodded slightly at him. Xiao Yanyi nodded back, and was the first to go inside, getting into the front Clear Curtain Small Oil Car, while Xiqiu and Fourth Master Xiao got into the one behind.
The car stopped in front of the garden, and Xiqiu, led by Fourth Master Xiao, walked towards the Grand Dowager’s courtyard. Seeing the lights shining ahead, Xiqiu’s eyes moistened again, it felt like a lifetime although only a few days had passed.
She had Consort Wen get her medicine; it was not unusual for palace concubines to possess such medicines. After taking the medicine, she began to have a high fever, but her mind was very clear. She knew Consort Wen had followed her instructions to anger the Empress, and was seriously injured. As the time for the Emperor to return to the capital drew closer, the Empress and Old Madam Shen grew more impatient, sending the Imperial Physician to force her awake with lethal methods...
Consort Wen had someone set a big fire at the right moment, the wood soaked in tung oil ignited in the blink of an eye. Amidst the chaos, she disguised herself as a palace maid and ran out into Caisi Palace... As expected, Old Madam Shen sensed something was wrong, knowing Consort Wen was involved, but realized this was hard to explain to the court, seeking scapegoats in her and Consort Wen, leading to the trapped situation in Caisi Palace.
She anticipated Fourth Master Xiao’s return yet didn’t expect him to come back so timely. Given the urgency, he could only have Consort Wen contact First Master and Xiao Yanyi, but couldn’t wait for Fourth Master Xiao. Without Fourth Master Xiao’s timely return, Xiao Yanyi would indeed enter the palace with First Master and Lord Wu...
Thus, her unjust imprisonment and near-death in the fire, Shen couldn’t argue her innocence, only pushing them into desperation, causing them to fluster, thereby providing a ladder for the Emperor to descend the situation seamlessly, ending it once and for all!
"Mother!" A small figure ran towards her, Xiqiu’s eyes brightened as she knelt down to catch the child, and embraced him: "Zhi!"
Zhi clung to Xiqiu, smelling the unique scent of his mother he longed for, his eyes wet as he cried: "Mother, you finally came back."
"Don’t cry, don’t cry!" Xiqiu hugged her son, gently patting him: "Mother’s back, Zhi be good!"
Zhi sobbed with his head in Xiqiu’s arms, crying as if his heart was breaking. During these days, he sensed danger from the atmosphere in the Grand Dowager and First Madam’s realm within the Marquis Mansion. His mother must have encountered danger, or otherwise she wouldn’t be gone without communication for so long. He couldn’t lose his mother, but he didn’t dare cry, fearing to worry his grandmother. Daily, he suppressed his fears, crouching by the side door, hoping the next moment he would see his cheerful mother appear before him.
Yet he waited several days, still not seeing his mother.
He thought he’d never see his mom again, his heart nearly shattered, feeling as if dying.
Unexpectedly, his mother returned.
He tightly hugged her, never wanting her away again, insisting on becoming strong, protecting her from danger, and making everyone fear her presence, no disrespect or bullying ever again!
"Zhi be good, stop crying, mother’s back." Xiqiu embraced her son, tears fell again, pulling Zhi from her arms to wipe his tears, choking up: "These days, have you been eating well, listening to Grandmother?"
Zhi wiped his tears with his sleeve, nodding: "Yes, I’ve been good, staying with my brothers, not causing trouble and not going out every day."
"Zhi is so sensible." Xiqiu smiled through tears, Zhi using small hands to wipe Xiqiu’s tears, eyes red: "Mother, you’ve lost weight." very upset.
Xiqiu’s halted tears fell again, kissing her son’s face: "Then mom will eat more, putting on weight again." Zhi nodded earnestly, Xiqiu smiled said, "Father’s back too, quickly go see him."
Zhi nodded, looking at Fourth Master Xiao, smiling: "Dad!" Fourth Master Xiao came over, patting his head, Zhi then greeted Xiao Yanyi with a fist salute: "Second Uncle."
Xiao Yanyi nodded slightly.
Grand Dowager, supported by First Madam and Xing, greeted them, Sheng accompanying with a silly smile shot at Xiqiu.
"Mother." Xiqiu stood and saluted Grand Dowager, before slightly bowing to First Madam: "Sister-in-law."
Grand Dowager, eyes wet, nodded: "It’s good you’re okay, it’s good." Then looked to Fourth Master Xiao fondly, First Madam nodded, gave Xiqiu a mild smile: "Let’s go inside!"
It was as if one could hear a whole family breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Xiqiu agreed, Xing released Grand Dowager’s hand, smiling at Xiqiu: "Fourth Aunt." Came over holding Xiqiu’s hand: "You’re finally back, Grandmother hasn’t eaten all day, please persuade her."
Xiqiu held Xing, nodding: "Alright, let’s eat together later, Fourth Aunt also hasn’t eaten, has Xing eaten?"
"Not either." Xing, fixating on Xiqiu: "Fourth Aunt wasn’t back, I didn’t have the appetite." Then looked at Zhi held by Fourth Master Xiao on his neck, couldn’t help but laugh.
The family entered the room, Ziwei and Bilian served tea, Xiqiu recounted her recent palace experiences to everyone, Grand Dowager frowned saying: "...Old Madam Shen calculated her whole life, yet became more confused, thinking others are mere puppets at her disposal." Pausing, put down the tea cup: "Even sacrificing Xuanning Marquis Mansion can’t satisfy her wish."
First Madam supported Grand Dowager: "Calm down, since the Emperor is aware, the consequence will be forthcoming. What goes around comes around, even heaven wouldn’t spare her."
"Indeed." Grand Dowager looked towards Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi: "This time, we mustn’t let them have the energy to disrupt the court again."
Fourth Master Xiao nodded in agreement, Xiao Yanyi said: "All is ready." Glancing at Fourth Master Xiao: "Waiting for Fourth Brother and the Emperor’s return." Then looked at Xiqiu, without her setting the fire, this would likely still be a prolonged struggle, severing ties with one tael of Fujian military report participants, now just wait to see tomorrow’s court excitement.
