CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: DILEMMA (4)

The First Master looked back at her with a gentle expression, nodding encouragingly. Lady sneered in her heart but replied with a smile on her face, "The Master has already decided. You should go back and prepare, though the time is a bit rushed. If you can’t manage, send someone to tell me, and I’ll let Daihe come over to help you."

Just as everyone thought Madam Xia would burst into tears of joy and eagerly express her gratitude, Madam Xia instead fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowed to the First Master and Lady, and said sincerely, "Master, forgive me... my health has always been unwell. If I go with the Master to the new post, not only will I be unable to serve properly, but I also fear I will hinder the Master’s duties. I should stay in the mansion; although it might be troublesome for Lady, at least in my own home, if I fall ill, it won’t drag the Master down." She paused and heavily kowtowed again, "I implore the Master and Lady to choose someone else!"

The First Master said her health was not good and suggested she go to Yongzhou to recuperate, which was precisely the excuse Madam Xia used to refuse. Things were indeed as she expected. Lady raised her eyebrows, showing displeasure, and reprimanded, "Mrs. Xia, the Master asked you to go out of concern for you, how can you refuse his good intentions!"

"That was not my intention; I truly cannot go." The dim light fell in the room as Madam Xia lowered her face, yet her expression was full of determination.

The First Master’s expression changed slightly, and his gaze at Madam Xia was filled with confusion.

Suddenly, he realized that although he sat with her every night these days, Madam Xia only chatted with him, maintaining a polite distance. He thought she was still not accustomed after six years, but now he realized that during these days, she never showed any intention of inviting him to stay over.

So it was all just pretending with him!

The First Master’s brows furrowed, and his demeanor abruptly turned cold.

Lady turned back with a smile that wasn’t a smile and asked the First Master, "Master, what should we do about this matter?"

"Hmph!" The First Master snorted coldly, suddenly stood up, gave a deep look at Madam Xia, then glanced at Lady’s face, and left without looking back, brushing his sleeves as he went!

Madam Xia knelt there with her face down, never looking up at the First Master from beginning to end.

Madam Luo was initially confused, but after thinking for a moment, she suddenly understood and sighed silently in her heart.

Madam Mei’s face lit up with joy; since Madam Xia was not going, the Master couldn’t go to the post alone. Lady would surely send someone else, and as she had always been close to Lady, this time the choice would surely be her.

Thinking of this, she was filled with hope as she waited for Lady to speak, only to hear Lady sigh heavily, pointing at Madam Xia, "You... always this way, what should I say about you? Get up!"

Madam Xia thanked Lady, stood up, and sat back down.

Lady slowly sipped her tea, looking troubled as she glanced at Madam Luo and Madam Mei. Madam Luo was frowning, seemingly ruminating on something, while Madam Mei tried to appear calm but couldn’t hide the joy in her expression.

She thought of Madam Wang’s health and recalled Madam Xia giving birth to Tong Minzhi at the post, her eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled, "The Master is a man, after all, and some matters he’s inevitably careless with. Since it’s inconvenient for Madam Xia to go along, we can’t let him go without anyone. If it’s truly like that, I won’t rest easy at home either. You should let me think about it, and also discuss with the Master, to see whom it’s suitable to take."

Madam Mei felt a pang of disappointment, both Madam Luo and Madam Xia rose to comply, and Lady, looking weary, waved her hand, "It’s late, a whole night of fuss, you should all go rest."

Madam Luo and Madam Xia each curtsied and left, Madam Mei hesitated slightly, but then followed them out.

Xiqiu woke up early in the morning, and Siliu rushed in, "Miss, there was an uproar last night in the main room." Xiqiu suddenly became alert and asked, "Do you know what happened?"

Siliu recounted the argument between Lady and the First Master, and added, "Lady then invited the concubines to the room, this morning I heard from some maids in the main room that the First Master was set on taking Madam Xia to Yongzhou, but Madam Xia openly refused in front of everyone, saying she was in poor health and couldn’t drag the Master down."

Xiqiu was startled, "Did Lady say anything?" Siliu replied, "Lady said she would choose someone else."

Xiqiu slowly closed her eyes, at first disappointed, then the pain in her heart gradually melted away; what she feared had finally happened!

She understood why Madam Xia refused; the First Master had not even asked back then and just sentenced her, without letting the concubine say a word in defense, surely it bred resentment. After hatred came a dead heart, she could peacefully coexist with the First Master, but only coexist in name. In her heart, they were no longer husband and wife, so how could she flatter and pretend harmony as in the past?!

There was another reason; in this household, if there was anyone Lady truly dreaded, it was not the arrogant Madam Wang, nor the cunning and resourceful Madam Luo, but the seemingly gentle yet truly loving Madam Xia. Lady disapproved of the First Master bringing a concubine, she couldn’t stop him but could control Madam Xia because her two children were still in Lady’s hands!

What made Xiqiu’s heart ache was this point; she thought she was always protecting Madam Xia, but didn’t expect it was Madam Xia who protected her all along, sacrificing her youth and love!

To ensure that she and Tong Minzhi lived peacefully in the mansion, she unhesitatingly sacrificed her regained happiness.

Siliu watched Xiqiu with concern, seeing tears silently streaming from her eyes, she too began to cry, "Miss, the Master hasn’t decided yet, we can still persuade Madam Xia."

"No need." Xiqiu shook her head, sighed heavily, "If this can bring peace to Aunt, then why force her to do something unwilling?" Siliu was stunned; she didn’t understand why Madam Xia refused, nor why Xiqiu didn’t persuade her. Madam Xia always valued the Sixth Miss’s opinion, if the Miss persuaded her, she might agree.

Xiqiu sat up, looking at Siliu saying, "This is not something we can decide; let Lady choose." She looked at Siliu, "Help me dress, let’s go to the First Master’s study."

Siliu was shocked, puzzled, "Miss, are you persuading the First Master?" It was Madam Xia’s issue, persuading the First Master might not help.

Xiqiu didn’t speak, she let Siliu assist her in washing up, and avoided Nanny Song as she took Sixing and Siliu to the outer study.

The First Master stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, his deep gaze revealing no emotions, Xiqiu entered and though his brow slightly raised, he showed no additional expression.

Xiqiu stepped forward and knelt to pay her respects, calling, "Father." Regardless of whether the First Master allowed her to rise, she straightened her back and looked at him.

Surprise flashed in the First Master’s eyes, he asked, "What’s the matter?"

Xiqiu smiled faintly at him, seemingly unaware of last night’s events, and said, "Daughter came to ask when Father will depart; I wish to personally prepare a farewell feast for Father." She spoke with expectant eyes on the First Master.