CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 316: EACH OTHER (5)

It would be better to visit the Shen Mansion to assess the situation first.

The afternoon dragged on slowly, Xiqiu sat alone in the study, absentmindedly rubbing the mutton fat jade hairpin in her hand. The memories of Fourth Master Xiao flashed before her eyes like a slideshow...Until dusk when the First Master and Tong Shenzhi had not yet returned, the mansion was already in a chaotic uproar, with rumors spreading that Fourth Master Xiao had been devoured by wolves on the Mongolian plains, or that he had been captured by the Mongolians...and so on.

There were many versions of the story, and the way people looked at Xiqiu changed instantly from envy, admiration, and flattery to pity...There were even rumors spreading on the street that the Sixth Miss of the Tong Mansion had a fate that brought bad fortune to her husband.

Once the epitome of beauty, she had overnight become an unattractive woman believed to bring misfortune.

If this were any other time, Xiqiu would have laughed upon hearing such rumors, but now she felt no joy. She pulled Chunyan aside and asked, "Has Nanny Lai returned?" Chunyan replied, "No!" She paused and continued, "Miss, the concubine, Fourth Miss, Seventh Young Master, and Eldest Young Madam all came by. I told them you were resting and they left after sitting for a while!"

Xiqiu nodded, "I understand!"

It was not until the inner courtyard was about to be locked that Nanny Lai returned. Hearing her voice, Xiqiu opened the door and came out of her room, asking, "How did the Wuchang Bo Mansion react?!"

Nanny Lai replied, "Before I went, the Count’s carriage had already entered the palace. The carriages of several families’ women entered the inner courtyard through the side gate throughout the afternoon. I stood not far from the carriages and overheard the coachwomen talking, saying pretty much what’s being said on the streets... Before I returned, the Count hadn’t come back from the palace. It’s likely that the matter is as we suspect!"

Xiqiu remained skeptical. She nodded, "You’ve been busy all afternoon, go rest now." Nanny Lai wanted to say more, but swallowed her words when she saw Xiqiu’s expression.

After escorting Nanny Lai out, Xiqiu went directly to the First Master’s study. The First Master was not there, so the gatekeeper lit a lamp for her. Xiqiu wandered aimlessly in the study, sometimes taking a book from the shelf to read, sometimes holding a pen but not knowing what to write before hanging it back up...

She was calm and her mind was clear, yet she couldn’t stop herself from picking up books to read that she couldn’t focus on...It seemed like her heart was uneasy without something in her hands. She picked up the pen again and wrote large characters on the laid-out Xuan paper in a flourish. When she came to her senses, she was surprised to see a page full of...impossibility.

She suddenly laughed, with a hint of helplessness in her smile...impossible, what is impossible?

Is it impossible that Fourth Master Xiao made such a wrong military judgment, or took such a risk? Or is it that it’s impossible for her to be worried like this?!

Since when did she start worrying about him? Was it when he brought the medical woman to help her through a tough time, or when he domineeringly said those things to her, or when he secretly gave Madam Xia a silver note to ensure she wouldn’t be bullied in the mansion, writing immature letters to threaten Lady Jiang?!

Xiqiu didn’t know, she threw the pen on the table in frustration. Just then, footsteps sounded in the courtyard. She eagerly lifted the curtain, and the First Master entered with a stern face, his hands behind his back. Seeing Xiqiu inside, he didn’t show an expression of surprise. Xiqiu felt her heart sink again and asked, "Father, is it true?"

The First Master furrowed his brows and nodded, "The military report was sent to the palace by Huang Da’s bodyguards. This year, Fourth Master Xiao and Shen Ji had already engaged the Mongolian soldiers dozens of times, killing hundreds. Recently, the Twelve Tribes of Mongolia amassed 6,000 troops led by Dai Qin to besiege Jinzhou Guard. Fourth Master Xiao divided his troops into three forces for a flanking attack, defeating the Mongolian forces, capturing a Chiliarch and 400 prisoners...Dai Qin, however, was escorted by 800 guards into the grasslands. Fourth Master Xiao, along with Shen Ji, led 3,000 men in pursuit overnight. Initially, there was news, but recently there has been no news at all!"

Xiqiu didn’t know who Dai Qin was, but from what the First Master said, he must be the leader of the Twelve Tribes...So, the decision for Fourth Master Xiao to pursue was made during wartime, without thorough deliberation?

She felt that Fourth Master Xiao was not an impulsive person!

The First Master sighed, "Even the Emperor finds it hard to decide at the moment. I heard the Shen Family is secretly gathering warriors to Liaodong to rescue them!" Xiqiu was taken aback, looking at the First Master, "What about the Xiao Family, have they taken action?"

"I don’t know." The First Master shook his head, "But Xiao Yanyi is still detained in the palace. We’ll have to wait for the Emperor’s decision tomorrow to see what happens specifically."

What can the Emperor do? Without finding the bodies, is he going to posthumously promote them as martyrs? Or send people to rescue them? Huang Da must have already searched the surroundings thoroughly; he wouldn’t dare submit such a report unless he was completely helpless and overwhelmed. What’s the point of sending people now?

The First Master placed a steadying hand on Xiqiu’s shoulder, restraining the pain in his eyes, and comforted her, "The grasslands are unimaginably vast, and the Mongolian soldiers are skilled in guerrilla warfare. It can take a long time for ordinary people to traverse them...From what I see, the battle report itself is not false, but the rumors of their deaths are not to be believed!"

The First Master spoke objectively, Xiqiu took a deep breath and nodded, "I understand, Father!" She bowed and turned to leave, "I will go back to rest now."

The First Master nodded and then abruptly called out to her, "Sixth Girl..." Xiqiu turned to look at him, and the First Master said with furrowed brows, "Don’t let your mind wander, your father is still here with you!"

Xiqiu nodded solemnly, turned, and left the study.

She let Chunyan extinguish the lantern, and the two walked slowly through the dimly lit garden towards the Zhiqu Courtyard. Chunyan, carefully following behind Xiqiu, couldn’t help but shed silent tears. The Sixth Miss has had such a hard life. She used to live cautiously in the mansion, her marriage was fraught with complications, then Young Master Hong’s death, and now with Grand Commander Xiao, life had just settled down... But what if even Grand Commander Xiao...

She didn’t dare to think...

If it really came to that, the Sixth Miss’s path would seem to have only one direction left.

No one spoke; the two silently returned to the Zhiqu Courtyard. Upon entering the room, they saw Madam Xia, Madam Jiang, Tong Xi, and Tong Minzhi sitting there waiting for her, each with an unsightly expression. Madam Xia’s eyes were red and swollen, evidence she had been crying all afternoon.

Seeing their concerned expressions, Xiqiu felt a pang in her heart but managed to smile, "Why are you all here so late?"

Madam Xia came up, took Xiqiu’s hand, and tears fell again, "Sixth Miss, as long as there’s no definitive news, we wait another day. You mustn’t lose hope."

"Aunt is right!" Tong Xi also said, "It’s just a military report, General Huang couldn’t find them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the worst has happened, so don’t let your thoughts run wild, just wait for him to come back." Xiqiu smiled and nodded. Madam Jiang came over and held her hand, appearing much more composed than Madam Xia, "That’s how war goes, things change in an instant. Until you’ve seen it with your own eyes, don’t believe the rumors. Moreover, the military report only states they’ve lost contact; what’s being said is merely townsfolk gossip and not to be taken seriously!"