CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: SHOWING WEAKNESS

Tong Shen Zhi’s gaze flickered as he looked at the open door, suddenly letting out a sigh of relief: "That’s good!" He led the way into the room.

The room was not large and was very simply furnished. Besides two red-lacquered wardrobes, there was a screen with flowers, grass, fish, and insects. A few changes of clothes were draped over the screen, and in the main area was a large bed with curtain hooks in the form of two huge wild boars baring their tusks, giving a playful touch full of child-like mischief. All the furnishings were visible at a glance.

Tong Minzhi was not sleeping soundly. Although his complexion remained pale, there were no signs of fever. He lay there, fragile as a porcelain doll.

"Since Seventh Brother is fine, you should return early," Tong Shen Zhi suddenly turned to look at her, gesturing at her clothes: "It’s been a tiring night; go back and rest, you still need to visit Mother."

Xiqiu’s gaze flickered, lingering affectionately on Tong Minzhi’s face, but she still nodded: "Alright! I’ll trouble you here, Brother." She approached to tuck the quilt around Tong Minzhi and whispered something in his ear. Tong Minzhi’s eyelashes fluttered but he did not move. She stood up and told Liufu, who was carrying a tea tray: "Take good care of him, instruct the kitchen to simmer some porridge to keep warm, and feed him when he wakes." After a few steps, she turned back: "Make sure he drinks more water."

She left the room, reluctantly glancing back three times with each step.

Sixing had just returned, noticing Siliu looking flustered and furious, and the room in disarray. Curious, she caught sight of Xiqiu and came over asking: "Miss, are you alright?!"

Xiqiu glanced at her, then turned her gaze outward. Outside, the night was as deep and inky as the pitch, and at some point, a light drizzle began to fall. She put away the coldness on her face and spoke softly: "Let’s go." With that, she walked into the rain without looking back.

Sixing and Siliu were taken aback. One hastily grabbed an umbrella, while the other picked up a lantern from the corner and chased after her.

Behind the window, Tong Shen Zhi leaned against the windowsill, shaking his head helplessly with a frown, then returned to the bedside and casually picked up a book to flip through.

"Lady, Sixth Miss is here." Nanny Fang brightened the oil lamp in the corner, then called out to Lady from behind the curtain.

Lady’s voice came from the bed with drowsiness. She turned over and sat up. Nanny Fang, hearing the movement, lifted the curtain and draped a small jacket over her shoulders, placed a deep blue double-gold-edged large pillow behind Lady, and turned to fetch tea warmed on the stove.

Lady rinsed her mouth, drank half a cup of tea, and sighed: "What hour is it?"

Nanny Fang pulled a watch from her bosom, glanced at it, and said: "Late Chou hour." She paused: "Sixth Miss is soaked, her eyes red, and is kneeling outside."

Lady’s brow arched in surprise: "Sixth Girl? Do you know what it’s about?"

Nanny Fang glanced at the door, lowered her voice, and said: "Using the excuse of washing up, I went to the second gate." She leaned close to Lady’s ear and explained the matter carefully.

"Tianqing?" Seeing Nanny Fang nodding, Lady’s face darkened as her fingers gently caressed the teacup, saying nothing.

Nanny Fang nodded, her expression solemn: "I specially went to Young Master’s courtyard. Moju hasn’t woken up; Daisy had just taken the clothes to wash. She was on duty last night and said that Young Master returned at midnight. I checked the clothes in the basin; they were all dry, without any signs of rain." If Xu Tianqing hadn’t been caught in the rain, it would confirm Moju’s account.

"Tianqing is a well-behaved child!" Lady’s expression slightly eased. It was unclear whether she was satisfied with Nanny Fang or the outcome. Raising her brow, she asked: "Once Nanny Qian left, Sixth Girl had Chunyu tied up? What’s the matter with Qiuyun then?"

Nanny Fang replied in a low voice: "The maids said that once Nanny Qian left, Chunyu went mad, hurling insults at Sixth Miss. The insults were unspeakable, yet Sixth Miss did not lose her temper, only listened for a long time until Chunyu suddenly overturned a table. Only then did Sixth Miss get angry and had Siliu tie her up. As for Qiuyun..." Her expression turned somewhat unpleasant. These two maids were under her guidance, and such an incident made it hard for her to maintain her reputation before Young Master: "Qiuyun was tied up by Young Master. It was said Yishan dragged her out of Young Master’s room."

Lady’s brow furrowed slightly. After some reflection, she said: "Let her come in."

Nanny Fang nodded and went out, returning with Xiqiu shortly after.

Xiqiu, having left Tong Minzhi’s courtyard, went directly there. She had been in the rain, and her purplish overcoat, and the pink jacket underneath, were soaked on one side. Water droplets hung from her hair, and her face looked weary and pale. She entered and kneeled by Lady’s bed, her voice low: "Mother!" She choked up softly.

Seeing her like this, Lady’s brow subtly relaxed, her voice soft: "The ground is cold; what are you doing? You haven’t changed your clothes." She turned to Nanny Fang: "Have Sixing fetch Sixth Miss’s clothes to change into them here."

Nanny Fang placed a small stool, helped Xiqiu to stand: "Sixth Miss, please have some tea. Whatever it is, speak slowly." She handed her the tea, left, and considerately closed the door behind her.

Lady watched Xiqiu with a slightly scrutinizing expression, not speaking.

Xiqiu’s tears fell as she lowered her head in shame: "Daughter has disobeyed Mother. Mother is so magnanimous; I am ashamed beyond words..."

Lady’s eyes revealed satisfaction. She sat up straighter, adjusted the overcoat draped over her, and asked the reason: "What exactly happened?"

"Earlier, in a moment of anger, I... tied up Chunyu." She did not sound like she was complaining, just stated the result to Lady: "I initially intended to wait till Mother woke and ask you to decide, but in a fit of anger..." She recounted the incident but deliberately omitted Chunyu and Qiuyun’s intentions: "I should have asked Mother to make the decision. I acted rashly... Please punish me, Mother!"

Xiqiu lowered her face, sat on the small stool in confusion. Lady looked at her and sighed: "Such a small matter, you need not be like this. They are just two maids. You have always been gentle-natured, certainly angered to act this way. I see those two maids lacked discretion. I once thought them clever to send to Seventh, but now realize I was mistaken." She paused, pondered a moment, then leaned back against the pillow: "You’re too soft-hearted, this small issue has you out in the rain at midnight, disturbing the entire household."

Xiqiu knelt again, looking up at Lady with tearful eyes, full of self-reproach: "I acted without thinking... I’ve let you down, Mother!" Her tone was sincere, as though struggling fiercely within.

Lady suddenly laughed, offered her own handkerchief warmly to Xiqiu: "A lady of your standing, what is this behavior? Dry your tears!" She then called to Nanny Fang outside: "No need to bring those two maids here, just send a few servants to send them to the Tongzhou estate." She made the decision without even asking more questions, sending them away outright.