CHAPTER 298: CHAPTER 298: ENGAGEMENT (6)

"Hurry and get the doctor!" Xiqiu turned to instruct Daiju: "And also help me bring a basin of clean water!"

"Oh!" Daiju absentmindedly went out, gathered water with Chunliu, and brought it back in. She quickly went to the second courtyard to fetch the doctor while Xiqiu wiped Tong Xiyan’s face with cold water, finally bringing some clarity to her eyes. Yet, she still sat there wordlessly, staring at something for what seemed like ages.

Daiju returned shortly, and Xiqiu asked, "Was the doctor called?" Daiju nodded and shook her head, saying, "Nanny Fang just sent someone; they said Lady just vomited blood and fainted!" She spoke with a face full of despair: "...Lady smashed the teapot on Young Master Zhou’s head."

Xiqiu was stunned. Despite Lady being unable to speak or move, she managed to grab a teapot and break it on Young Master Zhou’s head. It seemed this marriage proposal was inevitable to withdraw. She looked at the dazed Tong Xiyan and let out a heavy sigh!

Doctor Hu rushed over, panting, checked Lady’s pulse, and then hurried to Tong Xiyan’s side. After taking her pulse, Doctor Hu said, "Fourth Miss is afflicted with phlegm in the heart. I’ll prescribe two doses of medicine and see the effect first!" It’s not a major issue.

Xiqiu cradled Tong Xiyan and said, "Thank you, Mr. Hu... You just came from Lady’s side; what is the situation with Mother’s illness?"

Doctor Hu sighed heavily and replied, "Lady’s illness has turned into a stroke; it requires meticulous care." Xiqiu’s eyes reddened as she stood up to see Doctor Hu off, instructing Daiju to prepare the medicine. Meanwhile, First Master and Tong Shen Zhi arrived, First Master’s face looking grim. Xiqiu cautiously reported, "Sir said it’s phlegm affecting the heart and prescribed two doses to observe..." First Master frowned at Tong Xiyan, who was playing with a tea cup, then turned to Xiqiu and instructed, "Have Nanny Lai find a human trafficker to buy some more servants for the mansion. Your sisters can’t lack personnel beside them!"

Tong Xiyan had only two senior maids, two junior maids, and two cleaning servants. Xiqiu’s side was even less, just two senior maids, one junior maid, and a cleaning servant. According to custom, it was time to add staff, but whether Lady forgot or there were too many issues over the past year, it kept being delayed until now.

"Yes, Father, I understand!" Xiqiu nodded, standing to the side. Tong Shen Zhi silently watched Tong Xiyan, his brows furrowed tightly. Suddenly, he turned to First Master and said, "Father, a forced melon is not sweet. Since the Zhou family wants to retract the proposal, let’s ask the matchmaker to retrieve the birth date and characters, preventing further troubles!" He looked back at Tong Xiyan. "Fourth Sister can’t endure any more struggles."

First Master stood with hands behind his back, deeply nodding, "Tomorrow, have Manager Lai handle it." The marriage of several children in the mansion, not a single one is satisfactory!

Tong Shen Zhi requested First Master to lift Lady’s restrictions, and without saying anything, First Master nodded in agreement. That evening, as Xiqiu went to pay respects to Lady, she was blocked by Nanny Fang. Through the sheer silk curtain, she vaguely saw Lady lying on the bed. Daihe came out holding a dirty sheet, her face sullen as she passed by Xiqiu, who caught a whiff of a strong foul smell.

Nanny Fang knew Xiqiu was always shrewd; Lady’s incontinence must never reach her ears. Otherwise, how could Lady maintain authority over her legitimate daughters thereafter? Standing in Xiqiu’s way, Nanny Fang smiled, "Lady has taken her medicine and is resting; Sixth Miss should come back tomorrow."

Xiqiu furrowed her brows slightly but didn’t insist, nodding and smiling, "Nanny has worked hard. If anything is needed in Mother’s room, have Daihe take my token. If the mansion lacks it, have Nanny Lai buy it from outside. Mother’s health now is of utmost importance." She genuinely didn’t wish Lady’s condition to worsen.

Crocodile tears, afraid that if anything really happened to Lady, mourning would follow! Nanny Fang replied with a laugh, "Thank you, Sixth Miss, for your concern." After a pause, she continued, "I haven’t congratulated Sixth Miss. Settling with the Great Governor places Sixth Miss as the foremost in Tong Mansion. However, given Lady’s condition, arranging the dowry might be challenging. Lady believes Sixth Miss, always smart and composed, will manage such a minor affair well. If truly unsure, feel free to ask Third Miss; she has some experience."

Xiqiu wasn’t bothered by Nanny Fang’s veiled sarcasm, smiling and nodding, "Please tell Mother I’ve remembered it!"

The next day, Manager Lai accompanied the matchmaker invited by Tong Mansion to Zhou Residence, formally dissolving the engagement. Tong Xiyan lay on the bed, listening to Daijuan softly narrate beside her, her eyes fixedly staring at the ceiling without expression. Unsettled, Xiqiu stayed with Tong Xiyan that night. Holding her close, she softly advised, "Fourth Sister, I heard although Young Master Zhou is fairly handsome, he is indecisive. His withdrawal wasn’t due to dissatisfaction with the engagement but because he’s infatuated with an orphan girl from the former Minister of Rites’ family. A man like this, disregarding an existing engagement and secretly involved with another, we should be glad we realized his true nature early on; you shouldn’t harm yourself over someone like him."

Tong Xiyan remained silent, and Xiqiu continued, "Father entrusted Second Aunt’s sister-in-law to find you a suitable match. You must recover quickly. Father is so worried these days that his hair has turned white, and Mother is ill. If you continue like this, how can they cope?" As she finished, she clearly sensed Tong Xiyan’s fingers tremble. Xiqiu shifted her gaze and added, "Do you know how Young Master Jiang is faring now?"

Tong Xiyan shivered again, Xiqiu went on, "He hasn’t engaged yet. I’ve heard several officials from the Ministry of Personnel wanted to propose their daughters to him, but he refused..." Tong Xiyan listened quietly, her head which had been held high, gradually turning towards Xiqiu, silently watching her. Xiqiu met her gaze, and suddenly, Tong Xiyan burst into tears!

It worked indeed!

Xiqiu let her cry, and after a long while, Tong Xiyan lifted her face towards Xiqiu, saying, "Sixth Sister, I’m not saddened by the Zhou family withdrawing the engagement; I’m saddened by myself. Why is my marriage so troubled? I really want to cut my hair and become a nun to escape worldly troubles!"

Xiqiu stroked her back with a smile, comforting her, "It’s not that severe. People often say a good girl is sought after by many families. Our Fourth Sister is so outstanding; so many young men would be thrilled at the Zhou family retracting the proposal. Before long, Tong Mansion’s thresholds might be worn down!"

Tong Xiyan pinched Xiqiu, saying, "You still have the mood for jokes!" Xiqiu pleaded, "You scared me to death yesterday, not eating, drinking, or sleeping, staring blankly, even Father was alarmed!" Tong Xiyan lowered her eyes, replying, "Yesterday, upon hearing Zhou Residence came to propose, I passed out. Later when you all arrived, I could see you, but my mind was blank, not knowing what I was doing."