Free Web NovelChapter 1019: Chapter 1010: Twists and Turns (Part 2)
"That Doctor Feng is quite overrated; Eighth Sister has seen him for so long with no effect." In such matters, she couldn’t say much, only sighed along: "Might as well stop taking it; it does no good, and too much could even harm the body."
Madam Jiang nodded and said, "I’ve told her the same, but she clearly doesn’t listen." Then she paused and continued, "Lately, she’s become obsessed with a Daoist woman, burning talismans and worshipping spirits, causing quite the scene in the mansion. If this continues, I’m afraid even the Old Madam and Madam Lou might become displeased."
Xiqiu was astonished, doubting Tong Xiyu would go this far, and asked, "How did she start believing in this Daoist woman’s words?" Madam Jiang couldn’t help but show disdain on her face and pointed to the east, replying, "What does she know? It’s Madam Mei’s doing. I don’t know who told her these things, but she’s been burning many talismans for Eighth Sister to drink and even moved back a mysterious idol for incense burning and praying, chanting all day long."
So it was Madam Mei; Xiqiu shook her head as well: "I said she wouldn’t listen. You might need to find time to persuade her."
"Forget it." Madam Jiang waved her hand: "Saying too much to her makes it seem like I’m the one harming her. I genuinely wish for her well-being, but she misinterprets my intentions." Realizing she shouldn’t have said such things to Xiqiu, she changed the subject: "I forgot to ask, did you return for Seventh Brother’s matter?"
Xiqiu nodded and said, "Last time, you mentioned asking the official matchmaker, but I don’t know how it’s going, so I came to inquire."
"A few families were mentioned." Madam Jiang wasn’t very enthused: "I don’t think they’re very good." Then she drank a sip of tea and looked at Xiqiu: "Do you have good news?"
Xiqiu shook her head and began discussing Miss Zhao with Madam Jiang: "...as the Chongyang Festival approaches, the mansion sends gifts to Zhao Mansion each year. This year, perhaps Nanny Cen can make the trip. What do you think?"
Madam Jiang had the same idea and nodded her agreement.
A few days later, Nanny Qiu went to Zhao Mansion and returned, talking about Miss Zhao: "She is quite remarkable, from a family of scholars with a strong scholarly atmosphere, elegant in manner. In my view, she’s truly good."
Madam Jiang became even more pleased with Miss Zhao and called Xiqiu back. Xiqiu and Madam Xia discussed the situation, and Madam Xia agreed. They went to discuss the matter seriously with the First Master, who said: "Since she seems promising, let’s settle it and organize the marriage next year." He then looked at Madam Jiang: "Thank you for your effort." freeweɓnovel.cøm
Receiving her father-in-law’s appreciation, Madam Jiang felt that any hardship was worthwhile and quickly replied, "As the eldest sister-in-law, it is my duty to do these tasks!"
Leaving the First Master’s room, Madam Jiang and Xiqiu smiled, saying, "...who do you think would make a good matchmaker?"
Xiqiu thought for a moment and asked, "I’ve heard that Brother Qi has a good relationship with Commander Zhong of the Five Cities Military Department. Why not invite Madam Zhong over? The two families have interactions, and some matters will be easier to discuss."
"Then I’ll personally visit Zhong Mansion tomorrow." Madam Jiang felt Madam Zhong was quite suitable and immediately expressed her intention. She also said to Xiqiu, "During this time, you’ll probably need to make more trips back and forth."
Xiqiu smiled and said, "It’s tiring for you instead." Then she accompanied Madam Jiang to her room to chat. While they were talking, Tong Xiyan returned, leading Kun, who was still wearing mourning clothes, into the room. Madam Jiang embraced Kun and laughed, "Why are you back all of a sudden, without notifying?"
"It’s not far, so I didn’t want to trouble anyone to meet." After speaking, seeing Xiqiu, Tong Xiyan said to Kun, "Why aren’t you greeting Sixth Aunt!"
Kun proudly called out, "Sixth Aunt." Then he asked, "Where’s Cousin?"
Xiqiu smiled as she touched Kun’s little face and replied, "He’s studying and doesn’t have time to come; you can visit Aunt’s house to play with your cousin if you have free time, okay?"
Kun nodded enthusiastically, admiringly saying, "Kun likes Cousin the most; I want to go play with Cousin!" Zhi is not only good at studying but also skilled in martial arts, making him truly impressive in Kun’s eyes.
Tong Xiyan jokingly said to Xiqiu, "You don’t know him; he insists on visiting Zhi frequently. If I weren’t busy holding him back, who knows how many times a day he’d try to run over there." After a pause, he added: "He even talks about inviting a martial arts teacher so he can learn like Zhi. I told him that practicing martial arts is tough; Zhi sleeps at midnight and wakes at 1 a.m., enduring the cold in winter and hunger in summer while sweating through horse stance practice. He doesn’t listen, truly difficult to handle."
Xiqiu laughed and said to Kun, "Don’t learn from him, disappearing all day long. It’s better to quietly focus on your studies."
Kun pursed his lips in displeasure, disliking Xiqiu’s unfavorable remarks about Zhi.
Xiqiu and Madam Jiang exchanged amused glances, and Tong Xiyan waved his hand: "You can’t say such things; you don’t understand. Whenever I say something bad about Zhi, he immediately pouts and ignores me, refusing to speak for quite a while!"
Xiqiu laughed heartily, seeing that Kun indeed sulked and avoided eye contact, wanting to tease him when Xing suddenly stumbled in from outside: "Kun, Kun." She jumped about, trying to pull Kun’s hand: "Come down; I’ll take you to play."
Kun wriggled in Madam Jiang’s arms, so Madam Jiang placed him on the ground, and Kun asked, "Play what?"
"We are going fishing in the river, Seventh Uncle is back, let’s have Seventh Uncle take us fishing," Xing said, pulling Nian outside forcefully. Nian turned his head to look at Tong Xiyan, who nodded, saying, "Go ahead." He then instructed the maids and Nian’s nanny to follow closely.
Madam Jiang instructed Nanny Qiu to follow them, fearing the two might accidentally fall into the river.
"I heard there’s an arrangement for Seventh Brother’s marriage?" As soon as the two children left, Tong Xiyan straightforwardly asked, to which Madam Jiang nodded and roughly explained the situation. Tong Xiyan then chuckled and said, "Let me join in the fun and do some matchmaking too."
Both Madam Jiang and Xiqiu were taken aback, with Madam Jiang asking, "From which mansion?"
"Which mansion do I know?" Tong Xiyan responded with a laugh. "It’s a colleague of my husband, currently serving as the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, surname Zhou. The family has a legitimate second daughter who celebrated her coming-of-age ceremony in June and is currently seeking a suitor. I heard about it and felt that she and Seventh Brother are quite suitable in terms of age and family status, so I had my husband inquire further. Unexpectedly, they, upon hearing that Seventh Brother hasn’t settled on a marriage, proactively asked my husband to speak as a matchmaker."
The legitimate second daughter of the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer and Lord Zhou, is the best condition and background Madam Jiang has heard so far. Moreover, Tong Minzhi is about to study at the Imperial College, having such a father-in-law couldn’t be better.
Madam Jiang was somewhat tempted and couldn’t help but glance toward Xiqiu.
Xiqiu, however, found herself filled with doubt—not because she lacked faith in Tong Minzhi, but because Lord Zhou holds a high rank and this is a legitimate daughter, finding a suitable match should be easy. Why has her marriage not been settled yet? She asked, "Have you seen this Miss Zhou?"
Listening to this, Tong Xiyan chuckled, "You’re being so tactful with me, aren’t you just trying to find out if she’s ever been betrothed or has any hidden ailments?" After a pause, he continued, "I inquired carefully before coming, she hasn’t been betrothed, and is perfectly healthy. It’s just... she’s somewhat lacking in appearance."
Upon Tong Xiyan’s words, both Xiqiu and Madam Jiang showed hesitation. He added, "I haven’t seen her myself, only heard this description. I believe a woman’s looks are not important, her breeding and upbringing are top-notch, this little flaw should not overshadow her virtues."
Xiqiu nodded slightly, considering a woman’s character is indeed more important than appearance. She was about to speak when Madam Jiang interjected, "Let’s not rush to agree to this proposal, let’s investigate further." Her resolve began to waver again.
After Madam Jiang spoke, seeing both Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan looking at her, she smiled amicably, saying, "Let’s think this over carefully."
The three continued discussing it back and forth. Xiqiu had never experienced this sentiment before, as if no matter who is chosen, Tong Minzhi would be wronged. She suddenly felt she could understand the emotions of parents, always thinking their child is the best, unmatched by anyone.
In the end, after some deliberation, Madam Jiang decisively settled on the safest and most reliable Miss Zhao!
Xiqiu breathed a sigh of relief, and mentioned Tong Minzhi’s marital matter to Fourth Master Xiao upon returning home in the evening: "Miss Zhao has been decided, Sister-in-law plans to invite Madam Zhong for matchmaking in a couple of days, it should be smooth sailing from here."
"That’s good then," said Fourth Master Xiao. He then inquired about Tong Minzhi’s study plan at the Imperial College, to which Xiqiu replied, "It’s taken care of, the plan is for him to go after the New Year."
Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly.
Kun and Tong Xihua came to bid farewell. "We’re heading home," Xiqiu invited them in, Kun increasingly resembled Tong Shen Zhi, maintaining his habit of not speaking unless absolutely necessary, while Tong Xihua greeted everyone with a sweet smile, dressed in leaf green shorts with her hair in a twin bun, adorned with a vivid red fluffy flower, akin to a tender, newly-sprouted bud, charming and adorable.
"Stay safe on the road." Xiqiu organized their backpacks, and having bid farewell to Fourth Master Xiao, Tong Xihua and Kun headed back to the Tong Mansion. Their carriage had just reached the second gate when they saw a carriage adorned with rainbow curtains parked at the entrance. Tong Xihua, curious about the beautifully and lavishly decorated carriage, asked, "Whose carriage is this?"
Even the gatekeeper couldn’t say clearly, only stating, "It’s a lady’s carriage, she didn’t announce her family, claiming to look for Seventh Master and barged right in despite attempts to stop her."
Coming for Brother Qi? Tong Xihua was slightly surprised and instructed the gatekeeper to escort Kun home. Tossing her backpack to the maid beside her, she hurried towards the outer courtyard.
Crossing Tongji Bridge, she soon saw many maids in the garden craning their necks to watch the commotion. Her curiosity peaked, she pushed through the crowd, and finally saw by the river a woman in a red floral coat with gold trimmings standing shakily by the riverbank, with her back facing Tong Xihua. Though she couldn’t see the woman’s face, she could sense the woman’s intense emotions.
A single move could send her plunging into the river.
Facing the woman was Seventh Brother, waving his hands anxiously with his face showing great bitterness, his eyes slightly reddened: "...Calm down."
"Who is that person?" Tong Xihua pulled the maid by her side and asked.
The maid replied softly, "In response to the Twelfth Miss, this maid heard it appears to be a lady from the Huainan Zhongshan Marquis Mansion!"
