The Grand Dowager glanced at Tong Xiyan, then her gaze fell upon her: "There are many guests in the mansion these days, and although the lady from our in-laws should be sent back, Yanzheng’s health is poor. I’m afraid I must trouble Fourth Miss and Sixth Miss to stay a few more days to accompany her!"
Tong Xiyan and Xiqiu exchanged a glance, both bending their knees in response.
The Grand Dowager leaned wearily on a pillow, while Tong Xihua and the Fifth Madam moved forward—one to ensure the Grand Dowager’s well-being, the other to speak with the Marchioness Xuanning. The forr had little to say, while the latter sat silently, unresponsive to anything the Fifth Madam said, as if she were lifeless.
The Grand Dowager sighed and instructed the Fifth Madam, "Send her to the green gauze kitchen to rest, with soone to accompany her!" Marchioness Xuanning was chanically led out by the Fifth Madam, heading to the green gauze kitchen in the inner room across the way.
Xiao Yanyi hurried back, the usual warm smile on his face replaced with a chilling expression. His eyes were red, evidently from crying before entering. Without saying a word, he knelt before the Grand Dowager, handing the mourning report sent from Fujian to the palace over to her.
The Grand Dowager took it, her eyes scanning the contents before she squinted slightly, letting out a cold laugh, "Loyalty... died in service! At least they have so conscience!" She tossed the mourning report aside on the kang table and asked Xiao Yanyi, "What does the palace say? When will your elder brother’s remains be returned?"
Xiao Yanyi replied expressionlessly, "They said they set out three days ago; it will probably take more than twenty days."
"More than twenty days!" The Grand Dowager waved and addressed everyone, "Find out if he is traveling by water or land, and send soone to et your elder brother on his return!" She paused, then continued, "Send the mourning notices to each mansion, set up the mourning shed, hang mourning banners at the mansion’s entrance! You all know what to do with everything else, manage your responsibilities well! Dismissed!" The Grand Dowager was overwhelmingly calm, which made Xiao Yanyi look at her with concern.
The Grand Dowager then said, "Now is not the ti to grieve. The Second Young Master will stay, everyone else is dismissed."
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan retreated, while Xiao Yanzheng sat beside the Grand Dowager, crying herself into exhaustion. She refused to leave, clinging tightly to the Grand Dowager.
"Sixth Sister." Tong Xiyan murmured, still frightened, "I still rember the last ti I ca to the Marquis Mansion as a guest and t the Marquis here with the Grand Dowager. At that ti, he was about to set out for the military, and I followed behind my elder sister to see him off. Little did I know... it would be the last ti." She recalled Jiang Shilin and the Marquis’s relationship, "I wonder if hearing the news will worsen his condition!"
Xiqiu said nothing, unfamiliar with both joyous and mournful events, but knowing that the mourning sheds were set up and each mansion ca back to report the mourning, though the Marquis’s remains were still on the way back. It was yet unknown what chaos might arise at that ti. Moreover, with the Marquis having died in battle, it was evident that the war in Fujian was lost, evolving into sothing beyond a minor conflict, clearly with untold causes. The Emperor had not sent troops to assist, and with the current situation, soone would inevitably take the bla, suggesting turmoil was coming for the court.
That night, the Marquis Mansion transford into a sea of white. Xiqiu donned somber-colored clothes, and as the Grand Dowager ntioned her bad leg, running back and forth was inconvenient, she moved in with Xiao Yanzheng to live together. Tong Xiyan remained at Tong Xihua’s courtyard. The following days, Xiao Yanzheng lay bedridden, while guests continued to flow through the inner courtyard of the Marquis Mansion. The next day, Lady brought Tong Shen Zhi along, sitting in the Grand Dowager’s room all day. Due to the absence of remains, the minor and major funeral rites couldn’t be conducted. The guests, anwhile, were female relatives close to the Marquis Mansion, while male guests were received in the outer courtyard by Xiao Yanyi.
Xiqiu stayed with Xiao Yanzheng, encouraging her to eat: "At least eat sothing; the Marchioness has fallen ill too. If anything happens to you, what will happen to the Grand Dowager?" Xiao Yanzheng ate a few mouthfuls expressionlessly before returning silently to the bed.
Xiqiu sighed, sitting at the bedside watching her, though after a while, she unexpectedly said, "Second Brother went to find Fourth Brother, but it’s like he’s disappeared—no one can find him in the capital, not even Ren Jun knows where he went."
Xiqiu’s eyelid twitched, sensing that the aloof Fourth Master Xiao must have a reason for his disappearance.
"Mother is very disappointed!" Xiao Yanzheng said, "Even though Mother has been angry with Fourth Brother these years, I know she still thinks of him fondly. Yet in this situation, Fourth Brother has vanished, ignoring how much Big Brother cared for him."
Xiqiu sighed, reassuring her, "Fourth Master is thodical, perhaps he was detained by sothing unforeseen."
Xiao Yanzheng shook her head, discrediting Xiqiu’s words, "You don’t understand Fourth Brother; he has always been strong-willed, decisive in actions without delay. If he’s set on sothing, nothing can deter him!"
Xiqiu had only t Fourth Master Xiao a few tis, so it was impossible to discern the right or wrong.
Another day passed, or rather the fourth day, fewer people arrived at the mansion. Lady brought Tong Xiyu, resting in Tong Xihua’s room to talk. Lady excused Tong Xiyan and Tong Xiyu to speak privately with Tong Xihua, advising, "Don’t show yourself publicly and tire yourself. Right now, the child you’re carrying is what matters most."
Tong Xihua nodded, replying, "I understand, I won’t tire myself." Lady paused to ask Tong Xihua, "Have you thought through the affairs of the future thoroughly?"
Tong Xihua hesitated, asking, "What affairs?" Lady admonished her, "Now the Marquis is gone, and although we’re still in mourning, the title can’t be neglected. With the elder brother passed, naturally, the Second Young Master should inherit. Has the Grand Dowager sent an appeal to the Ministry of Rites yet?"
Although the Xiao Family’s title was nominally hereditary, its succession still required approval from the Ministry of Rites, which then reported to the palace where the Emperor made the final decision—especially in cases like Xiao Yanji’s, where the title is present but lacks an heir. The process needed a run through.
If the Ministry of Rites wasn’t approached, delaying it by a year or two before reaching the palace, given the Emperor’s uncertain health, if caught up with divine orders from the heavens, even seemingly certain matters could potentially unravel.
Lady’s concerns were indeed warranted.
Tong Xihua was stunned; since the Marquis’s incident four days ago, she hadn’t thought of this matter, only feeling that the Marquis Mansion’s sky had collapsed, filled with anxiety without considering that with Xiao Yanji’s absence, the Second Young Master being the eldest son ant the title rightfully belonged to Xiao Yanyi!
"Has anyone in the mansion ntioned it?" Tong Xihua nodded, as the Grand Dowager had never spoken of it, and she hadn’t seen Xiao Yanyi in days, further lacking the opportunity to ask. She stood up, intending to have Nanny Lin fetch Xiao Yanyi back, but Lady stopped her, "What’s the rush? In this situation, how can you discuss this with your husband?"
Tong Xihua asked, "Then what should be done?!"
Lady answered, "The only option is to remind your mother-in-law to bring it up." Though Lady knew surely, the Grand Dowager would consider it. Furthermore, the Xiao Family always valued the title greatly, surely not forgetting this matter. However, her genuine concern was... Fourth Master Xiao.
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