Chunliu hung her head without speaking, went back to her room and carefully packed the items that Nanny Li had brought over, then carried them in her arms along with Bihuai and followed Xiqiu out the door.
Along the way, the maids and older won they encountered all bowed their heads in salute, but there was a hint of curiosity in their eyes.
Indeed, the dicinal food had co from her room, and this responsibility could not be shirked.
Xiqiu’s lips curled coldly as she stepped into the Grand Dowager’s courtyard.
Ziwei saw her coming, greeted her and said, "Fourth Madam is here. Has sothing happened to Young Master Xin?" Lianqiao, who worked alongside her with the Grand Dowager, had been punished for dereliction this ti, which made Ziwei feel troubled. Even if her injuries healed, she probably couldn’t remain in the household anymore.
"Young Master Xing is fine!" Xiqiu asked, "Has mother gone to rest?"
Ziwei looked toward the room and replied, "Not yet, she is talking with Old Madam Lou." Xiqiu nodded. "I will go in and report!"
Xiqiu nodded thanks.
When Ziwei returned to the room, the Grand Dowager was speaking with Old Madam Lou: "This ti it was my fault, causing you to suffer such a punishnt alongside !" The Grand Dowager’s face was full of guilt.
"You are too formal with . At my age, I live each day as it cos, just waiting for death, only living a few days more or less." She held the Grand Dowager’s hand and said, "You must not worry about it, otherwise, I will not agree."
The Grand Dowager patted Old Madam Lou’s hand and nodded, "Yes, yes!"
The two of them had been friends since childhood and had married into influential families, enduring hardships to rise from daughters-in-law, and naturally understood each other’s thoughts.
"Grand Dowager." Ziwei entered the room, "Fourth Madam is here."
The Grand Dowager was stunned and asked, "Has sothing happened to Young Master Xin?" Ziwei feared the Grand Dowager would worry and imdiately replied, "Young Master Xin is fine; it seems Fourth Madam has sothing to say."
The Grand Dowager’s eyes flickered, and Old Madam Lou patted the Grand Dowager’s hand: "Go on, go on, don’t overthink it."
The Grand Dowager paused, could it be she was too enshed to see clearly? She couldn’t help looking at Old Madam Lou.
Old Madam Lou, speaking in riddles, patted her hand: "Sister, go on, see what the girl has to say. You might be too involved, and I’ll analyze it for you when you return."
The Grand Dowager said nothing further and left the room.
Xiqiu entered, and the Grand Dowager sat in the main hall’s chief seat, Xiqiu bowed to the Grand Dowager; she glanced around and asked, "Mother, how is Old Madam?"
"Hmm, her spirit has improved sowhat." She pointed to the chair in front of her: "Sit down."
But Xiqiu did not sit; she walked briskly to the Grand Dowager and unexpectedly knelt down: "Mother, your daughter-in-law has made a mistake. Please punish !" Chunliu and Bihuai holding the boxes also knelt behind her.
Ziwei stood at the doorway, her face full of shock.
The Grand Dowager was stunned and frowned: "What is this about? As the mistress, how can you kneel at the sight of the servants, giving others a reason to laugh, whatever it is, get up and speak." Xiqiu did not rise, she raised her head, full of determination and said: "Your daughter-in-law kneels before no other but her own mother!" Implying there was nothing for others to laugh at.
Seeing her this way, the Grand Dowager sighed and no longer pressed, asking: "Tell , what is this about?"
Xiqiu’s eyes reddened as she spoke word for word: "Old Madam’s illness, Young Master Xing’s poisoning were all because they ate the dicinal food sent from the room of your daughter-in-law, regardless of the reasons, your daughter-in-law bears the responsibility of negligence, ineffective managent of servants, which cannot be shirked!"
Tears fell, full of guilt she said: "Young Master Xing is an offspring of my eldest sister begged for life, when I got married, my father entrusted to take good care of Young Master Xing, I failed my father’s trust, Mother placed Young Master Xing in the room of your daughter-in-law, it was a sign of trust, but due to my negligence, I hurt Mother’s heart; whether as a daughter or daughter-in-law, I have been unfilial!"
Xiqiu looked firmly at the Grand Dowager, not waiting for her to speak, continued: "Young Master Xing calls aunt, but he is also my nephew, and I have always treated him like Min. Loving him with all my heart, he is close to , but because of my negligence, he suffered this great misfortune, so my heart is in agony beyond repair, filled with guilt and sha, I can’t face seeking Mother’s forgiveness, nor can I face my father, I ask Mother to punish !"
Bringing up Young Master Xing’s relationship with her was to remind the Grand Dowager that she was not only the Fourth Aunt but the Sixth Aunt, she shared unbreakable blood ties with Young Master Xing, treating him like Min, with tender love, entrusted by the First Master, and trusted by the Grand Dowager, from any angle, she couldn’t have ulterior motives to harm Young Master Xing.
The Grand Dowager was stunned, she didn’t expect Xiqiu to say such a thing, ever since she married into the family, their interactions as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been polite, Xiqiu had also been obedient and respectful, never before had she spoken like this, as if she was speaking heart-to-heart, confessing everything...
She looked at Xiqiu, only to see her clear eyes, filled with sincerity.
"Why do you need to do this!" The Grand Dowager sighed, "Although the matter originated from your room, who could foresee that Qiuping harbored such thoughts."
Xiqiu shook her head, replying: "Mother, no matter what, your daughter-in-law is at fault." She turned and took the token and keys from Chunliu’s arms, "I ask Mother to take back the managent authority, your daughter-in-law is incapable of managing the household!"
The Grand Dowager was beyond shocked now, although the incident was attributed to Qiuping, ultimately, it originated in her room, and Qiuping had been behaving well these past two years, yet this incident arose upon her arrival, she suspected so connection between Qiuping and her.
But now Xiqiu handed over the managent... n might achieve honor with titles, but a woman’s power in the household ca directly from managent, causing constant underground turmoil, sister-in-laws disrupting each other’s plans, yet she handed it over.
Her thoughts shifted, as Xiqiu had already risen and let Chunliu and Bihuai place one box holding the tokens and the other holding the account books on the table beside the Grand Dowager, she knelt and said: "I ask Mother to appoint another capable person, your daughter-in-law is incompetent and can only resign to Mother."
The Grand Dowager looked at the things on the table, sighed deeply: "It was an unintentional mistake, the matter has passed, don’t bring it up again, rise!"
Xiqiu shook her head: "Even though it was unintentional, your daughter-in-law still bears responsibility, I should never have whimsied to cook the dicinal food, had I not done so, there wouldn’t be such an incident." She paused and added: "I know Mother is angry with your daughter-in-law, so if you don’t punish her, she will punish herself, from now on she will stay in her room copying scriptures, complete forty-nine copies of the Lotus Sutra to redeem for her sin."
On a whim, yes, she had been unprepared: "Such a child." The Grand Dowager stood and personally helped her up: "Why tornt yourself this way!" Patting Xiqiu’s hand.
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