The room was left with only Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan.
Tong Xiyan squeezed next to Xiqiu, half-hugging Xiqiu’s arm, resting her head on Xiqiu’s shoulder and said in a hoarse voice, "Sixth Sister, do you think the thing I insisted on doing at the ti was wrong?"
"What happened? Did Brother-in-law Jiang bully you?" Xiqiu was startled, wondering how Tong Xiyan could say such pessimistic things.
Tong Xiyan closed her eyes and didn’t look up, buried in Xiqiu’s shoulder. Xiqiu could feel the thin sumr shirt on her shoulder getting wet. She patted Tong Xiyan’s back, not asking the reason, just sitting quietly with her.
After a long while, Tong Xiyan finally raised her head and wiped her tears, slowly saying, "My husband... has taken another concubine."
What does she an by another? She had never asked about Jiang Shilin’s affairs. Didn’t Tong Xiyan imply that there were already several concubines in the house?
Xiqiu didn’t know how to comfort her. After all, there was no one in Fourth Master Xiao’s house, so whatever she said seed inappropriate.
She could only sit with Tong Xiyan, listening to her speak.
"But this is different from the maid before. The maid was just a concubine elevated by my mother-in-law. But this one, she is his junior schoolmate. They grew up together, childhood sweethearts. Although they never spoke of marriage, they each held a place in the other’s heart..." While speaking, she wiped her tears again, "He didn’t object!"
Xiqiu felt a sudden chill in her heart. The vows made back then couldn’t compare to the half-hearted affection of childhood sweethearts. Didn’t object? Not objecting ans agreeing.
No wonder Tong Xiyan was so heartbroken.
"Was it Old Madam Jiang who arranged for her to be brought into the house again?" Xiqiu gave Tong Xiyan a handkerchief to wipe her tears, asking softly.
Tong Xiyan nodded, replying, "Mother-in-law said I am not in good health and haven’t had children for half a year. Since my husband’s career is thriving, how can he be without offspring, so..."
Xiqiu was speechless with anger. Old Madam Jiang truly was sothing. It’s said she was in her fifties, yet still ddling in her daughter-in-law’s affairs. Tong Xiyan had been married for only a year, why the rush? Many get pregnant after two or three years of marriage, but you don’t see other families taking in concubines room after room.
"Fourth Sister." Xiqiu held Tong Xiyan’s hand and asked, "What do you plan to do?"
This ti it was Tong Xiyan’s turn to be stunned and she asked, "What to do? I may be unable to personally send them to the nuptial chamber, but I still have to handle their wedding arrangents. I know that n taking concubines is common, yet my heart feels uneasy, so I wanted to pour out my sorrows to you!"
Xiqiu suddenly understood, she was overthinking it. Won have no choice in such matters, just like with Hu Suqing’s situation. She can guard her ho and protect her husband from other won but has no way to stop a man from voluntarily taking concubines, it’s not that it can’t be done in action, but pride doesn’t allow it.
She also realized why Tong Xiyan suddenly lost so much weight. No matter who, such an event would cause pain for a woman.
Xiqiu held Tong Xiyan’s hand, the two sat side by side, saying nothing for a long ti.
After lunch, Xiqiu and Tong Xiyan returned to the courtyard where Tong Xiyan used to live, which was tidied up neatly. The two of them lay on the canopy bed chatting while outside, Xi’er, Bihuai, and Biwu were chirping, and Siliu also ca hurrying over at the sound... It felt like a return to their tis at ho.
Tong Xiyan finally managed a faint smile.
Xiqiu looked at the kids that Siliu had brought, smiling as she did so.
The two little fellows were chubby and identical with round faces, increasingly resembling Siliu the more you looked at them.
"Miss, you should hurry and have one too. The servant often thinks that no matter if the young master you give birth to is a boy or girl, they will undoubtedly be good-looking." Xiqiu thought, realizing this was the second person to ntion having kids to her that morning. Patting the two children’s heads, she replied with a smile, "Such matters depend on fate and can’t be forced." Saying that, she praised the children, "These two kids are truly adorable."
Tong Xiyan, who also liked them, awarded each a Silver Ingot.
The two kids had mischievous natures from a young age, and after sitting for a while they couldn’t sit still. Siliu had a little maid take them out to play, while instructing her, "Be careful, don’t go near the river, don’t run around, and when you et people, rember to greet them."
The two little fellows nodded repeatedly and then turned around and disappeared.
Siliu looked at them, sighing, "So mischievous..." Tong Xiyan sitting beside her, watched the two children with envy. Worried she might feel sad, Xiqiu redirected the conversation, "I heard Fugui is going to be promoted to Shopkeeper?"
Fugui was sent to help out at the shop last year. Being intelligent and steady, he was already doing a great job within just half a year.
Siliu blushed, but happiness was radiating from her face as she replied, "He just wants to make a living for the family. Whether as Shopkeeper or not, even if he becos one, it doesn’t guarantee he will do well."
Xiqiu smiled at Siliu, finally, there was sothing good. Seeing Siliu leading a good life made her happy too.
As they spoke, a maid entered from outside and announced, "Fourth Grandmother, Fourth Son-in-law is here!"
Hearing this, Xiqiu turned to look at Tong Xiyan, noticing how she sprang up but then suddenly sat back down with a sullen face, saying to the outside, "Bring him to the study!"
"Wait!" Xiqiu pulled Tong Xiyan aside, "Brother-in-law Jiang is here. Even if you’re upset, don’t disgrace him at your maiden ho. Besides, he must have rushed here in concern after hearing that your mother was sick and you ca back. Regardless of his actions, you should go and welco him."
Tong Xiyan pouted, saying, "He is just guilty and remorseful." Xiqiu chuckled, "Yes, indeed. Seeing him guilty and remorseful shows he’s trying to appease you more than many others. There are so many n who take concubines, and if their wives don’t handle it well, they would just bla and scold them endlessly." Pausing, she added, "So, I say, look at the issue from a positive perspective. You and Brother-in-law Jiang had a passionate love affair back then, and you are certainly important to him. Why push him away?"
Tong Xiyan said nothing, but she adjusted her hairpin, hesitating for a while before standing up saying, "I will go and have a look!"
Xiqiu nodded.
"Miss." Siliu, seeing Tong Xiyan leave the room, softly asked Xiqiu, "Why have you lost weight?"
Xiqiu sighed and smiled, replying, "With the weather getting hotter, I eat a bit less. It’s nothing!"
Siliu was not entirely convinced.
After a while, as Xiqiu was about to get up to bid farewell to Madam Jiang and the Lady, Fourth Master Xiao arrived, slightly surprising her. She had deliberately instructed not to send word to him to co for her, knowing there was tension between Fourth Master Xiao and the Lady. Bringing him to et her would be very difficult for him.
Fearing the Lady might want to see Fourth Master Xiao, she hastily explained to him what the Lady had told her that morning. She quickly bid farewell to everyone, hurriedly got on the carriage, and returned to South Arch with him.
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