Chapter 169: The Life of a Concubine
Thinking about living together with Mengxi, just the two of them, Xiao Jun's hand holding the tea could not help but tremble slightly. He took a big sip of the tea and suppressed his pounding heart.
Will Xier go to the south with him? There is a hint of worry in her eyes as she looks at the screen.
Just as I was thinking about it, I saw Zhichun helping Mengxi turn around the screen and slowly walked in. Seeing that the Second Master was drinking tea, Mengxi stepped forward and bowed softly:
"Hello, Second Master. I didn't know you were back. I'm sorry for not coming to greet you. Please forgive me."
I'm sorry for not welcoming you! I've never seen you welcome me these days.
Of course, the second master could only mutter these things in his heart and would not say them out loud, as if these rules were all established by him. Now if he wants to see her, he has to ask her first. He put down his teacup and said:
"Xi'er, please sit down."
"Thank you, Master Er"
Mengxi supported Zhichun and sat down next to Erye. A faint fragrance came to his nose, refreshing his heart. Erye, who had a special liking for fragrance, sniffed unconsciously. This fragrance was something he had never smelled before. He remembered the fragrance in the purses she gave to several girls during the Qiqiao Festival, which was something he had never seen before. Could it be that she knew how to mix spices? Why didn't she even mention it to him? He frowned and thought deeply.
"Second Master"
Hongzhu saw that the Second Master was silent and the Second Madam was even more like a Buddha. The two of them seemed to be mad at each other and were competing to see who would speak first. Hongzhu thought that since the Second Master had called the Second Madam over, there must be something wrong, so she called out softly, breaking the silence.
Hearing Hongzhu's voice, the Second Master came back to his senses. Seeing that everyone in the hall was looking at him, he coughed lightly and said:
"I'm going to the south early tomorrow morning, Xier, please prepare for me."
"We're leaving early tomorrow morning! How long will it take you to be gone if you're in such a hurry?"
"It depends on the situation, at least one year, at most two years"
"Such a long time!"
Shit, she hasn’t received her divorce letter yet?
He has been gone for a year, so what should she do with her divorce letter? Her Yichuntang can provide her with food and clothing without worries and allow her to live a carefree life, but it cannot resist the power of the Xiao family.
Without a divorce letter, even if she sneaked out of the house, she would be caught in two and a half days. Her evil mother-in-law who always wanted to make trouble would treat her as a slut who eloped with someone and put her in a pig cage! This is how TV dramas in her previous life were played. She didn't want to go to ancient times to do a reality show herself.
"Oh, I've been sick for nearly half a year, and I've given up all my business in the south. It will take me a little longer this time."
When Xiao Jun heard Meng Xi's surprised tone, he felt sweet in his heart and his tone became much gentler.
Mengxi thought for a moment and said:
"Second Master has been gone for such a long time, so I really need to make proper preparations. It would be a bit too hasty to leave tomorrow. Can Second Master please hold off for two days so that I can make proper arrangements?"
A few days would be best, a few days would be enough, she would definitely ask him to write a divorce letter within these few days. She was fed up with the first wife's annoyance.
"The eldest master and the old lady have already made their arrangements. We will leave tomorrow. Xi'er, don't bother too much. We have the money anyway. If you need anything, you can buy it on the way."
"I understand. I'll let the aunt arrange it. Does the second master have anything else to do?"
Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Mengxi immediately became discouraged. If it didn't work this time, she would slowly think of another solution.
She must leave the Xiao Mansion!
After regaining his composure, he remembered that the Second Master would be away for more than a year. He was told not to prepare too much. After all, he was a young master of aristocratic family, so he couldn't be too careless. There were too many things to take care of, and it was so urgent. He really had to hurry up and get things done. He couldn't help but feel anxious.
After hearing what Mengxi said, Xiao Jun actually picked up the teacup and started drinking tea. Mengxi was so anxious. There were many things to prepare, such as the car, the horse, food and daily necessities. You didn't need to take care of it. You were not in a hurry and were still drinking tea here. At least let me prepare them quickly.
After a long while, Xiao Jun put down his teacup, raised his head and said:
"Xi'er, um, um, I'm going to the south to inspect the business, and the old lady asked me to bring a wife or concubine with me, you see..."
"Who do you want to take with you, I will arrange it right away."
After Mengxi asked, she saw that the Second Master remained silent for a long time, so she asked tentatively:
"If we are to go out, among the four people in the backyard, only Hongyu and Cuiping are convenient to take with you. They are both very smart and considerate. Hongyu has served the Second Master for a longer time and knows his temperament. In my opinion, it is better to take Hongyu with you. I will ask her to get ready."
After hearing this, Xiao Jun's face turned cold. He suddenly put down the teacup, stood up and walked out.
Damn, I guessed wrong again. He wanted to take Aunt Zhang with him? But Aunt Zhang's daughter Ping'er was only four years old. Would she be willing to leave her daughter alone in the mansion?
Could it be that the Second Master wants to go to the south to work with his family? Oh my god!
The Second Master has always been moody, but now he can't care so much. He hurriedly ordered people to go to each courtyard to call all the concubines over, and Mengxi began to get busy with the Second Master's outing.
As expected of a noble family, things can be done easily when one has money. It was originally a very urgent matter, but Mengxi finished it in just one afternoon. By dark, everything was ready. He asked Hongzhu to report to the Second Master, and went back to the East Wing with Zhiqiu and others to rest.
The Second Master leaned on the bed in great depression. He mustered up a lot of courage today and proposed to Xier that he wanted to take a wife or concubine with him. Anyone could guess from his tone that he clearly wanted to take her to the south, just her, to live a life of love together.
But was she really stupid or just pretending to be stupid? She knew very well that Hongyu and Cuiping were the two people he didn't want to see, one was the one he hated the most, and the other was the one he hated the most.
But she was still blind and made him choose between the two. She didn't choke him to death with just one sentence. She also hated that he lost his usual calmness when facing her and was defeated in one round. He actually just walked out like that. How could he have the nerve to turn around and beg her to go to the south with him!
Just as he was feeling helpless, Hongzhu came in and delivered a message:
"Second Master, Xiao Xia is back and said she has something urgent to see you about."
"What's the emergency? Can't it wait until tomorrow? Why are you coming to the inner house so late?"
"I don't know. I asked him, but he refused to tell me. I was thinking that he could go with you tomorrow and we could talk about it on the way, but he said that no matter how important the matter is, he must see you now."
"What a big deal! Where are the others?"
"Waiting outside the door"
"Let him go to the study and change his clothes."
After the Second Master finished speaking, he got up from the bed. Seeing this, Hong Zhu hurriedly said:
"Second Master, it's so late. You have to get up early and travel tomorrow."
After hearing what Hongzhu said, Erye thought for a moment and said:
"Let him come here!"
Hongzhu responded and walked out. After a while, she came back with Xiaoxia. Xiaoxia came to the inner room and saw the Second Master sitting on a chair in his middle clothes, drinking tea. When he saw him come in, he asked:
"What's the matter? So urgent?"
"Second Master"
Xiao Xia called out "Second Master" and stopped talking. He looked at Hong Zhu who was standing aside. Seeing this, Xiao Jun said to Hong Zhu:
"Hongzhu, go out first and guard the door. Don't let anyone in."
Hongzhu responded, turned around and walked out, closing the door behind her. Xiao Xia saw that the door was closed, so he took a step forward, approached the Second Master, and whispered:
"Second Master, the people we sent to the Li family a few days ago have returned, but..."
"Just what? What did you find out?"
"Second Master, for the sake of safety, I think it is not advisable to send too many people out for this matter, so as to avoid Second Master finding out the details of Second Madam behind her back, which would be embarrassing. So I only sent Xiao Yuan. Just after he came back, Xiao Yuan told me that he rented a house near the Li family and lived there under the alias Li Heng for more than a month before he found out everything."
After hearing what Xiao Xia said, a trace of displeasure flashed across the Second Master's face, and he said coldly:
"It's crystal clear! Isn't Second Madam's background very complicated?"
"What the Second Master said is true. The Second Madam is not the legitimate daughter of the Li family. She was born to Aunt Zhao, the fifth concubine of Master Li. She is a concubine. Master Li has only one legitimate daughter. Her maiden name is Li Mengfei. She is 15 years old this year, two years older than the Second Madam. She doesn't look one-tenth as good as the Second Madam. This person is arrogant and unfaithful to her husband. I heard that she has been engaged to Qian Junhao, the youngest son of Qian Mei, the councilor of the Ministry of Public Administration. She will marry him in February next year, but she still has frequent contacts with several rich young men and is entangled. Second Master, it was because when the old master engaged you, he only wrote the legitimate daughter of the Li family, but did not write the date of birth, so the Li family took advantage of the loophole. According to the cleverness of the old lady and the eldest master, this mistake should not have happened. It was because the Second Master was seriously ill at that time, and the old lady and the eldest master were so anxious that they were very happy that the Li family could send the girl to bring good luck, but they did not check it carefully. Second Master, Second Master, what's wrong with you?"
As Xiao Xia was speaking, he looked up and found that the Second Master's face was pale, the teacup in his hand was crushed to pieces, the tea spilled all over his body, and blood flowed down his palm.
Xiao Xia was the only person in the Xiao Mansion who knew what was on the Second Master's mind. After hearing what Xiao Yuan had said, she informed the Second Master without hesitation. Although she was mentally prepared, she did not expect the Second Master to be so shocked. She was stunned and took a step forward to look at the Second Master's hand, but was pushed away by the Second Master:
"Go on, what else?"
"Second Master"
"go on!"
Facing the knife-like gaze of the Second Master, Xiao Xia shuddered. Seeing the Second Master's hand bleeding, he did not dare to move forward. He stood there and continued:
"I heard from Xiao Yuan that the Second Madam was often bullied by her elder sister at her natal home because she was prettier than her elder sister. Although she was also a lady, it was said that she was treated worse than a servant by Madam Li and Li Mengfei. Otherwise, how could the Second Madam cook such a good dish? I think she was forced to cook every day at her natal home. I also heard from Xiao Yuan that before the Second Madam came into the family, she tried to hang herself when she heard that she was going to marry in place of her elder sister. Later, she was rescued and put under house arrest. Master Li sent people to watch her every day and forced her to learn the rules. She was not released until the day of the wedding. I heard that she suffered a lot. I think the Second Madam's weak health was caused by the disease she contracted at her natal home."
"Such a big thing has happened for such a long time, how come no one in the Xiao Mansion knows about it?"
"Second Master, it's not that no one in the Xiao Mansion knows about it, but those who know about it have kept their mouths shut!"
"What? He sealed his mouth. Who else in the Xiao Mansion knows about this?"
"I don't know. Xiao Yuan said that he occasionally heard a young man who had an affair with Meng Fei say that someone in the Xiao Mansion had paid money and threatened that if he dared to tell this, his whole family would be in danger. That's why Xiao Heng spent so much time and energy to find out."
"Such a big thing was actually silenced by the people in the Xiao Mansion. Who is so bold? What is their purpose? Those people didn't reveal a single word."
