Chapter 224 Refusing to Return Home
Hongzhu knelt in the East Zen Hall of Qingxin Temple, kowtowed and said:
"I beg you to go back, Madam. The eldest master and the old lady have spoken. If you really insist, you don't have to be the head of the family."
"Hongzhu, please get up. I am no longer the Second Madam. It is not polite for me to go back and serve the Second Master. Hongzhu will report to the old lady on my behalf and thank her for her kindness to me. I know that my status as a concubine goes against the ancestral teachings and I dare not let the Second Master bear the crime of being unfilial. Please ask the old lady to revoke your decision."
After hearing this, Hongzhu kowtowed and said:
"I beg you, Second Madam. Please don't look at anything else, just think of Second Madam's true love for you. Please save Second Madam. Since Second Madam woke up, he has not eaten anything and is almost dead. The old lady force-feeds Second Madam , but he throws up everything he eats, even water. Doctor Li said that Second Madam has no desire to live, that's why he is like this. Only by untangling his heart can he get better. That's why the old lady wants me to beg you to go back and persuade Second Madam. As long as you go, Second Madam will definitely get better."
When Mengxi heard Hongzhu say that the Second Master vomited whatever he ate, her face changed slightly. She had also heard about the Second Master's situation from her aunt. She originally thought that the Second Master was just on a hunger strike out of spite. She even laughed at him for being childish. This was what a family head should do. He was simply cheating because he couldn't have candy. She sighed that the medical conditions in ancient times were too poor. If it were brought to modern times, if you were forced to have an infusion, a vegetative person could live for ten or twenty years. Who would be afraid that you wouldn't eat for a few days?
Hearing what Hongzhu said, she also felt that the problem was serious. It seemed that the Second Master had anorexia nervosa. She suppressed the uneasiness in her heart, thought for a moment, and said calmly:
"Hongzhu, go back and tell the Second Master that he and I have long since broken off relations and his life or death has nothing to do with me. I heard that the pills at Yichuntang have miraculous effects. Go back and persuade the old lady to ask for some from Yichuntang. Maybe it will be helpful."
"The old lady sent the housekeeper to go there personally. When Yichuntang saw the Xiao family, he chased them out without saying a word."
"How can it be!"
Mengxi was surprised when she heard this. She looked at Zhixia and Zhidong. Seeing their excited eyes, she understood that Zhiqiu must be angry with the eldest wife for what she did and got angry at the chief steward Chongde. She sighed secretly. Zhiqiu was good in everything except that she would not stay calm when it came to her affairs. She glanced at Hongzhu and said:
"Hongzhu, you also know that I often send Zhiqiu and others to Yichuntang to get medicine. Yichuntang has always been very friendly and the situation you described has never happened. I think it is possible that when Manager De went there, he encountered people who were in a bad mood. Go and tell the old lady that Zhixia is very familiar with a waiter at Yichuntang. If it doesn't work, ask Zhixia to go and get some medicine for the Second Master."
"Second Madam, this servant..."
"Go back, Zhixia, and send the red beads."
Without waiting for Hongzhu to say anything, Mengxi directly ordered them to leave. Zhixia hurriedly responded and went forward to help Hongzhu, who was still kneeling on the ground and refused to get up. Seeing that the second wife had made up her mind, Hongzhu kowtowed to her helplessly and followed Zhixia out.
Hongzhu left, and Mengxi told Zhixia who had just returned home:
"Inform Li Du that the Xiao family members will go ask for medicine again, and ask Li Du to bring two anti-nausea pills and one nourishing heart pill. Tell the Xiao family members to give the second master the anti-nausea pills first, and then give the nourishing heart pills when the second master stops vomiting. After he can eat, he can slowly recuperate according to the imperial physician's prescription. By the way, tell Li Du not to charge for these pills, just say that I sent them."
Zhixia responded, looked at the Second Grandma, and couldn't help but say:
"Second Madam, the Second Master has feelings for you, but he had to divorce you because of your status as a concubine. Now the First Master and the Old Madam have promised that the Second Master can stop being the head of the family, so why do you insist so much, Second Madam? Although Yichun Hall can guarantee that you can leave the Xiao Mansion and live a carefree life, you are... In my opinion, we might as well stop while we are ahead and agree to the Old Madam's request."
After hearing what Zhixia said, Mengxi also understood what she meant. In ancient times, it was different from modern times. Women who divorced and lived alone would not be looked down upon. In ancient times, women were expected to obey their husbands and be faithful to their husbands. If a woman was divorced by her husband's family, she would not be able to hold her head up in front of the world. The spit of people would drown her. Therefore, she spent two years brainwashing these maids, but including Zhiqiu, no one wanted her to be divorced, let alone Zhixia.
He glanced at Zhixia, sighed and said:
"You think too simply. It's fine if the Second Master doesn't want to be the head of the family and the Old Lady and the First Master don't agree. But now that they have agreed, I'm afraid I'll die if I stay in the Xiao family."
"Why?"
Zhixia and Zhidong asked at the same time in surprise.
"Think about it, the Second Master has already agreed to divorce me, why is the First Wife still insisting on killing me?"
Zhixia and Zhidong shook their heads after hearing this. Mengxi continued:
"It is because the Second Master said that he would not be the head of the family for me, so I must die. The First Madam will not tolerate any factors that threaten the Second Master's position as the head of the family. If the Second Master really does not want to be the head of the family, what else does the First Madam have? Now the Old Madam and the First Master have agreed. Just because of this promise, the First Madam and I have become a dead end. Let alone the First Madam, let's talk about the Old Madam and the First Master. Are they really willing to let the Second Master not be the head of the family? The First Master will not give up the position of head of the family to the Second Master's son. Among the First Master's three sons, the First Master has already entered the official career and has no chance of becoming the head of the family. Although the Third Master is upright, he is bold by nature and likes to be unrestrained. He does not have the Second Master's talent in business. He is not really a talent for the head of the family. I can see all this clearly. Can the Old Madam and the First Master rest assured to hand over the position of head of the family to the Third Master?"
"Didn't the Second Master say that he could assist the Third Master? Besides, this was something the Old Lady promised herself, how could she go back on her word!"
"I'm afraid it's because the Second Master is critically ill. In order to comfort him, the old lady has resorted to this desperate measure. Regardless of whether I am willing to stay in the Xiao Mansion, I'm afraid that if the Second Master gets better in the future, I won't even have the chance to leave the house. I will only have a dead end in the Xiao Mansion."
After hearing this, Zhidong shuddered and murmured:
"Are they really that cruel? You have done a favor to the Xiao family!"
"Can you expect them to violate their ancestral teachings for me? In their eyes, I am nothing more than a lowly concubine's daughter!"
After hearing this, Zhixia said angrily:
"Second Madam is right. We can't risk our lives here just because of Second Master's affection. We'd better leave here as soon as possible."
When Zhixia said this, she suddenly remembered that Second Grandma asked Li Du to deliver medicine, and said indignantly:
"Second Madam, the Xiao family is so heartless and ungrateful. Not only have they trapped you in Qingxin Temple, but they also want to kill you for the sake of Second Master's position as the head of the family. Why did you help them just now? It would be better if Second Master died. This way, everything would be over once and for all, and the First Madam wouldn't have to torment herself so much. Otherwise, she would always think that their son is so outstanding, and that if you marry her son, you will tarnish her family's reputation!"
"It was the first wife who wanted to put me to death, not the second master. The second master should not be held responsible for the first wife's mistakes. Besides, if the second master really dies, I will be trapped in the Xiao Mansion as a widow. Maybe I will really live in Qingxin Temple in the future. For the sake of the future, I can only save the second master first, cure his illness, and let him send me out of the Xiao Mansion safely."
After hearing Zhixia's words, Mengxi explained quietly. She didn't know whether this was an answer to Zhixia or an excuse for herself to save the Second Master without hesitation. She only felt that when she thought about the Second Master dying, her heart suddenly ached and she couldn't breathe.
…
The Second Master had been tormented to the point of vomiting several times during the day. He was now completely exhausted and lay on the bed with a pale face. If it weren't for the heaving of his chest, one would have felt that he was still breathing and he would have looked like a dead man.
At this moment, the Second Master woke up for the first time. The old lady sitting beside the bed held his hand and advised him earnestly:
"Jun'er is a man, he should be responsible for everything. How can he be so narrow-minded? He is not like a man at all."
"grandmother……"
"Your mother and I had good intentions. Although we know that you like Xi'er, Xi'er's birth as a concubine violates the ancestral teachings and she cannot be with you. We thought that a short pain is worse than a long one, so it is for your own good to separate you as soon as possible. As for Xi'er, our Xiao family will never treat her badly. I didn't expect Jun'er to be so stubborn that he would have the heart to let me, an old man, send her off."
"Grandma, Jun'er is unfilial. Jun'er doesn't want this to happen. Jun'er also wants to get better soon. There are still many things to do, but Jun'er really can't eat anything..."
Hearing her grandson's weak voice, the old lady couldn't help but burst into tears, and even the master sitting next to her wiped his eyes.
"Jun'er, stop talking. Grandma knows what's bothering you. I've just discussed this with your parents. Since you like Xi'er, let her stay in the Xiao Mansion and serve you. We won't force you to divorce her. After all, your father is still young and he's not in a hurry for you to take over the position of head of the family. We can always find a way in the future. Your father also said that if Jun'er really insists, it's okay for her not to be the head of the family. As long as Jun'er is fine, we'll do whatever you say."
After hearing what Grandma said, the second master's eyes lit up, then dimmed again, and he said in a hoarse voice:
"Grandma, Xi'er is determined to leave. We can't keep her. Jun'er doesn't want to keep her either. I just ask you not to make it difficult for her. Just let her go for the sake of her kindness to the Xiao family."
"Jun'er, don't talk nonsense. You didn't write her a divorce letter. She is still a member of my Xiao family. I asked Hongzhu to invite her. She has been gone for a long time. I think she will be back soon..."
After hearing what the Second Master said, the Old Madam felt a strong sense of uneasiness in her heart and hurriedly interrupted the Second Master. As she was speaking, Hongzhu walked in listlessly. When they saw Hongzhu's expression, the Old Madam and the First Master's hearts skipped a beat. They wanted to signal her to leave, but it was too late.
Seeing Hongzhu coming in alone, Erye sighed secretly. He had guessed this result a long time ago, but there was always a glimmer of hope in his heart. Seeing Hongzhu's expression at this time, he closed his eyes weakly.
After Hongzhu came in, she saluted the old lady, glanced at the second master, hesitated for a moment and replied:
"Replying to the old lady, I have passed your words to the Second Mistress. She only asked me to tell the Second Master that she and the Second Master have already severed their relationship and that the Second Master's life or death has nothing to do with her..."
"What! Xi'er is so heartless and ungrateful."
After hearing this, the master stood up suddenly.
