Chapter 231: Plan to Leave the House Again
When Mengxi heard that Yichuntang had run out of stock of several medicines , he frowned and said casually:
"It seems that we must find a way to leave the Xiao Mansion as soon as possible. If we delay any longer, Yichun Hall will have to close down."
Zhixia saw that Second Madam was frowning and said:
" Second Madam, why don't we talk to the Second Master directly? Anyway, your status as a concubine's daughter has been accepted by the old lady. As long as the Xiao family does not divorce you, Yichun Hall and the Xiao family will not be in conflict. Let's see if the Xiao family dares to bully you after knowing that you have such a great power. I'm afraid they won't be able to curry favor with you."
Mengxi glanced at Zhixia. After following her for so long, this girl still liked to think things were so simple. She continued:
"Let's not talk about whether the Xiao family will mess with Yichuntang if they know that I opened it. Just say that a few days ago, because of the illness of the second master, the eldest master personally knelt down in Yichuntang. The news has spread throughout Pingyang. Once they know that I opened Yichuntang, will the eldest master tolerate me? Will he be angry and embarrassed?"
After hearing what Second Mistress said, Zhixia was startled and said casually:
"What the Second Madam said is true. If word really spreads that you opened Yichun Hall, then the whole of Pingyang will know that the eldest master of the Xiao family knelt down to his own daughter-in-law. It would be fine if you were a princess of a golden branch and jade leaf, but you are just a concubine's daughter. I'm afraid the eldest master really can't hold his head up in Pingyang. Zhiqiu and Manager Li are really true. No matter what, the eldest master can't kneel. Isn't this shortening your life?"
Hearing Zhixia's serious words, Mengxi burst out laughing. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhidong also screaming:
"Yes, Second Madam, if the fact that you are the owner of Yichun Hall is really exposed, I am afraid that the old lady and the eldest master will be really angry and embarrassed. What should we do? I am afraid that this matter cannot be concealed forever. What should we do if even the second master cannot forgive you by then..."
Zhidong rubbed her hands while talking, and walked back and forth, as if something terrible had happened. She was really worried about the Second Mistress. Mengxi saw this and raised her hand to stop Zhidong, saying:
"Look at you, you believe everything you hear. Things are not as serious as you think. The old lady is the one who values interests the most. No matter what time, she will make the most favorable choice for the Xiao family."
"Second Madam, that's not what I meant. I am worried about you and Second Master, and Second Master..."
"What we should worry about most now is that if I don't leave the house, Yichuntang will have to close down."
Mengxi interrupted Zhidong before she finished speaking. She understood what Zhidong meant, but this girl just didn't understand that it was impossible for her to open her heart to the Second Master. She was moved by the Second Master's affection, but she couldn't bury the rest of her life in the Xiao Mansion just because she was moved. Therefore, she had to leave the Xiao Mansion!
"What Second Madam said is true, but now we have even added more people to the Second Gate. I think Second Master also knows that you sneaked out of the house before, so they are on guard against you. A few days ago, I went to Yichun Hall as you instructed, saying that I was going to buy medicine for Second Master. When the guards heard it was your car, they checked the people in the car several times, as if they were afraid that we might have smuggled something. With this inspection method, it would be harder than climbing to the sky for Second Madam to sneak out of the house disguised as a maid."
After hearing this, Mengxi frowned tightly and began to pace back and forth in the room.
"Second Grandma..."
Seeing that the Second Mistress had been pacing for nearly half an hour, Zhixia couldn't help but call out. Mengxi looked up at her, clapped his hands suddenly, and said:
"Got it. Since we can't escape secretly, we might as well leave the house openly!"
"Second Grandma..."
"Send a message to Zhiqiu and Li Du, and ask them to prepare..."
Mengxi carefully explained her plan, and the two maids Zhixia and Zhidong were dumbfounded and speechless for a while.
…
Early in the morning of that day, Mengxi came back from Shouxi Hall and began to pack up nervously. She had asked the Second Master and the Old Lady for permission a few days ago to go out of the house to relax today. As long as Mengxi did not mention leaving the house, the Second Master would grant her any request. When he heard that she wanted to go out to relax, his eyes lit up and he agreed without saying a word.
Mengxi quickly changed into a light casual outfit, and while tidying up her clothes, she asked Zhidong who was busy:
"Are the carriages and horses ready?"
"We have prepared everything a long time ago. The first and old ladies are afraid that something might happen to you, so they have sent people and cars to follow you."
"I am afraid that something might go wrong. I hope you will. In my opinion, I have sent someone to monitor you."
Zhixia, who was squatting on the ground helping the second grandma to adjust her skirt, couldn't help but complain when she heard this. Mengxi glanced at her, then turned to ask Zhidong:
"Did the Second Master send anyone as well?"
"No, I was just curious. Hongzhu heard that you were leaving the house, so she asked the Second Master to follow you so that she could take care of you. Unexpectedly, the Second Master did not agree, and he did not order a bunch of people to follow you like he did in the past."
After hearing this, Mengxi felt something was wrong, but couldn't remember what it was for a moment. She nodded and said:
"This is best. The fewer people we bring, the better. This will make it easier for us to move."
Mengxi raised her eyes and saw several large bundles on the bed. She frowned and said casually:
"Is it necessary to bring so many things just to go out?"
"Second Madam, didn't you say you wouldn't come back after you left?"
"We don't plan to come back, but the people in the mansion don't know. It would be strange if they didn't get suspicious after seeing these. Just take the medicine and books with you, and put the rest back to their original places, just like going out on a normal day."
"Second Madam, once we leave we will never come back. These are all your valuables."
"Hurry up and put the things back to where they belonged. The people in the mansion knew we were robbed. When they came to the east wing to check, they found that all the things had been taken away. Naturally, they guessed that we had planned this in advance. Besides, if we take so many things out of the mansion, not only will the maids in the courtyard be suspicious, but also those at the second gate will be suspicious. I'm afraid that if the news spreads to the first wife, we won't even be able to get out of the second gate. We only have this one chance, and we must not make any mistakes again."
After hearing this, Zhixia and Zhidong stopped arguing and hurriedly started to tidy up things according to Second Madam's instructions.
It turned out that Mengxi saw that it was impossible for her to divorce and leave the house legitimately, so she came up with this plan to escape. She asked for permission to leave the house openly, and then asked the bodyguards of Yichuntang to disguise themselves as bandits and kidnap her, so that she could live in hiding from then on.
The master and his two servants packed up and left the east wing. Hongzhu had been waiting in the courtyard with a group of maids and servants. When they saw them coming out, they all stepped forward to greet them. Some of them were sent by the old lady and the first wife. After everyone greeted them, Hongzhu stepped forward and said:
"Second Madam, we know that you don't go out often. The old lady and the first lady are afraid that something might happen to you, so they specially arranged for someone to follow you so that you can have a look after you. There are only four people following you in our courtyard, isn't that too few? Otherwise, I will arrange a few more people to follow you. I just called an extra carriage."
Mengxi glanced at Hongzhu and said:
"I'm just going out for a walk. It'll only take a day. There's no need for a bunch of people rushing around. The people arranged by the old lady and the first wife are enough. Where's the second master? Tell him for me. I'm leaving."
"The Second Master had something to do, so he left the house with Xiao Xia early in the morning."
Mengxi listened, his expression lightened, he nodded, and stopped talking. He supported Zhixia, and came to the gate of Xiaoxiang Courtyard with Hongzhu and others. He saw seven or eight carriages lined up there. He sighed secretly. It took such a big show to go out. It was all thanks to the second master's mercy that he didn't send people from Xiaoxiang Courtyard to follow. Just as he was about to help Zhixia get on the carriage, he saw four short-collared, well-dressed warriors standing at the door stepped forward. The leader stepped forward and saluted and said:
"Second Madam, I am Xiao Ke, the personal bodyguard of the Second Master. The Second Master has ordered me to protect Second Madam at all times!"
Damn, if these guys really followed me, would I still be able to escape? Looking at the swords on the four men's waists, Meng Xi frowned and said with a gloomy face:
"It's broad daylight, it's just a trip out, what could go wrong? There are already quite a few people here, all of you should leave!"
Mengxi finished speaking, without even looking at them, and helped Zhixia get on the carriage. Xiao Ke saw that Second Madam was angry, and a thin layer of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead. When he saw Second Madam getting on the carriage and leaving, he became anxious and hurriedly stepped forward to the front of the carriage and whispered:
"Second Madam is right. Now is a peaceful and prosperous time. If Second Madam goes out, there won't be any danger. But Second Master is afraid that someone with ulterior motives in the mansion will harm Second Madam, so I have repeatedly warned you not to be left alone at any time. Since Second Madam doesn't like so many people following her, please allow me to follow you alone!"
After Xiao Ke finished speaking, he glanced at the carriage behind him seemingly unintentionally. Seeing this, Mengxi's heart moved. Could it be that the Second Master was also worried that someone in the mansion would harm him? She looked up and saw Xiao Ke with sweat on his face and a determined look on his face. She thought to herself that the carriage behind was full of maids and coachmen who had little fighting power. Xiao Ke alone should be able to deal with them. If they really didn't allow any of them to follow, it would be impossible . Thinking of this, she nodded to Xiao Ke, and saw that the maids and coachmen who came out from behind had got on the carriage one after another. She signaled Zhixia to lower the curtain and ordered them to start.
Seeing that Second Grandma finally agreed to let him follow her, Xiao Ke's expression relaxed. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned around and told the other three to disperse, while he followed behind Second Grandma's carriage from a distance.
The group successfully exited the second gate of the Xiao Mansion. Mengxi let out a long sigh and asked Zhixia in a low voice:
"Is Ouyang Di back?"
"I rushed back last night. Zhiqiu sent me a letter early in the morning. You were in Shouxi Hall at that time, and I didn't have time to tell you. Don't worry, Second Madam. Zhiqiu said that the people who picked you up today were personally selected by Master Ouyang. They are the elites trained in Yichun Hall in the past two years."
"The elites of Yichun Hall have only been trained in the past two years. They are all masters trained since childhood, unlike the Second Master's guards. I am really worried that these people can't deal with Xiao Ke. I will be relieved if Ouyang Di can come back."
As he was talking, the carriage stopped. Meng Xi's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to ask, he heard Xiao Xia say outside the carriage:
"Replying to Second Madam, Second Master had an appointment to discuss business, but when he left home early in the morning, he received a letter saying that the other party had something to do and had to cancel the appointment. Second Master remembered that you were going out today and had nothing else to do, so he waited for you here. Second Madam, you can go wherever you want, and Second Master will just accompany you."
After hearing what Xiao Xia said, Mengxi was startled. Seeing that Zhixia was about to speak, she quickly put her finger on her lips, signaling her to shut up. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked up. She saw the Second Master on the horse in front of her, wearing a dark blue long gown, a turban on his head, and his sleeves fluttering, looking at her with a smile.
Mengxi quickly lowered the car curtain, and after a long while, she spoke:
"I understand. You can go down now."
Xiao Xia responded and walked forward.
