Xie Nanjia waited until almost noon, but Xiu'er's mother still hadn't returned. She was worried that Zhao Jingyu was getting impatient, so she decided to go back to the mansion to tell her first.
Although she was eager to set off right away, good things always take time, so she had to be patient.
When he arrived at the gate of the mansion, Xie Nanjia found that the guards guarding the door were gone.
She was puzzled and walked quickly into the yard. The little maid in charge of sweeping saw her and said lazily, "The second young master has left, why did you come back?"
"What did you say?" Xie Nanjia was shocked. "The Second Young Master left. When did he leave? Why did he leave?"
"We have no right to interfere in the Second Young Master's affairs. If he wants to leave, just let him leave," said the little girl.
Xie Nanjia's head was buzzing. She turned around and saw Chunfang and Hongxing walking towards her listlessly, carrying their bags.
"Why did the Second Young Master leave suddenly? What happened?" Xie Nanjia walked over and asked.
"Get out of the way, it's all your fault, you little slut!" Hong Xing cursed viciously, her eyes spitting fire.
Chunfang also looked unwilling, but she didn't curse. She just glared at Xie Nanjia, feeling a little regretful at the same time.
She regretted listening to Hong Xing's instigation and deliberately told those gossips to the Second Young Master. She and Hong Xing only thought that the Second Young Master would dislike Xiu'er because of this, but they didn't expect that the Second Young Master would return to the capital in a fit of anger.
Now Xiu'er was abandoned, but they didn't get any good results either, as they had cut off their own hopes.
Hong Xing was lucky, at least she wouldn't be beaten when she returned home. She failed to fulfill her father's wish and made her father spend money in vain. She would be skinned alive if she didn't die when she returned.
Thinking of this, Chunfang couldn't help but blame Hong Xing. If it weren't for her bad idea, nothing would have been achieved.
She glared at Hong Xing hatefully, then walked away with her bag without looking back.
"Hey, why are you glaring at me?" Hong Xing was unconvinced and chased her out.
Xie Nanjia's hands and feet were cold, and she went to the upper room in a daze. A few hours ago, she was teased by Zhao Jingyu here, but in the blink of an eye, the room was empty, leaving only cold furniture and the lingering scent of ambergris.
Xie Nanjia fell into the chair, feeling indescribable.
After a while, Aying walked in quietly.
"Xiu'er, I know why the second young master left."
"Why?" Xie Nanjia raised his head suddenly.
"It was Hong Xing and Chun Fang who said bad things about you." Ah Ying told Xie Nanjia what she overheard.
Xie Nanjia was so angry that she was shaking all over, but she could do nothing about it.
She had known that the two girls were restless, but she thought that they were country girls with limited knowledge, so she didn't want to use the methods used in the harem to deal with them. She didn't expect that in the end, they would be the ones to suffer the consequences.
It’s so abominable!
In addition to being angry, she also regretted underestimating the enemy. If she had known this would happen, she could have easily driven Hong Xing out of the mansion last night by using the spilled snacks.
My father once said that underestimating the enemy is a taboo in military strategy, while showing mercy to the enemy is a woman's kindness.
She was soft-hearted for a moment and lost the opportunity to return to Beijing. What should she do next
Xie Nanjia sat there sulking for a while, and cursed Zhao Jingyu in his heart.
He seemed to be a very smart person, but it turned out to be a big fool. After listening to other people's gossip, shouldn't he ask the person involved? He sentenced the person to death without even debunking the truth. If he were an official, he would definitely be a corrupt official.
They said that she seemed to be a kind person and they couldn't bear to see her buried in the countryside, but now she left without looking back.
It turns out that no man is reliable.
Except daddy.
Zhao Jingyu, you left me today without any reason. I will settle the score with you when I return to Beijing one day.
But how to get back to Beijing
Three hundred miles is neither near nor far, but for her now, it is so unattainable.
Xiu'er's mother was still in the fields. When she heard that the second young master had returned to Beijing, she hurried to the mansion to find Xie Nanjia. When she saw that Xie Nanjia had not been taken away, she was relieved and sad.
She was glad that Xiu'er didn't have to leave her to make a living in that cannibalistic mansion, but she was sad that after serving the second young master, how would Xiu'er get married in the future
Xie Nanjia hadn't seen Xiu'er's mother for two days, but she found her particularly kind and even accepted her hug.
The mother and daughter walked home together. On the way, they met some gossipy villagers who gloated and mocked: "Hey, Xiu'er, the second young master went to such great lengths to select you, why did he miss you when he returned to Beijing?"
Someone else joked, "Xiu'er mother, I thought that since you and the Marquis's family have become relatives, we can also benefit from it. I didn't expect that you were only the mother-in-law for two days. What a pity."
Xiu'er's mother was so angry that her heart ached. She scolded those people, then hurriedly returned home with Xie Nanjia, closed the door and sulked.
Xie Nanjia advised her: "Mom, don't be sad. In fact, the Second Young Master didn't ask me to sleep with him. Nothing happened between us."
"Really?" Xiu'er Niang said in surprise, but then her face fell again, "What's the use? No one will believe it."
"Who cares whether to believe it or not? I don't have to get married." Xie Nanjia said, "Marriage should be a natural outcome of mutual affection, not a deliberate marriage for the sake of getting married. If you can't find a good person and force yourself to marry someone you don't like, it's better to stay with your mother and be happy."
Xiu'er's mother was stunned by what she said, and murmured: "I don't recognize you anymore. Where did you learn these principles?"
Xie Nanjia blinked and pushed it to Zhao Jingyu: "I heard it from the second young master."
Xiu'er Niang was half-believing and half-doubting: "Why would the Second Young Master say such things to you? Could it be that he is... "
"Mom, don't think too much. I'm back safe and sound, you should be happy." Xie Nanjia said.
Xiu'er's mother knew that it was futile to think more, so she washed her hands and went to the kitchen to cook.
*****
Zhao Jingyu rode back without stopping, and it was already four o'clock in the morning when he arrived in the capital.
The city gates are closed, and no one is allowed to enter or leave, even if they have a sign from the Marquis' Mansion.
Wei Jun wanted to negotiate with the city guards, but Zhao Jingyu stopped him.
"Forget it. Anyway, the funeral procession will pass by here at dawn. I will take a nap in the carriage first. Remember to wake me up when the time comes."
Wei Jun had no choice but to watch him get into the carriage.
Along the way, the Second Young Master rode at full speed, with the carriage following behind him. He did not take a rest for a moment, just to get back in time to see the Crown Prince's wife off.
The Second Young Master and the Crown Prince's wife had no interactions at all, and there was no question of family affection between them. If one had to find an explanation for his behavior, it would probably be that he had drunk the soup cooked by the Crown Prince's wife a few times.
Apart from this, Wei Jun couldn't find any other reason, even if it was unreasonable.
At one quarter past five, the city gate opened.
Wei Jun woke up Zhao Jingyu, washed him with the water he brought with him, and changed him into a white robe.
From afar, deafening cries could be heard from inside the city gate. The city guard shouted loudly that the funeral procession of the prince's wife had arrived, and everyone else should get out of the way.
Zhao Jingyu came out of the carriage and stood quietly behind the crowd.
As the cries got closer, the funeral procession snaked out of the city gate like a long dragon, white flags fluttering, the scene was grand, and the guard of honor stretched for miles.
Zhao Jingyu stood behind the crowd. No one in the Marquis' Mansion noticed him, and he did not take the initiative to step forward. He waited until the team had completely passed by, then he bowed deeply towards them and ordered Wei Jun to prepare the horse to enter the city.
The streets of the city were filled with colorful tents, which were all roadside sacrifices from various prefectures in the capital. Zhao Jingyu rode past on his horse and saw many familiar faces along the way.
He changed back into red clothes before entering the city and paraded along, causing people to point and talk behind him.
Zhao Jingyu's bad friend Cheng Zhiye was being bored under his own sacrificial shed, his eyes occasionally drifting over the girls passing by. Zhao Jingyu rushed up to him and whipped him with a horsewhip.
Cheng Zhiye was startled and dodged, saying angrily: "I haven't seen you for a few days, have you gone crazy?"
Zhao Jingyu glared and said, "I told you not to lie to me!"
"What did I lie to you about?" Cheng Zhiye was confused.
Zhao Jingyu ignored him and turned his head to instruct Wei Jun: "Beat him!"
Wei Jun didn't say anything and just swung his punch.
Cheng Zhiye was no match for Wei Jun and was beaten badly.
Everyone shook their heads and sighed. The funeral of the Crown Prince's wife had just passed, and the Second Young Master was actually making trouble in the street.
He doesn't look like a half-brother at all.
Zhao Jingyu vented his anger, called Wei Jun, and rode away.
Cheng Zhiye was so angry that he kept jumping up and down behind him.
When Zhao Jingyu returned to the Marquis' Mansion, he neither went to see his father nor the guests. He went straight back to the west wing, fell asleep, and asked Wei Jun to report to the Marquis's wife.
There was nothing else in the west wing except for the beauties in the courtyard. When they heard that the second young master had returned, they all ran to the upper room to pay their respects, but were stopped by the gatekeeper: "Brother Wei said that the second young master had traveled a long distance and was very tired, so he asked the sisters not to disturb him."
Although the beauties felt regretful, they were all understanding and went their separate ways to attend to their own affairs. Those who had nothing to do made appointments to go out for tea and play cards.
Wei Jun went to the Marquis's wife and reported everything that had happened on the farm in the past few days.
Qin had already received Hu Sanmu's pigeon letter and knew everything about what Zhao Jingyu had done, but she still acted like she was hearing it for the first time. After listening carefully, she smiled and said to Wei Jun, "Your young master is really kind-hearted and has handled the matter very well. Tell me how hard he worked when you go back. When things are done here, I will let the marquis know and reward him."
Wei Jun accepted the order and left.
As soon as he left, Yun Yan, the maidservant beside Qin, curled her lips and said, "Madam said that the second young master is kind-hearted. In my opinion, he just wants to ruin our family business as soon as possible because he knows that there will be no share for him in the future."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Madam Cao, the most capable woman in front of Qin, shouted, "It's not your turn to comment on the master's affairs!"
She was Qin's maid who came with her as a dowry, and was later betrothed to the housekeeper in the mansion by Qin. Now, she has become the most qualified nanny in the Hou Mansion, and her words carry a lot of weight.
Qin waved her hands lazily: "Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore. Let him squander it. It's easy to cause trouble if you don't say anything."
Everyone shut up.
Qin asked again: "How is the young master?"
"Madam, the young master is doing well!" Madam Cao said, "I just went to see him. He eats well and sleeps well in his cousin's courtyard. He is quiet and peaceful, and is not disturbed by the courtyard here. His cousin takes care of him very attentively and does everything herself. She is closer to him than my own mother."
"Hmm!" Qin cleared her throat heavily, "The last sentence was inappropriate."
"I was wrong." Madam Cao slapped her lightly, "It's really because Miss Cousin treats the young master too well..."
"You can't say that." Qin said, "Wanru is my niece. She is an unmarried girl. She understands the difficulties of being an aunt, so she is willing to help take care of the young master. The young master just lost his mother, and I am busy with the funeral. I am always worried about entrusting him to the concubines of the various courtyards."
"Madam is right," said Madam Cao, "We say the same thing outside."
Qin nodded and said, "Although the Crown Prince's wife is the young master's biological mother, this is still a funeral. The young master is too young. I plan to inform the Marquis and let him live in the cousin's courtyard temporarily. I will take him back after the seventh day. If the Crown Prince misses the child, let him go to the cousin's courtyard to see him, and don't take him anywhere else."
"Yes, ma'am!" Everyone agreed and understood Qin's arrangement tacitly.
Zhao Jingyu slept in the west courtyard until the sun was setting. Perhaps he was very tired, so he woke up, ate a bowl of white porridge, and then fell asleep again.
He had a dreamless night and at dawn, he was awakened from his drowsiness by a series of loud noises and crying.
(End of this chapter)