"You woke up the Marquis!" Eleventh Lady leaned on the pillow at the head of the bed, "Don't worry, Marquis. Aunt Qiao is fine. I just asked the maid who came to report. The mothers heard the 'dong dong' sound in the bed and then found out that Aunt Qiao had attempted suicide..."
Xu Lingyi also leaned on the pillow at the head of the bed.
He woke up when someone knocked on the door. He heard exactly what the maid had said and how Eleventh Lady had dealt with it.
If he really wanted to hang himself, why would he make such a loud noise?
Qiao Lianfang just wanted to use this to threaten Shiyi Niang.
Eleventh Lady didn't really want to punish Qiao Lianfang.
She just wanted to scare Qiao Lianfang.
So even though they sent three items over, they had them placed on the incense table in the main room, and told Qiao Lianfang that if she made trouble again, she would be sent to the temple tomorrow... They gave Qiao Lianfang half the night to think about it, giving her a way out.
He took a deep breath.
Although he was surprised by Shiyi Niang's calmness and decisiveness, he was even more surprised by Qiao Lianfang's transformation.
Xu Lingyi looked at the ceiling of the tent with a somewhat disappointed expression.
“I saw people with festering wounds cut off with a knife and poured liquor on them,” he said with a sad voice, “I also saw people with broken limbs tied up with a stick and dragged ten miles to find a doctor to treat their wounds… They never thought about death, but only about how to survive… And how many people wanted to live but couldn’t… But she played with her life and used it to threaten others…”
He is talking about Qiao Lianfang!
Eleventh Lady looked at it and sighed secretly.
After all, she was the woman who had served him. How could she not feel a little bit of emotion when things had come to this point?
When Eleventh Lady heard this, she found it a little ridiculous.
Only those who love you will feel heartbroken for your pain and sad for your hurt. For those who don’t love you, it doesn’t matter whether you are alive or dead.
"Maybe this matter is very important to Aunt Qiao!" She could only say vaguely.
Just like those inexperienced children, missing their favorite cartoons is the end of the world. How could they know the preciousness of life!
Xu Lingyi shook his head slightly.
It’s simply because life is too comfortable and extravagant!
There was some fatigue in his voice: "If she still makes trouble tomorrow, send her to Dajue Temple to live for a few days!"
"Dajue Temple?" Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.
She didn't know this temple. But then, she didn't know many temples.
"Our family has never offered incense to Dajue Temple." Shiyi Niang hesitated, "Is the Marquis familiar with this Zen temple?"
"Generally, temples are full of good and bad people. After a long time, it is inevitable that some people with bad intentions will talk nonsense." Xu Lingyi looked complicated and did not answer directly. "Dajue Temple is located in a remote area and has strict temple rules. It is a good place for meditation. I will ask Manager Bai to say hello to the abbot of Dajue Temple tomorrow."
The remote location means that there are few pilgrims there; the strict temple rules mean that the management there is very strict. Asking Chief Steward Bai to say hello means that he has some relationship with the Xu family. If things really come to that, at least Dajue Temple is safer than ordinary temples. Besides, Xu Lingyi only said that he would send her there to live for a few days, and there would always be a day to take her back. If this can temper Qiao Lianfang's temper, it may not be a bad thing for her.
Eleventh Lady nodded.
Xu Lingyi leaned over to blow out the lamp: "Let's go to bed early!"
The room immediately fell into darkness.
Eleventh Lady lay down quietly and was held in Xu Lingyi's arms.
Only the shallow breathing of the two people could be heard in the tent, adding a touch of tranquility.
"Moyan," he said with a serious tone, "Do you also think this is important?"
You're asking her what she would do if she encountered something like this?
Eleventh Lady sneered.
If it were her, she would definitely not let things develop to this point.
However, this is too long and unnecessary.
"At least I won't hang myself." She joked to herself, "Otherwise, who would benefit from leaving behind this huge family business?"
Xu Lingyi laughed.
The heavy depression just now was swept away.
He kissed her temple gently: "Then let's make it a deal. We can't abandon this huge family business and let others get away with it."
There was a serious tone in his voice, which made Shiyi Niang slightly stunned.
* * * * * *
The next day, as soon as they got up, Mother Song walked in with a tired look on her face.
She glanced at Xu Lingyi, who was sitting cross-legged on the kang by the window feeding the goldfish, with some embarrassment, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Eleventh Lady secretly said that it was not good.
Xu Lingyi had put down the fish food in his hand, said "go" coldly, and took the handkerchief handed to him by the maid to wipe his hands.
Mother Song glanced at Shiyi Niang and whispered, "Aunt Qiao was clamoring to see the Marquis and even smashed the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone that were sent to her."
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but frown.
Xu Lingyi ordered Lu Yun, who was serving beside him, "Go and call Chief Steward Bai." He then said to Shiyi Niang, "Appoint a few capable maids to help Qiao pack some things and send her to Dajue Temple this afternoon."
The servants in the room looked at each other.
The lady not only sent Aunt Qiao to the temple as promised, but also persuaded the Marquis.
Then I felt extremely terrified.
Eleventh Lady sighed and nodded, then told Mother Song to arrange some manpower.
Mother Song hurriedly knelt down to greet Eleventh Lady with a panicked look on her face, then hurried away.
Xu Lingyi instructed Shiyi Niang again: "The children will come to greet us soon. Send someone capable to look after Qiao Shi so that she won't cause any unrest."
I'm afraid I'll have to tell the lady too, too.
Eleventh Lady nodded and told Yan Rong to go to Qiao Lianfang's yard.
Madam Wen, Madam Qin and Madam Yang came to pay their respects.
Eleventh Lady let them in.
The three of them held up their own copies of "Legal Instructions" with a calm expression, but no one mentioned the reason for copying "Legal Instructions". Madam Wen praised Shiyi Niang with a smile as before: "Madam, are the pearls inlaid on this hairpin of yours South Pearl or Eastern Pearl? If it is South Pearl, I have never seen such a big one. But if it is Eastern Pearl, I have never seen such a shiny one. Every time I come to your place, I always want to learn something..."
She said this without blushing or beating her heart, with a sincere expression and tone that made people feel uncomfortable even though they knew her words were exaggerated.
"It was given by the Madam." Eleventh Lady replied, "I'm not sure whether it's a South Pearl or an East Pearl!"
"That must be South Pearl!" Aunt Wen laughed, "Everything in Madam's possession is a rare treasure. It's just that I am short-sighted and don't know the value of it..."
As they were talking, the children came.
Madam Wen took a few steps back and stood aside with Madam Qin and Yang, not saying anything more.
But her action livened up the atmosphere in the room a lot. When the children came in, they didn't feel anything unusual. They greeted them happily. Some went to school, some went back to embroider, just like usual.
Yang glanced at Madam Wen and was greatly impressed.
A hint of surprise flashed across Aunt Qin's eyes.
Coming out of the main house, she walked at the end and stopped at the entrance of the hall to look at Qiao Lian's yard.
It was quiet all around, with only the rustling of wind in the treetops.
She thought of the shrill cries she heard last night, and hurried back to the house, asking Cui'er to go to Madam Wen to find out the news.
"Madam Wen, the door is closed. No one is allowed to enter or leave."
Aunt Qin was a little surprised and asked her to go and see Yang.
"Mrs. Yang's door was also closed," Cui'er said. "I went to knock on the door, and Mrs. Yang spoke to me through the door."
Aunt Qin nodded, sent Cui'er out, and sat alone on the big kang by the window, muttering to herself: "It was right to spread the news of the visit of the wife of Marquis Jianning to everyone in the yard...but why was there no movement in her yard? Could it be that she thought about it for half the night and figured it out, and obediently followed the lady's orders and locked herself in the room to copy "Instructions for Women"? " She frowned in distress.
* * * * * *
Qiao Lianfang was pinned down on the kang by two burly maids, with a white silk handkerchief stuffed in her mouth. She stared with bloodshot eyes at Mother Song, who was directing the maids to pack up.
"Auntie is going to Dajue Temple, not Ciyuan Temple. What are you going to do with these flower powder, rouge, pearl hairpins and precious hairpins?" Mother Song ordered Xiu Yuan, who was standing by and crying silently, "Please help your aunt to put these things away."
Xiu Li hurriedly went forward and held Qiao Lianfang's mirror box in her arms. When she looked up and saw Qiao Lianfang's disheveled and miserable appearance, her tears flowed even harder.
"And this jacket with gold patterns all over it." Mother Song checked the bag she was going to take with her. "Take out the Shu brocade vest and the armor. Just take some silk and Lu silk clothes with you."
Several maids were busy repacking.
Seeing that everyone was following her instructions, Madam Song nodded slightly, walked to the kang, and said softly, "Aunt Qiao, if you promise me that you will stop shouting, I will also respect you as half a master. Take the handkerchief out of your mouth and let them release you. You can also feel more comfortable."
Qiao Lianfang glared at Mother Song with eyes full of resentment, and there was no sign of submission at all.
Mother Song couldn't help but smile bitterly, thought for a moment, and said, "Aunt Qiao, it was the Marquis's intention to send you to Dajue Temple!"
Qiao Lianfang listened with disdain in her eyes.
Mother Song felt that if she didn't say this clearly, she was afraid that this person would not give up and would continue to make trouble, and then they would be in trouble. So she simply said, "Madam Qiao, don't just be angry. It's better to think about it carefully. Madam came from Yuhang and has only been in Yanjing for two or three years. How could she know what Dajue Temple is like!"
Qiao Lianfang was shocked when she heard this, her face full of disbelief, but the light in her eyes faded away bit by bit like sand that could not be retained.
Dajue Temple is not an ordinary Zen temple.
It is a royal temple and does not accept incense from the general public. Therefore, not many people know about it. Although it is the dojo of Guanyin, it once imprisoned a concubine and two demoted concubines. Some powerful families in Yanjing occasionally sent their daughters who had lost their morals or sisters who had been divorced to go there. It was called rest, but in fact it was practice. And it was famous for its asceticism.
Mother Song looked at her and shook her head slightly, motioning for the two mothers to help Qiao Lianfang up, and she personally went forward and took the handkerchief out of Qiao Lianfang's mouth.
Qiao Lianfang sat there with a dull expression, neither cursing nor making a fuss.
Mother Song ordered the maid to fetch some water and asked Xiuzhen to help her comb her hair and wash her face. She whispered to the side, "Aunt, now that things have come to this, I don't know how many eyes are staring at you. You might as well dress up neatly and go out neatly, at least you can still look respectable and avoid being laughed at by others..."
Qiao Lianfang suddenly grabbed Mother Song's hand and said, "My Lord, are you really going to send me to Dajue Temple?"
Her voice was hoarse, and there was some hope in her eyes as she looked at Mother Song, and doubt in her tone, hoping that Mother Song would give her a negative answer.
But Mother Song nodded solemnly: "It's true!"
Only then did tears appear in the corners of Qiao Lianfang's eyes.
※
Due to family matters, I have been updating less these days. My sisters have not only been understanding and tolerant, but also continue to support me. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone!
Thank you all for your heartwarming messages, and thank you all for your pink votes!
O(∩_∩)O~
Unfortunately, my family affairs have not been arranged yet, so I cannot make a promise to you. But I will adjust as soon as possible.
Thank you all again!