The weather was indeed very good the next day.
Xu Rong got up early, which was rare for her. She washed up, dressed, and had breakfast—a bowl of fragrant wontons with pickled bamboo shoots, bean curd rolls, and four other side dishes. Half a day later, she had lunch with Madam Xu and Xu Huazhang. After lunch, she rested for a while. Half a day later, the sun set, and the day was over.
The servants in the courtyard didn't think anything was wrong. They were used to Xu Rong being so decadent and idle after her "heartbreak." Only Bai Fu knew that it wasn't like that. When she removed her hairpins that evening, she saw Xu Rong's thoughtful face in the mirror and comforted her, "Don't worry, Miss. Madam Xiao is probably unwilling to give up. It's normal for her to want to drag it out for a few days."
Xu Rong nodded: "Mm."
She didn't think so.
Madam Xiao is neither trustworthy nor scheming, but Old Madam Zhang is a decisive person. She released Luo Er and Xu Huazhang, made promises to her, and then went to find Madam Xiao. All of these were done immediately and without any delay. Xu Rong did not believe that she would fail to keep her promises in the end.
Xu Rong hoped she was overthinking things, so she decided to wait a little longer, as Bai Fu had suggested.
Another day passed while we waited.
As the sun rose on a new day, Xu Rong stayed in bed, unwilling to get up.
She knew things had definitely changed.
If she continues to harbor wishful thinking, she's just fooling herself. She can't pretend to be stupid anymore, so she has to get up and face the new changes.
...She didn't want to get up.
So tired.
"It's so difficult," Xu Rong murmured as he lay in his tent.
She didn't want to compete, fight, worry, or toil, but being a lazy bum was so difficult.
"Miss?" Bai Fu heard the noise, came over and lifted half of the curtain, and said with a smile, "Miss, are you getting up? I'll ask them to fetch water."
Xu Rong covered her face with the blanket and mumbled from inside, "I won't get up."
Bai Fu rarely saw her like this anymore, and laughed out loud: "Then you can sleep a little longer, Miss. I'll go out first and won't disturb you."
The curtains fell again, and the light footsteps faded into the distance.
Xu Rong lay there lazily.
She couldn't possibly sleep; she just didn't want to move.
The little girl outside the window was sweeping and chattering away.
"The weather is nice today, but it's a bit cold. I secretly put a handful of chestnuts under the tea stove. We'll eat them together after we finish our work."
Another person exclaimed in surprise, "Where did you get this wonderful thing?"
"It was given to me by Sister Zhitao's sister-in-law," the first one said. "Our two families are neighbors. Yesterday, I sneaked back home and happened to see her packing up her things, giving away some bulky household items that she couldn't take with her. When she saw me, she grabbed a handful of chestnuts and gave them to me."
Another person asked, "Giving her away? Is her family moving?"
The first to speak said, "Yes. Sister Zhitao has been redeemed from the manor, didn't you know?"
The other one was clearly very surprised, and stopped working. "How am I supposed to know? Nobody told me—I'm afraid even the young lady and Sister Bai Fu don't know!"
The voice that spoke first carried a hint of pride in having obtained "exclusive information": "That's understandable. Sister Zhitao left just yesterday, and she left so quietly that she didn't even come here to say goodbye to you, so no one knew."
Another hurriedly said, "Yes, why doesn't she come? Sister Zhitao has always served you personally. If she comes, you'll surely reward her with something."
"She's resentful." The first voice lowered, "Sister Zhitao was originally a first-class rank, but after making a mistake, she lost even her second-class rank and was demoted to a menial job..."
"Yes, that's true, if it were me, I wouldn't be able to think straight either..."
After the two girls finished their work and moved to a different place, their idle chatter gradually faded away.
Has Zhi Tao been redeemed?
Xu Rong's gaze was fixed on the top of the water-red tent. She was indeed completely unaware of this matter, and she was certain that Bai Fu was also unaware, otherwise she would not have remained completely silent.
The result is obvious: it is undoubtedly Ms. Xu's personal masterpiece once again.
Madam Xu had wanted to sell the two derelict maids before, and now that Zhi Tao was asking to leave, she probably wouldn't even think twice before agreeing.
Actually, Xu Rong didn't "overthink" things, but that was due to her laziness—she didn't interfere in anything unrelated to her goals or interests, not because she thought Zhi Tao was without fault.
Compared to Ziyan, another maid who was demoted at the same time, Zhitao was too "outspoken".
She didn't know, nor did she want to know, why she jumped, but one thing was clear: Zhi Tao believed she deserved a role.
Now Madam Xu has let this promising maid go.
Xu Rong wanted to sigh, but after thinking about it, she swallowed her breath.
This is Madam Xu's normal procedure; there's nothing surprising about it. It would be strange if she didn't do it this way.
Xu Rong put the matter out of her mind. She closed her eyes and lay down for a while, but her mind was not at peace. She felt uncomfortable lying down, and her limbs were stiff instead of relaxed. Xu Rong was so angry that she turned over and refused to get up, because getting up would only make her more upset.
But a moment later, she got up.
Bai Fu came to report that guests had arrived at the Duke of England's residence.
Xu Rong quickly washed up and asked, "Who came?"
Bai Fu shook her head: "I don't know. The messenger from Madam's place was just urging the young lady to hurry over."
Old Madam Zhang finally couldn't delay any longer and came to explain to her personally.
Or did they send a younger person instead?
Xu Rong suppressed her guesses, quickly did her hair and makeup, and led Bai Fu towards the main courtyard.
Once inside, she realized she had been wrong: it was a doctor.
It's that Dr. Li who has been treating Zhang Weiling's arm and has excellent medical skills.
Because she hadn't paid attention to the small injury on her forehead, Xu Rong had almost forgotten the kindness that Madam Zhang had initially shown. Madam Zhang herself, however, remembered it and, though two days late, finally sent someone over.
Madam Xu was very pleased and hurriedly invited Xu Rong to sit down. She personally lifted Xu Rong's bangs and asked Doctor Li to examine her.
Doctor Li, nearing fifty, was no longer bound by strict gender segregation. He glanced at Xu Rong's forehead without looking directly at her, then stepped back, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Miss is indeed seriously injured. The imperial physician who treated her before was extremely diligent, and it is already quite remarkable that he has managed to heal her to this extent. My medical skills are shallow, and I dare not claim that I can do more to restore Miss's appearance to its former glory—"
Madam Xu said disappointedly, "Then you can't cure it?"
She was about to sit down and lament Xu Rong's tragic fate when Doctor Li choked for a moment: "Madam, I haven't finished speaking yet. Although I'm not entirely confident, I've been entrusted by Old Madam Zhang to do everything in my power. I think I can still make the young lady's scars fade a bit more."
Madam Xu immediately turned her sorrow into joy: "That's good then. You can treat me with all your heart, and I will thank you handsomely."
Seeing that Doctor Li dared to say such a thing, she knew that his medical skills were indeed better than those of Physician Yang. Then she remembered something else and ordered someone: "Go and call Zhang'er over, and let the divine doctor also examine her."
Xu Huazhang had been in prison for so many days, and no matter how lively he seemed, Madam Xu was still worried and insisted on having a doctor come and check his pulse. The doctor had actually come before, but given Madam Xu's maternal perspective, now that a better doctor was available, it wouldn't be a problem to have him examined again.
The maidservant returned after a while, panting, "Madam, the Marquis—the Marquis has gone out."
Madam Xu was startled: "What? When did you leave? Where did you go?"
The maid said with difficulty, "I don't know. When I got to the front yard, the Marquis was already gone. I asked around and found out that he said he felt stuffy at home and went out for some fresh air early this morning."
Madam Xu was furious: "That Zhang'er, he clearly promised me to stay home properly, but he couldn't wait even after just a few days. When he comes back, I will definitely punish him severely!"
Xu Rong glanced sideways.
Her meaning was so clear that Madam Xu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she emphasized, "I will definitely punish him severely so that he will never dare to do it again!" She then instructed the maid, "Go and keep watch in front. As soon as Zhang'er returns, bring him to see me immediately."
The girl agreed and went.
Without saying anything else, Doctor Li wrote out a prescription, prepared the medicine, and instructed the servants to prepare it. After Xu Rong applied the prepared ointment to his forehead, he left a few more medical instructions, picked up his medical kit, and took his leave.
It was quite a coincidence that Xu Huazhang returned shortly after he left the mansion.
His eyebrows danced with joy, his face beaming with happiness.
Madam Xu sat upright at the head of the table and demanded, "What have you been doing?!"
Xu Huazhang entered the room with a grin: "Mom, I've done a great thing."
Madam Xu asked suspiciously, "What?"
“I ruined Xiao Lun’s good deed, haha.” Xu Huazhang turned his head and saw Xu Rong sitting there, so he asked her for credit, “Sister, I’ve finally gotten revenge for you this time.”
Xu Rong had been feeling stifled for a while, but this spoiled young master's words helped dispel some of her pent-up frustration. She poured herself a cup of tea, pushed it forward, and raised her eyebrows, indicating, "Go ahead and speak."
Xu Huazhang was pleased with himself. He sat down next to her, gulped down his tea, wiped his mouth, and said, "I originally intended to see Zhang Weiling today—"
Madam Xu grew anxious: "Why are you still looking for him? I've told you to stay away from these people. If you cause any more trouble, will you even want to live anymore?!"
Xu Huazhang said, "Mother, don't worry. I'm not going to cause him any trouble. I just want to have things discussed. If he has any objections, he can state them to me in person. I'll accept them all so that no villains can get involved and cause trouble."
His words were rough, but the logic was sound, and Madam Xu reluctantly accepted them: "And then? What does it have to do with Xiao Lun?"
“I saw him on the way.” Xu Huazhang narrowed his eyes and sneered, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. “Mother, you don’t know, do you? Today is his big day. He went to the Duke of Zheng’s mansion to place an engagement, riding a tall horse with half a street’s worth of betrothal gifts behind him. Humph, what a show.”
Madam Xu was stunned: "..."
She really didn't know.
Xu Rong asked, "Did you go and cause trouble?"
"I found an opening and let his goose escape." Xu Huazhang, who had been holding back for so long, couldn't hold it in any longer. His cold laugh turned into a silly grin. "Mother, sister, you have no idea how satisfying that scene was. His family was dumbfounded. They chased after the goose in a chaotic mess, trying to catch it, but they don't have wings, how could they catch it? Xiao Lun's horse was even startled by the servants and dragged him all over the street. I hid on the side and watched. His face turned green with fright, hahaha."
He clutched his stomach, slumped back in his chair, and laughed heartily.
Using geese as betrothal gifts is an ancient custom and the main gift among all engagement ceremonies. It symbolizes trustworthiness and loyalty and carries great weight. For families like the Marquis of Changxing and the Duke of Zheng, the engagement gifts that cost half a street might not be as prestigious as a pair of geese.
"You—" Madam Xu was about to faint; she couldn't bear such a shock. "Life had just settled down, why did you have to cause trouble again!"
Xu Huazhang's face fell; he was clearly very resentful of being scolded.
"Let it go," Xu Rong said calmly. "It didn't damage any of their valuables. If they come looking for us, we'll just compensate them with a pair of geese."
Xu Huazhang immediately puffed out his chest, smiled ingratiatingly at her, and then defended himself: "Sister, don't worry, I'm not that stupid, I went with my face covered."
Xu Rong looked him up and down. His head and face were unharmed, and his clothes were neat and tidy, indicating that he had escaped unscathed.
Thinking back to the chaos at the time, she still asked, "Are you hurt?"
Xu Huazhang was deeply moved, and his thin chest puffed out again: "No, there were a lot of people at the time. I just took a chance and slipped into the crowd of onlookers. They didn't even touch a hair on my head."
Xu Rong nodded, and even Madam Xu breathed a sigh of relief: "Sigh—"
"Mrs!"
A young maidservant, who was in charge of announcing things outside the courtyard gate, ran in and said in a clear voice, "The gatekeeper has called to inform you, Madam, that the young master Xiao from the Marquis of Changxing's residence has arrived and wishes to see you!"
Madam Xu: "...!"
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