It was almost noon when they left the Su family's house. The two districts were quite far apart, and it would be too late to rush back for lunch. So the two of them randomly found a restaurant outside, ate, and then slowly made their way back.
When they arrived at the Changxing Marquis's residence, it was already late afternoon. They got off the carriage inside the side gate and walked in side by side.
"girl!"
After entering the second gate and taking only a few steps, a little girl suddenly jumped out from a corner by the roadside; it was Hongliu.
Xu Rong laughed and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Hongliu looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, quickly said, "I'm here to wait for the Second Young Master and Miss. Sister Baifu said that when we see the Second Young Master and Miss, we should ask them to go back first and not go to Madam's place."
Xu Rong: "What happened?"
“The Marquis and his wife had a fight,” Hongliu said, sticking out her tongue. “It was about the eldest daughter being scolded when she paid her respects this morning. The Marquis spoke to his wife in front of everyone in the courtyard.”
Although Chang Shuyin took the managers away afterward, everyone who needed to hear it had already heard it. The news couldn't be kept secret. They didn't dare to say it openly, but it had already spread far and wide in private. Even those of them who had only recently arrived and were not well-informed had heard about it.
“It’s been almost a day, and Madam is still angry. She’s been going back and forth with every message, and two people who were caught making mistakes have even been punished.” Hongliu relayed the message in detail. “That’s why Sister Baifu asked me to tell you to stop the Second Young Master and Miss from going to confront that trouble.”
According to custom, since the two of them had received Madam Xiao's permission to wander around outside for a day, they should have gone to Madam Xiao's place to report back upon their return.
Xu Rong slowly smiled: "Is that so?"
She started walking again, and Hongliu, having completed her task, happily followed beside her. But when they reached a fork in the road, she saw Xu Rong and Xiao Xin turn in the other direction and quickly stopped to remind them, "Miss, you're wrong. Our courtyard should be that way."
After speaking, she glanced at Xiao Xin, as if to say that he didn't even recognize where she lived. However, Xin Cheng didn't dare to talk to Xiao Xin, and she certainly didn't dare.
Xu Rong waved to her, "That's right, you should go back first."
Hong Liu finally realized something: "..."
She said anxiously, "But Sister Bai Fu said the timing isn't right—"
“No, the timing couldn’t be better now,” Xu Rong said with satisfaction.
This is a golden opportunity.
After seeing off the little girl Hongliu, they continued walking towards the main courtyard.
As soon as you enter the main courtyard, you can tell that Hongliu's report was correct—there is a solemn atmosphere, as if you have entered a courtroom.
When the maid in charge of delivering messages saw them, her face was expressionless, but a hint of sympathy actually appeared in her eyes.
Everyone knows the status of these two masters in Madam Xiao's eyes.
The wealthy young lady, whom they had hired at great expense, had spent most of the day carefully attending to everyone, but hadn't even received a kind look in return.
That's really like walking into the line of fire.
She lifted the curtain and went in. After speaking cautiously, sure enough, Madam Xiao's words were sharp and scathing: "Let them in!"
Xu Rong and Xiao Xin went inside.
Madam Xiao's face was as cold as frost, and she said bluntly, "I've been lenient with you, but you've become so ungrateful! You go out for a whole day at a time, what kind of new bride acts so arrogantly?!"
Before Xiao Xin could speak, Xu Rong interrupted with a smile, "Don't be angry, Madam. I have some good news to tell you. You'll be very happy to hear it."
Madam Xiao: "..."
She was momentarily speechless, then her gaze returned to its critical edge, and she sneered, "Fine, go ahead and say it!"
Chang Shuyin, who was standing to the side, also looked over. With a hint of weariness, she subtly shifted her position to quietly relieve the soreness and numbness in her waist and legs.
Madam Xiao usually wouldn't make her stand for so long; she could sit down. But today she was angry the whole time and wouldn't mention it, so she couldn't just sit down and had to endure it.
Xu Rong said, "My second son and I went out just to relax and take a walk. We happened to come across a shop selling writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. As Madam knows, my second son is currently studying, so I took him inside to have a look. But then we overheard people saying that a Mr. Su has recently moved into the neighborhood. He is highly learned and has a great reputation, and many scholars visit his home—"
Madam Xiao understood what was going on, and the anger pounding in her heart subsided a little. She raised her eyes and glanced at Xu Rong: "Oh? It's just right, it's just a coincidence. How could you two happen to run into such a perfect coincidence? Why doesn't Mr. Su just stay at the shop?"
Her words were full of sarcasm, but all the maids inside and outside who heard them couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief: the gloom of the day had finally dissipated a little.
Some people couldn't help but secretly glance at Xu Rong. Strangely enough, the First Madam had been serving her like a cat and mouse for a long time to no avail, but this unpopular Second Madam had immediately taken a liking to the Madam.
Xu Rong laughed and said, "Madam is truly insightful. Alright, I can't hide it from you, so I'll just say it directly. The Marquis has clearly found a good teacher, but he refuses to take the Second Young Master with him. The Fourth Young Master even boasted about it to the Second Young Master's face. The Eldest Young Master had some good intentions, but I didn't dare to accept. That day, Madam helped me refuse. Who knew the Eldest Young Master would get angry and inexplicably accuse me of looking down on her. The Second Young Master has always been used to these things and doesn't hold them against me. I'm not used to it and can't understand it. I've only just entered the family. Who did I offend?"
The maids began to worry again—how dare she say that! She had only just entered the house and dared to complain so much, even speaking frankly to the Marquis, practically accusing him of being "biased".
Madam Xiao merely chuckled and said, "So, you went to find that Mr. Su?"
Xu Rong nodded: "Yes. I wouldn't dare go against the Marquis's wishes, but since Madam said that Mr. Su didn't accept the Fourth Young Master, it wouldn't be too much for me to take the Second Young Master to try.
Madam Xiao became somewhat listless. She had been feeling sullen for so long, and was exhausted. She also didn't really think that these two people could accomplish anything. However, if they could even add a little bit of trouble to Lord Xiao and that bitch Ruan, that would be to her liking.
"What were the results of the test?"
"Mr. Su has agreed to take the second young master as his student!" Xu Rong said with a beaming smile. "Doesn't Madam think this is a good thing?"
Madam Xiao "..."
She sat up abruptly, staring at Xu Rong: "What did you say? Say it again!"
Xu Rong readily agreed, saying, "I suggested that the Second Young Master should seek a master, and Mr. Su agreed. Mr. Su tested the Second Young Master for a long time, using all those classical Chinese phrases, which I couldn't understand at all."
Madam Xiao had no interest in whether she understood or not. She stared blankly for a moment, then glared at Xiao Xin: "You mean, that gentleman really did accept you? Is he the Su man that the Marquis has been longing for? You didn't come to the wrong person?"
Xiao Xin replied simply, "Yes, I am grateful that you do not despise me, Mr. Meng."
Xu Rong added with a smile, "Madam, it's definitely true. The eldest daughter and the fourth young master both told me about it, and they explained it in great detail."
Madam Xiao almost laughed, but forced a straight face and said, "What exactly happened? Tell me clearly."
Xu Rong said, "Madam, my legs are sore."
After a long ride, no matter how steadily the driver cracked his whip, the jolts and jolting of the carriage wheels were still unpleasant.
Madam Xiao, impatient with arguing with her about trivial matters, said, "Then sit down and talk!"
Xu Rong pulled Xiao Xin up and sat steadily in the chair below him, then began to tell the story vividly.
She was mainly responsible for the transitions; Xiao Xin was responsible for explaining how Mr. Su examined the students. The two of them tacitly omitted Mr. Su's evaluation of his talent—Xu Rong did so intentionally, while Xiao Xin did so out of temperament.
He only mentioned poetry and literature, reciting those books and scriptures. Only Chang Shuyin could understand him in the whole room, but she couldn't interrupt and could only listen.
Madam Xiao had attended school when she was still a young lady, but after decades of managing the household, she had long forgotten it. However, she could tell whether Xiao Xin was making things up or not. After listening for a while, she said in surprise, "So you really have started studying."
She didn't take the rumors the maids had spread to heart. They mostly just treated them as jokes. Studying wasn't such an easy thing. There were many young masters and nobles in the mansions she knew and didn't know who claimed to be studying, but she had never heard of any of them actually making a name for themselves through their studies. They all relied on their family's wealth to make a living.
Now that Madam Xiao has had an accident, she doesn't take it too seriously. Xiao Yi is ten years old, which is the time for him to study. Xiao Xin is almost twenty years old. Suddenly he says he wants to pick up his books again. Ha!
Madam Xiao finally laughed. She couldn't hold back anymore. This was truly a funny thing. Xiao Xin was funny, and Marquis Xiao was even funnier. The anger she had been holding in all day finally dissipated!
"Madam, is this a good thing?" Xu Rong asked her with a smile.
Madam Xiao rarely gave her a kind look: "It's a good thing that Erlang knows how to improve himself. Why ask him over and over again? Do you think I'm going to stop him?"
"So the master really allowed Erlang to go to school?" She turned to Xu Rong to confirm.
Xu Rong paused for a moment, then did not respond immediately.
Madam Xiao's face immediately darkened: "So you were just spouting nonsense? Trying to fool me?"
Xu Rong hurriedly replied, "No! The master has approved it. The second young master is honest and hardworking. Although he started later than others, he is more sincere than others. The master agreed after consideration, but—"
Madam Xiao pressed further, "But what?"
“It’s just that you’re worried about offending the Marquis,” Xu Rong said reluctantly. “You’re unwilling to take in the Fourth Young Master, but you did take in the Second Young Master. If the Marquis finds out, it will seem as if you’re targeting the Fourth Young Master.”
"So what if he's being targeted?" Madam Xiao sneered. "Such a big temper for such a young man, even I, as a teacher, wouldn't dare accept him!"
Xu Rong immediately shut up.
These words were spoken by Madam Xiao, not by her.
Madam Xiao felt incredibly relieved after saying those words. She felt refreshed and took a sip of her teacup, then put it down and resolutely commanded, "Second Brother, since the master is willing to accept you, you shouldn't delay any longer—by the way, you should prepare a tuition fee first, and I'll pay for it. You should go and formally become his disciple as soon as possible, don't drag your feet, or it will make us seem like we don't know our place."
Xiao Xin stood up and agreed.
His face was sullen, as if someone owed him money. Madam Xiao glanced at him and wondered: What did that gentleman see in him?
With such mediocre eyesight, his reputation might be inflated.
Regardless of who this gentleman is, as long as he can be used by her and makes Luomei Residence look bad, that's enough.
Xu Rong also stood up and blinked: "Madam, what about the Marquis—?"
Madam Xiao snorted coldly and said slowly, "I will handle things with the Marquis."
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