Chapter 36: Sisters in the Mansion
For a while, there was chaos in Zhilanju, and the doctor who had just left was captured again.
After the doctor entered the room and saw the condition of the young lady from the Shen Mansion, he also shook his head.
There are so many other things for such a young lady to learn, but she insists on biting her tongue to commit suicide.
Fortunately, only the tip of the tongue was injured, and some bleeding occurred, but it has stopped now.
The doctor prescribed some powder for compress and a prescription for stopping bleeding and replenishing blood before leaving.
Ruan stayed by her daughter's bed and blamed herself.
She hated herself for her momentary hesitation and for becoming suspicious of Shu'er because of her husband's words.
This child died to prove his integrity, and almost made a big mistake.
Ruan tucked in the quilt for her daughter on the bed and was about to leave when she saw Shen Jingshu had slowly woken up.
She stretched out a slender white hand from under the quilt and stubbornly tugged at the corner of her clothes.
His eyes were filled with tears, which flowed down from the corners of his eyes.
The girl opened her lips slightly: "Ah...Mother..."
Ruan's eyes were wet with tears for a moment, and she said anxiously, "I know! I know everything. Don't be anxious! Shu'er, don't be so anxious to speak. Let's talk about it after we're better!"
After saying this, he saw Shen Jingshu lying in the quilt still looking at him with tearful eyes, and he hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
Xiuzhu, who was standing aside, watched all this and lowered her head uncomfortably.
Ruan stayed in Zhilanju the whole morning and didn't dare to leave.
When she returned to her own courtyard, she felt sore in her shoulders and back. The maid beside her massaged her shoulders and encouraged her to take care of herself.
After a while, the eldest young master Shen Shaoyu also came wandering in, and Ruan told him to go visit his sister.
Shen Shaoyu agreed on the surface and really went to Zhilanju, but he just stood outside for a while and then left.
At the Chengguo Mansion, Xu Shuyao only stayed in Songhe Hall for one or two hours every day since her younger brother entered the Imperial College.
The girls are already quite old, and Madam Xiao is not a teacher, so it is impossible for her to teach them well in one go.
In addition to practicing calligraphy and copying books, they also teach some principles of how to behave and deal with things.
While doing all this, Chen had already started arranging a marriage for Xiao Jinshan.
Liu was no exception. Old Madam Xiao also asked her to think about Liu Qingwan's marriage.
After knowing that there was no hope of marrying into the Duke's Mansion, the Liu family had written to Liu Qingwan more than once asking her to go back.
Before, she used the excuse that her father was feared by the emperor, but recently the Liu family gave her an ultimatum, requiring her to find a marriage within six months, otherwise she would return to the Liu family's old house and follow her grandmother's arrangements.
After receiving the letter, Liu Qingwan almost fell ill again.
When she thought of the dilapidated old house that clung to outdated customs and habits, and her aunts and uncles, she realized that she had rarely seen her father's stepmother a few times a year.
They wore dark clothes all day long and sat in front of Liu's grandmother to pay their respects, not daring to breathe. Liu Qingwan felt a chill down her spine just thinking about it.
Liu's mother died early. In her memory, her stepmother had a sad face and seemed to never smile.
At least Liu Qingwan had never seen her smile.
Liu Qingwan also has a half-brother, who was born to this stepmother.
My father took several concubines in Ningxia, and I heard that he had illegitimate sons and daughters.
She didn't want to go to either Ningxia or the Liu family's old house.
If I could stay in the Duke's Mansion, if I could...
When Liu Qingwan thought of this possibility, her heart gradually calmed down.
After the Jiyunzhai incident, Chen had been depressed for a while, but now, under the guise of arranging a marriage for Xiao Jinshan, she seems to have revived.
Mr. Xiao Er was not the type to hold grudges, so since his wife had given him a way out, he just went along with it.
The bottom line is that he doesn't like his concubine Zhao.
Since a bad impression has already been left, it is inappropriate to pretend to be virtuous and generous.
As for Xiao Jinrong's marriage, Chen simply adopted a passive attitude.
This is indeed impossible to blame. After all, good things take time. Haven't you seen that the prince in the mansion is already this old and still has no movement?
Xiao Jinrong was not in a hurry either. Besides, the third branch was anxious to get married next year, so they would have to ask each family to come one by one. After thinking about it, the second master Xiao did not say anything.
Just let Chen focus on the third lady's marriage first, after all, a girl's life cannot be delayed.
Liu also knew about the old man writing a letter to his niece. Seeing that Liu Qingwan's face turned pale with worry, she secretly made up her mind to arrange a good marriage for her this time.
Liu asked someone to collect all the unmarried young men in the capital and carefully screen them, but she accidentally heard that the third son of the Qingyuan Marquis's Mansion was looking for someone to propose marriage!
She couldn't help but feel moved.
The Marquis of Qingyuan's Mansion is the maiden home of Lady Wang, the wife of the Duke of Qingyuan. The third young master is Wang Shaowei's half-brother and the illegitimate son of Lady Wang's elder brother.
Although he was born out of wedlock, the family tradition of the marquisate was upright, and Wang Jingcheng himself entered the officialdom through the imperial examination.
Although his official rank is not high at present, he is diligent and hardworking, which makes him completely different from those spoiled brats who only know how to mess around.
Moreover, with the relationship between the Wang family and the Xiao family, if my niece can marry into the family, she will not be treated harshly in the future.
The more Liu thought about it, the more she felt that this person was feasible, so she went to the main room immediately.
When Wang heard the purpose of her visit, she thought for a moment and agreed to go back and ask her brother.
The response from the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion was also very quick, and they immediately decided to let the two meet.
For the sake of the young lady's reputation, she could only take a glimpse from a distance, and the location was arranged at the Duke Chengguo's Mansion.
In order to keep Wang Jingcheng close to him, it was specially set on his day off.
That morning, Xu Shuyao and the other two came out of Madam Xiao's Songhe Hall. Liu Qingwan, who used to go back with them every day, said, "You go back first! I think I dropped my earrings in Songhe Hall."
After saying that, he walked back, and Xu Shuyao didn't care.
But Xiao Jinshan beside her had her eyes lit up. She leaned close to her cousin's ear and whispered, "Cousin! I guess she definitely didn't go back to get something. How about we make a bet?"
"It doesn't matter to me whether you take the things or not." Xu Shuyao didn't care.
"Come with me!" he said, and tried to drag her over.
Xu Shuyao was so entangled that she could only slowly fall behind them.
To the west of Songhe Hall, there is a small pond with some water lilies planted in it.
It is late autumn now and the flowering season is almost over, but there is still some green left.
There is also a small arch bridge built above the pond. It is very pleasant to stand on the high point of the arch bridge and enjoy the scenery.
Xiao Jinshan followed Liu Qingwan all the way to the small pond. Seeing that the master and servant were indeed there, she turned around and waved to her cousin behind her.
Xu Shuyao stopped and observed the surrounding environment, but saw several men in brocade robes standing on the small arch bridge.
At this moment, Xiao Jinshan was already waving to them excitedly, "Second brother! Fourth brother..."
Looking at Liu Qingwan under the bridge, she was also blushing and looking up at the bridge.
Xu Shuyao had no intention of barging in again, and without waiting for Xiao Jinshan, she hurriedly took the maid and walked back.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
