Chapter 26: Plotting for Exchange
"What? You want to exchange with Qingwu?"
Even though Mrs. Zheng doted on her daughter, she was so shocked by Xi Qingtong's words that she stood up.
There were still tears on her cheeks, traces of her heartache for her daughter, but now her face was filled with shock. Without thinking, she said, "No, this is outrageous! You and she are both wives, how can we exchange them?"
Xi Qingtong had anticipated this situation early on. Even if her mother favored her, she might not agree to this matter. But after hearing what her mother said, she felt that this matter had a good chance of success.
Isn't it because the mother only scolded the matter for being inappropriate and didn't feel sorry for the twin sisters first?
Realizing this, Xi Qingtong smiled secretly in his heart, but slapped himself decisively. He seemed to realize that what he said was inappropriate, and said with great guilt:
"Mother, I was wrong just now. How could I push my sister into this pit of fire? My sister grew up in the countryside and suffered for many years. Now she is finally living a life of wealth and glory. How could I treat her like this?"
Seeing Madam Zheng's distressed expression, she threw herself into her arms, sobbing and sobbing, "I'm just scared... scared... I'll have to live with my husband in the palace, which has been in disrepair for a long time. I'm scared... Mother..."
She did not describe the entire difficult life she imagined, but just a few words were enough to arouse Mrs. Zheng's imagination.
How could a mother not feel heartbroken when hearing her daughter's sobbing? Thinking of her daughter, whom she had pampered since childhood, having to live the life of a commoner, doing the things that servants do, Madam Zheng felt as if her heart was being tugged at.
She patted her daughter's back and tried her best to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I won't let you suffer. Even if His Majesty is merciless and doesn't want to give Tai... Xiao Liulang any of the family property, I will give it to you..."
But even she felt that this was too empty. How much could the Xi family give? She had an eldest son who was still unmarried, and besides that, she had one illegitimate son and one illegitimate daughter. If they had to give a share to each of them when they got married, how much could they allow for their daughter?
She couldn't help but think of the suggestion her daughter had just made...
Sensing her mother's hesitation, Xi Qingtong rubbed against Madam Zheng's shoulder again. The kitten-like action softened Madam Zheng's heart, and she nodded obediently.
"I believe in mother... I believe in mother. Mother will never let her daughter suffer..."
But halfway through her words, she choked up.
"But mother, I can't accept this. I've learned the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting for so many years. Will they be useless in the future? I still remember when I was little and naughty and refused to practice calligraphy, mother beat me with a stick more than ten times... She beat me so hard that I couldn't write for three days, but I still had to continue practicing the piano..."
As Xi Qingtong cried, Madam Zheng also recalled her strict teachings over the years. Didn't she feel sorry? Of course she did.
She didn't want the pearl she had poured her heart and soul into cultivating to be left in the dust...
Madam Zheng couldn't help but think of her daughter's proposal again. Although it was very unethical and inappropriate, she lowered her eyes to look at her daughter in her arms, and her throat moved unconsciously, "The exchange..."
She started to speak but stopped abruptly. "That won't work. You've been married for several months. Your husbands should be able to recognize you."
Twin sisters naturally look exactly the same to outsiders, but people who are familiar with them can tell them apart after just a few glances.
But he heard his daughter sobbing again in his arms, "In fact, Xiao Ji has only seen his daughter three times, and he has not yet consummated his marriage with his daughter..."
This startled Madam Zheng again. She quickly stepped back, held her daughter's shoulders, and asked in surprise, "The marriage hasn't been consummated yet?! What's going on?"
Xi Qingtong then exaggerated the "real situation" of her life in the Eastern Palace, and finally said with resentment: "Xiao Ji... doesn't dote on my daughter."
Madam Zheng's heart was shaken. Without status and favor, how could she possibly live a good life? She subconsciously said anxiously, "But even if Xiao Ji can't tell the two of you apart... Song Yunhe's side..."
Hearing this, Xi Qingtong knew that her mother's side had won most of the victory, and hurriedly asked, "Cousin, doesn't mother know about it?"
This rhetorical question left Madam Zheng speechless. Could she not see that Song Yunhe had some affection for Qingtong?
Just as Madam Zheng was thinking, Xi Qingtong wiped her tears and looked at her aggrievedly, "Yunhe, he has always been attracted to Tong'er, and..." She paused and continued, "Yunhe and my sister haven't consummated their marriage yet."
Now that he had come to this, Xi Qingtong simply explained it clearly, "This is what Yunhe told me. He has been concentrating on the imperial examinations since the beginning of the year and has not dared to indulge in women. Only now can he achieve the third place in the imperial examination."
After saying this, Xi Qingtong lowered her head, wiped her tears, and said no more, giving Madam Zheng some time to think and make a decision.
After suddenly knowing so much information, Mrs. Zheng took a while to calm down. She sorted it out one by one, and it seemed that there was only one way ahead.
The two sisters are twins, and neither has consummated their marriages with their respective husbands. Song Yunhe is also in love with Tong'er, so it is easy to persuade him...
When this thought came into her mind, Mrs. Zheng was stunned for a moment, then she laughed bitterly. Everything had its answer.
She looked at Tong'er crying in front of her, and finally hardened her heart.
Who made this daughter grow up under her nose, while the other one was missing for many years?
It's human nature to differentiate between those who are close and those who are distant...
"Qiangwei, go find the Second Lady... She should be in the Zhuangyuan Building this time."
Zhuangyuan Building, as its name suggests, stands at the most prosperous street corner in the capital and is also on the route that Jinshi scholars must take during their parade. Its owner is very wealthy and he would entertain Jinshi scholars and their relatives with a free banquet every year on the day of the Jinshi parade. This is known to everyone, and Qingwu is indeed one of them.
But she wasn't the only one, there was also Lin Shanshan. Perhaps it was fate that both of their husbands were ranked first, and Shanshan's husband, Xu Huaiyu, was the top scholar this year. So the two met in this Zhuangyuan Building, and on the top floor.
The four greatest joys in life: rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the wedding night, and being named on the list of successful candidates.
Although Qingwu and Song Yunhe were not truly married, she was happy for him from the bottom of her heart when she saw him riding a red robe and a fine horse. However, because they were not that close, Qingwu was happy but remained calm, while Lin Shanshan was not.
Xu Huaiyu was her childhood sweetheart, and their relationship was extraordinary. Now that her husband had become the top scorer in the imperial examination, she was naturally extremely happy. For this reason, she prepared a whole basket of flowers and plants, waiting to throw it to her husband when he walked by downstairs.
Seeing Qingwu just smiling with nothing in her hands, Lin Shanshan hurriedly handed the flower basket to Qingwu, "Why don't you pick one too? How can you let the other girls throw flowers without you saying anything?"
As the sound of auspicious music got closer, Shanshan saw that Qingwu was still hesitating, so she picked a peony and put it in her hand, saying with a smile, "Don't be shy, I cultivated and cut these flowers myself."
Qingwu had no choice but to reach out and take it. It turned out to be a light green peony. The petals were slightly cool to the touch, like green jade covered with morning dew.
She couldn't help but be surprised. "Shanshan, you can actually grow light green peonies? That's amazing."
Now it was Shanshan's turn to be shy. She said modestly, "My maternal grandfather's family is a leading florist. They have made great achievements in this field. It's just a family tradition."
But Qingwu would not underestimate the trick. This flower cannot be bred overnight. Just like herbs, the changes in its color and medicinal properties will take more than a year.
But before the two of them could say a few more words, the sound of auspicious music rang in their ears. They leaned over to look downstairs and saw a group of red-robed scholars already walking towards them in a long line. The three leading them were riding white horses, all with their heads held high and their chests puffed out, looking very proud and triumphant.
Under the red robe, he was the best in the class. Even Xu Huaiyu, who had an ordinary appearance, looked handsome at this moment, not to mention Song Yunhe, who was already handsome. Men, women, old and young, saw his beautiful appearance and threw flowers and orchids on him.
Song Yunhe himself was also very immersed in it. He had not felt so happy for many years since his father passed away. He felt so excited in his heart that he seemed to be flying into the sky.
He occasionally caught the orchids thrown by the people, until one of them fell lightly on his hat. He subconsciously looked up and saw large flowers pouring down. In the gaps between them, he also saw that beautiful face and was stunned for a moment.
She also saw him looking up, and when their eyes met, she smiled, her face instantly bright, and then she raised the light green peony in her hand and threw it hard in his direction.
On the day of his graduation, a beautiful woman threw flowers at him from a tall building. How romantic was that?
So no matter how many colorful paper flowers there were in the sky, Song Yunhe could only see the light green one. He even unconsciously moved his horse's body and stretched out his arm to catch the flower in the wind.
When the delicate peony fell into his palm, Song Yunhe's heart was moved.
He couldn't help but look up again. The person by the window was still standing there gracefully. For a moment, he felt indescribable emotions.
Until the runner-up on the other side smiled and reminded: "Ling Xiao, stop twisting your neck backwards and keep your eyes on the road ahead. You're going the wrong way!"
The third place winner suddenly turned around, his face flushed, and he cleared his throat and explained to his fellow winner, "That's my wife."
*
Qingwu watched the team leave his sight, and the smile on the corner of his lips slowly faded away. Shanshan also reluctantly withdrew her gaze. Because the last Jinshi had to return to the building, the two of them chatted in the partition.
About an hour later, a maid from the Xi family suddenly came to the door and reported her purpose. Qing Wu frowned and asked in surprise:
"Madam, please let me go back?"
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