Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 721 - 722: Waiting (4)

Early the next morning, Tong Shen Zhi arrived and told Xiqiu, "Lord Xu committed suicide out of guilt!"

Xiqiu’s face changed upon hearing this, and she asked, "How did the Emperor determine his crime?" This determination was very important. If only Lord Xu was implicated, then his death would settle the matter. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Xu Family could be wiped out, and even the Tong Mansion could be affected.

"Your sister-in-law was afraid you’d overthink it when you heard, so she asked me to tell you." Tong Shen Zhi paused and then said, "The Emperor is not pursuing the matter further. It’s said that like Tianqing, Lord Xu was also harmed by the Gu Worms, and his mind was already clouded before his death!"

Xiqiu felt a heavy weight in her heart but couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief!

That day Chunyan came into the mansion to say Xu Tianqing had awoken, but he just stayed alone in his room without eating or drinking, not speaking to anyone who came. The matter of Lord Xu hadn’t been dared to be told to him yet...

In the Capital, in Wei Hui Prefecture, and from Jiangnan, news of the battle kept coming. Zhangde Prefecture had already been recovered, and now Han Cheng had led the army to Wei Hui. It wouldn’t take long for the battle to quell, while the situation over in Jiangnan was relatively tense, with the two armies locked outside Changzhou city...

Three days later, a letter from Fourth Master Xiao arrived—the first letter after eight days out. It was very short, just a few words, but Xiqiu felt secretly relieved. She raised her pen to reply to the letter but thought for a long time and only wrote: All is well, do not worry!

On the first day of March, the eleventh day since Fourth Master Xiao left the Capital, Madam Jiang brought news that a death notice had come from Yingtian, saying that the concubine had passed away on the night of the 27th.

Madam Jiang also said, "Cousin from the Xu Family didn’t have much of a reaction when he heard, but he looked terribly frightened to me."

Xiqiu sighed. With the loss of both parents, no home, and her path in officialdom cut off, Lord Xu was a criminal according to the laws of Great Zhou, and his direct descendants within three generations were not allowed to hold office!

"How is mother?" She didn’t know what Lady’s reaction would be upon hearing this news. In her mind, she recalled when the concubine had sent Xu Tianqing to the Capital for the exam, the two sisters sitting on the bed talking, one dignified, noble, and graceful, the other charming and gentle...

Listening to this, Madam Jiang’s expression darkened: "We haven’t dared to tell mother!"

Early on the third day of March, Nanny Qiu visited, carrying a basket of red eggs, and congratulated: "The concubine gave birth to the Twelfth Miss last night!"

Xiqiu smiled and quickly asked, "Is the concubine well, is the sister well?" Nanny Qiu’s smile was so wide it almost split her face, "Everyone is well, everyone is well, the First Master has officially listed the child under Lady’s name, personally naming her Xihua!"

Tong Xihua!

Being listed under Lady’s name meant that, at least nominally, Tong Xihua was a legitimate lady. It seemed that the First Master was very fond of this sister.

Xiqiu was all smiles, happy in her heart, and told Chunliu to give her pocket to Nanny Qiu, without avoiding her: "I can’t go back myself, so take this silver back with you for the concubine to reward the servants. The sister-in-law already has enough to handle."

Nanny Qiu understood Xiqiu’s intention. If the concubine rewarded them, it would be to her face, and the people in the mansion would regard the concubine and her daughter more highly. She also explained about Madam Jiang, afraid that Madam Jiang might feel embarrassed because of it.

"Then I’ll accept it on behalf of the concubine." Nanny Qiu said with a smile: "First Young Madam has another matter she wanted me to tell Sixth Lady, that two midwives have been found. They will be sent over in a few days for you to have a look. If they’re suitable, they can stay in the mansion."

Xiqiu nodded, "I understand, I’m thankful to the sister-in-law for the trouble."

Nanny Qiu smiled and left the mansion.

"Congratulations, madam, you’ve gained another sister since then." Chunliu, Bihuai, and Biwu were all full of smiles. Madam now had a sibling brother and another sibling sister!

Xiqiu was delighted in her heart, thinking that in the future if Tong Minzhi were to establish his own family, the concubine would be left alone in the mansion. Now having a child to accompany her meant at least these ten years she’d have someone with her. Back then, the concubine often lamented about only raising her for a few years, and later moving out, mother and daughter couldn’t see each other often. This time she hoped the concubine wouldn’t have such regrets!

Xiqiu had sent many things back and hadn’t forgotten Kun, arranging for Nanny Cen to personally take them back. Nanny Cen came back and said, "The Twelfth Miss really looks like our madam; they almost seem like they were carved from the same mold, destined to be a beauty in the future!"

Hearing this made Xiqiu even happier, so she asked, "Is the concubine well?" Nanny Cen nodded, "When I went, Maid Xiuzhi talked about how the Twelfth Miss was fussy last night, but the First Master had personally held her, pacing back and forth in the room for half the night, calling ’Huan’er, Huan’er,’ with every step. Maid Xiuzhi said the Twelfth Miss is even more blessed than the Sixth Miss used to be."

It seemed the First Master really was fond of her, else he’d not be so eager to list the sister under Lady’s name.

She wondered what Lady’s reaction would be, smiling and shaking her head!

...In the towering mountains, each giant tree stood tall and stout as if reaching into the clouds, their branches interwoven almost forming a blanket, gathering overhead into a dark canopy, shrouding the entire forest in an eerie gloom. Sunlight filtered through the sparse gaps between leaves, creating a mottled pattern on the ground. The silvery light flickered, not illuminating the path ahead, but instead, causing a dizzy spell.

The creaking sounds came from afar, bit by bit, startling the forest’s birds and beasts. Birds couldn’t fly high into the sky and could only skim the branches close to the ground, half-hopping in a flurry, seemingly having forgotten how to fly due to being trapped for so long.

The noise grew closer, with someone speaking in a hard, rapid, slurred tone, making it difficult to understand, followed by a question: "Will we be out in a day?"

That person replied affirmatively, then pointed a short distance ahead and said a few words, whereupon another person quickly caught up to the man in black walking ahead and reported: "Great Governor, the guide suggests we set camp up ahead for the night. Tomorrow we’ll be out of this forest and reach Tongren, and another day and a half’s journey after Tongren will bring us to Zhenyuan."

Fourth Master Xiao gazed forward, still seeing nothing but endless forest. He paused in thought, then nodded and said, "Order to set camp and rest ahead!" Following this command, a low cheer arose from the rear.

Having traveled non-stop, their total rest time barely amounted to seven or eight hours already, they were utterly exhausted. Hearing the call to rest, they were naturally delighted, and someone immediately said, "I’m going to hunt some wild game!"

Fourth Master Xiao’s military discipline management had always been outwardly lenient but internally stringent. As long as military rules weren’t violated, allowances were broadly given.

The party traveled a bit further, finding a level spot to set camp. Fourth Master Xiao handed his horse to the army’s horse handler, then halted at a tree stump, closed his eyes, and gently furrowed his brows, resting.

The accompanying soldiers dispersed, with some preparing the evening meal, others seeking a water source with the guide, some feeding and tending the horses, some changing shifts to guard prisoners tied to trees, and others checking the terrain or starting fires...

Fourth Master Xiao took out an envelope, sealed in brown paper, from his coat. He gently opened it, revealing a short letter inside, just a single line of text. As he read it, his lips curled into a smile, imagining Xiqiu sitting at the desk writing this letter, waste papers scattered on the ground. She must have pondered long to write these few words so concisely!

Before nightfall, the forest had entirely plunged into darkness, with only weak glows from a few campfires scattered around. The aroma of meat filled the air.

Fourth Master Xiao’s gaze swept over the Third Madam tied to a tree, her eyes closed, and he furrowed his brows slightly.

Suddenly, a faint sound came from the distant deep forest, so subtle it would go unnoticed if one didn’t have keen hearing. But Fourth Master Xiao’s eyes narrowed sharply, a chilling gleam shooting from them, catching the sound growing louder in his ears...

Someone approached, and Fourth Master Xiao, with a cold, deep voice, said, "Extinguish all the fires!"

The person was startled, their face changing slightly. Since leaving the Capital, they had been attacked no less than seven or eight times. It seemed the attackers were here again tonight.

"Yes!" came the response as he rushed to alert the other soldiers, signaling under the bright light. The camp, which had just echoed with laughter, fell abruptly silent, everyone grabbing the swords or knives beside them, and some even buried the campfires.

The forest returned instantly to pitch-black darkness.

The guide cowered behind a large tree, not daring to breathe loudly.

In the darkness, Fourth Master Xiao snapped his fingers, and the officer guarding the Third Madam immediately shoved something unknown into her mouth. She began to struggle but, helplessly bound, couldn’t move, nor even utter a sound.

The sound from afar grew closer until it suddenly vanished at one spot.

In the dead-silent forest, the only sound was the occasional flap of birds’ wings, monotonous and eerie...

Everyone slowly gathered around Fourth Master Xiao, guided only by instinct.

Though unseen, the two sides could almost feel the confrontation.

After an unknown while, Fourth Master Xiao suddenly spoke with a heavy voice, rich with killing intent and mockery: "Can’t wait any longer?"

The voice echoed, seeming to bounce back from the branches. The other side gave no response, yet they didn’t doubt the presence of opponents because the Great Governor’s discernment had never erred.

Sure enough, after the silence, sounds of movement came from the other side, responding: "We’ve been waiting for you a long time."