Making Inquiries
After the family finished eating, Wei Liniang still hadn't returned, and the people they sent out to search for her hadn't come back either, so it was clear they hadn't found her.
Mother Wei couldn't sit still any longer. She glanced at the sky and said, "Why don't I go to the Marquis of Suiping's Residence? I'll have to go eventually anyway, so I might as well go now and ask if Liniang is there."
"Alright, then go there," Wei Qiu said.
At the Marquis of Suiping's Residence, because the old lady was feigning illness, apart from two or three relatives of high status who came to visit in person, everyone else was kept outside the main courtyard by Zhao Yuanxun and his wife under the pretext of "resting quietly."
Zhao Jingli, Zhao Jing'an, Zhao Ruyu, and others who wanted to show their filial piety were also sent away and told to do what they were supposed to do.
After Xu Xi was brought back that night, Zhao Ruyu and others came to visit her in the hospital. She made an appearance in front of them and then stayed at Fragrant Orchid Courtyard, which was used as a guest residence. She did not show her face again and dutifully acted as bait. As for the academy, she naturally asked for leave under the pretext of "attending to the sick".
Fragrant Orchid Courtyard, being a guest courtyard, was a separate courtyard in a somewhat secluded location. After Xu Xi moved in, Qingfeng would come out from there every mealtime to fetch food from the kitchen. Those who paid attention naturally noticed this.
Therefore, Matron Ruan led Old Woman Liu and the others to arrest several people who were spying in the vicinity and sending messages out.
To avoid alerting the enemy, after Xu Xi was brought back to live in Fragrant Orchid Courtyard, Zhao Yuanxun and Lady Zhu did not visit her.
At this moment, only Zhao Yuanxun and his wife, the first wife, were by the old lady's side.
The old lady sipped her bird's nest porridge listlessly and asked, "Judging by the days, it should be about time, right?"
Zhao Yuanxun nodded. "It's almost done, it should be in the next day or two."
The old lady sighed, "Hurry up. Once that matter is settled, my illness will be cured."
Zhao Yuanxun and his wife remained silent.
They were also eager for this matter to end quickly, and they wanted to hear Xu Xi call them father and mother. But when they thought about how Zhao Jingli, whom they had carefully raised for so many years, would react to the news, their hearts couldn't find any joy.
The old lady was aware of their unresolved issues, and even she herself was not happy about it.
To avoid putting the couple in a difficult position, she never asked them what their plans were for Zhao Jingli and Xu Xi.
Matron Zhou came in and reported, "Madam, Lord Marquis, Madam, the servants from the Wei Residence have come several times, inquiring about the Second Madam. They said she came to our Marquis's residence early this morning, but hasn't returned yet."
Zhao Yuanxun and his wife exchanged a glance, and both of them perked up.
They put down their chopsticks and were about to speak when Caidie hurried in and said, "Madam, Lord Marquis, Madam, the Old Madam of the Wei Family has arrived. She says she's come to inquire about the Old Madam's condition."
Wei Qiu's mother was still alive, so Mother Wei was called "Madam" in the Wei Family, and her daughters-in-law were called "Young Madams." This was different from the way they addressed her in the Marquis of Suiping's Residence. However, she was of the same generation as the old lady of the Marquis's mansion, and everyone in the mansion called her Old Madam Wei.
Upon hearing this, the people inside all looked up at the sky outside.
It was not yet dark, but the light had already dimmed. At this hour, unless a family member, like Zhao Ruyu, had a sudden illness, no one would visit a sick person.
"Could it be that you've come to see Lady Wei?" the old lady asked.
"That should be it." The First Madam nodded.
"It's really unbecoming of a woman for Lady Wei to stay out so late," the old lady said displeasedly.
Zhao Yuanxun and his wife had already guessed that Lady Wei had been summoned by the Court of Judicial Review. Both of them were very uneasy, worried that things would not develop as they had expected. If Wei Qiu was released, the Marquis's mansion would surely suffer disaster.
However, it wasn't appropriate to say this to the old lady in front of the servants.
Zhao Yuanxun, eager to gather information outside the mansion, said to his wife, "If you're too lazy to deal with this, why don't you send the children from the second wife's household to chat first?" He paused, then added, "Bring Young Master Li along too."
The First Madam shuddered and looked up at her husband.
Ever since Zhao Yuanxun returned from Gusu, the couple had deliberately avoided discussing Zhao Jingli. It seemed that every day they delayed talking about him, they delayed severing their relationship. Moreover, both of them knew that the other was thinking the same thing.
Hearing her husband say this, the First Madam knew that he had made a decision.
The second branch of the family was to receive Mother Wei, and Zhao Jingli was also from the second branch!
Ignoring the subtle unease in her heart, the First Madam turned to Caidie and instructed, "Have someone lead them to the Cloud Crane Hall, and have the Second Master, the Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master, the Fourth Miss, and the Sixth Miss go together."
Logically, when Mother Wei came to visit the sick, the First Madam should have led her to the Rongxi Hall to see the Old Madam, say a few words of comfort, and then led her to the Cloud Crane Hall to talk.
But at this critical juncture, the First Madam dared not lead Mother Wei to the Rongxi Hall.
She paused, then instructed Caidie, "Have Old Woman Liu and Old Woman Yue go to the Cloud Crane Hall to keep watch over the children."
She was worried that something might happen, and that Mother Wei might use the children as hostages. Anyway, it's always better to be safe than sorry; taking precautions is always a good idea.
Inside the Cloud Crane Hall, Mother Wei heard Caidie say that the old lady had taken her medicine and gone to sleep, and the first lady was eating. She asked her to wait a moment, but she didn't mind.
Because of Lady Wei's outburst, she knew that the Marquis of Suiping and his wife would definitely give her a hard time. She didn't come to the Marquis's residence to see how they treated her.
Lady Zhu wasn't coming, she could use the opportunity to get information out of Zhao Jing'an and Zhao Ruyu.
Zhao Jingli noticed that his mother hadn't come for a long time. Apart from the servants, he was the only person from the main house; the rest were Wei Family's grandsons. Mother Wei was holding Zhao Jing'an's hand and talking to him affectionately, ignoring him completely.
He felt uneasy and somewhat displeased.
He is the heir apparent, and by all accounts, among the men of the Marquis's mansion, besides his father, he holds the highest position. He is now fourteen years old and an adult. When he comes out to greet Mother Wei, Mother Wei should treat him as the master of the Marquis's mansion, not ignore him.
He stood up and said coldly, "You two talk first, I have something to do and need to go out for a bit."
"Go, go see why your mother hasn't come yet." Mother Wei couldn't wait for him to leave so she could get information out of Zhao Jing'an.
Zhao Jing'an grew up with Zhao Jingli and knew his temperament best. Seeing him like this, he knew he was Gao Xing. Just as he was about to explain on behalf of his grandmother, he saw Zhao Jingli turn and leave.
He had no choice but to give up, thinking he could explain later.
"Oh dear, why is this tea Qilin green tea? I don't drink Qilin green tea. Go and brew me a new pot of Guzhu Zisun tea." Mother Wei began to dismiss the two maids from the Marquis's residence in the room. "You, go and see why my in-laws' wife hasn't arrived yet."
The maid had already received instructions from Caidie, and upon hearing her dismiss someone, she quickly left so that they could have a private conversation.
Old Woman Liu, Old Woman Yue, and others were standing outside.