Chapter 247: Sister Wu Tong's choice, the boy grows up overnight!

【The funeral was held very simply and hurriedly; your mother had no relatives, and no one from the Xie mansion came, only you kneeling in the mourning hall.】

【Your mother's name, after all, could not be engraved in the Xie family ancestral temple, and she was buried in Mang Mountain outside Above Bianjing.】

【Then, everything returned to normal.】

【Outside the small courtyard, those guards who had been following you like shadows were gone.】

【Parents passed away, and the legitimate son needs to observe mourning for three years.】

【Great Qi governs the world with Confucianism and filial piety; whether it is a high-ranking official or a commoner, they all need to abide by it.】

【During the mourning period, one must not wear colorful clothes, nor hold any form of banquet, and must maintain a look of grief at all times to express mourning for the deceased.】

【However, the mourning period did not last three full years; ritual law stipulates that only twenty-five months are needed.】

【After the funeral, it was already spring in the second year, and you were still young, so you only needed to offer a spirit tablet in the small courtyard.】

【Three months after your mother passed away, you did not go out at all, staying in the courtyard.】

【This year Sister Wu Tong was already eleven years old, a young girl growing up, the little girl with originally dark skin actually became more and more beautiful and moving.】

【In the Xie mansion, even among those carefully selected maids, few could compare to Sister Wu Tong's appearance.】

【Recalling the autumn before your mother passed away, Steward Wu in the courtyard did not know why, and delayed the distribution of autumn clothes.】

【At that time, the weather was quite cold, and in the morning, the courtyard was already covered with crystal frost.】

【The maids in each courtyard had changed into warm autumn clothes, except for Sister Wu Tong, who was still wearing a thin garment when walking in the courtyard.】

【Many maids in the courtyard sneered at her, "Sister Sister Wu Tong, it seems you are a person made of ice and snow, able to withstand the cold."】

【Sister Wu Tong blushed.】

【After your mother passed away, Steward Wu immediately sent the monthly allowance and autumn clothes, and the monthly allowance that had been deducted layer by layer actually added two taels of silver every month.】

【However, compared to the illegitimate descendants of the Xie family, whose pocket money was often four or five hundred taels, not to mention direct descendants like Xie Yu, who were satisfied with everything they asked for.】

【After the Xie mansion heard about your mother's death, you were so heartbroken that you cried until you were blind, which shocked the Xie old matriarch.】

【The old matriarch came from a great clan of the Nine Surnames and Seven Wangs, and always valued filial piety, thinking that you were only nine years old and suffered the pain of losing your mother.】

【On the Lantern Festival, she sent vegetarian food to you through a maid.】

【The mistresses of the big courtyard and the second courtyard of the Xie mansion also sent people to send new clothes to express comfort.】

【This matter spread among the maids and servants, and everyone discussed it, without saying much about you and your mother, all praising the kindness and goodness of the old matriarch and the mistress.】

【The Xie family also invited an official doctor to check your eyes every month.】

【This matter made the young ladies and young masters in the courtyard very curious, calling friends and bringing several servants, preparing to come to the small courtyard where you lived, but were stopped by the mistresses of each family.】

【In the summer of the same year, the weather was hot and dry.】

【The cicadas on the Sister Wu Tong trees in the courtyard were chirping, which was annoying.】

【Because you were blind, you could only stay in the room, and the windows were sealed, so you couldn't see the light.】

【The room was even more stuffy!】

【Today, the official doctor, carrying a medicine box, had already walked into the small courtyard and started to diagnose you.】

【Sister Wu Tong had been guarding under the eaves of the courtyard early, and the green leaves on the Sister Wu Tong trees in the courtyard were curled by the heat of the sun.】

【She looked anxious; the medicine had been applied for a month, and today was the day to reveal the result.】

【If the eyes were blind, how could you study and take care of yourself? The eleven-year-old Sister Wu Tong couldn't help but worry, feeling sorry for her young master, who lost his closest relative and suffered such a heavy blow.】

【For the past few months, you had locked yourself in the room, refusing to see anyone.】

【Sister Wu Tong could only secretly watch you shed tears alone outside the window.】

【She was sold into the Xie mansion at the age of seven, and the Xie Guan family treated her like a relative, so she was full of gratitude and couldn't help but shed tears.】

【Sister Wu Tong was afraid that the official doctor would announce that you would never see the light again.】

【If so, she didn't know if you could withstand this heavy blow, but thinking of your resilient personality since childhood, never giving up easily, she felt a little relieved.】

【Sister Wu Tong couldn't help but sigh in her heart, why the kind people in this world always go through twists and turns and heavy tribulations.】

【At this time, there was movement outside the courtyard!】

【Several people had walked into the courtyard, and Sister Wu Tong looked up.】

【The big maid of the third young master of the Xie family's second courtyard, Xie Xie Renfeng, walked into the courtyard with several people.】

【Sister Wu Tong felt strange!】

【The Xie family main house, now only had the two branches of the eldest and second rooms, and there were only two big courtyards for the grown-up family.】

【The Xie family big mansion was naturally the branch of Marquis Dingyuan Xie Ling, and the second room was Xie Ling's younger brother, the great Confucian of the time, Xie Hong.】

【Xie Hong, the second old master of the Xie family, was a Metropolitan Graduate in the first list when he took the exam, loved learning since he was young, was called by talent and conduct, had great generosity, was good at riding and reading classics, and was called a "all-rounder" by the world.】

【His official career was also rising, and in the early days of the Emperor, he was opened as a Libationer, and later supplemented as General Zhenwei and Prefect of Yixing.】

【In the past, the three Xie brothers all had elegant reputations, could write and fight, and were called "Three Xies" in Above Bianjing.】

【A sudden palace coup, perhaps an internal struggle in the family, or the unspeakable darkness in the court, Xie Hong finally felt tired and resolutely abandoned his official position.】

【He was originally a great Confucian, but turned to cultivate in the Daoist gate, but often accompanied by blue lamps and ancient Buddhas, lived in Qingliang Temple, cultivated his body and nature, and lived without fighting with the world, and did not return home a few times a year.】

【The Xie old matriarch loved this youngest son the most. Mentioning this third master of the Xie family, the Xie old matriarch's eyes were often filled with tears. Before Xie Hong became an official, he often served by his mother's side and was the most filial.】

【Xie Hong had five sons, among whom the third, Xie Xie Renfeng, had quite a reputation among the arrogant young masters and young ladies of the Xie family. He had a gentle personality, acted steadily, was not as arrogant and domineering as others, and was well-liked by the old matriarch.】

【"Guan Young Master, are you in the room?"】

【Sister Wu Tong collected her mood, not wanting to lose etiquette, and greeted with a smile.】

【"Sister Sister Shilan, why are you here?"】

【Sister Shilan was the big maid of Xie Xie Renfeng, already sixteen years old this year, and the most favored.】

【She was tall, wearing a treasure blue water-sleeve dress, with fair skin and a beautiful face, a small mole on the tip of her nose, and a pair of beautiful eyes revealing shrewdness and cuteness.】

【Sister Shilan's dress, let alone compared to the two masters and servants of Xie Guan, was much better than some legitimate daughters of officials in Above Bianjing.】

【Sister Shilan followed with several maids, all taking her as the head.】

【Sister Wu Tong looked at the simple and old courtyard, the dozens of pots of flowers and plants in the courtyard grew quite well, obviously the person who took care of them was very serious, but she didn't see a single precious one.】

【There were also the stove and water tank standing abruptly in the courtyard, and a set of stone tables and stools without polishing and carving, she couldn't help but shake her head.】

【Although she had long known that Xie Guan was not favored, she really didn't expect it to be so embarrassing for a young master from a famous family.】

【Her own young master's food and clothing were all refined, and every three days, a food master would make a "food supplement," which included "demon meat" from the thirteen states, which could strengthen muscles and bones and nourish the spleen.】

【The dozens of sets of clothes for the four seasons were all carefully sewn by more than a dozen female workers in Jiangnan for a year.】

【Sister Shilan returned to her senses, smiling like a flower, her tone carrying a hint of intimacy, "Why, can't I come to see my sister if there's nothing wrong?"】

【"I heard that Guan Young Master is treating his eyes today, so our young master specially prepared a lot of medicinal materials, all carefully purchased by the sisters today, including chrysanthemum, cassia seed, wolfberry, plantain seed, summer withered grass, and also deer antler and safflower for nourishing the body."】

【Sister Wu Tong heard this, and her suspicion deepened. She and her own master and servant had never had any intersection with the third young master Xie Xie Renfeng of the second courtyard. Even when the mistress was alive, there was little contact.】

【If you really want to count any origin, it was only after the mistress passed away, when she went to the second courtyard to receive the new clothes bestowed by the head of the family, that she had the honor of seeing this "Xie Xie Renfeng" once.】

【At this moment, Sister Wu Tong's eyes fell on the medicinal materials handed over by the maid behind Sister Shilan.】

【At this moment, Sister Wu Tong's gaze fell upon the medicinal herbs handed over by the maid behind Sister Shilan.】

【"When the mistress was alive, she often taught the young master that one should not take without grace. These are truly too precious, please ask Sister Sister Shilan to take them back." Sister Wu Tong's tone was firm.】

【"Sister, what are you saying?"】 【Sister Shilan's smile remained, but her eyes became more serious, "Although our two families don't walk often, we are all flesh and blood of the Xie family, why be so polite?"】

【"This sentiment, Sister Wu Tong dare not thank on behalf, and dare not accept, wait for the young master to come and thank you personally after the diagnosis is completed."】

【Sister Shilan looked at Sister Wu Tong who refused immediately without hesitation, and her face became more satisfied.】

【Sister Shilan smiled: "Sister Wu Tong sister, actually, the young master asked me to come this time for a happy event for you."】

【Sister Wu Tong was stunned, even more puzzled.】

【"Xie Renfeng young master wants to do a good deed for Guan young master, wanting to place you in the mansion as an intimate maid."】

【Sister Wu Tong's pupils widened, at a loss.】

【The maids behind Sister Shilan had envy in their eyes. You must know that the food and clothing of the third young master in the second courtyard were worlds apart compared to this dilapidated small courtyard.】

【This was equivalent to winning a big prize, getting the favor of Xie Renfeng young master, and even specifically asking for it, the favor of which made several of her maids "jealous."】

【After hearing this, Sister Wu Tong's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion, and then she shook her head firmly.】

【Sister Shilan saw this, took Sister Wu Tong's hand, and said earnestly: "Sister, don't be confused. Young Master Xie Renfeng is a kind, talented, and interesting elegant person, who can become an official or recommend talent in the future. Following him, you will never suffer."】

【"Look at Guan young master again, now helpless, and offended the Xie family's legitimate mother, the future is worrying! Now he is blind again, I'm afraid..."】

【Words not finished!】

【"Sister, your name is Sister Wu Tong, and the phoenix rests on the Sister Wu Tong. The young master also has the name of Xie Renfeng, which is a predestined relationship, don't refuse!"】

【Sister Shilan's words carried a hint of regret and worry, seemingly thinking for Sister Wu Tong's future.】

【Sister Wu Tong gently withdrew her hand and said firmly: "The mistress treated me with grace, and now the young master is in trouble. If I leave, Sister Wu Tong will never be an unfaithful and unrighteous person."】

【Sister Shilan smiled after hearing this: "Silly sister, this matter is not up to you, you have to ask your young master."】

【At this time!】

【A sound suddenly came from behind the house, breaking the silence in the courtyard.】

【"Guan Young Master, I will take my leave." An old voice came.】

【"Thank you, Doctor Hua, I will see you off." A gentle voice with childishness.】

【Sister Shilan heard this, her eyebrows stretched, and her gaze turned to the room door, only to see the room door slowly open, and an old man with a slightly hunched figure and a medicine box on his back walked out.】

【Perhaps he took a breath, the old man wiped the sweat on his forehead, and the clothes in front were already soaked.】

【The windows in the room were tightly closed, without any light, and in the current weather, it was like a sweat steam inside.】

【This old man was the official doctor of the Xie family, Hua An, whose family had been sitting in the Xie mansion for generations, with superb medical skills and high reputation, and was highly respected in the Xie mansion.】

【"Doctor Hua!" Sister Shilan saw this and greeted.】

【Hua An looked up and smiled: "So it's Sister Shilan girl, getting more and more beautiful."】

【The big maid of the third young master of the Xie family's second courtyard, Hua An still gave some face. In the secular world, "mother is expensive because of the son," in this big courtyard, these maids serving the masters are their "backing" and "tiger power."】

【As the head maid of the Third Young Master of the Xie family's Second Courtyard, Hua An still gave her some face. In the secular world, "a mother is honored by her son," and in this great courtyard, the masters these maids serve are their "backing" and "tiger's might."】

【Hua An couldn't wait to walk into the courtyard, picked up a scoop of clear water and drank it, and only then did he feel refreshed.】

【Sister Wu Tong looked anxiously at a young man who came out later.】

【Sister Shilan's gaze also fell on this person.】

【This "Xie Guan," the young master who was rumored to be the least favored in the Xie family.】

【The young man walked out slowly, dressed simply, without any accessories on his body, and his face could not be seen completely, because a piece of black cloth was covered on his eyes, and his face was full of dense sweat.】

【Surprisingly, Sister Shilan noticed that the young man's face was calm, seemingly not annoyed by the stuffy heat rushing out of the room, and his expression was calm.】

【You must know that Xie Guan could not see the light and had lived inside for several months, and the room was dark and stuffy, yet he didn't have the slightest irritability, which was worthy of admiration.】

【Sister Shilan saluted: "Guan Young Master!"】

【The young man nodded slightly, then said to Sister Wu Tong: "No problem!"】

【Hua An also said at the water tank: "Sister Wu Tong girl, don't worry, Guan Young Master is fine, just need not to see light for a hundred days, and then he can recognize things normally."】

【"You don't have to stay in the room in the future, you can wear a black cloth and walk around."】

【Sister Wu Tong had a look of joy on her face.】

【A look of joy appeared on Sister Wu Tong's face.】

【The young man laughed: "Please, Doctor Hua, thank Mother on behalf of Xie Guan."】

【The youth smiled and said, "I must trouble Physician Hua to convey Xie Guan's thanks to Mother."】

【Hua An looked at Xie Guan, his face moved slightly, and then smiled: "Definitely, definitely."】

【"Guan Young Master and Sister Shilan girl, I will take my leave."】

【After Hua An left, only Sister Wu Tong and Sister Shilan's group were left in the courtyard.】

【The young man laughed and said: "Sister Wu Tong, make tea!"】

【"Big girl came to this humble house, it's too hot in the room, let's rest in this cool place and avoid the heat of the noon."】

【Sister Wu Tong looked at her young master, who had not left the room for a period of time.】

【Today, it seemed a little different, behaving calmly.】

【Clearly only ten years old, yet he had the appearance of being the master of the house.】

【Mother passed away, the boy grew up overnight.】

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 248 =====

(End of chapter)