Chapter 53 She Couldn’t Bear to Part with Him...

Because Xie Yunshuo tossed her around until midnight, Jiang Si accidentally slept until noon.

She had a good sleep and slowly opened her eyes. Because she didn't hear the maid calling her, she thought she hadn't slept for long, so she called Youlu in to help her wash up.

Jiang Si had eaten little yesterday and her stomach was empty, so she wanted to drink a bowl of sweet soup in her yard.

While combing her hair, Wuchan suddenly remembered and asked, "Madam, it's actually the end of the Chen hour. Do you want the kitchen to bring some sweet soup?"

Jiang Si was surprised: "It's already this late, why didn't anyone remind me?"

This time was half an hour later than she expected, and it was already past the time to say good morning.

Seeing her expression change with shock, You Lu immediately soothed her, saying, "Don't worry, Madam. The eldest young master instructed us not to disturb you this morning and let you sleep a little longer. The young master has already sent Ning Shuang to speak to the eldest madam."

After hearing this, Jiang Si's heart finally calmed down.

It was strange that no one told her that she got up so late. It turned out that they listened to Xie Yunshuo.

Although Xie Yunshuo had already made arrangements, Jiang Si was still a little uneasy because it was the first time she had been so rude.

Jiang Si is a person with her own ideas. She doesn't like to be casual and unruly, nor will she just muddle through. Even though he said that, she still quickly packed up and went out.

When we arrived at Zhixingzhai, my second brother and third sister had already left and must have finished their breakfast long ago.

The mother-in-law is already meeting with the ladies in charge and is busy with her business.

After Jiang Si sent someone to report, she walked in neatly and said apologetically, "Mother-in-law, I'm late."

Her voice was heard before she even arrived.

Even someone as aloof as Xia Rongyi raised her voice to agree with her, saying with a smile, "A'si, don't worry." Her voice was filled with laughter as she spoke, "I've been busy with trivial matters lately, and Yun Shuo has a lot more things to arrange and plan. You two are newly married and don't see each other much. It won't be too late to come after you've had a good sleep and breakfast. Anyway, these things won't be finished in a day or two. I'm just asking you to follow along, not to take charge. You have more important things to worry about."

Xia Rongyi said it vaguely, meaning that it was more important for the young couple to get along with each other, and everything else was secondary.

We don't see each other often during the day, so it's understandable that we sleep late when we meet again at night.

The mother-in-law didn't say it directly, but Jiang Si felt inexplicably ashamed.

It turns out she's not a shy person...

Jiang Si calmed down, slowly walked into the inner room, and stood aside to listen to her mother-in-law and several housekeepers talking.

Xia Rongyi's confidante, Nanny Qin, immediately led Jiang Si to a seat and asked the maid to bring some snacks and tea.

Xia Rongyi took the time to say, "A'si must have gotten up early this morning and come here. Didn't she have breakfast? Have some snacks to fill your stomach. Next time, you can eat in your own yard before coming back. There's no rush."

Jiang Si acknowledged her mother-in-law's consideration and said yes.

It seemed that she wouldn't need to be greeted good morning for a long time.

By the time Xie Yunshuo finished his work, it would not be long before he set out on the expedition.

When she thought about this matter in the past, Jiang Si had no personal experience.

At first, she hoped that he would go to the battlefield so that their relationship would be "dead in name only" and she wouldn't have to deal with him, argue with him or suffer from him, and could just be his wife.

Later, she would worry that Xie Yunshuo would die on the battlefield, leaving her without a support in the general's mansion, just like the Fourth Madam.

Fourth Aunt had a posthumous child, but she didn't.

Today, when Jiang Si heard about this again, she felt more upset than she could think, and was briefly gloomy for a moment.

When she realized her unconscious change of mind, she couldn't help but hold her breath and took a deep breath.

This is not a good thing. Xie Yunshuo's going to the battle is an order that she cannot disobey. What she should do is accept it, get used to it, and be prepared.

Instead of reluctance, sadness, and other futile emotions.

How could she be reluctant to part with him?

Jiang Si was a little confused, and then she found that her mother-in-law and the housekeeper were talking to each other, and she almost didn't hear what they said.

Those conversations were like a wisp of smoke, going in her left ear and out her right, leaving no trace.

Jiang Si calmed herself down, stopped thinking about it, and focused on listening to the important matters.

There were many guests coming this time, and the Shuihua Hall alone could not accommodate them all. Therefore, Xia Rongyi planned to hold the banquet in two places, separate the male and female guests, and build an extra stage.

With so many guests, there are many things to deal with that day, from welcoming guests, entertaining and receiving gifts, and recording the farewell, to small things like guests sitting down to play, feasting, and going to the toilet. Every detail must be considered carefully.

There are so many guests, it’s definitely not enough for Xia Rongyi to handle it alone.

She was sighing, "By then, even if you mothers in charge are all busy outside, you might not be able to take full care of the children. If you don't take good care of them, you'll probably be criticized."

Not to mention since Jiang Si married into the family, even since Xia Rongyi married into the Xie family, no one had ever hosted such a large banquet.

There were even many distant relatives who came to Beijing from all over the country.

On that day, there were probably about one or two hundred people visiting the general's mansion, not counting the children and servants brought by the guests.

This event was even more grand than the wedding of Xie Yunshuo and Jiang Si, after all, its significance was different.

Xia Rongyi was worried.

Seeing her mother-in-law worried about not being able to take care of the family and provide adequate hospitality, Jiang Si suggested, "Mother, why don't we ask the other aunts to take care of some important matters and help you share the burden."

In the past, when the Xie family had a big banquet, the ladies from other families also had to entertain the guests, but they did not take charge of the affairs. They only accompanied the guests and entertained the female guests. They were not involved in the banquet process or receiving and seeing off guests.

Jiang Si's suggestion was to let Xia Rongyi disperse the power this time and let the ladies from other rooms take charge of the affairs separately.

Xia Rongyi looked straight ahead and didn't speak for a long time.

Jiang Si knew that her mother-in-law was a bit aloof, and her inherent pride would not allow her to do such a thing.

When she asked for help for this banquet, the first thing that came to her mind was probably the fear of being criticized for her incompetence.

Xia Rongyi has been managing the general's mansion alone for many years, working herself to the bone and unable to sleep at night, fearing that someone would say something bad about her.

Therefore, even though she knew rationally that Jiang Si's proposal made sense and was for the sake of the overall situation and the reputation of the Xie family, Xia Rongyi still felt a barrier in her heart.

Jiang Si could also see that her mother-in-law was moved. She straightened her back and said, "They haven't been in charge of anything for many years. If they are suddenly entrusted with important tasks, I'm afraid there will be many problems."

Although she rejected Jiang Si's proposal, the sadness on her face did not ease and she was still worried.

I was worried about the sisters-in-law from other families, and I was also worried about not being able to host the Shunfeng Banquet well.

Jiang Si could probably understand that her mother-in-law was concerned about many aspects, and these numerous worries were like layers of shackles that bound her.

It's hard for her to change.

The housekeeper and the stewardess at the next station did not dare to speak. They just looked at the two ladies, one big and one small, quietly, waiting for their decision.

This is not an ordinary simple matter.

Everyone also knew that on the day of the banquet, the general's mansion would be busy with many big and small things.

Because they are worried about things going wrong, these managers have been very busy recently. They have to come to the main courtyard many times a day, and there are many things that need to be decided by the mistress of the house.

Everyone had some secret thoughts in their minds, but no one dared to bring them up.

Xia Rongyi has been in charge of the family for more than twenty years. What is there that these old people don’t understand?

The eldest lady is a good person, but she is a little too strong-willed, too meticulous, and too arrogant.

If the young lady hadn't said this, no one would dare to mention it.

Everyone looked at Jiang Si.

This young lady has a much more open-minded personality and is not particular about trivial matters. She is very different from Xia Rongyi.

She proposed it once, but was opposed by Xia Rongyi and rejected.

If it were someone else, they would probably not say anything more for fear of offending the mother-in-law and making her unhappy.

But Jiang Si carefully observed Xia Rongyi's expression and saw that her brows were furrowed and her hands on her knees were unconsciously exerting force.

After a pause, she continued, "There will be so many guests in the mansion by then. Even if I dare not delegate important matters, my mother-in-law will assign the matrons from each courtyard to take care of them one by one. The kitchen staff will take care of kitchen affairs, the tea room staff will take care of tea room affairs, and the water reception will be responsible for welcoming guests and seeing off guests. Each task has its own person in charge. But because there are so many people, and we have to set up banquets in two separate gardens, even the matrons are not enough. What's more, if anything comes up, we will have to come to you for advice and decisions, and the staff is far from enough. But if we let a few aunts take charge of different matters and take charge of them, and then let the experienced matrons make decisions, then the trivial matters will be sorted out."

While Jiang Si was speaking, Xia Rongyi did not show any sign of relaxation. She still looked worried and frowned.

If it were someone else, I really wouldn’t be able to continue.

But Jiang Si thought she was right, so she took the courage to take a gamble and told him her thoughts in detail and frankly.

The mother-in-law's headaches are nothing more than those few things, and she can't let go of her pride. If she is asked to decide some things on her own, she will definitely not be able to say it out loud.

For Jiang Si, even if Xia Rongyi didn't want to hear it, it could still resolve many of her concerns.

As long as Jiang Si's words made sense and as long as the mother-in-law was not overbearing and arbitrary, she would always listen to her.

After all, Jiang Si's goal was not to be a useless daughter-in-law who obeyed her mother-in-law's orders. She also hoped that everything would be fine in the general's mansion.

If the general's mansion has a good reputation and prestige, she, as the young lady, will have less worries in the future.

Therefore, whether Xia Rongyi wanted to hear it or not, she had to say it.

Not only is it said to the mother-in-law, but also to the mothers in charge below.

These people have basically become Xia Rongyi's confidants, and they will also be the elderly people she needs to slowly win over in the future. Now is her chance.

Jiang Si spoke every word firmly, and she didn't say anything that Xia Rongyi wouldn't like to hear.

She suggested that things should still be mainly managed by the mothers, without dividing power, which was exactly what Xia Rongyi wanted.

Xia Rongyi didn't want her sisters-in-law to get involved in the management of affairs. One reason was that she didn't trust them and was afraid that they would ruin her reputation and tarnish her name.

Second, I am worried.

The third reason was that she didn't want them to interfere in her housekeeping affairs.

But there really wasn't enough manpower, and for this urgent matter, she couldn't buy a few experienced housekeepers from outside to take care of it.

After Jiang Si finished speaking, the room fell into silence again.

Everyone waited anxiously, and finally, Xia Rongyi sighed slowly.

"I've thought about what Ah Si said."

Jiang Si listened quietly with a smile on her face.

She didn't think about whether what Xia Rongyi said was true or false, whether she was doing it to save face, or whether she really took her words to heart.

None of this matters.

After Xia Rongyi finished speaking, she continued, "Even if mother were to manage it alone, this banquet would definitely be successfully held. However, your daughter-in-law is worried that you might be overworked, so she suggested sharing the burden with others. Having more eyes watching over the matter would always be more comprehensive."

Her words touched Xia Rongyi's heart.

Because the suggestions were good, Xia Rongyi no longer resisted.

"Indeed, this is a banquet for Yun Shuo's departure for the war. The more people come, the more we need to make it look good. When other families hold grand banquets, they all work together. On the day of the banquet, there's really a lot to do. Trivial matters are the most tiresome. So, I'd like to ask your aunts to look after it and help entertain the guests. As a family, we'll make this grand banquet for so many guests a success. I hope your gentlemen's expedition will be a success as well."

Jiang Si smiled and replied, "Mother-in-law is wise."

She offered suggestions, praised and coaxed, and her words were so flawless that she didn't seem like a young woman of her age.

Suggesting that the ladies stay out of the matter but just watch the situation is not a big deal. What matters is that she dared to bring up this matter regardless of the consequences. This courage is rare.

This courage to speak frankly has impressed even experienced mothers.

A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. The young lady is willing to say it, which has solved a big problem for them.

Xia Rongyi immediately sent people to each room to invite all the ladies.

Jiang Si accompanied her mother-in-law and sat on Xia Rongyi's right.

I haven't seen the aunts for many days. When they arrived, several pairs of eyes turned over and saw Jiang Si sitting at the top, with all kinds of expressions on their faces.

The Fourth and Fifth Madams were both fine, with indifferent expressions, not caring too much, and no obvious changes or deliberate looks.

Only the third lady sat there upright, not looking at anyone.

He looked at the empty table and chair opposite her, his chin slightly raised, with a rather indifferent look, as if it had nothing to do with him.

It also seemed like he didn't want to sit here any longer.

The last time Jiang Si met the aunts was when she went to pay her respects to her grandmother. Everything was fine then. The aunts were polite and didn't say anything unpleasant.

She has already married into the family, so there is nothing she can do even if she doesn't like him. Besides, she hasn't offended anyone.

His cold attitude today is probably because of the recent banquet at home.

Everyone knew that Xia Rongyi and Jiang Si were in charge. Today, she, a junior, was sitting at the top. Even though everyone knew that she was the legitimate wife of the eldest grandson and would take over as the mistress of the general's mansion in the future, several ladies of high birth who had been married for more than ten years felt that Xia Rongyi was paying more and more attention to Jiang Si, and they felt uneasy in their hearts.

The reason for this is that, in the final analysis, the eldest son Xie Yunshuo has the talent of a general.

If he could really make military achievements and return triumphantly this time, both Xia Rongyi and Jiang Si would benefit from it.

How can one feel at peace?

Especially the fourth wife, who had lost her husband and had an only son who was mute.

The most difficult thing.

Xia Rongyi mentioned that she wanted her sisters-in-law to watch over everything on the day of the banquet. Everyone listened quietly, but no one responded for a while.

Especially when they heard that they were not asked to be in charge that day, but to watch over and manage everywhere, and that the decision-making and resolution were still done by the mothers who were used to doing the job, everyone's faces changed slightly.

The expression that was about to warm up quickly cooled down again.

The Third Lady smiled and said, "It's only natural for us sisters-in-law to help entertain the guests at a grand banquet. But the eldest sister-in-law is asking us not to entertain the guests that day, but to look after the various places. If the guests don't know what's going on, they might think we're servants, not even the head maids. Isn't this a joke?"

After the third lady said this, she laughed a few times.

After laughing, he immediately returned to his expressionless and cold face.

Xia Rongyi and Jiang Si looked at each other, neither of them reacted much.

Because they already knew that this was not an easy task.

Everyone has their own thoughts. No matter whether it is the Xie family or other prominent families, no family can have a peaceful relationship with the eldest wife.

On the surface, they all share the same fate, but secretly, it is hard not to feel a little unfair because of the comparison.

But if Xia Rongyi really gave up her power and handed over all the card-matching and purchasing matters to them, it would be impossible.

One reason is that this is not a simple matter. The ladies have been used to a life of luxury since they got married, and have never taken care of such a big matter.

They wanted to take it, but Xia Rongyi didn't dare to give it to them.

The second reason is that some things, once delegated, are difficult to take back.

Once the door is opened, people's ambitions will grow.

What the Third Lady said was unpleasant, but she was also right. Their role back then was that of a "maid" who was in charge of things but not the money.

Only someone who is extremely unambitious, kind-hearted, generous and considerate of the overall situation will agree.

Where in the world is there such a person?

Xia Rongyi thought about this difficult matter and became a little hesitant.

If her sisters-in-law do not agree, she will not force them. If it really doesn't work, she will go back to her mother's house, the Xia Mansion, and move a few capable old ladies to help.

She was hesitant in her heart and didn't say anything, but she heard her daughter-in-law beside her smile.

She looked at Jiang Si and saw that she was sitting upright as if no one was around, with her arms resting on the armrests. She didn't act awkwardly, but she didn't look timid at all either.

She looked so elegant, not like a bride who had just been married into the family for a month.

She was calm and composed when dealing with the three aunts.

"Don't be afraid of being laughed at by the aunts. Yun Shuo said something to me a few days ago."

As soon as she said this, everyone in the room looked at her.

I don't know what Xie Yunshuo said to her, it's time to talk about it now.

When they heard her mention this name, everyone's heart couldn't help but waver.