Chapter 112 Discussion (Part 1)

The lady smiled at Shiyi Niang and said, "You were the one who leaked the news, right?"

Eleventh Lady smiled: "The Marquis is also worried about you!"

"You kid..."

Xu Lingyi said, "Mother, why didn't you tell me you were coming to Xishan? It's been a bumpy ride, and if I get sick anywhere, I'll be the one to blame."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" The lady scolded, "In broad daylight, why are you talking about life and death?" She added, "I just came out for a walk, you don't have to be surprised!"

Xu Lingyi was about to say something, but Shiyi Niang had already pulled at his clothes: "My Lord, you have come from a long way, have you not eaten yet? We just sat down."

Now that things have come to this, there is no point in saying more.

He was just anxious for a moment, but when Eleventh Lady stopped him, he immediately reacted and said with a smile, "I haven't eaten either!"

The Second Lady also smiled and asked the maid to help Xu Lingyi change his clothes.

The three of them ate together with the old lady. The second lady urged the old lady to go back: "Drive slowly to avoid the bumps on the road."

Seeing that the Second Madam was fine, the lady felt relieved and gave her instructions for a long time before Xu Lingyi accompanied her back to the lotus garden.

Xu Lingning and Xu Lingkuan were waiting at the gate. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Xu Lingyi. When they got off the car at Chuihua Gate, they saw the Third Madam and the Fifth Madam. They both came forward to greet the Grand Madam: "You are back." Only the Third Madam bowed and saluted, while the Fifth Madam was supported by someone beside her.

Seeing this, the lady laughed and said, "Are you afraid that I'll get lost?"

"Mom, you are old now, you can't do this anymore." Xu Lingkuan supported his mother. "My fourth brother turned pale when he heard that you went to Xishan alone."

"Isn't there Eleventh Lady accompanying me?" The lady said with a smile, "You are too surprised!"

As he was speaking, a servant came running over and said, "My Lord, the eunuch from Kunning Palace is here."

The lady was startled when she heard this.

Xu Lingyi said hurriedly, "The Queen Mother told me to go see her after the court session. Because she was going to pick you up at the West Hill, she sent someone to inform you. Maybe she sent someone to ask what happened?"

A trace of uneasiness flashed across the lady's face: "Go and tell the queen, she's in the palace, and I don't know how worried she is!"

"I'm glad you know." Xu Lingkuan helped his mother to the west yard. "If you are going to go somewhere in the future, tell us first. We at least have an arrangement. You left so rashly without saying anything. You scared us..."

Xu Lingyi said, "I'll go and take a look," and then followed the servant out.

Eleventh Lady followed her to the lady's room.

A group of people surrounded the lady, some helping her change clothes, some fetching water to wash her face, some making tea and serving snacks... they were very busy.

Seeing that Eleventh Lady was also busy at the side, the lady smiled and said, "You should go back and change your clothes too!"

It was dusty all the way, and it really felt bad. Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, and returned to her room.

Amber and others were busy serving Eleventh Lady.

She washed her face, recombed her hair, and changed into a green jacket with a vase pattern. Then Mother Tao came in.

"Madam, Lu Yonggui is back!"

Lu Yonggui helped Yuanniang take care of her dowry. When she first got married, she asked about this man, and Mother Tao was rather evasive, saying that he had gone outside the Great Wall for business. She also hurriedly explained, "... the eldest aunt's property and accounts are all in the hands of Lu Zongguan." She looked as if she was afraid that she would ask about it.

She didn't expect him to come back at this time? And he even took the initiative to come and see her? What's the matter?

"He arrived early in the morning," Mother Tao said with a smile, "to greet you. But you accompanied the Madam to the West Hill. I waited until dusk but you didn't come back. As a grown man, it was not convenient for him to stay in the inner courtyard, so he asked me to greet you on his behalf and said he would come to see you early tomorrow morning."

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Tell him to come see me after 2 p.m."

Mother Tao just smiled and agreed.

Eleventh Lady smiled and sat down beside the mirror to put on her earrings, indicating that she could leave.

Mother Tao smiled as she walked to the mirror table and took out a silver-gilt pearl flower and put it on her, whispering, "Madam, you have just come in, so there are some things you don't know. The families of nobles are not like those of the rich, and there are rules for the relationship between wives and concubines. In the past, there were only Concubine Qin and Concubine Wen. The eldest aunt had twenty days, and the other two concubines had five days each. Now that a month has passed, you should also make some arrangements in your mind."

She thought she was young and no one had told her these things...so she had to "guide" her in everything.

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Don't worry about this, mother. I will ask the Marquis for his opinion and then make the arrangements."

Sensing her displeasure, Mother Tao smiled and said, "Madam, don't blame me for being nosy. The men make the decisions outside, and the women make the decisions at home. This is the rule since the beginning of time. Why do you need to ask the Marquis? Besides, if you ask the Marquis, how will he answer? If he says "yes", wouldn't you be labeled as a "favoring concubine"? If he says "no", wouldn't you be labeled as a "jealous person"? You can just make the decision on this matter!"

Eleventh Lady smiled slightly: "Mother is right. I am the one who makes the decisions about the affairs in this room. So I ask, where do you want to rest? How many days do you want to rest? It's all up to you!"

Mother Tao's smile froze on her face.

"Okay, it's getting late. I still have to serve dinner to the lady." Eleventh Lady stood up with a smile, "If you have anything to say, let's talk about it tomorrow!" With that, she went to the lady with Luyun and Hongxiu as her servant.

………

The Fifth Lady's cheerful laughter could be heard through the curtain. When she walked to the curtain, a faint voice came: "...I was so envious at that time. I thought I would find a way to pick one and wear it one day. But before I could make up my mind, I was sent back. Today, thanks to the blessing of the Queen, my wish has come true!"

The little maid's report interrupted the Fifth Madam's words.

Eleventh Lady entered the room and saw a large plate with red seawater patterns on the table on the kang where the lady was sitting, with seven or eight crystal clear white camellia flowers grown in water.

"Eleventh Lady, come here quickly." The lady smiled and waved at her, "The white camellia in the palace is in bloom, and the queen sent a few flowers. You can pick two too."

Eleventh Lady saw that the Third and Fifth Ladies each held two flowers in their hands, and also saw that Xu Lingyi had already picked some back. She couldn't help but secretly guess: Could it be that the Empress was worried that the Dowager wouldn't be able to ask directly, so she took the opportunity of sending flowers to come home to find out the truth?

She walked over and bowed to the lady with a smile, exclaiming "How beautiful" while picking two.

The lady told Mother Du to prepare dinner.

Yao Huang and Wei Zi were busy inviting Xu Siqin and others who were playing in the Baima Nuan Pavilion to come out.

A few young people greeted their elders, ate together, and then went back to their rooms.

On the way, Eleventh Lady said to Xu Lingyi, "My Lord, Madam Tao said that Lu Yonggui has returned and wants to see me. He is in charge of my eldest sister's dowry, and this is the first time we meet. I want to invite you, my eldest brother, and my eldest sister-in-law to meet this Lu Yonggui tomorrow. What do you think?"

Xu Lingyi stopped and looked at Shiyi Niang with a half-smile: "I won't see you anymore. You two brothers can just meet each other." He actually looked like he wanted to distance himself from the matter.

…

The next morning, Eleventh Lady sent Amber back to the Luo family to invite the eldest master and the eldest lady. When Luo Zhenxing and the eldest lady knew that they wanted to meet Lu Yonggui, they immediately agreed.

She called Mother Tao to ask, "How will the monthly wages of the maids in the house be distributed?"

Mother Tao smiled and said, "When the eldest aunt was in charge, all the servants in the mansion were sent out by the mansion. The maids in each room were managed by the head of each room."

"What do you mean?"

"For example, here you are." Mother Tao explained with a smile, "Nominally, there are four first-class maids, six second-class maids, ten third-class maids, six rough maids, two stove maids, two stove maids, and two rough maids. These are all set. The monthly allowance is paid by the family. For example, the Nanyong daughter-in-law who combs hair is not set, so you have to pay it yourself. If you want to add another first-class maid, it is not set either, so you can pay it yourself."

In other words, she doesn't have to worry about the monthly salary of the people in the house.

"What if I have only five servants in my house?"

"Then only send it to five people."

"Will they be distributed to each room after they receive them, or will they be distributed all at once?"

"All at once."

"When will it be sent?"

"When the eldest aunt was alive, it was the first day of every month. Later, when the third lady took over, it became the fifteenth day of every month."

Shiyi Niang's face turned ugly: "I haven't sent Nanyong's wife's monthly allowance yet?"

Mother Tao smiled and said, "Although she works in your house, she is a nominal servant in the Madam's house. She should receive her monthly allowance from the Madam, so you don't have to worry about her monthly allowance."

A little maid came in and reported: "Madam, the third lady is here!"

What is she doing here?

Eleventh Lady welcomed the Third Lady in and sat them on the big kang by the window in the east room, one on each side.

The maid served tea and snacks.

Eleventh Lady smiled and asked her, "Third sister-in-law, what's the matter?"

The Third Lady pointed at the thing wrapped in a handkerchief in Qiu Ling's hand and said, "I've brought the monthly allowance to Fourth Brother's wife!"

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

Speak of Cao Cao and he will appear!

She let Amber take it as if nothing had happened: "Thanks to Third Sister-in-law for delivering it personally."

"Oh! What's the big deal?" The third lady smiled and said, "I just wanted to come and sit with you." Then, she took a sip of tea and said, "Come to think of it, I also have something to discuss with you!"

When Eleventh Lady heard the news, she knew what was going on and sent the servant away.

"Fourth brother's wife," the third wife lowered her voice, but her eyes flashed with a scorching light, "Do you want to make some money from the flower pollen rouge?"

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

This is the second person who has asked her this question!

The Third Lady was very satisfied with the Eleventh Lady's expression. She sighed helplessly, "I can earn one tael with ten taels of silver, ten taels with one hundred taels of silver, and one thousand taels with ten thousand taels of silver... To be honest, if I didn't have enough money to buy and sell this pile, I would never be willing to find someone to partner with me."

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but frown.

What's the difference between this and pie in the sky?

Unless it was a side business, how could it be possible to have such a high profit? I wonder what the Third Madam was planning? What kind of business was she doing? Did Xu Lingyi know about the Third Madam's "business"?