Hearing Eleventh Lady asking her, Wanxiang's eyes were scorching: "Madam, it's often said that a kind person is often bullied, and a kind horse is often ridden. Speaking of which, who in this mansion can compare to you in terms of legitimacy and legitimacy. But now, the affairs of the family are managed by the Third Lady, and the affairs of Master Zhun are managed by the Grand Lady. Even Aunt Qiao, I heard that she is sick every other day, and she greets you when she wants to, and doesn't greet you when she doesn't want to, and doesn't take you seriously at all. In the final analysis, it's all because you treat people too well. Take this time for example, the Third Lady was crooked and handed you a handle herself. If you don't take it well, you will really miss the opportunity in vain..."

There really are no secrets in this mansion!

Eleventh Lady looked at her lips opening and closing, feeling both amused and helpless.

She was still young, had just married into the family, hadn't sorted out her affairs, and was born a concubine's daughter. She hadn't learned how to manage household chores from her elders. She hurriedly took over the management of the household affairs of the Marquis's Mansion. Not to mention that she was not completely sure, even the Madam would not dare to take this risk, right? As for Zhun Ge, he was the hope of the Marquis's Mansion in the future, and the responsibility of teaching was heavy. How could the Madam hand over the child to someone she didn't know? The statement about Qiao Lianfang was even more absurd. It was clearly her who agreed that Qiao Lianfang didn't need to greet her in the morning, but when it was spread out, it was regarded as Qiao Lianfang's arrogance and neglect... Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel moved.

Are there really such rumors in the mansion?

Or was it Wanxiang who was pushing me to deal with the Third Madam?

"Who is talking nonsense?" Shiyi Niang interrupted Wanxiang with a smile, "Madam Qiao is not in good health, so she was exempted from greetings in the morning!"

"Madam, this matter has spread all over the mansion." Wanxiang's eyes flickered, "If you don't stop this trend, people will say that you are not strict in managing your family!"

Eleventh Lady was more certain of Wanxiang's thoughts after seeing this.

She was able to understand the matter of the Third Lady exchanging rice so clearly and used it so thoroughly, which can be said to be brave and resourceful. Unfortunately, she was too selfish and lost fairness, which inevitably made her look petty and unworthy of great use...

"I know everything you said." She smiled, "Don't make this matter public for now, I'll take care of it!"

Wanxiang felt something was wrong when she saw that after she had been talking for a long time, Shiyi Niang was not excited at all and just dismissed her with an attitude of "you don't need to bother with it anymore".

If I don't report this to the Marquis, even if the Madam knows about it, for the sake of my own face, I'm afraid I have to cover up for the Third Madam. As long as the Third Madam has a chance to catch her breath, it's only a matter of time before she finds out that this matter is exposed. Who doesn't have something fishy going on in the kitchen? By then, even if I'm the reincarnation of the eldest aunt, I won't be able to get away.

For a moment, he regretted coming here to file a complaint, and was angry that Eleventh Lady didn't help... His face turned blue and red.

"Listen to me." She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, but there were some things she had to say, fearing that she would not have the chance to do so in the future. "This matter must be told to the Marquis. The Third Madam was appointed as the housekeeper by the Madam herself. If something like this happened, they would definitely cover up for each other. I took this risk for the good of the Madam..."

Eleventh Lady shook her head secretly.

Everyone has selfish desires, but if they are excessive, they will inevitably make people feel resentful...

"I'll think about it carefully." She smiled calmly and nodded, then changed the subject: "As for your errand, I want to hear your opinion. Then I can plan for you!"

Wanxiang was very disappointed when she heard this.

But at this point, Eleventh Lady was neither angry nor upset, and she had no better solution.

"Ma'am," she said with a frustrated look, "I still want to work in the kitchen!"

Eleventh Lady nodded: "I understand. I will take care of this matter." Then she served the tea.

Wanxiang stood up and said goodbye dejectedly.

Eleventh Lady called Hongxiu: "Go and guard the door. Report to me when the Marquis comes back."

Seeing her serious expression, Hongxiu did not dare to be careless and left as she was told.

Eleventh Lady took a cup of hot tea and sat alone on the big kang by the window, thinking for a while.

* * * * * *

When Xu Lingyi came back and saw Hongxiu waiting for him in Shiyi Niang's room, he raised his eyebrows.

Although the marriage was only two months long, Eleventh Lady had always been steady and prudent, and at this time she asked someone to wait for him...

He said in a deep voice: "What happened?"

Xu Lingyi was intimidating without even getting angry, and his expression was serious at this moment.

Hong Xiu trembled with fear, then stammered, "Madam asked the Marquis to report her as soon as he came back!"

Xu Lingyi nodded and strode to the main house.

He lifted the curtain and walked in with a heavy chill.

Feeling a cold breeze blowing in, Eleventh Lady knew without looking that it was Xu Lingyi who had returned.

"My lord, I have something urgent to discuss with you!" She got off the kang to help Xu Lingyi take off his cloak, and at the same time signaled the servants to leave.

Xu Lingyi saw that she was a little anxious, and his expression became more relaxed: "Sit down and talk!"

Eleventh Lady nodded, made tea for Xu Lingyi, and sat on the big kang by the window with him on either side. She told Xu Lingyi what Wanxiang had said.

The more Xu Lingyi listened, the colder his eyes became. He stood up and said, "I'll go take a look!"

The sooner this kind of thing is resolved, the better.

Eleventh Lady took the cloak beside her and helped Xu Lingyi put it on again: "Why don't you go to my place for dinner later? What excuse can you give?"

Xu Lingyi's eyes flashed with confusion.

Eleventh Lady explained: "Third sister-in-law is wrong to do such a thing, but she is the daughter-in-law of the Xu family after all, and the one appointed by mother to manage the family. If she knew about this, I don't know how sad she would be! I think it's better to keep it a secret!"

Xu Lingyi frowned as he listened: "Just say that the emperor asked me to lead the Five Cities Army to patrol the city. I will be back later!"

"Yes!" Eleventh Lady nodded softly and walked Xu Lingyi to the door.

There is no impenetrable wall in this world. The Third Lady's methods will be discovered sooner or later. If it's early, she will be caught in the act. If it's late, people will talk about her. No matter what the result is, it will hurt the Xu family - if the nest is overturned, there will be no eggs left unbroken. She is now the daughter-in-law of the Xu family. She shares the same voice and spirit with the Xu family. She shares the same roots and branches. She will prosper together and suffer together. This is certainly the reason why Eleventh Lady is reluctant to make this matter public, but she has more important concerns.

It is impossible for the Third Lady, a woman of modest means, to mobilize such a big thing as grain. I am afraid there is something fishy going on. Maybe it involves some managers of the outer courtyard, or even some important people of the Xu family... She doesn't want to become a moth that flies into a web, but she can't stay out of it or let the victims get into trouble or let the Xu family fall into trouble. The best way is to ask Xu Lingyi to come forward to solve it. If even he can't do anything, then she can only consider herself unlucky.

Until the matter was resolved, she naturally had to remain silent, so as not to alert the enemy and become the person making false accusations.

But when she saw the flying snow hitting Xu Lingyi's straight body, she couldn't help but call out to him, "My Lord!"

Xu Lingyi turned around and saw Shiyi Niang standing under the eaves of the door. Her bright red cape was chasing the snowflakes in the sky like an unruly cloud, and her eyes were staring at him with sparkling light. He couldn't help but walk back: "What's wrong?"

Eleventh Lady watched him approach and stop five steps away from her.

"My Lord," she looked at Xu Lingyi, "giving out porridge can be a big or small thing. In a big way, it's disaster relief for the common people. In a small way, it's charity and accumulating merit for the Xu family. What's more, our porridge stall is right next to the porridge stall of the Weibei Marquis. No matter how angry you are, wait until this matter is over before you say anything."

Xu Lingyi knew that she was telling him not to let others see any flaws in his actions later. He felt that she was being nosy and nodded in response: "Got it!"

Seeing his perfunctory attitude, Eleventh Lady knew that he did not understand what she meant at all, so she had to explain again: "Each household has been distributing porridge for a long time. Changing the rice at this time is no less than trying to cover up one's mistake. My Lord, you might as well ask those women who cook the porridge to wash the rice a few more times, and then add some vinegar to it when cooking, so as to avoid any trouble when eating... Even if someone gets suspicious, just say that you think they are not careful in their work. It won't be too late for you to arrange for someone to change the rice after this meal..."

But when she looked up, she saw a smile flash across Xu Lingyi's eyes.

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Xu Lingyi said calmly, "It's just moldy rice. I ate it when I was on the march. It's not that serious. Don't worry about it. Just stay with mom and don't let her get suspicious."

Eleventh Lady was speechless, thinking that he would stay at Madam Wen's place tonight, and said, "I'll ask Madam Wen to hold the door for you later!"

Xu Lingyi nodded, turned and left.

Eleventh Lady went to the lady's place.

Because of the continuous heavy snow, the back garden was mostly made of bluestone. The Madam Tai was afraid that the Fifth Madam would slip, so she had already ordered that she be exempted from the solemn visit to the deceased, and also told Xu Lingkuan not to come to greet the Fifth Madam, but just to accompany her. The Third Master and the Third Madam were busy with the porridge stall, so they were not seen until dinner time.

When she went there, it was a little after midnight. Zhenjie and Zhunge were jumping rope in the hall accompanied by several maids.

Seeing Eleventh Lady coming in, Zhen Jie'er hurriedly led Zhun Ge to pay her respects.

Maybe because he has always kept a certain distance from Zhun Ge, when Zhun Ge saw Shiyi Niang now, he did not look at her warily like when she first entered the door.

Shiyi Niang was of course happy to see this. She stood five steps away from them and greeted the two children calmly: "What are you doing, grandma?"

Sister Zhen said with a smile: "I'm playing mahjong with Mama Du! It's not fun!"

Eleventh Lady smiled at them and turned to go into the inner room.

"Why didn't Dad come with you?"

Suddenly, Zhun Ge's soft voice came from behind her.

Eleventh Lady turned around and saw Zhun Ge nervously pulling at the corner of Zhen Jie'er's clothes, looking at her with a complicated expression.

"Your father will lead the Five Cities Army to patrol the city tonight." She smiled as gently as before, "I can't come to have dinner with grandma today."

Both Zhen Jie'er and Zhun Ge showed disappointment in their eyes.

Father and daughter (son) is natural. Xu Lingyi is so strict with his children, but they still like him and miss him...

Eleventh Lady was a little envious.

When the lady heard that Xu Lingyi could not come home for dinner, she could not hide her disappointment.

Mother Du advised the Madam: "Just think of the Marquis as going out for a social event!"

The lady looked at the snowflakes flying outside the window and said unwillingly, "At least it's lively when you go to social events. But look at how strong the wind and snow are..." She felt very distressed about Xu Lingyi's tone.

The corners of Sister Eleven's mouth curled up slightly.

The face of my mother from my previous life appeared in my mind...