When she woke up the next morning, Eleventh Lady found that Xu Lingyi looked very unhappy.

She wanted to go back to her parents' home and decided to stay away from him and make sure to leave safely. If anything happened, she would come back and talk about it.

Nan Yong's wife combed her hair into a small peony bun, and she wore a red gold silk hairpin with rubies and a kingfisher-embroidered southern pearl knot. She wore a rose purple and gold silk knee-length narrow sleeve jacket. Zhen Jieer combed her hair into a double spiral bun, and wore a silver-gilt southern pearl bead flower. She wore a white silk jacket inside and a pink silk ten-color brocade jacket outside. The two stood side by side, like a pair of sisters.

"I'll go straight to Gongxian Hutong after I say goodbye to you." Eleventh Lady bent her knees to salute Xu Lingyi, watching his face carefully.

Xu Lingyi had an indifferent expression, and just like yesterday, he was leaning on the large pillow at the head of the bed, reading a book.

When he heard Shiyi Niang saying goodbye to him, he raised his eyelids and looked at her, then took out a small red lacquer and gold-painted box from under his pillow and handed it to her: "Take it with you!"

He didn't say what it was, nor who it was for... But no matter what, it was a token of his love. Eleventh Lady decided to flatter him. She took it with great joy and opened the box: "What is it?"

There were more than twenty silver ingots of eight or nine cents each, and a dozen silver notes of fifty or one hundred taels each.

She was stunned.

Xu Lingyi had lowered his head and was flipping through a book: "I have asked Manager Bai to prepare things for you to take back to your parents' home. Take these back as rewards - after all, this is the first time for my aunt to come here, and there is also the new sister-in-law..." His expression was indifferent.

Shiyi Niang thought about Xu Lingyi asking Bai Zongguan to come see him yesterday...it must be about this matter. Thinking of her complaints yesterday, she became a little uneasy: "My Lord..."

Xu Lingyi waved his hand without even raising his head, signaling her to leave quickly.

Do you want to say something to him?

Eleventh Lady pondered over it. She was also afraid that she would be late. She was going back alone anyway. If she was later, she didn't know what people would say about her... She was in a dilemma. After thinking about it, she decided to go back to her parents' home first. She would apologize to him after she came back.

She bent her knees and saluted Xu Lingyi: "My Lord, I will go to Gongxian Hutong first!"

Xu Lingyi's attention seemed to be entirely focused on the book, and he nodded absentmindedly.

What book are you reading that makes you so absorbed? I think I was reading this book yesterday.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but stretch her neck to take a look at the title page.

This is the "Zuo Zhuan".

Is it really that beautiful?

She couldn't help but mutter a little in her heart, and then she went out with Sister Zhen.

Naturally, he did not notice the sly smile flashing across the eyes of the man reading Zuo Zhuan.

* * * * * *

After leaving the yard, Zhen Jieer looked at Shiyi Niang worriedly: "Mother and father..."

The children are grown up, and they can sense when the atmosphere at home is not good. Instead of hiding it, it is better to be honest with Zhen Jieer. Children are usually more mature than adults think.

"Your father and I have a little disagreement." Eleventh Lady smiled helplessly, "I'm in a hurry to go back to my parents' home. I can only talk to your father properly when I get back."

Zhen Jieer nodded. She thought of what the lady had said to Madam Du about her stepmother in private, and couldn't help but hesitate, "Is it because of Daddy's resignation?" She added, "I heard that the emperor kept Daddy like this to test him to see if he would really resign. If Daddy resigns, the emperor will really be at ease with him. If Daddy doesn't resign, I'm afraid the emperor won't let him go. But if Daddy really resigns, the family won't be as prosperous as it is now..." As she spoke, she stopped and looked at Eleventh Lady seriously, "Mother, as the saying goes, there is always a green mountain, there is always firewood. Daddy is the Marquis of Yongping, the head of the family and the pillar of this mansion. As long as we keep Daddy, we will have a chance to make a comeback. Mother, don't be angry with Daddy. Even if the family won't be as prosperous as it is now, it's a blessing for the family to live a quiet life."

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Sister Zhen was actually persuading her.

I didn't expect that she was so kind-hearted and knowledgeable at such a young age. I couldn't help but smile brightly: "Sister Zhen, you are right. As long as your father is safe, there will be no problem for our family."

Zhen Jieer felt a little embarrassed when she heard this: "I was just being too arrogant, but mother was very tolerant and didn't bother with me."

"Our Zhen Jie'er is really sensible." Eleventh Lady praised her with a smile, and then explained to her, "However, we are not arguing about these things. We have differences over some small details in life. For example, I like to eat fish, and your father likes meat... so we need to adjust to each other."

Zhen Jieer nodded and whispered, "It takes a hundred years to be able to cross the same boat. Mother and we are destined to be together, so don't bother with Daddy about these trivial matters."

Looking at Zhen Jie'er like this, let alone the misunderstanding between her and Xu Lingyi on this matter, even if he was wrong, Eleventh Lady would not bother with him.

"Sister Zhen is right." She smiled and took Sister Zhen's hand. "Since we are a family, we should be more tolerant."

After hearing this, Zhen Jie'er breathed a sigh of relief, and went to the lady's place, chatting and laughing with Shiyi Niang.

Zhun Ge knew that Zhen Jie'er and Shiyi Niang were going to visit relatives, and he also wanted to go.

Eleventh Lady did not dare to take him with her, fearing that he might bump into something or get into trouble, so she said with a smile, "We girls are going to visit relatives, and you boys stay at home with your grandmother."

Zhun Ge looked at Xu Sijian who was smiling beside him, then looked at Zhen Jie'er, and his head drooped.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile and touched his head: "I will take you to visit relatives during the Chinese New Year."

My uncle will visit on the second day of the Chinese New Year, and my father-in-law will visit on the third day. Then I will definitely take Zhun Ge to the Luo family.

Zhun Ge's eyes lit up when he heard this, but he didn't forget Xu Sijian, so he pulled him and said, "Take Third Brother with you too!"

"I'm not a woman, thinking about visiting relatives." Xu Sijian's face was full of disapproval, but his eyes revealed some yearning, "I won't go."

Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu were older, and had already heard that Shiyi Niang was fooling Zhun Ge, and they laughed at the side. Xu Siqin even personally opened the curtain for Shiyi Niang: "Aunt Four, don't pay attention to them, they are two fools."

Eleventh Lady smiled and went into the house with Zhen Jie'er.

The lady was sitting on the big kang by the window and talking. When she saw Shiyi Niang and Zhen Jie'er come in, she asked them carefully whether they had brought gifts, which maids followed the carriage, and when they would be back.

Eleventh Lady answered all the questions one by one, and the lady-in-waiting gave them a few more words of advice, such as "be careful on the road", and then let Mother Du send them out.

* * * * * *

When they arrived at Luo's house in Gongxian Hutong, the eldest lady personally greeted them in front of the hanging flower gate.

Seeing Zhen Jie'er behind Eleventh Lady, she was surprised. But she remained polite and greeted Zhen Jie'er with a smile: "...I heard the eldest lady's piano playing in Shaohua Courtyard last time, and I was amazed by her beauty."

Zhen Jie'er bowed to the grandmother respectfully and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Aunt."

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

Logically speaking, the master brought all the family members to Yanjing, which could be considered a family reunion. He also specially invited the married girls to come back to their parents' home for dinner. It should be a lively and festive occasion. But why did the maids and old women have such tense faces, and the eldest lady's smile seemed a little forced?

The thought flashed through her mind, and she felt a pang in her heart. She quickly pulled her grandmother's hand and asked, "Sister-in-law, what happened at home?"

The grandmother glanced at Zhen Jie'er and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Zhen Jie'er was very good at reading people's expressions, but this was the Luo family, and she had no place to hide even if she wanted to. She had no choice but to lower her head.

However, Eleventh Lady had no intention of hiding it from her.

Trust people when you employ them, and don't use them when you don't trust them. Since you are on good terms with Zhen Jie'er, there is no need to hide. Besides, Zhen Jie'er is a very sensible and considerate child.

"Sister-in-law, just tell me what you want to say!" She was worried that it was the Fifth Aunt.

Seeing that she was asking anxiously, the grandmother thought that they would meet soon... She smiled bitterly and said, "Mom's condition has worsened again!"

"How could this happen?" Eleventh Lady was a little stunned. "A few days ago, I sent someone to ask and they said he was almost well and could get out of bed during the Chinese New Year. How come his condition suddenly got worse again!"

Just as the eldest grandmother was about to say something, a carriage came with a clattering sound - it was the fourth sister-in-law Yu Yiqing and the fourth sister. She smiled apologetically at the eleventh sister and hurried to greet them.

After everyone greeted each other, Yu Yiqing hurriedly went to Luo Zhenxing's room because Zhen Jie'er was present. Si Niang took Zhen Jie'er's hand and praised her, and then everyone went to the main house together.

The Sixth Aunt and the Twelfth Aunt came up to greet them.

Twelve Niang is taller than when she was in Yuhang. She has gradually lost her childishness and has the beauty of a young girl.

"Eleventh Aunt." Sixth Aunt greeted Eleventh Aunt warmly, and then instructed Twelfth Aunt, "Why don't you pay your respects to your sister?"

Twelve Lady stepped forward shyly and bowed to Eleven Lady.

Eleventh Lady took out a jade plaque as a gift for her, and handed her the lady's South Pearl flower: "This is a gift from the lady."

"Oh! How can this be so embarrassing." Sixth Aunt and Twelve Madam knelt down and said to Eleventh Madam, "And let the Madam spend money!"

"It's just a small gift, not a token of respect." Eleventh Lady was polite.

The Sixth Aunt brought the Twelfth Aunt to pay their respects to the Fourth Aunt.

Si Niang gave Twelve Niang a string of glass bracelets as a gift.

Eleventh Lady introduced Zhen Jie'er to Twelfth Lady.

One has the gentleness and beauty of a girl from the south of the Yangtze River, the other has the generosity and composure of a girl from the north. When they stand together, they are like autumn chrysanthemums and spring orchids, each with its own merits.

The two girls saluted each other, and saw admiration in each other's eyes. When the Sixth Aunt knew that Zhen Jie'er was the eldest daughter of the Yongping Marquis's Mansion, her smile became even more affectionate than before, and she gave Zhen Jie'er a string of cloisonné enamel bracelets as a gift.

Sister Zhen thanked him respectfully.

The group went to the eldest wife's inner room.

Eleventh Lady immediately spotted Fifth Aunt standing in front of the First Lady's bed with a tea tray.

Time seemed to have a special favor on her. Although I hadn't seen her for two years, not only did her appearance not change, but her demeanor had also changed from her previous timidity to a calm and indifferent charm, making her look elegant and more beautiful than before.

The fifth aunt also saw her daughter.

She was dressed in gorgeous clothes, her face was ruddy and shiny, and her eyebrows no longer had the cautiousness she had when she was at the Luo family. Instead, she was calm and confident. It seemed that he had only blinked his eyes, and his daughter had grown up.

The Fifth Aunt's tears suddenly burst out: "Eleventh Aunt..."

"Aunt!" Eleventh Lady's eyelashes were also filled with tears.

Suddenly, a hoarse cry like that of a crow was heard in the room.

Eleventh Lady was shocked.

Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw the eldest wife leaning on a large pillow at the head of the bed.

She was staring at her with her big eyes, looking fiercely.

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Sorry, sorry... I helped my father-in-law with the discharge procedures this afternoon, so there is only one update today! ⊙﹏⊙b sweat...