Chapter 179: Gathering (Part 2)

Although the Marquis's silver spear could not wipe out 180,000 soldiers, he rarely encountered any enemies...

Eleventh Lady felt as if sweat was coming out of her temples.

When did this happen?

How come I have never heard of it before? Not to mention seeing Xu Lingyi wielding a knife or a gun...

While he was thinking, he heard the eldest master ask, "The Marquis wants to resign. What does the lady say?" His tone was very hesitant.

The lady naturally agreed.

But Shiyi Niang's impression of this father only stayed on the fact that he was amiable, suave, and kind to women. She didn't know anything else about him. How could she speak frankly?

She said vaguely, "The Madam didn't say anything. Everything is normal at home."

The eldest master was slightly startled: "Is everything normal at home?"

Eleventh Lady nodded: "I am just worried about the health of the Marquis, so I am often asked to inquire about it."

The eldest master's brows furrowed even more tightly, and he paced around the room with his hands behind his back.

Luo Zhenxing looked at it and whispered, "Dad, Eleventh Sister came back to visit..."

The eldest master sighed after hearing this: "That's right. She's a woman, what does she know? I was too worried. Several historians wrote to the emperor to ask him to grant amnesty to the whole country on the birthday of the emperor. The emperor not only agreed, but also pardoned horse thieves such as Yu Zhongting in the north and pirates such as Wang Jiubao in the south... It really makes people worried!"

Luo Zhenxing winked at Shiyi Niang, signaling her to leave, and comforted the eldest master: "Dad, the world is peaceful now. How can a small Wang Jiubao cause any trouble? Not to mention the Marquis of Jinghai..."

"That's why I'm worried!" The eldest master had a bitter expression. "The Qu family and the Wang family have been fighting for generations, one as an official and the other as a bandit. Those people in the court don't understand. I've been to Fujian and have the deepest feelings about it. If the Wang family is really allowed to go ashore, then wouldn't the Qu family's achievements in suppressing bandits and their contributions to protecting the Zhou Dynasty over the years be a joke? What I'm most worried about is that the Qu family will be disappointed and give up, and then there will be real chaos in the south. The people will be displaced again... It's a pity that I have no official position now and cannot report to the emperor... I can only ask for help from the marquis..." At the end of the words, he was already disappointed.

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady really didn't know what to say.

The eldest master actually asked Xu Lingyi to solve the trap he had set himself...

She was even more worried that the eldest master would cause trouble.

Since the Grand Master could see the danger, couldn't the Grand Masters in the inner chamber see it clearly? Couldn't the Emperor see it clearly? In the end, no one could tell whether this matter was successful because of Xu Lingyi's plan or because it was in line with the Emperor's wishes. If the Grand Master were to act recklessly without knowing anything, he might end up in big trouble.

It looks like Xu Lingyi has to come over.

At least, we have to convince the boss not to cause any trouble!

Thinking of this, she whispered, "Master, to be honest, the Marquis is not feeling well. Big brother should go and see him, too!"

The eldest master couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "I thought it was just a rumor... I didn't expect that he was really sick!" Then he told Luo Zhenxing, "Go and see him tomorrow!"

Luo Zhenxing bowed and replied "yes", and Shiyi Niang took the opportunity to say goodbye.

When I went out, I saw Sixth Aunt coming over with a teacup.

"Eleventh Aunt," she said smilingly to Eleventh Lady, and then lowered her voice and said, "The eldest master said that the eldest wife is ill now, and the affairs of the family are in the hands of the eldest lady. As for the affairs of our house, he asked me and Fifth Aunt to help take care of them. I thought, I was born later, how can I compare with Fifth Aunt, so naturally I have to listen to Fifth Aunt in everything. Who knew that Fifth Aunt said that she now believes in Buddha, and has to recite and copy scriptures every day, and eat vegetarian food on the first and fifteenth days of the month, and asked me to help take care of it. I thought, that's fine. I can help take care of those trivial matters, and if there is any major matter, I will naturally discuss it with Fifth Aunt. In this way, the mundane affairs of the family will not disturb Fifth Aunt..."

No wonder Sixth Aunt was so active today - the eldest grandmother is in charge, and no matter what, she can't go into the father-in-law's room!

As for the fact that she only cares about trivial matters and only consults with Fifth Aunt when there are important matters, Eleventh Lady can't help but find it a little funny. The eldest lady is in charge of the family affairs, and it is up to Sixth Aunt to decide any important matters in the family. But, it's okay. She is not a proper wife, and even if the eldest master authorizes her, it is hard to say whether those respectable managers below will give her face. Fifth Aunt is so reasonable, and Eleventh Lady is relieved.

She smiled and said, "The more capable you are, the more work you should do. Fifth Aunt is a soft-hearted person. If there is anything in the future, please take good care of me, Sixth Aunt."

"Fifth Aunt and I have always been like sisters," Sixth Aunt smiled happily as if she had received some promise from Eleventh Lady, "We will naturally live in harmony with each other." As she spoke, she looked at Eleventh Lady with a half-smile, "Like last night, the eldest master stayed in Fifth Aunt's room, and I served in the eldest lady's room. The eldest lady asked for tea and water, but I didn't bother Fifth Aunt and the eldest master at all." As she spoke, she said crisply through the curtain, "Eldest Master, I'm Wan Cui, and I'm here to bring tea to you and the eldest master!"

"Come in!" The elder master's somewhat nonchalant voice came from behind the curtain.

The Sixth Aunt smiled at the Eleventh Aunt, lifted the curtain and entered the study.

The eldest master was resting in the fifth concubine's room... The eldest lady asked for tea and water... Eleventh Lady would never dare to look down on a concubine who had been pampered under the nose of the eldest wife for ten years, let alone take her words lightly.

She looked at the swaying curtain and felt secretly alert.

As long as she could gain a firm foothold in the Xu family, the people of the Luo family would not make things too difficult for the Fifth Aunt. The Sixth Aunt was different. The Twelfth Aunt was still a seed in the wind, and no one knew where it would land. And the eldest master was unstoppable in terms of age and seniority. With the eldest mistress there, why would the Sixth Aunt, who was so smart and clever, be the first to take action?

Eleventh Lady was very worried. She was afraid that Sixth Lady would have some ideas and Fifth Lady would be used as a pawn.

…

As soon as they reached the eaves of the main house, the eldest lady lifted the curtain and ran into Eleventh Lady.

The grandmother smiled and said, "I was just about to go look for you. What does Dad want to talk to you about?"

Eleventh Lady said simply, "Nothing much, just want to know why you resigned?"

The eldest grandmother's expression changed slightly after listening to her, and she pulled her to the side room: "Why did the Marquis resign?" She said worriedly, "I heard from Qian Ming that people outside are saying that the Marquis's achievements are too great, so..." As he spoke, he looked at her expression.

There is actually such a rumor!

If someone with ulterior motives gets the emperor's ears, I'm afraid there will be more trouble!

Eleventh Lady said angrily, "Who is talking nonsense? The Marquis really has foot paralysis. I am now giving him hot feet every day."

The eldest grandmother heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this and said, "It's the students of the Imperial College who love to discuss national affairs the most."

I should talk to Xu Lingyi about this.

Eleventh Lady remembered it in her heart. Just as she was about to hold the hand of the grandmother and go back to the house together, the grandmother suddenly said, "Madam Wang invited me to go two days ago..."

She was startled when she heard this, and thought of the fact that the couple hadn't come today, "Did something happen to Shi Niang?"

The eldest grandmother nodded: "Jinmei is pregnant, and Shi Niang hid her in the Wang family's manor outside the capital. Shiguye drank and asked Jinmei and Yinping to accompany him, but he couldn't find Jinmei, so he asked Shi Niang and Yinping to go together... Shi Niang refused, so he said Shi Niang was jealous and beat her... again... Old Lady Wang went to stop her, and her left eye was hit by Shiguye's fist, and it was so swollen that she couldn't see anyone..."

Eleventh Lady just felt cold all over.

"Why is Jin Mei hiding? He can do whatever he wants. After all, he is the heir of their Wang family. If he dies, it will be their Wang family who will be blamed..." As she spoke, she was shaking with anger. "Why did Madam Wang invite you to do this? After all, no matter how good a daughter-in-law is, she can't be better than her son. She must want you to persuade Shi Niang to keep things quiet!"

The grandmother said nothing, which was considered as her tacit consent.

If Shi Niang wanted to make trouble, the eldest grandmother would not have dragged her here to talk, and the three brothers Luo Zhenxing, Luo Zhenda, and Luo Zhensheng would have gone to the Wang family long ago.

"She can't tolerate it like this." Shiyi Niang was angry at her lack of resistance. "Why not take this opportunity to talk to the elders of the Wang family and make an offer to move out and live alone. Anyway, Jinmei is pregnant. If she gives birth to a child and raises it under her name, she will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life." Thinking of Shi Niang's stubborn character, she asked worriedly, "What's wrong with her?"

"What else can I do?" The grandmother was very helpless. "When I went to see her, the Wang family was always by her side. Even if I wanted to give her some advice, I had no chance to say it."

"We can't let the Wang family bully her like this." Eleventh Lady was slightly annoyed. "She is only sixteen years old this year. What can she understand?"

The grandmother thought of what Mother Hang had said about Shiyi Niang: "...she agreed to come early in the morning, and seemed very confident."

She couldn't help but smile knowingly and said, "That's why I asked you to discuss this matter with me. Let's see how to deal with it. I haven't told your eldest brother yet because I'm afraid he will be worried."

Eleventh Lady is always calm when doing things.

"We should try to have someone pass a message to her, right? It all depends on her opinion. If she doesn't agree with our approach, even if we help her get it, she might think we are destroying her relationship with the Wang family."

The eldest grandmother nodded: "What the aunt said makes sense. I will think of a way to send someone to send a message to Shi Niang - we can help her temporarily, but we can't help her forever. This decision should be made by her herself."

Eleventh Lady nodded.

I don't want to talk about these messy things. I asked Wu Niang: "...How is her business? She never talks about it when she meets me."

Given Wu Niang's personality, if the business was doing well, she would exaggerate tenfold.

"She sold the shop two days ago." The eldest grandmother was very regretful. "I advised her to keep it for a few more days, but she refused to listen. She said she had lost more than 500 taels of silver and insisted on selling it. Lu Yonggui happened to come to settle the account, so I helped her find a new owner. But for the sake of your Yongping Marquis Mansion, I sold it for 300 taels of silver."

Eleventh Lady couldn't help shaking her head after hearing this.

Wu Niang is too anxious. I’m afraid this is not a good sign.

She asked the first wife: "...Why did your illness suddenly get worse?"