She only asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make a Rubik's Cube, so how did it get related to the chessboard and the stool?

When Eleventh Lady gave the blueprint to Chief Steward Bai, she also asked him to let the master who could make clocks in the Ministry of Internal Affairs take a look at it... Could it be that something went wrong?

She returned to the house full of confusion, and saw Xu Lingyi standing with his hands behind his back, looking at an object in the middle of the room - it was square, waist-high, red on top, green on the left, yellow on the right, and blue in front. Each side was inlaid with nine broken-branch flower cloisonné enamel glass pieces in shiny brass, which sparkled brightly under the light and was extremely gorgeous.

Eleventh Lady broke out in a sweat.

This is not a Rubik's Cube that you can play with in your hand, it's actually an abstract sculpture.

She paused and stood at the door.

Xu Lingyi, who heard the noise, saw his wife coming back and waved at her: "What did you ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make? They said that each small grid can be twisted at will." As he said, he pressed a corner of the Rubik's Cube, "I have been looking for a long time but can't find the mechanism."

The Rubik's Cube needs to be held in the hand to twist it. If you put it on the ground, you definitely won't be able to twist it.

Eleventh Lady was speechless for a moment and had no idea how to answer.

"Or maybe he made a new treasure chest..." Xu Lingyi muttered. He looked up and saw Shiyi Niang standing there motionless. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "What's going on? Is there an accident in Gongxian Hutong?"

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

She was really afraid that Xu Lingyi would continue to ask questions, so she nodded quickly. She sent the servants away and told Xu Lingyi about Master Luo's plan: "...I don't know how to tell my father. I can only let him ask you."

Xu Lingyi's attention was diverted after hearing this. He entered the inner room and sat on the big kang by the window: "I will have a good talk with Zhenxing when he comes."

Eleventh Lady nodded, thinking of the misunderstanding she had with Xu Lingyi yesterday, she personally brewed a cup of hot tea and said with a smile, "Thanks to the Marquis for helping me prepare those silver ingots, otherwise, I would have made a fool of myself today."

In fact, the silver ingots and banknotes were not used at all - she had wanted to give some banknotes to Fifth Aunt in private, but Fifth Aunt was always serving the First Madam, so she had no chance. As for the silver ingots, Fourth Aunt and Fifth Aunt did not express any other opinions, and she did not want to embarrass them by acting alone.

Xu Lingyi said "Oh", took the teacup and took a sip with a faint expression, looking like he didn't want to talk more.

Eleventh Lady was not sure whether he still had a grudge against this matter, but she thought that everyone loved to hear flattery, and since she was wrong in the morning, it didn't matter if she lowered her attitude a little. She asked Xu Lingyi with concern: "Did the Marquis read all day today? Why didn't you come to sit with me?"

"I had lunch at my mother's house." Xu Lingyi took another sip of tea. "Then I went to Aunt Qin's house with Brother Yu. I happened to meet Aunt Wen and Aunt Qiao visiting Aunt Qin. I heard Aunt Qiao talk about the song "Lonely Thoughts"."

Play "Silent Thoughts" for Xu Lingyi?

Eleventh Lady tried hard not to burst out laughing.

However, it seemed that he was quite capable of entertaining himself. Seeing that Xu Lingyi had a cold expression, which was no different from usual, he thought that he was worrying too much and felt relieved.

"I've heard that Aunt Qiao plays the zither very well." She smiled brightly, "Your Majesty, you're in for a treat." She quickly had some snacks like wosi candy, winter melon strips, and candied cherries served, then stood up and said, "I'm exhausted from the journey. I'll change my clothes and come talk to you, Your Majesty."

Seeing her smiling so calmly, Xu Lingyi's eyes darkened slightly.

Eleventh Lady smiled and called Luyun and Hongxiu who stayed at home to come in and help her change clothes and wash. After entering the bathroom, she secretly told Shuangyu: "Tell Hubo to put the thing sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the warehouse."

Shuangyu left in response, and returned a moment later: "Madam, five or six maids can't even move it. Do you want to call the servants in?"

Eleventh Lady just hoped that this thing would disappear quickly: "Tell Manager Bai to put it in my warehouse."

"Yes!" Shuangyu turned and went out, but Shiyi Niang stopped her again, "Ask Manager Bai, how much did this thing cost?"

"Yes!" Shuangyu went to ask people to move the things, and when Shiyi Niang had finished packing, she came back and said, "Madam, the things have been put in the warehouse. Chief Steward Bai said that the things were sent by Prince Shun, and he only paid three hundred taels of silver. He also said that this thing is made of the best brass, and the enamel is also from the official kiln. It's probably 20 or 30 taels of silver for just one piece, and three hundred taels of silver is not expensive."

Fifty or sixty taels of silver for one piece. The Rubik's Cube has six sides, and each side has nine squares... Manager Bai was telling her that although the Ministry of Internal Affairs accepted three hundred taels of silver from the Xu family, it was entirely because Prince Shun was in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Xu family just gave it as a token of their appreciation.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but touch her forehead.

I originally thought it was a trivial matter, but who knew it would involve Prince Shun.

Maybe Chief Bai had already explained this to him, but as the instigator, he should still tell Xu Lingyi. No matter what, Prince Shun was merciful in this matter, it was entirely for Xu Lingyi's sake. I don't know if there are other interests involved. If anything happens, it will be Xu Lingyi who will come forward to solve the problem. At least let him know that he knows what is good and what is bad.

She left the purification room and sat down opposite Xu Lingyi with her head down: "My Lord, I originally wanted to make a beautiful treasure chest, so I drew a picture. Who knew that no one outside could make it, so I asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs for help. Unexpectedly, it alarmed Prince Shun. And he only accepted three hundred taels of silver..." As she spoke, she looked up at him and said worriedly, "My Lord, what do you think of this matter? How should I deal with it?"

Seeing Eleventh Lady frowning slightly, Xu Lingyi's heart moved slightly, and his brows were tightly locked into the shape of a "川" character.

"If you want to accuse someone of a crime, you can always find a pretext. If the emperor wants to punish me, or if the censor wants to impeach me, they can always find a reason, not just one or two. Don't worry about it, I will take care of it." Then he changed the subject and asked about her return to her parents' home: "...Is my mother-in-law in good health?"

Although he said that it was okay, his expression was so solemn.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but sigh inwardly as she watched.

This matter still made him feel embarrassed...

But seeing that Xu Lingyi didn't want to talk more, she had to suppress the matter temporarily and told Xu Lingyi about Huigongxian Hutong: "Mother's illness has recurred, and she can only be taken care of slowly. In the past, it was the eldest sister-in-law who took care of her by the bedside, but now the fourth sister-in-law and the third and fifth concubines are here, so the eldest sister-in-law can take a break and doesn't have to work as hard as before." She also talked about Zhou, "...she seems to be very capable and virtuous." Talking about Twelve Niang, "...she has grown a lot taller, and her facial features look like the fifth sister, not like me."

After washing up, Shiyi Niang casually put on a moon-white satin jacket and a bright red flowered skirt. Her black and shiny hair was tied up in a bun, her face was bare, and her cheeks were slightly red. The dim light fell on her body, outlining a light golden outline, and her facial features were more gentle than usual.

The corners of Xu Lingyi's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly: "After some time, when my legs are better, I will go to see her." His tone was calm, and even had a sense of peace.

But Eleventh Lady knew that he had never been fond of the First Wife, and she also saw that the First Wife was very dissatisfied with him. Now it involved his resignation... She simply said, "The Marquis has bad legs and feet, and everyone knows this. I don't think either father or mother would blame the Marquis. The Marquis should just rest and recuperate."

No one knows better than Eleventh Lady whether there is any problem with her legs and feet.

Xu Lingyi listened, smiled faintly, and asked abruptly: "Didn't you talk to Auntie?"

Eleventh Lady remembered what Fifth Aunt had said to her when she left, as if to a child who knew nothing about the world. She couldn't help but smile and said, "She said so. She also told me to serve mother and the Marquis well."

As Xu Lingyi listened, his eyes suddenly darkened and his expression suddenly became a little cold. He suddenly stood up, put on his slippers, and called Chunmo and Xia Yi to come in to help him change clothes and wash up: "...It's snowing outside, I'll rest here!" After saying that, he turned around and went into the bathroom.

During this period, the two of them kept a certain distance, and Eleventh Lady gradually got used to his staying overnight.

After hearing what he said, she called Luyun over and said, "Go and tell Aunt Qiao that the Marquis has something to do today and won't be coming over."

Luyun responded with a smile and left.

Eleventh Lady went to make the bed.

After a while, Xu Lingyi came out of the bathroom and went straight to the bed. He took out a copy of "Zuo Zhuan" from the bedside, leaned over a small stool with a sheep-horn lantern on it and started reading.

Eleventh Lady looked at him and suggested, "My Lord, why don't we sleep on the other side?"

Since they got married, Xu Lingyi always slept inside and she slept outside. If Xu Lingyi wanted to read, the light would shine on her face, and she had to turn sideways to face Xu Lingyi. One time, she woke up to find herself with her face buried in Xu Lingyi's arms, looking very ambiguous.

Xu Lingyi listened and looked at her: "It's too troublesome. Let's talk about it tomorrow." Then he lowered his head to read.

Eleventh Lady was furious.

I really want to ask if all feudal aristocratic couples are like them, with the man sleeping inside and the woman sleeping outside...but there is no one to ask.

A man stood in front of the bed for a moment, thinking that it was cold and he should take care of himself, then he took off his clothes and got into bed.

Who knew that before I even lifted the quilt, I was hugged tightly by a pair of arms and my body fell into a warm place.

"Why do you take so long to fall asleep?" He said with a complaining tone.

Who else besides Xu Lingyi?

Since that day, the two of them slept in the same quilt, and the other quilt was left aside.

In the middle of winter, having someone to keep her warm was something that Shiyi Niang didn't mind. She found a comfortable position and lay in his arms.

While Xu Lingyi helped her tuck in the quilt, he instructed her, "Go to the storehouse early tomorrow morning and pick out a few things that are worth taking out. I will go to Prince Shun tomorrow afternoon."

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Why did you suddenly propose to go to Prince Shun’s Mansion at this time?

And it happened when he was "seriously ill"... This made her think of that very cheap Rubik's Cube!

"My Lord..." She didn't know what to say.

There was undisguised worry in his voice.

"Don't let your imagination run wild," Xu Lingyi interrupted her, leaning over to blow out the lamp, "Go to sleep!"

His hand naturally reached into her skirt...

※

This is the pain of not having a draft saved... Sisters, if there are any typos, I will deal with them tomorrow. Please just read this for now!

~~~~(_