It was already the first hour of the evening when Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang returned to Lotus Garden. They quickly changed their clothes, washed up, and went to the lady's place.

The yard was quiet, but Xu Sijian and Zhun Ge's laughter could be heard from afar. Once inside the house, it was even more lively.

Xu Sijian and Zhunge were competing in shuttlecock kicking in the middle of the hall. Xu Siqin helped Zhunge count, and Xu Siyu helped Xu Sijian count.

The Third Master sat on the first chair in the west, watching with a smile, and occasionally saying "Be careful, you're kicking too high" to make fun of him. The Third Lady sat below her husband. Although she smiled at Xu Sijian and Zhunge like her husband, her eyes were vague and she seemed a little absent-minded.

Fifth Master Xu Lingkuan wore a dark blue silk robe with a pattern of exotic flowers and sat on the first armchair on the east side. He pursed his lips tightly and looked a little serious. Compared with usual, he was less excited and more calm. Fifth Madam, who sat below him, was the exact opposite of him. She smiled at Xu Sijian and Zhun Ge, and turned back to talk to her husband from time to time, with a lively and playful expression.

When he saw Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang coming in, he stood up suddenly, startling the Fifth Madam who turned around to talk to him.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, following his gaze towards the door.

Everyone looked towards the door.

The noise in the room suddenly quieted down.

Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu stopped counting at the same time, while Xu Sijian and Zhun Ge stood there awkwardly.

"It turns out that the Marquis and Fourth Sister-in-law are back!" Fifth Lady stood up with a big belly. She greeted Xu Lingyi and Eleventh Lady with a bright smile. Her cheerful tone broke the silence in the room.

"Fourth brother! Fourth sister-in-law!" Xu Lingkuan murmured, but his eyes looking at Xu Lingyi were filled with the determination of "the hero will never return".

Xu Lingyi didn't even look at him, and bowed to the Third Master: "Third Brother!"

"You're back!" The Third Master smiled and stood up, cupping his hands as a return gesture, "Everyone is waiting for you to eat!"

"Yes, yes!" The Third Lady immediately smiled and took over her husband's words, "Everyone is waiting for the Marquis to come back for dinner!" She changed her previous listless look, and her eyes rolled straight at Eleventh Lady, with a bit of curiosity and exploration, as if Eleventh Lady had suddenly become different.

Apparently, the Third Madam has heard about the rumors about the child. I just wonder if the Fifth Madam has heard about it...

Eleventh Lady thought about returning the gift to Third Lady, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at Fifth Lady.

The corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and she was looking at him with a smile.

You should have heard about this...

Eleventh Lady had a flash of thought, and their eyes met.

The Fifth Lady's mouth curled up deeply, and her smile immediately became bright and cheerful: "Fourth sister-in-law!"

She called Eleventh Lady affectionately.

It was as if the indifferent smile just now disappeared like water passing by without a trace.

As expected of her, she was granted the title of county princess by the late emperor... Look at her ability to change her face, she is indeed one of the best in the noble family.

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded to her. Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, Xu Sijian and Zhun Ge came forward to pay their respects.

She collected her thoughts and greeted the children in a friendly manner.

Xu Lingyi nodded calmly and looked towards the inner room: "Where's mom?"

Yes! Everyone was there, except the lady.

Eleventh Lady also looked towards the inner room.

The third master's mouth twitched slightly, and he was about to answer, but the third lady rushed to say, "Mother is in the Buddhist temple. She said she would wait for the marquis to come back and have dinner together."

Xu Lingyi's expression faltered as he listened. He glanced at Shiyi Niang and said, "I'll go and invite you to dinner."

He first went to Gongxian Hutong, then to Hongdeng Hutong. What was the situation like? What did the relatives say? I guess he still needs to discuss it with his wife.

Eleventh Lady nodded slightly towards Xu Lingyi, indicating that she understood. Then she smiled and said to the Third and Fifth Madams, "It's all our fault that we're late. Let the maids set the table!"

Xu Lingyi went to the Buddhist temple with peace of mind.

The Third Lady looked at Xu Lingyi's back, smiled, and then turned back to look at Eleventh Lady: "Where have you been during the New Year?" She did not immediately call the maid to serve the meal.

Eleventh Lady glanced at Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Madam.

Xu Lingkuan's expression tensed, but the Fifth Lady's eyes flickered slightly and she pricked up her ears.

She smiled slightly and said, "I went back to Gongxian Hutong with the Marquis." She didn't say more.

A trace of disappointment flashed across the Third Lady's eyes, but the Fifth Lady smiled, looking calm and composed, as if to say, "I understand even without you saying it."

The Third Master, who saw all this, frowned and told his wife, "Hurry up and serve the meal! The children are hungry!"

The third wife couldn't help but feel angry after hearing this. She rolled her eyes at her husband and reluctantly went to order the meal to be served.

The Third Master pretended not to see anything and spoke to Eleventh Lady with a smile, "It's so cold, Fourth Sister-in-law, please come to the east room and warm up!" He showed his concern for her.

Eleventh Lady was very grateful and thanked the Third Master with a smile. Thinking that Xu Lingyi and the Madam might not come out for a while, she asked the Third Master for his opinion: "...How about we all sit down in the East Side Room first?"

The Third Master thought about it and said with a smile, "Let's wait here!" Then he sat back on the armchair.

Seeing this, others also took their seats.

The Third Master had a smile on his face and looked amiable; the Fifth Master sat upright, not looking sideways; the Fifth Lady smiled broadly and looked contented; the Eleventh Lady smiled, bowed her head and said nothing; Xu Siyu sat upright, as if thinking about something; only Xu Sijian and Zhun Ge, their little heads together, chattering about something, causing Xu Siqin to glare at his younger brother from time to time, signaling him to be quiet. Unfortunately, Xu Sijian was so absorbed in talking to Zhun Ge that he did not notice Xu Siqin's gaze at all, and he spoke louder and louder, and finally he started to giggle.

"Sijian!" The third master couldn't bear it anymore and called his son. Although his voice was reproachful, it was as gentle as usual.

After hearing this, Xu Sijian immediately sat up straight.

"How can you sit still, little kid?" Mrs. Wu looked at him and laughed, "We are all family, Uncle San doesn't need to be so reserved."

The Third Master chuckled and said, "If you don't carve jade, it won't become a useful tool. If you don't take care of it when it's young, it will become a habit when it grows up and you can't control it anymore."

As he was talking, the third lady came in, listened to half of the conversation, and said with a smile: "Who can't control it?"

Just as the Third Master was about to speak, the Fifth Lady said, "Third Uncle said he was worried that he would not be able to control Brother Jian when he grew up."

Her eyes moved around, giving people the feeling that there was something else behind her words.

The Third Madam's face darkened when she heard this. She was about to say something when she saw Xu Lingyi walking in with the Madam Dowager.

She suppressed her breath and greeted him with a smile: "Mom, you are here!"

Everyone stood up and greeted the lady.

The old lady nodded and told the third lady calmly, "Let's eat!" Then she went straight to the east room.

The third lady bent her knees and responded with “yes”, and told the maid to serve the meal. The others followed the lady into the east room and sat down in turn.

Xu Lingyi gave Shiyi Niang a look that said "everything is fine".

* * * * * *

After dinner, everyone surrounded the lady and went to the west room as usual.

This time, the lady sat on the big kang by the window, while Xu Lingyi stood on her left side.

The Third Master and the Third Madam exchanged a tacit look, and then they both stood quietly to the right of the Madam.

The Fifth Lady looked at him and smiled slightly, then pulled at the corner of Xu Lingkuan's clothes and stood side by side with the Eleventh Lady who was standing behind Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingkuan hesitated for a moment and stood next to Xu Lingyi.

The children looked at each other.

Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian stood next to their mother, while Xu Siyu took Zhunge'er to stand next to Xu Lingkuan.

The maid who came in to serve tea looked trembling with fear. She put down the teacup quietly and left.

The lady took the teacup and sipped the tea carefully.

You could hear a pin drop in the room.

After a long while, she put down the teacup, looked at her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson standing beside her, and then slowly said: "A few days ago, the Marquis had a dream. He dreamed of Aunt Tong. She said that she is now alone and helpless, without even incense and candles to offer, and she is so miserable that she cannot reincarnate. She asked the Marquis to raise a child under her name and offer incense and candles for her to reincarnate. The Marquis woke up feeling very uneasy. The next day he went to the charity hall, ready to bring a child back and raise it under Aunt Tong's name. It was also destined. There happened to be a child with the same phoenix eyes as our Xu family. The Marquis thought of Aunt Tong's dream and felt that this was simply God's will." As he spoke, he glanced at Eleventh Lady, "Then he discussed with Eleventh Lady, the people of the Luo family and me, and decided to bring the child back and raise it under Aunt Tong's name, which would be considered complete..."

Before the lady finished her words, Xu Lingkuan suddenly stepped forward and said, "Mother..."

Everyone's eyes fell on him.

"This matter..."

He had just said three words when, with a "pa" sound, the lady slapped the table with her hand, interrupting him.

"Lingkuan." Xu Lingyi's face was gloomy, and he looked at Xu Lingkuan with a gaze as cold as frost and snow. "Mother is talking, and it is not your place as a son to interrupt. You stand aside and listen carefully."

Xu Lingkuan's face was as pale as a sheet, and he shrank for a moment, but quickly stood up straight, meeting Xu Lingyi's gaze, and looked back at his brother with a determined look.

Eleventh Lady thought of Xu Lingkuan's expression when they entered the door, and then thought of his current appearance, and secretly said to herself that it was bad - only people with firm beliefs in their hearts will face difficulties head-on without fear of danger.

Doesn't he want to tell the truth and take it all on his own?

Obviously, the Lady Dowager also had the same idea as Eleventh Lady.

Before Xu Lingkuan could even speak, she shouted, "Xu Lingkuan, I dote on you. But you are so outrageous. You even dare to interrupt me when I'm talking to you brothers about serious matters. Is it because you see that your father is gone that you don't take me, your mother, seriously?"

The lady directly accused Xu Lingkuan of being unfilial.

This is a very serious statement.

Xu Lingkuan's expression changed drastically, and he knelt down as if he was pushing a jade mountain or overturning a golden pillar: "Kuan'er dare not..."

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