Chapter 212: New Year (Part 2)

Qiao Lianfang wore a rose-red jacket with a swastika-shaped flowing cloud-shaped makeup pattern and a dark green skirt embroidered with plum, orchid and bamboo. Her dark black hair was tied up in a high bun with a jade hairpin inserted in it. Her posture was still as straight and her expression was still as calm, but there was a hint of weariness between her brows, as if she had not slept well.

It looked like Qiao Lianfang and Aunt Qin were both sleeping restlessly!

Qiao Lianfang likes Xu Lingyi, so it's understandable that he still misses a concubine who died more than ten years ago. But why is Aunt Qin so upset?

Recalling the deep sisterly love you had in the past?

Or are you feeling sorry for her early death?

Or, was he just worried about the impact of Xu Siqi's arrival on Xu Siyu?

While she was thinking, a maid came in and said, "Madam, the Marquis and the Fifth Master are about to get up!"

"Oh!" Eleventh Lady quickly collected her thoughts and told Amber with a smile, "Go and ask where the breakfast is placed."

Amber responded and left.

Then Eleventh Lady instructed Aunt Qin: "Today is New Year's Eve. The Fifth Young Master's residence has not been cleaned up yet, and the people in the house are not all gathered at the moment. I have to trouble Aunt Qin."

Aunt Qin immediately stood up and said, "Don't worry, Madam. I will ask the people in my room to help clean up the place."

Eleventh Lady nodded and served tea: "Everyone, go away! Remember to come early in the afternoon so that we can have the New Year's Eve dinner together with the Madam."

Everyone stood up and responded.

Madam Wen smiled and came up to Eleventh Lady: "Madam, I have nothing to do anyway, why don't I help Fifth Young Master clean up the house with Sister Qin?"

Madam Wen also had a housekeeper, a maid, two second-class maids, and two little maids in her room.

"Sure!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "There's strength in numbers. There will be fireworks to watch in the evening. If we can get this done sooner, we can celebrate the New Year in peace!"

Madam Wen smiled and said "yes", and went to Xu Siyu's old residence with Madam Qin, while Qiao Lianfang took Xiu Yuan back to her own room.

Xiu Yuan smiled and brought a cup of hot tea to Qiao Lianfang: "Young lady, you should be relieved now! The Marquis went to Shiyi Niang, but it was just a formality."

Qiao Lianfang only brought Xiuyuan with her, and the others were all from the Xu family. So she usually only kept Xiuyuan around. There was no one else in the room.

Hearing Xiu Yuan teasing her like this, she blushed, smiled and took the handkerchief to throw at Xiu Yuan: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xiu Yuan dodged, hid her sleeves and laughed, and simply joked: "Miss, be careful!"

When Qiao Lianfang heard this, her face darkened and she placed her hand on her abdomen consciously.

The smile on Xiuyuan's face gradually faded. She walked quietly to Qiao Lianfang's side and whispered, "Don't worry, Miss. This time, you will definitely have a good dream."

Qiao Lianfang's eyes turned red as she listened: "I have taken the medicine, put on the tools... I have done everything I could. But my body is..." As she spoke, she put her hands together and bowed to the west: "Merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, if you can fulfill my wish this time, I will make a golden statue for you and offer incense to you day and night."

As the three concubines left, Amber came back and said, "The Marquis said that breakfast is in the study."

Eleventh Lady took Xu Siyi and Binju, who was holding him, to the study. At the door, they met Luyun escorting two maids from Fifth Lady out.

The three of them knelt and saluted her. Lu Yun explained hurriedly, "The Fifth Madam sent someone to bring clothes to the Fifth Master."

The Fifth Lady has always been very caring towards Xu Lingkuan.

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded to the two maids, then became a little hesitant.

Could it be that I arrived too early and they were still washing up?

Just as she was about to ask Luyun, Hongxiu came out from behind the curtain and said, "Madam, the Marquis invites you in."

Eleventh Lady walked into the study with a smile.

Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingkuan were sitting on the big kang by the window, one wearing a half-new royal blue silk gown, the other wearing a white raccoon fur jacket with a Buddha head carved in blue silk. They looked calm and relaxed, and it was obvious that both were in a good mood.

Seeing Eleventh Lady bringing Xu Siqi in, Xu Lingkuan hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "Fourth sister-in-law!" with a very respectful attitude.

Could it be because of what Xu Lingyi said last night...

Eleventh Lady pondered secretly and returned the gift with a smile. When she stood up, she saw Xu Siqi, who was held in Binju's arms, looking at Xu Lingyi with his bright black eyes, and joy overflowed from his brows.

Looking at Xu Lingkuan again, he gently turned his face to the side.

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Maybe this child really has no destiny with Xu Lingkuan.

While thinking about it, he asked Xu Siqi to greet the two of them.

Xu Lingyi asked Xu Siqi: "...have you arranged everything?"

"Arrange for her to live in Yu Ge's old residence. As the New Year is approaching, it is not easy to find people to take care of her. For the time being, she will be looked after by a few maids around me. After the Lantern Festival, I will find a few honest and reliable maids from home to serve her." Eleventh Lady said briefly.

Xu Lingyi listened and nodded continuously, revealing an expression of great satisfaction, which was very inconsistent with his usual low-key and reserved demeanor.

Is this done for Xu Lingkuan to see?

Thinking of what he said to Xu Lingkuan yesterday, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but think in this direction.

"Please pay more attention to this matter." Xu Lingyi spoke to her in a polite tone, "Ask the maid to prepare breakfast! We still have to go to the ancestral hall later to arrange the utensils for ancestor worship.

According to the rules, only men can place items used for ancestor worship, and women are not allowed to touch them.

Eleventh Lady smiled and replied "yes", asked the maid to serve the meal, served the two of them breakfast, and then took Xu Siqi to the lady's place.

The Third Master, the Third Madam, the Fifth Madam, Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, Xu Sijian, and Chen Ge were all there.

Seeing them come in, the Fifth Lady immediately walked towards Xu Lingkuan and asked, "Master Wu, did you sleep well yesterday?" But her eyes were looking at Xu Siqi in Binju's arms. Her expression was serious and a little inquiring.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Xu Lingkuan nodded to his wife, whispered "Let's talk about it when we get back", then smiled and walked forward to greet everyone.

The Fifth Lady did not look carefully yesterday, and when she wanted to look later, she did not have the chance. This time, when she took a closer look, she felt that he looked three or four points like Xu Lingyi. Thinking of what Madam Shi said yesterday, she felt relieved and walked forward with a smile to greet Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady returned the gift, greeted the Third Master and the Third Lady, and brought Xu Siqi with her, following Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingkuan to pay respects to the Grand Madam.

Xu Lingyi took the Third Master, Xu Lingkuan and a group of young scholars to the ancestral hall. The Third Lady was going to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, and the Eleventh Lady was going to see how Xu Siqi's residence was tidied. The Fifth Lady was left to talk to the Dowager Lady, and the Third Lady and the Eleventh Lady said goodbye together and went their separate ways.

The courtyard of Concubine Qin was arranged in the same way as that of Concubine Qiao Lian, but it was wider. The center of the courtyard was not planted with flowers or plants, but a rockery made of Taihu stones. Entering from the courtyard gate facing west, there was a corridor facing north, leading directly to Xu Siyu's old residence. The courtyard where Xu Siyu lived was wider than Concubine Qin's. The main house faced north and south, with three side rooms on each side. There was a bluestone rain alley between the back house and Concubine Qin's main house. It was a proper quadrangle.

Aunt Wen accompanied Eleventh Lady into the courtyard and pointed to the west chamber: "This is the Ruyi Gate."

This means that if a door is opened here, there is no need to pass through Aunt Qin's yard and one can go directly to Xu Siyu's old residence.

Eleventh Lady did not comment.

Let’s wait until next spring!

When you need to renovate your own yard, you can also renovate the yard here as well.

When I entered the room, I saw Aunt Qin directing several maids to hang up the curtains, and several other maids were wiping the floor-length shades with rags.

Hearing the noise, everyone stopped what they were doing and saluted Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady was quite surprised to see that everything in the house had been almost packed up.

"Because it's Chinese New Year, we just cleaned the house a few days ago, which was more efficient." Aunt Qin explained, "In the afternoon, we moved the mattress and laid the quilt, and the Fifth Young Master can move in now."

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, and asked the maids to continue cleaning. She walked around the house with Madam Wen and Madam Qin, discussing what to add, what to subtract, and what to put in each place. In the blink of an eye, it was noon.

A servant beside Xu Lingyi came over and said, "The Marquis and the Fifth Young Master are having lunch in the outer courtyard. Tell Madam not to wait."

Amber rewarded the boy with ten cents. Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Since the Marquis is not coming back, let's just eat something casually - there will be delicious food in the evening anyway. Let's clean up the Fifth Young Master's residence as soon as possible, and we can also go to the Madam's place earlier."

Madam Wen and Madam Qin agreed with a smile, and went to Eleventh Madam's room to eat something quickly. They quickly cleaned the room before noon, and made an appointment to go to the lady's place together at 3:45 on the 3rd lunar month. They sent someone to tell Qiao Lian's room, and then went back to their rooms to wash and dress.

Xu Lingyi and the others went to the ancestral hall, where those responsible for sacrifice had already prepared all the items. They arranged them according to the ritual and were busy until noon, when they had a quick lunch in the outer courtyard. Then they returned to the ancestral hall to report to their ancestors. Xu Lingyi wrote down Xu Si'an's name in the family tree, and then they dispersed.

The Fifth Lady finally waited for Xu Lingkuan to come back.

While she was helping him change his clothes with a smile on her face, she said nonchalantly, "What did you say? You talked all night. I was worried that the Marquis would be angry with you, and I was also worried that you would be wronged... I didn't sleep well all night."

Xu Lingkuan's eyes flashed with guilt: "It's all my fault. I made you worry!"

"Look at what Master Wu said." Madam Wu said coquettishly, "I just like to let my imagination run wild." As she spoke, she took the tea from the maid and handed it over herself, smiling, "But, I am really curious, what did Master Hou say to you?"

Xu Lingkuan did not tell his wife about the child because he had always thought that the matter had been resolved long ago: he paid Liu Huifang the money and Liu Huifang was responsible for raising the child. He never thought that it would cause so much trouble. Especially after listening to the heartfelt words of his fourth brother yesterday, he realized how much trouble he had caused and how much danger he had brought to the Xu family.

When his wife asked him, he really wanted to talk to her.

But when he thought of the promise he had made to his fourth brother, "Forget about the child, as if it never happened. Even if you ask yourself, you must insist that it is fourth brother's child," he forced himself to endure it.

"Nothing!" Xu Lingkuan took a deep breath and straightened his back unconsciously, "Fourth brother asked me to help him!"