Chapter 213: New Year (Part 2)
"Can you please do me a favor, Fifth Master?" Eleventh Lady placed Xu Lingyi's changed clothes on a small stool beside her and turned to look at Xu Lingyi in surprise.
Xu Lingyi nodded: "In addition to asking Fan Weigang and Wang Li to help stir up this mess, I also asked Xiaowu and his friends to make some trouble in private."
Eleventh Lady’s mind was racing.
Fan Weigang and Wang Li were both trusted ministers of the emperor, and they were also good friends with Xu Lingyi. They could make some comments in the memorial, but they could not go into too much detail. Otherwise, it would give the emperor the impression that they were forming a clique and engaging in private affairs. But Xu Lingkuan was different. First, he was Xu Lingyi's younger brother, and second, although his friends were from all walks of life, most of them were playboys. If they made a fuss in private, others would see it and think that Xu Lingkuan was speaking up for his brother and trying to make the matter a romantic affair. The effect would probably be a hundred times better than if Fan Weigang and Wang Li came forward.
Xu Lingyi felt very disappointed when he said this.
He had been responsible for the family affairs by himself before. Although he considered that his third brother Xu Lingning was honest and his younger brother Xu Lingkuan was lazy, and they were not good candidates for conspiracy, the more important reason was that he felt that since he had inherited the title, he should take the responsibility of revitalizing the family business and taking care of his brothers and relatives. But he did not expect that things would go against his wishes. The more he did, the further the brothers drifted apart. Not to mention Xu Lingning's passive behavior and Xu Lingkuan's troublemaking. He fought four fists with both hands. Although he had a good time, he couldn't help feeling tired and a little confused when it was late at night and he was alone.
Later, with Shiyi Niang's reminder, she first used the matter of smelt rice to talk things out with Xu Lingning, breaking the invisible, intangible, but frustrating barrier between the two of them. She also regarded Xu Lingkuan as a colleague who was always against her, and used the same method she used to subdue some of her rebellious generals when she suppressed the Miao Rebellion. Not only did she make him feel ashamed, but he also took the initiative to admit his mistakes, and for the first time, he sincerely reviewed his past words and deeds in front of her.
He was moved at that moment.
Xu Lingkuan went from being a smart and clever boy to a dandy who only knew how to eat, drink, play, and run around. In addition to the lack of strict discipline, it also had a lot to do with the fact that he was the youngest son, and the old lady and herself only knew how to spoil him, while the other never taught him seriously. If you find something for him to do...
The thought flashed through his mind, and he thought of asking Xu Lingkuan to help him do something.
As soon as he let out the secret, Xu Lingkuan immediately patted his chest and agreed. He also immediately proposed a solution - which of his friends had a more impatient personality and was suitable for arguing with others in public; which one was afraid of chaos in the world and would talk about one person and then another, making things worse; which one was greedy and willing to do anything as long as he could afford it... It was clear and explicit. He even explained what he was going to do in a very logical way.
He was stunned at the time - he didn't expect Xu Lingkuan to know so much about the people around him.
"If you know this clearly, why do you still hang out with these people?"
Xu Lingyi put aside his elder brother's airs, and Xu Lingkuan felt very friendly. He replied directly: "If I don't play with them, who should I play with? Besides, we are just playing together, and we don't expect anyone to be sincere to anyone!" His tone sounded nonchalant, but there was a glimmer of self-mockery in his eyes.
He was speechless for a moment, but the guilt in his heart could not be dispelled for a long time.
Taking the opportunity to change clothes, he told these things to Eleventh Lady: "Before, I only saw him calling friends and living a life of drunkenness and self-degradation, but who knew that he was not happy either..."
"It's not too late for the Marquis to know now!" Eleventh Lady smiled and helped him change into a newly made dark blue plain gown. "And the Fifth Master also knows the Marquis's difficulties and the Xu family's difficulties. In the future, you will have the Fifth Master to help you, and you can worry less."
"I don't even dare to think about helping me." Xu Lingyi sighed, "I just hope he doesn't cause trouble again in the future, and I'll be satisfied." He spoke in a helpless fatherly tone.
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile behind her sleeves. Then she hesitated and said, "But if we do this, everyone will say that Fifth Master is reckless and not someone who can accomplish great things. Should we say hello to Grandpa Sun in Hongdeng Hutong..."
Although she had only met Grand Marquis Sun once, she always felt that it was not easy for someone to raise a daughter like the Fifth Lady.
"No need." Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Don't be fooled by the careless appearance of Old Marquis Sun. He knows everything in his heart! You know, the late emperor killed countless princes and ministers in his later years, but he never doubted him."
It seems that my feeling is quite correct.
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, helping Xu Lingyi straighten his clothes, and replied casually, "My Lord, you have considered everything. I only hope that my family will be peaceful and prosperous, and that we will be satisfied with enough food and clothing."
"A peaceful and safe life, ample food and clothing..." Xu Lingyi laughed, "This is not an easy thing. If you want a peaceful and safe life, you must ensure long-lasting glory. If you want ample food and clothing, you must ensure continuous wealth..." He looked quite emotional.
Eleventh Lady was stunned.
She was just making small talk, but she didn't expect it to lead to Xu Lingyi's words.
The "glory" he mentioned refers to "power" and the "wealth" refers to "money", right?
If you think about it carefully, it is true.
Without power, no one will take you seriously. In this society where there is a saying of "a county magistrate with a broken door", a petty official of the seventh rank can find an excuse to accuse you of rebellion. Without money, even if you are a second-rank official in the court, how can you have enough food and clothing if you are not greedy and take things? If you are greedy and take things, you lose the way of a gentleman and become mean, which will inevitably make people look down on you. One day, your crime will be exposed and you will lose your power.
I don't know how many people are eagerly pursuing wealth and glory. In the final analysis, they just want to live a more comfortable, down-to-earth and safe life. But as time goes by, they forget their original intentions, put the cart before the horse, and become slaves to wealth and glory, forgetting that the pursuit of these external things is to make themselves live a happier life...
Just like me. I tried very hard to gain the trust of the lady, and tried very hard to become Xu Lingyi's confidant. The ultimate goal was just to live a leisurely life of "watching flowers and drinking alone when I have nothing to do". But before that, I had to obtain the qualifications to "live a leisurely life".
Thinking about it this way, my situation is similar to Xu Lingyi's.
Xu Lingyi wanted the Xu family to become a leisurely wealthy family, so he had to obtain such qualifications first.
If there are no talented and ambitious people in the family, no matter it is the emperor or the nobles, no one will take this family seriously, and even if something happens, this family will be the first to be eliminated. If there is a person in the family who can be appointed as prime minister or marquis and influence the political situation in the court, the emperor is afraid that you will establish a clique and control the government for personal gain, and the duke's family is afraid that you will become too powerful and seize their own interests... How to grasp this balance is the Xu family's top priority.
I hope Xu Lingyi can seize this opportunity, find a balance point, and make the Xu family stand more stable.
As she was thinking wildly, she smiled and said, "I am really ignorant and don't have the mind and vision of the Marquis."
"That's not the case," Xu Lingyi smiled and tugged at his sleeves, "You're just a gentle person and not good at arguing with others, so you don't think about it."
Eleventh Lady was stunned.
She just felt that some things should not be rushed, so how could she give Xu Lingyi the impression that he was "gentle"...
Before Eleventh Lady had time to think about it, Xu Lingyi had already changed the subject, "Are you ready? If you are, come to mother's place quickly!" With that, he turned and left the inner room.
She hurriedly responded and followed him out of the inner room.
Seeing that the three concubines had all arrived, Eleventh Lady put on a shawl, asked Amber to hold Xu Siqi, and the group went to the lady's place in a grand manner.
This time they arrived earlier and the lady was changing her clothes.
Brother Zhe was already waiting in the hall. He bowed to Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang, but his eyes were fixed on Xu Siyi.
Eleventh Lady knew that he was always afraid of Xu Lingyi, and that he must want to play with Xu Siyi but was afraid that Xu Lingyi would be unhappy, so she pushed Xu Lingyi to sit in the east side room and said, "I'll wait for Third Master and the others here."
Seeing that there were either women or children in the room, Xu Lingyi felt bored and went to the east room.
As expected, Zhege ran to Amber and said, "My dear, come and salute me." He couldn't hide his pride in his eyes.
However, Xu Siyi didn't even look at his brother.
Unable to hide his disappointment, Zhege looked at Shiyi Niang, as if asking, why doesn't he play with me?
Eleventh Lady smiled and brought Xu Siyi to her brother, saying softly, "This is your fourth brother. You must call him "Fourth Brother" when you see him in the future!"
Xu Siqi hesitated for a while and called out softly, "Fourth Brother."
Although the sound is low, it is very pleasant to hear.
Brother Zhe was very surprised, and he looked up and said to Shiyi Niang: "Fifth brother's voice is more beautiful than that of an oriole."
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile bitterly. Fortunately, Brother Zhuan's compliment was sincere and he didn't think too much about it. He took out a small oil-paper bag from his pocket and said, "If you call me Fourth Brother, I will give you some rose juice candy." As he said that, he opened the oil-paper bag, revealing the rose-red, crystal-clear candy inside.
Not to mention the young Xu Siyi, even Madam Wen and Madam Qiao looked over curiously. Only Madam Qin stood on tiptoe to look outside, muttering, "Why hasn't the Second Young Master come yet?"
As expected, Xu Siqi was bribed by the candy. He stared at the candy and immediately called his brother "Fourth Brother".
Zhe Ge smiled happily and gave a candy to Xu Siqi.
Who knew that Xu Siyi was not satisfied. He put the candy in his mouth and then stretched out his hand towards Chen Ge, meaning that he wanted more.
When Zhege saw it, he immediately gave him another one.
Xu Siqi held it tightly in his hand and stretched out his other hand.
Xu Ge hesitated for a moment, took a candy himself, thought about it, took out a few more, and then gave the rest to Xu Siyi.
Xu Siqi immediately put the candy in his arms.
Everyone in the room burst into laughter at his amusement.
Zhe Ge also laughed happily and pulled Xu Si'e's hand nonchalantly: "I have some osmanthus cakes here. They were also gifted by the palace." Then he was about to go to his room with Xu Si'e.
The mother at the side hurriedly said, "My little ancestor, we are going to have the New Year's Eve dinner soon, you can't let the lady wait. After the New Year's Eve dinner, it won't be too late for you to find the osmanthus cake for the fifth young master."
As they were talking, the Third Master and the Third Lady came in with Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu and Xu Sijian.
Aunt Qin, who was standing behind Eleventh Lady, let out a long sigh.
Today is New Year's Eve, and we are going to gather together to have the New Year's Eve dinner. We can't be late at this time and leave a bad impression on the elders.