Chapter 223 Turmoil (Part 1)

"Then we have Aunt Laoliu." Eleventh Lady walked into the house with a smile.

Fifth Aunt was leaning on the big pillow on the bed, looking a little tired. When she heard the noise, she asked unhappily, "Who is it?" Just as she finished speaking, she saw her daughter walk in. She sat up quickly, put on her little blouse, and said, "Why is Eleventh Aunt here? Today is your wedding day. Does the First Madam know that you are here? What are the First Madam and Fifth Aunt doing?"

Eleventh Lady knew that she was afraid that she would make a mistake and be caught, so she quickly stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed, stopping the Fifth Aunt from getting up: "Aunt, please go to bed. The first wife is asleep, the eldest lady went to the flower hall, and I saw the Fifth Aunt took the Fourth Lady to the Third Aunt, so I came here." She explained everyone's whereabouts one by one.

"Who is taking care of the young masters?"

"Amber and Holly are here."

Only then did the Fifth Aunt breathe a sigh of relief.

"Have you eaten?" Eleventh Lady didn't know which month of pregnancy she was in, so she asked Fifth Lady implicitly, but looked at Sixth Lady.

"It's just been two months. She's not feeling well. She's only had a bowl of porridge since she got up this morning." Sixth Aunt said meaningfully, "I asked a midwife to check on her and also asked a doctor to take her pulse. I didn't dare to say anything until I was sure."

Eleventh Lady nodded.

"I'm fine." Fifth Aunt blushed, "Go and do your own thing! Sixth Sister is here to take care of me!"

If there really was nothing to worry about, Fifth Aunt wouldn't be so worried!

As Eleventh Lady was thinking about it, the Sixth Aunt said very tactfully, "Eleventh Lady, please stay with Fifth Sister for a while. I'll go make a cup of tea." After saying that, she got up and went out, and carefully closed the door for them.

Fifth Aunt's expression was relieved. She looked at Eleventh Lady carefully: "Are you all right, Aunt? I heard a few days ago that the Marquis brought a child back, and I was worried day and night. Today I saw that the child is very attached to you, so I am relieved." After saying this, she slowed down her voice and said hesitantly, "Actually, I shouldn't say this, but I think Aunt is kind and the child is pitiful, so Aunt should treat him better. Bodhisattva also said that saving a life is like building a seven-story pagoda. You have planted good causes, and you will also reap good results."

Eleventh Lady nodded quickly: "Don't worry, Auntie, I will treat him like Brother Yu."

"It's good that you can figure it out, ma'am." A trace of sadness appeared between the Fifth Aunt's brows. "Children are ignorant, and it's the adults' business to deal with things. You shouldn't dislike this child because of the Marquis's affairs. You have given him food and clothing, and saved his life. When he grows up and becomes sensible, he will repay you."

I was also afraid that she had some resentment in her heart and would discuss the affair with Xu Lingyi.

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said softly, "Aunt, I understand what you said. To be honest, now that the Marquis has done such a thing, not to mention me, even if my eldest sister were still alive, she would not be in the position to quarrel with the Marquis. Besides, I treated this child well, but I didn't expect him to repay me. Do things according to your conscience, and you won't be afraid of ghosts knocking on your door in the middle of the night." As she said this, she smiled frankly.

The Fifth Aunt agreed very much, and her face was full of relief: "My aunt is always more thoughtful than I think, I worry too much."

Eleventh Lady had not come here to talk about these things. Seeing that Fifth Aunt was relieved, she smiled and changed the subject: "Why didn't you tell me that Aunt was pregnant? I was worried for a while."

The Fifth Aunt was a little embarrassed: "This is not a good thing... I am so old..."

"Why isn't it a good thing?" Eleventh Lady interrupted Fifth Auntie with a smile, "Think about it, if you give birth to a daughter, I'll have a sister. In the future, the two sisters will have someone to take care of and won't be lonely. If you give birth to a son, I'll have someone to rely on for the rest of my life, and I can rest assured. Why isn't it a good thing?"

She knew that Fifth Aunt was most worried about her, so she used herself as an example, hoping that Fifth Aunt would muster up the courage to give birth to the child.

The Fifth Aunt's eyes really lit up: "You, you want to have a brother or sister?"

"Of course." Eleventh Lady smiled and tucked the quilt for her. "I look at my fifth sister and fourth brother with envy."

The Fifth Aunt looked at her and smiled, her eyes and eyebrows slowly blooming like a white lotus, beautiful and pure.

Eleventh Lady looked at them with envy, took a bronze mirror, and put her face close to Fifth Aunt's. While looking in the mirror, she pretended to complain, "Why am I not as pretty as Aunt!"

Her liveliness surprised Fifth Aunt very much, and she was also very happy. She hugged Eleventh Aunt with a smile and said, "You are prettier than me. I am a useless person." There was a hint of sigh in her tone.

Eleventh Lady amused her and said with a smile: "It would be great if I could give birth to a daughter as beautiful as Auntie!"

The Fifth Aunt was shocked when she heard this. She looked at her belly and said hesitantly, "Auntie..."

"No, no." Eleventh Lady shook her head, "That's what I think."

The Fifth Aunt took a long breath and said with a smile, "It's better to give birth to a son." Then she stroked her temples gently, "If you give birth to a son, you will have a firm foothold in the Xu family... It would be best if the child looks like his father, so that the Marquis will like him... I've seen the Marquis from a distance, and he looks good. The child will definitely be a lovable one..." As she was speaking, someone coughed loudly twice through the door.

The Fifth Aunt's expression immediately tensed up: "Who is it?"

Eleventh Lady couldn't help shaking her head as she watched. How could she give birth to a healthy child when she was so nervous?

The smiling voice of Sixth Aunt could be heard from outside: "Fifth sister, it's me." Then she pushed the door open and walked in.

The Fifth Aunt looked at the Sixth Aunt, and although there was a smile on her face, she did not feel much relaxed.

Seeing this, Eleventh Lady accepted the tea from Sixth Aunt, chatted with Fifth Aunt for a few words, then stood up and said goodbye: "I will come to see you again in two days."

Tomorrow is the third day of the first lunar month, the day for the children to visit their uncle. The Madam has no brother, and since they live far away, she can take advantage of this opportunity and have Xu Siyu, Zhege, and Xu Siyi visit Luo Zhenxing and Luo Zhensheng. However, this matter needs to be discussed with Xu Lingyi, so it is not easy to set a date at this time. She just vaguely said "two days".

"I don't have anything to do here. You don't have to come to see me specially." Fifth Aunt stood up to see her off. "It's New Year's Day, and the Marquis has many guests. Don't upset the Madam and the Marquis for these little things."

After all, it's not something that can be accomplished just by saying it. Eleventh Lady didn't want to promise, so she smiled and agreed, asking Sixth Aunt to take her out: "...It's cold outside, Aunt, take a good rest, Sixth Aunt will take me out."

The Fifth Aunt probably didn't want to go out, so she sent her to the door. She watched the Sixth Aunt and the Eleventh Aunt go from the side room of the main house to the main courtyard and disappear before she turned around.

Eleventh Lady, however, continued to talk with Sixth Aunt as they walked.

"Twelve Sister is getting more and more beautiful. She is graceful and elegant, and people like her just by looking at her. When Zhenjie comes back in a few days, I will tell my eldest sister-in-law to bring her to my place for a walk."

Half of her intention was to negotiate terms with Sixth Aunt, and half of her sincerely hoped to create an opportunity for Twelfth Aunt.

Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you.

She still remembers the feeling of being worried, trembling, and tossing and turning. A flash of ecstasy flashed across Sixth Aunt's eyes, and she immediately regained her slightly reserved smile, half-knelt down and bowed to Eleventh Lady: "Thank you, Aunt. When Miss Twelve lived with Aunt, I told her that Aunt Eleven was the smartest person in our house. If you don't know what to do, just follow Aunt Eleven."

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

She recalled how strangely quiet it was in Twelve Niang's room when Ten Niang was smashing things on the rooftop.

On the way back, Eleventh Lady propped her head on her elbow and sighed, "I really want to go see my aunt tomorrow!"

Xu Lingyi smiled: "I'll go talk to mom. You can bring the kids back to Gongxian Hutong tomorrow to pay New Year's greetings to Zhenxing."

"Thank you, Lord Marquis!" Eleventh Lady immediately thanked him with a smile on her face.

Xu Lingyi stroked his chin and said, "My father-in-law looks very happy."

"I'm very happy too." Eleventh Lady smiled, wondering whether she should make some small clothes for Fifth Aunt, and whether she should bring some medicinal herbs when she goes to see Fifth Aunt tomorrow? And silver, she should also bring some... She was thinking about it randomly when she arrived at the lotus flower.

When the lady heard that the fifth concubine was pregnant, she was also very happy: "It's a good thing to add a child to my husband's family!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and replied “yes”.

Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Lady had already returned. The Fifth Lady was sitting next to the Madam Dowager, eating apples from a plate. When she heard that the Fifth Lady was pregnant, her eyes widened immediately: "Your Lady must be very beautiful, right?"

At first glance, it sounds like curiosity, but if you think about it carefully, it is actually saying that the aunt uses her beauty to please men.

Eleventh Lady didn't think much of it - Fifth Lady was indeed very beautiful.

Xu Lingkuan, who was standing by, frowned because it was harsh. He wanted to give his wife some advice, but since his mother and brother were there, it was not the right time to talk. He twitched his lips slightly, but in the end, he said nothing. The Fifth Lady, who was watching her husband from the corner of her eye, felt a chill in her heart.

This guy, as expected, stood on the side of Eleventh Lady. It seems that what his father said was right!

Xu Lingyi, who was sitting below the lady, also felt that what his sister-in-law said today was a little inappropriate, so he smiled and changed the subject: "In this case, I think it would be better to let Shiyi Niang take some herbs and a ruler to Gongxian Hutong tomorrow to visit Aunt."