Chapter 231: Trouble (Part 2)

Chapter 231: Life is not right (Part 2)

"Let's play the hundred-rope dance!" Eleventh Lady looked around, "Kicking shuttlecock is for children."

"Kicking shuttlecock is still better." Xu Sijian smiled brightly, "Rope skipping is just a physical activity. How can we compete in physical activity?"

"Kicking shuttlecock, skipping ropes, and even Cuju, aren't they all for strengthening the body? Otherwise, why would we be sweating here? It would be better to sit inside and read a book." Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Since there is no difference, it doesn't matter whether it is kicking shuttlecock or skipping rope!"

Xu Sijian immediately said, "Just as the fourth aunt said. Since there is no difference, I think we should just play shuttlecock!"

The two of them started arguing with each other.

Brother Zhe hurriedly said, "How about I compete with Brother San in shuttlecock kicking on behalf of Mother?" He acted like a peacemaker and said, "Everyone, stop arguing!"

Eleventh Lady looked at her and laughed.

Xu Sijian said, "No, this matter needs to be explained clearly." Dayou and Shiyi Niang were arguing about which one was more interesting, kicking shuttlecock or skipping rope.

Eleventh Lady also enjoyed entertaining Xu Sijian.

The two men started arguing fiercely.

At first, Zhe Ge listened at the side with great concern, but later, when he saw that what the two were talking about was interesting, he listened attentively with his elbows on his chin. Only Xu Sizhen stepped forward and kicked Xu Sijian, saying, "You are not allowed to quarrel with my mother, you are not allowed to quarrel with my mother..." Xu Sijian never expected that he would be kicked and he covered his calf and screamed.

Eleventh Lady was stunned for a moment before she reacted and quickly hugged Xu Siyi: "A gentleman uses his mouth, a villain uses his hands. Don't hit people randomly."

Xu Siqi looked at Shiyi Niang with a somewhat aggrieved look on his face.

The brother had already stepped forward to apologize to Xu Sijian: "He is still young and does not understand... I hope he is not seriously injured!"

When Xu Sijian saw Xu Siqi was suppressed, he certainly would not miss the opportunity to scare him. He raised his eyebrows and rolled up his sleeves: "Just wait, I will call my eldest brother and second brother to come and show you what's going on."

"Don't be angry, third brother, don't be angry!" Xu Sizhen was not frightened, but Brother Zhe was frightened. He stepped forward and pulled Xu Sizhen to persuade him, "Brother, don't you want a katydid cage? Do you think my Xiangfei bamboo one is good? I also have a purple clay one, you can choose either one."

Brother Zhe actually bribed people! Is this his nature or a sign of growth? Shiyi Niang laughed. Xu Sijian looked at the nervous Brother Zhe and couldn't help laughing. For a moment, the room was filled with laughter, lively and warm.

…

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Xu Lingyi, the Taifu and Shiyi Niang went to the palace to receive the makeup. Xu Lingyi went to the Qianqing Palace, while the Taifu and Shiyi Niang went to the Kunning Palace.

The one waiting at the door of the East Warm Pavilion was Eunuch Lei. Seeing the Dowager and Eleventh Lady, he hurried over, bowed, and whispered, "The Concubine Xian, the Concubine Jing, the Princess Chang, Princess Changcheng, Princess Yong'an, and Madam Zhou are inside." He added, "Yesterday at noon, the Emperor had lunch at the Imperial Noble Concubine's place. The Imperial Noble Concubine personally brewed a cup of Biluochun and served it to him. Who knew that the tea was too hot and scalded the Emperor. The Emperor was very unhappy. Today, because he was watching the fireworks, he did not invite the Imperial Noble Concubine to come."

Eleventh Lady's heart was moved when she heard this.

Not to mention the Imperial Concubine offering tea to the Emperor, even when I offer tea to Xu Lingyi, I have to pay attention to the temperature of the tea. How could I possibly burn someone? Thinking about the Emperor's decree to let Xu Lingyi, the Madam and I enter the palace to watch the fireworks... Is there any purpose behind this move of the Emperor?

She hurriedly looked towards the lady.

The lady smiled modestly, no different from usual. She put something into Lei Gonggong's hand and said, "Thank you, Lei Gonggong. It's so cold, Lei Gonggong has worked hard."

Eunuch Lei smiled and calmly put the things into his sleeves: "Madam, Madam Yongping, please follow me." He led them into the east warm pavilion.

Eleventh Lady did not dare to think too much. She followed closely behind the Dowager Lady and paid her respects to the Empress Dowager, to Concubine Xian and the other three ladies in the inner court, and also paid her respects to Madam Zhou.

"No need to be so polite." The Empress looked much better than the last time she met her. She had a gentle smile and a soothing tone, and in the leisurely tone that only a noble lady could speak, she asked the palace maid to bring a brocade stool to the Madam.

The lady thanked him and sat down.

Eleventh Lady stood behind the Lady Dowager and quickly glanced at the three concubines sitting around the Empress.

They were all around 17 or 18 years old, with slender curves and beautiful features, but their clothes were vulgar, more charming than stunning, and without any special features. Instead, they were not as dignified and solemn as the empress's court dress and phoenix crown, with a different kind of dignified beauty.

The Empress Dowager asked about the Dowager's recent health condition.

The lady answered them one by one.

Madam Zhou, who was standing behind the eldest princess, smiled at Eleventh Lady.

Shiyi Niang didn't know what he meant and didn't dare to move. She just stood there with her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart.

A palace maid came to report that the wife of Marquis Jianning and the wife of Earl Shouchang had arrived.

The Queen summoned them in, and everyone exchanged greetings. The Queen Mother still asked the palace maid to bring the brocade stool.

The two thanked each other and had just sat down when a palace maid came in and reported that Princess Changning had arrived.

Except for the Empress and the Princess, everyone else stood up after hearing this.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but see a large number of people coming.

Princess Changning looked to be in her forties, fair and clean, a little plump, with eyes and eyebrows that resembled the emperor. Although she was dressed very gorgeously, her face was tightly tied and her expression was solemn.

Behind her followed a woman who looked to be about 25 or 26 years old, with a tall and slender head, a neatly combed bun, a red gold and gemstone brooch, and a purple silk jacket. Her face was sallow and she looked unhappy, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

Princess Changcheng smiled and greeted Princess Changning: "Changning, I thought you weren't coming. I heard that you were not feeling well recently. Are you feeling better now?"

Princess Changning bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, elder sister. The weather was cold and I caught a cold, but I'm fine now." She said this with a forced smile.

Princess Changcheng looked at the woman behind Princess Changning and said with a smile: "You look a lot thinner - you must be tired from taking care of Changning."

The woman knelt hurriedly and saluted, muttering, "No, no..."

Princess Chang Ning's eyes and brows turned a little colder as she listened to the woman's answer, and it was obvious that she was not very satisfied with the woman's answer.

"Jinkui, I haven't seen you for a while. The princess smiled and waved to the woman, "Come, let me see you."

The woman called Jinkui looked at Princess Changning timidly.

Princess Chang Ning frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "The eldest princess is calling you!"

"Yes!" She answered in a mosquito-like voice and walked timidly to the side of the eldest princess.

The princess held her hand and said, "You look good in this dress today - it's from Baoxianghua, it's a new style this year.

Jinkui's face flushed slightly, and she whispered, "It was a gift from the princess."

The princess nodded with a smile: "Chang Ning, you are still good to your daughter-in-law."

Eleventh Lady looked at Jinkui in surprise.

She had never thought that Ren Kun's wife would be like this—her behavior was as reserved as that of a young daughter-in-law. Looking at Princess Changning's expression, she seemed very dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law.

"I only have this daughter-in-law. Naturally, I treat her as my own daughter." Princess Changning's face softened as she stepped forward to greet the Empress and the Princess. Madam Zhou and Eleventh Lady also stepped forward to pay their respects to Princess Changning.

Princess Changning nodded, but Jinkui looked at Shiyi Niang with her lips slightly open, looking very surprised.

Just then, a maid brought in a golden stool and asked Princess Changning to sit down. She took the opportunity to come to Princess Changning's side, standing behind her with her eyelids slightly drooping, hiding her frail figure behind the heavy red curtains.

Everyone in the room was talking about interesting things during the Chinese New Year. When you finished talking, she came on stage, but no one mentioned the Xu family's child, nor did anyone mention Ren Kun's disappearance. It was as if nothing had happened. Although it was deliberate, it was still lively and noisy.

At 3 p.m., the Empress Dowager enjoyed some glutinous rice balls. At dusk, she led everyone to the Jiaotai Hall.

As soon as I stood still, the Queen Mother arrived.

People came forward one after another to pay their respects, and the eunuchs led them to their seats according to their ranks.

Eleventh Lady and Madam Zhou sat side by side at a long table in front of the palace gate.

"I'm most afraid of entering the palace." Seeing that the Queen Mother was talking animatedly with Marquis Jianning and Lady Changshou, Madam Zhou whispered to Eleventh Lady, "Every time I sit at the door of the palace, once the curtain is lifted, the cold wind blows in, freezing me half to death. None of the dishes are steaming."

Eleventh Lady suppressed her smile, sat in front of the long table with a serious face, and whispered: "It seems that Sister Zhou is still planning to eat her fill at the banquet?"

Madam Zhou laughed and said, "That's right." Then she whispered, "Did you hear that the Imperial Concubine was reprimanded by the Emperor..."

Is Mrs. Zhou too well-informed? Or has the news spread everywhere? If it has, then we need to think about it carefully.

"Who told you this, Sister Zhou?" Eleventh Lady looked very surprised.

"Everyone knows about it." Madam Zhou said with a hint of meaning, "You should also mention it to your Lord Marquis."

Sometimes, the movements in the inner palace are a weather vane.

Shiyi Niang smiled and thanked her. A eunuch brought someone over. The two of them stopped talking and sat down without looking at each other. When the person sat down and called out "Sister Zhou", Shiyi Niang realized that the person sitting next to them was Jinkui.

"Sister Jinkui!" Mrs. Zhou first glanced at the throne and saw that the Queen Mother and the Empress had already sat down on the left and right. People were sitting down in a rustle and no one noticed her. Then she greeted Jinkui in a low voice, and the smile on her face was even brighter than before.

Jinkui smiled shyly.

Madam Zhou pointed at Shiyi Niang and whispered, "You don't recognize her yet - this is the wife of Yongping Marquis!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Jinkui said, "I know. She is Shi Niang's sister."

Mrs. Zhou was startled. Eleventh Lady smiled bitterly.

People didn't call her Xu Lingyi's wife but Shi Niang's sister, which was completely from Wang Lang's perspective to see their relationship. It seemed that Jin Kui knew the relationship between her husband and Wang Lang very well.

She nodded towards Jinkui somewhat awkwardly: "Mrs. Ren!"

Jinkui said, "I am from Dongyang, and my maiden name is Jiang."

Dongyang and Yuhang are both in Jiangnan, and they are from the same hometown. But in this situation, what's the point of saying this? Will I feel guilty towards her because of this, or will the Wang and Ren families let go of their past grudges?

What does she mean by this?

Eleventh Lady was muttering to herself, but an idea suddenly came to her mind.

Dongyang, Jiang family... Isn't it the Dongyang Jiang family that Wu Niang mentioned on the boat from Yuhang to Yanjing, the family that had an alliance with the Yanjing nobles and had once produced a concubine?

She resisted the urge to touch his forehead.

What a small world it is!