The royal banquet was filled with fragrance and the fireworks in the night sky were gorgeous and dazzling. But as a participant, Eleventh Lady only hoped that it would all end soon - she could neither be the center of everyone's service like the emperor and the empress, nor receive special favors like the lady-in-waiting. Standing in the cold wind and watching the fireworks with an empty stomach was a sad thing, not to mention that she was still thinking about the three Xu Siqin brothers at home.
After finally making it to the beginning of the tenth day of the tenth month, the emperor and the empress went back to the inner court to rest, and then everyone could leave. The road was full of fireworks and people, and it took half an hour to get home. The lady and the eleventh lady were in a state of discomfort, but only Xu Lingyi was still in high spirits.
Amber followed the Third Master and the Third Madam to greet Eleventh Lady. Seeing this, she immediately went over to help her and whispered, "Madam, don't worry. The three young masters are all resting in the Madam's room."
Eleventh Lady let out a long sigh, cheered herself up, and accompanied the lady back to the house. She went to see the three people with her own eyes, and only then did she feel relieved and went back to the house with Xu Lingyi.
She immediately told him about the Imperial Concubine being scolded and meeting Ren Kun's wife Jiang Jinkui.
Regarding Jiang Jinkui's matter, Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "There is nothing we can do about it. We are all so intertwined, and there will always be times when we meet. Just be neither humble nor arrogant." As for the Royal Concubine being reprimanded, he smiled and said, "I have heard about this as well. It seems that the Emperor is hinting at those censors. However, the lights will not be turned off until the 17th day of the first lunar month. The Emperor will probably not express his opinion before then. Even if there is something, it will be three days later."
Eleventh Lady nodded, made the bed and went to sleep with Xu Lingyi.
The next morning, he went to the old lady's house early in the morning and met Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu who came to pay their respects to the old lady. He smiled and told them that they wanted to pretend to be servants and go out to watch the lanterns: "... We were afraid that you would not listen. I didn't expect that you are gentlemen who keep your promise. You really stayed at home yesterday." He didn't say that this was Xu Siyu's idea.
The lady was startled when she heard this.
Xu Siqin's face was already red. "It turns out we were wrong. Fourth Aunt has made me feel ashamed."
Xu Siyu just smiled faintly.
The Third Lady brought Xu Sijian to pay her respects to the Grand Lady. The Grand Lady suppressed her confusion and waited for the Third Lady to leave. She sent the children to play in Zhun Ge's room and then asked Eleventh Lady, "... Why didn't you come to discuss such a big matter with me?"
Eleventh Lady explained the whole cause and effect: "...because I had promised the children, if I went back on my word, it would be insincere. If I didn't agree, it would seem a bit harsh." Then she told the lady dowager about the arrangements at that time.
She chose this time to say it with purpose.
The lanterns will not be turned off until the 17th day of the first lunar month, and there are still two days before the end of the Lantern Festival. If Xu Siqin and his men really gave up this plan, then she would say this to the old lady to make her smile. But if Xu Siqin and his men did not give up this plan, the last two days would be the best opportunity - first, the people who were watching them would relax when they saw that they had been behaving honestly; second, the time limit agreed upon by everyone was the Lantern Festival, and no specific day was agreed upon. If they went out, it would not be considered a breach of promise. On the contrary, Eleventh Lady also took advantage of this. Find a way to keep the 15th day of the first lunar month, and then tell the story. First, she did not break her promise to the children, and second, the old lady would feel that she did not follow these children to do whatever they wanted; third, if the old lady was told about this, it would be known to the world, and she could shirk responsibility if there were any mistakes.
The lady listened and nodded slightly.
After all, Eleventh Lady is new, so some things cannot be done too much. This is just right. It not only takes the children's face into consideration, but also does not indulge them. Eleventh Lady considered it so carefully, and the lady was relieved.
"It is the greatest virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them." She thought about it and decided to praise Shiyi Niang. "Since they want to go out and play so much..." She instructed Mother Du, "Go and call Chief Butler Bai in and ask him to send someone to help the three young masters go out to the Lantern Festival."
This result surprised Eleventh Lady, and she hurriedly ordered Amber to tell Xu Siqin and others the news.
The children who got the news all ran out, some bowed to express their gratitude, some jumped and laughed, and Zhun Ge rolled into the arms of the lady, saying, "I want to go, too! I want to go, too!"
Xu Sijie pulled Shiyi Niang's dress and stood aside, giggling.
Anyone could go except Zhun Ge. In all likelihood, the Madam would not agree.
Eleventh Lady thought about it and hugged Xu Sijie. Then she heard the firm voice of the lady in her ear: "You stay at home and accompany your mother and fifth brother."
Zhun Ge pouted in disappointment and stared at Shiyi Niang, but did not dare to refute.
Eleventh Lady just pretended not to see it.
When he lowered his head, he saw a flash of sneer on Xu Siyu's face out of the corner of his eye.
* * * * * *
Xu Lingyi, who knew the Madam's decision, did not object. After thinking for a while, he only asked Chief Steward Bai to send more people and act cautiously. The Third Master also nodded slightly: "Boys, reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. You should go out more often."
The Third Madam was very worried, her face turned pale. "It's a mess outside, what if she bumps into something? I think it's better to stay at home. Let Uncle Five buy some fireworks and set them off at home, it will be the same."
Xu Lingkuan volunteered to go with them: "Don't worry, I'm here!"
In this way, the Third Lady's words were naturally ignored. Xu Lingkuan accompanied Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijian to the street to watch the lanterns, while Zhun Ge and Xu Sijie followed Eleventh Lady to make dumplings at home.
Xu Sijie was very happy. He made the glutinous rice balls into various shapes, one after another, and couldn't stop.
But Zhun Ge kept pouting and looked unhappy.
Eleventh Lady counseled him: "Brother Jian said that this was the first time he had gone out to the street to watch fireworks since he was a child. When you were your age, you didn't even dare to think about it because you had never done it before. You are different. The eldest brother, the second brother, and the third brother have all gone out for a walk. There is a precedent. When you are their age, you can also go out for a walk."
Zhun Ge's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Yes, yes!" Then he happily went to make dumplings with Xu Sijie.
"You're wrong. Glutinous rice balls are round!" He tried hard to correct Xu Sijie.
Xu Sijie ignored him and wrapped it however he wanted.
Children should have divergent thinking. If it was Xu Siyu who said this, Shiyi Niang might ask, "Who says dumplings have to be round?" But the person who asked this question was Zhun Ge, who will inherit the title in the future, so it is better to be too straightforward than too cunning.
Eleventh Lady smiled and patted Xu Sijie's head: "He is ignorant and needs to be taught slowly."
When Zhun Ge saw her speaking for him, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly and he nodded heavily.
In the afternoon, they cooked dumplings in Eleventh Lady's small kitchen. Eleventh Lady did not force the three concubines, but everyone in her room had a portion.
Madam Wen was smart. She smelled the fragrance and brought her maid to ask for some tangyuan. She also said, "It would be so lively if the eldest lady was here."
Eleventh Lady immediately said, "The Madam has already told Manager Bai to send someone to pick up Sister Zhen early tomorrow morning."
Zhun Ge cheered after hearing this.
Aunt Qin came over with her maid: "I heard there are dumplings to eat."
Eleventh Lady didn't care and asked Luyun to bring the stool and serve the dumplings to Aunt Qin.
Everyone was laughing and talking, but there was no movement from Qiao Lianfang's side.
In the evening, Xu Lingyi came back from Prince Shun, holding a sweet white porcelain teacup filled with Tieguanyin tea, leaning tiredly on the big pillow and taking a lazy breath: "The New Year is finally over."
Eleventh Lady covered her mouth and smiled, then helped him to the bed.
As a result, the news was heard the next afternoon - the emperor dismissed Xu Lingyi from the post of Grand Commander of the Five Military Commanders' Office.
At that time, the Third Lady was calculating the New Year's transactions with the Dowager Lady, Eleventh Lady was sitting aside listening, and the Fifth Lady was eating an apple.
"...Fourth brother is handing over to Jiang Feiyun!" Xu Lingkuan, who came to report the news, looked a little depressed.
The lady said nothing, but picked up the teacup and took a sip in silence.
"So fast." The Fifth Lady looked shocked, still holding half an apple in her mouth, "Are there any guards following us?"
"Not really." Xu Lingyi said unhappily.
"What is the crime?" the third lady asked cautiously.
Xu Lingkuan said nothing.
The Fifth Lady quickly swallowed the apple and said, "Of course it's 'bad character'. If it was 'letting the enemy go in front of the battlefield', the guards would have been waiting by the side to catch him and put him in jail." As she spoke, she looked at Eleventh Lady.
Eleventh Lady pondered and said, "They only said that the post of Grand Commander of the Five Military Commandery was dismissed, but what about the post of Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince? Has it been dismissed?"
Xu Lingkuan showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, and said in high spirits, "No, no. Only the post of Grand Commander of the Five Military Commandery was removed. The rest was left unchanged."
Eleventh Lady wanted to go to the palace to watch the fireworks on the Lantern Festival, but Imperial Noble Consort Qu was not invited...
She felt that Xu Lingyi's strategy worked - the emperor's heart was leaning towards the Xu family.
But this is just a guess after all. I still have to meet Xu Lingyi and ask him clearly before I can be sure.
She thought so in her heart, but a smile appeared in her eyes unconsciously: "My Lord, you were planning to resign from the post of Grand Commander of the Five Military Commands Office. Now your wish has come true. Fifth Lord, you don't have to worry about me."
The lady listened and nodded slightly.
Life is full of ups and downs, it’s good that Eleventh Lady can think like this.
The Fifth Lady also breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good." The Marquis is still young, and the Emperor didn't kill him with one blow. There will always be opportunities in the future. "It's just right to take this opportunity to rest at home." She said obediently.
The Third Lady looked at everyone, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Then, taking advantage of the opportunity when the Third Master went back to his room to change clothes in the afternoon, she asked her husband, "Will there be any repetitions in our affairs?"
"Don't worry!" The Third Master comforted the Third Lady, "Even if the Emperor doesn't miss the Marquis, he will definitely miss the Empress!"
"I hope so!" The Third Madam muttered. Qiu Ling came in and reported, "Madam, the eldest lady has returned home."
"Hurry up!" The Third Master urged the Third Madam, "We should stay at home for two or three months at most, so as not to upset the Madam when we leave."
The third lady hurriedly helped the third master tie the ribbon, and the two of them went to the lady's place.
As soon as they entered the hall, they heard a burst of cheerful laughter coming from the inner room. When they entered the room, they saw that the big kang near the window was piled with paper boxes of all sizes. Xu Lingkuan, Shiyi Niang, Wu Furen, and Xu Siqin and his brothers were all sitting around the kang of the Madam, all smiling at Zhen Jie'er who was leaning against the Madam. She was wearing a lake-colored jacket and was talking about something with a smile on her face.
Seeing them come in, Zhen Jieer hurriedly greeted them: "Third uncle, third aunt."
The Third Master laughed and stepped forward to pay his respects to the Madam. Before he could say anything, a servant ran in and said, "The Marquis is back!"
Everyone was stunned.
The curtain was drawn aside with a swish, and Xu Lingyi strode in.
Seeing his gloomy face, everyone's heart skipped a beat. The old lady hurriedly moved to the edge of the kang and put on her shoes, saying, "Old Four, what happened?"
Xu Lingyi's eyes swept across and fell on Shiyi Niang's face.
"Eleventh Lady," he said in a low voice, with a hint of worry, "Wang Lang is dead!"