Eleventh Lady stood at the door of the bathroom and talked to Xu Lingyi: "It was said that she felt unwell when she went to Duke Cheng's mansion yesterday. I just found out about it now. I hurriedly asked Humber to ask Doctor Wu, who cured Aunt Qiao that time, to come and take a look."

"If it really doesn't work, send him to Luoye Mountain Villa for recuperation!" Xu Lingyi's expression was a little cold. "There are several children living at home. What if he gets sick?"

"The imperial physician's diagnosis hasn't come out yet, and the Marquis has already arranged for Auntie to go." Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "We have to wait until the results come out before we can say anything!"

As the two were talking, Amber came over: "Madam, Doctor Wu is here!"

Eleventh Lady responded and said to Xu Lingyi with a smile, "The Marquis was not at home before. Now that he is back, it would be better for the Marquis to go and ask about the situation!"

Xu Lingyi nodded, washed up and went to the hall.

Although they were separated by a side room, Shiyi Niang still heard the exaggerated voice of Doctor Wu: "My Lord, congratulations, Madam Ru is pregnant."

"Ah!" Xu Lingyi's voice contained a hint of joy in his surprise, and he whispered something to Doctor Wu.

Eleventh Lady sat on the kang and fell into deep thought.

Mother Tao and I were thinking the same thing. There were still several months between pregnancy and childbirth. Who knew what would happen? I had just entered the family and had not established myself yet. I could not drag my people into this. I had to find a way to get rid of this hot potato!

Her mind was racing. Then she saw the curtains being lifted and Xu Lingyi walked in with a smile on his face.

"Eleventh Lady, Aunt Qiao is pregnant."

Eleventh Lady's thoughts were still a little distracted, so she imitated Doctor Wu and said, "Congratulations, My Lord Marquis."

Xu Lingyi laughed and said, "Let's go and see her!"

"Okay!" Eleventh Lady agreed, and went out with Xu Lingyi. "It's just right. We are going to the old lady's place later. Let's make her happy too."

Xu Lingyi said "hmm" in a cheerful tone, and it was obvious that he was in a good mood.

Qiao Lianfang was lying on the bed in a bad mood. When she saw the two people come in, she immediately sat up and said, "My Lord, Madam!"

A pair of beautiful eyes, shy and timid, stared only at Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi sat down beside the bed: "How do you feel?" His tone was very gentle.

Qiao Lianfang lowered her head, her face flushed, and said nothing.

Xiu Li, who was standing by, interrupted with a smile: "Auntie just doesn't want to eat."

"No, no!" Qiao Lianfang denied repeatedly, but her eyes looked at Shiyi Niang timidly, as if she was worried that Shiyi Niang would be angry - you know, not long after Shiyi Niang got married, she cut down the small kitchen in the concubines' yard.

Xu Lingyi had heard about this matter vaguely.

It was Yuanniang's idea to set up the small kitchen at the beginning - she didn't want to eat from the same pot with the concubines. Later, many things happened, and the concubines moved in. Yuanniang lived in Dianchun Hall, but the small kitchen was still used by the concubines. Later, Shiyi Niang got married, and everyone ate at the Madam's house, so the kitchen in the courtyard was rarely used. Shiyi Niang combined the two kitchens and only let the concubines use the kitchen in the courtyard to boil water... After hearing what Qiao Lianfang said, he also looked at Shiyi Niang.

The kitchen is just sitting there anyway, and Qiao Lianfang’s situation is special now, so it’s only right that we take care of her.

Of course, Eleventh Lady knew what Qiao Lianfang meant, and could also guess Xu Lingyi's thoughts.

When several children were born, when the Marquis's Mansion was in turmoil, or when the Xu family helped the Seventh Prince to win the throne, how could he have the mood to enjoy the pleasure of being a father. Now it is completely different. Xu Lingyi has grown into a sophisticated politician. Even if there are storms, he is no longer afraid of the past. Successful and famous, he is unemployed at home, with money and leisure. Being a father again is more of an enjoyment than a responsibility. Different moods will also make him feel differently about Qiao Lianfang's pregnancy.

Although she understood, she could not agree.

Changing orders every day is a big taboo for those in power.

"I hope my aunt is fine." Eleventh Lady faced the two people's gazes calmly, "My aunt is also pregnant. It is said that she only likes to eat sour and spicy food. All the pickled things in the house were moved to my aunt."

Qiao Lianfang lowered her head after hearing this.

She pursed her red lips, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, and she looked very aggrieved.

Although Xu Lingyi remained calm, he was very surprised in his heart.

Eleventh Lady was a very clever woman. Given her personality, it was impossible for her not to know what she meant...but she still tactfully refused.

Was it because she was afraid that Qiao Lianfang would become pregnant and give birth to a child, which would threaten her position? Or was it simply because she was jealous?

In front of Qiao Lianfang, it was not the place to talk.

He stood up with a smile and said to Qiao Lianfang, "Since you have nothing to do, then take a good rest! My wife and I will go to the old lady and make her happy."

Qiao Lianfang naturally understood the meaning behind Eleventh Lady's words.

She was stunned.

I didn't expect that Eleventh Lady would reject the Marquis, and I didn't expect that the Marquis would just let it go without saying anything!

Qiao Lianfang couldn't help but look towards Xu Lingyi.

He had a gentle expression and clear eyes, without any displeasure at all.

She clenched her pink nail-painted hands into fists.

With red eyes, she struggled to stand up to see Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang off.

Xu Lingyi stopped her: "You are a double now, so don't talk about those empty formalities."

Yesterday her mother told her that the baby is most likely to miscarry in the first three months, and asked her to stay in bed. Qiao Lianfang was also worried about the baby in her belly. Seeing Xu Lingyi say this, she no longer insisted and asked Xiuyuan to send the Xu couple out.

Eleventh Lady didn't want to let this matter become a thorn in the side between the two of them.

After leaving Qiao Lian's courtyard, she said bluntly: "My Lord, I understand what you mean. I said that the small kitchen should only heat water and not cook. It has not been half a year yet, and you asked me to make an exception for Aunt Qiao... My Lord is a man who has commanded thousands of troops, so he naturally knows the disadvantages of changing orders every day. If you really feel sorry for Aunt Qiao, you might as well use your own money to subsidize her. But I will never agree to open a new kitchen for her."

Xu Lingyi was very surprised.

In his impression, when women act, they usually bring up a lot of messy, irrelevant things to cover up their purpose. Few women are as open and honest as Eleventh Lady. And if you think about it carefully, her words make sense. This matter was indeed inappropriate.

"You're right. I didn't think enough about this matter. Just as you mean!"

Xu Lingyi is not a person who cannot tolerate any disapproval and is stubborn in his own opinions.

Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Eleventh Lady stopped talking and said with a smile, "Thank you, My Lord, for understanding my difficulties," and went to the Dowager's place with Xu Lingyi.

The lady was very happy when she found out.

Ask Mother Du to give some supplements to Qiao Lianfang.

Eleventh Lady thanked her and took the opportunity to discuss with the Lady Dowager: "Mother, I am young and have little experience. I don't know if I can take good care of Aunt Qiao. As for the people around Aunt Qiao, most of them are unmarried girls who don't understand these things. Please help me and send two experienced mothers to serve Aunt Qiao. So that I don't have to worry."

The lady sighed inwardly after hearing this.

After all, she was born out of wedlock, and couldn't be compared to Yuanniang. When Yuanniang was there, the eldest wife had brought several of the most intelligent people in the Luo family to be her companions.

Since Eleventh Lady has no help from her family, then I will help her!

Thinking of this, the lady said without hesitation, "I'll ask Madam Du to pick two capable people from my yard to serve Aunt Qiao."

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

There are the lady's people in his yard, so if anything happens, there will be a witness to clarify the matter.

"Then we may have to put the house construction on hold," the old lady told Xu Lingyi, "Let's pick a date after the first three months are over!"

According to custom, no earthwork is allowed during the first three months of pregnancy.

"I think so too," Xu Lingyi said, "but it won't be a big deal if we postpone it to June - the days are longer in June, so it will be faster to build a house."

"We're not waiting to move in. It doesn't matter when we start construction." Eleventh Lady smiled, "I just don't know if those stones can be returned."

That's how the matter was settled.

Later, everyone knew that Qiao Lianfang was pregnant, and they congratulated Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang, as if it was Shiyi Niang who was pregnant. Shiyi Niang was quite amused and confused.

However, when he thought that all of Xu Lingyi's children would theoretically belong to him in the future, he began to understand the meaning of this.

* * * * * *

The two came out from the Madam's place. Xu Lingyi asked the servant to pass a message to the chief steward Bai: "...The house construction will start on an auspicious day in June. The stones that have arrived can be temporarily placed in the Fallen Leaf Mountain Villa!"

Eleventh Lady ordered Amber to prepare some gifts: "... and then call Mother Tao. Ask her to take the gifts to Duke Cheng's residence and tell Madam Qiao and Mrs. Qiao that Aunt Qiao is pregnant. This will prevent them from worrying."

When she looked up, she saw Xu Lingyi looking at her with confusion on his face.

"Oh, Madam Qiao specifically asked about this when she sent Mom to deliver something this morning." Eleventh Lady explained, "Now that we know it's a pregnancy, it's reasonable for us to write back to Madam Qiao."

Xu Lingyi asked curiously, "Mrs. Qiao? Did Mrs. Qiao send someone to deliver something?"

Ever since Qiao Lianfang became a concubine, no one in the Qiao family has had any contact with her except Mrs. Qiao San.

"What is it?"

"It's said to be a curtain." Eleventh Lady said, "A gauze curtain with an ink painting. Lord Qiao brought it back from Xuantong. Madam Qiao had been putting it at the bottom of the box and didn't want to use it. I heard that Madam Qiao liked it, so she asked the mothers to look for it for most of the night before finding it. It was delivered early in the morning."

"She asked Madam Qiao for the tent?" Xu Lingyi said in a low voice with a strange expression, "Madam Qiao sent someone to ask about Aunt Qiao's situation early in the morning?"

Eleventh Lady nodded, but saw veins popping out at Xu Lingyi's temples.

Why was he suddenly unhappy? Was it because Qiao Lianfang asked Madam Qiao for something and felt her pride was hurt? Or was it because this tent was very famous? Could it be that it was a bribe received by Cheng Guogong and Xu Lingyi was afraid of involving the Xu family?

As she was thinking wildly, she smiled and said, "What's wrong with you, Lord? It's just a curtain! If you think it's inappropriate for Aunt Qiao to accept it, I will send someone to prepare a valuable gift to apologize and send the curtain back!"

It would have been better if she didn't say anything. The more she spoke, the worse Xu Lingyi's face looked. In the end, it was slightly blue.

Seeing that something was wrong, Eleventh Lady stood up and made tea for Xu Lingyi: "My Lord, if you have something to say, just say it nicely. Why get angry?"

Xu Lingyi slapped the table with his palm, causing the teacup to bounce around. "Ridiculous!"

※

It may be a little late to add more, please don't wait...