The evening light casts warm light into the tent, bringing a cozy and peaceful atmosphere. The faint sound of night watch drums in the distance adds to the tranquility.

Xu Lingyi pricked up his ears to listen to the noise.

There was only the sound of soft breathing, and there was no sound of turning pages for a long time.

After a long hesitation, he opened his eyes and saw Shiyi Niang staring blankly at the "Records of the Nine Regions of the Great Zhou".

Being hurt by her family like this, even the most open-minded people would probably feel sad. Besides, Eleventh Lady is still young and hasn't encountered many things...

He turned over gently.

Do you want to give her some advice?

After all, it is not a glorious thing. If I point it out, will Eleventh Lady feel humiliated and embarrassed?

After thinking it over again, I decided to just ignore it.

Some things need to be carefully considered by yourself. Others' explanations may not make sense or be listened to. At most, you can just watch from the side and remind her more.

He made up his mind and calmed down. He gradually fell into a deep sleep, but was suddenly awakened by the sound of the drum. He turned his head and saw Shiyi Niang lying on her side with her back to him. The quilt had slipped down to her waist, and her shoulders and arms, wearing only a thin moon-white silk dress, were exposed outside the quilt.

It’s such a cold day!

Xu Lingyi stood up and tucked in the quilt for her.

Under the light, Eleventh Lady's brows were slightly furrowed, with a teardrop hanging on her long eyelashes, like a crabapple with dew, so charming and touching.

Xu Lingyi paused, looked at her carefully for a long while, gently held her fair, slender but icy hand that was hanging on the red quilt, and whispered "Moyan" in her ear.

Eleventh Lady was in a mess, holding the "Records of the Nine Regions of the Great Zhou Dynasty" in her hands, unable to read a single word. But she didn't want to put it down - holding it in her heart was at least a matter; putting it down would mean nothing.

I was in a daze and felt sad. Tears fell silently and my vision gradually blurred.

She didn't want Xu Lingyi to notice that something was wrong with her.

She leaned sideways on the large pillow with her back to him, closed her eyes, and let the tears slide from the corners of her eyes onto the pillow... She felt dizzy and confused.

Suddenly someone shouted "Moyan" in her ear.

She was horrified and sat up suddenly.

"who?"

He grabbed the front of his shirt and looked towards the source of the sound in horror.

Then she heard a cry of "Ouch!" and Xu Lingyi covered his jaw and stared at her with wide eyes.

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

It took me a moment to come back to my senses.

"My Lord...are you alright?" She reached out to touch his jaw to comfort him, but then she realized that it was hurt by the collision. If she touched it herself, it would hurt even more. She drew back her hand in embarrassment. "I didn't know it was you..."

Xu Lingyi watched her jump up like a frightened little animal, looking around with a panicked look... When he saw it was him, he let out a long sigh, forced a smile and asked himself what was wrong.

Why did I suddenly get scared?

Xu Lingyi's eyes were slightly stern.

Thinking about what happened this afternoon...

Only then did Eleventh Lady feel the icy coldness on her fingertips.

I also saw that he looked unhappy, and I felt quite uneasy.

Anyone who tries to cover himself with a blanket with good intentions but gets hit on the jaw would be unhappy!

She smiled shyly: "My Lord..." Then she pointed at his jaw and said, "Are you okay?"

"It's okay!" Xu Lingyi lay down: "Go to sleep!"

With such an episode, who could still sleep? Especially Eleventh Lady, whose body was cold, while Xu Lingyi was radiating heat like a stove. She could not help but move over little by little.

A cold body shivered as it approached. Who else could it be except Eleventh Lady?

The unhappiness just now disappeared.

Xu Lingyi thought of her fear when she was awakened, and couldn't help but turn around to look at her expression.

Eleventh Lady has completely woken up. At least now she knows very well who she is.

Seeing Xu Lingyi staring at her, and thinking of her own recklessness just now, she could only smile at him apologetically.

At this moment, Eleventh Lady's hair was disheveled and her eyes were red and swollen, but her expression was gentle and peaceful, even with a reassuring tranquility. There was no trace of the fear and panic from just now.

Xu Lingyi's heart moved, and he gently brushed her black hair that fell on her cheek: "Why were you scared just now?"

His movements were gentle, even with a hint of pity in them, but it made Shiyi Niang speechless.

She couldn't say that she thought she had been discovered, right?

I had to lower my eyelids: "Nothing? I just got startled by your sudden shout."

He looked like he didn't want to talk more.

Then why be afraid?

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment and said, "Is Fifth Aunt okay?"

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Why did you suddenly mention Fifth Aunt?

"Very well." Shiyi Niang said, "She has gained a lot of weight and looks much better. She does needlework for her unborn brother and sister every day at home." She also felt that Xu Lingyi was not the kind of person who would talk for no reason, so she paused and said, "My Lord, is there anything I can do for you?"

It seems that I guessed wrong.

"Oh, nothing." Xu Lingyi said casually, "I just remembered and asked." Then he changed the subject: "I think you should rest at home for five or six days! If anyone asks, just say you caught a cold. This disease is most likely to be caught by people around you."

His words came out so quickly that it took Eleventh Lady a moment to understand what he meant.

Well, it was just that I caught a cold and infected Dong Qing. In this way, even if Mother Tao wanted to spread something, there would be a way to deal with it. Moreover, she would feel at ease the sooner the person was sent away. Living in her yard like this was like a thorn in the flesh. And it could also clear her suspicion - Qiao Lianfang had just gotten pregnant and she got sick, so people with ulterior motives would inevitably think too much.

She thought about it and discussed with Xu Lingyi: "I want to give Dong Qing's indenture contract to her and send her back to Yuhang."

Xu Lingyi was quite surprised.

He thought that Shiyi Niang would hand Dong Qing over to the Luo family for disposal. In this way, the Luo family would definitely punish Dong Qing severely in order to give an explanation to the Xu family. Dong Qing would be skinned alive if he didn't die, and his fate can be imagined. At the same time, he could also warn the first wife and the companions who had second thoughts with Shiyi Niang. He could also clear himself. Unexpectedly, Shiyi Niang just lightly revealed it.

If you think about it carefully, Eleventh Lady is still very soft-hearted.

However, considering that this was Eleventh Lady's idea, he still agreed: "Just set a date and tell Chief Steward Bai. He will send the person back as you ordered."

This is a misunderstanding.

Eleventh Lady thought that since Dong Qing didn't take their five years of friendship seriously, she would just pretend that those five years didn't exist. She would hand her over to her family unharmed. Whether she lived or died in the future, it would have nothing to do with her!

What she was worried about now was the lady-in-waiting: "It's not good to make mother worry like this..." She couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

"It's okay." Xu Lingyi said, "I'm here with mom."

In my heart, I was thinking about my mother's surprised and teasing smile when I said that Eleventh Lady was not feeling well...

The mother guessed that Shiyi Niang was faking her illness, and she might even think that Shiyi Niang's illness was related to Qiao Lianfang's pregnancy. Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked Mother Du to tell Danyang, who was about to give birth, that Shiyi Niang was not feeling well, and brought two daughters-in-law to visit her in person, as if to cheer her up and support her.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh secretly.

Little did she know that Shiyi Niang was not a stingy person at all. The reason why she was unhappy was all because of the things happening in her mother's family.

Xu Lingyi couldn't help but hug Shiyi Niang tightly.

Although they are mother and son, they still have to keep things secret about their daughter-in-law.

"Don't worry, mother loves you so much!" He smiled softly, "If you feel uneasy, go and greet mother happily after you recover. Just be filial to her from now on."

Xu Lingyi's embrace was very warm, dispelling the coldness in the body bit by bit.

"How about being sick for just one day?" Eleventh Lady pondered, "Sister Hui will be visiting our house soon, and you said you would help me replace the people in the courtyard. And as for Tenth Sister, it's almost the 37th day, and even if Shuntian Prefecture doesn't close the case, they have to let the Wang family take the body back so they can perform the ritual... There are so many things to do!"

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly: "As you wish." He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. He felt that the body in his arms was as soft and slender as a spring willow, which was very lovable. He couldn't help but reach into her clothes and stroke her increasingly beautiful curves. He also bit her ear and teased her, "It's just right to make your eyes less swollen!"

There was a faint ambiguity in the air.

Eleventh Lady's face suddenly turned red.

I felt that You Ge's big hand on my body was as hot as fire, and the light was bright and dazzling.

She closed her eyes as if to escape.

"I, I'm sick..."

Xu Lingyi was slightly startled when he heard this, but when he lowered his eyelids he saw that her snow-white face had already turned red, and her long eyelashes were trembling slightly like butterfly wings, and she looked both shocked and embarrassed.

He couldn't help but feel uneasy, but he was afraid of startling her.

"Oh, you feel uncomfortable? Where do you feel uncomfortable?" The voice was a little hoarse, "Let me see." The hand slowly moved down...

Eleventh Lady was panicking: "My Lord..." and tried to pull the quilt randomly.

But there was no stiffness, no struggle, no endurance. Just panic, shyness, and uneasiness.

Xu Lingyi's gaze immediately became as hot as fire.

"Moyan!" There was a hint of joy in his voice that he himself didn't even notice...

* * * * * *

Early the next morning, Madam Wen and Madam Qin arrived.

Xu Lingyi had already gone to the outer courtyard. Shiyi Niang was lying on the bed, her face red, as if she had a fever.

The two of them looked very attentive, serving tea and water.

Eleventh Lady entertained the two of them listlessly for a few words and was about to send them away when Zhen Jie'er, Zhun Ge and Xu Sijie came to visit her.

Because he told others that he had caught a cold, the children could only greet him from a distance.

Zhen Jie'er and Zhun Ge were fine, but Xu Sijie looked at her with tears in his eyes and kept calling her "Mother".

Zhun Ge hurried forward to persuade him: "Mother is ill, don't make a fuss. If you make a fuss, it will be more difficult for her to recover!"

Xu Sijie held back his tears and nodded.

Shiyi Niang felt even more guilty, and hurriedly asked Hubo to bring out candy to entertain the children. Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu and Xu Sijian came. Shiyi Niang had to chat with them for a few more words, and then some prominent wives and maids came to visit. In one morning, there were so many people coming to visit, and Shiyi Niang felt that it was more tiring than being really sick.

Amber saw that something was not right and kept all visitors out. Only then did Eleventh Lady have a peaceful lunch.

Just as she was about to take a nap, Grandma Luo came.

Eleventh Lady and Amber looked at each other.

"This news spreads so fast!"

He hurriedly asked Luyun to invite Grandma Luo in.

Grandma Luo came in and saw Eleventh Lady lying in bed in broad daylight. She was startled and asked, "What happened to you?"

It seems like there was a misunderstanding.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but laugh and asked her, "What's the matter, sister-in-law?"

Grandma Luo sighed, "The Wang family carried the body of the tenth uncle back yesterday at noon. The funeral will be held five days later."

Eleventh Lady asked hurriedly: "How was the case judged?"

Grandma Luo smiled bitterly: "The servant of the Ren family was sentenced to be executed in the autumn."

In other words, Mrs. Jiang's efforts were all in vain.

Although it was expected, after hearing the result, Eleventh Lady remained silent for a while.

※

Everyone felt that it was a bit dragging, so this chapter was overhauled!

PS: I will update it in the evening on weekends. It's a bit late, don't wait!