The gatehouse has three rooms and five frames, with gold-painted animal faces and tin rings.

Eleventh Lady gently lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out quietly.

The gate of Duke Mao's mansion was wide open, and there were a few black painted flat-top carriages parked in front of the gate. An old man was directing a few young servants in blue clothes to set up a ladder and hang mourning curtains in front of the gate. When he saw a carriage coming, he stood on tiptoe to look around for a few times, and then hurried over to meet it.

Lin Bo stepped forward and handed over the note.

The old man immediately bowed to Lin Bo and called two servants in mourning clothes to come over to block the threshold of the side door. The carriages of Shiyi Niang, Luo Da Niang and other relatives entered the outer courtyard, while Xu Lingyi, Luo Zhenxing, Qian Ming and others got off the carriages and were welcomed into the main hall by the old man.

The outer courtyard of the Duke Mao's mansion was very spacious. There were seven or eight servants setting up a mourning tent, and more people were hiding under the eaves or in the corners chatting, looking loose and disorderly.

Wang Lang's body was carried back the day before yesterday at noon, but until now nothing necessary for the funeral has been prepared.

Eleventh Lady shook her head gently and lowered the curtain.

Even if Shi Niang could manage the family, it would be difficult for her to support the entire household alone.

The ones who came to greet them were Yuan Baozhu's family.

She wore a plain dark blue jacket, her black hair tied in a bun, with only a white silk magnolia pinned on her temples, looking neat and capable. She respectfully stepped forward to pay her respects to everyone, first leading them to greet the sick and dazed old lady Wang, and then took them to Shi Niang's place.

Si Niang probably knew more about Wang Lang's situation, so she quietly asked Yuan Baozhu's family, "Is Madam Jiang okay?"

Yuan Baozhu's wife said calmly, "Madam was too sad and caught a cold. She is now resting at the master's place, with the mistress taking care of her, and the young master and young lady waiting by her bedside. I think she will recover in a few days."

Si Niang listened and sighed, and said to Shiyi Niang: "It was so cold a few days ago that we had to wear fur coats, but these past two days when the sun came out, we can only wear padded jackets. No wonder there are more colds."

Before coming to Wang's house, the women of Luo's family went to Xu's house to visit Shiyi Niang. Shiyi Niang invited everyone to have breakfast, and then they came together to pay their respects.

"Fortunately, our Eleventh Aunt is young and can endure it," Luo San's grandmother said with a smile, "She drank the ginger soup and covered herself up, and she got better."

Eleventh Lady smiled slightly, slowed down her pace without making any noise, let Grandma Luo walk in front, and followed Grandma Luo Fourth Lady into Tenth Lady's yard.

Shi Niang, Jinlian and Yinping all changed into moon-white jackets and wore white flowers. Jinlian and Yinping had red and swollen eyes and looked haggard. They served tea to everyone with a lonely look.

Grandma Luo looked at it and sighed.

Both of them were taken in by Wang Lang. Shi Niang could still observe mourning, but they had no status and no position, and they didn't know where their future would be.

Shi Niang sat cross-legged on the big kang by the window, staring blankly out the window, ignoring everyone.

Everyone said a few words, but the person who didn't respond gradually felt a little awkward.

Fourth Aunt Luo came out to help: "Such a big thing, Tenth Aunt is also tired. Let's go sit in the hall!"

Everyone agreed, sat down in the hall and started chatting.

"...We went out together, but our Qi Niang's belly is still not moving!" Wu Niang didn't come today, so Third Grandma thought of Qi Niang who married and moved to Shandong.

Everyone's eyes fell on either Eleventh Lady or Fourth Lady.

Eleventh Lady pretended not to understand, but Fourth Grandma blushed and stammered to change the subject: "I heard that Fifth Brother is getting engaged? The one he's looking for is Third Aunt's niece."

A few days ago, the third wife Liu wrote a letter to the eldest master to tell him about this. The implication was that the eldest master should take some money from the public treasury. Since the eldest master stopped being an official, the income of the Luo family shop has been much lower than before. In addition, the eldest wife was ill, and most of the family expenses went to her medical treatment. The eldest grandmother finally collected 500 taels of silver notes and asked someone to take them over.

This was the first time that Shiyi Niang and the others had heard of this. Si Niang sighed and asked Grandma Luo for confirmation.

Grandma Luo nodded: "They said that the exchange of the seal of birth certificate will be in mid-April."

"A lean camel is bigger than a horse. The Liu family has been officials for generations. Fifth brother can be considered a lucky man."

The topic finally changed direction.

Fourth Grandma let out a long sigh and saw Eleventh Lady smiling at her.

She lowered her head a little embarrassedly.

A little maid came in and invited them to the flower hall for tea.

Eleventh Lady took the opportunity to stand up and say goodbye.

Everyone kept her for a while, but seeing that she was determined to leave, they did not force her to stay. Eleventh Lady sent Luyun to tell Xu Lingyi, and returned home with Hongxiu, Yanrong and the others.

The old lady was laughing and talking happily. Eleventh Lady bowed to her, and several children came forward with smiles on their faces and bowed to her.

Hui Jie'er wore a small silk jacket with a bright red camellia flower pattern and a gold necklace with a red hibiscus flower pattern, and an emerald the size of a pigeon egg as a pendant. She stood there gracefully, like a fragrant peony.

"Aunt, I heard that you went to pay homage to Prince Wang of Duke Mao's Mansion. I was so sad that I couldn't see you. I didn't expect you to come back." She spoke quickly.

"Sister Hui is so polite." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I haven't thanked Sister Hui for her hospitality in entertaining our Sister Zhen last time."

"Aunt, don't be so polite." Sister Hui said with a smile, "We live next door, we should visit each other more often." She spoke very appropriately, which was quite different from the impression she had in the past. Maybe it was because a year had passed and she had grown up again.

Eleventh Lady exchanged a few words with a smile, stayed at the lady's house for lunch, and took Hui Jie'er, Zhen Jie'er, Twelve Lady, Zhun Ge and Xu Sijie back to her own courtyard - Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu and Xu Sijian were not among them due to their age.

As soon as Hui Jieer entered the room, she found the flower stand she had placed on the kang.

"This is..." Her eyes flickered.

Twelve Lady strode over and said, "Eleventh Sister, is this the "Valley Wind" you embroidered? I heard from Sixth Lady that when you were at your mother's house, you also embroidered a picture of a hundred years of longevity."

She was wearing an apricot-yellow jacket and a pea green embroidered skirt. Without the Sixth Aunt around, she seemed more cheerful and likable than usual.

"I had more time before I got married," Eleventh Lady said vaguely, "but I don't have that time now."

After hearing this, Zhen Jieer also walked over and said, "It's only been a few days, and mother has embroidered one more word."

Today she was wearing a moon-white silk jacket and a blue-green embroidered skirt. She stood tall and graceful, as quiet as a white lotus.

"Just embroider sometimes." Eleventh Lady smiled and invited them to sit on the kang, and asked the maid to prepare some fruits to entertain them.

Twelve Sister carefully smoothed the folds of her skirt, but Hui Jieer sat down nonchalantly, holding a pillow in her arms: "Aunt, how long have you been embroidering?"

Eleventh Lady carried the youngest Xu Sijie to the kang and said, "He must be two or three months old!"

She smiled and covered her sleeves after hearing this: "If I had my aunt's time, I would rather write a poem called "Changmen Fu". I'm afraid it's simpler!"

Comparing "Gu Feng" and "Chang Men Fu"... Hui Jie'er must have thought that I wanted to tell her that in addition to sewing and embroidering, women's needlework can also be used as a means to win over their husbands.

Eleventh Lady was slightly stunned.

However, since she thinks so, I might as well go along with her.

Eleventh Lady laughed and said, "That's why everyone praised Su Hui's "Xuan Ji Tu", but Chen Ajiao was only known for being jealous."

Both express love for her husband, but one is woven with cloth and the other is written with a pen, but the effects are different.

Of course, it's not that simple, and it's a bit of a sophistry. But it's the best way for a smart and self-righteous child like Hui Jie'er.

She seemed to be thinking about something and said very little afterwards. When she left, she took two handkerchiefs with her.

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

This society has too many restrictions on women. If you want to live a free life, it is far from enough to rely on sharpness alone.

After seeing off the little guest, Eleventh Lady and Zhen Jie'er went to the Fifth Lady.

Mother Shi tactfully stopped Eleventh Lady at the door: "...she said she couldn't stand the cold. She just rested."

Maybe he is afraid that his illness will be passed on to his child!

Eleventh Lady can understand this.

If it were me, I would also think of a way to stop him. However, she just had to be polite.

Eleventh Lady did not force it and asked about the child with concern.

Mother Shi smiled and said, "He is white and plump. He sleeps after eating and hums a few times when he wakes up. He is very well-behaved and you can tell at first glance that he is an easy child to take care of."

Eleventh Lady praised him a few words and then stood up to leave.

Mother Shi sent her out of the yard and turned back to the inner room.

Madam Wu was lying on the bed with her forehead scarf on and her face was rosy. When she saw Mama Shi coming in, she curled her lips and said, "She's gone!"

"Let's go!" Mother Shi smiled and walked over to look at the baby who was sleeping soundly beside her.

"You know you're sick, but you don't stay in the house to rest," said the Fifth Lady disapprovingly, "You're just making things difficult for others!"

Mother Shi naturally didn't want to deepen the conflict between the two, so she responded vaguely with a few words, then hurriedly changed the subject with a smile: "The Madam sent Wei Zi to bring five taels of blood swallows. I've asked the kitchen to stew it. You'll be able to drink it in a while." She showed that she cared about her as much as the Madam did.

He added, "Just now, the Fifth Master sent his servant over here, saying that he was on duty tonight and would not be back. He asked if the young lady had eaten well today, slept well, and whether she cried?" He told her that although she was a daughter, Xu Lingkuan loved her just the same.

The fifth lady pursed her lips and smiled.

But before the smile on her face faded, a little maid rushed in in shock: "Madam, it's not good... Miss Xiaolan, Miss Xiaolan... her whole body is covered in blood..."

Madam Wu sat up straight and asked, "Who did it?" Her eyes fell directly on Mother Shi.

Mother Shi was shocked and asked the little maid, "Please tell me clearly what is going on?"

The little maid trembled: "She was fine just now... She ate a bowl of chicken soup... and suddenly she had a stomachache... Sister Xiaomei said she ate too much and asked her to walk around to help digest the food... Who knew that before she could finish her words... she started bleeding..."

Madam Wu slapped the table on the bed next to her and said, "Investigate it. Investigate it thoroughly. You must find out who did it."

Mother Shi's face also darkened.

The fifth wife had just given birth to a legitimate daughter, and the pregnant concubine had a miscarriage... What would others think!

It's not them that have become them.

She looked solemn: "Don't worry, Madam, I'll go check it out right away!"

※

The evening update will be a bit late, so don’t wait.

(*^__^*) Hehehe…