Chapter 259: Finalization (Part 1)

Eleventh Lady was talking to Grandma Luo.

"...What should we do? The Wang family is going to open the ancestral hall tomorrow." Grandma Luo was very anxious, "The good intentions of the Marquis are wasted in vain."

Lu Yun brought in the brown sugar water boiled with motherwort quietly. When Grandma Luo smelled the familiar smell, her expression froze: "You..."

Shiyi Niang took the small blue and white porcelain bowl. The reddish brown soup was steaming hot, and she took a sip carefully: "I'm not feeling well!" Her expression was very calm.

Grandma Luo couldn't help but worry: "Who in your room...serves the Marquis?"

Eleventh Lady had no habit of discussing privacy with others. She continued, "Is it impossible to change it?"

Seeing that Eleventh Lady did not want to talk more, Mrs. Luo did not ask any further questions.

In fact, the Luo family had been negotiating with the Wang family these days, and in the end, the Wang family decided to pass on a son to the Duke. They may have been afraid that the Luo family would know that they would not do their best to inherit the title, so they kept it a secret from the Luo family. If it weren't for a maid sent by Eleventh Lady who found out that a seven-year-old boy had stayed in Old Lady Wang's room for several days and became suspicious, the Luo family probably wouldn't have known the Wang family's plan until now.

"It's already been decided." She felt a little resentful when she thought of this. "Your elder brother is still arguing with them at the Wang family. I came here to tell you that you don't have any good ideas.

Luo Zhenxing is the eldest brother-in-law from her mother's family. Even he can't do anything about it, so what can Shiyi Niang do? Grandma Luo's words were euphemistic. In fact, she wanted Shiyi Niang to ask Xu Lingyi to come forward to see if there could be a turnaround.

Thinking that Grandma Luo would come over overnight, Shiyi Niang asked Luyun to invite Xu Lingyi, and explained to Grandma Luo: "The previous batch of stewards were all from when the old Marquis was alive. Now they are old and have less energy. Please ask the Marquis to resign. The Marquis is busy with this matter."

"There is really no other way." Grandma Luo blushed after hearing this: "Your eldest brother also knows that this is a matter of the Wang family. As the mother's family, the Luo family has no right to interfere, not to mention that the Marquis is only a brother-in-law. Otherwise, the Marquis would not have entrusted the matter of persuading the Wang family to us and put the matter of inheriting the title on himself. It's really that the Marquis doesn't have this position..."

Eleventh Lady interrupted Grandma Luo and said, "We are one family and should not talk behind each other's backs. The Marquis is well-informed and may be able to come up with some good ideas!" She comforted Grandma Luo instead. Grandma Luo was even more embarrassed.

Xu Lingyi is back.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly told Luo Grandma why she had come.

Xu Lingyi frowned: "No wonder they could raise someone like Wang Lang."

Mrs. Luo blushed when she heard this. She was afraid that Shiyi Niang would be suspicious, so she murmured, "It's all because we didn't handle this matter well. Otherwise, the Marquis wouldn't have to be so embarrassed."

What's the point of saying all this now? What's important is whether we can solve the problem at hand.

Eleventh Lady coughed softly and said, "I used to read those novels, which said that when the county magistrate was unsure about a case, he would ask the master to help find the old case files that he had tried before to see if he could find something similar..." She looked at Xu Lingyi, "But we don't understand these, and we don't know if it's true..."

Xu Lingyi said nothing, and paced around the room with his hands behind his back. Grandma Luo did not dare to disturb him, and looked at Xu Lingyi with bated breath.

Eleventh Lady made another cup of tea for Grandma Luo and whispered, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. We can always find a way."

Grandma Luo took the teacup and nodded slightly. Xu Lingyi, who had been pacing, stopped.

"How old is the child?" Grandma Luo put down the teacup quickly: "Seven years old."

"What's his personality like?" Grandma Luo smiled bitterly. If it weren't for Eleventh Lady's people finding out, how would they know? Not to mention observing the child's character. They could only vaguely say, "He looks fair and clean, and he looks like a well-behaved and clever child."

Was it proposed by the Duke? Or was it proposed by Madam Wang? Or was it the idea of ​​those relatives? "

"It should be the intention of those relatives." Grandma Luo was not sure. "The Duke has been locking himself in the study, Madam Wang is ill in bed, and Madam Jiang has returned to the Jiang family with Yuan Baozhu's family serving her. Tenth Aunt doesn't even know who the relatives of the Wang family are... This child was naturally chosen by those relatives themselves."

Not to mention Xu Lingyi, even Eleventh Lady sighed secretly after hearing this.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. They didn't even know the basics, so it's no wonder they got beaten passively.

Grandma Luo also knew that she had not handled this matter properly, so she lowered her head and said, "The Duke had originally promised your eldest brother, who knew..."

Xu Lingyi looked at the clock in the east room and asked Grandma Luo, "It's curfew now, why don't you stay here for the night? I'll go check on Duke Mao's mansion."

Grandma Luo was very surprised to hear this, and stood up with a face full of gratitude: "How can you let the Marquis run around like this? I'll go over and take a look too!" She added, "I've been accompanying Grandma Ten these days..."

It is hard to tell the difference between a sister-in-law and a sister-in-law when they meet, and it is common for them to have long conversations under the candlelight...

Xu Lingyi glanced at Eleventh Lady.

She was wearing a casual white silk jacket, her face was plain, her eyebrows were slightly tired, but her expression was very gentle. She was whispering to Grandma Luo: "Be careful on the road. The maids I sent are all old people from the Xu Mansion. They know the rules and are careful. If you have anything, just call them. Don't tire yourself..."

All the words were about caring about others, and not a single word about himself. Xu Lingyi couldn't help but sigh secretly.

Eleventh Lady escorted them to the gate of the courtyard. Two figures flashed out from the east corner gate: "Mr. Hou!"

I took a look through the big red lantern under the corridor and found that it was Qiao Lianfang and Xiu Yuan.

Xu Lingyi asked curiously, "Why are you here at this time?"

Qiao Lianfang and Xiuyuan hurried to the main courtyard. After asking the gatekeeper, they learned that Xu Lingyi had not returned yet and it was windy at night. Xiuyuan was afraid that Qiao Lianfang would catch a cold, so she advised her to go back and wait at the corner gate. Seeing Xu Lingyi return to the courtyard, she hurried to report to Qiao Lianfang. Qiao Lianfang came over and heard that Grandma Luo had arrived. Seeing that it was getting late, she thought that Grandma Luo would not stay for long, so she waited for a while at the east corner gate. Who knew that she not only waited until Grandma Luo left, but also waited until Xu Lingyi left.

She walked out without caring about anything else.

"My Lord!" She bent her knees to salute Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi hurriedly carried her away: "You are pregnant with a double body, so don't worry about this!"

Qiao Lianfang's originally uneasy mood calmed down.

She smiled and said, "It's so late, are you going out?" Xu Lingyi nodded, "I am just about to go out, do you have anything to do?"

Qiao Lianfang looked at Grandma Luo, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.

Mrs. Luo looked at it and took a few steps forward: "I will sit in the carriage, and you will ride on the horse. I will go first."

Xu Lingyi called Shiyi Niang over and said to Qiao Lianfang, "If you have anything to say, just tell Madam! I have to go out now." He then instructed Shiyi Niang, "See if Madam Qiao has anything to say. If it's difficult, tell Chief Steward Bai."

Grandma Luo, who had not walked far away, heard it clearly.

She couldn't help but nodded secretly.

The fact that the Marquis entrusted his pregnant concubine to Shiyi Niang shows his trust in her. No wonder Shiyi Niang was not worried that the Marquis would have no one to serve him - after all, the purpose of arranging someone to serve the Marquis was also to keep his wife.

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady quickly responded: "I understand!"

Xu Lingyi nodded towards Qiao Lianfang, and left the inner courtyard with the servants and Grandma Luo.

For a moment, the courtyard was deserted. Qiao Lianfang looked at Xu Lingyi's back and couldn't help biting her lips.

Eleventh Lady politely invited her to sit in the hall: "... Aunt Qiao is a married woman, if you have any problems, just tell me directly." She added, "The Marquis has also said so. If I can't do it, ask Chief Butler Bai to help you."

"No need." Qiao Lianfang refused, hesitating, "It's nothing serious..."

Xiu Yuan looked anxious.

If Eleventh Lady becomes suspicious and tries to stop us, it will be even more difficult for her to see the Marquis in the future.

She quickly interjected: "Actually, Auntie came to see Madam. She didn't expect to meet the Marquis, so she came forward to say hello." As she spoke, she pulled at the corner of Qiao Lianfang's clothes. Qiao Lianfang also understood in her heart, and she was a little unwilling to accept it, and her face showed some hesitation.

Xiu Yuan simply helped Qiao Lianfang to say, "Aunt Qiao wants to meet Mrs. Qiao. But she feels a little embarrassed and is hesitating!"

Anyway, the Marquis also said that if Shiyi Niang couldn't do it, Bai Zongguan would help her do it. This was simply a small matter for Shiyi Niang.

Who knew that Eleventh Lady did not agree as readily as usual, but said: "Aunt Qiao is no longer the same as before. I don't know if she can meet guests. Otherwise, I will ask the two mothers first?" The two mothers she was referring to were Aunt Tian and Aunt Wan who were sent by the lady to take care of her.

On the way, Xiu Yuan whispered, "Miss, Shiyi Niang is clearly making excuses. You should meet the two mothers with her before making any plans..."

Qiao Lianfang looked at her with a smile and shook her head: "The Marquis is not here, what's the point of saying these things!"

Xiu Yuan thought about it and it made sense.

What’s the use of others knowing it? It must be known by the Marquis!

She said no more and helped Qiao Lian go to bed.

Eleventh Lady understood after a brief thought.

She couldn't help laughing and told Luyun to invite the two mothers over.

Knowing the purpose of the visit, both mothers said: "Aunt Qiao is in good health. It should be no problem for her to meet guests!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, saying politely: "I don't understand these, I'll have to ask the two mothers for more guidance in the future." The two mothers hurriedly stood up and said: "We don't deserve it."

After a round of politeness, Shiyi Niang served tea to the guests. Luyun waited for her to rest, and hesitated several times to speak.

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Just say whatever you want to say."

Lu Yun said, "I see that Madam is usually very generous to others. Why don't you take this opportunity to reward the two mothers?"

Eleventh Lady said meaningfully: "I'm afraid someone will misunderstand me!"

Luyun listened thoughtfully.