When Xin Jieer was one month old, the Fifth Lady could not wait to move back to the original courtyard from the Zhaozhuang Hall, and then she and Xu Lingkuan took the child back to her parents' home. When they came back in the evening, Xin Jieer was covered with colorful silk threads. The Lady Dowager held her and laughed, counting the silk threads and teasing Xin Jieer: "...Look how much our old marquis loves our Xin Jieer!"

When a child visits her parents' home for the first time after one month of birth, if the child is a girl, her parents' relatives and friends will each send a colorful silk thread to the child. The number of silk threads represents the number of people from her parents' home who come to congratulate her.

The Fifth Lady laughed and said, "I heard that Sister Xin has returned, and several aunts and sisters-in-law who are five degrees of mourning have returned - it's going to be very lively!"

The lady smiled and nodded.

The second wife, who was sitting opposite the old lady, took the opportunity to hold the child - although the old lady was well maintained, she was old after all. It was okay to tease the child, but it would be a bit tiring to hold the child for a long time.

The Madam Tai did not force them, and she talked about the March 3rd Festival with Eleventh Lady standing beside her: "...Every year at this time, we have to invite them over to have some fun. This year, there are so many things going on at home." As she spoke, she glanced at the Fifth Lady, "We have to invite someone to have some fun and calm things down."

Are you referring to the sudden death of Xiaolan and her son?

"I was just about to discuss this with mother." Eleventh Lady said softly, "I saw this expense in the account books of previous years. I was just about to ask mother what we should do this year?"

The implication is whether or not to hold a big event this year!

The second wife coughed lightly after hearing this.

The old lady looked at the second lady and asked, "What do you mean?"

The second lady said softly, "The child is only one month old - I think it's better to do things the same as in previous years?"

The ancients believed that destiny was a matter of fate, and that everyone's fortune, wealth, longevity, and happiness were predetermined. They also emphasized the balance of yin and yang. When yin grows, yang disappears, and when yin grows, yang dies. If the predetermined pattern is broken at will, the balance of yin and yang may lead to more wealth and less longevity.

What she meant was that the child was too young, and excessive luxury would disrupt the balance of the child's destiny and cause bad consequences!

The Fifth Lady wanted to hold a big one. Firstly, as the Madam said, she wanted to celebrate. Secondly, this was the first Girls' Day after her daughter was born. Although the various expenses in the government were set, the Eleventh Lady took fifty taels of silver according to the old rules for Xin Jie'er's full moon, and the rest of the expenses were paid by themselves. But they were not unable to pay. For their daughter, this little money was worth spending!

But after hearing what the second lady said, she immediately changed her mind.

"Second sister-in-law is really thoughtful. Mother, let's do as Second sister-in-law says, okay?"

The old lady also agreed with the second lady's opinion. She didn't express her opinion immediately before because she was afraid that the fifth lady would be suspicious. Now that everyone agreed, the old lady nodded slightly and told the eleventh lady: "Then do it as in previous years!"

Eleventh Lady responded, and the two brothers Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingkuan came.

After they greeted each other, Xu Lingkuan immediately took his daughter in his arms and asked the Fifth Lady: "Did you cry today?"

The fifth wife walked to her husband and looked at her daughter with a smile: "Who dares to make her cry?"

Xu Lingkuan smiled and said, "Children will cry when they are uncomfortable." He meant that I served you well today.

Everyone laughed when they heard it.

Xu Lingyi's gaze fell on Eleventh Lady.

Since taking over the household affairs, Shiyi Niang has been spending most of her time in the West Flower Hall. Even when she is at home, the housekeeper mother often comes to give instructions. Although he is unemployed at home, the time they spend together is not as much as before, and there is no longer the peace they used to have - they just met and talked a few words at breakfast today.

I saw Eleventh Lady standing beside the Madam wearing a pink light jacket. Her dark black hair was tied into an ordinary bun, with only a small South China pearl hanging beside her ear. She stood there quietly. She was as calm and composed as the South China pearl on her ear, with a kind of quiet beauty.

Feeling someone was looking at her, Eleventh Lady turned her head and saw Xu Lingyi standing far away at the door.

He was wearing a casual blue silk gown, with his hands behind his back, standing tall. He looked at her with a sharp gaze, and a hint of a winter smile, which made his expression seem a bit softer than usual.

Eleventh Lady was slightly stunned.

After Wang Jiubao came to Beijing, people often came to visit Xu Lingyi. Xu Lingyi excused himself that his foot paralysis had relapsed, and except for a few old friends such as Wang Li and Ma Zuowen, he did not see anyone else. He stayed in Banyuepan to paint and write. For some reason today, he went to the outer courtyard after breakfast and came back only now.

Did something happy happen?

She thought about it and looked at him in confusion.

Eleventh Lady has a pair of good eyes. Black and white are distinct, clear and bright, like a mountain spring, which makes people feel calm when looking at them. But sometimes they are like the stars in the night sky, shining brightly, flashing an inexplicable light, making you guess for a while...

Xu Lingyi looked at Shiyi Niang carefully.

Eleventh Lady was a little embarrassed.

I think his gaze is too focused.

I don’t know what others will say when they see this!

She quickly turned her head away, sat up straight with her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, and then she heard a burst of laughter in her ears, and the voice of Xu Lingkuan asking Xu Lingyi: "Fourth brother, what do you think?" There was a touch of tentativeness and caution in his tone.

Xu Lingyi saw Shiyi Niang turned away, frowning and smiling, and then thought of her panicked look when she glanced at him just now... He smiled slightly in his heart. Although he knew that Xu Lingkuan's tone was a little wrong, he couldn't calm down and blurted out the words uncontrollably: "You guys make the decision! It's okay for me."

After hearing this, Xu Lingkuan opened his mouth wide and said nothing for a long time.

The Fifth Lady over there was already laughing and saying, "Mother, you heard it with your own ears - Fourth Brother agreed. We'll start on the second day of the New Year and sing until the fourth. The Deyin class, Changsheng class, and Jiexiang Society, each family will have one day." At this point, she was already very excited, "When the time comes, we'll invite Zhou Dehui, Geng Changsheng, and Bai Xixiang to come. This is a once-in-a-century event in the opera world!"

"The fourth brother is so easy to talk to today!" The lady's eyes fell on Xu Lingyi for a while, then on Eleventh Lady, and she smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into slits.

Xu Lingyi understood what Xu Lingkuan wanted. He stiffened slightly, but soon returned to his usual gentle and calm demeanor: "It's rare that everyone is happy."

The lady smiled and nodded after hearing this.

The second wife looked at Xu Lingyi thoughtfully and smiled.

It was he who said Xu Lingkuan was "losing his ambition due to playing with things" in the beginning, and it was also he who agreed to Xu Lingkuan's invitation for the opera troupe to perform at his home for three consecutive days... Xu Lingyi felt a little uncomfortable and changed the subject calmly: "I looked at the almanac with Chief Manager Bai today. March 10th is a good day. We want to choose that day to break ground. The sooner the repairs are completed, the sooner we can move in for the summer."

"Okay, okay, okay." The lady nodded repeatedly. "Then where are you going to move to?"

To repair the house, you need to hire a craftsman. Men and women are not allowed to touch each other. The women in the house naturally cannot live there and have to move to another place.

Before Xu Lingyi could speak, the lady said, "I think we should move to Chui Lun Waterside Pavilion! Although it is called a waterside pavilion, your father liked to fish there when he was alive, so he added a small courtyard with three rooms behind the waterside pavilion. Jie'er will live with Yu'er in Lijingxuan. Zhen'er will stay with me for a few days. The concubines will live in Yixiangyuan. Although the room for you two is not very spacious, it is not too cramped either." The lady looked at Shiyi Niang, "What do you think?"

The most spacious courtyard in the garden is Zhuangzhao Hall. But Xiaolan and her son died there. She felt a little uncomfortable about moving there. Shaohua Courtyard is next to Biyi Gate, and the only passage to Zhuangzhao Hall is across the water from Shaohua Courtyard. This makes it inconvenient for Xu Lingyi to go in and out. Madam Tai's arrangement is the best.

Eleventh Lady looked at Xu Lingyi.

This kind of thing naturally requires the consent of the head of the family.

Xu Lingyi also felt that the lady's arrangement was reasonable: "Just follow what mother said." He added, "I think the sixth day of next month is a good day for moving. Let's move on that day!"

The lady nodded.

Eleventh Lady talked about Zhen Jie'er: "... Let her live with us! Otherwise you will have to move again."

"It's spring now, and the wind blowing from the water is very cold. Houses near the water can't be lived in." The lady was quite adamant on this point. "You can't let her live in the yard with you, can you?"

Zhen Jie'er is older, and she has a bunch of maids and servants around her, so it is indeed a bit inconvenient to move in. But Shiyi Niang is very uneasy about bothering the lady.

"Let Zhen Jie live with me!" The second wife, who had been sitting there without saying anything, suddenly said, "It's also a good opportunity to check her homework. See if she's lost it!"

The lady thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let Zhenjie live where you are!"

That's how the matter was settled.

When Xu Siyu and others came to pay their respects to the Madam, Xu Siyu said nothing, Xu Sijie was still too young to react, Zhen Jie was very happy, and only Zhun Ge pulled the Madam's sleeve and muttered, "Grandma, let our eldest sister live with us!"

Xu Lingyi frowned: "Your sister is going to learn piano and calligraphy from your second aunt, not to play!"

Zhun Ge was so scared that he hid beside the lady and didn't dare to say a word for a long time.

Xu Lingyi seemed to be about to test him on his homework.

He is now studying in the clan school with Xu Siyu.

It is a father's responsibility and right to take care of his son's homework, and no women in the backyard can say anything, including the lady dowager.

Zhun Ge stood trembling in front of Xu Lingyi and recited a few lines of "Youxue" haltingly.

Not to mention Xu Lingyi and the Second Madam, even Eleventh Lady could tell that Zhun Ge was not in the right state of mind at all - the Second Madam and the Grand Madam had previously taught him "Youxue" in advance, and he had memorized it very well, but after a few days of studying, he seemed to have forgotten everything he had learned before.

Xu Lingkuan looked at him nervously.

The Fifth Lady patted her daughter, somewhat absentmindedly.

The second lady looked confused.

The lady looked anxious.

Eleventh Lady had no choice but to wink at Amber.

Amber turned around and went out, and a little maid came through the curtain and said, "Madam, where is the meal?"

※

The evening update is a bit late, so please get up tomorrow morning and read it!

PS: This week's essence has been added. If you want to add essence, you have to wait until next week. ⊙﹏⊙b sweat!

Friends who are participating in long reviews need to pin their posts to the top, please indicate this in the title.