Chapter 278: Garden Tour (Part 1)

Lingyi woke up suddenly, and found no one in her arms.

He couldn't help but shout "Eleventh Lady" in surprise and reached for the quilt beside him.

It's cold!

I stayed up late yesterday and felt exhausted, so I decided to take a nap and help her clean up...

Who knew that when I woke up, I didn't see anyone.

As soon as he thought of this, a clear voice answered him from outside the tent: "The Marquis is awake!"

Eleventh Lady walked in pretentiously wearing a moon-white silk shirt and a sand-green jacket, holding his underwear in her hands.

I actually overslept...

Xu Lingyi was embarrassed. Then he acted as if nothing had happened and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's past three quarters past midnight!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Today is my brother's birthday. I invite everyone to come and have a bowl of longevity noodles together. My Lord, please get up quickly!" As she said that, she placed her underwear on a small stool beside her, and asked the maid to fetch water for him to wash.

And seeing that she was smiling and radiant, and not displeased at all, Xu Lingyi felt relieved and let Shiyi Niang help him to dress.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a faint pink stain on her collar. Thinking of what happened last night, he felt a little upset and whispered in her ear, "Are you okay?"

Shiyi Niang glanced at Xu Lingyi and lowered her head to help him dress. But she didn't realize that her face was as bright as the morning glow.

Xu Lingyi was in a good mood. Just as he was about to tease her, a maid came in to make the bed.

He quickly straightened his face, put on his clothes and went to the clean room. When he came out, he saw Xu Siqi sitting in the middle of the big kang table by the window in the inner room. In front of him was a red-bottomed black-faced enamel sunflower box filled with noodles, meatballs, fish, mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots and other stuffed dishes, as well as a small longevity character carved out of carrots.

Brother Zhe sat on the right side of the kang table; Sister Zhen, Madam Wen, Xu Siyu and Madam Qin sat on the armchairs beside the kang, one on the left and one on the right. The same noodles were placed on the tea table, but they were served in large red bowls.

Eleventh Lady invited Xu Lingyi to sit on the left side of the kang table, and sat next to him. Luyun made noodles for both of them.

She smiled and raised her chopsticks: "Today is our brother's birthday. Let's all share in his good fortune and have a bowl of longevity noodles."

Xu Lingyi looked at the smiling faces in the room and felt very happy. He picked up the chopsticks and put a mouthful of noodles into his mouth.

Everyone started to eat.

The noodles were very crispy and the sauce was delicious. He finished it in no time.

Looking at Xu Siyi again, he was eating noodles. Feeling Xu Lingyi looking at him, he raised his head and smiled, with a drop of noodle soup on his chin.

Xu Lingyi sighed inwardly as he watched, then took a handkerchief and wiped his mouth: "Don't worry, eat slowly!"

Then he looked at Brother Zhe. He was eating noodles in small bites, looking very gentle.

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly with satisfaction and looked at Xu Siyu.

He stood straight with a serious expression. He had finished his noodles and was eating the sauce.

Look at Sister Zhen again. She picked up the noodles with a spoon and brought them to her mouth. She looked delicate and elegant.

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly and asked about Xin Jie'er: "...Send someone to find out what's going on."

"I sent someone to inquire about it early in the morning." Eleventh Lady smiled, "After taking the medicine prescribed by Doctor Liu and burning the yellow paper, Sister Xin calmed down in the second half of the night and slept all night until dawn.

I started breastfeeding as soon as I woke up in the morning. I am still a little tired, but it is nothing serious. "

"That's good!"

Eleventh Lady talked about Fifth Lady giving birth: "...Tomorrow is the third day of the lunar year. I'm afraid I'll have to make time to go."

"Oh! Zichun is a father now!" Xu Lingyi laughed and said, "You should go there. Just tell mom when the time comes."

That's all we can do!

Eleventh Lady nodded, and the two chatted for a few more words. When they saw that everyone had finished eating, they took the children to the lady's place.

Unexpectedly, the lady still remembered that today was Xu Siwei's birthday, and gave Xu Siwei two small silver coins as a birthday present, saying: "Get a silver coin and pass the exam to become a top scholar!"

After the children had greeted their parents, the Second Madam, Xu Lingkuan, the Fifth Madam, and Xin Jie'er arrived.

The Fifth Lady's eyes were slightly red, while the others looked normal.

After asking how they were doing, the Second Madam smiled and said, "I feel lonely and alone in Shaohua Courtyard. Let Xinjieer keep me company!" Then she smiled at Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Madam and said, "You can watch the show peacefully."

Xu Lingkuan and the Fifth Lady looked at the Lady Dowager.

The lady laughed and said, "Okay! This is a win-win situation for everyone."

Eleventh Lady stood by with a smile, knowing that they had discussed this long ago because they were afraid that the child would be frightened again. She then talked about the matter of Fifth Lady having a child.

"She gave birth to a big fat boy!" The lady laughed, "You go, you go. I'll be here." She pulled the fifth lady's hand, "And your fifth brother's wife. This is just a joke, it would be bad if it delayed the serious things!" She asked Eleventh Lady with great interest, "I remember your fourth sister, the one who married the third place winner of the imperial examination, I think she gave birth to two sons, right?"

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded: "Fourth sister gave birth to two sons!"

The lady nodded with a smile. A maid ran over to report that Madam Huang had arrived. Eleventh Lady left first and went to the flower hall to receive the guests.

Hui Jie'er came today, but Grandma Lin didn't.

"...Mother has to entertain the guests, so let me come and greet Auntie." She chatted with Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady smiled and led her to Zhen Jie'er.

Hui Jie'er and Fang Jie'er are not only familiar with each other, but also good friends. When she saw her, she complained: "The exam will not start until next year, but you came to Yanjing at this time. I don't know if you are here for fun, or if you are not good at martial arts and need to seek connections in advance. I am annoyed when I see you. I followed my grandmother here with a shameless face. If I had known that you were all here, I should have come yesterday."

Fang Jieer covered her mouth and laughed as she listened: "Men and women should not touch each other. Can they still show off in front of you? What's wrong with you?"

These words made Hui Jie'er blush.

Sister Zhen tried to smooth things over: "Are we still going to sit in the flower hall and bask in the sun today?"

"I don't want to sunbathe." Hui Jie'er said immediately, "You guys go ahead and sunbathe. I want to go fishing."

Fang Jie'er agreed with Hui Jie'er: "Then let's go fishing today!" As she said that, she looked at Xian Jie'er.

Sister Xian nodded.

When Fang Jieer saw this, she called to her mother who had come over, “Go get some fishing gear for us.”

The serving mother responded and left.

Miss Li looked very uncomfortable and said loudly, "I want to row the boat."

Fang Jie'er didn't even look at her, and directly ordered her mother beside her: "Take the eldest daughter of the Li family to row the boat."

Miss Li's lips trembled with anger.

Twelve Lady smiled and took her arm: "I want to go rowing, too. Let's go together!"

Miss Li's face brightened up after hearing this.

Fang Jie'er glanced at Twelve Niang.

Sister Zhen excitedly stepped forward and squeezed Twelve Niang's hand.

Madam Wen, who was somewhat worried that it would be difficult to make arrangements for Zhen Jie, breathed a sigh of relief. On the one hand, she arranged for the maids to help Miss Li and Twelve Niang arrange the boat and the mother who would draw the pulp. On the other hand, she had someone bring a brocade stool and place it by the Taishi beside the Biyi River. She also sent a maid who was good at fishing to serve by the side and help sprinkle fish food and set bait on the lake.

Zhen Jieer personally took out a box of ten pieces of gold and gave it to Miss Li and Shi Er Niang: "Enjoy the scenery while you eat the fruit."

Miss Li opened the box and saw the honey-glazed plums inside. She was delighted and said, "I love them the most!"

"I'm glad you like it!" Zhen Jie'er nodded to Twelve Niang, signaling her to wait a little longer.

Twelve Niang smiled at her and said that she would help her entertain the guest.

Fang Jie'er, who was sitting on the armchair cracking melon seeds, snorted softly, "I don't know where she came from. She doesn't make sense and doesn't act in a proper way. Her mother praises her for being gentle and virtuous all day long. It's really hilarious."

"You should at least be more restrained!" Hui Jieer said, "Don't look at the monk's face, look at the Buddha's face. This is a guest in Zhen Jieer's home."

Fang Jie'er said nothing.

Xian Jie'er and Hui Jie'er discussed Shiyi Niang: "...The sand green dress she wore today, with all kinds of flowers embroidered in the same color in different shades - I think she knows how to dress well."

Hui Jie'er smiled and said, "When I came last time, she was wearing a dark brown blouse with pink plum blossoms embroidered on it... Oh, it was so beautiful."

"Really?" Fang Jie'er came over and said, "I've always thought that dark brown can only be used for shoe uppers. No, it can only be used for shoes after people are over 60 years old."

"Really." Hui Jie'er said hurriedly, "It's a casual little blouse, and she wore a pink skirt underneath, it's so pretty." As she was talking, she saw Zhen Jie'er coming over, and she nodded at Zhen Jie'er, "If you don't believe me, ask Zhen Jie'er."

"What do you want to ask me?" Sister Zhen instructed the maid to place the red-carved nine-piece food box next to them. "There are homemade preserved apples in it. Have a taste."

"We were just about to talk about your mother's dress." Fang Jie'er smiled and told her what they had just discussed.

Zhen Jieer laughed and said, "My mother is very good at sewing. I once went to pay my respects to her..." At this point, she froze and changed the subject, "She often told me how to dress."

Fang Jie'er was a smart person and picked up the part of Zhen Jie'er's sentence that she had left out: "Tell me quickly, what happened?"

Sister Zhen just smiled.

Fang Jie'er went over and tickled her.

Zhen Jieer smiled all the way and hid in the nearby Babai Nuan Pavilion, but Fang Jieer still didn't let her go.

Hui Jie'er also wanted to know, so she helped Fang Jie'er, and the three of them laughed together.

Xian Jie'er looked at him and laughed with her hands covering her mouth, but she couldn't go over there - she was engaged.

Madam Wen looked at him with a slightly bitter smile.

"Are the two young ladies playing a joke on the eldest young lady?" Qiu Hong was afraid that she would be suspicious. She hurriedly said, "This is what you do when you are intimate!"

"I still need you to teach me!" Madam Wen said angrily, but she let out a long sigh.

Qiuhong looked at Madam Wen with eager eyes.

Madam Wen looked at her with amusement and said, "I mean, I've made so much money, but no one says a good word about me. But she becomes popular just because of a few pieces of clothes." Her tone was very resentful.

Qiuhong had no answer to this question and stared blankly at the three little girls laughing and playing in the warm pavilion.

On the other side, Sister Zhen did not beg for mercy. She panted and said, "Sister Fang is a bully. She only knows how to ask me. Why doesn't she ask why Sister Hui hid in our house?"

Fang Jie'er was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Ask about both things! Ask yours first, then ask hers!"

Sister Zhen said: "I will say it if Sister Hui says it!"

"Why are you pulling my strings?" Hui Jie'er's face was so red that blood seemed to drip out, which made people suspicious.