"Great!" the lady said happily, "Huguang is a land of fish and rice, and Wuchang Prefecture is a thoroughfare connecting nine provinces. This is a great place!"

Mrs. Xiang said modestly: "It is all the grace of the emperor."

The lady smiled.

Mrs. Xiang talked about selling the houses: "They are all ancestral property. If you count them all, there are about ten houses. They are forty or fifty years old. Although the location is good, the houses have fallen into disrepair. Even if they are left at the end of the year, they will only fetch a few hundred taels of silver." She smiled and glanced at the second wife. "This time I came, I also wanted to discuss it with my aunt. Which ones should I keep? Which ones should I sell?"

From the tone of her voice, it seemed that she valued the Second Madam's opinion very much. But the Second Madam was a married woman after all, and since it was Xiang's family affair, it was not appropriate to discuss it in front of the Madam.

Eleventh Lady raised her eyelids and looked towards the Second Madam.

Then she saw a sharp gleam in the Second Madam's eyes, and then she smiled faintly and said, "I don't understand these things. If sister-in-law is worried that the price will not be good, the steward that the Marquis assigned to me is a smart man. How about I ask him to go to the house tomorrow? If sister-in-law has any questions, just ask him!" After that, she instructed the maid Jiexiang beside her, "See if uncle and the Marquis have finished talking. The Madam hasn't seen Yijia for a few years, so you should come and say hello to the Madam!" She looked unwilling to talk more.

Jiexiang left immediately.

The old lady also sensed the second lady's displeasure, and she smiled and echoed the second lady's words: "When you get older, you like to be surrounded by people. I also want to meet Yijia. I remember that he was only this tall the last time I saw him..." The old lady raised her hand and gestured, "He should be a big boy now, right?"

Mrs. Xiang laughed and said, "He's taller than me!"

As they were talking, a little maid reported, "Madam, the second young master, the fourth young master, the fifth young master and the eldest young lady are here!"

"Let them in!" The lady smiled and said to Mrs. Xiang, "My grandchildren, you can meet them too!" Then she glanced at the three young ladies of the Xiang family and said, "They just moved yesterday. Today, they asked their husband for a day off and are resting at home."

Before he finished speaking, Xu Siyu and several others walked in one after another.

Mrs. Xiang looked at Xu Siyu and said, "Is this Brother Yu? Although we haven't seen each other for a few years, he still looks like a child." Then she looked at Zhun'er and smiled, "I still hold him in my arms!"

"That's right!" The lady laughed. Eleventh Lady introduced Mrs. Xiang to the children.

Mrs. Xiang gave the children jade pendants as a gift.

The children bowed and expressed their gratitude. Mrs. Xiang asked the three Miss Xiangs to come over and pay their respects to Xu Siyu and others. The eldest son of the Xiang family came to pay his respects to the lady.

There was a lot of laughter and chatter among the adults, but the children all had their own expressions.

The eldest and second daughters of the Xiang family looked straight ahead, looking dignified. The third daughter of the Xiang family kept looking at Xu Siyu who was sitting opposite her. Xu Siyu sat there with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, his posture as calm as a pine tree. Zhen Jieer and Zhun Ge beside them listened to the adults' conversation seriously. The eldest son of the Xiang family who was sitting opposite them kept looking at Zhen Jieer out of the corner of his eye. Only the little Xu Sijie sat there concentrating on eating candy, looking very happy.

* * * * * *

After lunch, Mrs. Xiang took the children to the Second Madam's place. Eleventh Lady waited for the Madam to rest. Just as she was about to return to her own courtyard, Amber came over and said, "Master Jining sent you some amulets. Seeing that you were not at home, she walked around the courtyard. She said that apricot trees should not be planted next to the waterside pavilion, but locust trees should be planted; the few goldfish you raised should not be placed on the windowsill of the big kang next to the window, but in the southeast corner of the hall... I heard that the Fifth Madam asked her to perform a ritual for 100 taels of silver. She didn't dare to say anything, saying that she would not move the things until you come back."

Eleventh Lady pondered: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. It's impossible to ignore her. But we can't let her get away with it so easily. Be careful these days and don't let us meet. But we can't offend her either."

Amber nodded.

Eleventh Lady simply took the children to rest in Zhunge's room. After the old lady woke up, she played mahjong with her, making her laugh.

At dusk, Madam Du went to Shaohua Courtyard to invite the Second Madam and the Xiang family to come for dinner. The Madam took the opportunity to invite Madam Xiang to bring the children to Chui Lun Waterside for dinner tomorrow: "... The fourth son is renovating the yard and will temporarily move to Chui Lun Waterside to live for a few days. I thought that no one has lived there for a few years, and I wanted to help them liven up the place. In addition to the people at home, there are also the aunts and grandmothers of the Luo family. They are not outsiders. You can come too when the time comes."

Mrs. Xiang looked thoughtful when she heard this. The second wife beside her looked at her and said, "Wuchang is a thousand miles away from here. I don't know when I'll be able to see you again. Sister-in-law, bring Yijia and the others over tomorrow to have some fun!"

After hearing her own sister-in-law speak, Mrs. Xiang no longer hesitated and said with a smile: "Thank you, Madam. Tomorrow I will bring the children to quarrel with you and the Fourth Madam!" As she said that, she smiled and nodded at Eleventh Lady, with a very friendly attitude.

"I haven't even said welcome yet, let alone the word 'noisy'!" Eleventh Lady said a few polite words.

Except for Xu Siyu, all the children showed some joy.

Not long after seeing off the guests and returning to the house, Xu Lingyi also came back.

Eleventh Lady helped him change his clothes, and he talked about Mr. Xiang: "...When Uncle Xiang was alive, he was upright and resolute, and he kept himself clean. He looked down on the powerful and the noble, and offended many people. Mr. Xiang did not benefit from his influence, but instead caused a lot of trouble. However, in just ten years, he was able to rise from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a fourth-rank prefect, which was not easy."

This was the first time she heard about Xiang's father.

Eleventh Lady could not help but picture an image of an aloof old scholar in her mind. She told Xu Lingyi that the Lady had asked Madam Xiang to bring the children to visit her home.

"It's a rare opportunity for them to come, so you should treat them well." Xu Lingyi said, "Second sister-in-law has been alone and miserable these years, and it hasn't been easy for her. We have to reassure the Xiang family."

From Xu Lingyi's words, Shiyi Niang knew that he had a good relationship with his deceased second brother Xu Ling'an, and that the second wife helped the wife to manage the overall situation when the Xu family was in the most difficult time. No matter from which aspect, Xu Lingyi hoped that the second wife could live a better life, and she could understand this feeling.

"Don't worry, my Lord. I won't have to worry about it." Eleventh Lady nodded. Thinking of Mrs. Xiang's inappropriate words and the sharpness in the Second Lady's eyes, she told Xu Lingyi that the Xiang family was going to sell the house: "...Do you want to ask around secretly? If the Xiang family is really in trouble, my Lord, please help them!"

"This is the first time I've heard of this." Xu Lingyi pondered, "The Xiang family has been in officialdom for generations. Lord Xiang has had a smooth career over the years. Logically, he shouldn't have any financial difficulties, right?" Then he looked up and said, "I'll take care of this matter!"

The couple chatted for a while and then stopped talking.

Early the next morning, Eleventh Lady wore a tea-white jacket, a scarlet skirt embroidered with lilies and honeysuckle, a simple bun on her hair, and a pair of south pearl flowers. She went to the hanging flower gate to welcome Grandma Luo, Grandma Luo, Twelve Lady, and Xiu Ge to the waterside pavilion.

Xu Siyu and Zhun Ge went to the academy. Zhen Jieer led Xu Sijie to wait in the waterside pavilion. When they met, there was laughter and joy.

Eleventh Lady took her two sisters-in-law for a walk around where she lived.

The three main rooms behind the waterside pavilion were used as inner rooms on the west and as storerooms on the east. Xu Lingyi's study was set back from the steps behind the house. When the window of the waterside pavilion was opened, the mountains and lakes of the Biyi River could be seen.

"It's a great place to escape the summer heat!" Grandma Luo nodded continuously.

Fifth Madam, come here.

"I have a lot of things to do over there, and I have to avoid meat and fish." She smiled and greeted the Luo family, pulled Eleventh Lady aside and whispered, "Please forgive my rudeness over here."

Eleventh Lady knew that Master Jining had been performing a ritual at her place these days, and she nodded repeatedly to show her understanding: "It's a big deal over there. It's just that without you and your wife, it's a lot less lively."

"Wait until this period of time has passed before you come to bother Fourth Sister-in-law." The Fifth Lady said a few polite words, left two small jars of Jinpanlu, the tribute wine from the palace, chatted with the women of the Luo family for a while, and returned to the yard surrounded by maids and old women.

The second lady helped the lady over.

Seeing the wine left by the Fifth Madam, the Madam Dowager nodded slightly and pulled the eldest and fourth madams of the Luo family over to talk. Twelve Niang and Zhen Jie'er took Xiu Ge and Jie Ge to play in the pavilion next to the waterside pavilion.

Mrs. Xiang came with her daughter.

"During these few days in Yanjing, the master took Yijia to visit some old acquaintances and gave him some guidance on his studies." She explained her son's absence.

"These fathers wish their sons could achieve success overnight!" The lady laughed, "Our brothers Yu and Zhun are going to school today!" She then asked about Xiang Yijia, "Are they preparing for next year?"

Xiang Yijia passed the imperial examination last autumn.

Mrs. Xiang said modestly: "Our master let him give it a try." But a hint of pride flashed across her brows.

"That means he needs to move around." The lady laughed and said, "With the guidance of Mr. Xiang's old friend, the child won't be so confused."

"That's exactly what the madam said." Mrs. Xiang was chatting with the madam, while the second lady and the first and fourth madam Luo were sitting on the side with them. The young ladies over there had already become friends and were greeting each other with a bit of reserve.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but nodded slightly, secretly paying attention to the tea and snacks.

At noon, Xu Siyu and Zhun Ge came back from school and set up two tables in the central hall of the waterside pavilion.

After a lively dinner, Mother Song took Xu Siyu, Zhun Ge and Jie Ge to Lijingxuan to rest, Jiexiang took Zhen Jieer, Twelve Sisters and the three young ladies of the Xiang family to Shaohuayuan to rest, and the adults moved to the main hall behind the waterside pavilion to play cards.

Grandma Luo Si was unwilling to sit at the table, and gave her seat to the Second Madam: "You sisters-in-law rarely meet, unlike us, who come whenever we have something to do." Then she sat next to the Madam, "I'll help the Madam to look at the cards."

The lady was pleased with her beautiful words. She pulled her hand and said, "Okay, okay, okay. Help me look at the cards. Let's see if our side wins the three sides."

Everyone laughed and then went to the table leisurely.

During this time, a maid brought in a plate of assorted fruits.

Fourth Madam Luo stood up, took the plate from the maid and placed it next to the lady, then asked the maid to take her to the bathroom, but she winked at Eleventh Lady.

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I wish you all a Merry Christmas Eve!

O(∩_∩)o… Haapy, you can watch the extra chapters when you come back!