Eleventh Lady remained silent, and Xu Lingyi felt very bored.

He smiled self-deprecatingly, lost interest in talking, and lowered his head to drink tea.

"What did the Marquis discover?" A soft, low voice suddenly sounded in the room.

Xu Lingyi was startled. He looked up. His wife, who was sitting opposite him, lowered her head, staring at the embroidery in her hands without blinking. If he hadn't seen the corners of her mouth curl up slightly, he would have thought he was hallucinating.

After not talking to me for a few days, I suddenly spoke... Did my words make Shiyi Niang curious? Or has Shiyi Niang's anger subsided? In any case, it was an opportunity to break the ice between them. Xu Lingyi would certainly not let it go.

There was a hint of joy between his brows.

"The women that the Qu family openly recommended to the Ministry of Rites are all well-known for their virtues in the local area. As for the women that were secretly recommended to the Ministry of Rites, I sent people to inquire and it was said that they all had extremely outstanding looks." Xu Lingyi's voice was as gentle and calm as before, but with a hint of lightness.

He had been feeling a little uncomfortable these past few days, but now he was willing to lower his posture and talk to her... Eleventh Lady's movements gradually slowed down, and she showed a listening look, giving each other a way out.

The cold war is just to make the other party understand one's attitude, but a cold war that lasts too long will not solve any problems except causing discord between the couple.

"This time, we are selecting a concubine for the eldest prince, not for the emperor. So we are only selecting a principal wife. How can a good appearance be as good as a good character in getting selected? According to common sense, the Qu family should have selected a woman with outstanding virtue and appearance to build momentum for her, and then have one or two more women as a backup to ensure that the person recommended can eventually catch the eye of the Empress Dowager and the Empress. But the people of the Qu family seemed a bit disorganized in this matter. They were trying their best both openly and secretly, so that the people of the Qu family in the Ministry of Rites were very embarrassed and didn't know what to do. They unexpectedly let the Yang family take the lead."

Eleventh Lady looked up at Xu Lingyi with a surprised expression.

Xu Lingyi looked at him and smiled: "Not angry anymore?"

"Angry!" Eleventh Lady looked at Xu Lingyi seriously and said bluntly, "It was the same thing with Jie Ge last time. The Marquis left the child to me without any instructions, which made me worried for a while. It's the same this time... He never informed me of anything when something happened, how can I not be angry?

"I also know that a real man should speak with force. Although you and Lord Xiang only made a verbal agreement, it was something you agreed to. Even if I am unwilling in my heart, for the sake of the Marquis's face, I should not say anything about meeting the young lady of the Xiang family, and I must make this marriage dignified and lively. But even though I understand it, I still feel uneasy in my heart."

As she spoke, her face showed some displeasure again, "The Marquis also said that the reason for telling Brother Yu about this marriage was firstly for Brother Yu's future, and secondly for the peace of the mansion. The brothers have their own goals, so they won't just think about the family's wealth. I think it makes a lot of sense. You have considered everything carefully, arranged everything properly, and found my second sister-in-law who has a keen eye for talent to speak up. If you had told me in detail in advance, even if I was stupid, I would only be grateful to the Xiang family and my second sister-in-law for thinking about the Marquis's painstaking efforts for his children and the kindness of the Xiang family in betrothing their legitimate daughter to Brother Yu. How could I have said indignantly that I wanted to see the young lady of the Xiang family, which would have embarrassed you, Lord Xiang, and my second sister-in-law? The Marquis did not agree at that time, and he must have blamed me for not knowing the big picture, right?"

When Xu Lingyi heard Shiyi Niang say, "No matter how unwilling you are, you will still hold the wedding of Brother Yu and Miss Xiang Er in a dignified and lively manner for the sake of the Marquis," he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. When he heard Shiyi Niang say, "She angrily asked to see Miss Xiang," he knew that Shiyi Niang was just speaking in anger, and he was delighted. When Shiyi Niang asked him, "Are you blaming me for not knowing the big picture?", he quickly said, "No, no!"

Eleventh Lady pretended not to hear. She continued, "You don't know, I met my second sister-in-law those days, but I didn't mention her at all, let alone say a few words of gratitude. If you are more magnanimous, you can just laugh it off. If you are less magnanimous, you will secretly laugh at me for not repaying the favor, and feel that I have been entrusted with a task and worked in vain. How can I face my second sister-in-law if you let me know the truth? How can I mention this to her?"

Xu Lingyi was very embarrassed. He murmured, "My second sister-in-law is not a narrow-minded person..."

Eleventh Lady heard this and sighed, "Precisely because my second sister-in-law is not a narrow-minded person, the Marquis and I should treat each other with sincerity and respect. Otherwise, I would not be so uneasy!" She added, "Speaking of which, if the second lady of the Xiang family is really as docile as my second sister-in-law said, she is a good match for Brother Yu. Although I am his stepmother, I also hope for the best for him, and hope that they brothers and sisters-in-law will live in harmony and make the Xu family prosperous. Such a good thing has caused so many waves!" As she spoke, she glanced at Xu Lingyi.

He couldn't help but look embarrassed. But he was still thinking about Shiyi Niang's visit to Miss Xiang, so he gritted his teeth and asked, "What about Miss Xiang?"

"Of course I have to take a look!"

Xu Lingyi smiled bitterly.

"Mr. Xiang has agreed to marry his daughter to me, so how can I, as a mother-in-law, not ask anything?" Eleventh Lady said angrily, "After all, Second Sister-in-law is also the aunt of the Xiang family. How can I let Second Sister-in-law discuss the deposit and betrothal gifts with Madam Xiang?"

Xu Lingyi felt relieved: "We should go and have a look!" He couldn't help but smile.

Eleventh Lady stood up and called Yanrong to come in and help her change clothes.

"Going at this time?" Xu Lingyi stood up and looked at Shiyi Niang in surprise. "Isn't it too hasty?"

"Who said to go now?" Eleventh Lady glanced at him, "We have to wait until after the eldest sister's mourning ceremony! I'm going to visit my second sister-in-law!"

"What are you going to do?" Xu Lingyi was stunned, looking a little nervous.

Eleventh Lady thought of the rumors she had heard before that Yuan Niang and Second Lady were not on good terms...

It seems that the conflict between Yuanniang and the Second Madam has made Xu Lingyi a frightened bird!

She suppressed her smile and said, "Of course I have to go and thank my second sister-in-law! My second sister-in-law helped Yu Ge'er to find such a good marriage, and also relieved the Marquis's worries... I don't know whether I know or not, but now that I know, I have to thank my second sister-in-law in person." Then she hesitated for a moment and said, "My Lord, should we go together? This will make it more solemn."

Xu Lingyi felt relieved after hearing this, and his eyes and eyebrows were filled with joy: "Of course we have to go together! Of course we have to go together!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and covered her sleeves with her hands. She called Chunmo in to help Xu Lingyi change his clothes. She washed herself in the bathroom, changed into a goose yellow jacket embroidered with grass green ruyi patterns, and went to Shaohua Courtyard with Xu Lingyi.

On the way, she took the initiative to ask Xu Lingyi: "Will the Crown Prince's Consort be from the Yang family?"

"Not likely!" Xu Lingyi said, "The final decision on this matter still has to be made by the Emperor."

"Then the Marquis said that there was something fishy going on with the Qu family. What's going on?"

The maids followed behind them from a distance. The two of them slowed down their pace and talked as they walked.

"Marquis Jinghai has nine sons and three daughters. The eldest, fourth, sixth and seventh sons are all legitimate, and the other sons are illegitimate. The Imperial Concubine is the second daughter of the third room. The eldest son was made the Crown Prince thirty years ago. In recent years, Marquis Jinghai has grown old, and all family affairs are managed by the Crown Prince, who is well-known in Fujian. He came to the court the year the Emperor ascended the throne, and I met him a few times. He is a very reserved and steady person." Xu Lingyi's expression gradually became solemn. "In the fight for the throne, the winner becomes the king and the loser becomes the bandit. It is a risk to ruin the family. Without much confidence, No one dared to act rashly. The Qu family was too eager for quick success in the matter of the fifth prince. For this reason, I secretly met with Wang Jiubao. I asked him about the situation of the Qu family, fearing that there was something I didn't know. "At this point, his eyes were solemn, "Who knows, the situation Wang Jiubao said is almost the same as what I know. At this time, the matter of recommending the eldest prince's wife came up again. The means of action were very similar in both times - insufficient follow-up, sometimes feminine and aggressive, sometimes sophisticated and smooth..." At this point, he stopped and looked at Shiyi Niang, "I suspect that there is a problem within the Qu family!"

Anything involving politics would become complicated. Eleventh Lady felt that even if she knew, she would not be able to help Xu Lingyi. She said directly: "Is it a good thing for our family? Or a bad thing?"

"I don't know yet!" Xu Lingyi smiled faintly, then changed the subject and said, "But I think it should be a good thing!"

As long as it’s a good thing!

Eleventh Lady walked forward with him and told him about Yu Ge: "...Since you want him to take the imperial examination, the matter of a teacher is imminent. I think we should go to Second Sister-in-law's place later and ask her to help find a teacher!"

Xu Lingyi said, "My second sister-in-law is a widow after all, and she hasn't been in touch with her old acquaintances for many years. How can I bother her all the time? I think I should send Brother Yu to study with Mr. Jiang at the Jinxi Academy in Le'an. What do you think?"

Eleventh Lady was slightly startled.

Xu Siyu is only twelve years old this year. Can he bear to go to study so far away?

"If jade is not polished, it will not become a useful object." As soon as she thought of this, Xu Lingyi said, "Besides, Mr. Jiang's knowledge and character are obvious to all. If he goes there to see the world, his vision and mind will be broadened. It will only benefit him in the future."

"When did the Marquis come up with this idea?" Eleventh Lady laughed, "but he didn't say a word!"

"You are the one who reminded me of this!" Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "Didn't you say that reading a thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles? Since Brother Qin can follow Brother San to take up his post and endure hardships, Brother Yu should also hone himself."

It’s not really a reminder, but it might be a little touching!

Only when you know how vast the world is, you will know how small you are. Perhaps Xu Siyu will become more attached to the title of Yongping Marquis, and perhaps he will know that there are more important things in the world than titles. Although it is a double-edged sword, if you don't give it a try, who knows what the result will be!

Eleventh Lady smiled slightly, and Shaohuayuan was right in front of her.

※

From December 29, 2010 to January 7, 2011, the number of pink votes for women doubled.

Woo woo woo…

Encountered such an activity again.

Sisters, if you have pink votes, please save them for the end of the month!

Thank you everyone!