Eleventh Lady said nothing.

At first glance, the aunt's words sound very frank, but if you think about it carefully, you can see that they are full of traces of self-defense.

Why did Aunt Yang entrust Shi Niang to these two? What was there in them that was worthy of Aunt Yang entrusting her orphan to?

Shi Niang went to Beijing, married Wang Lang, and became a widow... It was meaningless to pursue those things now. What she was worried about now was Lu Yongfu's visit - the two concubines had criminal records, and Shiyi Niang didn't believe the words "meeting old friends in a foreign land".

But what if I don’t believe it?

She just happened to come across this incident. If there is really a problem, if she investigates it further, it will only alert the enemy!

She stood up and said, "It's getting late. I still have to serve the lady lunch. I won't disturb the two ladies' meditation!"

The second aunt nodded, and the first aunt smiled and sent her to the gate of the courtyard.

Jining was not there, but he left a young master to serve. Led by the young master, Mother Song accompanied Shiyi Niang back to the courtyard.

Amber is looking forward to it.

"Madam!" She came over hurriedly and saluted. "I saw a silhouette, and it was probably Manager Lu. But I didn't catch him!"

"You chased him?" Eleventh Lady's expression darkened. "How did you chase him?"

"At first I couldn't recognize him, so I squeezed in with my servant. Just as I saw his face clearly, he turned and walked towards the main hall. I didn't dare to say anything and followed him. Unexpectedly, he walked faster and went straight into the crowd. I couldn't catch up with him, so I tried to shout. Unexpectedly, it would have been better if I didn't shout. When I shouted, he walked even faster. When I chased him to the mountain gate, he was gone."

If you don't feel guilty, why avoid it!

Eleventh Lady looked solemn and ordered Mother Song: "As soon as you get back, call Lu Yongfu to me!"

Mother Song bowed and responded.

A little maid came out of the side room and saw Eleventh Lady and the others standing in the yard. She relaxed and smiled as she stepped forward to greet them: "Fourth Madam, the Madam is awake!"

Eleventh Lady winked at Mother Song and Amber and quickly walked into the house.

The vegetarian meal was served in the side room. When the Xiang family was not seen at the end of the day, Du Mama, who was ordered to "accidentally meet" Mrs. Xiang, went back and forth several times, thinking that she had mistaken the people waiting for her.

Although the second wife looked normal, her brows could not hide her stern expression: "Mother, you came out early in the morning and have only drunk half a bowl of porridge so far. Don't wait any longer!"

The lady was silent for a moment, then chuckled, "I'm afraid something has delayed you. Tomorrow, Eleventh Lady and I have to go to the Duke Zhongqin's mansion to see Lanting. Then we won't wait any longer!"

March 19th is Yuanniang's third anniversary. Yesterday, the Madam said that she would wait until Yuanniang's third anniversary before going to the Zhongqin Marquis's residence... She just said this to give the Second Madam a way out.

Eleventh Lady turned around and told the maid to serve the vegetarian meal.

After dinner, we went home.

The Second Lady still rode in the same carriage with the Dowager Lady. Eleventh Lady leaned on Mother Song and took a nap. She was not woken up until Mother Song woke her up when the carriage entered the lotus flowers.

After getting off the carriage, Xu Lingyi greeted him at the door.

The lady smiled and said, "Everyone is tired today. We will have our own meals later. There is no need to greet each other. Let's go!"

Xu Lingyi listened and glanced at Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady shook her head gently at him.

Xu Lingyi didn't ask anything and just bowed in response.

The second wife said nothing and helped the first wife onto the small oil cart with green curtains.

The three of them watched the lady leave.

The Second Lady immediately turned around and looked at Xu Lingyi: "My Lord, for some reason, my sister-in-law did not go to Ciyuan Temple today." Then her eyes fell on Eleventh Lady, "I have to go back to my parents' home tomorrow. I would like to ask Fourth Sister-in-law to help me prepare a carriage!" She then said to Xu Lingyi, "I want to go back and see what happened to my brother?"

Xu Lingyi's eyes flashed with a strange look, but he quickly smiled and said, "Maybe Mr. Xiang is about to take office, and Mrs. Xiang has too much to do! Sister-in-law, there is no need to worry."

The second wife did not answer, but nodded, bent her knees to salute, and took Jiexiang to another small oil cart with green curtains and returned to Shaohua Courtyard.

Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang then got on the small oil cart with green curtains.

He whispered to his wife, "What's going on?"

Eleventh Lady told what had happened.

Xu Lingyi returned to the Chui Lun Waterside Pavilion in silence. When Shiyi Niang came out after washing and changing her clothes, Xu Lingyi waved to her, and the two of them sat on the big kang by the window and talked.

"Looking at this, I'm afraid that Brother Yu's marriage is going to be in vain!"

"Maybe it's true." Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "We'll know when Second Sister-in-law comes back. Let's not guess." But she knew in her heart that Yu Ge's marriage was most likely changed. She had to say words of comfort. After all, the matter was not yet finalized. It was not difficult to say if the marriage failed, but it would only make Second Lady lose face. If it succeeded, Xu Lingyi would feel uncomfortable, and I'm afraid it would not be good for Second Miss Xiang in the future.

Xu Lingyi remained silent. Seeing that Shiyi Niang looked tired, he stood up and said, "You take a rest first. I'll go to Lord Jiang's place."

Eleventh Lady was shocked: "At this time?"

It's almost time for dinner.

"I won't be back for dinner!" Xu Lingyi nodded. "I need to inform Yu-ge in advance about his visit to Jin-jian Academy. If he has no objection, I think I'll send him to Le'an after Yuan-niang's mourning ceremony."

"Isn't it a bit too hasty?" Eleventh Lady hesitated.

It took Xu Lingyi only a few days from making up his mind to making a decision. This was not like marching to war, where you could just give orders.

"Brother Yu is not young anymore. For some things, the sooner we explain them to him, the better." Xu Lingyi pondered, "The longer we delay, the worse things will get."

This was the arrangement made by the father for his children. Eleventh Lady could not say anything, so she sent Xu Lingyi out. She turned back to the house and told Mother Song to go to the outer courtyard to call Lu Yongfu.

Lu Yongfu and Lu Yonggui have very similar facial features, but perhaps because of their different experiences, Lu Yongfu's expression is simple and honest with a bit of carelessness and laziness, making him look more like Lu Yonggui's brother.

As soon as he entered the room, he knelt at the door, with his head lowered, and a hint of fear and trepidation in his humble manner.

Eleventh Lady sat upright on the armchair, gently brushing the tea leaves floating in the teacup with the lid.

The faint sound of porcelain knocking made the silent room seem even quieter.

Shiyi Niang saw Lu Yongfu twisting his body uneasily, and then said: "I called you here for no other reason. I just want to ask you something!"

Her voice was neither too high nor too low, neither too fast nor too slow, and she seemed very calm. But in this environment, she also had a sense of majesty, which made Lu Yongfu very uneasy.

As soon as Eleventh Lady finished speaking, he couldn't wait to say, "Madam, please ask, I will tell you everything I know!"

"I heard that you and your brother were originally taken care of by Chief Steward Niu, and then you entered the mansion as servants, and later became the eldest sister's companion. Is this true?"

Lu Yongfu was surprised when he heard this. He said, "After my father passed away, I was indeed taken care of by Niu Dazong. However, my father was once the accountant of the Luo family and was always loyal to the first wife. That's why the first wife sent him to Yanjing."

Eleventh Lady listened and said, "So, you can be considered as a descendant of family learning?" She then asked him, "Can you read? Can you use an abacus?"

Lu Yongfu thought of Yang Huizu.

I heard that he went to the comprador's office because he was favored by the Fourth Lady. That's a lucrative job!

He bent down even lower: "I can read a few words. When I was little, I practiced using an abacus with my father."

Eleventh Lady hummed softly, and suddenly said, "Do you know how Manager Niu's nephew died? I heard that he was very smart and capable when he was alive!"

Lu Yongfu sneered after hearing this: "No matter how smart and capable he is, what's the use? He still gave his wife to someone else..." As soon as he finished speaking, he showed some regret on his face - the little maidservant was now a concubine of the Luo family after all, and he was just a servant. If he criticized her like this, the lady would definitely be unhappy. He hurriedly said, "But that was many years ago. I heard it from others. I don't know the details very well."

Eleventh Lady did not bring up the topic again, but asked him about his work in the stables - how much was his monthly salary, was the workload heavy, how many children he had at home, and whether he had enough food, clothing and other daily necessities.

Lu Yongfu answered them one by one.

After talking for about two quarters of an hour, Shiyi Niang served tea and saw the guests off.

Amber was confused and said, "Madam, I don't think this Lu Yongfu is half as good as his brother. He speaks very casually. Why don't you ask a few more questions?"

"One of them is a second-class servant in the stable, and the other is entrusted by the eldest sister to manage the concubine's property. The difference is obvious. Otherwise, I would not have called him to question him." Eleventh Lady stood up and went to the inner room. "As for asking a few more questions, he may not know the answer. Even if he knows, his answer may not be reliable. And I don't want to ask anything from him!"

Amber was stunned.

Eleventh Lady did not explain it to her, and told her to call Mother Song in: "Whether the Madam's words about going to the Duke Zhongqin's mansion tomorrow are true or not, we should make preparations early."

Amber didn't dare to ask more questions and invited Mother Song in.

According to the custom, Shiyi Niang selected a pair of blue and white porcelain plum vases for Gan Lanting in the storehouse at the price of eighty taels of silver as an additional box. She also discussed with Mother Song the ceremony for Yuanniang's third anniversary.

"...I have never experienced these things before. What should I prepare, Mom?"

"The Office will take care of this matter." Mother Song said with a smile, "Madam, you don't have to make any special preparations. It's just a matter of going to the grave to pay respects, inviting Taoist priests and monks to perform water and land rituals, etc. It's just that the mourning ceremony will be held in a month, and the young master and young lady will have to change into their regular clothes. Madam, you have to prepare new clothes for the young master and young lady."

"I have already asked the sewing lady to make the clothes." Eleventh Lady said, "Mother, you just need to go to the handling office and ask if they have drawn up a set of rules so that I can follow them."

Mother Song responded with a smile.

After school, Xu Siyu and Zhun Ge came over to pay their respects to Shiyi Niang. Nan Yong's wife brought Xu Sijie over, and then Zhen Jie'er also came.

Eleventh Lady invited the children to stay for dinner.

Xu Siyu was still calm and polite, and Xu Sijie was still wolfing down his food. Zhun Ge and Zhen Jie'er, one of them was looking downcast, while the other was looking at Shiyi Niang with a smile. After the meal, she handed Xu Sijie over to Zhun Ge: "Take him to play shuttlecock, I have something to say to mother."

When Xu Siyu saw him, he stood up and said goodbye.

Zhun Ge led Xu Sijie to the yard, muttering, "Grandma said we have to sit for a while after dinner before we can play shuttlecock."

Unfortunately, Zhen Jie'er and Shiyi Niang had already gathered together to talk and didn't hear what he said.

※

Thank you everyone!

Zhizhi won the gold award for the most popular author of 2010 from Qidian Girls' Network!

I missed it last year, but I didn’t expect to have the chance to win it this year.

After getting the exact news, I was so excited...

Please allow me to go out for a run and then come back to write!

Thank you sisters for every pink vote you cast.

Share this honor with everyone.

This moment makes me have no regrets!

Thanks!

You helped me realize my dream!

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