The Taihu stones that are taller than the eaves block the view of the entrance. In the late spring, the green bamboos have sprouted a few tender leaves, which rustle in the breeze. The courtyard is peaceful and quiet.

Eleventh Lady helped Madam Gan walk around the rockery in the courtyard and go to the main house.

The main door was half-closed, and the window frames on the east and west sides were half-open.

She couldn't help feeling a little dazed.

The last time she came, she was supporting Yuanniang... and then she met Xu Lingyi...

Although it was Mrs. Fu Gan this time, the situation was so similar.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but look sideways at Madam Gan.

Mrs. Gan pursed her lips tightly, her eyes were blank, and her face no longer had the calmness of the past.

What happened to the Gan family that could make Madam Gan act like this?

She was secretly surprised, and Yanrong came up with the little maid.

"Ma'am, the room is ready!"

Eleventh Lady nodded, and Madam Gan came back to her senses and said with a polite smile, "Sorry to trouble you, Madam Four!" But there was no trace of joy in her eyes.

"How can it be a problem?" Eleventh Lady smiled, "I have already sent someone to invite your personal mother!"

Mrs. Gan smiled and went into the main house with Eleventh Lady.

Perhaps the house had not been occupied for a long time. Although it was cleaned thoroughly, it still smelled cold and raw everywhere.

"Madam Gan, please stay for a moment!" Eleventh Lady helped Madam Gan to rest in the dark eight-step bedroom in the east room and personally served her a cup of hot tea.

Mrs. Gan picked up the teacup and took a few sips of tea. Then she took a long breath and her expression eased a little.

Eleventh Lady took the pillow from the big kang by the window and placed it behind Madam Gan: "Lean back for a bit! I'll leave when your mother comes."

"No need!" Madam Gan said softly, "Today is your sister's memorial day, and you are busy. Don't worry about me." Then she looked up at the maids around Eleventh Lady, "Aren't they still here?"

Eleventh Lady was very fond of Madam Gan, who was always kind to her, and could not bear to let her stay here alone when she was unwell. She insisted, "It won't be a big deal for a while." Then she thought that it was time for lunch, so she said softly, "Are you hungry? How about I ask someone to make some yokan, you can eat a little, and then have a good sleep in the afternoon to recuperate." After that, without waiting for Madam Gan to answer, she directly ordered Yan Rong to do it.

"No need to go through so much trouble!" Mrs. Gan hurriedly stopped him, "I'm not hungry!"

Eleventh Lady tactfully advised her: "People will be energetic only after eating. Without energy, nothing can be done well!"

Mrs. Gan was slightly stunned when she heard this, but said nothing.

Eleventh Lady felt relieved.

It's good enough if you can listen to the advice.

Then she asked the maid to urge Yanrong: "Bring it here quickly!"

Mrs. Gan listened and sighed softly. She closed her eyes and leaned on the pillow with a bright red background and goose yellow hibiscus flowers embroidered on it. Her pale face looked a bit weak.

Eleventh Lady gently tucked in the corners of the quilt for her and sat on the small stool in front of the bed to accompany her.

After a while, Yanrong hurriedly brought in the yokan.

Eleventh Lady handed it to Madam Gan personally.

Mrs. Gan ate a few pieces reluctantly.

Eleventh Lady poured her a cup of hot tea for her to rinse her mouth, took out the pillow and helped her lie down. Then she quietly lowered the curtains and was about to leave when she was grabbed.

"Fourth Madam..."

Eleventh Lady lowered her head and saw Madam Gan’s eyes filled with tears.

"The child is gone!" As soon as she said this, tears flowed like a fountain.

The child is gone? Whose child is gone?

Mrs. Gan?

Eleventh Lady's eyes couldn't help but fall on Madam Gan's abdomen.

Yan Rong's expression changed drastically. With a gesture, he immediately sent the servants away and stood guard at the door himself.

As soon as Eleventh Lady thought of this, she immediately overturned her own guess.

Madam Gan had no children, and Cao'e, Lanting and the several sons of Lord Zhongqin were all born to the legitimate wife. If it was Madam Gan, having a child in middle age would be a great joyous event, although she would not be surrounded by all the stars, but she would not be as busy as she is now for Lanting's marriage!

While thinking, Mrs. Gan choked up and said, "When I was young, the uncle was afraid that I would have some ideas after giving birth to a son, so he was always on guard against me... I thought I was a second wife, a couple who got married later in life, so it was normal for the uncle to be worried... A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and time reveals a person's true character. As long as I am truly good to him and the children, he will sooner or later understand what kind of person I am... But I never thought..." Mrs. Gan sobbed, "Now the uncle wants to leave someone to rely on for me, but the prince is starting to worry... He is going to be a grandfather, but he is just raising a child born from a concubine under my name, can't he tolerate it?" As she spoke, she covered her mouth and sobbed softly.

The absence when the boxes were added, the excited look of Grandma Gan, and the fainting today. All of them have answers.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Madam Gan, who was crying but didn't dare to cry loudly.

"Since Master Bo is so thoughtful, even if the child is gone, we can just have another one later!" She comforted Madam Gan insincerely, "Don't be too sad, your health is more important!"

"Another..." Madam Gan shook her head with a sense of loss, "My uncle is old... There will be no chance in the future..." Crystal tears fell down Madam Gan's cheeks onto the pillow, immediately soaking into a pool of crimson. She bit her lips tightly, as if she was afraid that she would say something inappropriate out of sadness and emotion.

Eleventh Lady burst into tears.

She was afraid that her makeup would be smudged, so she quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes.

* * * * * *

Since sending Madam Gan away that day, Eleventh Lady would occasionally be in a daze when she was alone.

Amber couldn't help but worry when she saw this: "Madam, it will be fine after these two days!"

"I'm fine!" Eleventh Lady said, "I'm just thinking about something."

As Shiyi Niang began to take charge of the household affairs, they came into contact with more people and faced more things. Even Amber had to sort out her thoughts carefully sometimes, let alone Shiyi Niang!

Amber didn't dare to disturb her and could only take good care of her in her daily life.

I washed the cherries myself and put them in a crystal plate and brought them over.

Sister Zhen has returned from Weibei Marquis’ Mansion.

Eleventh Lady invited her to eat cherries: "Go wash your hands quickly and eat cherries!"

Yanrong and others hurriedly fetched water for Zhenjie to wash her face and hands.

Sister Zhen sat down next to Shiyi Niang affectionately.

"How is it?" Eleventh Lady pushed the crystal plate with cherries on it, "Is it still lively over there?"

Zhen Jie nodded repeatedly: "Fang Jie and her two cousins, Xian Jie and her cousin, the twelfth aunt, Miss Li, the two young ladies of the Liang family... three tables were set up before everyone could sit down. Everyone was playing pass the parcel!"

She went there at noon, and now it was late in the afternoon, so only an hour and a half had passed. As promised, she only had lunch and came back.

"Are you feeling a little regretful?" Eleventh Lady smiled at Zhen Jie'er. The sisters were all playing there, but she had to rush back.

"No!" Sister Zhen smiled brightly, "Sister Hui was so happy to see me." She added, "Second aunt is right, I haven't taken off my mourning clothes yet, so I'd better not attend such occasions!" Then she pulled Shiyi Niang's sleeve and said in a coquettish manner, "Mother, I will never do this again!"

Looking at her satisfied smile, Eleventh Lady smiled and put her arm around her shoulders: "That's good to know! Remember to tell Second Aunt when you go back later."

Sister Zhen nodded, with some hesitation on her face.

"What's wrong?" Eleventh Lady asked her softly.

Zhen Jie'er thought for a moment before whispering, "Second Aunt doesn't seem very happy these past two days!"

Since Madam Xiang went back to her parents' home to visit her sister-in-law, the Second Madam went out twice, once to visit Madam Xiang's parents' home, and once to see Mr. Xiang off when he was about to take up his post. But the Second Madam's expression was always indifferent, and Eleventh Lady was also very busy, so she didn't look at the Madam carefully when she met her at her place.

She groaned and said, "Do you know why I'm unhappy?"

"I don't know." Sister Zhen said, "I noticed that Sister Jiexiang has been very cautious these past few days, and she even scolded the little maid for being too noisy."

Eleventh Lady laughed: "Is this considered unhappy? Doesn't your sister Amber often scold the little maid?"

"That's different!" Zhen Jieer said seriously, "Mother has a good temper. Although everyone respects you, they don't feel afraid when they see you. Those ignorant little maids only think you are kind, and they are bound to overstep their bounds. If Sister Amber doesn't discipline them, those little maids will lose their discipline. Second aunt is very solemn, and everyone is a little trembling when they see her, let alone playing around. Sister Jiexiang is a person with no temper, but now she is scolding the little maids..." At this point, she couldn't help but mutter, "Most likely Second aunt is in a bad mood, so she feels irritated by the slightest noise... Sister Jiexiang is angry!"

Eleventh Lady had no concept of superiority or inferiority. Although she followed the rules, she did not investigate any slightly overstepping behavior. The maids were young and relaxed in front of her. Unlike the housekeepers, she had criticized them all, and she was always right, so they were somewhat afraid of her.

However, Sister Zhen is very observant!

The second wife didn't need a housekeeper, and she didn't have any naughty children. Although Xu Siyu's marriage was not going smoothly, there was no definite news that the Xiang family disagreed. She was in a bad mood. Could it be related to the Xiang family's delay in giving the Xu family a reply?

After seeing off Zhen Jie'er, Eleventh Lady asked Amber to find out about the Second Lady's return to her parents' home.

The next day, Amber wrote back.

"I heard from the maid who followed the carriage that the Second Lady went to visit Madam Xiang's parents. She stayed for less than half an incense stick of time and left without even eating. It was Lord Xiang who saw the Second Lady out of the Chuihua Gate. The Second Lady asked Lord Xiang when he would leave. Lord Xiang looked uncomfortable and said that he would wait until Madam Xiang's sister-in-law, Madam Gao, recovered before leaving. The Second Lady sighed and returned without saying anything.

Later, she returned to her parents' home. Madam Xiang, the young master, and the young lady had not returned yet. Madam Xiang's personal mother directed the servants in the house to load the boxes and cages onto the carriage. She had previously ordered them to return home after dinner. As a result, at dusk, a servant from the Gao residence came over and said that the old man of the Gao family heard that Mr. Xiang was about to take up his post and had something to tell him, so he asked Mr. Xiang to come over quickly. The second lady did not even have dinner and returned home. "

Mrs. Xiang stayed at her parents' home and didn't even see her husband off; the second wife went to visit the Gao family and didn't stay for dinner; the brother and sister talked, and Mr. Xiang was called away by the servant sent by the Gao family...

It seems that this matter will not be settled so soon!

※

Please vote for more...

(Blushing face) The update will be a bit late, everyone should get up tomorrow morning to read it!

PS: Draft, I will check for bugs later