The noise faded away, leaving only silence in the yard.

Eleventh Lady whispered a few words to Mother Song, and then, surrounded by Yan Rong and others, she walked out of the Spring Hall, passing the maids and old women who were bending over to clean up the mess.

As spring turns to summer, the warm night breeze blows towards you, carrying the fragrance of flowers.

She couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Above my head is a sky full of stars, shining brightly inlaid in the deep blue night sky, dazzling and intoxicating.

There was the sound of drums in the distance.

"Madam," Yan Rong said with concern, "You have been tired all day. Just tell me if you have anything to ask. You should rest early!"

When Eleventh Lady thought about today's guests, she didn't feel sleepy at all.

"Have all the guests from the Marquis left?"

"Not yet!" Yan Rong replied, "The Marquis, Master Zhuo, and Master Jiang are still drinking."

Eleventh Lady nodded and went back to the Chui Lun Water Pavilion to rest.

I was woken up by Xu Lingyi in the middle of the night.

"Eleventh Lady, Moyan..." He leaned his arms on his chest and looked down at her. His bright eyes were a bit sleepy after drinking, and his words were a bit slurred. "Why are you sleeping like a child? I can't wake you up even if I make a noise?"

Can't wake up? Then what am I doing now?

Eleventh Lady complained in her heart. She sat up and loudly ordered the maid outside to get Xu Lingyi some sobering soup.

Xu Lingyi laughed when he heard this and kissed her cheeks hard twice.

The air was filled with the strong smell of alcohol.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but wrinkled her nose: "Go wash up quickly - it smells like alcohol!"

Xu Lingyi looked at her wrinkled little face and laughed. Not only did he not leave as she said, but he leaned over and kissed her all over.

"My Lord!" Eleventh Lady was shocked and anxious. As she was trying to avoid being attacked, she looked up and saw a little maid walking in with a small tea tray with red lacquered crabapple flowers.

She was anxious.

"My Lord!"

Then he gave him a hard push.

Xu Lingyi lost his balance and fell onto the bed.

Eleventh Lady looked at Xu Lingyi in surprise - how could he be pushed down by her so easily!

Xu Lingyi also looked at Shiyi Niang with some surprise - he didn't expect to be pushed off the bed by her.

The maid holding the tea tray was so frightened that her face turned pale. She fell to her knees with a plop. The lid of the teacup on the tray rustled, making a crisp sound of porcelain hitting porcelain, which was very clear in the silent room.

Only then did Xu Lingyi notice that the little maid had come in.

He stood up with the help of the bed, a little embarrassed: "It's okay, it's okay. I just couldn't stand steadily for a moment."

Eleventh Lady came back to her senses and saw him standing up by the bed. She suspected that he might have drunk a lot, so she got out of bed and helped him sit on the bedside. Then, she told the maid as if nothing had happened, "Bring the sobering soup over here."

The little maid came over tremblingly carrying the tray.

Eleventh Lady brought some sobering soup to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi drank it all in one gulp.

Eleventh Lady placed the empty cup on the tray, took out a handkerchief and handed it to Xu Lingyi.

The little maid retreated in panic.

Xu Lingyi took the handkerchief and wiped his mouth, then heaved a long sigh and staggered to his feet: "Let the little maid come in and help me change clothes!"

Eleventh Lady thought about the push she had just made... and felt a little worried. She couldn't help but step forward to help him: "It's so late, let me help the Marquis change his clothes!"

Xu Lingyi did not object, and the two went to the bathroom.

Eleventh Lady helped him pour water.

"Let me do it!" Xu Lingyi took the wooden spoon from her hand and scooped cold water into the copper basin.

It’s still a bit cold in early summer.

"My Lord!" Eleventh Lady hesitated.

"It's okay!" Xu Lingyi said nonchalantly, "I used to take cold showers often." Then he bent over and dipped his face into the copper basin.

Water splashed everywhere.

Eleventh Lady was shocked.

Xu Lingyi has raised his head.

The water drops on her face fell on her lapels like rain.

He let out a long breath.

There was no longer the comfort and lightness between his brows that he saw when Eleventh Lady opened her eyes, and his gaze became clear.

Thinking of Xu Lingyi's unusual behavior, Shiyi Niang was a little worried and hesitantly called out "My Lord..."

Xu Lingyi did not look back, but lowered his head slightly and looked at the bronze face in front of him: "Old Zhuo, go back to Beijing to recuperate!"

His face was reflected blurrily in the small bronze mirror on the washstand.

Eleventh Lady didn't understand for a moment: "What?"

"When I first arrived at the military camp, the first person I met was Lao Zhuo." His voice was a little low. "At that time, he was already a general who had experienced hundreds of battles!" He recalled with a solemn expression, "He was the one who shouted the most fiercely, and he was also the bravest in killing the enemy... Later, when I conquered the northwest, he volunteered to be the vanguard... When fighting Gesang, he broke a leg... The emperor rewarded him according to his merits and asked him what his life wish was. He said that he was willing to serve the emperor in the northwest forever. The emperor made him a general in Yunnan and Guizhou..."

Is it the newly appointed Minister of War, Lord Zhuo?

"It's only been two or three years now." Xu Lingyi raised his head. "He returned to the capital to recuperate, Feiyun's reputation was ruined in the northwest, and I..." He stared at the small bronze mirror, speechless for a long time.

Feiyun? Jiang Feiyun? The one who replaced Xu Lingyi at the last minute after the defeat in the Northwest?

Is he lamenting the changes that have taken place since the feast ended?

Eleventh Lady's hand unconsciously fell on his shoulder.

Xu Lingyi couldn't help but look back and saw a pair of eyes full of worry.

He couldn't help but smile.

"It's okay!" he said, "Among the three of us, one became the Minister of War, one became the Grand Commander of the Five Military Commandery, and one became the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince. Compared to those who died in Miaojiang and the Northwest, we are so much luckier!"

There is no anger, no bitterness, no unwillingness, and no complaints... Although there are some emotions, what is more is enlightenment.

Eleventh Lady was stunned and could not help but stare at the man in front of her.

His dark eyes were as clear as water, as if reflecting his previous fragility and confusion.

Xu Lingyi turned around uncomfortably and said with a smile: "By the way, have you seen Madam Zhuo?"

His words reminded Shiyi Niang of something she was thinking about. She grabbed Xu Lingyi's sleeve and said, "I was just about to ask you about this. How old is that Lord Zhuo?"

His tone was a little urgent, which made Xu Lingyi startled: "What's wrong?"

"I think Madam Zhuo is only about 20 years old. She said she wants to marry Zhenjieer to her eldest son." Shiyi Niang said, "I just heard you talk about Rongyang. What's going on in their family?"

Xu Lingyi laughed out loud, "Old Zhuo is fifty-six this year. The current Mrs. Zhuo is Old Zhuo's fourth wife. The three before him all died of illness. His eldest son is fifteen this year. He was born to his third wife."

"What a mess this is." Eleventh Lady muttered to herself, then asked Xu Lingyi, "Does Madam Zhuo have any biological children?"

"Yes!" Xu Lingyi said, "Old Zhuo has three sons. The second and third sons are both born to Madam Zhuo."

"Who else is there in the Zhuo family's biological mother's family?"

"I'm not sure about that!" Xu Lingyi said, "I only know that there is a bodyguard named Wan beside Lao Zhuo, who is said to be Lao Zhuo's uncle, but I don't know which wife's brother he is!"

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but said angrily, "Isn't he your subordinate? How come you don't know anything?"

Xu Lingyi opened his eyes wide: "Why would I ask about his wife's situation? It's enough for me to know that he has a son!"

Eleventh Lady thought about it.

Also, when women work together, they mostly talk about their husbands and children, but when men work together, they may not necessarily care about these things.

"Then do you know why Mrs. Zhuo came?"

"I know!" Xu Lingyi said, "Old Zhuo just told me."

"What did you say?" Eleventh Lady was a little nervous.

The Zhuo family is too complicated and not a good match.

"I didn't even see the person, how could I just agree casually?" Xu Lingyi said, "Of course I was careless."

Since the Zhuo family has made up their mind, I'm afraid there will be a next time.

Eleventh Lady pulled Xu Lingyi to the inner room and said, "My Lord, we need to think this over carefully. This year is really..." She thought for a while before coming up with an adjective, "You finish your performance and I will take the stage!"

She has always been calm and generous, and Xu Lingyi rarely sees her so anxious.

He smiled and was led into the inner room by Shiyi Niang. Seeing Shiyi Niang wearing only a jacket, he casually took a Buddha head green plain Hangzhou silk crane cloak from the hanger and put it on Shiyi Niang.

It's still a little chilly in the early summer nights.

Eleventh Lady gathered her clothes and wrapped herself in a large Buddha-head blue plain silk crane cloak. She said "thank you" with a smile, and sat on the big kang by the window with Xu Lingyi on her right and left.

"Mrs. Jiang is here today too!" She poured two cups of warm water from the warm bucket beside her, gave one to Xu Lingyi and placed the other in front of herself.

Xu Lingyi took the teacup: "I know. Feiyun also blamed me for not sending him a message."

Eleventh Lady took a sip of warm water and said, "Then you know that Madam Jiang brought a niece from her mother's family today."

Xu Lingyi raised his eyebrows.

Eleventh Lady said: "From the tone of Madam Jiang, she wants to marry Yu'er!"

"Feiyun didn't say a word." Xu Lingyi was a little surprised and pondered, "Mrs. Jiang's niece... If I remember correctly, Mrs. Jiang's father was the hereditary commander of Xuzhou, and he was considered a big family in the local area. I just don't know which branch of the family her niece is from?"

"I don't know which branch of the family she belongs to!" Eleventh Lady smiled bitterly. "From what Madam Jiang said, her niece's parents died when she was young, and she was raised by her. Her biological mother was from a wealthy family in Changzhou. When she married, she was given a dowry of seven or eight thousand taels of silver. The in-laws decided and left it all to her niece as a dowry. Now she is in the care of Madam Jiang."

Xu Lingyi couldn't help but stroke his forehead after hearing this, thinking of Mrs. Zhou: "Which family did she mention?" There was a hint of expectation in his voice.

"They say he's her nephew from her mother's side," said Eleventh Lady. "He's from the same family as the governor of Fujian. He's three years older than our Zhen Jie'er and is the only son in the family. They also say he's handsome and has a gentle personality. He passed the exam to become a student last year."

Xu Lingyi frowned slightly after hearing this: "'She is from the same family as the governor of Fujian', which means she is a side branch. But did you tell me how many sisters she has?"

"It is said that there are three sisters, all of whom are married."

"Do you know what family she married into?"

"There were so many people there that I didn't have time to ask in detail."

"He has three sisters, and they are very gentle," Xu Lingyi said, "I'm afraid this is the son he has been waiting for. He is probably very spoiled and has no ideas." He sighed and said, "We two need to have a good discussion!"

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Put up the draft first, then catch the bugs.

PS: There is only one update on Monday. There will be more updates on the weekend! But please support me if you have pink votes. Thank you!