Chapter 319 Xixi (Part 2)
I have to say, what Madam Wen said makes a lot of sense.
Eleventh Lady was mainly thinking of the young master Wang's maid who was three years older than her... She naturally hoped that Zhen Jie'er's marriage would be as simple as possible.
"But the Marquis thinks that the eldest son of the Zhuo family is not very smart!" She pondered, "He is not worthy of our Zhen Jie."
Madam Wen, the Eleventh Lady, was willing to listen to her opinion seriously. Her expression brightened and she said hurriedly, "It's good to be an honest person! After all, our eldest daughter is also an honest person. If she marries someone who is too arrogant, she will probably suffer grievances." She added, "The young master of the Wang family is an only son. Unless the eldest daughter gives birth to two sons right after marriage, otherwise, I'm afraid it will be..." At the end of her words, she was full of worry.
Shiyi Niang couldn't help but stroke her forehead. For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the room.
Madam Wen saw this and said hurriedly, "Oh, the Marquis is a man of great military and literary talents, and the Madam is well-informed. I am just worrying about nothing." Then she stood up and said, "It's getting late. Do you want to serve the meal? You can also go and pay your respects to the Madam early!"
As they were talking, a little maid said through the curtain: "The eldest lady is here!"
You don’t necessarily have to choose from these two.
Eleventh Lady smiled and asked the maid to invite Zhen Jie in.
When Zhen Jie'er came in and saw that only Shiyi Niang and Madam Wen were in the room, and the atmosphere was a little deserted, she was slightly startled.
Not to mention that this matter has not been decided yet, even if it has been decided, it would not be appropriate to tell Zhen Jie'er in front of a third person.
The two of them chose to remain silent about this matter at the same time. One of them walked up to her and called her "Miss" with a smile, while the other walked over to the kang by the window and sat down.
Zhen Jie'er's eyes flashed with a hint of temptation. She bowed to Shiyi Niang and asked how Madam Wen was. Xu Siyu and Xu Sicheng came over.
After Qiao Lianfang came to pay her respects, Shiyi Niang sent away the two concubines, kept the children for breakfast, and mentioned to Xu Siyu that he was going to Le'an: "...It's not good to have too many servants. If you think anyone can be used, talk to Chief Steward Bai and let him arrange it for you."
Xu Siyu had no objection to this. He bowed to Shiyi Niang and retreated.
Eleventh Lady carried Xu Siqi to the east room of the water pavilion - the weather was getting hotter and hotter, and it was the coolest there, so she set up Zhen Jie'er's embroidery room there.
Zhen Jie'er has always been very attentive in her work. Although her needlework is a little unfamiliar, she is very serious and embroiders strictly according to Shiyi Niang's requirements.
Thinking that she still had to go to the Chen family to attend a wedding today, Eleventh Lady fell silent for a moment.
Needlework is not just embroidery, it also includes tailoring and sewing.
Seeing this, Zhen Jieer couldn't help but feel a little worried: "Mother, is there something wrong with my embroidery?"
"No." Shiyi Niang smiled, "Very good." Then, seeing Zhen Jie'er's confused look, she said, "I was thinking that if you continue at this pace, you can start learning to sew clothes tomorrow."
Sister Zhen was very happy to hear this and smiled.
When Xu Siqi saw this, he also started laughing.
Eleventh Lady handed Xu Si'e over to Nan Yong's wife, pointed out several things that Zhen Jie needed to pay attention to, and then went to the lady dowager.
On the way, she told Zhu Xiang: "Go to Binju and tell her that I have something to talk to her about. Ask her to come tomorrow!"
Zhu Xiang left immediately.
When we arrived at the old lady's place, she was frowning and asking Mama Shi questions.
Mother Du hurriedly whispered, "Sister Xin is sick again!"
After hearing this, Eleventh Lady couldn't help but feel a little worried.
Xin Jieer is too old to withstand the slightest wind and rain. Unfortunately, the medical level in this era is very low, and a small cold can take a person's life...
She was about to ask about the situation when she saw the lady standing up and saying, "I'll go and take a look!" When she looked up, she saw Eleventh Lady.
Eleventh Lady didn't wait for the Madam to speak, and immediately said, "Mother, I'll go and take a look too."
The lady nodded, and the group went to the fifth lady.
He said he was taken out for a walk yesterday afternoon, and he started coughing in the evening...
The child was wrapped in a bright red Danfeng Chaoyang quilt with a flushed face, humming from time to time.
The doors of the house were closed, and the air was filled with a rich, suffocating floral scent.
The Fifth Lady's face was full of tears. She pulled the Grand Lady's hand and said, "Mom, please send me an experienced mother!"
Mother Shi, who was standing aside, lowered her eyelids.
The lady did not agree, but asked about the child's illness: "What did the doctor say?"
Madam Wu said hurriedly, "It's because the heat and coolness are uneven. I prescribed Xiao Chaihu Tang."
"Show me the recipe!"
Mother Shi hurried to get the prescription.
Eleventh Lady read it to the Madam: "Bupleurum 9 parts, Scutellaria 9 parts, Pinellia 9 parts, ginger 9 parts, ginseng 3 parts, licorice 6 parts, and one jujube."
"Which doctor wrote this prescription? Is the dosage too large?"
"It was prescribed by Doctor Wu," said Mother Shi. "He said to take three doses first, and then reduce the dosage by half."
The old lady pondered over the prescription for a while, and then the second lady came.
"They say Sister Xin is not feeling well. What happened?" There was some anxiety in her brows.
"Second sister-in-law." The Fifth Lady grabbed the Second Lady's hand, "She said it was due to uneven cooling and heating..." Speaking of the child's illness, the Lady showed her the prescription again, "Take a look and see if it's appropriate?"
Let's get off topic about Mama Pai.
Everyone started talking about Sister Xin.
A little maid was peeking out of the room.
The Second Madam recognized the waiter in the flower hall and said, "Mother and I are here, Fourth Brother's wife, go and do your thing!"
Eleventh Lady was not polite.
Now it is the end of the month, and the Inner Courtyard needs to reconcile accounts with the Outer Courtyard. The mothers in charge are waiting for Eleventh Lady to sign the account books so that they can send them to the Outer Courtyard's accounting office for entry.
She said hello to the Dowager Lady, the Second Lady, and the Fifth Lady, and went to the flower hall.
The mothers in charge were all standing under the eaves waiting, and when they saw Shiyi Niang come in, the yard immediately fell silent.
Eleventh Lady looked at the foot-high account book, thought for a moment, and said, "I have to go to Chen Ge's hometown to attend a wedding banquet today. Let's discuss it tomorrow morning!"
The mother in charge lowered her head and responded respectfully before leaving.
Eleventh Lady ordered Amber, "Carry her back to the Chuilian Waterside Pavilion."
Amber looked at the sun outside and said, "It's getting late. Although we can arrive before the banquet, it would be rude to arrive too late."
"I know!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Just follow my instructions." Then she told Yan Rong, "Please invite Madam Wen to the waterside pavilion."
Yanrong responded and left.
Amber looked at Eleventh Lady in confusion, and followed her back to the pavilion with the account.
As soon as they arrived, Madam Wen followed closely.
"What do you want to see me, ma'am?"
Eleventh Lady asked her to sit on the embroidered cushion in front of the kang and pointed to the account book on the kang table: "I am going to the Chen family to attend the wedding banquet. You and Amber should check the account book."
Everyone in the room was stunned.
"This..." There were beads of sweat on Madam Wen's forehead.
"If I hadn't wanted to go to Lanting and Chen Ge Lao's place, I would have asked the managers of the Hui Office to go." Eleventh Lady said, "It's too late now, so I have to ask Madam Wen to take care of it."
Madam Wen gritted her teeth and agreed, "Madam, go ahead and rest assured. I will help Miss Amber to check the accounts."
Eleventh Lady nodded, ate some snacks casually, and went to Chen Ge’s hometown.
Living in Yanjing is not easy.
Chen Ge Lao lived in Shuihulu Hutong in the west of the city. The hutong was narrow, and the carriages were parked in a row on the street. Although the carriage drivers made way for the carriage with the sign of Yongping Marquis's Mansion, it still took more than half an hour to enter Chen Ge Lao's courtyard.
Madam Zhou, Madam Li and others were all there. Everyone came forward to greet Eleventh Lady. But most of the women were unfamiliar. Madam Zhou whispered, "They are all women from the six ministries. I am not very familiar with them."
Eleventh Lady nodded and saw Mrs. Gan’s sister-in-law—the wife of the Minister of Public Administration.
She smiled and went forward to say hello.
Mrs. Gan's sister-in-law recommended several wives of ministers and scholars to Eleventh Lady.
Most of them are older than her, but their husbands are of lower rank than Xu Lingyi.
Everyone smiled and nodded at her modestly.
Eleventh Lady returned the greetings respectfully, then smiled and chatted with Mrs. Gan's sister-in-law: "Why didn't I see Lan Ting?"
"It is said that Madam Liang is not feeling well." Madam Gan's sister-in-law laughed, "Neither the mother-in-law nor the daughter-in-law are here!"
Eleventh Lady was a little disappointed, but she didn't hide it: "I was planning to meet Lan Ting!"
Mrs. Gan's sister-in-law winked at her when she heard this.
The two of them stood quietly in a secluded place.
Mrs. Gan's sister-in-law then whispered, "I heard that Master Chen and Master Liang had a quarrel in front of the emperor two days ago!"
Eleventh Lady was shocked.
Mrs. Gan's sister-in-law lowered her voice a little: "It's said that it's about lifting the ban on sea trade!" She sighed softly, "I heard that the Jiang family of Jian'an was also involved, and they wrote a letter to the emperor, strongly pointing out the harm of lifting the ban on sea trade. I just hope that Cao E will not be implicated!"
Eleventh Lady sighed with her for a few words, and then a maid came in and invited everyone to the flower hall for tea. Everyone moved to the flower hall.
Eleventh Lady sat together with Madam Zhou, Madam Li and others.
Both of them wanted to marry Zhen Jie'er. They sat facing each other, so it was not easy to bring up the subject. They avoided the topic and talked about irrelevant things. When they found a chance, they asked about Zhen Jie'er separately.
"Now you are learning needlework from me." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "My wife and I both think it is time to talk about marriage, but the Marquis still thinks that Zhenjie is too young. We have to prepare first."
Mrs. Zhou was not convinced: "It doesn't matter who has it. It will take three or four years to go through the three letters and six ceremonies. Please persuade the Marquis to stop being a mother-in-law."
Madam Li smiled and said, "This thing is precious because it is rare. The eldest daughter is the Marquis' only daughter, so it's no wonder that the Marquis likes her so much that he doesn't want to marry her off."
Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "That's right. Even when Minister Zhuo came to test the waters, he was rebuffed by the Marquis."
Mrs. Li's eyes flickered as she listened: "Does Master Zhuo also have this intention?"
Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Lord Zhuo and our Marquis have a close personal relationship. It just so happens that the eldest son and our Zhen Jie are about the same age. I have to talk about it."
As they were talking, someone came in and said with a smile, "The carriage is about to arrive outside."
A female member of the family went to look with a smile. The room became noisy and the whispers could not be heard clearly. The two smiled at each other, dropped the topic, and looked out the door.
Mrs. Zhou, who was just whispering with someone, pulled Shiyi Niang and said, "Let's go and take a look!" Then she winked at her. Shiyi Niang smiled bitterly and followed her out of the flower hall.
Madam Zhou stopped outside the flower hall and asked with a smile, "Madam Li also wants to marry Zhen Jie'er?"
Eleventh Lady did not hide it from her, nodded, and said: "Not only the Li family, but also the Zhuo family who went to pay their respects to the Madam last time also had this intention!"