When we returned to Gongxian Hutong in Baodafang, the lights were already on.

Grandma Gu helped the eldest wife get off the carriage and whispered, "Mother, the second master and the second wife are here!"

The first wife was slightly startled: "Haven't you left yet?"

"No!" The eldest grandmother whispered, "The fourth aunt also came..."

The eldest wife raised her eyebrows: "What is she doing here?"

Hearty laughter could be heard coming from the main room.

Eleventh Lady was standing on a footstool, preparing to get off the car, but when she heard the laughter, she paused.

It was the second master’s laughter…

Yanjing has a curfew at the beginning of the day, and now it is already the evening. I don't know how far Huanghuafang is from here, and whether I can get back in half an hour...

As she pondered, the laughter was getting closer and closer, and the second master's voice was clearly audible: "...Brother, I will come to invite you tomorrow at dawn."

The master's voice was gentle and elegant: "Then I'll wait for you, and we'll go after we have breakfast together."

As soon as he finished speaking, the figures of the eldest master and the second master appeared in front of the hanging flower gate, one inside and one outside, and everyone ran into each other.

"You're back!" The eldest master greeted the eldest wife with a smile, and the second master bowed and called out "sister-in-law".

The eldest wife bowed to both of them, respectfully called them "Master", and then called the second master "Second Uncle".

Behind the two men came a forty-year-old woman. She had a pale complexion and a long face, and was wearing a fragrant satin jacket with a pattern of hundreds of butterflies and flowers, inlaid with a jade and red gold Guanyin, and a bowl-sized Western pearl and jade flower surrounded by a circle of fine emerald plum blossoms. The red lanterns hanging on the hanging flower door illuminated her with a dazzling brilliance.

"Sister-in-law." She bowed to the first wife with a smile on her face. "Knowing that you were coming, I specially brought a few children to pay my respects to you. Who knew that you went to the Yongping Marquis' Mansion... and waited until now. Fortunately, I waited for you."

She is the second wife, Yu.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." The first wife bowed to the second wife. A young woman came out from behind the second wife and called out "Aunt".

The woman seemed to be in her early twenties, tall, with fair skin, soft eyebrows and eyes, and she looked very comfortable.

"Fourth Lady!" The eldest wife greeted the woman with a smile, "I didn't expect you to be here too!"

"I went back to see mother, and then I learned that you came to Yanjing. I came with you to greet you." Si Niang smiled like a spring breeze, "I heard that you went to Yongping Marquis's Mansion. Is elder sister okay?"

The eldest wife smiled and nodded: "I'm fine! Please keep me in mind."

"That's good." Si Niang heaved a sigh of relief. "I heard that she is seriously ill. I am in confinement after giving birth, so it is not convenient for me to go. I have been worried about her!"

Seven years ago, the third wife was in Baoshan and married the fourth daughter to Yu Yiqing, the eldest son of Yu Naigui, the deputy minister of the Dali Temple. Who would have thought that within two years of her marriage, Yu Naigui died of illness, and she returned to her hometown in Fuyang with her mother-in-law. The Yu family was originally a very poor family. After Yu Naigui passed the imperial examination, they slowly bought some property, which was only four or five hundred acres of aquatic products, a house in the city and outside the city. In addition, Yu Yiqing had many brothers and sisters, so life was a bit tight. The second wife loved her daughter, and every year she would take out 500 taels of silver from her public income and have someone send it to Fuyang.

Yu Yiqing was well educated and passed the imperial examination in the 59th year of Jianwu. The next year, the new emperor ascended the throne and held an imperial examination. He hurried down to take the exam and failed. The second wife took her daughter and son-in-law to Beijing on the grounds that "there are no good teachers in Fuyang". She also used the relationship of the second master to let her daughter study in the Imperial Academy and rented a house near Laojuntang Hutong.

Perhaps it was because of her mother's care that Si Niang, who had been silent for a long time, gave birth to two sons in a row - the youngest son was born just last month.

"How is the child?" The eldest wife greeted her with a smile. "I had someone send you some Shandong donkey-hide gelatin a few days ago. Did you receive it? Are you used to eating it? It's the best thing for replenishing blood and qi."

"Got it!" Si Niang hurriedly thanked the eldest wife, "Thank you for your concern, auntie."

Wu Niang and Shiyi Niang took this opportunity to come forward and pay their respects to the Second Wife and the Fourth Niang.

Fourth Niang returned the gift, and Third Madam Ding brought Seventh Niang out to greet the First Madam, Fifth Niang, and Eleventh Niang. It was a lively scene with all the chirping girls.

The master laughed and said, "It's awkward to stand here. How about going back to the house and having a cup of tea?"

The Second Wife was somewhat tempted, but the Second Master said, "It's getting late, and you and I have to go to the Liu family tomorrow. There's still a lot of time to go."

The eldest master did not keep the guest and only instructed, "Be careful on the road." He also asked Luo Zhenxing, who had been standing by with his hands hanging down, to help see the guest off. He and the eldest wife stood at the hanging flower gate and waited for the second wife's carriage to leave before returning to the main house.

The first wife asked, "You are going to Liuge's hometown tomorrow? Why didn't you tell me? I have something to prepare. What are you going to do at Liu's house?"

The third master of the Luo family married the youngest daughter of Liu Ge Lao. After the old master of the Luo family retired, Liu Ge Lao took good care of the three brothers of the Luo family. The three brothers of the Luo family also respected Liu Ge Lao very much. In addition to the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival, the Luo family would send a steward to congratulate Liu Ge Lao on his birthday or when the young master of the Liu family took a concubine.

"It was a temporary decision." The elder master frowned slightly, looking a little annoyed. "Lord Liu had a dispute with Lord Chen over the tea tax, and in a fit of anger he proposed to retire. Who would have thought that the emperor would actually agree..."

"What?" The first wife was shocked. "How could this happen?"

"We'll leave Beijing the day after tomorrow." The eldest master's expression darkened. "We still listened to what the third brother said. The second brother heard that you were here and was going to invite the third brother to come to our house for a gathering. Who knew that something like this would happen? The third brother and his wife rushed to the Liu family!"

The eldest wife was full of emotions. She waved her hands at Wu Niang and Shiyi Niang irritably and said, "You have been tired all day. Go down and rest!"

Wu Niang and Shiyi Niang bowed and responded "yes". When they stood up, the eldest master and the eldest mistress had already entered the main room, but their voices could still be heard faintly.

"How is Yuan Niang?"

"It's okay." The eldest wife's voice was tense. "It's just right. I have something to tell you..."

The sound gradually faded away, and the yard returned to silence.

Wu Niang and Shiyi Niang returned to the back room one after another.

*

Early the next morning, the eldest master invited the second master to have breakfast, and then the two went to Liu's house together.

When Wu Niang and Shiyi Niang went to pay their respects to the First Lady, she was a little absent-minded. Even the arrival of Xiu Ge did not really make her happy. Instead, she asked the wet nurse to carry him away, leaving the First Lady alone to talk.

After the two of them went out, Wu Niang looked at Shiyi Niang with a smile and said, "Come to think of it, we sisters haven't sat together for a long time. While we are free today, come to my room for some tea!" She was no longer as cold and disdainful as before.

Eleventh Lady was slightly surprised.

As long as Wu Niang fails to achieve her goal, she will never be able to reconcile with herself.

Such gentleness and kindness, I'm afraid there must be a purpose!

But no matter what her purpose is, if I ignore her, Wu Niang might think that I am declaring war on her?

Eleventh Lady pondered and smiled calmly: "Okay! It's been a long time since we sat together to drink tea!"

Wu Niang nodded slightly, looking very satisfied with Shiyi Niang, and then took her to her residence.

It was obvious that the grandmother had put a lot of thought into accommodating them. Not only were the furnishings in the east and west wings identical, even the teacups and chair cushions were exactly the same, indistinguishable from one another.

The two of them sat down on the big kang by the window. Ziwei served tea. Wu Niang smiled and said to Shiyi Niang, "I want to have a private conversation with you." After saying that, she sent Ziwei and the others away.

Eleventh Lady also smiled and sent Amber and the others away.

When they were the only two left in the room, Wu Niang sighed and looked at Shiyi Niang apologetically: "My dear sister, I misunderstood you, so I always dislike you... Please don't be angry with me."

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

Being so humble, it seems that Wu Niang is determined to get it?

She looked uneasy: "Sister, please stop talking like that. I must have done something wrong, so you misunderstood me." Then, she opened her eyes wide and looked at Wu Niang, "Sister, what on earth am I..."

"It's all my fault." Wu Niang looked very guilty. "You don't know, mother chose you and me to come to Yanjing to visit my eldest sister, it's just because my eldest sister is married and my eldest brother is far away in Yanjing, so she has no children. She wanted to find two daughters who suit her heart to accompany her on the way, to talk and laugh to relieve her boredom." She showed anger on her face, "Who would have known that this matter would be seen by someone with ulterior motives as Zhun brother's poor health and my sister wanted to pick one of my concubines to be a concubine..."

Eleventh Lady matched her expression of surprise and said, "There is such a thing? How come I have never heard of it?"

"Those people bully my younger sister because she is young, and they don't bother to say it in front of her." Wu Niang turned her eyes away, "but they came to my room to gossip about it." After saying this, she paused, "I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, the people who said this are the first and second aunts."

Eleventh Lady looked at Fifth Lady in surprise.

She can really break it!

However, the eldest and second aunts were instigating this, so maybe they really said this.

Wu Niang was very satisfied when she saw Shiyi Niang's expression. She smiled and said, "Not only that. She also said that mother took the two of us so that the eldest sister could choose one. So, when you came to my room to ask about my eldest sister when you were sick that day, I was very angry!"

"Sister!" Eleventh Lady looked at Fifth Lady with some fear, "Sister, do you think I was thinking... I really didn't know there was such a thing... I was just bored on the boat, so I just chatted with you." As she spoke, she showed a self-blaming expression, "If I had known this, I should have explained it clearly to you. I would have avoided you misunderstanding me!"

"No, no, no." Wu Niang said hurriedly, "Speaking of which, this matter is all my fault. I didn't explain it clearly to my sister, so..." She lowered her head, her face flushed, and she looked shy, "Mother once told me about this matter... She said that my sister was in poor health, and she was worried that no one would take care of Zhun Ge if she went, so she wanted to find someone among the sisters to help take care of Zhun Ge. She said that there were only me and Shi Niang in the family who were of the right age... You also know that Shi Niang is not liked by mother. She also asked me if I was willing... I was an unmarried girl, how could I answer... So, when mother asked me to go to Yanjing, I refused to go... Mother tried to persuade me, and I said, if I went alone, everyone would know... Mother asked me to come to Yanjing with you..."

Eleventh Lady was stunned.

Wu Niang has already done everything she can to get Yuan Niang's position...

With the character of the first wife, even if such a thing really happened, she would never say it. Besides, Yuanniang is not dead yet!

No matter how rational one is, one will still have a glimmer of hope for the person one loves the most, believing that she will definitely recover, and will never resort to those tricks that are just in case...

(There is only one update today! (*^__^*) Hehehe...)