After lunch, Eleventh Lady asked Mother Song to take Seventh Lady back to the guest room where Zhu Anping had rested yesterday: "...Brother-in-law traveled day and night, and only brought two guards. Without a groomer, I'm afraid he won't be in good shape. It would be better if Seventh Sister went over earlier to help brother-in-law clean up."

In front of so many people, she did not mention Xiangyun.

Qi Niang was smart and quick-witted. She was previously upset because of not having a child. She was dissatisfied with everything and could not calm down to think about it. Now, after hearing Zhu Anping's words, her heart was relieved, and some things that she usually ignored came to her mind. She smiled and nodded, and stood up to say goodbye to the lady: "...The Marquis gave us Congxiang Pavilion. I'm afraid we will settle there before we buy a house. When everything is ready, please invite the lady, the fifth lady, and several nephews, nieces, and Yunjie to come over and have a seat."

When a couple is reconciled, there is a beautiful scene. The old lady is a very insightful person. She smiled and sent the seventh sister out, and told the eleventh lady to take good care of her. Then the fifth lady helped her back to the house.

Qi Niang pouted: "I won't keep Xiang Yun. What do you think we should do?"

This was her family affair, and Shiyi Niang was not in a position to interfere. But when she thought of Xiangyun's kneeling and crying, she quite agreed with Qi Niang's decision. If it was unintentional, she acted without rules, and she was a close maid. If Zhu Anping and Qi Niang had any conflicts in the future, she would not only be unable to reconcile, but would also cause more trouble. If it was intentional, then there was no need to worry.

She said implicitly: "You should discuss this matter with your brother-in-law and decide what to do?"

Qi Niang still had some confidence. She smiled brightly and said, "What can I discuss with your brother-in-law? I just don't have a place to put her. I can't chase her away from your house! If the lady knew, she would think I was intolerant. It would damage your reputation for nothing." As she spoke, her eyes lit up and she said, "Isn't the fourth sister sick? The more people serve her, the better. I am living here now, after all, as a guest. It is not convenient to bring too many people with me. It is better to send her to the fourth sister. Others will not be able to say anything wrong after hearing this."

Yu Yiqing was able to study with peace of mind and pass the imperial examination with financial support from her parents-in-law. The second wife sometimes felt proud when she thought about it, but Si Niang was even more respectful to her husband than before. Once she even advised the second wife: "Don't expect a return for your kindness. It's better for you to forget some things."

Eleventh Lady didn't know whether Second Lady had listened to her or not, but she had listened to her. In addition, seeing that Fourth Lady was ill, Yu Yiqing still respected Fourth Lady as before and never complained about her poor service. Eleventh Lady felt that this Fourth Cousin whom she didn't know well was not an ordinary woman. Since Seventh Lady proposed to send Xiangyun over, she naturally believed that Fourth Lady could handle the matter well.

"Then talk to Fourth Sister!" Eleventh Lady nodded, and then thought of another thing, so she asked her, "Which shop in Shandong sells the most famous donkey hide gelatin?"

Qi Niang smiled embarrassedly: "I left in a hurry this time and didn't think about this matter at all. I will send someone to Jinan to buy some for you tomorrow!"

"There is nothing that is not sold in Yanjing." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I want to send a gift to the Jiang family, and I want to borrow your name."

Qi Niang was puzzled: "What name do you want to lend me?"

Anyway, this is not a secret to the Luo family. Eleventh Lady told her that Madam Jiang brought the Jiang family's ninth daughter, who was to be engaged to Zhun Ge, to Yanjing: "... It's a good opportunity for you to come. You can take the opportunity to send donkey-hide gelatin to Madam Jiang to say hello. It will also give the Jiang family a chance to tell our family about Madam Jiang's visit."

Qi Niang listened with great interest: "So, Zhun Ge is going to get engaged soon?"

"How can it be so fast!" Eleventh Lady laughed, "It would be great if this matter can be settled before autumn."

Qi Niang smiled and said, "The Huaide Hall on West Street sells authentic Shandong Dong'e Ejiao. I've tried it, and it tastes the same as the one I had in Gaoqing."

Shiyi Niang asked Yanrong to take a pair of cards to ask Manager Bai to buy some back, and asked Qi Niang to help change the packaging to the usual packaging used in Shandong, and then asked Mother Song to send it to the Jiang family. Qi Niang took Mu Fu to Amber to pick up Xiang Yun.

At dusk, Mother Song came back.

As expected, the Jiang family took this opportunity to make it clear: "...I haven't been able to visit my relatives and friends because I'm not used to the climate here. I've just gotten better these past two days and was just about to go over to greet the Madam. It just so happens that we sent something over and asked them to say hello to the Madam and you!"

As he was talking, Lin Bo came over and said, "The Marquis said that the Fifth Master is with Zhu Chenshi. He went to the Lin family for something and will be out for a while. He will be back late. He told Madam not to wait at the door."

Going to the Lin family for something? Going to see Shao Zhongran? Where are you going after that?

Eleventh Lady was thinking about it.

But since Xu Lingyi didn't say anything, she didn't want to ask Lin Bo, the servant. She smiled and agreed, went to the old lady, told her what the Jiang family had said, and decided to host a banquet for the Jiang family's women on May 16. Shiyi Niang went back to write invitations, told the kitchen to prepare the banquet, and invited a troupe to perform. She was busy until the beginning of the night, but Xu Lingyi hadn't come back yet, so she went to bed alone and didn't mention it.

The next morning, Zhu Anping and Qi Niang went to Laojuntang Hutong. Shiyi Niang dealt with household affairs in Xihua Hall, then checked the summer clothes that the needlework shop had sewn for the maids in the mansion, and turned back to Chui Lun Waterside Pavilion, but she didn't expect to run into Xu Lingyi.

Except for his wrinkled clothes, he looked no different from usual. But based on her previous experience, Shiyi Niang felt that he must have not slept all night. She called the maid to bring in ginseng tea, and then helped him change his clothes.

Xu Lingyi rolled up his sleeves to wash his face, and said with a smile: "I went to see Shao Zhongran you mentioned. He is indeed a handsome man." There was a hint of admiration in his tone.

Eleventh Lady became worried again after hearing this: "You didn't alarm the Lin family, did you?"

She still needed to find out what Shao Zhongran was like. She mentioned him in front of Xu Lingyi, just to give him a chance to let Xu Lingyi choose! But if Xu Lingyi's judgment was biased because of this, that was not what she wanted to see.

"Even if he knew, he would pretend not to know." Xu Lingyi smiled, "But that kid is much worse than the kid from the Li family. The kid from the Li family was very calm when he saw me. He even stuttered a few words at the beginning." There was a smile in his words, and he was tolerant as if an elder was discussing a younger generation.

Eleventh Lady laughed.

Considering that Shao Zhongran is only a teenager after all, if he can remain calm when seeing Xu Lingyi, then he would be considered old.

She suddenly wanted to take a look at Li Ji.

I think he is a very outstanding boy!

Xu Lingyi asked about the Jiang family: "...What did they say over there?"

Eleventh Lady told Xu Lingyi the result of the agreement with the Lady Dowager.

Xu Lingyi had finished washing up. The two of them left the bathroom while talking.

A little maid came in and reported, "Manager Zhao from the Rescue Office wants to see you!"

Xu Lingyi changed his clothes and went to the hall to meet with Manager Zhao. He came back and told Shiyi Niang, "The clan office has officially proposed marriage to the Zhou family. The date will be reviewed by the Imperial Observatory, and the engagement letter will be exchanged in two days."

"The news has already spread. What if we are not compatible?" Eleventh Lady thought of the last time Lin Mingyuan was rejected for marriage, and he used this excuse.

Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Don't worry, the Imperial Observatory will definitely give the emperor a satisfactory answer."

That's right. Otherwise, how can those fortune tellers interpret the world for us?

"Then I'll go to Zhou's house this afternoon!" Eleventh Lady said, "So that we can put this matter off earlier."

"Okay!" Xu Lingyi nodded, "It's better to finish a task as soon as possible." Then he instructed Shiyi Niang, "I'll take a nap, you don't have to call me for lunch." He didn't say what he did last night!

Eleventh Lady made the bed for him and helped him to sleep. She told a maid to watch over him and asked someone to go to Huaide Hall to buy some donkey-hide gelatin from Dong'e. She arranged a carriage and horses, and after having lunch with the lady, she went to Princess Fucheng's residence.

The front of Princess Fucheng's mansion was as solemn and quiet as the last time she came. Madam Zhou heard that she was coming and greeted her in front of the hanging flower gate. Before she could speak, she smiled and said, "Marriage is to establish good relations between two families. Now that our sister Fang has the opportunity to serve the eldest prince, it is also to establish good relations between the two families."

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief, agreed with Mrs. Zhou and said a few words like "the two families are destined to be together after all", and then went to pay a visit to Princess Fucheng.

Princess Fucheng was talking to Sister Fang.

When she saw Shiyi Niang, two blushes immediately appeared on her cheeks. She saluted Shiyi Niang generously, but she was a little shy. She didn't talk to Shiyi Niang like she did before. She saluted and retreated.

Eleventh Lady bowed to Princess Fucheng, first congratulated Fang Jie'er, then presented donkey-hide gelatin and said, "My seventh sister came from Shandong and brought some local specialties." Then she chatted with Princess Fucheng for a few words and got up to say goodbye.

Mrs. Zhou saw her off to the Chuihua Gate.

Eleventh Lady told Madam Zhou that Seventh Lady came to Yanjing to seek medical treatment, and asked her to help find a doctor.

Mrs. Zhou agreed readily, stood up and said goodbye and returned to the lotus garden.

Xu Lingyi had already woken up and was leaning against the bedside in deep thought. He looked up when he heard the noise: "What's up? Can you explain yourself clearly?" A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Why should we tell it?" Eleventh Lady changed her clothes and told Xu Lingyi about her trip to Princess Fucheng's mansion. Then she helped Xu Lingyi get up and went to the lady's house for dinner together.

I had just sat down after coming back in the evening when Lin Bo came.

He brought a letter to Xu Lingyi. After reading the letter, Xu Lingyi burned it to ashes in front of Shiyi Niang, and then said to Shiyi Niang: "I have to go out for something. If I am not back after the beginning of the year, you can go to sleep first!"

If this still doesn't show the seriousness of the situation, then Eleventh Lady is a fool!

She asked Xu Lingyi directly, "But what happened?" She looked at him with eyes as clear as water.

Xu Lingyi's eyelids drooped slightly and then quickly opened. He said calmly, "Nothing happened," then told her to rest early and turned to leave the pavilion.

Shiyi Niang couldn't understand his strangeness and felt uneasy. Just then, Madam Wen and Qiao Lianfang came to greet her. She kept Madam Wen to talk.

Ever since Madam Wen helped Shiyi Niang settle accounts last time, Shiyi Niang would ask her to help every now and then. Madam Wen guessed that Shiyi Niang was trying to compete with the housekeepers in the mansion, so she borrowed her strengths.

It would be a waste not to do such a favor.

She remained silent both in public and in private.

Qiao Lianfang's face was slightly gloomy.

These days, Madam Wen often avoids her and comes to Shiyi Niang alone, and it happens when Xu Lingyi is not at home...

She thought of the reason why Xu Lingyi disliked Madam Wen!

Then he smiled, bowed, and retreated.

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Today is Little New Year, O(∩_∩)O~

I wish you all a happy holiday!