The next morning, after finishing her household chores, Shiyi Niang wrote a letter to Madam Gan, asking her to help Qi Niang find a doctor.

Xu Lingyi hasn't come back yet.

Eleventh Lady went to the lady's place.

The lady had just returned from the Buddhist temple. Seeing her coming over, she smiled and said, "I've never seen a housekeeper as idle as you. Come and sit with me every day!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "The housekeepers are all capable, so naturally I don't have much to do!" She helped the old lady sit down on the kang, and told her that she would go to the Lin family in the afternoon.

The lady didn't care and just asked her if she would come back for dinner.

"Come back for dinner." Eleventh Lady smiled, "I'm just going to get a painting."

The lady nodded and asked about the preparations for the banquet to entertain Mrs. Jiang.

Eleventh Lady agreed to all of their requests, had lunch with the Lady Dowager, and helped her to rest before returning to her room.

She told the maid to go and invite Madam Wen, and she went to the bathroom to wash up again. When she came out, Madam Wen was already waiting in the room.

She wore a gauze shirt with silver stripes, a light blue Hangzhou silk skirt, her hair was neatly combed into a bun at the back of her head, and a gold-plated hairpin was inserted in a proper manner. Seeing that Shiyi Niang wore an apricot-blossom white gauze shirt, a pink Hangzhou silk skirt, a high bun, and a phoenix hairpin with a red gold pearl, she breathed a sigh of relief. Usually, Shiyi Niang dressed plainly at home, and she was really afraid that Shiyi Niang would be the same as usual when she went to visit relatives at the Lin family. So she deliberately put in some effort to stand next to Shiyi Niang without attracting attention.

Eleventh Lady just felt that Madam Wen looked particularly plain today. Even her iconic earrings were replaced with small silver-gilt lantern earplugs.

Maybe it’s because it’s my first time going to the Lin family?

She pondered.

It's better to hide your shortcomings than to show off for no apparent reason!

The two went to Lin's house.

Grandma Lin was very surprised to see Madam Wen, and calmly welcomed Shiyi Niang to the main room to serve her tea. Madam Wen stood behind Shiyi Niang with her head down, and her respectful attitude was comparable to that of Amber and others.

Grandma Lin and Madam Wen talked for a few words, and then Shao Zhongran came.

Eleventh Lady and Madam Wen looked at each other from behind the screen.

Looking closely, Shao Zhongran has a kind of brightness and warmth that is not affected by any of the wind and frost.

Everyone in the Shao family had moved into the new house. Grandma Lin and Shao Zhongran asked a few questions, such as "Is the new house comfortable to live in?" and then served tea.

After Shao Zhongran left, she handed the painting to Shiyi Niang: "Is it still usable?"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Wait until I take it back and have a look!"

Grandma Lin stopped asking questions and chatted with Shiyi Niang about some family matters, and then Shiyi Niang said goodbye.

"What's the matter?" she asked Madam Wen in the carriage.

Madam Wen pondered and said, "Mr. Shao is a man of refined manners, polite in his actions, and when he smiles, he has a bit of innocent joy. It doesn't seem like he is trying to hide anything."

In other words, she also thought it was her true nature!

"We can't go out." Eleventh Lady thought after hearing this, "General Li is not at home. Even if the Marquis shows up, he must have a legitimate reason!"

Madam Wen knew that she was talking about her meeting with Master Li, and she couldn't help but feel a headache.

For a moment, the two were silent.

After returning home, Madam Wen followed Eleventh Lady to the water pavilion.

Sister Zhen was doing needlework with Binju by her side. In the setting sun, her expression was calm and serene, as bright as pearls and jade.

Seeing Eleventh Lady and Madam Wen walking in one after another, Zhen Jie'er was slightly startled before she stepped forward and bowed.

Eleventh Lady asked Binju: "Has the Marquis not come back yet?"

"Not yet!" Bin Ju said respectfully.

Eleventh Lady asked about Zhen Jie'er's situation and went to the main house.

Madam Wen came forward and saw that Eleventh Lady looked a little solemn, so she said words of comfort inexplicably: "Don't worry, Madam. The Marquis also did not come home at night before, and it was usually because of urgent matters in the court..." Before she finished speaking, both of them showed a look of surprise on their faces.

"Really?" Eleventh Lady responded casually, afraid that Madam Wen would say something similar again, and said, "Regarding Mr. Li's matter, we can only wait until the Marquis comes back. The Li family has been waiting for news from us. If we act rashly, it will be troublesome if there is any misunderstanding. Since the Marquis is not at home, Madam Wen should go back first!"

There was a hint of discomfort in Madam Wen's eyes before, but when Eleventh Lady finished speaking, she had returned to her normal state, smiled, bowed to Eleventh Lady, and retreated.

Xu Lingyi suddenly came back in the evening.

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

Xu Lingyi saw it clearly, but gave no explanation.

Eleventh Lady told him what happened today.

Xu Lingyi was shocked when he heard this, and then asked, "What did Madam Wen say?"

Eleventh Lady relayed Madam Wen's words to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi remained silent for a long while.

Eleventh Lady suggested that he arrange a meeting with Li Ji.

"Let me give it a try!" he agreed hesitantly.

The next afternoon, Shiyi Niang was deciding on the menu for the banquet with Madam Li, who was in charge of the kitchen, when Lin Bo ran in and said, "Madam, the Marquis wants you and Madam Wen to come to the outer study to talk."

Eleventh Lady was secretly surprised, and asked the maid to call Madam Wen. The two met at Biyi Gate and went to the outer academy together.

The lattice windows of the academy's reception room were wide open, and one could clearly see the scene in the hall as soon as one entered the courtyard.

Xu Lingyi sat on the armchair in the middle, with a young man in a green shirt standing in front of him.

He was about the same height as Zhen Jie'er, with the thin figure typical of young people.

This young man should be Li Ji?

Eleventh Lady was a little hesitant.

Can't I just walk in like this?

As soon as the thought flashed through his mind, Lin Bo took two steps at a time and walked over, bowing and saying, "My Lord, the Madam is here!"

Xu Lingyi stood up. Eleventh Lady saw the young man in blue clothes turn sideways and take a few steps back, his head slightly lowered, standing respectfully beside a black lacquered floor-standing pillar.

Seeing this, Eleventh Lady walked in, but she kept an eye on Li Ji. Before Xu Lingyi could speak, she said, "I didn't know that the Marquis had a guest. Please forgive me. I just barged in because I had an urgent matter to ask the Marquis to decide." After that, she presented the menu that Madam Li had just prepared.

You can't say that Xu Lingyi called him here!

Xu Lingyi took the list and introduced Li Ji to Shiyi Niang: "General Li's second son, Li Ji!"

He bowed to Eleventh Lady calmly, appearing elegant and calm.

"Mr. Li!" Eleventh Lady greeted him with a smile, her eyes wandering around his face.

With fair skin, trimmed eyebrows and a nose, his facial features are no worse than Shao Zhongran's. But their temperaments are very different. Shao Zhongran still has the edges of his nature, while Li Ji, at a young age, seems very introverted and lacks some personal characteristics. Therefore, he does not look as outstanding as Shao Zhongran.

He bowed in response.

Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang went to the east wing. Madam Wen, keeping her status as a concubine, stood quietly at the door.

The girl couldn't help but whisper to Xu Lingyi, who was looking at the menu carefully, "Why did you call Master Li here? What excuse did you use?"

Xu Lingyi's eyes fell on the menu and he replied to Shiyi Niang: "General Li wrote me a letter, asking me for advice on the situation in the court. Master Li sent it to me specially."

Eleventh Lady asked pointedly, "Does General Li often write to you to discuss the situation in the court?"

"Not really." Xu Lingyi replied with a hint of meaning, "Sometimes, people have to resort to extraordinary means." He then discussed the menu with her: "Jiangxi cuisine is rich in oil and has a rich taste, and people like to eat chili peppers. It's rare that you can find the ingredients to make stone chicken."

Eleventh Lady also knew that this was not the time to discuss, so she changed the subject as he did: "I don't know if we can make the authentic taste by then. Let's do our best!"

Xu Lingyi nodded: "That's it for now!"

Eleventh Lady bowed and with Madam Wen retreated.

"Madam, Master Li..." As soon as they arrived at the Chuihua Gate, Madam Wen said hesitantly, "Master Li, he didn't even look at you and the Marquis from beginning to end, and he just stood there without moving."

Out of curiosity, most people will take a second look at unfamiliar things that suddenly appear around them.

"Although Mr. Li is only sixteen years old, I'm afraid he is very patient!" There was some worry in Madam Wen's voice.

"Do you feel bad?"

Madam Wen showed some confusion in her eyes: "I can't say... I just think he is too calm."

Too much is as bad as too little.

Eleventh Lady also feels this way.

Madam Wen asked again, "Madam, is it Master Li that the Marquis is satisfied with?"

"These are all easy to talk about." Eleventh Lady was silent for a long time, and said, "Nothing is absolute. I can always find shortcomings to convince the Marquis. I just don't know if this is the right way to do it?" Her voice was a little hoarse.

Madam Wen pursed her lips tightly, and the two of them walked to Biyi Gate.

One went east and returned to Chui Lun Water Pavilion, and the other went west and returned to Nong Xiang Courtyard.

Madam Wen did not bow to Eleventh Lady, but stopped.

"Madam, I think you should find out more about Mr. Shao's background. If that doesn't work, why not slowly help Miss find a suitable one!"

It means Li Ji is not good enough!

Eleventh Lady was somewhat surprised at Madam Wen's decisiveness in this matter.

Madam Wen whispered, "It is a blessing for a woman to be a little confused sometimes."

Is this what she feels?

Eleventh Lady stood on the Biyi Gate for a long time without saying a word.

Afterwards, Xu Lingyi asked her, "How is it? The Li family kid is pretty good, right?"

"My Lord, have you made up your mind?" Eleventh Lady asked Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi was slightly stunned when he heard this.

"I think the Li family is too anxious and Mr. Li is too calm." Eleventh Lady said bluntly, "It's like this in marriage, and I'm afraid it will be like this in other things as well."

Xu Lingyi frowned when he heard this, but the next day he sent someone to inquire about Shao Zhongran's situation.

Eleventh Lady ignored it and was busy opening the storehouse to get utensils. She sent a maid to the Jiang family to confirm the time for Mrs. Jiang and Miss Nine to arrive. She also asked Mr. Zhao for a day off and told Zhun Ge that a distant relative was coming. On the sixteenth day, everyone welcomed Mrs. Jiang, Mrs. Jiang and Miss Nine with a smile.

Mrs. Jiang was of medium height, and looked to be about 27 or 28 years old. She was fair-skinned, with phoenix eyes and a high nose bridge. When she was silent, her expression was somewhat serious, but when she spoke, she had a dimple on the right side, which not only softened her expression, but also made her look a little playful.

The ninth young lady of the Jiang family resembles her mother in facial features, but she is still young, has a childish expression, and is very likable.

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I wanted to put Zhen Jie'er's marriage on hold, so the writing is not smooth. I have only updated it now!

⊙﹏⊙bSweat!