This was the Xu family's business, so Mother Shi didn't want to comment on it. She just smiled and helped Madam Wu to comb her hair.

The Fifth Lady played with a comb in her hand, "First, help Yu Ge'er find a marriage that looks very good, and then encourage Yu Ge to take the imperial examination. The child sees that his future is bright, and naturally he agrees to everything. After he leaves, we will finalize the marriage with the Jiang family and ask for the decree to make Zhun Ge the prince. By then, Yu Ge's teachers, classmates, and friends will all be close to the Jiang family. It's okay if he doesn't want the title, and the Jiang family will naturally be the biggest help. But if he does, I'm afraid the Jiang family will be the first to not let him go. If he feels resentful because of this, he agreed to it himself. If he wants to blame someone, who can he blame? Our fourth brother is very good at calculating!"

At this point, she thought of the Xiang family's refusal of marriage and smiled silently.

At this moment, Xu Lingyi was sitting on the big kang by the window of the Chui Lun Water Pavilion.

The cool breeze from Biyi Lake blew in through the window lattices covered with fine gauze, making him feel refreshed.

"...The child looks very good." Shiyi Niang muttered as she made the bed, "He is also lively. Mrs. Jiang is obviously a virtuous woman. I think this marriage is a good one." After saying that, she straightened up and asked Xu Lingyi with a smile, "My Lord, do you want to read a book first? Or do you want to stop now?"

Xu Lingyi did not answer, but looked at her and smiled. His eyes were as clear as the bright moon.

"Come, come to me!" He waved at Eleventh Lady, his voice low but mellow.

Seems like he's in a very good mood!

Is it because Zhun Ge’s marriage went smoothly?

Eleventh Lady pondered and sat down next to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi held her in his arms: "Sit with me for a while!" and put his face against her temple.

The night was cool, but his breath was warm.

Eleventh Lady hugged Xu Lingyi's waist and snuggled quietly in his arms.

The moonlight poured in little by little, and the occasional "crackling" sound of candle flames popping could be heard in the room, making the atmosphere even more peaceful.

"Today is the sixteenth, right?" Xu Lingyi raised his head and gently stroked her cheek.

The moonlight shone on his broad back, and his bright eyes sparkled like gems.

"Yeah!" Eleventh Lady nodded, not knowing what Xu Lingyi meant by asking this question.

Xu Lingyi paused for a moment before saying, "Brother Zhun has a deficiency. Taoist Changchun also said he has 'three disasters'. Your sister and I are afraid that he has a shallow fate and can't handle too much fortune." His voice was soothing and solemn, "We once discussed waiting until he was twelve years old before asking for an imperial decree to confer the title of Crown Prince..."

If the Xu and Jiang families were to get engaged, and Zhun Ge had the title of Crown Prince, then the meaning would be different.

She slowly sat up straight: "My Lord, do you mean to establish a heir in advance?"

Xu Lingyi did not answer directly, but was silent for a long time before asking: "What do you think?"

"If that's the case, it would be best." Eleventh Lady pondered, "Only when you know your position will you know what you should do!"

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly and pulled her hand: "Don't worry too much about the future. I know what's going on. I'll make arrangements!"

Eleventh Lady thought for a while before she realized that what he meant by "future events" was if they had a son...

She couldn't help but be stunned, thinking of the frequent sex after her coming-of-age ceremony.

They didn't take any precautions.

If only...

Eleventh Lady suddenly felt very conflicted.

Of course it would be good to have a child. I would have a companion. But if I really had a child, the situation would only become more complicated given the current situation.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but pursed her lips and said in a gentle voice: "My Lord, if that's the case, you might as well go to the palace and ask for permission as soon as possible! When we propose marriage to the Jiang family, it will be more decent."

In this way, even if she gave birth to a son, the position of the crown prince would have been decided, and there would be fewer conflicts!

Xu Lingyi said nothing, clenched his fist, and wrapped her hand tightly in his palm.

She had a clear idea in her mind, but when she thought about the possibility of pregnancy, Eleventh Lady felt nervous about taking a gamble.

She was uneasy for two days, and then Mrs. Gan came.

"There is a doctor named Han who lives in Jinger Hutong in the west of the city." She and Shiyi Niang sat side by side on the kang and whispered, "My sister-in-law introduced him to me. He is very famous. It is said that the wife of Mr. Jin from the Hanlin Academy also went to see a doctor and gave birth to a big fat boy last year."

Mrs. Gan actually made the trip in person for this matter.

Eleventh Lady was very grateful: "Seventh sister and brother-in-law went to the temple today. I will tell them as soon as they come back."

Mrs. Gan asked, "Do you want me to go with you? I'm familiar with that place."

Mrs. Gan is in charge of the household affairs in the mansion, so it is not easy for her to come out.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly said, "If they can't find a place, please ask Sister Gan to go with them!"

Mrs. Gan listened and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly said: "Sister, you treat me as your sister, there is nothing you can't say!"

Mrs. Gan thought for a moment before whispering, "Do you want to go and take a look too?"

Eleventh Lady's face turned red when she heard this.

Mrs. Gan said hurriedly, "I don't mean anything else. I just heard that you've been taking medicine... If you see a few more doctors, you'll have a better chance of success."

These are words from the heart.

Eleventh Lady organized her words before whispering, "I haven't taken good care of the treatment. I was afraid that if I got pregnant at such a young age, I would lose the baby and both the adult and the child would die. I was also afraid that if I delayed the treatment, I would not be able to have the baby by then... I have been feeling very anxious for a while!"

These are also words from the heart.

"Don't put the cart before the horse." Mrs. Gan was very sincere. "Like you said, if you don't take good care of yourself now, you won't be able to have it when you want it. You should take good care of yourself first. Giving birth is a matter of life and death for women. It's not something you can calculate... Besides, if you don't want to have a baby, there's nothing you can do about it."

Eleventh Lady was excited.

Since I got married, I have been relying on hearsay and have no idea if what I am doing is completely correct. I often feel trembling and wish I could have someone with experience to guide me. But I can't tell others my true feelings... Unexpectedly, today I suddenly have such an opportunity.

"Sister Gan..." She pursed her lips, with tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.

Madam Gan suddenly thought of herself at this age... With tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips, she patted Shiyi Niang's hand and whispered in her ear: "I'll tell you..."

The two chatted in whispers for an entire afternoon before Mrs. Gan returned home.

Shiyi Niang accompanied Qi Niang to Jinger Hutong to seek medical treatment.

Xu Lingyi was busy with Zhun Ge's affairs.

He first discussed it with the Madam, then went to the Jiang family and told Lord Jiang that he wanted to get the decree for Zhun Ge to be the Crown Prince before the two families officially decided. Lord Jiang was naturally happy to see such a respectable thing. Not only did he agree immediately, he also took the initiative to propose that he would smooth things over with the Ministry of Rites.

Xu Lingyi was also very familiar with the people in the Ministry of Rites, but considering that he still had to go to the palace to make arrangements, if Lord Jiang could help him get through the Ministry of Rites, he wouldn't have to run back and forth. Xu Lingyi agreed immediately. He went back and wrote memorials to the emperor and the Ministry of Rites respectively. The next morning, he sent Manager Zhao to the Imperial Clan Court to hand in a sign requesting an audience with the emperor.

In this way, everyone in the palace knew that Zhun Ge would be officially appointed as the crown prince.

The little maidservant beside Tao Mama was waiting in the kitchen to carry the food box. Ever since Tao Mama was assigned to guard Yuanniang's yard, everyone knew that Tao Mama had fallen out of favor. Although they were afraid of the accumulated power and did not dare to do anything in front of Tao Mama, they had gradually become less friendly to the little maidservants beside Tao Mama.

It was clearly her order, but the mother at the kitchen put the stewed minced meat and eggs in another little maid's food box with a smile on her face, and repeatedly reminded the little maid: "Be careful, don't fall! Just tell me what you want to eat."

She knew that this little maidservant was the head maidservant Amber who served the Fourth Madam.

Seeing this scene, she ran back to Mother Tao.

Mother Tao was wearing a dark summer cotton shirt, with her hair neatly tied up at the back of her head. Her originally black hair was now streaked with a few strands of silver. She was sitting on the kang by the window, copying the Heart Sutra with a solemn look on her face.

Seeing the little maid running in, Mother Tao's face darkened slightly.

The maidservant had served her since she was a child, so she knew what she was thinking. However, there was something more important than Mother Tao’s anger at the moment, something that would make Mother Tao very happy. She didn’t care about much else and laughed loudly, “Mother Tao, Mother Tao, the Marquis wants to make the Fourth Young Master the Crown Prince!”

Mother Tao listened and her expression became serious: "Who told you to talk nonsense?"

"It's not nonsense." The little maid said hurriedly, "It's spread all over the mansion. If you don't believe me, go ask outside!"

Mother Tao's brows were tightly furrowed.

"Didn't I agree with my eldest aunt to ask for permission when I was twelve?" She stammered, "As long as the prince is not named, Eleventh Lady will misunderstand that the Marquis is not satisfied with Zhun'er, and she will have a thought in her heart that she will make plans after she gives birth to a son. Now the Marquis has suddenly changed his mind..." She thought of the grand and solemn ceremony of Eleventh Lady's coming-of-age ceremony, and her heart shuddered, "Could it be that this is Eleventh Lady's idea? What good will it do for her to do this?"

She couldn't help but think hard.

The little maidservant didn't have as many ideas as Mother Tao. She said happily: "Mom, if the Fourth Young Master is crowned as the Crown Prince, can he live in a separate courtyard? Then, can we serve the Fourth Young Master?"

Mother Tao was stunned when she heard this.

Yes! According to the rules, if a prince is appointed, he must live in a separate courtyard. How could I have forgotten this?

In the past, she was somewhat confident that she could follow Zhun Ge when he was assigned to a new position. But now... if Shiyi Niang wanted to replace all the servants in the courtyard with her own people, it would be a piece of cake.

Mother Tao became anxious.

What was the eldest aunt worried about originally?

It was because Zhun'er didn't live to be named the crown prince.

Mother Tao thought about it and sneered, and ordered the little maid: "Go and see where the fourth lady is?"

She wanted to take a leave of absence and go to Gongxian Hutong to visit the eldest wife, and then take this opportunity to have a good talk with Luo Zhenxing, the eldest uncle of the Luo family.

The little maidservant didn't move her feet after hearing this, and kept saying, "Fourth Madam is accompanying Seventh Concubine to see the doctor!"

Mother Tao was shocked: "Why did the Marquis suddenly appoint Zhun Ge as the Crown Prince? It turns out that she wants to have a son. Isn't it too early for her to think about this?"

※

Sisters, at the end of the month, if you have pink tickets, please give us your support!

Thanks!