Chapter 344: Decision (Part 2)

After seeing Xu Siyu off, Chief Steward Bai began to clean up the Mude Hall in the outer courtyard.

That was the residence of the successive princes. It had been empty since Xu Ling'an got married. Although someone cleaned it, it had not been occupied for more than ten years. Not only did it feel cold and bleak once you walked in, but some things also needed to be repaired and rearranged. Manager Bai specifically discussed this with Shiyi Niang.

However, the lady asked Madam Du to invite Eleventh Lady.

"I think there's no rush to move." The lady looked at the pale-faced brother sitting on the kang, being fed lotus and lily soup by Wei Zi, and said hesitantly, "We have to wait until summer is over! Now I don't even dare to give him warm mung bean soup."

After that day when he vomited due to dizziness, he followed Xu Lingyi to toast at the Crown Prince's Banquet. Marquis Yongchang teased him into eating half a piece of pork belly, but he started to feel unwell when he came back. He said he had no appetite for anything and only felt better after fasting for four or five days.

This child is so delicate and tender!

Eleventh Lady was also worried, so she naturally nodded and said "yes".

The lady asked about Eleventh Lady's move: "The Chuilun Waterside Pavilion is a good place to escape the summer heat. I think you should move after the summer!"

Xu Siqi lived alone in Lijingxuan. Zhen Jieer went back and forth between Shaohuayuan and Chuilun Waterside Pavilion four times a day. There was no corridor for her to walk on, and her face was red from the sun...

"Let's move in two days as the Marquis wishes!" Eleventh Lady politely refused.

"Since you have already discussed it, let's choose an auspicious day to move!" The lady did not insist, but there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

Shiyi Niang saw it clearly. She knew that the Madam wanted her and Xu Lingyi to spend more time together. But she couldn't make up her mind for the moment. She had to avoid the Madam's gaze like an ostrich.

After she left, the lady and Madam Du sighed: "We thought there would be good news. But in the end, they moved back again!"

"You can't rush this kind of thing." Mother Du smiled and handed the peeled melon to the lady on a bamboo stick. "Besides, it's better to move back. Otherwise, you will lose things without a plan."

The lady nodded slowly and said no more. On the day when Eleventh Lady was officially going to move, she went to take a look.

Eleventh Lady had already discussed it with Xu Lingyi. Xu Lingyi's study was to be located in the east wing next to the main house, and the west wing was for Xu Siyu. Zhen Jie'er would live in Lijingxuan. If Xu Siyu came back, he would live in the outer courtyard.

The lady listened and smiled, "Sister Zhen is grown up now, and she should have her own courtyard. You are very thoughtful." Seeing the maids and old women moving around in the courtyard without any panic, she showed satisfaction in her eyes. She chatted with Shiyi Niang for a few words and took Madam Du back to her own courtyard.

Eleventh Lady directed the maids to decorate the house and organize the boxes. It happened to be the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, so she took the opportunity to turn over and hang out the winter clothes. She was busy for four or five days before she finally stopped. On the twelfth day, it was Brother Zhu's birthday. Because she had been frightened before, the lady was worried that the dinner would be too noisy, so she asked the kitchen to cook some kind of shou noodles, and prepared to invite everyone in the family to eat a bowl of shou noodles together. Who knew that there would be an unexpected guest.

First, Lord Jiang sent someone to deliver two thread-bound copies of "The Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" from the previous dynasty as birthday presents for Brother Zhe. Later, Grandma Luo sent someone to deliver a set of bright red burnt cloth robes and a set of moon-white gauze Taoist robes. Qi Niang sent someone to deliver a half-foot-tall jadeite stone sculpture of five bats and peaches. Siniang sent a pair of fragrant cloud gauze purses with pearl lotus flowers. Madam Huang sent a pen holder carved from poplar wood with a picture of diligent farming.

The lady looked at him helplessly and smiled: "It's our husband's turn!"

"We are busy with family affairs, and we are all close relatives, so you can imagine and understand." Eleventh Lady comforted the lady and turned around to arrange thank-you gifts for each family with Amber.

Li Ji's mother, Mrs. Li, came to visit.

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised.

If she was here to celebrate her brother's birthday, then she was too well-informed - the ancients believed that one's birth date was related to one's fate, so one would not let anyone know. If it was a coincidence, she came so suddenly, and I don't know what it was - if she was anxious about Li Ji's marriage, she should have asked someone to come to Shiyi Niang to plead for her instead of coming over in person and confronting Shiyi Niang without giving either party a chance to maneuver...

She felt strange and told Amber, "Please ask Madam Li to sit in the main hall of my courtyard." Then she changed her clothes and went to the main hall.

Mrs. Li brought a birthday gift for Brother Zhe.

"Our master is a rough man who only knows those vulgar things. He has been thinking about the prince's birthday for a long time, but your sister was not in good health before, so we were embarrassed to bring it. This time, after hearing me say that the lady is very kind and polite, she personally selected this item and asked me to deliver it. Although I think it is not in good shape, I think that this is sent by the master from Shanxi. Thinking that it is the master's intention, I can't say the words of rejection. I had to bite the bullet and send it over. Madam, please don't refuse it for the sake of our master's sincerity."

Eleventh Lady looked at the three-inch-long red-gold little tiger and sweat appeared on her temples.

"I appreciate the kindness of Lord and Madam Li..."

As soon as she started to speak, Mrs. Li interrupted her: "Madam, please listen to me..."

"Madam Li, please listen to me." Eleventh Lady raised her voice slightly and interrupted Madam Li. "We didn't invite guests for the prince's birthday. It's all because the prince has been suffering from deficiency since childhood and is weak. We dare not artificially add some fortune to him. I dare not accept this thing. Lord Li and our marquis were colleagues. Lord Li also knows that our marquis has few offspring. You can take this message to him, and I think Lord Li can understand my painstaking efforts."

Eleventh Lady's reasons for refusing were very reasonable, and it was difficult for Mrs. Li to insist.

There was a flash of regret in her eyes.

Eleventh Lady smiled as she looked at the carved red lacquer box containing the red-gold tiger: "This box is square, just right for storing seals, ink sticks and the like. The prince asked me a few days ago if I could help make one. Madam Li, why don't you give this carved red lacquer box to the prince! It will be a good use of it!" Then she winked at Amber, indicating that she should return the red-gold tiger to Madam Li and keep the box.

Madam Li looked at Eleventh Lady with a more serious look.

"It was all my recklessness. I am grateful that Madam does not blame me. Besides, it was just a box that was hit, so I will take it." She smiled reluctantly. "Since Master asked about it, I have made up for it!"

"The most rare thing about this gift is that it is just right." Eleventh Lady smiled, "Madam gave the prince something he wanted. What could be better than this? Even if Lord Li knew about it, he could only say that Madam did the job and let him rest assured." Eleventh Lady said a few polite words, stood up and took Madam Li's hand: "It is rare that you and Lord Li care about our prince. Since you are here today, why not have a bowl of shou noodles before leaving!" She went to the lady's place with Madam Li.

The Taifu was also surprised by Madam Li's arrival, but she was very calm when she saw the carved red lacquer box sent by Madam Li. She smiled and invited Madam Li to eat longevity noodles with her. Madam Li was not at all shy in front of the women of the Xu family. She ate the longevity noodles and chatted with the Taifu for a while before she got up and left.

Eleventh Lady sent her to the Chuihua Gate.

On the way, Madam Li asked her with concern: "I heard from our old man that the Marquis went to Shandong a few days ago, encountered scoundrels on the road, and several guards died before he escaped unscathed. The world is really not peaceful now!"

Did you run into scoundrels in Shandong? Shiyi Niang was shocked. Xu Lingyi came back but didn't tell her a word!

No wonder Qi Niang said that when she met him, she thought he was a bandit. She thought he didn't want to show off when he was out, so he changed into coarse clothes. She thought he looked tired because he had a hard journey...

Looking at Madam Li, whose eyes revealed a bit of scrutiny, Shiyi Niang did not dare to show any emotion at all.

Mr. Li actually said these things to Madam Li. She felt vaguely that Madam Li's visit today was not simple.

Eleventh Lady said tactfully: "I am a woman, it is not easy for me to talk about these things!"

Mrs. Li couldn't help showing some surprise when she heard this.

Eleventh Lady's expression was too calm.

Either he had known about this for a long time, or he was well-prepared.

Just as Shiyi Niang said, this matter was not something a woman should know. If Shiyi Niang knew, there would only be one possibility, Xu Lingyi was injured! If she didn't know... Madam Li's smile froze for a moment before it stretched out again.

"That's right. I didn't know at first. If it wasn't for this time..." She suddenly stopped talking, then stopped and looked around with a vigilant look on her face. She took a few steps forward and walked to the side of Shiyi Niang and said, "I heard from our master that first the Marquis had an accident in Shandong, and then the son of the Marquis of Jinghai... suddenly disappeared for no reason!"

Eleventh Lady's head buzzed and she could no longer hold back, a look of surprise showing on her face.

Madam Li looked at her and nodded solemnly, her voice lowered a bit: "If he is alive, I won't see him. If he is dead, I won't see his body."

Eleventh Lady took a deep breath before she could speak: "How could this happen?"

She heard her voice was a little hoarse.

"So Fujian is in chaos." Madam Li looked around again and saw that the maids and old women who were surrounding the two people were standing respectfully with their hands down ten feet away. She continued, "Marquis Jinghai not only ordered people to turn Fujian upside down, but also sent people to Shangrao, Lishui, and Meizhou to look for them, causing panic among the people there. The emperor was also very angry when he found out. He wanted to remove the Fujian general from his post!"

Eleventh Lady was in a state of confusion. What a coincidence!

First, Xu Lingyi was ambushed, and then the prince of Jinghaihou died.

She thought about how Xu Lingyi had not come home for two consecutive nights a few days ago... She felt a chill all over her body... She said to Madam Li perfunctorily: "It's no wonder that the emperor is angry. This matter is too serious!"

"That's right, that's right." Madam Li nodded repeatedly, "The Fujian General is the same, he actually let the Qu family do this. It seems that he can't keep his position as General." As she said this, she sighed softly, "I don't know who the emperor will entrust with the important task of cleaning up the mess?"

In this era, women are very particular about the three obediences and four virtues. When discussing politics, they are as eager as hens crowing at dawn...

Eleventh Lady was secretly alarmed and did not answer.