Chapter 348 Death (Part 1)
Qiuhong and Donghong pretended not to hear. One of them smiled and said, "Auntie, which shop managers should we write to?" The other smiled and said, "We don't know anything about these things. Should we ask Auntie Song for a list and buy them accordingly?" Auntie Wen smiled and said, "Don't worry, don't worry. Madam said that the two families are getting married. The Xu family only made one request, which is to wait until the eldest daughter is sixteen years old before getting married. The Shao family agreed without thinking. We still have a few years to work!" Thinking of this, her heart came to life and she felt that life was suddenly much better. The next day, she took the list of dowry to Shiyi Niang for review: "Do you think it's right?"
Eleventh Lady left the list behind and said, "I'll show it to Madam Tai again!"
Madam Wen smiled and told Eleventh Lady about the jobs she had received as shopkeepers in several shops. She drank half a cup of tea and then stood up to leave.
Xu Lingyi came out of the inner room and said, "Why did you leave the matter of buying things to Madam Wen? If you really want to use her, just let her take care of the accounts!"
"Let Madam Wen give it a try. If she can't do it, we'll tell you then!"
There is a difference between inside and outside. After all, this is a matter of the inner courtyard. After hearing what Shiyi Niang said, Xu Lingyi did not say much. He sat in the hall with Shiyi Niang and talked about Zhen Jie'er's matter: "...The Shao family invited Lord Lin to be the matchmaker. On our side, I want to invite Earl Zhongqin. What do you think?"
Both of them are highly respected ministers.
"My Lord, you have considered everything carefully." Eleventh Lady smiled. A maid came in and said, "Madam, Princess Fucheng has sent an invitation to the eldest lady.
It is said that the Crown Prince's wife will be married in the autumn, and he would like to take advantage of these days to hold a summer banquet at home and invite a few close friends to come and enjoy the lotus.
In a few days, someone from the palace will come to instruct Fang Jie'er on court etiquette. Although this is not a difficult task for Fang Jie'er, it will be inconvenient for her relatives and friends to see her.
This is also the last gathering for me as a girl.
Eleventh Lady nodded and agreed: "...If the eldest lady wants to go, then let Mother Song accompany her!"
The whole family knew about Zhen Jie'er's marriage. Zhen Jie was shy and hid in her room, refusing to see anyone. Even when Hui Jie came to invite her a few days ago, she did not go. Thinking that Fang Jie would enter the palace in the future, she would marry in Cangzhou, and she was afraid that she would not have the chance to meet Fang Jie in this life. She shamelessly reported to Shiyi Niang, and accompanied by Song Mama to Princess Fucheng's residence.
Xu Lingyi came back and told Shiyi Niang, "I went to the residence of Marquis Zhongqin. Marquis Zhongqin has been ill for over a month, and Madam Gan politely declined the matchmaking job."
Eleventh Lady had only seen Earl Zhongqin once from a distance. He looked listless, as if his body had been hollowed out by alcohol and sex.
"I didn't hear about it the last time Madam Gan came." She frowned slightly, "Is Uncle okay?"
"I heard it was because of the hot weather. I drank two extra bowls of iced mung bean water and had some diarrhea." Xu Lingyi said, "Although he doesn't look very energetic, he can still speak clearly. He should be fine!"
The situation of the Gan family is very complicated. The prince and his wife have always been wary of Madam Gan. Now that Earl Zhongqin is ill, I am afraid that Madam Gan will have a hard time.
Eleventh Lady was a little worried about Madam Gan.
"My Lord, shall we go visit the patient together?"
Because the one who was ill was Earl Zhongqin, female relatives usually did not need to show up, but the two families were relatives, so she was a little unsure.
"No need!" Xu Lingyi said, "I've already visited the patient." Then, thinking of the good relationship between Shiyi Niang and Madam Gan, he said, "If you're worried, just send a mother to check on him!"
Eleventh Lady only asked Mother Song to send two bottles of Turtle and Deer Glue Pills to Madam Gan.
After returning, Mother Song was very sad: "…The Crown Prince is taking care of Uncle Uncle, and Madam Gan hasn't seen Uncle Uncle for some time. When I went there, I happened to see the Crown Prince's wife's personal mother coming to ask Madam Gan for candles, saying that Uncle Uncle has been ill these days, and the room has been lit day and night, and the candles are not enough. I think the tone of her voice is a bit excessive. Seeing that you brought something for her, Madam Gan was very excited, and her eyes were wet at the time. She also asked if you were in good health and whether you had moved back. She said that she would come to thank you again when Uncle Uncle was better!"
Eleventh Lady was silent.
This Zhongqinbo is not dead yet. If he dies...
Seeing that Shiyi Niang looked unhappy, Mother Song realized that she had said something wrong. She smiled awkwardly and took out a red lacquer and gold-painted box with a small copper lock, which was one inch high and three inches wide, from her bosom and said, "Madam, this is what Madam Gan asked me to give you. She said it was some of her small things, and asked you to keep them for her first."
Eleventh Lady was shocked.
Could it be that Madam Gan has sensed something and is keeping a backup plan?
She took the box calmly.
Mother Song grew up in a noble family, and although she had never seen him, she had heard of him. She added, with a hint of meaning, "When Madam Gan gave him to me, no one was there."
Eleventh Lady nodded, and Mother Song stepped back.
She climbed onto the bed, pushed open the bedside board carved with a plum blossom pattern, and carefully placed the box inside.
Xu Lingyi asked Zhou Shizheng, the third son of Princess Fucheng and Fangjie's father, to be the matchmaker, and the engagement was arranged on June 22nd.
After that, the weather became hotter and hotter, and the sound of cicadas filled the air. Chilled mung bean soup, lotus seed soup, and sour plum soup were served every day. The rooms of the Taifu, Shiyi Niang, Wufu, and Erfu began to be filled with ice to cool down. Xu Siyi followed Taifu. The forests of Lijingxuan were dense and cool. Shiyi Niang felt sorry for Xu Siyi. In her spare time, she invited him to her room to play and told him stories from the Three Character Classic. After half a month, he could recite several stories fluently, which made Shiyi Niang feel very accomplished. She asked someone to find copperplate paper so that she could make some cards for Xu Siyi.
As the middle of July was approaching, a letter from Xu Siyu was delivered, reporting his safety.
"...The teacher is rigorous in his studies, and his wife is kind and amiable... In her spare time, she would go hiking with her classmates behind the academy. Everything is fine, please don't worry, father, grandmother, and mother."
"As long as he's a good person, that's good. As long as he's a good person, that's good!" The old lady nodded as she listened. A little maid ran in and said, "Madam, the people in charge said that Earl Zhongqin passed away."
Eleventh Lady's heart choked, and she couldn't help but cover her chest with her hands. The lady had already asked the maid in a sharp voice: "Did you hear it clearly?"
The little maid turned pale with fear: "That's what Manager Zhao ordered!"
The lady did not speak for a long time.
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the house.
"This summer is too hot!" the lady muttered, "It's no wonder he couldn't make it."
Shiyi Niang came to her senses and thought that Uncle Zhongqin was younger than the Madam, and she couldn't help but secretly feel lucky that the Madam was in good health. She asked the little maid, "Did Manager Zhao say when we would go to pay our respects?"
The three sacrificial animals for worship were all prepared by the Huichu.
The little maid said tremblingly: "We are going to worship early tomorrow morning!"
The lady told Shiyi Niang: "You go with Danyang tomorrow!"
Uncle Zhongqin is younger than the lady dowager, so the lady does not need to go to pay homage.
Eleventh Lady replied "yes", went to say something to the Fifth Lady, returned to her own inner room, sent away the servants, quietly took out the red lacquer and gold-painted box that Madam Gan asked her to keep, stroked it for a long time, and then quietly put it back.
The next day, the people in Xu's mansion changed into plain clothes and went to pay tribute to Earl Zhongqin.
The mourning pavilion for the female family members was where Grandma Gan thanked the guests who came to pay their respects. Her face was not sad. Eleventh Lady and Fifth Lady burned incense and asked Grandma Gan directly, "Why don't we see Madam Gan?"
The Fifth Lady secretly pulled her sleeve.
Eleventh Lady pretended not to know and looked at Grandma Gan with a calm gaze.
Grandma Gan's eyes flashed with shock, and after a moment she said, "My father-in-law passed away, and my mother-in-law was too sad and fell ill!"
"She's sick!" Eleventh Lady pretended to be surprised, "I didn't expect Madam Gan to be sick. Please ask Grandma to send someone to accompany me to see her!"
Madam Gan hesitated for a moment, and then instructed a mother-like person beside her: "You go with Madam Yongping!"
The fifth lady frowned.
Eleventh Lady followed the mother to Madam Gan.
Mrs. Gan was in the west room behind the main house. She was not surprised to see Shiyi Niang. She struggled to sit up and asked the little maid beside her to bring Shiyi Niang the golden stool and pour tea.
Yanrong helped the little maid cleverly, making the mother standing in front of the bed feel uncomfortable.
Eleventh Lady looked at Mrs. Gan, whose face was pale and haggard, lowered her head and sighed, then tucked the corner of the quilt for her.
"I'm fine!" Mrs. Gan looked at him and said softly, "My sister-in-law came to see me just two days ago. After the seventh day, my brother will come to see me too."
Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.
Madam Gan's brother was a third-rank minister of public administration, and was willing to help her out. Not only was it legitimate, but the prince also dared not be careless.
"That's good!" She said with a double meaning, "When you calm down here, I'll treat you to a box of snacks."
Mrs. Gan nodded slightly.
Eleventh Lady glanced at the mother who was listening attentively, then stood up and said goodbye.
On the way, I met He Ye, the maidservant of Madam Wu.
"Madam!" Her brows relaxed, "Fifth Madam is waiting for you in the flower hall behind the main hall!"
It seemed that it was the Fifth Madam who asked He Ye to come find her.
Eleventh Lady felt a little warm in her heart and followed He Ye to the flower hall.
The Fifth Lady whispered angrily, "Everyone is waiting to see the joke of the Zhongqin family, why are you getting involved?"
"Mrs. Gan is my sponsor at my coming-of-age ceremony after all," said Shiyi Niang, "I should go see her both morally and logically!"
There is no point in talking. Madam Wu glared at her, turned around and sat on the armchair beside her.
Eleventh Lady smiled faintly.
Then, just as the Fifth Lady said, the whole summer, people in Yanjing were watching the Zhongqin Marquis's Mansion. First, it was about Madam Gan's matter. Madam Gan's family and the Gan family had a big fight. In the end, the Gan family had to compromise and handed Madam Gan's dowry to Madam Gan for management, and built another courtyard in the back garden for Madam Gan to accommodate the widowed Madam Gan. Then, the Gan brothers took the case from Shuntian Prefecture to the Dali Temple over the division of the family property. All the things about you taking a small official position and him raising an actor were exposed.
The Jiang family in Fujian heard about this and sent two housekeepers to come. They said they were worried that Miss Gan would be too sad and the maidservant around her was not sensible, so they came to serve her for a few days.
People in Yanjing were talking about it. They all said that Miss Gan's horoscope was not good. She had not even finished her mourning period at her husband's house when she encountered her own family's mourning period. Now, she was dragged down by her brothers and looked down upon by her future husband's family...
In fact, another incident did happen during this period, but compared with the incident at the Duke Zhongqin's Mansion, the people of Yanjing felt that it was not interesting enough and did not arouse enough interest.