Chapter 352 Master (Part 2)

It was already midnight when Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang returned home. The lady hadn't gone to bed yet and asked them to come in and talk.

"What's wrong?"

"He passed away at 3:45 this morning. I have sent a steward to Taiyuan Prefecture to deliver a letter. It should arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Mrs. Wang has been preparing for Wang Lang's death. Aunt Ten is not familiar with household affairs, so Zhenxing is in charge of the overall situation. The Ministry of Rites has already reported the death and asked the Ministry of Heaven to choose a date. The body will be kept for 49 days, and the funeral will be held in three days. The mourning shed, mourning clothes, and memorial archway can all be prepared tonight. I have left Steward Zhao there to help."

Seeing that everything was arranged in an orderly manner, the lady nodded and told Shiyi Niang: "You should go to bed early! We still need to help there tomorrow."

The two of them bowed and retreated.

Back in the house, Shiyi Niang told the maid to bring Xu Lingyi a cup of loquat paste, "The weather is too dry, Lord Hou, be careful not to sore your throat."

Xu Lingyi took the teacup and took a sip, then said, "Tomorrow Yiqing and I will go to the Ministry of Rites to settle the matter of the child's inheritance as soon as possible. You should go to Chief Steward Bai in the morning and withdraw two thousand taels of silver and bring it to Zhenxing. From what I heard from Zhenxing today, he doesn't even have enough money to buy mourning clothes."

Shiyi Niang agreed and waited for Xu Lingyi to rest. The next morning, she took the money and went to Wang's house with Xu Lingyi.

Luo Zhenxing stayed at Wang's house last night. Luo Zhensheng, Zhu Anping and Qi Niang had already arrived and were talking. When they saw the Xu couple, they all stood up. Luo Zhenxing even asked them, "Have you eaten yet?"

"Eat!" Several people greeted each other, and Yu Yiqing, Qian Ming, Si Niang and Wu Niang all arrived. Knowing that Xu Lingyi and Yu Yiqing were going to the Ministry of Rites, Qian Ming said, "I'll go with them to run errands!" Zhu Anping heard this and said, "Then I'll stay and help my brother!"

"Okay!" Luo Zhenxing also felt that the Wang family had no capable people, and the only one who could help was Manager Zhao.

Everyone worked separately.

Shiyi Niang lagged behind for a few steps, and when everyone left the flower hall, she handed the banknote to Luo Zhenxing: "Brother, use it first. We'll talk if it's not enough!"

Luo Zhenxing thought about it and took it in his hand: "Qiniang also gave me two thousand taels of silver. I will record this account and wait for their aunt and grandmother to come and settle the account."

It looks like he really has no money to spend!

Eleventh Lady nodded, and went to see Mrs. Wang with Fourth Lady, Fifth Lady, and Seventh Lady, and then went to live with Tenth Lady.

Wu Niang sighed, "...I just bought a three-story house in Sixiang Hutong two days ago. I wanted to take you all in and liven things up there, but I didn't expect this to happen. I can only wait and see!"

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

A few days ago, I heard from Fourth Grandma Luo that Fifth Mother borrowed money from First Grandma Luo. I didn’t hear her say anything during Seventh Brother’s third birthday ceremony. How come she bought the house in just a few days?

She thought of the business that Fourth Grandma talked about last time.

It's a pity that the third-day bathing ceremony is for women, Qian Ming shouldn't be there. Otherwise, we could figure out whether he is in Yanjing...

Si Niang, however, remained calm and said with a faint smile: "I will definitely go and have some fun when the time comes!"

Qi Niang was straightforward: "When did Fifth Sister buy the house? Why was there no news before?"

Wu Niang's lips twitched slightly, and she was about to say something, but Si Niang said in front of her: "Who is like you? You bought a house and caused a lot of trouble for three families and four families."

Qiniang pouted and stopped talking.

When she bought the house, the managers of the Xu and Yu families helped her to look for a place.

"When are you planning to hold the wedding?" Si Niang drank with Qi Niang, and then asked Wu Niang with a smile, "Is there anything missing at home? I dare not ask for big things, but I, your fourth sister, can still provide small things!" She bit the word "Fourth Sister".

Qi Niang originally wanted to ask Wu Niang what she needed, and then she would help her make up for it. But after hearing what Si Niang said, she felt it was difficult to open her mouth. She couldn't give a gift to her elder sister, right? How could her elder sister save face?

Wu Niang originally wanted to ask Qi Niang for a seven-panel screen or a set of black lacquered furniture, but after hearing what Si Niang said, she had no choice but to swallow the words.

I saw a trace of worry flashing across her brows, and she smiled and said, "It's not that I lack anything. I know that my fourth brother-in-law is a famous talent nowadays. When the time comes, let my fourth brother-in-law write a few couplets for me? This is better than anything else.

Eleventh Lady saw it clearly and immediately said with a smile: "Only our Marquis is a rough man. I will give him a set of four treasures of the study from Duobao Pavilion!"

Seeing that the two people's things were elegant but not expensive, Qi Niang smiled and said, "Then I will give Zhang Liji's Drunkard Chair as a gift!"

Eleventh Lady saw that Fourth Lady was relieved.

She smiled slightly and heard Wu Niang say with a smile: "Fourth sister and two younger sisters are too polite. I am afraid that I will not be able to celebrate this happy relocation if I don't celebrate it!"

As they talked, they went into Shi Niang's room.

Shi Niang was already wearing mourning clothes. Her face was so thin that only a pair of big eyes were left. They were swollen like peaches, obviously because she had been crying.

Everyone was a little surprised.

She nodded to everyone and asked the silver bottle to serve tea.

Si Niang greeted her on behalf of the sisters at home, and she answered them one by one. Although her words were brief, her thoughts were clear. However, she did not look at Shiyi Niang or answer her questions, which made Shiyi Niang a little embarrassed. She simply stopped talking and let Si Niang and her answer.

After a while, Grandma Luo came.

"Please forgive me, ladies." She bowed as she entered the room. "I have been helping my father and mother pack their things these days. We are scheduled to leave for Yuhang on the twelfth of next month."

Shi Niang was stunned when she heard this: "When was the decision made? How come I didn't know?" Her voice gradually became sharper.

Si Niang, Wu Niang, and Qi Niang kept silent. Si Niang and Qi Niang were from the second house and didn't know about this, but Wu Niang didn't want to cause trouble.

Grandma Luo felt a little uncomfortable when she saw Shi Niang questioning her in front of the sisters of the second house. Thinking that Shi Niang did not attend the third-day baptism of Master Luo Qi, she said calmly, "It was decided on the day of the third-day baptism of Brother Qi."

Shi Niang said nothing and became dazed.

She had always been a little eccentric, but no one was surprised and no one tried to comfort her. Si Niang and the others came forward to greet Grandma Luo and asked about the origin of Grandma Luo.

On the third day, several families sent three animals for sacrifice, and the aunt and grandmother of the Wang family came over. Wang Lin had been crying since she received the letter, and she had to be helped in when she entered the house. Jiang Gui greeted Xu Lingyi first, and then went to burn incense in front of her father-in-law's spirit. Seeing that the biological father of Wang Lang's heir was always wandering around, and the Wang family had no one to manage the funeral, they still entrusted the funeral to Luo Zhenxing and Zhu Anping, who went to the Ministry of Rites with Xu Lingyi and Yu Yiqing, Qian Ming helped run errands, and Shiyi Niang and others went early every day and returned after dark. After the first seven days, the Taoist ceremony was held, and everyone calmed down and settled accounts.

The 1,000 taels of funeral gifts from the Ministry of Rites and the accompanying gifts from the guests were barely enough to cover the expenses, not to mention the money to be returned to the Xu and Zhu families. Fortunately, Zhu Anping was a generous man, and this result was within Xu Lingyi's expectations. He did not expect the money to be returned, so no one cared about it. Jiang Gui felt very sorry and promised to pay the money back. Xu Lingyi and Zhu Anping both declined. Later, Jiang Gui still brought 2,000 taels of silver, but that is another story.

Shiyi Niang and Xu Lingyi both rested well at home for a day, waiting for news from the Ministry of Rites. Grandma Luo came over and said, "...Shiyi Niang wants to invite you to come back to Gongxian Hutong for a gathering."

"At this time?" Eleventh Lady was surprised. "The Duke's seventh day of death has just passed!"

Grandma Luo nodded: "That's why we made an appointment at Gongxian Hutong - she said everyone helped, and she wanted to bring the child over to kowtow to the uncles and aunts. Besides, Dad and Mom are both going back to Yuhang, so let the child come and recognize his grandparents."

Since Wang Chengle rented the house and it was passed to Wang Lang, the child has never been to Gongxian Hutong, nor has he been to the Xu family.

Shiyi Niang just thought that Shi Niang's behavior was weird.

"Did you invite me too?"

"Yes!" Grandma Luo also knew that Shi Niang had a grudge against Shiyi Niang. "I even asked her specifically, and she said that she would also invite you two to go together. She also said that she was most grateful to the Marquis. Without the Marquis, let alone inheriting the title, I'm afraid she would have no place to settle down. Others can choose not to go, but you cannot."

This is really Shi Niang's tone. Even treating guests can offend people!

At this point, Shiyi Niang smiled and agreed. After Grandma Luo left, she showed the invitation to Xu Lingyi. Xu Lingyi did not doubt it: "The Duke passed away, it is a funeral after all. Since she wants to invite guests, it is better to go to Gongxian Hutong."

Maybe I'm just overthinking it!

Eleventh Lady comforted herself. The next day, she asked Amber to prepare eight-color gift boxes and a few forks, and went to Gongxian Hutong with Xu Lingyi.

Yu Yiqing, Qian Ming, Zhu Anping and Luo Zhenda, the third master of the Luo family, had all arrived and were talking in the flower room next to the back seat. After everyone had greeted each other, Luo Zhenda accompanied Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang to pay their respects to the eldest master and the first wife.

Si Niang, Wu Niang, Qi Niang, Luo San Niang, and Luo Si Niang were sitting around the round table in the middle of the main hall, talking. When they saw the Xu couple come in, they all stood up. Wu Niang laughed and said, "That's great. We, the main masters, are here, but the guests are nowhere to be seen."

Only then did Eleventh Lady realize that Tenth Lady had not arrived yet.

She smiled and called out "Fifth Sister," and saluted with everyone. She was about to go into the inner room to greet the eldest wife when a little maid came in and announced, "Tenth Aunt is here!"

Everyone looked towards the door.

Shi Niang, wearing a black silk long-sleeved gown, walked in slowly, holding a seven-year-old boy at her side.

She had her hair in a high bun, her eyes were focused, her waist was straight, and her head was slightly raised, which made her look dignified and solemn.

"Tenth Auntie!" Grandma Luo immediately greeted her with a smile. Shi Niang nodded slightly and greeted everyone. Her voice was a little weak, and it seemed that she was a little short of breath, but she was well-mannered and introduced the child to everyone: "This is Chengzu."

Wang Chengzu has white teeth, red lips, a handsome appearance, and a pair of lively eyes. He looks like a smart child.

He saluted respectfully to everyone, and was even more cautious when he came in front of Xu Lingyi. He was very lively in front of Shiyi Niang, tilting his head and asking her: "Are you my Shiyi Aunt?"

Eleventh Lady's heart was slightly moved, but she did not show it. She nodded seriously and said nothing more.

There was disappointment in Wang Chengzu's eyes.

Eleventh Lady looked at this and sighed secretly in her heart.

I'm afraid this child is not an easy person to deal with.