"Why do we need such good things?" Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "I have a piece of Songjiang flying flower cloth in my box. Use that to make socks for Jie'er!" Then she told Luyun beside her to open the box and give it to Aunt Qin.

Now that it has been awarded, there is absolutely no reason to take it back.

Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Then keep it for yourself!"

Eleventh Lady didn't want to upset Xu Lingyi, so she smiled and thanked him. In private, she couldn't help but nag at him: "The children are all grown up, and some things need to be carefully considered. Just now, since you rewarded Jie brother, you should also reward Yu brother and Zhun brother."

Xu Lingyi pondered and said, "Brother Jie is different. He is young!"

Mainly because he is my nephew!

Eleventh Lady thought of those maids who fawned on Xu Sijie in front of her but talked about him behind his back, saying that he was a man with an unknown biological mother.

She said implicitly, "There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. Rather than having our children feel sad when they think about how we treated them differently, it is better to treat them like our own children, being strict when necessary and doting when necessary."

Xu Lingyi thought about it, sighed and replied, "I know."

Eleventh Lady smiled and changed the subject: "This year, my fifth brother-in-law will be taking part in the imperial examination. I want to order a set of four treasures for him from Duobao Pavilion. What do you think?"

Xu Lingyi laughed as he listened: "It's no longer fashionable to send the four treasures of the study as gifts nowadays. It's fashionable to send a banquet for the 'number one scholar'. I think it's better to order a banquet from Chunxi Tower and send it over."

As he was speaking, a servant came in and said, "Master Ma is here!"

Eleventh Lady was secretly shocked when she heard this.

Ma Zuowen works in the Pedestrian Department. It is definitely not a trivial matter that he comes to visit Xu Lingyi so late at night!

Xu Lingyi's expression was also somewhat solemn.

Eleventh Lady helped him change his clothes and silently sent him to the gate of the yard.

After about an incense stick of time, Xu Lingyi came back.

He smiled bitterly and said, "The Emperor has decreed the cancellation of this spring's selection on the grounds that the Empress Dowager is in poor health. The imperial decree will be issued tomorrow."

The Empress Dowager's illness had not improved, so there were no fireworks in the palace on New Year's Eve or the Lantern Festival, and the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was therefore much less spectacular.

I didn't expect the emperor would use this as an excuse.

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised, and seeing that Xu Lingyi did not feel relieved, she asked in confusion: "Is there anything wrong? At least the Queen Mother knows what the Emperor means, and can't find an excuse to send someone to the Emperor!"

"I would rather she send someone to the emperor." Xu Lingyi said tactfully, "In the palace, there is the empress, the imperial concubine, and the recently favored Concubine Xu..."

Indeed, the emperor and the empress were married, and Ou became the imperial concubine in just two years, and Xu became the latecomer, so I'm afraid they are not easy to deal with. So Yang's daughter might not be able to get along well with them if she enters the palace.

The thought flashed through her mind, and Eleventh Lady's heart moved.

The Yang family has never had real power in the court. If the Queen Mother wants to keep the Yang family rich after her death, the only way is to marry into the royal family again. The Queen Mother will not give up on this matter. It has been more than three months since Fang Jieer got married, but there has been no good news. It is said that for this matter, Princess Fucheng personally went to Ciyuan Temple to burn incense and pray for Fang Jieer.

She couldn't help but hesitate and asked, "Are you worried about the eldest prince?"

Xu Lingyi nodded: "After all, the eldest prince is young. If the Queen Mother succeeds, I am afraid that he will be soft-hearted and let the Yang girl give birth to an heir. That would be troublesome!"

There is love at first sight, and there is love that grows over time. It's really hard to say about this kind of thing.

Eleventh Lady also felt that this was a rather troublesome issue.

Seeing that Shiyi Niang was distressed by what he said, Xu Lingyi smiled and comforted her: "Don't worry, I have sent someone to tell Shi Zheng. He is not a pushover. For the sake of the family's future, he will definitely make some plans."

I hope so!

Eleventh Lady didn't have any good ideas either. She sighed and prepared to rest with Xu Lingyi.

A servant ran in breathlessly: "My Lord, Master Zhou is here!"

The two were stunned.

The sound of boots rubbing against the ground could be heard from outside, and someone called out Xu Lingyi's name: "Yinghua, I have something to tell you!"

It turned out to be Zhou Shizheng who followed in.

Xu Lingyi put on his clothes and went to the hall.

It took a long time before I turned back.

"What's the matter?" Eleventh Lady went up to greet him.

Xu Lingyi's expression was somewhat grim: "Shi Zheng said that instead of letting the Yang family serve the eldest prince, it would be better to choose someone with outstanding character and gentle temperament from the Zhou family to serve the eldest prince."

Eleventh Lady was shocked: "So what do you mean..."

"I will go see the Queen tomorrow and tell her what the Zhou family means."

Obviously agreed with this decision.

Eleventh Lady remained silent.

Fang Jie'er has only been married for more than three months...

The next day, Xu Lingyi went to the palace and found Eleventh Lady sitting cross-legged on the kang embroidering.

The little maid came in with a smile and said, "Madam, there is a letter from Yuhang."

In mid-December, Luo Zhenxing sent a letter saying that they had arrived safely in Yuhang. The eldest master named the seventh master "Zhenhong".

Eleventh Lady swept away the depressed mood that had been in her mind since last night and hurriedly opened the letter.

This time, it was Luo Zhensheng who wrote the letter. In the letter, he told Shiyi Niang that Luo Si's grandmother gave birth to a daughter on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month. The eldest master was very happy and personally gave her a nickname "Ying Niang". He also said that everyone in the family was fine and told her not to worry about him.

It’s a daughter! The eldest daughter in the Luo family’s “Jia” generation.

Eleventh Lady calculated the date and found that Ying Niang was already one month old.

She called Hubo in, told her the news, and instructed her, "Send someone to make a red gold longevity lock with the inscription 'May everything go well' and a pair of bell anklets, and send them to Yuhang as a gift for Yingniang. Also, open the boxes and take the pieces of fine gauze awarded by the palace last summer, and send them over to make summer clothes for father, two uncles, and others."

Amber smiled and responded.

Eleventh Lady went to the lady's place.

Knowing that Fourth Grandma Luo had given birth to a daughter, the lady nodded continuously and said with a smile, "First the flowers bloom, then the fruits bear. This child comes at the right time!" Then she asked Mother Du to take out twenty taels of her own silver as a gift, "Please take it to Yuhang for me when the time comes." She also instructed Mother Du, "Say hello to Xiaowu's wife as well." This meant that she should give a gift.

This is to give face to Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady thanked him with a smile, had lunch at the old lady's place, and then helped her to rest before returning to her room.

At the end of noon, Xu Lingyi came back.

Eleventh Lady came forward and asked: "Have you had lunch?"

If you eat in the palace, you probably won't be full.

"I've eaten." Xu Lingyi took off his coat. "I ate at Shi Zheng's place."

"What did the Queen say?" Eleventh Lady helped Xu Lingyi wash his face.

"The Empress told Shi Zheng not to worry." He wiped his face, "She said the Emperor has his own plans."

The emperor has his own concerns. What concerns?

Eleventh Lady felt a little uneasy after listening to this.

Xu Lingyi scratched her nose and said, "Don't worry. It's a good thing anyway." He changed from the solemnity of yesterday to a cheerful and happy one. He asked her, "Why is it so quiet today? Where are Brother Zhun and Brother Jie?"

"Mr. Zhao is back." Eleventh Lady said, "Brother Zhun took Brother Jie to Mr. Zhao's place."

Xu Lingyi listened and thought: "How about letting Brother Jie go to Shuangfuyuan to study too! This way the two brothers will have a companion."

"Isn't it too early?"

Xu Sijie is only four years old this year.

"We don't expect him to learn anything." Xu Lingyi said, "Let him follow along for two years before he starts formal enlightenment."

He saw that during the Spring Festival, Eleventh Lady would hold Xu Sijie in her arms whenever she had time, and kiss him from time to time. He never saw her speak loudly to the child. He felt that she was too doting on the child and was afraid that Xu Sijie would become the second Zhun Ge.

Eleventh Lady remained silent. She decided to wait for Xu Sijie to come back and ask him if he was willing to go to Mr. Zhao with Xu Sizhun before making plans. However, she had a vague feeling that Xu Sijie would like to have someone to keep him company. Then she told Xu Lingyi that Fourth Lady Luo had given birth to a daughter.

"Then let's give more gifts in private." Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "Zhensheng is not as good as Zhenxing."

It’s because Luo Zhensheng doesn’t have many assets!

Eleventh Lady nodded and secretly took two hundred taels of silver over.

When Xu Sijie came back from Shuangfuyuan in the afternoon, Shiyi Niang asked him if he was willing to study with Xu Sizhun under Mr. Zhao, he immediately said loudly: "Mother, Mr. Zhao has a swing, a wooden horse, and a flute..."

Eleventh Lady laughed: "You only know how to play!" Then she stopped smiling and said seriously: "Then you have to get up early every day, even when it's windy, rainy, cold and freezing. Can you do it?"

Xu Sijie nodded repeatedly: "I will listen to my mother!"

"Okay then!" Eleventh Lady smiled, "I'll tell your father."

Xu Sijie shouted that he wanted to find Xu Sizhun: "I want to tell my fourth brother!" He looked impatient.

Eleventh Lady smiled and touched his head, then sent him to the lady dowager.

The lady nodded with a smile when she knew about it: "Fathers and sons fight together in battle, and brothers fight together to kill tigers." Xu Sizhun excitedly hugged Xu Sijie and rocked him back and forth, saying: "I'll give you that big red silk bag." He also said, "It's better than mine."

Xu Sijie nodded continuously: "Okay, okay!"

The lady looked at it and laughed.

This is how the matter was settled.

Xu Lingyi therefore gave Mr. Zhao double the tuition, and Mr. Zhao accepted it calmly.

Xu Sizhun began to come to call Xu Sijie to go to school early every morning, and then the two figures, one big and one small, slowly walked towards Shuangfuyuan, surrounded by a large group of maids and old women.

Eleventh Lady wanted to laugh just by looking at it.

I remember how nervous I was as a child.

I feel like they are not going to school, but just going there to kill time.

Not long after, the emperor's decree came down.

The eldest son of the emperor was named Crown Prince, and the former wife of the eldest son, Zhou, was named Crown Princess.

Eleventh Lady vaguely understood something and asked Xu Lingyi, "Did the Emperor intend to make his eldest son the Crown Prince at that time?"

"I have said this in front of the Empress." Xu Lingyi smiled, "But it is a matter of great importance. How can I dare to say anything until the last moment?" Then he said, "So I said you don't have to worry. Since the Emperor is unwilling to marry Yang's daughter, it is even more impossible for him to marry Yang's daughter for the Crown Prince. You know, the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, the future emperor."

Yes, no matter what the Empress Dowager plans to do, it will not work without the Emperor's approval.

Eleventh Lady felt slightly relieved.