Eleventh Lady whispered what had happened to the Dowager Lady, who smiled and told the maids to serve the meal.

Xu Siyu hurriedly helped the lady to the east room.

The lady asked Xu Siyu: "This year's March 3rd was originally held for you. Do you have any classmates or friends you want to invite?"

"No!" Xu Siyu said with a smile, "My grandson's classmates and friends are all in Le'an."

The Fifth Lady laughed and said, "A few days ago, the eldest grandson of Zhennan Mansion came to invite you to go outing. Why, you don't plan to invite him?"

Xu Siyu smiled and said, "Mr. Jiang originally told me to return to Anle after passing the county exam so as not to delay my studies. I have postponed my trip back to Anle, and I can't miss my studies anymore. I have to study at home these days. I have accepted the invitation from the eldest grandson of Zhennan Prefecture, and I am afraid that there will be more invitations. Instead of spending my time on this, I might as well read a few more pages of books at home." He looked like he didn't want to interact with others much.

The Fifth Lady was a little surprised.

There was a faint smile in the second lady's eyes.

The lady nodded: "What our brother Yu said makes sense."

As they spoke, everyone sat down in a circle, and the maids carefully set the table.

Everyone fell silent and lowered their heads to eat. Only the slight sound of banging porcelain was heard in the room.

After dinner, the group moved to the west room to drink tea.

Big red gauze lanterns were hung under the ceiling, shining on people's faces, making them look joyous.

Xu Siyu talked about what he had seen and heard along the way, and the Madam Tai and the children listened with great interest. The Second Madam sipped her tea quietly from her teacup, without making a sound. Zhen Jieer followed Shiyi Niang in inviting everyone to drink tea, eat snacks and fruits. The Fifth Madam was a little absent-minded, and from time to time she touched Xin Jieer's forehead and whispered to her wet nurse about Xin Jieer's condition - Xin Jieer had coughed a few times just now.

Although the room was a bit noisy, it was also warm and lively.

As the sky gradually darkened, the second wife stood up and said goodbye.

The lady left Eleventh Lady to serve her until she rested, and everyone else left.

"You can go and rest in peace." The lady comforted the Eleventh Lady, "Princess Fucheng was also a noisy girl when she was young, but now that she is older, her temper has calmed down a lot. If the Empress Dowager goes too far, Princess Fucheng will not just tolerate it. The Fourth Prince is not really dull, he still knows how to advance and retreat. What's more, the Emperor is here - the Emperor is not confused about important matters."

Maybe he was afraid that she would worry because Xu Lingyi hadn't come back yet!

Eleventh Lady responded with a smile, covered the lady with a quilt, blew the octagonal palace lantern at the bedside, moved the melon-shaped palace lantern on the kang table to the small table next to the floor-standing cage, and when she saw Wei Zi coming in with bedding, she returned to her own courtyard.

The wind of the early spring night still retains the chill of winter. A crescent moon hangs in the sky, and the Yongping Marquis's Mansion is hazy and quiet. The big red lanterns hanging under the eaves sway in the wind, like naughty children playing, about to collide and then separate, moving happily non-stop.

Eleventh Lady tucked her cloak in and walked quickly into the hall.

The maids hurried forward to help her change clothes and wash.

Eleventh Lady changed into her homely clothes, leaned on the pillow on the kang by the window and drank a cup of tea comfortably. She was thinking about whether to wait for Xu Lingyi to come back, when the little maid ran in: "Butler Bai is here!"

At this time!

Eleventh Lady thought of Xu Lingyi entering the palace... a trace of panic flashed across her face that she herself did not even notice. She ordered the maid to invite Manager Bai in, and then she put on a jacket and went to the hall.

Chief Steward Bai's face turned pale, and he hurried forward and bowed: "Madam, there is an imperial decree from the Queen Mother!"

Eleventh Lady felt a little uneasy.

"knew!"

Then she told the maids to report to the Dowager Lady, the Second Lady and the Fifth Lady, called Amber, went back to the room to change into a dress, and hurried to the Dowager Lady.

In the quiet night, the main door of Yongping Marquis's Mansion slowly opened with a dull "creaking" sound, and the lights in the backyard also lit up one by one as the door opened. Soon, the whole mansion was brightly lit.

The lady looked solemn: "The fourth one hasn't come back yet?"

"No!" Just as Eleventh Lady opened her mouth to promise, Second Lady said, "Don't worry, mother. If it concerns the Marquis, it must be the will of the Emperor, not the Imperial Order."

The old lady nodded, and the fifth lady stepped forward to support the old lady, and the group went to the courtyard in front of the small living room behind the main hall.

The person who delivered the decree was the chief eunuch of the Cining Palace. Seeing the concubines of the Xu family, he looked a little embarrassed, bowed to the lady-in-waiting, and unfolded the bright yellow brocade with colorful phoenix patterns.

"The third daughter of Yang Zhong, the cousin of Marquis Jianning, has learned etiquette since childhood, and has a quiet and leisurely appearance. She is from a prominent family and is well-known in the imperial court. She is given to Xu Lingyi, the Marquis Yongping, as a concubine. The auspicious day is March 12th."

The feminine voice was as silent as a stone sinking into the sea.

The eunuch coughed lightly uncomfortably and called out "Madam" for help.

The lady's face was pale. She knelt there with her hands on her knees and did not stand up for a long time.

Seeing a trace of panic flash across her face, the Fifth Lady hurriedly stood up to help the Lady Dowager.

The second lady looked a little stern.

The imperial decree had been issued, so how could he not accept it? Besides, kneeling like this wouldn't solve the problem! If the Queen Mother heard about it, she would be charged with another crime.

She reached out to pull Shiyi Niang.

This is the matter of the Fourth House. Only after she receives the imperial edict can the Lady Dowager come to terms with it.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she raised her hand, Eleventh Lady, who was kneeling in front of her, stood up.

"Thank you for your hard work, eunuch." Eleventh Lady smiled and stepped forward to receive the order. She winked at Chief Steward Bai who was kneeling outside the door, "The Marquis is still in the palace, and the Fifth Master is on duty. I would like to ask you to condescend to the side hall to have a cup of tea."

The eunuch heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and handed the imperial edict to Eleventh Lady as if it were a hot potato. He first stepped forward and bowed to the Madam Dowager: "Madam Dowager, it's getting late, I'm going back to the palace to report. I'll come to pay my respects to you another day." Without waiting for the Madam Dowager to reply, he bowed to Eleventh Lady again: "Madam Yongping, I'll take my leave first." After saying that, he winked at the eunuch who was following him, and walked out of the courtyard.

Manager Bai hurriedly followed, bowed and walked with him out, while stuffing something into his hand.

The Queen Mother would not give in to the life and death of the Yang family, and she would not compromise. Eleventh Lady had been prepared for this. Unknown things always make people feel worried and afraid. The moment she heard the imperial decree, she felt a sense of relief and calmness as if the other shoe had finally dropped.

Thinking of the lady's expression, Eleventh Lady turned around and supported the lady's other shoulder: "Mother, I will go back with you!"

The lady tightly grasped the hand that Eleventh Lady was holding and nodded gently.

The Fifth Lady immediately let go of her hand and tiptoed aside.

The lady raised her head and glanced at the second and fifth wives, and said solemnly, "You all should go back and rest! There's no need to accompany us in this crazy thing!"

This is extremely disrespectful.

The Second Madam and the Fifth Madam lowered their heads and nodded in unison. They stood where they were and watched the backs of the Madam and the Eleventh Lady, who were surrounded by maids and old women, gradually disappear from their sight. Then they went their separate ways.

* * * * * *

Eleventh Lady looked at the Madam's hesitant expression and didn't want to embarrass her, so she took the tea from Madam Du and offered it to her. "No matter what the Emperor or the Marquis thinks, since the Empress Dowager has issued her decree, there is absolutely no reason to take it back. Otherwise, where is the dignity of the royal family? Where is the majesty of the Heavenly Family? Don't worry, Madam. I know the importance of this matter and will act prudently. I won't let outsiders laugh at our Xu Family."

The lady took the teacup and put it aside. She had nothing to say. She held Eleventh Lady's hand and sighed, "You are a good and sensible child..." She could not say anything else.

"Since the bride has been granted marriage, the date has been set urgently, and there are still many trivial matters to be done. This is the first time I have encountered such a thing, and I don't know what the etiquette is. I am afraid that I still need your guidance on everything." Eleventh Lady smiled and stood up, "Mother, I will serve you for a while!"

The lady shook her head gently: "You go and take a rest! I will drink this cup of tea before going to sleep."

For the Xu family, who had been avoiding Yang, the marriage of Yang's daughter was not something worth celebrating. Moreover, the news came so suddenly that the lady-in-waiting also had to think about the future.

Eleventh Lady smiled and reminded the lady-in-waiting a few words like "go to bed early", and then was sent out by Mother Du.

Seeing that she looked solemn and thoughtful from time to time, Amber moved lightly and stared sharply at the maids and old women who were accompanying them, fearing that they might make some noise and disturb Eleventh Lady.

A group of people followed Shiyi Niang silently, passed through the corridor, and stopped in front of the courtyard gate.

Eleventh Lady stood on the steps and looked at the brightly lit courtyard without saying a word for a long time.

In the huge courtyard, the only sound is the rustling of the treetops in the night wind.

"Madam!" The courtyard gate was a vent, and it would be bad if she caught a cold. Someone might think she was sick from anger or pretending to be sick. Amber tiptoed forward and called Eleventh Lady softly, "Do you want me to get you a cloak?"

Gently remind her that it's windy here.

Eleventh Lady said "Oh" and said, "No need. Let's go inside!"

Amber breathed a sigh of relief.

Then I heard Eleventh Lady say, "You said, when the new bride comes home, should she live in a separate place or with us? Logically, she was rewarded by the Empress Dowager, and is different from ordinary concubines, so it should be reasonable for her to live in a separate place. If that's the case, she can only live in Liufangwu, Zhaozhuangtang or Nongxiang Pavilion on the west side of the garden. Liufangwu is close to the water and not very safe, and Nongxiang Pavilion is a bit simple, and I'm afraid people will say she's neglecting us... Live with us," she said, glancing at the side rooms around her, "After all, she's a concubine, so she can't live in the front yard. Live in the back room? What are you going to do? Live in the East Courtyard with the concubines, and Concubine Wen lives in the first wing facing south. Can't you ask Concubine Wen to move her to another place?" She breathed a sigh of relief, "What a troublesome thing!"

What on earth is Madam thinking? Why is she not sending someone to find out what happened in the palace? Is the Marquis safe? She is worrying about all this!

Amber was furious when she heard this, and it took her a long time to calm down. She whispered, "We should always ask the Marquis for his opinion on these matters!"

Eleventh Lady seemed not to understand the meaning of her words and nodded: "Then let's wait until the Marquis comes back before making a decision!" Then she quickly walked into the house.

※

PS: In my impression, the Tongsheng exam requires three exams, so I wrote it according to my impression. Later, I saw the comments in the comment area, and then I was lazy and checked Baidu. I thought I was wrong, so I changed it. I felt something was wrong when I woke up in the morning, so I checked the "Ming History", and then I found that my statement was wrong. I revised it again.

Ultimately it’s because my basic skills are not strong enough!

⊙﹏⊙b sweat

We apologize for any inconvenience caused! Please continue to point out any mistakes!

Thanks!