Xu Lingyi knew about this and looked unhappy: "There's no need to make room for Yang. After all, Wen is also an advanced family."

"But I have already given the order." Eleventh Lady has always been prepared for trouble, thinking that if the Yang family was dissatisfied, she could use this as an example to argue with the Yang family.

Xu Lingyi didn't know what to say after hearing this. He thought for a moment and said, "The palace gave away a batch of official porcelain a few days ago. There was a nice set of peach blossom enamelware. Ask Chief Steward Bai to bring it in and give it to Wen Shi!"

That's fine.

With Xu Lingyi's reward, the maids and old women in the mansion would no longer think that Madam Wen had lost her power.

Eleventh Lady agreed with a smile.

Xu Lingyi asked her about her afternoon visit to the Madam to discuss the March 3rd banquet: "...Is everything settled?"

"It's all settled!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "The list has been handed over to the Hui Office. We will host a banquet in the Flower Hall and invite the Changsheng Troupe to perform for a day. Fifth brother's wife will accompany the Madam to entertain the guests, and I will prepare the banquet and tea."

She was in mourning and it was inconvenient for her to attend such a banquet. But if she just left it alone, she was afraid that the lady would be too tired and her body would not be able to bear it.

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly and said, "If you have anything to say, just tell Madam Du and Madam Song! They both hosted the March 3rd Spring Banquet with Madam Tai in the past."

Eleventh Lady, however, suggested that Zhen Jie'er also come to help: "...The Shao family is large and powerful, with many sons and daughters. Zhen Jie'er will be the eldest son's daughter-in-law when she marries in. In addition to managing the household, she will also be required to socialize with relatives, friends, and neighbors. I want her to learn some experience in managing the household from today, so that when she marries in the future, she won't be flustered and have no rules when encountering problems, and be looked down upon by her mother-in-law."

"Okay!" Xu Lingyi felt that it was time for Zhen Jie'er to learn how to be a housekeeper. "Just make the decision on this matter!"

On the day of March 3, Zhenjieer came with Xiaoli early in the morning and watched Shiyi Niang deal with the mothers. Shi Mama accompanied Xinjieer to Lijingxuan. The Taifu and Wufu entertained the guests in the flower hall. Only Yongchang Hou, Weibei Hou, Zhongqin Bo and other frequent guests and Madam Jiang were invited.

Among the guests, some who knew that Xu Siyu had passed the county examination sent him some pens, ink, paper, or the Four Books and Five Classics. Some who did not know about it just said "congratulations" after hearing about it, and later sent him some pen holders, inkstone warmers and the like.

Two days later, Xu Siyu's old house was renovated and Madam Wen moved in.

Eleventh Lady, surrounded by maids and old women, went to see Madam Wen's new residence. In front of everyone, she gave Xu Lingyi's reward to Madam Wen: "... I told you to move in and decorate your house."

Madam Wen was also a woman of experience, and she immediately placed the plum vase and flower vase on the long table in the main hall.

The pink color adds a lot of color to the room.

The maids and old women's eyes lit up even brighter, and they all congratulated Madam Wen.

Madam Wen was smiling happily and kindly invited Shiyi Niang to have tea.

Qiao Lianfang gritted her teeth after hearing this: "What a good person!"

Aunt Qin ran straight to Aunt Wen and said, "Why are you doing this? If I had known this would happen, I would have switched places with you."

"You want to trade with me, but I don't want to trade with you." Aunt Wen smiled and said, "My house has just been painted, and I've changed the window screens and curtains. It's a hundred times better than your house."

Aunt Qin held Aunt Wen's hand and burst into tears: "We haven't even entered the house yet, and you're asking you to give up the room. If we enter the house, we won't all be dead! We have to think of a way!"

Madam Wen's lips twitched slightly when she heard this, and she couldn't help but taunt her, "Could it be that this Madam Yang who is about to come in is prettier than our Madam Qiao?"

When Aunt Qin listened, her face turned red. She stammered a few words and then stood up to leave.

Eleventh Lady went to see the courtyard prepared for Yang.

The walls were whitewashed, repainted, and peach-pink curtains were hung. A picture of peonies and young chickens was hung in the middle hall, and a blue-and-white plum-branch flower vase was placed on the long table. It looked festive and brand new.

Two days later, Manager Bai had prepared bedding, cushions and other items. Eleventh Lady also selected two maids to do the rough work, and finally everything that needed to be prepared was ready.

However, Xu Siyu proposed to return to Anle at this time.

Xu Lingyi agreed with great pleasure, and ordered Eleventh Lady to prepare a generous gift for Xu Siyu to take to Le'an, and set the date for departure on the tenth day of March.

As a result, the next day, Aunt Qin fell ill.

Xu Siyu went to see his biological mother.

Aunt Qin was lying on the bed weakly. When she saw Xu Siyu, tears immediately fell from her eyes.

Xu Siyu hesitated for a moment and knelt on Qin's bed.

When Cui'er saw this, her face turned pale and she hurried to pull Xu Siyu, and Aunt Qin also struggled to sit up.

"Get up, get up."

Xu Siyu insisted on kneeling there and whispered, "Aunt, don't worry, as long as I graduate from high school, my father will not forget me."

When Aunt Qin heard this, her tears fell even harder.

"But is it so easy to pass the imperial examination? Aunt Yi said that the third lady's father took exams all his life but still failed to pass the imperial examination!"

"I know!" Xu Siyu lowered his voice a little, "But not everyone is like this. Look at my uncle's family. My grandfather was a Jinshi, my two great uncles were also Jinshi, my eldest uncle was also a Jinshi, and my fourth uncle was not only a Jinshi, but also a Tanhua Lang... Aunt, I will also pass the exam!" He said with a resolute look in his eyes, "Then I will be like Mr. Jiang, even though I wear coarse clothes, no one dares to look down on me..." At this point, he saw Aunt Qin's eyes widened, and she looked shocked as if she had seen a ghost. His eyes dimmed and he stood up, "Aunt, you should take a rest. I'm leaving first!"

"Second Young Master..." Aunt Qin covered her face and started crying.

Xu Siyu left without looking back.

The sun is shining brightly outside, and the alley paved with bluestone slabs has a quaint tranquility.

Several little maids came over from the other end of the alley with smiles on their faces. When they saw him, they all looked serious and bowed respectfully, "Second Young Master!"

Xu Siyu straightened his back, nodded slightly, turned around and walked up the steps to the hall.

Behind me came the sound of discussion as faint as a mosquito.

He knew that they were talking about him; he also knew that this group of maids were cleaning the yard for Yang, the fourth concubine who was about to be brought into the family by his father.

After leaving the hall, he couldn't help but look up at the sky.

The sky was divided into a square piece by this courtyard, unlike in Le'an, where it was boundless and the clouds turned into a peony flower and a horse at another moment.

"When two people meet in a narrow road, the brave prevails. This applies to both difficult situations and people's luck." Mr. Jiang's words suddenly struck his mind. "You have a weak foundation, but fortunately you are hardworking. Go back this time and pass the county exam and come back. Next year, take the prefectural exam. Three years later, take the imperial examination."

Now that I think about it, could it be that Mr. Jiang had already calculated that he could pass the county exam but not the prefectural exam?

Thinking of this, he wanted to meet Mr. Jiang even more urgently.

* * * * * *

After seeing Xu Siyu off, the family began to prepare for Yang's marriage.

Although we say we are preparing, there is actually nothing to prepare.

There was no need to wear red and colorful clothes, nor to hold a grand banquet. Just send a blue velvet sedan chair with four green palace lanterns to carry the guests in at the beginning of the day, and then set up four tables of banquets in the outer courtyard. Moreover, on the twelfth day, Xu Lingyi went to the outer courtyard to handle some trivial matters as usual, and then went to the home of Lord Wang Li - Wang Li had just returned from Fujian after inspecting on behalf of the emperor.

He had lunch at Wang's house and came back after noon.

After changing clothes and washing up, Prince Shun, Ma Zuowen, Lord Jiang, and Yu Yiqing came down from the court. Everyone was noisy and said they hadn't eaten yet. Just as they sat down after asking for wine and food, Qian Ming, Luo Zhenda and others arrived one after another. Everyone greeted each other and talked about the situation in Fujian these days. The atmosphere was very lively.

Compared to this, the inner courtyard was much quieter.

The second wife came to accompany the old lady in worshipping Buddha in the morning. The old lady stayed for lunch. The two of them were lying on the kang and talking about Mr. Zhao: "... You can see that Zhun-ge is very different now. I heard that he is editing a book. I told the fourth brother that if Mr. Zhao finishes editing this book, we will help print 2,000 copies. Then we will give one copy to each relative and friend."

"I heard that Mr. Zhao was a juren." The second wife asked, "Why didn't he continue to take the jinshi exam?"

"It is said that he failed the exam twice." The lady said, "Madam's dowry was quite a lot. She just wanted to wait a few years. I think this is a good idea. By then, our brother Zhun will be grown up."

"It is a kind gesture to help someone in need." The Second Madam pondered, "How about bringing Mr. Zhao's family here? It's just more food!"

The lady nodded: "Your idea is good!"

As they were talking, Mother Du lifted the curtain and came in.

"Xin Jie'er is fine. She had a cough last night, but she's fine now. Fifth Madam took her to the garden to bask in the sun." Then he said, "I ran into Si Xi, a new maidservant of Fourth Madam. She was instructing the maidservants to move flowers and trees, saying that they were for Madam Gan's family. She looked very organized."

The lady laughed and said, "I didn't expect that Shiyi Niang and Fuzhen had such a fate." She then asked Si Xi, "Who is Shiyi Niang's maid?"

Mother Du nodded: "Bring Xiulan to the eldest lady's room, and a girl named Xiu'er came in, and then there is this one called Sixi."

The second wife subtly reminded the lady-in-waiting, "You should also have two people come into your room." As she spoke, her eyes swept over Wei Zi and Yao Huang.

Both of them lowered their heads in panic, their faces red as the sunset.

The lady laughed and said, "I know that Eleventh Lady is good at judging people, but it's a pity that she has something to do today. Otherwise, we could call her over to discuss it."

"There's no rush." ​​The Second Madam smiled and said, "We have to wait until she's done with this busy period."

At this time, Eleventh Lady was sitting on the big kang by the window in the inner room.

"...I am still in mourning, so I am afraid that it will affect the wedding. I will stay in the west room. Just come over and give me a cup of tea. Madam Wen will take care of the rest!"

Madam Wen smiled and replied “yes”.

A maid ran in and said, "Madam, Manager Bai asked me to come and tell you something. The sedan chair will be sent out in a quarter of an hour."

Eleventh Lady smiled and said to Madam Wen, Mother Song and others standing in front of her: "Xu is an auspicious time. You all should go and get ready!"

Madam Wen and the others bowed and left the inner room.