There was a hint of coldness on Yang's lips.

Qiao Lianfang would sneer at her whenever she got the chance. She knew that the more she talked, the more chances she would make mistakes. But she never expected that she would ask the wife of Marquis Jianning to meet her. This was not an attack on her, but a challenge to the authority of Shiyi Niang.

After waiting for such a long time, today I finally caught Qiao Lianfang's handle. If I don't talk to Shiyi Niang in a nice way, Qiao Lianfang will really think I'm a sick cat!

She let out a long sigh and was about to take a step forward to speak when she heard Eleventh Lady's unhurried but slightly stern voice: "Aunt Qiao, although Aunt Yang is from the Yang family of Marquis Jianning, she is the Marquis' concubine. According to etiquette, concubines cannot entertain the Marquis' wife who has an imperial decree in the main hall. Aunt Qiao is from the Chengguo Mansion, don't you know this principle?"

Eleventh Lady had a calm expression, but her words were sharp, something she had never experienced since she married into the Xu family. Several concubines were stunned. Especially Qiao Lianfang, who was dumbfounded and did not react for a long time. The maids and old women in the room held their breath and did not dare to make a sound.

For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the room.

"Don't Aunt Qiao know this?" Eleventh Lady asked softly.

Madam Wen's heart trembled, and she took two steps back and stood next to the black painted floor-standing pillar. Madam Qin just blocked half of her figure. Madam Qin hunched her shoulders and looked at Shiyi Niang with awe, looking trembling with fear.

Eleventh Lady's cold voice echoed in the main hall, adding a bit of majesty. Qiao Lianfang came back to her senses with a start.

She had never been treated like this before, and she felt ashamed, and glanced at Yang, who was looking at her with sympathy.

Qiao Lianfang's mind buzzed, her face flushed red, and she hastily argued, "Madam, that's not what I meant. It's because the wife of Marquis Jianning is so evil that she wants to associate with our family as a legitimate relative. I was also worried about you, so I warned Sister Yang to behave herself..."

With a "bang", Eleventh Lady slapped her hand on the black lacquered square table beside her, and the tea bowls and lids on the table clinked.

"Aunt Qiao!" She raised her voice slightly and interrupted Qiao Lianfang. There was some resentment in her eyes when she looked at her. "Marquis Jianning is the Empress Dowager's younger brother, and the Marquis is the Empress's younger brother. They are in-laws and often visit each other. It is a sign of friendship and love. How can you say that you are hurtful? What's more, the wife of Marquis Jianning and I were talking in the main hall. Was Aunt Qiao present at that time?" Without waiting for Qiao Lianfang to answer, she asked aggressively, "How do you know what the wife of Marquis Jianning said to me? How do you know whether the wife of Marquis Jianning asked to see Aunt Yang?" As she spoke, she stood up and swept her eyes sharply over Aunt Wen, Aunt Qin and Yang - everyone lowered their heads obediently.

"You speak without restraint, spew evil words, and are always stirring up trouble. You don't have the chastity that a lady of good family should have." Eleventh Lady looked at Qiao Lianfang coldly, "Go back to your room right now and copy the 'Instructions for Women' a hundred times. When you have finished copying, come back to see me!"

Qiao Lianfang looked at Shiyi Niang with a dazed expression, as if she was frightened by Shiyi Niang's words.

When Mother Song saw that Qiao Lianfang did not respond in time, she immediately winked at another servant in the room. The two of them came forward, one on the left and one on the right, carried Qiao Lianfang and dragged her out.

Qiao Lianfang woke up.

"Luo Shiyi Niang," she struggled and blurted out the humble name, "How could you..."

"Deduct half a year's salary from her." Shiyi Niang interrupted Qiao Lianfang calmly and rationally, "Copy the "Legal Instructions for Women" three hundred times."

Her slender figure was as straight as a pine tree, and her slightly raised face had a cold expression, giving her a condescending air that instantly stunned Qiao Lianfang.

This Qiao is really bold. She even dares to call the Madam by her name in front of everyone. But she is of noble birth. Can she still be sent back to Duke Cheng's Mansion?

Mother Song was afraid that Qiao Lianfang would cause trouble again, so seeing that she was a little dazed, she quickly dragged her out of the main hall.

If she can't control Qiao Lianfang, then Madam will lose all her dignity.

Amber and Yanrong followed him out at the same time. One of them took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into Qiao Lianfang's mouth, while the other helped hold Qiao Lianfang down. The four of them pulled and tugged, and finally managed to get Qiao Lianfang back to her yard.

Eleventh Lady looked at the gently swaying door curtain and slowly sat down.

"When you go back, ladies, copy the 'Instructions for Women'," she said slowly, "and learn again what women's words, women's work, and women's virtues are!"

Madam Wen immediately responded respectfully, "Yes," and cooperated very well.

Yang's response was followed by Madam Wen's, and a trace of regret flashed across her face - she had seen Madam Wen hiding nearby before, but she hadn't expected that she would be the first to express her opinion, which made her lose an opportunity to show off. No wonder Wen was able to get along so well with Eleventh Lady.

She couldn't help but look at Aunt Qin.

Aunt Qin agreed timidly, but there was not a trace of surprise or panic in her eyes.

Yang's heart moved.

Eleventh Lady has brought the tea.

The three concubines knelt down and saluted, then filed out.

There was a hint of fatigue on Eleventh Lady's face.

"Madam!" Lu Yun stepped forward and helped her up carefully, "You should go back to the inner room and rest! The young master and young lady will come to greet you later!"

Eleventh Lady nodded, and the sound of hurried and crisp footsteps was heard outside.

Except Xu Sijie, no one else dared to run like this in her yard.

A smile appeared on Eleventh Lady's face.

The curtain was lifted and Xu Sijie ran in.

"Mom, mother, I'm done with school!" He threw himself into Eleventh Lady's arms.

The soft body warmed Shiyi Niang's heart.

"Where's my brother?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Sizhun walked in slowly with his schoolbag on his back.

He bowed to Eleventh Lady and said, "Mother!"

When Xu Sijie saw this, he quickly stood up and bowed to Eleventh Lady, imitating his brother's example.

Eleventh Lady ordered the maids to serve them tea and snacks.

Sister Zhen is here.

Lijingxuan was very cool in the summer. When Shiyi Niang didn't take her to the main hall to handle housework, she stayed in Lijingxuan.

Xu Sijie proudly performed the new piece he had learned to everyone.

Mother Song lifted the curtain.

Seeing the warm and cheerful scene in front of her, she hesitated for a moment. When Eleventh Lady motioned her to come over, she tiptoed over.

"Madam!" She whispered in Eleventh Lady's ear, "All the servants in Aunt Qiao's room have been put under surveillance. I assigned a maid to guard the main door and the inner door, and put away the hand towels, scissors and other things in the room." Then she paused and continued, "It's just that Aunt Qiao has been clamoring to see the Marquis... and she doesn't want to copy the "Instructions for Women."

"When she finishes copying the "Legal Instructions" three hundred times, she can leave the courtyard." Eleventh Lady smiled and applauded Xu Sijie who had finished playing the song. "When she can enter and leave the courtyard freely, she can naturally meet the Marquis."

Mother Song smiled and imitated Eleventh Lady's way of applauding Xu Sijie, and responded in a low voice.

Xu Sijie's face was full of excitement: "Mother, does it sound good?"

"It sounds nice!" Eleventh Lady laughed, "What song is this?"

"The partridge is flying." Xu Sijie said with a smile, "The teacher said that once I have mastered this part, I can learn the next part."

"Teacher said that this piece of music was taken from Mr. Taibai's "Viewing the Ancients in Yuezhong." Xu Sizhun smiled and interjected, "King Goujian of Yue defeated Wu and returned home, and the righteous men returned home in brocade clothes. The palace maids were like flowers in the Spring Palace, but now only partridges are flying."

"Oh!" Eleventh Lady looked very interested, "Is there such an allusion?" She just felt that Xu Sijie was making rapid progress.

"I know, I know." Xu Sijie interrupted Xu Sizhun, "What does the teacher mean by this poem?" He stood there shaking his head and telling the story, "Once upon a time there was a King of Yue named Gou Jian..."

Eleventh Lady listened carefully.

Mother Song retreated quietly without disturbing anyone.

* * * * * *

After returning from the evening meal with the lady, Shiyi Niang told Xu Lingyi: "Mrs. Qiao has been very noisy these days, so I punished her by making her copy the "Instructions for Women" three hundred times. She can leave the courtyard only when she finishes copying."

Xu Lingyi was a little surprised, but didn't say much. He just nodded, indicating that he knew about it.

In the middle of the night, Eleventh Lady was awakened by a sudden knock on the door.

She sat up, and Amber, who was on night duty, hurried in wearing a small dress.

"Madam, this is bad." She said with a serious expression, "Mrs. Qiao attempted suicide but failed."

Eleventh Lady's heart sank, and she took a deep breath before she could breathe again: "What's going on now?"

"The night watchwoman is watching over her," Amber said, "and she sent a maid to tell her that Xiu Li is crying and wailing there."

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said, "Let the little maid come in."

Amber agreed and turned around to call someone in.

Eleventh Lady asked her, "How did you find out that Aunt Qiao hanged herself?"

The maid's face turned pale, but she could still speak fluently: "Mother was standing guard outside the curtains when she suddenly heard a 'dong dong dong' sound from inside. She quickly lifted the curtains and saw that Aunt Qiao had found a piece of silk cloth hanging on the bed frame from somewhere, and was stretching her neck to put it inside."

Eleventh Lady understood a little. She said to Amber, "Go and prepare a three-foot-long white silk, a pair of scissors, and a three-ounce piece of broken gold to send to Aunt Qiao. Tell her that if she really doesn't want to live anymore, she should take these three things with her. I will send her to the temple tomorrow morning, and she can die however she wants. Otherwise, this three-acre land of the Yongping Marquis's Mansion will be defiled."

Amber and the little maid were both stunned.

"Madam, this is it..."

"Just do as I say." Eleventh Lady said, "Give these three things to the maid and ask her to place them on the incense table in the main room. When I send someone to see Madam Qiao off tomorrow morning, just let Madam Qiao take them with her. Also, reward the mother with five taels of silver and reward the little maid with one tael of silver." After she finished speaking, she let down the curtains.

Amber had no choice but to respond "yes" and left the inner room with the maid.

Eleventh Lady is a little worried.

If Qiao Lianfang insists on being stubborn, where should I send her tomorrow?

When I turned around, I saw a face with a surprised expression.

※

Unexpectedly, the MRI room of Union Hospital is closed on Saturdays and Sundays!

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