Chapter 393 Play (Part 2)

"Marquis!" Eleventh Lady had no idea what was going on, and she couldn't help but feel a little hesitant when she called Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi listened and took two steps forward. His handsome face seemed a little softer than usual in the bright moonlight, which made Shiyi Niang wonder if she was dazzled and that was why she thought his expression was so cold.

"You can go back now!" he said softly.

It was no different from his usual stern yet gentle attitude.

Since Xu Lingyi doesn't want to say it, just ask Qiniang later!

Eleventh Lady responded with a smile, and the two of them returned to the house together.

Zhu Anping came to see her early the next morning.

"You know your seventh sister's personality best." He looked a little guilty. "She was so happy playing yesterday that she forgot the time. Although she didn't say anything, she still felt a little guilty. When she met the Marquis, she was afraid that the Marquis would blame the Fifth Madam, so she said those things in front of the Marquis in a pretentious manner. You should not take it to heart!"

Shiyi Niang was a little surprised, but she understood it after a while.

Judging from Xu Lingyi's expression yesterday, Qi Niang must have said something to make Xu Lingyi unhappy. Zhu Anping was smart and capable, so he must have sensed it. But if he ran to Xu Lingyi to explain, he would inevitably suspect that Xu Lingyi was narrow-minded, so he came to him to explain early in the morning.

"What did Seventh Sister say?" She thought for a moment and asked.

Zhu Anping was very surprised.

He didn't expect that Eleventh Lady would ask him so frankly.

Zhu Anping blushed slightly and said hesitantly, "Your Seventh Sister often said that the Fifth Lady in the mansion is one of the people who likes her best. The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and we are about to set off to Gaoqing. She wondered when she could come to Yanjing again. She wanted to invite the Fifth Lady to visit Huguo Temple and Baiyun Temple. She also wanted to try the rice cakes of Huguo Temple's 'Nian Gao Li' and the almond tofu of Baiyun Temple. So she made an appointment with the Fifth Lady yesterday morning to go to these two temples in two days. She was afraid that the Fifth Lady would accompany her out again and the Marquis would think that the Fifth Lady was too playful, so she hurriedly told the Marquis about this matter. The Marquis didn't say anything at the time, but just asked if you would still take care of Xin Jie'er. You Qi Niang felt guilty and yelled a few words. I also know that the Marquis would not take these trivial matters to heart. But I feel bad. I am really ashamed not to tell you about it. "

Qinniang is too eager.

Not only did she not keep her promise to come back on time, she even talked about going out again. Xu Lingyi might have felt that Qi Niang was too reckless, but he didn't necessarily mean to blame her.

"Don't take it to heart, Seventh Sister-in-law." Eleventh Lady comforted Zhu Anping, "As you said, the Marquis is a magnanimous person, he won't take these little things to heart. Besides, it's rare for Seventh Sister to come to Yanjing, and I don't have time to accompany her everywhere. Now that she and Fifth Brother's wife are getting along well, it's great that the two of them can go out together. As for Sister Xin, don't say that Fifth Lady is helping me to entertain Seventh Sister, even if she has something to ask of me, I'm so happy that my niece is so lively and lovely. Tell Seventh Sister not to take it to heart. When you set a date for the trip, just tell me."

Seeing how sincerely Shiyi Niang spoke, Zhu Anping felt even more uneasy, thinking that his wife was still as ignorant as a little girl. He quickly said a few words of apology and then stood up to leave.

Xu Lingyi came in from outside, sweating all over. Seeing the little maid putting away the teacups, he asked curiously, "Who is here so early?"

Eleventh Lady knew that he had practiced boxing in the backyard, so she ordered the maid to bring in warm water to help him bathe, and then told him what had happened: "... She quarrels with us for a few days every year. Maybe we won't be able to bring her here next year. Lord Hou, don't blame her for being speechless!"

Xu Lingyi took off his shirt, revealing his broad and strong chest. He walked into the bathroom with his arms bare, and said, "Got it."

However, Qi Niang no longer mentioned going to Huguo Temple and Baiyun Temple. Every day she just whispered with Fifth Lady or played with Xin Jie'er.

Eleventh Lady thought that the Mid-Autumn Festival would come in a few days. If she wanted to go to Huguo Temple and Baiyun Temple when she was busy, wouldn't it be a nuisance? It would be better to go earlier.

She took the initiative to talk to Qiniang about this.

"Forget it!" Qi Niang was a little unhappy, "I just can't stand his cold attitude that I've been mad at him for so long. I just came back late, and I didn't mean it. Besides, he treated me..." At this point, she said vaguely, "I don't care about it, why does he care about it when I encounter something?" Then she sat up straight and told Shiyi Niang, "You must be careful in the future. The Marquis is a person who likes to hold grudges."

Shiyi Niang felt that Xu Lingyi and Qi Niang were not meant to be together. Something that was originally going well always had some twists and turns.

She smiled and said, "If you want to go, go when I'm not busy these two days and can help you take care of Sister Xin. Otherwise, you can't go!"

Qi Niang hesitated after hearing this: "Let me think about it!"

Then he and the Fifth Lady discussed for a long time and decided to go to Huguo Temple tomorrow and Baiyun Temple the day after tomorrow.

Because it was daytime, Shiyi Niang took Xin Jie'er to her own residence.

She bathed her every morning, noon and evening, used a feather fan to fan her during her nap, and fed her eggs stuffed with minced meat... She also kept Xu Sizhen and Xu Sizhen, who had just finished school, to play with her. After taking care of Xin Jie'er for two days, Xin Jie'er asked Shiyi Niang to hold her whenever she saw her.

However, Xu Lingyi's eyes dimmed every time he looked at her.

Eleventh Lady is a good mother, but the child she holds is not her own.

Having gotten what she wanted, Qiniang packed her bags and returned to Gaoqing in late July.

Eleventh Lady also started to prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Xu Lingyi asked her, "Do you need help from the outer courtyard manager?"

"There are conventions for how to do things." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "The inner court is only responsible for drawing up the order, and the outer court is responsible for purchasing. It's pretty free."

She needed one working day to finalize the purchase list with the housekeepers in various places, and two working days to distribute the purchased items.

Xu Lingyi said "hmm" and said nothing more.

^

After a few days, I asked her, "Have you prepared everything for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Eleventh Lady was slightly surprised.

Xu Lingyi paid too much attention to this matter.

"Does the Lord have any instructions?"

`

"No!" Xu Lingyi said, "I think the weather has been good these days. If you are not busy, I would like to go to Huguo Temple to burn incense. It's almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, so it's good to go and pray for peace!"

Eleventh Lady could not hide her surprise.

+

Why did Xu Lingyi suddenly think of going to Huguo Temple to burn incense? There seemed to be no precedent for this in previous years? Or did something happen?

As she thought about it, she hesitated and said, "Me, and the Marquis?"

"Oh, no." Xu Lingyi paused as he brushed the teacup's lid and said softly, "I don't know how your affairs are arranged. Mother hasn't called."

In the cool and refreshing autumn season, the whole family went to Huguo Temple to pray for peace before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Eleventh Lady thought this was a good idea.

The children can have a good day of fun then.

"I don't have anything to do here." She smiled as brightly as Mayday. "You can come anytime!"

Xu Lingyi nodded indifferently, and took the opportunity to bring up this matter while drinking tea in the Madam's room after dinner: "...I haven't been to Huguo Temple for a few years. It's rare to have such good weather. I want to ask if you would like to go?" The Madam was very interested: "Sure! I haven't been to Huguo Temple for a few years either." Then she asked Madam Du to get the almanac, "Since it's for praying for blessings, we have to pick a good day to go."

Xu Lingkuan took the almanac from Madam Du and sat down next to the lady, flipping through it with her: "...Do we need to clear the road? Otherwise, we can go quietly. The last time my seventh brother-in-law and I went there, we went quietly. It was very interesting. We even saw monkey showmen... How about the fourth day of August? It's a good time to go out and travel far... Otherwise, we have to wait until the twelfth day of August. By then, it will be almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I'm afraid the Huguo Temple will be crowded... I think the fourth day of August is better..."

The Fifth Lady also happily came over after hearing this: "...It's too late to prepare on the fourth day of the New Year! There are so many maids and servants, and we have to arrange for the servants on the stove. Bring cups, bowls, plates, chopsticks, and the servants on the stove!"

Xu Lingyi, who proposed it, sat aside and drank tea without moving. "Didn't we also go to Huguo Temple to burn incense on the New Year's Day of the first year of Yonghe?" Xu Lingkuan didn't think so. "At that time, Chief Manager Bai helped to prepare it, and it only took two days." As he said that, he raised his head and looked at Xu Lingyi who had been sitting silently to ask Xu Lingyi's opinion, "Fourth brother, I think the fourth day is good." He then asked Eleventh Lady, "Fourth sister-in-law, which day do you think is good?"

If you want to go, go early.

Eleventh Lady also thought the fourth day was a good day and said with a smile, "I have never experienced such a situation before. If Chief Steward Bai can arrange the itinerary within two days, then the fourth day would be the best day to go."

Everyone's eyes fell on Xu Lingyi.

He said calmly, "Then let's do it on the fourth day! I'll let Manager Bai prepare. You can draw up a list of people to accompany you within one day, and Manager Bai will be able to make the arrangements then."

Xu Lingkuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and he discussed with his wife, "Mother, on the day of your birth, why don't you wear that autumn-colored gourd-shaped jacket with double blessings? It will make you look energetic and wealthy."

"Really?" the lady asked doubtfully, "Isn't it a bit too expensive?"

"No, no!" said the Fifth Lady. "The last time I went to Liangge's hometown to celebrate the full moon, the wife of Minister Wang of the Ministry of Works was wearing a deep red jacket with a pattern of cranes, auspicious grass, and five bats holding clouds."

"How can I compare with her?" said the lady, "She is ten years younger than me."

"If you don't tell me, who would have known it?" Xu Lingkuan tried to please his mother. "Just listen to me, and you'll be right."

-"Then I'll just wear that dress."

Xu Lingkuan and his wife nodded repeatedly and were talking happily when Xu Lingyi stood up abruptly.

Everyone was stunned and looked towards him.

"It's getting late, let's go!" Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "It won't be too late to discuss it tomorrow morning."

The lady stopped him and said, "...Zhe Ge and He Ge will have to say hello to Mr. Zhao. I think, why not invite Mr. Zhao as well? You see, he teaches Zhe Ge and He Ge, plays the flute, and makes river lanterns, so he must be quite good. Besides, it will be more lively with more people. Huguo Temple is so big, it would seem a bit deserted if we just wander around there."

/

I planned to update more, but the plans didn’t change fast enough, so I don’t have time to write today!