"My Lord!" Eleventh Lady didn't know 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 softer than usual in the bright moonlight, which made Shiyi Niang wonder if she was dazzled and that was why she thought his expression looked so cold.

"You can go back now!" he whispered.

It was no different from his usual attitude of being dignified yet a little gentle.

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

Eleventh Lady responded with a smile, and they both 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 having so much fun 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 bluffed and said those words in front of the Marquis. You better not take it to heart!"

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised, but she understood it after a while.

Judging from Xu Lingyi's expression yesterday, Qi Niang must have said something in front of him that made 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 and said hesitantly, "Your Seventh Sister often said that the Fifth Lady in the mansion was one of the people who liked her best. As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, we were about to set off to return to Gaoqing. She wondered when she could come to Yanjing again. She wanted to invite the Fifth Lady to visit the Huguo Temple and Baiyun Temple, and also try the rice cakes of 'Nian Gao Li' in the Huguo Temple and the almond tofu in Baiyun Temple. So she made an appointment with the Fifth Lady yesterday morning to go to these two places in two days. But she came back late yesterday, and she was afraid that the Fifth Lady would accompany her out again, and the Marquis would misunderstand 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 he would ask you to take care of Xin Jie'er. Your Seventh Sister was 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 talk to you."

Qinniang is too eager.

Not only did she not keep her promise to come back on time, she also talked about going out again. Xu Lingyi might think that Qi Niang was too presumptuous, 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 get along well, it can't be better for the two of them to travel 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 am so happy that she is my own niece, lively and cute. Tell Seventh Sister not to take it to heart. When you set a date for the trip, just let me know."

Seeing how sincere Shiyi Niang was, Zhu Anping felt even more uneasy as he thought his wife was still as ignorant as a little girl. He quickly said a few words of apology and then stood up to say goodbye.

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

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

Xu Lingyi took off his shirt, revealing his broad and strong chest. He walked into the bathroom with bare arms and replied, "I know."

However, Qi Niang no longer mentioned going to Huguo Temple and Baiyun Temple. Every day she only whispered with Fifth Madam 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, as if I owe him something. I just came back late, and I didn't mean it. Besides, he treated me like that..." 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 should 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 while I'm not busy these two days and can help you take care of Sister Xin. Otherwise, you won't be able to go!"

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

Then he whispered with the Fifth Lady 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, fed her eggs stuffed with minced meat, and even kept Xu Sizun and Xu Sijie, 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 children she holds are not her own.

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

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

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

"There are conventions for how to do things." Eleventh Lady smiled, "The inner courtyard is only responsible for drawing up the list, and the purchases are the responsibility of the outer courtyard manager, so it's pretty easy."

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

Xu Lingyi said "hmm" and said nothing more.

A few days later, I asked her, "Are you ready for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Eleventh Lady was slightly surprised.

Xu Lingyi paid too much attention to this matter.

"Does the Marquis have any instructions?"

"No!" Xu Lingyi said, "I see the weather is 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 would be nice 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?

While thinking, she hesitated and said, "Me, and the Marquis?"

"Oh, no." Xu Lingyi paused as he brushed the teacup's lid to remove the floating leaves. He said softly, "I don't know how your affairs are arranged. Mother didn't say hello."

In the cool and refreshing autumn season, the whole family went to the 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 west room after dinner: "...I haven't been to Huguo Temple for a few years. It's rare to have such good weather. I wanted to ask if you would like to go?"

The lady was very interested and said, "Great! I haven't been to Huguo Temple for some years." Then she asked Mother Du to get the almanac, "Since we are going to pray for blessings, we must pick a good day."

Xu Lingkuan took the almanac from Mother Du and sat next to the old lady, flipping through it with her: "...Do we need to clear the way by then? 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 old women, and we have to arrange for the kitchen staff, bring cups, bowls, chopsticks, and the cook and old women in the kitchen!"

Xu Lingyi, who made the suggestion, sat aside drinking 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 disagreed. "At that time, Chief Steward Bai helped to prepare it, and it only took two days." As he spoke, he looked up at Xu Lingyi, who had been sitting silently, and asked Xu Lingyi what he thought, "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 that the fourth day of the New Year would be a good day, and said with a smile, "I have never experienced such a great opportunity. If Manager Bai can arrange the itinerary within two days, then the fourth day of the New Year 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 the accompanying people within one day, and Manager Bai can make the arrangements then."

Xu Lingkuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and discussed with his wife, "Mother, on that day, you should 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 Liang Ge Lao's house to attend the full moon banquet, 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 a cloud."

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

"If you don't tell me, no one will be able to tell." Xu Lingkuan tried to please his mother, "Just listen to me, it won't be wrong."

"Then I'll wear that dress."

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

Everyone was stunned and looked at 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, "...Zhun Ge and Jie Ge have to say hello to Mr. Zhao. I think, why not make an appointment with Mr. Zhao as well? You see, he teaches Zhun Ge and Jie 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."

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I planned to update more, but plans cannot keep up with changes, so I don’t have time to write today!

⊙﹏⊙bSweat!