Chapter 402 New Year (Part 2)
The next morning, Eleventh Lady got up a little late. After she had washed up and sat down in the main hall, the Shao family arrived with New Year gifts.
She met two mothers in the main hall who came to pay their respects.
"Are my dear father-in-law and my wife in good health?" Eleventh Lady smiled warmly and signaled the maids to bring small stools for the two mothers to sit on.
The two of them half-sat on the stools humbly, and one of them replied to Shiyi Niang: "Please remember my madam. My master and my wife are both well. They came to give them New Year gifts and specially asked us to come along to greet my madam..."
The other one lowered his eyes and looked at the scene in the room.
The main hall is a three-room hall with black lacquer furniture, black lacquer floor-to-ceiling pillars, and royal blue curtains. In the middle hall is a painting of eight horses, and the table screen is a double-sided embroidery of blooming flowers. There are camellias as big as bowls in the vase. It is spacious and grand, and it is somewhat similar to the old house of the Shao family in Cangzhou.
Her eyes couldn't help but glance at the housekeepers standing nearby.
There were old and young, all wearing the same official green Lu silk bodice and having their hair in buns, but some wore hairpins inlaid with gems, some wore Western pearl and jade flowers, and some just wore two silk flowers made of velvet, and wore red gold and silk bracelets on their wrists. All of them stood straight with their backs straight and their faces solemn, more dignified and elegant than those of ordinary mistresses, yet more respectful and obedient than those of a third-class maid.
She was slightly surprised and glanced at Shiyi Niang quickly.
The wife of Marquis Yongping looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. Her dark hair was casually tied up in a bun. She wore a half-new scallion green jacket with gold streaks all over it. Her eyes were as bright as apricots, but there was a hint of weariness between her brows, as if she had not slept well.
The thought flashed through my mind and I was immediately relieved.
The New Year is approaching, and the mistress of every family who is in charge of the imperial feast would be very busy, let alone a family as rich as that of Yongping Marquis.
While thinking, I saw my companion stand up: "Thank you, ma'am!"
She quickly stood up, knelt down and saluted with her companions, then retreated with a maid who was about sixteen or ten years old and dressed very decently.
"Two mothers, please follow me!" The maid spoke in a soft voice, with a friendly and easy-going smile.
She heard her companions call the maid "Miss Green Cloud" and said, "You can just ask a little maid to take us there. How dare you trouble me to drive you."
"Mom, you don't have to be polite to me." Lu Yun smiled, "Since I'm here to pay my respects to Madam on behalf of my mother-in-law, it's the same as if my mother-in-law is here." Then she led them to sit at the square table in the side room and asked the maid to boil two pots of Jinhua wine, "...to accommodate the distinguished guests from Cangzhou."
She knew that they were invited to have dinner, so she smiled and thanked them.
Luyun said some polite words like "you've had hard time on the journey", and when the food and wine were served on the table, she stood up and said goodbye with a smile.
She watched Lu Yun leave through the glass window. Just as she was about to sit down at the table, she saw two maids carrying a handsome young man in coarse clothes and cloth shoes in.
Outside the house, a little maid shouted in surprise: "The Second Young Master is back!"
The servants in the room all looked outside. She stood at the window and looked carefully, then asked the little maid in the room with a smile: "Is it the second young master who is studying in Le'an?"
The little maid nodded repeatedly: "It is the second young master who is studying in Le'an. Our young master passed the county exam last year and will take the provincial exam this year."
"I thought you would be back in two days." After Xu Siyu finished his greetings, Shiyi Niang smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to come home today."
Compared to the last time he left home, Xu Siyu had grown taller and was more calm in his movements.
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded: "I'm glad you came back safely!" Then she stood up and said, "Grandma has been thinking about you all the time, go and say hello to her!"
Xu Siyu agreed and followed Shiyi Niang to the lady's place.
When the lady saw Xu Siyu, she happily took his hand and asked him directly, and then asked Madam Du to invite Xu Siyan and Xu Siqi.
Mr. Zhao's school would be closed after Laba, and would not resume until the second day of the second month of the following year. During these days, Xu Si'e would either come to Xu Si'e's place to play, or Xu Si'e would come to Xu Si'e's place to play. The two brothers would either practice playing the flute together, or learn characters, recite books, and do rope skipping, and they had a lot of fun.
Xu Sizhen and Xu Siqi walked in, surrounded by a dozen maids and old women.
Xu Sinian was quiet and beautiful, while Xu Siqi was graceful and bright. They wore the same royal blue and mouse-gray fur jacket and stood side by side. They looked like people in a painting. They were so beautiful no matter how you looked at them, which made the smile on the lady's face even deeper.
The two brothers respectfully saluted Xu Siyu and stood beside the lady, looking at Xu Siyu with curiosity in their eyes.
Maybe because he expressed his affection for Xu Siyi last time he came back but was rejected by Xu Siyi, this time Xu Siyu just stood quietly five steps away from the lady and looked at Xu Siyi and Xu Siyi with a friendly smile.
The three brothers stood facing each other in silence.
Xu Sizhen pursed his lips slightly, and asked Xu Siyu in a low voice with a little timidity: "When will my second brother return to Le'an?"
Everyone was surprised and their eyes fell on Xu Sizhen with complicated expressions.
Xu Sizhen felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by so many people. He was about to speak when Xu Siyu smiled and said, "I will return to Le'an after I finish taking the prefectural exam next April."
After hearing this, Xu Sizhen smiled slightly and said, "Does second brother have time to go ice skating with us in Xiyuan?" Then he looked at Shiyi Niang a little embarrassedly.
Two days ago, Eleventh Lady asked Xu Lingkuan to take the two children to Xiyuan for ice skating. It was originally a matter of asking for favors, but now he took the initiative to invite Xu Siyu to go. Although he knew that Eleventh Lady would not be angry, he still felt a little uneasy.
Eleventh Lady immediately gave Xu Sinian a big smile, but her heart was filled with infinite emotion.
With Mr. Zhao's guidance, Xu Sizhen has become more and more sensible. He even knows how to greet Xu Siyu.
The happiest person was the old lady. Before Xu Siyu could answer, she laughed and said, "Okay, okay, okay. You all go. I'll talk to your fifth uncle. Let him take the guards from home to take you there."
Xu Siyu's mouth slowly spread into a faint smile: "Thank you, fourth brother. I haven't been to Xiyuan for many years. This time I just went along to see what's going on."
Xu Sizhen breathed a sigh of relief and laughed happily: "We are only going for one day. It shouldn't interfere with your brother's study."
"Mr. Jiang said that learning is not something that can be accomplished overnight, and it won't be later than today."
As the two were talking, Xu Si'e looked at the happy Xu Si'en, then at the smiling Xu Siyu, and started laughing too.
The lady brought tea and said, "You must be exhausted after coming back from such a long journey. Go down and have a good rest. Come to Grandmother's place for dinner in the evening."
Xu Siyu smiled, said a few polite words, bowed and left.
Xu Sizhen pulled the lady's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Grandma, we are making lanterns."
Ever since the river lantern won first place, Xu Sizhen and Xu Siyi have been looking forward to making lanterns during festivals.
The lady laughed so hard that she couldn't help saying, "Go! Go!"
Eleventh Lady also patted Xu Sizhen's shoulder with a smile.
Xu Sinian was overjoyed and ran away holding Xu Siqi's hand.
The lady smiled and pointed to the kang opposite for Eleventh Lady to sit on.
"After the Chinese New Year, Brother Yu will be fourteen years old!"
Eleventh Lady nodded.
The lady asked again, "The maidservant who follows him is called Wenzhu, right?"
"Yes!" Shiyi Niang smiled, "You picked it yourself that year. You have been with Yu Ge'er for the past few years, and you have been careful and cautious, so nothing big has happened!"
The lady smiled and said, "Brother Yu is older now. You have to worry about some things too."
Worried? Worried about what? Are you worried that Xu Siyu and Wen Zhu will secretly develop feelings for each other?
Sometimes children don’t think too much about it and it’s the adults who make a fuss about it and complicate things.
Eleventh Lady nodded: "I will take a closer look."
The lady nodded with a smile, chatted with her for a few words, and went to the Buddhist temple.
Eleventh Lady didn't know where to start.
She called Wenzhu to ask for no reason. If this had not happened, wouldn't it make Wenzhu feel wronged? If this had happened, she might not be able to get any information. If she asked someone else, they might not know the answer, and it would only make things worse. But if she didn't take advantage of the days at home to clarify this matter, when she arrived in Le'an, the mountains were high and the emperor was far away, and they would be unable to do anything.
I simply discussed it with Xu Lingyi in the evening.
Xu Lingyi laughed when he heard this.
Eleventh Lady said coquettishly, "What's so funny about this! Mother's worry is not unreasonable."
"You little fool!" Xu Lingyi pinched her nose gently, "Mother is asking you to help Yu Ge'er prepare a personal servant!"
"A personal servant!" Eleventh Lady finally understood.
It turned out that what the lady said was completely different from what she worried about.
She sat up suddenly: "Yu Ge'er is only thirteen years old this year, no, twelve years old..."
Eleventh Lady was ashamed.
There is a sense of guilt that I am destroying young seedlings.
How could such a smart person be so dumbfounded when faced with such a thing... He thought of the time when Eleventh Lady had just married him. At such a young age, she was calm and generous, ready to deal with any challenge, but when it came to private matters, she was completely confused...
Xu Lingyi's mind moved and he felt his body getting hot.
He stretched out his arms and took her in his arms.
"I'm not asking you to put someone in his room right now." Xu Lingyi bit her round earlobe gently, and said vaguely, "Just keep an eye on him now, and we'll talk about it after the New Year..." His hands gently rubbed her graceful curves that rose and fell like mountains, "He's grown up, he will inevitably be curious..." His body quickly became excited, "Rather than being seduced into getting involved with someone of questionable character, it's better to help him prepare..." His underwear was taken off, revealing the flawless white skin on his shoulders, "It's just that, he will be able to restrain himself after he knows it..." As he spoke, he had already broken in gently and firmly.
Eleventh Lady frowned slightly, and it took her a moment to adjust.
"Well, let's talk about it after a few days!" Her voice was slightly breathless, "Yu Ge'er is still young!"
Xu Lingyi hummed, savoring the delicate and exquisite ecstasy on her body, and suddenly thought of Shiyi Niang's tenderness. He kissed her temples softly, but his body was reluctant to slow down, and instead he moved in and out of her body more and more wantonly...
I saw in the comments that a friend's starting point coins were stolen. If I put myself in their shoes, I would be anxious and angry, but I don't know what to do. Fortunately, a friend left a message saying that you can buy starting point coins on Taobao, only buy two or three yuan each time, use them all at once, and then buy more when you need them. I think this is also a preventive measure. I recommend it to everyone here. I also want to ask everyone to help give ideas and see if there are other equally effective methods.
ps: There will be an additional update today, but it will be very late, so everyone should get up early tomorrow morning to read it!