Chapter 403 News (Part 1)

Now that this is the case, things will be much easier.

While Wenzhu was coming to receive the New Year's reward, Shiyi Niang kept her to talk.

"…You are older than the Second Young Master, and you are a girl, so you are careful. There are some things that I can only tell you." She sent the servants away. "When a goose flies, it leaves its voice behind; when a person passes, he leaves his name behind. The Second Young Master is in Le'an, and he has Mr. Jiang above him and his classmates below him. You must watch him carefully and don't let him go astray. Otherwise, the Second Young Master's future will be ruined. You who follow him will also be ashamed!"

Wen Zhu's face flushed purple upon hearing this, and she immediately knelt down in front of Shiyi Niang: "Madam, I swear..."

"I trust you." Eleventh Lady interrupted her and held her hand, "That's why I told you quietly. Whatever it is, as long as it is legitimate, you can be justified. You are a smart person, you should know what I mean!"

Wenzhu was confused and could only nod randomly. A gust of cold wind blew in his face, and he realized that he had left the lady's yard without knowing when.

Seeing that Wenzhu was a sensible person, Shiyi Niang breathed a sigh of relief and devoted herself to preparing for the Spring Festival.

On the twenty-fourth day of the twentieth month of the lunar calendar, people offered sacrifices to the stove god, replaced couplets and peach charms, dusted and cleaned the house, and hung lanterns and decorations to welcome the New Year.

Eleventh Lady captured Madam Wen and asked her to help Amber distribute the red envelopes to each room.

When Madam Wen saw Luyun making brown sugar water for Shiyi Niang, she sighed slightly and went back to tell Qiuhong, "No matter how strong a person is, he cannot defeat fate. Look at Madam, you have everything first, but it is difficult to have children. How guilty should you be?"

Amber was also secretly anxious.

On New Year's Eve, she worshipped the Bodhisattva and secretly promised to eat vegetarian food on the first and fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Eleventh Lady just felt a little tired.

First, she prepared for the New Year, and on the first day of the new year, she went to the palace early in the morning to pay New Year's greetings. Madam Huang of Yongchang Hou and Madam Lin came with her to play cards with the lady dowager. Although she did not have to stand by and serve, she could not hide in the house. Only in the evening did she have the chance to take a bath.

Xu Lingyi asked someone to light up four or five braziers in one breath.

"Do you want to be clean or do you want to die?"

Although the room was as warm as spring, it was also stuffy.

Eleventh Lady coughed and laughed, "It has to be clean!"

Xu Lingyi had no choice but to have the brazier moved away, changed the blanket to a thick one and held her while she slept.

"Fortunately, you don't have to go out these few days." The Luo family lives in Yuhang, so they don't have to visit relatives on the second and third days of the Chinese New Year. "Just rest at home. If mom asks, just say you're not feeling well."

Eleventh Lady nodded and soon fell into a deep sleep.

On the second day of the New Year, Xu Lingyi went to sit with Yu Yiqing and Qian Ming alone. On the third day, he started to entertain people who came to pay New Year's greetings in the outer courtyard.

Eleventh Lady was happy to take a break from her busy schedule, and she and Xu Sizhen and Xu Sizhen roasted silkworms with silver frost charcoal. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, she felt better, and then she changed into a small red silk-carved jacket to entertain guests at home. They chatted and laughed, and soon the Lantern Festival arrived.

After watching the lanterns and putting away the big red lanterns used for the festival, Shiyi Niang went to the residence of Marquis Zhongqin.

Madam Gan asked the maid to bring two jars of basil.

"I was the best at this when I was a girl. When my old uncle was alive, I thought it tasted bad, so I didn't make it for a few years. This year, I had nothing to do, so I made more than ten jars in one go. One for you and one for Master Jian. You two can taste my cooking skills."

Shiyi Niang smiled and let Luyun take it.

"The shop is ready to open on the 18th of the first lunar month." She discussed with Madam Gan, "Master Jian wants to recruit a few more experienced hands to specialize in patching."

"You guys just make the decisions on these matters." Mrs. Gan said with a smile, "My eldest brother came during the Chinese New Year and knew we had made money. He looked at me differently." She smiled happily, "I was so proud. Two days ago, my sister-in-law came to discuss my niece's marriage with me, as if I had suddenly become capable."

Eleventh Lady laughed.

Madam Gan asked Shiyi Niang, "My niece is twelve years old this year. She is good-looking and has good character. Please see if there is anyone suitable and keep an eye on her."

Eleventh Lady thought of Grandma Lin: "The Shao family has many boys, but it's a pity that they are far away in Cangzhou." She also thought of Madam Zhou: "The Wang family also has many children."

"Please help me find out. My sister-in-law will take a close look at it when the time comes."

The two chatted for a long time, and Eleventh Lady had lunch at Madam Gan's place before coming back.

Who knew that Mrs. Zhou had been waiting in the house.

"It's not good for me to stay at home. I have nowhere to go if I go out." She wore a royal blue brocade jacket with embroidered patterns. The ruby ​​earplugs on her ears sparkled and reflected her cheerful face. "I'm afraid people will ask me."

It doesn't look like there is anything sad.

Eleventh Lady invited her to the inner room to talk in private: "What happened?"

Mrs. Zhou smiled.

Although no one was in the room, she lowered her voice a little: "The one in our family actually wanted to buy off my mother. I took advantage of her and let her get close to me as she pleased.

As a result, she was diagnosed with pregnancy yesterday." As she spoke, her eyes lit up.

"Now the princess knows. I can't escape a reprimand from the old man. I was afraid that he would lose face, so I came out to avoid him."

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised. She didn't expect that Mrs. Zhou's "previous opinion" was actually like this.

"That child..." She couldn't help but ponder.

"See what the princess means!" Mrs. Zhou picked up the teacup and took a sip. "This Tieguanyin is delicious!" She first praised the tea, and then said, "If you kill the son and keep the mother, she will never give birth again!" Mrs. Zhou's eyes flashed with a cold light. In ancient times, giving birth was very dangerous, not to mention abruptly terminating the pregnancy, which would cause more accidents. "Keep the son and kill the mother," Mrs. Zhou said with a hint of sarcasm, "I will raise her to be whatever I want!"

Eleventh Lady sighed softly in her heart and changed the subject: "My hometown sent me some wild geese. Sister, please stay for dinner!"

"Okay!" Mrs. Zhou was in a good mood and said with a smile, "Let's go greet the Madam first, and then we can have a good chat as sisters."

Eleventh Lady smiled and accompanied her to sit with the Madam. When she came back, she mentioned that Madam Gan had a niece of the right age. Madam Zhou promised to help keep an eye out for her. After dinner, Eleventh Lady sent her to the Chuihua Gate and watched her carriage go away before returning to the house.

A few days later, news came from the Zhou family.

Yang died of hemorrhage caused by miscarriage.

"Who told you that?" Upon hearing this, Yang from the Xu family's face turned pale and she grabbed Mother Yang's hand tightly.

"I heard it from the maid in Madam Wen's room." Mother Yang's eyes were filled with tears.

"When Zhou's mother came over, Madam Wen was helping with the accounts in Madam's room."

"How could this happen?" Yang stared at Mother Yang in a daze, muttering to herself.

"How could Fifth Sister, who is such a smart person, end up like this..." As she spoke, Qiao Lianfang's dull expression suddenly appeared in her mind. Yang jumped up in panic, "Mother, mother, where is the pattern of my set of baby candy opera pictures? Please help me find it. I want to embroider a small blouse for Madam..."

Eleventh Lady stopped sewing and yawned, then asked Xu Lingyi in a sleepy voice:

"What did the Third Master say?"

"Talk about Brother Qin and Brother Jian." Xu Lingyi took the letter and looked up to see the weariness that Shiyi Niang couldn't hide. "There are no good teachers in Shanyang. The two children's studies have been delayed in the past two years. I want to send the two children back to Yanjing to study." Then he touched her forehead. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" His tone was very gentle.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but yawn again: "I don't know why, I have been feeling very tired since the New Year."

"Spring sleepiness, spring sleepiness," Xu Lingyi laughed, "It's natural to feel sleepier in spring." He then said softly, "Let the maids do whatever you need, and go to bed early!"

Eleventh Lady nodded, curled up in Xu Lingyi's arms, and soon fell asleep.

Xu Lingyi looked at her peaceful face and couldn't help laughing. He kissed her cheek carefully before blowing out the lights and stopping.

The next day at noon, Dr. Liu came over.

"The Marquis said that the Madam is not feeling well, so I came to take a look." Through the curtains, Doctor Liu felt the Madam's pulse with a handkerchief over her wrists. He smiled and said, "The Madam's pulse is steady and strong. Maybe it's because spring has come and she's feeling sleepy."

Xu Lingyi felt relieved.

Eleventh Lady took advantage of the good weather and asked the maid to pack out the examination basket, examination curtain, and small bag for food that Xu Siyu had taken last year. Xu Lingyi saw it and said with a smile: "He won't take the exam until April, it's too early to pack these now."

"The weather has been good these days." Seeing that he didn't take it seriously, Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Besides, I took these into the examination room last year and passed the county exam smoothly. So I took them specially and will use them this year to get some of last year's good fortune."

The couple stood in the spring breeze and talked for a few words, and then Xu Sinian and Xu Siqi came.

The two of them bowed respectfully to Xu Lingyi and then went to the side of Eleventh Lady.

One said, "The teacher said that a year's plan begins in spring. So take us to climb the West Mountain tomorrow, and then talk about what we plan to do this year."

One of them said, "Mom, we are going to climb the Xishan Mountain. We have to bring some food. Let's make some Toon Pancakes!"

Eleventh Lady embraced the younger one and said to the older one with a smile, "You two should make a list of the things you want to bring, and I will prepare them for you according to your list."

The two of them entered the house cheering.

Eleventh Lady was intoxicated by the spring breeze and yawned with her hands covering her mouth.

Xu Lingyi looked at it with a slight movement in his heart.

It's already the beginning of February, and there's still no news about Eleventh Lady...

As soon as I thought of this, I felt like I was being fried in oil, but I couldn't show it. Was it because my life was delayed? Or...

"Go back to your room and rest!" He resisted the urge to touch her. "It's not a good idea to keep dozing off like this for so long."

Eleventh Lady laughed and said, "It's just the beginning of the twelfth month, how can we go and rest now?"

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we go sit with mom? We won't go there for dinner later. Are you going to bed early today?" He was talking about negotiation, but he didn't wait for her to come.

Eleventh Lady agreed and called Amber to look after Xu Sinian and Xu Siqi, and then went to the Dowager's place. Eleventh Lady thought that he had good intentions, so she sat with the Dowager's place for a while, came back to have dinner, fell asleep until dawn, and then, for the first time ever, drank a bowl of millet porridge and ate two meat buns. She felt energetic again.

Xu Lingyi looked at it and sighed inwardly.

It seems that I guessed wrong...

O(∩_∩)O~Additional update for February 27th! I am slowly paying off my debts…．