Mother Tao walked in slowly.

Eleventh Lady sat on the kang with her blanket wrapped around her. Her black hair was casually tied up in a bun, and she was wearing a rose-purple jacket, which made her face look particularly crystal-clear, without any sign of being pregnant. Next to her, Xu Lingyi was wearing a casual Buddha-head blue Hang silk gown, with bright eyes and a spirited look. The few people who served Eleventh Lady closely were all there. They were either serving Eleventh Lady or taking care of the flowers and plants in the house. Everyone had a happy smile on their faces, and the house was full of vitality.

Mother Tao looked a little dazed.

I haven't seen this scene for many years.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that ever since Yuanniang got married, there have been all kinds of things that have made people feel unhappy, and this kind of joy has never appeared again.

Seeing her come in, everyone nodded and greeted her.

Mother Tao smiled slightly, stepped forward, bent her knees and saluted to Eleventh Lady: "Fourth Madam!"

Eleventh Lady has gone through so much trouble, but she just wants to leave. If she chooses to leave, she will not only fail Yuanniang's trust, but also watch Zhun Ge fall into the wolf pack like a lamb and be slaughtered by others. What is the difference between that and letting her die? If she chooses not to leave, she will face disgrace and be driven out of Yongping Marquis Mansion in humiliation. She will also watch Zhun Ge being handed over to the ill-intentioned Eleventh Lady. Then she will be more miserable than dying. In this case, what is the difference between leaving and not leaving?

"You've spent so much time and effort just to make me resign on my own initiative." She looked at Shiyi Niang with a smile, and her expression was no longer hypocritical. Her brows were filled with the tragic heroism of "knowing there is a tiger in the mountain, but still going there". "Otherwise, you should have spread the news of Tao Cheng's arrest yesterday, and then sent mother to question me and drive me out..."

All the sounds in the room stopped abruptly, everyone looked at each other, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.

Xu Lingyi frowned slightly, looked at Shiyi Niang worriedly, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Eleventh Lady gave him a "I'm fine" smile.

Xu Lingyi whispered, "I'm just outside," then lifted the curtain and left.

Only then did Mother Tian and the others dare to file back, leaving Amber and Yanrong to serve on the side.

"Mom, you're right!" Eleventh Lady lazily leaned on the large ink-dyed pillow, looking at Mother Tao with clear and pure eyes, "I was indeed concerned about the Luo family's reputation, so I didn't do anything yesterday and left a way out for you."

In the face of her questioning, Eleventh Lady was so straightforward, which made Mother Tao feel a little scared. She couldn't help but straighten her back: "What if I don't leave?"

Eleventh Lady smiled and picked up a big red cherry from the crystal plate: "Mom, are you trying to negotiate with me?"

"I dare not negotiate terms!" Mother Tao looked at Eleventh Lady with a cold gaze. "Although the Fourth Lady's methods are brilliant, she is like a sparrow who does not know the ambition of a swan. How could I be the kind of person who only cares about my own safety and ignores the difficulties of my master..."

Eleventh Lady laughed when she heard this.

"I really can't understand your lofty ambitions." She interrupted Mother Tao. "However, when I think about the fact that Manager Tao is still short of two thousand taels of silver from the public treasury, Mother has not touched a single needle or thread in the eldest sister's room. I really admire her."

Mother Tao was stunned when she heard this.

Eleventh Lady said: "Mother, you are able to abide by your duty, which is admirable. Moreover, it was Tao Cheng who embezzled the public funds. Although he is your son, mother lives in the Marquis' Mansion, so it is inevitable that she may be negligent."

As she spoke, she looked at Mother Tao with her sharp eyes.

"Manager Tao is now involved in a murder case. You are Manager Tao's mother, so you must be worried about your son's safety. I think it would be better if you move to the farm in the next few days. Manager Tao owes the company money, so for your sake, I will temporarily help to pay it off. Write me an IOU, and when my eldest brother returns to Beijing from Yuhang, we will discuss what to do.

"Lu Yonggui often goes out and sees a lot. I'll say hello to him and let him accompany you to handle the lawsuit of Manager Tao. I'll also tell Manager Zhao in the Hui Office that if you have any difficulties, you can also ask him to come forward. Getting into a lawsuit is always a bad thing. In order to avoid someone making a fuss about this, it's better to say in front of outsiders that Manager Tao is seriously ill. For your loyalty, I specially allow you to go to the farm to take care of him and help him deal with some daily affairs on the farm. When Manager Tao is released from prison, it's a good time to rest and calm down.

"When this incident has passed and the prince is getting married, you can come back and help him take care of the internal affairs, so that you can live up to my eldest sister's entrustment."

Every time Eleventh Lady spoke, Mother Tao's face darkened. By the time she finished speaking, her face had turned ashen.

It's a good thing. You dug a hole and asked me to jump into it. Not only should I jump in obediently and break my legs, but I should also be grateful and spread your kindness everywhere.

How can you be so ungrateful after getting an advantage?

She was so angry that veins popped out at her temples. She raised her eyebrows and was about to speak when she heard Eleventh Lady's voice again.

"Mom, we have been together for two or three years. I dare not say anything else, but I think I have done a good job in 'honesty and keeping promises'. You have to think carefully about some things." She warned, "Going to the farm can not only save Tao Cheng's reputation, but also allow you to come back with a clear conscience when the prince gets married. If you don't go to the farm, and Tao Cheng gets into trouble, you will be too ashamed to bear it, and it is not impossible that you will commit suicide because you can't think straight for a while."

"You..." Mother Tao gasped, her face turning pale and blue.

Eleventh Lady brought tea and said, "I heard that the old men in prison often bully the new inmates, and some of them confessed under torture. Manager Tao's matter cannot be delayed. Mom, go back and pack the boxes! Then say goodbye to the prince, and get to the farm before dark!"

Mother Tao was so angry that her whole body was shaking and she stood there for a long time without coming to her senses.

Amber and Yanrong exchanged glances, and held her on the left and right: "Don't be sad, Mom, Manager Tao will be lucky, nothing will happen to him!" Then they dragged her out.

Eleventh Lady took a long breath and felt a little tired.

Xu Lingyi walked in. Seeing that she looked unhappy again, he touched her head and asked, "Are you tired?"

Eleventh Lady shook her head and said, "Why is it so difficult to eliminate a person's prejudice?" She looked very emotional.

"What happened?" Xu Lingyi thought of Mother Tao who was dragged out, and half-hugged her in his arms as if to comfort her.

Perhaps because of her pregnancy, Eleventh Lady often feels lack of energy.

She leaned softly in Xu Lingyi's arms, whispering to him how Tao Mama fanned the flames, how Zhun Ge was ignorant of the ways of the world, how she had asked Lu Yonggui and Yang Huizu to persuade Tao Mama, and how she had asked Chief Steward Bai to find two yamen runners from Shuntian Prefecture to detain Tao Cheng in the firewood room in the outer courtyard: "... I also know that in terms of loyalty, Tao Mama is the most loyal to Zhun Ge'er. But she is too narrow-minded and can't tolerate trivial matters... Zhun Ge'er is at an age where he doesn't quite understand... It would be better to let her live with her son on the farm for a few days. When Zhun Ge'er is older and knows how to distinguish right from wrong, it won't be too late to bring him back to serve him..."

Xu Lingyi frowned at first, but when he heard that Lu Yonggui and Yang Huizu had deceived Mother Tao, a smile appeared in his eyes. When he heard that Tao Cheng was just locked up in the woodshed, he couldn't help laughing: "Luckily, I met Mother Tao, a woman from the inner house. If it was someone else, they would have found out by asking in Shuntian Prefecture. How could they have been fooled by you!"

"If it were someone else, they certainly wouldn't use such a strategy." Eleventh Lady laughed, "Do you think Tao Cheng will really get into trouble because of Mother Tao's matter?" As she spoke, she thought of Zhun Ge's attachment to Mother Tao, and her tone was a little weak, "A journey of a thousand miles tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's true character. After a few years, when Zhun Ge grows up smoothly, Mother Tao's knot in her heart will be untied."

Xu Lingyi thought of how good Eleventh Lady was to the children and kissed her forehead affectionately.

* * * * * *

Mother Tao asked the maid to help her pack up the boxes and went to Shuangfuyuan herself.

Xu Sizhun was in class. When he saw Mother Tao looking for him, his face was full of surprise.

"Brother," Mother Tao looked at his painted eyes and felt that she could never see enough. Thinking back to when she was working under Yuanniang, she had made countless promises to the maids and old women. How could she believe the promise of Eleventh Lady? After this departure, the chance of coming back is slim. She originally thought that it was just the word "death", so she made up her mind to fight to the death. Now that Eleventh Lady asked her to leave Yongping Marquis Mansion in a dignified manner, she did not want to give up even if there was a glimmer of hope. "Tao Cheng broke his leg when he went back last night," she said the excuse that Amber told her, "Madam asked me to go back to see Tao Cheng and help him manage the farm. I will be back when he is better!"

When Xu Sizun heard the "Oh!", his face was full of worry: "Brother Cheng, is everything okay? I have some 'Sanqi' in my warehouse. I'll ask Chaxiang to pack some for you to take back." As he said that, he was about to call Chaxiang.

"Brother, slow down!" Mother Tao held Xu Sizhun back, "I'm in a hurry to see Tao Cheng. I have a few words to tell you."

"What does mom want to tell me?" Xu Sizhun looked at Mother Tao with clear eyes.

Mother Tao couldn't help feeling sad when she saw this.

She whispered to Xu Sizun, "Now that the Fourth Madam is pregnant, the Madam and the Marquis are all thinking about her. You have to take care of yourself in the future. If you are undecided, send a servant to ask me at the farm. You have to remember this. In the Yongping Marquis's Mansion, besides the Marquis, the most honorable person is the Crown Prince. So, I don't know how many people are eyeing your position as the Crown Prince and want to snatch it from you. You must not be careless. Also, don't eat anything given by others casually; don't go to remote places; take your maids and old women with you wherever you go; if you want to leave the mansion, you must get the Marquis's consent..."

Xu Sizhun listened carefully and felt that there was something wrong with what Mother Tao said.

"Mom," he interrupted Mother Tao, "You are wrong. Mother said that I was born a prince and no one can take me away. Why do you say that someone wants to take my princehood away from me?"

Mother Tao looked up and saw that Yanrong, who came with her, was already showing impatience.

She didn't have time to explain to Xu Sizhun. She could only hurriedly say, "You have to remember that if you have a green mountain, you will never be afraid of running out of firewood. If you are wronged in secret, don't get angry easily, you have to endure it, don't let the lady and the marquis think you are spoiled. But if someone is rude in front of you, you must report it to the lady and the marquis to make the decision for you."

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I’m stuck on the writing…so until now…⊙﹏⊙bSweat!

PS: Tonight’s update will be even later, so why not wait until tomorrow!

Excuse me!