Tao Cheng went to Yanjing to see his mother. When he was going back at night, the carriage overturned and fell into the ditch. He is still unconscious. Mother Tao hurried back to the farm. Even the boxes and the rewards from the lady, Shiyi Niang and others were sent to the farm by Lu Yonggui in fits and starts.

Mother Tao had not been in charge for a few years. Her departure caused headaches for the maids and women in Yuanniang's former residence. First, Shiyi Niang sent Zhu Xiang to take over the property of Yuanniang's former residence. They were busy for a while, looking at the account books and putting the furnishings in the house into the warehouse. Just when things calmed down, Mother Wang, who was the second-class manager under Yu Mama, the manager of the warehouse, was sent to take care of things here. Everyone tried to get close to her and use their connections, fearing that they would lose their jobs. There was chaos again for a while. When things settled down, news came from the outer courtyard that the second young master Xu Siyu had passed the provincial examination. Several people who were familiar with Qin Yi Niang had to go and congratulate her.

Aunt Qin managed to deal with it reluctantly. After finally sending the group away, she said to Aunt Yi who stayed behind, "Now that Madam Tao is gone, these people have lost their former arrogance and actually come to me to ask for rewards. In the past, they would never even look at us mother and son. This is in line with the old saying, 'Thirty years in the east, forty years in the west'."

Aunt Yi held up the teacup and smiled, "There are many people who add icing on the cake in this world, but few who help in times of need. After so many years, you still haven't let it go!" Then she talked about Xu Siyu, "I heard that you will be returning to Le'an in two days, why don't you take the examination in one go. The second young master is not young anymore. If he has the title of a scholar, it will be easier to get married."

"There are so many scholars in the world, what's so rare about this one?" Thinking that her son had been drifting further and further away from her since he went to study in Le'an, Aunt Qin didn't like this topic very much.

Aunt Yi also knew what she was thinking, so she smiled and changed the subject, talking about the Taifu's birthday: "...It should be a big celebration this time, right? The Fourth Madam is pregnant!"

"They said they would only invite a few lovers on that day." Aunt Qin shook her head. "Madam has been feeling unwell since she had the baby. Madam Tai originally did not plan to celebrate her birthday, but it was the Marquis who called Fifth Master to discuss the rules."

Aunt Yi sighed and said, "It's been four months already. Why is she still not feeling well? Is she really feeling unwell or is she just pretending? I watched Madam Tao leave and the Marquis didn't say anything. He probably took her into consideration because she's pregnant!"

"Who knows if she is really uncomfortable or just pretending to be uncomfortable." Aunt Qin said with a smile, "As long as she is uncomfortable for one day, the Marquis and the Dowager Lady will worship her like a Bodhisattva. If I were her, I would just hope that the days would pass slowly." At the end, there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "Otherwise, if the baby is born to be a girl, I am afraid that the Dowager Lady and the Marquis will not be so kind."

Aunt Yi laughed when she heard this: "It's just a pity for Aunt Yang. She wanted to make a small jacket for Madam to play with, but she worked day and night and almost went blind."

* * * * * *

Mother Yang advised Yang: "You should at least take a break!"

Yang looked at the twenty or so little children in various poses that she had embroidered and felt a little frustrated: "I didn't expect it would take so much effort." She took the cassia seed and mulberry leaf drink from Yang's mother's hand and drank a few sips with a frown.

"How about we change to embroidering ten kinds of brocade?" Mother Yang helped Yang to sort out the messy embroidery threads while whispering, "Add some auspicious grass, brushes, inkstones, and it will be nice to make a swaddle for a child!"

Yang was somewhat tempted.

"The fourth lady has been pregnant for more than four months. She should be well by June at the latest." Mother Yang continued to persuade Yang, "Then the Marquis should be relieved. You don't talk to the lady at this time. When the child is born, if it is a son, it will be fine. If it is a daughter, the fourth lady will probably arrange for a maid to sleep with her instead of a concubine. Besides, we only told the outsiders that we were making something small for the lady, and we didn't say it was a jacket embroidered with a hundred children playing. This is not considered as taking shortcuts."

Yang thought for a moment and made a decision: "Just do as mother says. The most important thing now is to talk to the lady."

Mother Yang hurriedly went to get some clear paper and Yang began to draw the pattern again.

Madam Wen was extremely happy holding a bellyband she had embroidered with the words "Year after year of abundance". She said to Qiuhong, "If I keep going like this, by the time the eldest daughter gets married next year, I will be able to embroider two sets of clothes for the children!"

Qiuhong covered her mouth and smiled.

Madam Wen ignored her and happily told Donghong to put the things away. She took out the bellyband pattern of "Twin Lotuses" that she had asked Binju to draw a few days ago, and let Qiuhong start so that she could continue embroidering according to it.

Wan Yizong's eldest son and youngest daughter both worked in the mansion. Wan Yizong's family wanted someone to take care of their son and daughter, so they asked Bin Ju to rent a house next to Yongping Marquis's mansion with their grandson. Because Bin Ju had parents-in-law above her, uncle and aunt below her, and she had a son as her first child, everyone thought she was lucky. Every family liked to ask her to help with weddings and funerals. She was straightforward and skillful. Gradually, the maids and young wives in Yongping Marquis's mansion liked to ask her to draw patterns and give them some advice on needlework. She also took the opportunity to take some work from the wedding shop and share it with these little maids, so that these little maids could earn some snack money. Gradually, she gained some reputation among the women and servants in Yongping Marquis's mansion.

When Madam Wen wanted to learn needlework, Qiuhong thought of her first and asked her to draw patterns.

She responded with a smile, and sat on a small stool beside Madam Wen, sewing on the pattern on the paper, and whispered, "Madam, when I went to Sister Binju's place, I met Sister Amber and Sister Zhuxiang. The three of them were locked in the room and whispering!"

Qiuhong wouldn't say this for no reason.

Madam Wen leaned over and asked, "Did you hear what was said?"

Qiuhong also came over and said, "From the accent, it seems that Madam Du wants to find a marriage for Amber, so Madam asked Wan Daxian to inquire about it. In the end, Amber disagreed, and Binju and Zhuxiang are trying to persuade Sister Amber."

"What a mess." Aunt Wen laughed as she listened, "Please explain clearly. Which boy did Madam Du introduce to Hupo? Why didn't Hupo agree?"

"I don't know why they disagreed." Qiu Hong pouted, "I just heard Manager Bai mentioned vaguely, and it seemed like someone related to Manager Bai."

Madam Wen's mind started to work rapidly.

Speaking of which, Qiuhong is not young anymore, but because she watched Qiuhong grow up, she always felt that this was not good enough and that was not satisfactory. She was afraid that Qiuhong would be wronged, so she kept her until today.

Madam Du came forward, and it was related to Manager Bai, and the one she was talking about was a maidservant beside Shiyi Niang, who was a hundred times better than an ordinary servant, even if she was not very good. Since Binju and Zhuxiang advised Amber, it was probably not about her character, but because they were afraid of being associated with Manager Bai, which would make people afraid.

She thought for a moment, got off the kang and put on her slippers: "Let Donghong follow me, I want to go sit with the lady."

Qiuhong squatted down to help Madam Wen put on her shoes and said, "It's only a little after three quarters of an hour!"

Madam Wen didn't say anything either, and took Donghong to Shiyi Niang's place.

Eleventh Lady just woke up from a nap and looks in good spirits.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie were talking around her.

"…My second brother passed the provincial exam, and my eldest brother said he wanted to go hiking to celebrate. Daddy probably wouldn't agree to let my fifth brother and I go with him. Even if we go, they have long legs and long feet, and if they have fun, we will be left alone again." Xu Sizhun pulled Eleventh Lady's sleeve, half coquettishly, half pleadingly, "Mother, please talk to Daddy, it's too dangerous to go hiking, we can just have a barbecue in the backyard at home!"

Xu Sijie also nodded: "Mother, let's grill some meat!"

Eleventh Lady couldn't help laughing.

"Do you guys want to go out and play, or do you want to play with your eldest brother, second brother and the others?"

Xu Sizhun blushed: "We want to go out and play too."

"Then let's go to the West Mountain Villa." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Big Brother and the others are going to climb the mountain, and you can stay in the villa and have a barbecue."

Xu Sizhun cheered when he heard this.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help laughing: "Hurry up and go to school, or you'll be punished by Mr. Zhao if you're late."

The two little ones greeted Aunt Wen and followed Nan Yong's wife to Shuangfuyuan with a smile.

Eleventh Lady asked the maid to bring a brocade stool for Madam Wen to sit on.

Madam Wen, as usual, told a few jokes to amuse Shiyi Niang, and then expressed her thoughts: "...please find me a good family. I don't care about his family background, I just want him to be honest and live a decent life."

Eleventh Lady was a little surprised. She thought of what Mother Du had said to her a few days ago: "... a steward under Chief Steward Bai, who just turned twenty this year. He is handsome and smart. Chief Steward Bai admires him very much and asked me to find him a marriage partner. As you know, the Madam has not been in charge for some time, and I am old, and I don't recognize the maids in the mansion. After thinking it over, I have no choice but to come to the Madam for help." While speaking, his eyes kept glancing at Amber.

She somewhat understood what Mother Du meant, but she did not give her a clear answer. She privately asked Amber what she meant.

Amber blushed and tried to suppress her shame, saying, "A husband and wife cannot serve as managers in both the outer and inner courtyards at the same time. I want to stay with my wife."

Instead, Eleventh Lady was a little hesitant: "I'll ask Wan Daxian to help find out. If the person is really good, you shouldn't refuse him outright."

I never thought that before there was any definite news about this matter, Madam Wen came to ask for help.

She looked at Madam Wen and smiled faintly.

Madam Wen did not hide the truth and said shyly, "I heard some rumors as well. If Madam feels that Amber is not suitable, she can tell Qiuhong that it is the same. Whether it is Madam Du or Manager Bai, they just want to get closer to Madam."

She has a point.

But the problem is that if Qiuhong is to be married off, she needs to get the approval of Mother Du and Manager Bai.

"Don't be so anxious." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Speaking of which, in our courtyard, besides Amber and Hongxiu beside me, there is also Qiuhong beside you, and Xiuyuan beside Aunt Qiao, who are all about the same age."

※

Kawen ah Kawen...~~~~(_