Nan Yong's wife hurried forward to persuade him: "Fourth Young Master, Fifth Young Master, take a break before playing again!"

The two were really tired, so they followed Nan Yong's wife to sit in the pavilion on the side. Chaxiang and Xiu'er hurried forward to serve them, pouring warm water to moisten their throats or using towels to wipe their backs.

Xu Sizhun wanted to urinate.

The purification room is right next to the flower wall. To pass through Biyi Gate, one has to walk through a bluestone path with tall, huggable trees on both sides.

A little maid ran over and lit two orchid-scented incense sticks, and the tea fragrance accompanied her to the purification room.

Xu Sizun was sitting on the toilet and could hear the rustling sound of sweeping the floor outside getting closer and closer.

The two women were chatting idly.

"...So, except for Ji Ting's wife, everyone else went!"

"Yes!" another responded, "The one who started it was Mother Yu who is in charge of the warehouse."

"Really!" The tone of the previous words was full of surprise, "Hasn't she always been arrogant? Why did she take the initiative to invite everyone to celebrate the Fourth Madam's birthday this time?"

"She's not arrogant, she's just looking at the food." Another one laughed, "Now that the Fourth Madam is pregnant, she has legitimately sent Mother Tao to the farm. How dare she be arrogant in front of the Fourth Madam?" At this point, he praised, "Among the maids, young wives, and housekeepers in this mansion, the one I admire most is Ji Ting's wife. Back then, everyone flocked to the Second Madam, and someone gave Ji Ting's wife an idea, asking her to seize the opportunity of the Second Madam's love for flowers and plants to find a way to help Ji Ting find a housekeeper position. She was not anxious or impatient, saying that Ji Ting only knew how to grow flowers, and he wouldn't be able to do anything else. In the end, she didn't say a word from beginning to end. Later, the deceased Fourth Madam took charge, and everyone gathered around the deceased Fourth Madam. She was also neither humble nor arrogant, and did what she was supposed to do..."

It was as if a thousand bees were buzzing in his ears. Xu Sizhun was unable to concentrate, and he had no memory of what the two women said afterwards.

"Sister Chaxiang!" He pulled Chaxiang's hand, "Is what they said true? Mother Tao was sent back to the farm!"

Chaxiang was a second-class maidservant beside the Madam, who was specially assigned to serve Xu Sizhun. Hearing Xu Sizhun's question, she hurriedly said, "That's not true. Fourth Young Master, don't listen to their nonsense. Didn't I say that Tao Cheng broke his leg, and Mother Tao is going to take care of him for a while..."

"No!" Cha Xiang's answer was too fluent, making Xu Sizhun instinctively feel that it was a bit flashy and not down-to-earth. "One winter, Tao Cheng fell into the river and almost drowned. Tao's mother scolded him in the house, but she didn't say she would take care of him..." He looked puzzled, "Why should I take care of Tao Cheng this time?"

Cha Xiang was startled and said, "We are working in the mansion, so we are its people. How can we let family matters delay the affairs of the mansion? Now the Fourth Madam treats Mother Tao with special favor because she once served the late Fourth Madam, and allows her to go back to see her son..."

Xu Sizhun frowned after hearing this: "When mother was alive, she treated Mother Tao very well. She even asked me to call Mother Tao 'Mom'..."

Chaxiang didn't expect that Xu Sizhun, who was usually easy to talk to, would keep on talking about this topic. Before Xu Sizhun finished speaking, she smiled and said, "So the Fourth Madam also respects Mother Tao very much." But she was afraid that he would ask questions that she couldn't answer, so she quickly changed the subject, "Fourth Young Master, shall we go back to Biyi Gate as soon as possible? The Fifth Young Master is still waiting there! In this April weather, the weather gets cold as soon as the sun sets, and you are only wearing a padded jacket, and your cloak is still with the Fourth Madam!"

Xu Sizhun remained unmoved. He listened carefully again, but outside there was only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the treetops. There was no other sound to be heard.

He was a little disappointed, so he packed up and slowly went to Biyizha with Chaxiang.

The pavilion was empty except for the scarlet cushions and the mess on the stone table. The servants who served Xu Sijie were nowhere to be seen. The empty space was now surrounded by maids, wives and old women. As the colorful Cuju was thrown high up, cheers could be heard from time to time, making it much more lively than before.

Xu Sizhun was surprised.

Chaxiang has seen a tall figure.

"Fourth Young Master, it's Fifth Master." Her eyes were filled with joy, "It's Fifth Master playing Cuju!"

She took his hand and pushed her way into the crowd.

When everyone saw that it was the master and servant, they took the initiative to make way for them.

Xu Sizun saw Xu Lingkuan use his head to lift the Cuju up high, and then he saw Xu Sijie staring at Xu Lingkuan in amazement, his face full of shock.

Xu Lingkuan heard the noise and glanced over. Seeing that it was Xu Sizun, he threw the Cuju into the air and waved at Xu Sizun: "Come, I'll show you how to play."

If it were any other time, Xu Sizun would have happily run over, but this time, he was still thinking about the gossip he had just heard, and hesitated for a moment before walking over.

Xu Lingkuan stretched out his hand and lightly hooked it, catching the Cuju that fell from mid-air.

"What's wrong?" He bent down and looked at Xu Sizhun with a smile, "You seem a little unhappy today?"

"No!" Xu Sizhun felt uncomfortable lying to an adult, "I'm a little tired today!"

Xu Lingkuan didn't dare to force him, and smiled as he threw the ball to the servant beside him: "Then go back and rest early! Your uncle will play with you tomorrow."

Xu Sizhun responded with a forced smile and pulled Xu Sijie towards Shiyi Niang's room.

The onlookers naturally dispersed.

Xu Sijie was still thinking about what he had just seen: "Fourth brother, shall we play Cuju tomorrow? Fifth uncle is really good. You were not here just now, and I saw him bend his elbow and the Cuju flew high into the air..."

Xu Sizhun responded absentmindedly and entered the yard with Xu Sijie.

The mothers who were in charge were coming out of the main room in twos and threes. When they saw the two brothers, they all greeted them with smiles.

Xu Sizhun looked at their faces with dim eyes, and ran towards the main house.

Everyone was surprised.

Someone laughed and said, "They are still children after all!"

Some people also responded: "It will take at least eight or ten years to settle down!"

Everyone walked out of the yard talking and laughing.

Eleventh Lady asked the maid to open all the windows in the house.

Some of the mothers in charge smoke dry tobacco, and there is always a smell on their bodies.

Xu Sizhun rushed in: "Mother, let's take Mother Tao back!"

"What?" Eleventh Lady was stunned. "Why did you suddenly think of bringing Mother Tao back?"

"I miss Mother Tao!" Xu Sizhun said, "Mother Tao is alone at the farm, so she can't eat the eight-treasure rice dumplings in the mansion!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "She is at the farm, and they also know how to make eight-treasure rice dumplings at the farm..." She covered her mouth before she finished her sentence.

Lu Yun and the others were busy taking basins or pouring warm water, serving Shiyi Niang busily but calmly.

Xu Sizhun felt that he had a lot to say, but no one around him noticed him.

He retreated quietly.

He ran into Xu Sijie head-on: "Fourth brother, fourth brother, where are you going?"

If you are wronged, you must report it to the Madam and the Marquis and they will take care of it for you...

For some reason, Xu Sizhun suddenly recalled what Mother Tao said before she left.

"I'm going to find my grandmother!"

"Oh!" Xu Sijie scratched his head, "I, I haven't greeted mother yet. Brother, please wait for me for a while!"

Normally at this time, the two of them would go together to pay their respects to Eleventh Lady, and then go to the Lady Dowager's house for dinner together.

Xu Sizhun nodded randomly.

Xu Sijie ran to greet Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady is not feeling well.

Xu Sijie stood aside worriedly, not daring to breathe.

Xu Sizhun waited outside for a while, feeling extremely anxious. He said something to Xu Sijie's maid Xiu'er and hurried to the lady's place.

"Grandma! Let's bring Mother Tao back home!" He threw himself into the arms of the old lady and acted like a spoiled child as usual, "I miss her!"

The lady laughed and said, "When Tao Cheng gets better, it won't be too late to bring Mother Tao back. Think about it, the Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, we should let Mother Tao and Tao Cheng celebrate the festival together!"

"Then after the Dragon Boat Festival, will Mother Tao be able to come back?" Xu Sizhun looked at the lady with a pair of eyes as clear as mirrors.

The lady's expression froze for a moment, and she said, "You can come back only after Tao Cheng's leg is healed!"

"Grandma, Grandma, please send someone to bring Mother Tao back!" Xu Sizhun begged the lady, "If you want her to come back, she won't dare not come back!"

Upon hearing this, the lady frowned slightly and then quickly relaxed her brows: "What's wrong with Zhun-ge today? Why don't you even listen to grandma?" Her tone unconsciously became a bit harsh, "Mother Tao has to wait until Tao Cheng recovers before entering the mansion. Now that you have been initiated into the school, you are not like before, you need to be more calm and steady."

Xu Sizhun had never heard such a tone and admonition before.

He looked a little stunned.

Did someone say something to Zhun Ge? I have to call Cha Xiang to ask her!

The lady thought about it and coaxed Xu Sizhun: "Okay, go wash your hands quickly, we will eat crispy duck later!"

A clever maidservant came forward and half-persuaded Xu Sizhun to wash his hands.

When clean water was poured into the royal blue cloisonné enamel basin painted with hundreds of flowers, the lilies, honeysuckle and hosta flowers that were previously not very clear suddenly became clear.

Xu Sizhun gently clenched his hands in the wash basin, and all the flowers turned into fragments, slowly spreading out.

Should I tell my father?

He was a little hesitant.

My father's stern face and cold eyes appeared before my eyes...

Xu Sizhun couldn't help but shudder, and his lips were tightly pursed into a slit.

After washing her hands, the lady was still talking to Chaxiang. Yuban and the others did not dare to take Xu Sizhun to the inner room, so they took the tumbling rope and wanted to sit on the big kang by the window in the east room with Xu Sizhun to play tumbling rope.

Xu Sizhun shook his head and said, "I went to see why my fifth brother hasn't come yet?"

He ran out with great speed.

Biluo, Yuhua and several maids serving beside her trotted after them.

Yuban looked at the big red silk thread in his hand and asked, "What happened to the Fourth Young Master today?"

Xu Sizun ran all the way to the door of Yuanniang's former residence before stopping.

He took a few deep breaths, and when his breathing became even, he slowly walked towards Yuanniang's inner room.

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O(∩_∩)O~

Make up for yesterday’s extra update!