The second son of Li Zhong, the general of Fujian, got married. It was said to be a grand ceremony. The first dowry from the bride entered the new house of the Li family in Guishu Hutong, and the last dowry had not yet left Princess Ancheng's mansion. The Li family even set up a buffet for five consecutive days, with four cold dishes, eight large bowls and two large bowls, and invited the three major opera troupes in Yanjing to perform in turn. The nobles went to Princess Ancheng's mansion, and the officials of all ranks went to Guishu Hutong. For a time, the whole of Yanjing was discussing this marriage.

In comparison, Jing'er's full-month ceremony seemed a little deserted.

Eleventh Lady only invited some relatives and friends. There were about ten tables in the outer courtyard and more than ten tables in the flower hall of the inner courtyard. In the afternoon, Zhou Dehui, the owner of the Deyin class, and Geng Changsheng, the owner of the Changsheng class, each performed a performance.

The Lady Dowager, Lady Zheng and others were listening to opera in Dianchun Hall, while Lady Zhou and others gathered in Eleventh Lady's room to talk.

"I felt something was wrong with you during the third-day bathing ceremony." Grandma Huang looked at Shiyi Niang, "Since you had just given birth, there were some things I didn't tell you. How are you? Are you feeling better now?" She looked very worried.

"It's much better now." Eleventh Lady smiled. "At the beginning, Doctor Liu came to see me every day, but now he comes every five days."

"That's good!" Mrs. Zhou said with a smile, "Doctor Liu has been in charge of the Imperial Hospital for twenty years and has superb medical skills. Don't be anxious, take your time."

Grandma Lin joked: "My sister-in-law is looking forward to marrying her home soon, and she is waiting for you to take charge of the situation. You can't be careless."

"Don't worry, don't worry." Eleventh Lady joked with her, "I can't delay the children's good things."

While they were chatting and laughing, Gu came in holding the child, followed by Wan Sanjia, the daughter-in-law of Wan's mother. She held a red lacquered crabapple tea tray, which was piled with various gold and silver locks, shining brightly.

"Oh! Our little birthday boy is here." Mrs. Zhou smiled and went to greet him. "Let me see how he is different from when he was just born." Third Grandma Huang and First Grandma Lin also came over. "His eyebrows and eyes have grown, and his complexion has become fairer. He looks more and more like the Marquis!"

Wan Sanjia carefully handed over the tray and said, "Madam, this is a reward from the gentlemen and masters."

Xu Lingyi's friends all clamored to see the child, and just now, Mother Gu specially brought Jing'er to show him to the people in the outer courtyard.

Eleventh Lady then discovered that there were a few fine mutton-fat jade pendants, gold and silver bracelets, and other items mixed in the tea tray. She smiled and said, "Put all these things away. I'll let Zhu Xiang tell you how to enter the register later. Since you are serving in the Sixth Young Master's room, you have to take care of some things."

After hearing this, Wan San’s wife quickly bent her knees and said “yes”.

A little maid ran in: "Madam, Grandma Liang is here."

Lanting!

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Please come in." Just as she finished speaking, Lanting, wearing a small red silk jacket with a continuous dark pattern of swastikas, walked in.

Her skin was as white as snow and her brows were bright. She looked like a naive young lady waiting to be married, not like a mother at all.

"You are late!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile. Lan Ting bowed and said, "Please don't blame me, sisters. I will make you drink three glasses of wine later." As soon as she came, she shut everyone else up.

Grandma Huang San didn't want her to just slip away, so she smiled and said, "You said it, so don't make excuses when the time comes."

"Sis, when did you ever see me not keep my word?" Lan Ting smiled and took Huang San's hand, "Sis, don't worry. I will definitely sit with you when the time comes and follow your instructions." Huang San's words made her turn her head and say to Madam Zhou, "Lanting's mouth is getting more and more powerful."

Lan Ting smiled and held Jing'er in his arms: "This kid is quite heavy-handed." Then he smiled and said to Shiyi Niang, "He is one year and five months younger than our Tong'er."

Just as Eleventh Lady was about to respond, a little maid came in and said, "Mrs. Gan is here!"

After hearing this, Lan Ting frowned almost imperceptibly.

Madam Gan walked in, her eyes fell on Lan Ting, her expression relaxed slightly, she smiled and greeted everyone, then went to see Jing'er: "This child is really good looking."

Lan Ting, holding the child, smiled and handed the child to Shiyi Niang.

Grandma Huang San asked, "Has the show over there ended?"

"Not yet!" Madam Gan glanced at Lan Ting again, "Geng Changsheng is on stage - I don't like listening to Kunshan dialect."

"I think Zhou Dehui sings better!" When it comes to listening to opera, everyone starts to express their opinions, just like discussing their favorite singers, and they are familiar with all kinds of songs. Only Lanting seems a little silent, and Mrs. Gan seems a little absent-minded.

Everyone talked for a long time, and then Mother Song came over and invited them to the flower hall - it was time to have dinner.

Everyone said goodbye to Shiyi Niang with a smile.

Lan Ting smiled and said, "I came late, so I'll stay with Eleventh Lady for a while. You guys go first, I'll be there soon!"

Mrs. Gan listened and paused.

Grandma Huang San refused and said with a smile: "Look, look, I said I would find an excuse to shirk my responsibility when the time comes!"

A trace of annoyance flashed across Lan Ting's brows, but he quickly smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sister Huang. If I don't go later, just send someone to arrest me!" The smile was a little forced after all.

Before Huang San's grandmother was about to say something, Madam Zhou gently pulled her sleeve and said, "As an elder sister, how can you haggle with your younger sister?" She then called to the others, "Let's hurry up! We've been hiding here for so long. If we are still late for dinner, the lady and the others will probably make us drink as a punishment." Huang San's grandmother was very smart. She knew what was going on. She smiled and covered her sleeves before going out with Madam Zhou.

Madam Gan walked at the end. She glanced at Lan Ting who was talking to Shiyi Niang, hesitated for a moment, and then turned and left.

"What happened?" Eleventh Lady asked Lan Ting with concern.

Lan Ting did not hide it from her: "My eldest brother is doing business with the Gong family in Bantang, Yangzhou, and he wanted my father-in-law to say hello to the Quanzhou Maritime Customs. I tried my father-in-law's tone, and he was not only embarrassed, but also tactfully warned me not to interfere in Fujian's affairs." She smiled bitterly, "I told my eldest brother, but he not only didn't listen, but also said that I didn't try my best. Just now, when I got off the sedan chair, my eldest sister-in-law came to me to talk about this. No matter how I explained, I couldn't explain it clearly, so I had to hide here with you."

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but sigh after listening to this, and told the story of how Xu Lingyi helped Madam Gan to warn Earl Zhongqin: "...I don't know what the situation in Fujian is like now. Some people are afraid to get involved, while others are flocking to it. It's really worrying." When she said this, she thought of the Qu family.

Lan Ting leaned close to her ear and whispered, "The last time my sister wrote to me, the people of the Qu family were fighting fiercely. All the families with some reputation in Fujian were involved. Some people fled to the Jiangnan area. Even the Jiang family warned their children to abide by customs and not to do anything arrogant. If they caused trouble, they would be expelled immediately."

Eleventh Lady's expression changed slightly.

Dynasties change, and only the family is the permanent support. Leaving home is like being abandoned by society.

But the internal strife in the Qu family is good news for the Xu family.

"I didn't expect the situation to be so serious." She pondered, "Is Cao E okay over there?"

"How can it be good!" Lan Ting said helplessly, "Third brother-in-law already has two illegitimate sons and one illegitimate daughter."

"How could the Jiang family do this?" Eleventh Lady frowned slightly - the legitimate wife had not yet entered the family, but they allowed the concubine to give birth to illegitimate sons and daughters.

"When my third sister got married, her husband was already in his twenties. How could there be no one in the room?" Lan Ting said bitterly, "The oldest of those illegitimate children was only a little over a year old."

Over one year old... Counting the days, it was just after the Gan family had a dispute over the division of property and the Jiang family sent a foster mother over.

As they were talking, Madam Gan came back and said, "Lanting, the lady over there is asking about you?" She actually came to urge him to come.

Lan Ting looked at Shiyi Niang as if asking for help.

Eleventh Lady immediately smiled and said, "I just happen to need Lan Ting's help with something. Madam Gan, please go ahead. We will leave after we finish talking."

Mrs. Gan had no choice but to leave in embarrassment.

Lan Ting took Shiyi Niang's hand and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you!"

"What's the problem?" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I don't like you as a sister-in-law very much either."

Lanting burst out laughing.

Eleventh Lady invited her to have dinner, and the two talked for a long time. When it was time to light the lamps, she sent a maid to the flower hall to inquire about Madam Gan's whereabouts.

"He hasn't left yet." The little maid said, "He's talking to Madam Tai and Madam Huang!"

"It seems that she is determined to meet you." Shiyi Niang said, "It's not a good idea to stay like this. I think you'd better go back through the back door - Tong Ge'er is still at home!"

Lan Ting's expression dimmed slightly and he nodded slightly.

* * * * * *

When Xu Lingyi came back in the evening, Shiyi Niang told him what Lanting had said: "...Is the situation in Fujian really that complicated?"

Xu Lingyi obviously understood this very well. He said calmly, "It's not complicated. I just don't want to get involved. Let's just mind our own business." Then he sat down on the bed and said with a smile, "I heard good news today. Shao Zhongran passed the military exam."

"Really!" Eleventh Lady was very happy. "Grandma Lin didn't even mention it when she came just now."

"I just got the news." The implication is that Grandma Lin definitely didn't get the news as quickly as he did.

Eleventh Lady smiled brightly.

Xu Lingyi asked: "Are you so happy?"

"Of course." Eleventh Lady said, "This way, Zhen Jie'er will look more respectable when she gets married."

Xu Lingyi said: "Then why not find him a job...it will be more respectable if he gets married."

"Don't," said Eleventh Lady, "People grow up all their lives, what's the point of forcing them to grow faster? I think Shao Zhongran is doing fine. He took the exam for the military scholar, then the military juren, then the military jinshi, then looked for a job. One step at a time, do what you should do when you should do it. You will feel more at ease. Besides, life is just a process, what matters is to appreciate the scenery around you."

"You have a lot to say." Xu Lingyi smiled and asked about Jing'er: "...Where is he? Did the nurse take him away to feed him?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized that Eleventh Lady had many quirks - she didn't like seeing the wet nurse feeding Jing'er, so she would always stay aside when the wet nurse was feeding her.

Eleventh Lady said "hmm" and saw Gu bringing Jin Ge'er in.

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Haha, I have finally paid off all the debts, now I feel so relieved!

Extra update for May Day, please read it tomorrow at noon!

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