All the servants in the Madam's room had fled outside. The Madam was leaning on the large ink-dyed pillow and whispering to the Second Madam: "...The Emperor is going to deal with the Yang family. Judging from the tone of the Fourth Master, I'm afraid that many people will be implicated this time."
The Second Madam was not surprised. She used the Beauty Babe to beat the Madam's calf: "The more the Emperor indulges the Yang family, the heavier the punishment will be. Moreover, the Emperor has been bent on implementing new policies in recent years. The Yang family's affairs just give the Emperor an excuse. Otherwise, an old minister like Elder Lin, who was used by the previous emperor, was just against lifting the sea ban. You can't dismiss him for this, right? Speaking of which, it was Elder Liu who had a bright vision and became an official. At least he can have a peaceful old age."
The lady sighed and said, "I am afraid that this matter will involve too many people, and the capital will be in turmoil again."
The Second Madam laughed as she listened. "I think you are afraid that someone will come to you to beg for mercy, and you will be in a dilemma, right?"
"You are so clever." The old lady looked at the second lady and smiled, with a hint of doting in her eyes and eyebrows.
"That's what you do." The Second Lady put down the beauty hammer and stood up to refill the slightly cold teacup of the Madam with hot water. "Look, do you want me to pass on the message for you?"
The lady was a little hesitant.
"The Huang family's young master has made a lot of money in the past two years," the second wife sat next to the old lady and said softly, "If a person doesn't have a contented heart, even if you help him this time, there is no guarantee that he will have another chance."
The lady nodded slightly: "Then please help me go to the Huang family!"
The Second Lady smiled and agreed, and helped the Lady to cover her with a thin blanket: "Just take a rest! Don't worry about these things. The Marquis is outside, and the Marquis knows everything!"
Upon hearing this, the lady's face showed relief.
* * * * * *
After finally coaxing Jin Ge'er to sleep, Shiyi Niang couldn't hide her tiredness. She told Qiu Yu, "I'm going to rest for a while. If there's anything, come and call me!"
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, although people only send their name cards to the doorman of each household to pay New Year's greetings, there is no guarantee that close relatives will come to visit.
Qiuyu replied "yes" in a low voice and waited for Shiyi Niang to rest.
When she woke up, the lights were on in the room.
Eleventh Lady sat up hurriedly: "What time is it now? Is Brother Jin crying again? Has the Marquis not returned to the room yet? Is there any movement from the Madam?"
Qiu Yu, who was serving by the bed, saw that she was asking anxiously, and hurriedly said, "It is now three quarters past the hour of the twelfth lunar month. The Sixth Young Master just woke up and ate milk, and now he is asleep again. During this time, Doctor Wu from the Imperial Hospital came and felt the Sixth Young Master's pulse. He said that the Sixth Young Master's pulse seemed calm, steady and strong, and he was doing well! He prescribed a prescription for strengthening the stomach and spleen. Because I haven't seen you yet, I haven't gone to get the medicine yet. The Marquis hasn't returned to the room yet. There is no movement from the Madam." When she said this, her expression was slightly condensed, and her voice was a little lower. "However, not long after you rested, the Second Madam went out. I heard from the people in the stable that the Second Madam went to the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion. She just came back. And the Marquis asked Madam Wen to go to the outer study room in the afternoon."
Eleventh Lady was stunned.
The Second Lady went to the Huang family on the first day of the Lunar New Year and stayed there for some time. Xu Lingyi called Madam Wen to the outer study room again...
She thought of the strangeness between Xu Lingyi and the lady today.
What exactly happened?
It must be related to Xu Lingyi's audience with the emperor this year!
"Let Xiulian fetch some water!" Eleventh Lady thought as she slipped on her shoes. "Send someone to the outer courtyard to see when the Marquis will return to his room - it's time for dinner!" She then instructed Qiuyu, "Medicine is three-quarters poison. Since the Sixth Young Master is fine, there's no need to prescribe medicine."
Qiuyu smiled and replied "yes". Yumei had already taken the clothes that were drying on the brazier, and she and the maid helped Shiyi Niang to dress.
Xu Lingyi came back: "Doctor Wu said that Brother Jin is fine. Did he cry this afternoon?"
"Qiuyu said she just ate and went to sleep." Shiyi Niang simply tied her hair into a bun and said, "I was just about to go and take a look!"
After Xu Lingyi finished dressing up, he went to the warm room with her to see the child.
Wan San's wife was doing needlework nearby, while Jing'er was sleeping soundly.
Xu Lingyi then nodded and returned to the inner room.
Qiuyu came in and asked where the food was.
The couple had dinner in the banquet hall in the east, and then moved to the inner room to drink tea.
Eleventh Lady smiled and asked him, "What did the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince give as rewards?"
"It's just some gold, silver, jade, cloth and spices." Xu Lingyi was not impressed. "What else can it be?" At this point, he paused for a moment while using the lid to brush the floating tea leaves on the teacup. He said, "Butler Bai will bring you the reward in two days."
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded. A little maid came in and said, "My Lord, Madam, several concubines came to greet you!"
"Please let them in!" Eleventh Lady said, glancing at Xu Lingyi from the corner of her eye, and she noticed that the corners of his mouth were slightly drooping, and his face looked a little uneasy. When Madam Wen came in, she had a bit of trepidation between her eyebrows, and she didn't say much, but it was Yang who livened up the atmosphere.
"…It was snowing two days ago, but it cleared up just before the New Year. I saw that the wintersweet flowers in the back garden were in full bloom. My Lord and Madam might as well go and admire the plum blossoms in their spare time. I had nothing to do, so I painted a picture of wintersweet."
Xu Lingyi remained silent, his face as stern as usual, drinking tea quietly without even glancing at the concubines. Concubine Wen became increasingly uneasy.
Shiyi Niang calmly exchanged a few words with the concubines and served tea. Then she saw that Concubine Wen seemed to be relieved, her expression eased a lot, and she knelt down to salute and retreated.
* * * * * *
The next day, Shiyi Niang took the children to Gongxian Hutong.
Qian Ming and his wife had not arrived yet. Grandma Luo, wearing a bright red jacket with long sleeves, welcomed them in with a smile.
Wang Ze and Shi Er Niang have already arrived. One is wearing a royal blue Hangzhou silk robe, with a calm demeanor; the other is wearing a small coat with bright red peony flowers, pretty and lovely. Standing one after the other, they are as pleasing to the eye as a golden boy and a jade girl.
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but nodded secretly.
Twelve Niang walked forward with a red face and bowed to her.
Over there, Grandma Luo had already seen the children calling them "Fourth Uncle" and "Twelfth Uncle".
The red envelopes were given and received, and adults and children were all beaming with joy. However, Luo Zhensheng was a little timid in front of Xu Lingyi, which was a small shortcoming. Fortunately, there was little Yingniang, who was lively and cute, talking to Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie with a smile. Xu Lingyi couldn't help but smile happily when he saw her, and teased her by asking, "Oleander is the same as pomegranate flowers, so what flower is the same as hosta flowers?"
Ying Niang said confidently: "Of course it's the white crane flower!"
White crane flower is another name for hosta.
Xu Lingyi laughed loudly, and Wang Ze also smiled.
Luo Zhensheng felt ashamed, and his face flushed as he scolded Yingniang: "What nonsense are you talking about? Who told you that? White Crane Flower is Hosta Flower."
Yingniang hid behind Grandma Luo Si timidly.
"Little kid, it's great to know these things!" Xu Lingyi seemed to like Yingniang very much. He smiled and helped her out, saying, "She's like her eleventh aunt, who also likes flowers and plants." Then he said to Yingniang, "We have a big greenhouse at home, and we grow a lot of flowers. Come to our house and play when the time comes!"
Yingniang glanced at her father and dared not say anything.
Grandma Luo glared at Luo Zhensheng and said with a smile, "In a few days, we will have to go to celebrate Jin'er's 100th day ceremony and Jie'er's birthday."
When Xu Sijie heard Fourth Grandma Luo mentioned his birthday, he whispered to Xu Sizhun beside him: "I was born on the third day of March!" He looked very proud.
The adults were talking. Xu Sizhun whispered to Xu Sijie to keep quiet.
Seeing the children being reserved, Luo Si's grandmother said with a smile, "Why haven't Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt come yet? I made my specialty crystal tripe slices and I want to invite everyone to try my gift box!"
It is a custom in Jiangnan to eat snacks during grand festivals.
The bright red box with gold decoration and black lacquer lining is divided into twelve compartments horizontally and vertically, and is filled with various side dishes and served with noodles, which is considered breakfast.
There were also restaurants specializing in Jiangnan cuisine in Beijing, and everyone was familiar with them. While waiting for Qian Ming and his wife, everyone's topic turned to the differences between Jiangnan cuisine and Yanjing cuisine.
Xu Lingyi is knowledgeable, Wang Ze is cautious in his words and actions, Luo Zhensheng is timid and guilty in front of Xu Lingyi, and Xu Lingyi, who usually speaks the least, has become the center of the topic.
Shiyi Niang couldn't help laughing when she saw this. Qian Ming and Wu Niang finally arrived with Brother Xin.
Qian Ming wore a silk robe with five bats holding a longevity flower on a deep red background, and looked as gentle and elegant as before. Jin Ge wore a small jacket with a gourd pattern on a bright red background, and was as active as usual. He took Ying Niang's hand as soon as he entered the door. Only Wu Niang, although she wore a jacket with a continuous swastika pattern on a bright red background and a red gold hairpin, looked a little gray. When she saw Shiyi Niang, her expression was also a little embarrassed.
Apparently, Qian Ming might have "said" something about her!
Eleventh Lady and Fourth Lady Luo couldn't help but exchange glances, then smiled and stepped forward to greet Fifth Lady.
Twelve Niang was a little embarrassed. After greeting, she took Wu Niang's arm and said, "Fifth sister, this Man Chi Jiao's hair is really beautiful. I wonder which master did you ask to make it? It looks like it weighs about five or six taels!"
"What do you mean by five or six taels?" Wu Niang looked at Shi Er Niang with some disdain. "Even if it's hollow, five or six taels can't make such a big Man Chi Jiao distraction - a total of twelve taels were used."
"I was wondering why she is so beautiful!" Twelve Niang flattered Fifth Niang carefully, "I just got married to Yanjing and I don't know anything. Unlike Fifth Sister, who has lived in Yanjing for a long time, I know which family has more patterns and patterns, which family makes better shoes... These things about household life, Fifth Sister, please give me more advice in the future!"
Wu Niang listened with her lips slightly twitched. Just as she was about to say something, Qian Ming, who was distributing red envelopes to the children, cast a sharp look at her. Wu Niang pursed her lips, shook off Shi Er Niang's arm, and held Xin Ge's hand: "...Why don't you know how to bow to your brothers!"
Grandma Luo pulled on Shiyi Niang's sleeve and whispered, "Our aunts are smarter than each other."
Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded.
At Twelve Niang’s age, if she had not lived two lives, she would not have been able to do better than Twelve Niang.
※
The alarm didn't ring...
With a red face, she continued to shout: It’s the last day of the pink ticket doubling event, so friends who have tickets please give your support.
PS: These days are all drafts, and there are many typos. Please forgive me for the inconvenience. I will improve it as soon as possible!