Eleventh Lady couldn't avoid him and had to sit next to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi glanced at Madam Wen, whose eyes were red from crying, and said directly, "Even if you don't tell me, I know why you came to see Madam. But this matter is not just about you, it also concerns the Xu family. You don't need to say more, this shop must be closed, and this matter must be done before the second day of the second lunar month when the dragon raises its head!" His tone was firm and there was no room for maneuver. He added, "You have saved a lot of money in the past few years. Be content with your fate. People often go astray because of greed."

Madam Wen's face turned red and she looked at Eleventh Lady for help.

This is similar to what Shiyi Niang guessed. Since Xu Lingyi could tolerate Madam Wen embezzling the 200,000 taels of silver, how could he not tolerate a small shop? Most likely, Madam Wen's business would affect the safety of the Xu family, so Xu Lingyi resolutely asked Madam Wen to close the shop. It's just that I don't know how deeply Madam Wen's shop is involved... Madam Wen has her own difficulties, and Xu Lingyi may face more difficulties!

Thinking of this, Eleventh Lady gently advised Madam Wen: "We invited the Marquis here to make things clear. Now the Marquis's intentions are very clear. Madam Wen should speak out openly if she has anything to say."

Madam Wen was stunned.

Xu Lingyi has already made the decision, can I still say anything?

But Shiyi Niang nodded slightly at her, as if supporting her. She thought of Xu Lingyi's love for Shiyi Niang, her mother's tears when she was sent to Yanjing, and her wet nurse whom she hadn't seen for seven or eight years... She mustered up her courage and said, "Marquis, Marquis, I have no other intentions. I didn't know that the shop was related to the important affairs of the court before, but after hearing what Madam said, I suddenly understood the Marquis's painstaking efforts. Regarding the shop, I will follow the Marquis's wishes and sell the shop before the second day of the second month when the dragon raises its head." Once the arrow is shot, it cannot be retrieved. It is easier to say it after it is out of her mouth. Madam Wen spoke more and more fluently, "I am just worried about my mother who is far away in Yangzhou. She gave birth to me and raised me, and I can't just watch her..." At this point, she paused, and her eyes were filled with tears again, "My lord, you are a man of both civil and military skills, and you have seen the world. You are not like a woman in the inner chamber like me. I beg you to think of a way to save my mother's life." As she spoke, she slowly knelt in front of Xu Lingyi, "My lord, saving a life is like building a seven-story pagoda. At this point, only you can think of a way to save my mother..."

Xu Lingyi frowned as he looked at her and motioned to Shiyi Niang to help Madam Wen up.

"It's not as serious as you think." He said seriously, "But you should go and tell Madam Wen. Mr. Wen has been making a lot of trouble in the past two years. If Madam Wen can give him some advice, he will probably be more restrained. It will be better if he has an idea of ​​what to do in the future!"

Madam Wen burst into tears of gratitude: "Thank you, my Lord!" She stood up and said, "My Lord, my Lady, I will send someone to Yangzhou to deliver a letter. As for the shop in Jinan Prefecture..." At this point, her expression darkened, "I will also find a way to sell it."

Xu Lingyi nodded and brought the tea.

Madam Wen looked at Eleventh Lady with gratitude, then bowed and retreated.

Eleventh Lady is worried about Xu Lingyi.

She made another cup of tea for Xu Lingyi and whispered, "When the Marquis went to see the Emperor on New Year's Day, did the Emperor give you a hint? Or did you see something?"

"The emperor has given me a message." Xu Lingyi took a sip from the teacup, his expression gradually relaxing. "Otherwise, I would not have thought that the emperor would make such a big move this time." At this point, he looked worried. "Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. The emperor has taken too big a step this time... I'm afraid he won't be able to control it when the time comes!"

Even if he cannot control it, he can only be a foolish king, not a king who will destroy the country.

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

If the emperor was determined to deal with the Wen family, why did he send a message to Xu Lingyi? But since Xu Lingyi asked the Wen family to be more restrained, it means that the emperor is also a little suspicious of the Wen family. Now the emperor is most disgusted with the Yang family, but if the Wen family continues to be so ignorant of the severity of the situation, after the emperor deals with the Yang family, it is hard to guarantee that the Wen family will be remembered by the emperor one day. Naturally, it is better to make plans early.

"The emperor has made up his mind." She comforted Xu Lingyi, "Your Highness will just have to act according to circumstances."

Xu Lingyi hummed softly, cheered himself up, and comforted her: "Don't worry about the Wen family. If the emperor wanted to deal with the Wen family, why would he have reminded me? I think the Wen family will inevitably be punished this time, but it won't be as serious as the Yang family. If you are not careful, I'm afraid they will confiscate their property and exterminate their clan..." As he said this, he looked at her apologetically, "I didn't want you to worry about these messy things, but I didn't expect the Wen family to be so bold and come to you despite my warning..."

"My Lord, you are doing this for my own good, and I understand that. Madam Wen has no other choice." Eleventh Lady smiled and seized this opportunity, using the attitude of Mrs. Tang Si towards Yang, the third daughter-in-law of Liang Ge's family, as an example, "...The outer courtyard and the inner courtyard are interdependent, and the honor and disgrace of the outer courtyard are also related to the life and death of the inner courtyard." As she spoke, she smiled, "If my Lord really wants me to worry less, he might as well tell me everything that happened. I will know the reason and act more steadily. Guessing like this makes me even more uneasy."

This is the second time that Eleventh Lady has said this.

Xu Lingyi couldn't help but think seriously.

After a while, he slowly said: "Some things are of great importance... If you knew, I'm afraid you would be even more uneasy..."

Eleventh Lady had never thought of being Xu Lingyi's aide, and Xu Lingyi couldn't possibly tell her all the obscure things in the court... She smiled and said, "I just wanted the Marquis to remind me at a critical moment, so that I wouldn't have any wild thoughts. For example, when Concubine Wen came to me, I didn't know how the situation was going. If I helped her, I was afraid that the Marquis would be embarrassed. If I didn't help her, I was afraid that Concubine Wen would make a fuss and upset the Marquis..."

After listening to this, Xu Lingyi shook Shiyi Niang's hand and nodded, saying, "I understand!" His tone was very sincere.

Eleventh Lady smiled with her lips pursed, her eyes shining like stars.

Thinking of Madam Wen's words, he asked Xu Lingyi, "How has the Marquis arranged for the shop assistants?"

Xu Lingyi listened with a flickering look in his eyes. Instead of answering, he asked, "What did Wen tell you?"

"Madam Wen didn't tell me anything!" Eleventh Lady laughed, "But I think the Marquis has always been cautious in his actions. Madam Wen also said that those people followed her from the Wen family and had helped the Xu family in the past. If we just ignore it, it will inevitably be suspected of crossing the river and destroying the bridge, which will not be good for the Marquis' reputation! Besides, the Marquis will always recruit virtuous people as his staff in the future. We don't want the reputation of being polite to the virtuous. But we can reward people according to their merits and make sure that they have a beginning and an end. This will also make those who help the Marquis feel at ease. I think the Marquis will make a proper arrangement for those people!"

As Xu Lingyi listened, his expression gradually became serious and he looked at her with such earnestness that Eleventh Lady felt as if she was under the spotlight.

"I was just guessing." She said uncomfortably, "I was wrong, please don't take it to heart, My Lord." Then she took a sip of the tea in front of her, and found that the tea had already gone cold, so she put it down again, "The tea is a little cold, I'll go make another cup." She got up and got off the kang...but her arm was tightly pulled by Xu Lingyi.

"You guessed right." Xu Lingyi looked at Shiyi Niang with burning eyes, "Those people did come from the Wen family with Wen Shi, but in the end, those people came here because they helped the Xu family and were not tolerated by the Wen family, or they came here under the orders of the Wen family, I can't interfere in Wen Shi's affairs, and I can't tell the difference. Even if there was no emperor's suggestion, I would have let Wen Shi take over the shop in a few days. This time it was just a coincidence, and I just went with the flow!" He explained to her, "I know, but people outside may not know. So I didn't go into it this time. Each of the shop assistants will be given 20 mu of good land and 500 taels of silver, and the manager will be given an additional amount of silver ranging from 500 taels to 100 taels depending on the size - all of them should go to farm honestly."

This is also a good idea!

Why would Madam Wen disagree?

Judging from her expression, she is genuinely worried about the guys in the shop!

As Eleventh Lady was thinking, someone pulled her arm and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Silence!" Xu Lingyi leaned against Shiyi Niang's face and didn't speak for a long time.

His hot breath whispered in her ears, and his hot skin pressed against her face made her body suddenly warm up.

The ambiguous atmosphere made her feel something, but when she looked up through the glass window, she saw Mother Gu holding Jing'er and sitting on a stone table covered with an autumn-scented cushion under a tree, while Chang'an was being supported by two little maids as they took their first steps in the yard.

She began to stutter: "Why, what's wrong?"

"It's okay!" Xu Chongyi stroked Shiyi Niang's face with his face, "I just want to hug you!"

Eleventh Lady let out an "Oh", and her body suddenly became very soft in Xu Lingyi's arms.

Xu Lingyi's arms tightened.

Eleventh Lady gradually felt that it was difficult to breathe.

She wanted to push him away, but for some reason, she hesitated.

Bin Ju's voice came through the curtain: "My Lord, Madam, the servant from the outer courtyard came to report that the servant beside the Third Master came to report that the Third Master and the Third Madam have entered the Chaoyang Gate."

It’s only the first month of the year, how come you’ve come back so quickly!

Eleventh Lady struggled to get up, but Xu Lingyi held her even tighter.

"Got it!" He responded, looking at Eleventh Lady with a smile on his face, his eyes sparkling.

Eleventh Lady felt her face getting a little hot and she lowered her eyelids. Then she felt that she was being a little petty, so she raised her head and let him look at her openly, but her face became even hotter.

Xu Lingyi laughed, kissed her on the face, let her go, and walked out the door.

"Go tell mother and ask someone to arrange a welcoming banquet."

Eleventh Lady responded "yes", and Xu Lingyi had already walked out of the hall.

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PS: Please read the updated version tomorrow at noon!

O(∩_∩)O~