The third wife wore a red jacket with full sleeves and gold all over it, with her hair combed high in a bun and a hairpin with a large jade flower. She looked very energetic. After not seeing her for three years, she looked even younger.

"...Look, it's filled with the finest Hetian jade, and inlaid with a few diamonds." She handed a pair of red gold longevity hairpins to Yuban, "The Third Master specially asked someone to order them in Xi'an. Although they are not as exquisite as the things in Beijing, they are also a token of the Third Master's heart."

The lady smiled and nodded, and put the jade tablet into the mirror: "It's amazing that he is so thoughtful."

The Third Lady listened, and her smile became even brighter. She took a few pieces of colorful silk and handed them to the Eleventh Lady and the Fifth Lady: "This is the famous Shu brocade. We don't use it much here, but Xi'an Prefecture uses it a lot. I specially picked a few pieces of the latest style to make small jackets for my two sisters-in-law."

Eleventh Lady and Fifth Lady thanked them with a smile.

A little maid came in and reported: "The Marquis and the Third Master are here!"

Knowing that the Third Master and the Third Madam had returned, Xu Lingyi waited for the Third Master in front of the ceremonial gate of the outer courtyard, while Eleventh Lady welcomed the Third Madam in at the hanging flower gate. The two Xu brothers talked in the study room of the outer courtyard, while the two sisters-in-law went to the dowager's place. The Third Madam gave the gifts she brought from Shanyang to everyone.

"Let him in quickly!" The lady listened and laughed, showing some anticipation.

Ge Jin hurriedly lifted the curtain, and Xu Lingyi and the Third Master, who was wearing the official green uniform of a seventh-rank county magistrate, walked in.

"Mother!" The Third Master knelt down and kowtowed three times to the Madam, "Are you feeling well?"

Xu Lingyi stepped forward and supported the Third Master.

"Okay, okay, okay." The lady took the Third Master's hand with a smile, "I'm fine with your Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother taking care of me!" Then she asked about the Third Master's tenure.

A maid brought a grand master's chair and placed it beside the kang. The Third Master sat down and answered the Madam's questions carefully. Knowing that the Third Master had received an "excellent" in the performance evaluation, the Madam smiled even more brightly: "That's good, that's good! You are the Empress' brother, and when you go out, you must earn face for her."

The third lady, who was standing aside, listened with a look of pride on her face.

"I've always remembered what mother said!" said the Third Master, "Whether you are handling chores at home or serving as an official outside, you should be honest and do your duty."

The lady nodded continuously and asked, "Why hasn't Xiaowu come back yet?"

Madam Wu hurriedly said, "I have sent someone to call him. He will be back soon!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a little maid reported through the curtain: "Fifth Master is back!" Before the voice had even fallen, the curtain was lifted, and a gust of cold wind seemed to blow through the room, and Xu Lingkuan ran in.

"Third brother!" He smiled and patted Third Master's shoulder.

The Third Master tilted his shoulder and teased him, "I haven't seen you for three years, how come you haven't grown up at all?"

Xu Lingkuan chuckled.

When Xin Jie'er, who was held in her wet nurse's arms, saw this, she shouted "Daddy" loudly.

Xu Lingkuan walked over and took Xin Jie'er's hand, then smiled at the Fifth Madam standing beside him.

Mother Du came in: "My Lord, Madam, the banquet has been arranged!"

The Third Master helped the Madam off the kang, followed her half a step behind and served her to the East Side Room. The brothers Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingkuan followed closely behind, Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian were next to the Third Madam, Shiyi Niang and Zhen Jieer were together, followed by Gu Mama holding Jinger, Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie followed Gu Mama on the left and right, Xu Siyu returned to Luoye Mountain after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Fifth Madam and the wet nurse holding Xin Jieer walked at the end, and the vast majority of the family sat down in the East Side Room according to the order of importance and rank, had a lively meal, and moved to the West Side Room for tea.

"The third son and his wife have come back exhausted after traveling all the way. They must be tired." The old lady sat down and drank a few sips of tea, then served the tea, "Everyone, please go away! This will allow the third son to talk to his sons. If there is anything, we can talk tomorrow."

Everyone responded "yes" in unison and filed out.

Xu Lingkuan called the Third Master, "Bai Xixiang is singing at the Tingli Pavilion. Third Brother, do you want to report to the Ministry of Personnel these days? If it's not urgent, I will welcome you at the Tingli Pavilion tomorrow at noon." He then smiled at Xu Lingyi, "Fourth Brother, please sit with me!"

The Third Master glanced at the Third Madam and said, "I came back a few days early on purpose because I wanted to get together with my brothers."

"Okay then, it's settled!" Xu Lingkuan said, and took the fifth lady back to the house.

Brothers Xu Lingning and Xu Lingyi smiled and slowly walked eastward.

"...When you were at home, you also dealt with the officials in the Ministry of Personnel. Although they were low-ranking officials, they were very familiar with the regulations of the ministry. It would be good for you to interact with them more privately in the next two days when you don't have to submit formal documents." Xu Lingyi gave the Third Master some advice in a low voice, "As for Elder Chen, I will go and say hello."

Chen Ge Lao was the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion and the Minister of Personnel.

Xu Lingning nodded, but was worried about something else: "I heard that the emperor wants to rectify the civil service system these days... Is it okay for us to follow the path of Lord Chen?"

"Third brother just wants to stay in office, not to be promoted," Xu Lingyi said calmly, "Besides, third brother was rated 'excellent'. It's a favor, no one would refuse it."

The Third Lady and Eleventh Lady walked side by side silently behind their husbands and brother-in-law. After hearing what Xu Lingyi said, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was refreshed and saw her two sons following them from a distance. She whispered to Eleventh Lady about a topic that concerned her: "Has Sister Zhen's wedding date been decided?"

"It's still too early!" Eleventh Lady laughed, "The earliest we can do that is next year!"

"I didn't expect you to keep Zhenjie until she was sixteen!" The third wife laughed, "But it's good this way, so that things don't get squeezed together." Then she said, "I asked Gan Laoquan to bring you a message a few days ago. She should have brought it, right? The eldest daughter of County Magistrate Fang is only two years older than the second daughter. Because the eldest daughter's marriage has not been settled, the second daughter's marriage has been delayed. Our two families have discussed and decided to hold the wedding in September this year. In this way, the second daughter of the Fang family can also discuss marriage earlier. Besides, our Qin'er is not young anymore. After getting married, he can study wholeheartedly. Maybe he can even pass the imperial examination in the future." She laughed, "This is why your third brother and I rushed back in such a hurry."

So fast!

However, Qin Ge'er is indeed not young anymore...

"September is the season of clear and crisp autumn weather and sweet-scented osmanthus." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "This is the best day to get married. Mother and Fifth Brother's wife were here just now, and Third Sister-in-law didn't say a word. Everyone should just be happy too."

"I saw that the children were all here, didn't I?" The Third Lady said with a smile. "Besides, I was planning to tell the Madam tomorrow morning. I'll tell her then so that she won't accuse me of being petty and impatient, and will show off everywhere just because I got a good daughter-in-law!"

"Such a good thing, not to mention Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law as parents, even I, as an aunt, would be happy for Qin'er after hearing it." Eleventh Lady greeted her politely, "How could mother say that Third Sister-in-law is 'petty'?"

After hearing this, the Third Lady smiled and took Eleventh Lady's hand, "Speaking of which, I just happen to have something to discuss with you!"

Eleventh Lady became alert.

Although the Third Lady was a little shallow in big matters, she was absolutely shrewd in small matters. Xu Siqin was about to get married, and the family lacked nothing but money and reputation. Although she was in charge of the household affairs, the rules of the mansion were set and she could not change them. She would not give less than what she should give, and she would not give more than what she could not give.

"I wonder what Sister-in-law wants to discuss with me?"

The third lady said, "I would like you to help our Qin'er find a match!"

There are several types of matchmaking. One type is like the son of the Marquis of Zhennan and Yu Yiqing matchmaking for Wang Ze and Shi Er Niang. Both parties have discussed everything and invited a prestigious person to add icing on the cake for the wedding, similar to the current host of the wedding, and most of the people invited are men. Another type is like the wife of Huang Ren, the official in the Ministry of Justice, and the wife of Mr. Wang, the governor of Fujian, matchmaking for Wu Niang and Qian Ming. One represents the woman and the other represents the man, and they specifically discuss the betrothal gift and dowry. The situation of each family is different. It is often the case that the woman complains that the betrothal gift from the man is too little or that the man earns too little dowry from the woman. At this time, the matchmakers have to bargain on behalf of each party... If it is not handled well, the man or the woman will complain, and if there is a change in the marriage, they will often put the blame on the matchmaker, saying that the matchmaker has spread the word in a wrong way... This is why most people don't like to be matchmakers.

Xu Siqin had even set the date, so he definitely didn't ask her to be the hostess, and there were no women who could be the hostess in that era. He wanted her to discuss the betrothal gifts and dowry with the matchmaker of the Fang family.

If it were someone else, Eleventh Lady would still give it a try. But the one she entrusted to her was the Third Lady—she was a stingy person, and she would try to plunder even the passing geese. She would try to make things hers even if they were not hers, not to mention asking the woman for a dowry in a legitimate way! She would not be afraid of losing face and asking for too much money, and she did not have the nerve to ask the Fang family for it!

However, since the Third Madam has spoken, it would be difficult to just refuse.

"I have been very weak since I gave birth to Jing'er," Eleventh Lady said tactfully, "Even the household affairs are managed by my mother. I am afraid I am powerless to take care of Qin'er's affairs." As she spoke, she smiled, "However, our Marquis often asks when Qin'er will get married. If Third Sister-in-law can ask the Marquis to be a matchmaker for Qin'er, the Marquis will be very happy."

If Xu Lingyi wanted to borrow the reputation of the Yongping Marquis' Mansion to be the master of ceremonies, it would be the same.

The third wife was very disappointed when she heard this.

She thought for a while and said, "How about I ask my niece-in-law from my mother's side to help you? If there is anything, just ask her to run errands. Then you just need to talk to the matchmaker from the Fang family and set the specific date for the wedding!" She still didn't give up.

Eleventh Lady was even more reluctant to agree - who knew what Third Lady was up to!

"In that case, I think we should ask the eldest niece-in-law from my third sister-in-law's family to be the matchmaker!" She said, "I've also seen your eldest niece-in-law. She's smart and capable. Leave it to her, and there's nothing for the third sister-in-law to worry about."

The Third Lady was very unhappy. She said, "Since the Fourth Sister-in-law is not convenient, let's talk about it later." She walked quickly forward and walked in front of the Eleventh Lady with her head held high.

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The evening update is a bit late, probably around ten o'clock!

O(∩_∩)O~