Xu Lingyi said it so easily, but Shiyi Niang didn't know how to respond.

What does it mean to be obedient? What does it mean to be disobedient? A person's fate may change from then on.

Seeing her speechless for a while, Xu Lingyi thought she didn't know who to choose. He smiled and said, "There's no rush for this. Just take your time."

Eleventh Lady agreed, and after thinking it over for several days, she decided to ask Xu Siyu himself what he thought first.

Xu Siyu never thought that Shiyi Niang would ask him this question. No matter how calm and reserved he was, he was just a fifteen-year-old boy. His face turned red and he couldn't utter a word.

Eleventh Lady looked at him with a faint smile, and said meaningfully: "Young couples are the most affectionate, mostly because that is the initial touching moment. Your father also said that this matter is not urgent, take your time. When you have thought it over, just send someone to let me know." Then she served tea and sent the guest away.

Xu Siyu walked out of the courtyard with a messy mind, and saw Zhen Jie'er and her maid Xiaoli walking towards him, talking in a low voice with a smile on their faces. He quickly pulled himself together and greeted Zhen Jie'er.

Zhen Jieer seemed a little shy: "I heard from mother that my second brother will return to Anle after the New Year, right?"

Xu Siyu smiled and nodded: "What's wrong? Is there something you want me to bring to Anle?"

Since the Ninth Miss of the Jiang Family came to visit the family, Shiyi Niang would send some clothes and food every year, and the Ninth Miss of the Jiang Family would also send some shoes and socks made by her own hands. Shiyi Niang gave the task of returning the gift to Zhen Jie'er. The two of them came and went, and as the Ninth Miss of the Jiang Family grew older, they began to exchange letters.

Zhen Jie'er blushed slightly, and Xiaoli beside her smiled and said, "The tenth day of October is the sixth young master's birthday, and the twenty-fifth is the second young master's birthday. In November, our young lady will be coming of age. If the second young master is also at home, the young lady said it will be more lively than the Mid-Autumn Festival."

After the coming-of-age ceremony, Zhen Jie'er got married. This might be her last birthday in the Xu family. Because of mourning, Xu Siyu stayed in Yanjing, and with the brothers Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian returning from Shanyang, it was a true reunion for the brothers and sisters.

Xu Siyu was quite disappointed, but he smiled and nodded: "I will definitely give my sister a big gift when the time comes!"

"Who wants second brother's gift?" Zhen Jie'er looked at Xu Siyu with a serious look in her eyes. "I just hope that second brother will not forget me, his sister, and come to see me when he has the chance."

Xu Siyu nodded heavily.

A group of housekeepers dressed in silk and silver came over here, talking and laughing. Occasionally someone raised their voices a notch or two, and they could be heard discussing, "Sixth Young Master's third-day bath, full-month, and hundred-day celebrations were all attended by only relatives and old friends. I'm afraid this year's birthday celebration won't be a big deal!"

"The Fourth Madam is a simple person, and she hates playing bamboo and flutes at home, so she naturally doesn't want to hold a big celebration. But the Marquis must agree!"

"The Marquis has never been involved in family affairs, so he naturally listens to the Fourth Madam!"

Someone laughed, "Fourth Madam said that since the Sixth Young Master is young, he only needs to wear clean, tidy, warm and breathable clothes. But what happened? When the eldest young master got married, the Marquis said that the Sixth Young Master must not dress shabbily, so he made four silk crane cloaks, each in a different color. Although the Fourth Madam didn't say anything, the father felt sorry for his son, and the mother was not unhappy. Didn't you see that the Sixth Young Master only ate breast milk and didn't eat vegetable porridge these days, and Madam Gu didn't dare to force him?"

Xu Siyu and Zhen Jie'er couldn't help but exchange glances.

The group of mothers in charge had already seen the two of them and came forward to greet them.

Zhen Jie'er has been in charge of Eleventh Lady for the past two years, and those mothers have gained more respect for her.

"Is the eldest lady going to see the Fourth Madam? Or is she coming out from the Fourth Madam?"

"I'm going to see my mother." Zhen Jie'er's smile was reserved but also condescending. This was something Xu Siyu was not familiar with.

His eyes dimmed as he spoke a few words to Zhen Jie'er, then watched her being surrounded by mothers who were much older than her and were fawning on her as she entered the main courtyard.

"Second Young Master," the maid Xiang Zhu saw him standing there hesitating and said with a smile, "I just saw the eldest young mistress accompanying the third lady to the dowager's place."

Xu Siqin lived behind the main house, which implied that if he had nowhere to go, he could go to Xu Siqin's place and sit down.

Xu Siyu thought of the lingering look Fang gave Xu Siqin, and suddenly felt that it was inappropriate for him to go to Xu Siqin again. But he didn't want to go back to the house.

Taking someone in... But if his wife marries him, what should be done with her? Like his biological mother? Or like the two concubines around his fifth uncle, sent to the farm to be married off?

He felt very confused.

I can't just stand here like this.

After thinking for a while, he whispered, "I'll go see my second aunt."

Xiangzhu responded with a smile and led the way.

When he arrived at the Second Madam's place, Jie Xiang stopped him outside the house: "The Second Madam didn't sleep last night... Second Young Master, you should come back in two days!"

"What happened?" Xu Siyu was stunned.

"The second lady has been stargazing these days." Jie Xiang said with a smile, "The eldest young lady came to see the second lady a few days ago, but the second lady didn't see her either."

Xu Siyu felt relieved and said with a smile, "I feel relieved since Second Aunt is in good health." But he didn't want to leave, so he asked Jiexiang to make a pot of tea and sat quietly in the bamboo forest.

A woman wearing a scarlet boa and a bright blue skirt walked through the path beside the bamboo forest.

Xiang Zhu was standing by with nothing to do, and said with a smile: "Second Young Master, it's Sister Xiu Yuan who is beside Aunt Qiao!"

Xu Siyu responded casually.

Xiang Zhu smiled and said, "I heard that Sister Xiuyuan wanted to be a lay Buddhist just like Sister Jiexiang. She asked the Fourth Madam for help, but she didn't agree at first. Then Sister Xiuyuan cut off a lock of her hair to show her determination. The Fourth Madam then asked her to become a disciple of Master Jining. Now she is very close to Sister Jiexiang."

The woman just now had almond eyes and peach cheeks, very outstanding. It was very rare outside. But in this family, it was nothing.

Xu Siyu stared in a daze at the dancing bamboo forest.

* * * * * *

Over there, Zhu Xiang saw the housekeeper out.

Zhen Jie'er and Shiyi Niang went to the inner room and sat down.

"Mother, Sixth Brother's first birthday gift..."

"Just like the hundred-day ceremony." Eleventh Lady continued with a smile.

Zhen Jie'er couldn't help but pursed her lips when she thought of how those mothers in charge had encouraged Eleventh Lady to hold a grand celebration.

Eleventh Lady said this, but she was worried that Xu Lingyi would not agree. She did not like to talk about this topic, and smiled and talked about Zhen Jie'er's coming-of-age ceremony: "I asked Master Jian to make a dress for you. It will not be completed until the end of October. You can take a look at it by then to see if there are any changes!"

Zhen Jieer knew that Shiyi Niang was preparing for her, and even heard that Shiyi Niang had handed in a sign in the past few days to ask the Queen for a favor for her. Hearing this, she felt a little uneasy and whispered, "It's up to mother to decide!"

"I'm the boss, but I want you to like it."

As they were talking, a little maid came in and said, "The eldest young mistress is here!"

After Fang got married, she spent most of her time serving the Third Lady. The occasional encounter was when she went to pay her respects to the Madam. This was the first time she came alone.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly invited her to sit in the west banquet room and asked the maid to serve her tea and snacks.

Fang and Zhen Jie'er exchanged greetings and sat down on the armchair in front of the kang.

"Mom has something to discuss with Grandmother. I'm alone, so I came to sit with Fourth Aunt!" She smiled shyly and glanced at Zhen Jie'er, "I didn't disturb Fourth Aunt and Big Sister, did I?"

"We are just idle and chatting." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Your coming will make the life more lively. It's not a bother at all." Then she asked her kindly if she was used to her life and what she did for fun.

Fang only answered "I'm still used to it" to the first question, and talked to Shiyi Niang about the second topic: "When I was at home, I just did some needlework, read and wrote, and grew flowers and plants. But I'm impatient and can't do any of them well. I heard that Fourth Aunt is an outstanding needleworker and grows flowers and plants well, so I thought about asking Fourth Aunt for guidance when I have the chance. I don't know if Fourth Aunt will think I'm clumsy."

Show a neighborly and friendly attitude.

We are all relatives, so we should interact with each other and be friendly and warm to each other.

"Brother Qin's daughter-in-law is too modest!" Shiyi Niang said with a smile, "If you like, just come. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed when you see that I, as an aunt, am not good at sewing and growing flowers!"

"Aunt is too modest!" Fang said with a smile, "There are two pots of Clivia in my mother's room. I heard from the maids that they were moved from the greenhouse. I know that aunt is a person who loves flowers and plants. I just like to grow orchids. Aunt said this, which makes me feel embarrassed to speak up."

In ancient times, raising orchids was not only an elegant thing, but also required a lot of energy, material resources, and financial resources. The Fang family let their daughter develop such a hobby... Shiyi Niang was a little surprised. She looked at Fang carefully.

Fang generously let her look at her. She smiled and said, "It's a pity that I came in a hurry this time and didn't have time to bring a few pots of orchids to show to Fourth Aunt. I can only wait until someone from my family comes to Yanjing next year, and I will ask someone to bring a few pots over!"

Having seen her greenhouse and still dared to say such things, she must have acquired some rare treasures.

Eleventh Lady thanked her with a smile and chatted with Fang for a few more words. A strange little maid passed by outside the curtain, and Fang stood up and said goodbye with a smile.

Sister Zhen saw the guests off on behalf of Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady asked Qiuyu: "Is it the eldest young lady's maid outside?"

"Yes!" Qiu Yu smiled, "She said that she was afraid that the Third Madam would not know when she returned and would neglect the Third Madam, so she asked her to watch outside and report to the First Young Madam when the Third Madam returned."

Eleventh Lady nodded and instructed that if Fang’s maid wanted to come in to report the news, she should not be stopped.

In the evening, Xu Lingyi came back and talked to her about the third room.

"My third brother sent me a letter." He sat on the bedside, stroking Eleventh Lady's hair lazily, "He said that there is no one to take care of him. After Jing'er's first birthday, he asked me to send someone to send my third sister-in-law to Shanyang. As for Qin'er and Jian'er, he has invited an old gentleman who used to be a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy to be a guest in Sanjing Hutong. When the time comes, let the two brothers move there. The affairs of the inner courtyard will be managed by Fang, and the two brothers will have someone to take care of them."

Isn't this equivalent to dividing the family?

Things happened so quickly that Eleventh Lady felt a little unreal.

"Does the third sister-in-law know?"

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