"Fifth brother's wife is good friends with Seventh sister," said Eleventh Lady. "She knew Seventh sister was in Yanjing, so she wanted to come and see her, too."

Did you tell the Fifth Lady about Qi Niang’s affairs?

Si Niang pondered over it, and seeing that Shiyi Niang hadn't said anything further, she didn't want to ask any more questions. Finally, she sighed softly and invited Shiyi Niang to the side room: "Let's go in and sit down too!"

Eleventh Lady nodded.

Suddenly, there was a loud cry coming from the side room.

Si Niang's face was filled with astonishment.

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

She was afraid that Qi Niang would not say anything in front of the Fifth Madam. Now that she was willing to communicate, things would be easier.

Eleventh Lady tugged at Fourth Lady's sleeve and said, "Fourth Sister, please let Fifth Brother's wife and Seventh Sister have a good talk!"

Si Niang thought about it and went to sit in the inner room with Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady was afraid that Fourth Lady would ask her what Xu Lingyi thought of this matter, so she told Fourth Lady about Yu Yiqing: "...I heard that the newly appointed Dou Ge Lao thinks highly of my brother-in-law and wants him to work in the Ministry of Personnel as a secretary, but my brother-in-law politely declined?"

Si Niang was also worried about this matter. When she saw Shiyi Niang asking about it, she immediately said, "Did you hear it from the Marquis?"

Eleventh Lady nodded.

Si Niang pondered and said, "Did the Marquis say that your brother-in-law did the right thing? Or was it not right?"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "The Marquis doesn't talk to me about these things very often. He only mentioned it because it involves my brother-in-law. I have never had a chance to talk to Fourth Sister about personal matters, so I didn't ask her about this matter."

Si Niang sighed deeply upon hearing this: "Your brother-in-law is a loyal and honest man. It is said that although Dou Ge Lao is upright and resolute, and is very honest, he is also very stubborn..." She stopped talking here, a trace of regret flashed in her eyes, as if she was hiding something, and hurriedly pushed the blue and white plate in front of Shiyi Niang, "Why are you saying this? Try the newly roasted melon seeds. How do you like it? If you like it, I'll give you some to the Madam later."

The heartfelt words her husband said in the boudoir involved matters of the government. Even among sisters, it was not convenient for them to spread the word... Si Niang was usually very secretive, but today... If this matter had not had a great impact on Yu Yiqing, it was the matter of Seventh Sister that made her less clear-headed as usual.

"Okay!" Eleventh Lady cracked melon seeds and chatted with Fourth Lady about family matters. "It's almost the beginning of winter, and there are more and more things to do at home. The Marquis asked me to take over the household duties. I was thinking about how to buy New Year's goods this year. Where did Fourth Sister buy these melon seeds? They really taste good. I asked the housekeeper to buy some for the New Year."

"It's the Mao's on East Street!" Si Niang was afraid that Shiyi Niang would continue to ask questions, so she was happy to chat with her about this and that.

The two of them sat there for two incense sticks' time, but the Fifth Madam still hadn't come out. Seeing that it was getting late, the Fourth Madam ordered the kitchen to prepare the meal, and then got up to invite the Fifth Madam and the Seventh Madam to come out for dinner.

Eleventh Lady stopped Fourth Lady: "... Let them talk it out properly. Even if there was a dragon's liver and phoenix's gall, I'm afraid Seventh Sister wouldn't be able to swallow it right now."

Si Niang pondered for a moment and said, "Then I'll ask the kitchen to save some food for them!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded. She ate lunch at Fourth Lady's place, took a nap, and played with Qi Ge'er for a while. As the sky gradually darkened and it was time to light the lamps, she thought that Jin Ge'er had never left her like this before, and she didn't know how he was doing at home. She immediately became restless and wished she could grow a pair of wings and fly back. She also thought that Fifth Lady had only eaten a few plates of snacks that Fourth Lady had sent in by the maid since morning... She became a little anxious and was hesitating whether to interrupt her and Seventh Lady's conversation when a maid ran in: "Madam, Madam, Madam Zhu and the Princess of Danyang County are out."

When the two heard this, they immediately stood up and went to the back yard. They met the Fifth Lady and Seventh Lady walking hand in hand under the eaves.

The Fifth Lady was smiling and looked radiant. Although Qi Niang's eyes were red and swollen, there was a faint smile on her face.

Fourth Lady looked happy, and Eleventh Lady also laughed.

"I thought you were going to have a long talk by candlelight," Si Niang went up to them. "Are you hungry?" She ordered the maidservant beside her, "Hurry up and serve the meal!"

"Mrs. Yu," the Fifth Lady said hurriedly, "it's getting late today. We'll bother you another day."

"How can that be possible!" Si Niang said, while Qi Niang said, "Si Jie, don't keep her. Chen Ge'er has been alone at home for a whole day, and Danyang is thinking about her! Let's keep her for dinner another day!"

"How can you talk like that?" Si Niang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

However, Qinnan said, "Danyang and I are not other people. Why should we say polite words that make people feel uncomfortable?" She treated Danyang even more intimately than before.

It seems that the two of them had a good conversation.

Eleventh Lady nodded secretly in her heart, and while chatting with Fourth Lady and Seventh Lady, she was accompanied by them out the door and got on the carriage.

Qi Niang stood in front of the carriage and said goodbye to Wu Madam reluctantly: "As soon as there is any news, I will let my personal mother report it to you immediately." She then said to Shiyi Niang, "Eleventh sister, please talk to the old lady. Tell her that I feel more at ease and will go to kowtow to her. Otherwise, I will go there rashly and not look good, which will make her unhappy."

"I understand!" Eleventh Lady said goodbye to her.

The carriage drove out of the alley with a "dead sound".

Mrs. Wu's face darkened.

"Fourth sister-in-law, I think you should go back to Gongxian Hutong and discuss this matter with your uncle."

Eleventh Lady was shocked when she heard this: "What happened?"

"The reason why the youngest son of the Yu family was adopted by Qi Niang was partly because Zhu Anping had promised Qi Niang in the past. Now Zhu Anping has changed his mind. Qi Niang feels that Zhu Anping is not keeping his word and she is upset. The other half is because of the second master of the Luo family!"

"My second uncle?" Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

Madam Wu nodded and said thoughtfully, "I heard from Qi Niang that when she went back to her parents' home for this matter, the second master started to scold her for making trouble. Later, when he heard that it was the people in the clan who instigated the old lady of the Zhu family to make trouble, he changed his mind. He said that these relatives of the Zhu family had divided the family property in the generation of Zhu Anping's great-grandfather. A small part of the Zhu family's property was left by Zhu Anping's father and grandfather, and the majority was earned by Zhu Anping himself. Why should those brothers who are almost five generations apart be allowed to share it? Then he wrote a letter and asked Qi Niang to take it to Madam Yu..."

Although I had guessed before that the Second Master and Second Wife of the Luo family must have known about this matter, and even condoned Qi Niang's actions because they doted on their daughter too much, I never thought that the Second Master played a role in fueling the flames!

Eleventh Lady felt cold all over.

Now even the generous, decent, and sensible Si Niang...

She was a little unconvinced. She interrupted the Fifth Lady hastily and whispered, "What did my Fourth Sister say?"

"Mrs. Yu thought this was ridiculous. Not to mention her, even Lord Yu would never agree to give his son to the Zhu family for adoption. She advised Qi Niang to return to Gaoqing quickly and occupy the main house no matter what. She went to Gaoqing right after to help Qi Niang argue with the Zhu family. Forget about the adoption. Immediately give Zhu Anping a concubine. If a son is born, report to the government and raise the child under his own name. If no son is born, then the Luo family will be held responsible. Those who proposed the adoption will be punished."

This is the Si Niang that I know!

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

"But Qi Niang was happily coming to Fourth Sister at that time," she said softly, "and she was expecting Fourth Sister to seek justice for her and ask Zhu Anping to fulfill his promise. How could she listen to such words?"

"Yes!" The Fifth Lady sighed, "She thought what the Second Master said made sense at the time. She also said that it would be fine if the Zhu family respected her, but since she married into the Zhu family, from food to clothing, the Zhu family's elders and sisters-in-law have been finding fault with her in everything. Knowing that Zhu Anping did not take a concubine because of her, everyone is waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Now asking her to take the initiative to take a concubine for her husband, isn't it just letting her slap herself in the face."

"So she started to make a fuss right then?" Eleventh Lady guessed.

Madam Wu smiled bitterly, "He took a pair of scissors and stabbed it into the chest... If it weren't for the quick eyes and hands of the maid beside him, I'm afraid..." Then she said thankfully, "Fortunately, it only pierced a hole in the maid's hand!"

Fortunately, it only pierced a hole in the maid's hand!

Seeing the Fifth Lady's disapproving look, Eleventh Lady looked at her and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

The Fifth Lady didn't think much about it.

Anyone who gets into this kind of thing involving the elders' gossip will be embarrassed! Besides, she is the sister-in-law of Shiyi Niang, so it is normal for Shiyi Niang to feel uncomfortable.

She pretended not to see it and continued, "After Second Master knew that Madam Yu was unwilling to give her youngest son to Qi Niang, he sent several letters in succession and even sent one of his staff to Beijing, saying that if Madam Yu did not say anything, then Second Master would come in person to meet the son-in-law whom Second Master had raised as his own son. Madam Yu agreed."

So Si Niang couldn't say anything...

Eleventh Lady lowered her eyelids and sat there silently without saying a word.

Mrs. Wu looked at the grief and anger on her face and felt a little sympathy for her.

She wanted to comfort Eleventh Lady, but they had very few interactions in their daily lives, and she couldn't find any appropriate words.

In the silence, the noisy voices outside the car could be heard, becoming even louder.

After passing the West Street lined with shops, you will reach the quiet and solemn Zheng'an Street, and the lotus garden can be seen in the distance.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but say, "Fourth sister-in-law, I think the key to this matter lies with the Second Master. It is no longer something that we younger generations can influence. You should make a decision as soon as possible!"

Eleventh Lady raised her head, a trace of gratitude flashing in her eyes: "Fifth sister-in-law, thank you for reminding me. I will go to Gongxian Hutong early tomorrow morning." Then she asked, "My Seventh Sister...what are your plans now?"

The Fifth Lady couldn't help but reveal a bit of pride when she heard this: "I told her that instead of asking Zhu Anping to fulfill his promise, it's better to hold Zhu Anping accountable for not keeping his promise!"

Eleventh Lady looked at Fifth Lady in surprise.

Mrs. Wu looked as comfortable as if she had drunk a cup of hot tea in winter.

The smug look in her eyes grew even stronger.

"Men, once they are happy, can say anything. If we women want to remember everything, we need to find an account book and have a little maid to keep the accounts." The Fifth Lady laughed, "Qiniang has no children, so it's Qiniang's fault. But Zhu Anping promised Qiniang to adopt a son from her sisters, so it's Zhu Anping's fault. Comparing the two, it's fair."

Some people are born to be good at handling marital relationships.

The Fifth Lady must be someone with this kind of talent!

For so many years, Qi Niang had not given birth to children for her husband's family, and she felt guilty, so she would make a fuss desperately, and she could make a big deal out of a small matter. And the words of the Fifth Lady just gave Qi Niang a reason to fill the hole in her heart.

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I wish you all a happy Dragon Boat Festival!

O(∩_∩)O~

The update is a bit late, please wait and read it tomorrow morning!

PS: Keep asking for pink votes...