Chapter 530: Persuasion (Part 1)

"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 matter?

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

Eleventh Lady nodded.

Suddenly there was a burst of howling from the compartment.

Si Niang's face was filled with shock.

Eleventh Lady, however, breathed a sigh of relief.

She was afraid that Qi Niang would not say anything in front of the Fifth Lady. 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 go to the Ministry of Changes to serve 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 not?"

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 the opportunity to talk to Fourth Sister in confidence, so I didn't ask her about this matter."

Si Niang heaved a long sigh upon hearing this: "Your brother-in-law is a loyal and honest man. Although Dou Ge Lao is resolute and courageous, and very honest, he has a stubborn personality..." At this point, she stopped abruptly, a trace of regret flashed in her eyes, and as if to cover up something, she pushed the blue and white plate in front of Shiyi Niang and said, "Why are you saying this? Try the newly roasted melon seeds. How do you like them? If you like them, I'll give you some to the Madam to taste later."

The heartfelt words her husband said in the concubine's room involved matters related to the temple. Even if they were sisters, it was not convenient for them to spread the news... Si Niang was usually very secretive, but today... If this matter had not had a great impact on Yu Yiqing, it was because of Seventh Sister's matter that made her less cheerful 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 responsibility of hosting the feast. I was thinking about how to buy New Year's goods this year. Where did Fourth Sister buy these melon seeds? They taste really good. I'll ask the housekeeper to buy some for the New Year."

"It's the Mao Ji'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 all sorts of things.

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

Eleventh Lady stopped Fourth Lady and said, "... Let them talk it out. Even if it's dragon liver and pheasant gall, I'm afraid Seventh Sister won't be able to eat 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 Qi Ge'er had never left her like this before, and she didn't know what was going on 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 head of Danyang County are coming out."

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

The Fifth Lady was smiling brightly and looked radiant. Although the Seventh Lady's eyes were red, there was a faint smile on her face.

Fourth Lady was delighted when she saw this, and Eleventh Lady also started laughing.

"I thought you were going to have a long conversation by candlelight," Si Niang came forward. "Are you hungry?" She ordered the maid beside her, "Hurry up and serve the meal!"

"Madam Yu," the Fifth Lady said hurriedly, "it's getting late today. We will come back another day to bother you."

"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 missing her! Let's invite her to dinner another day!"

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

But Qi Niang said, "Danyang and I are not strangers. Why should we say polite words that make others feel awkward?" She treated Danyang even more intimately than before.

It looked like 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 of the door and got into the carriage.

Qi Niang stood in front of the carriage and reluctantly said goodbye to the Fifth Lady: "As soon as there is any news, I will ask my personal mother to inform you immediately." She also said to Shiyi Niang, "Eleventh sister, please talk to the Grand Madam for me. 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 "clatter".

The fifth lady's face darkened.

"Fourth sister-in-law, I want you to go back to Gongxian Hutong and discuss this matter with Uncle, right?"

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

"Half of the reason why the youngest son of the Yu family was adopted by Qi Niang was because Zhu Anping had promised Qi Niang, but now he has changed his mind. Qi Niang feels that Zhu Anping is not keeping his word and is upset. The other half is because of the second elder 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 elder started to scold her for making trouble. Later, he heard that it was the people in the clan who instigated the old lady of the Zhu family to make trouble, so he changed his mind. He said that these relatives of the Zhu family had divided up the family during 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 most of it was earned by Zhu Anping himself. Why should those brothers who were almost five generations apart be divided up? 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 the second wife of the Luo family knew 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 this!

Eleventh Lady felt cold all over.

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

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

"Mrs. Yu thinks this is ridiculous. Not to mention her, even Lord Yu would never agree to pass his son to the Zhu family. She advised Qi Niang to return to Gaoqing quickly and occupy the main house no matter what. She will go to Gaoqing right after to help Qi Niang negotiate with the Zhu family. Forget about passing on the inheritance. Immediately appoint a concubine for Zhu Anping. If a son is born, report it to the government and raise the child under your name. If not, the Luo family will be held responsible. Those who proposed passing on the inheritance will be punished."

This is the Si Niang that I know!

Eleventh Lady breathed a sigh of relief.

"But at that time, Qi Niang was so happy that she came to Fourth Sister," she said softly, "that 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 Elder 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 for her, everyone is waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Now that she is asked to take the initiative to take a concubine for her husband, isn't that just asking her to contradict herself?"

"So she became furious at that time?" Eleventh Lady guessed.

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

Fortunately, only a hole was pierced 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 involved in such a matter involving the elders' gossip will be embarrassed! Moreover, since she is Shiyi Niang's sister-in-law, it is reasonable for Shiyi Niang to feel that she is not involved.

She pretended not to notice and continued, "After Second Elder knew that Madam Yu was unwilling to pass on 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 Elder would personally come to meet the son-in-law whom Second Elder had raised as his own son. Madam Yu agreed."

So Si Niang couldn't say anything...

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

The Fifth Lady looked at the sadness on her face and felt a little sympathy.

The heart of love comes.

She wanted to comfort Eleventh Lady. They rarely interacted with each other, 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, where lotus flowers 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 still lies with the second old man. It is no longer something that we young people 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." She then asked, "My Seventh Sister...what are your plans now?"

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Lady couldn't help but reveal a bit of pride: "I told her that instead of asking Zhu Anping to fulfill his promise, it is 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 smugness in her eyes grew even stronger.

"Men, when they are happy, can say anything. If we women want to remember everything, we need to find an account book and ask a maid to keep the accounts." The Fifth Lady laughed, "Qiniang has no children, which is Qiniang's fault. But Zhu Anping promised Qiniang to adopt a son among her sisters, which is 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 a person with this kind of talent!

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