"Brother!" Fang was furious. "You took the exam three times. The first time you said it was too cold and you didn't sleep well. The second time you said the food didn't suit your appetite and you were so hungry that you felt dizzy..."

"You are so young, why are you as nagging as my mother?" Fang Ji interrupted his sister and said, "I will do well in the exam this time, okay?"

Fang knew that her elder brother was a bit soft-hearted. She said, "Brother, work hard and pass the imperial examination. Then your aunt will have nothing to say. Then you can do whatever you want. Isn't that a good idea?" She didn't dare to say anything more and asked about the family situation.

"Everything is fine!" Fang Ji didn't want to talk about this with his sister, so he smiled and said, "My second sister has set the date of April 18th to get married, and my third sister is engaged to a son of the Jiang family in Dongyang. Although he is from a branch family and his family is ordinary, his grandfather and father are both scholars. He is quite famous for his literary talent at a young age. As for my second brother, he has made great progress in his studies..."

The brother and sister chatted for a long time, Fang was crying and laughing, until Qiuyu came over and said, "The Marquis is hosting a banquet in the outer courtyard to entertain your uncle," and then she sent Fang Ji out.

Eleventh Lady sent someone to invite Fang over to talk: "I heard that the young uncle is here. If you haven't decided on a place to stay, why don't you stay at Congxiang Pavilion in the mansion? If you think Congxiang Pavilion is too noisy because it's close to the street, I can ask Chief Butler Bai to clean up the Songzhen Pavilion next to Shuangfu Courtyard."

"My sister-in-law is the niece of Minister Liu. Every time my brother comes to the capital, he stays in the villa of Minister Liu's family." Fang thanked her again and again, and said, "Thank you for your concern, aunt. But my brother moved into the villa of Minister Liu's family yesterday, and it would not be appropriate for him to move out so hastily." She politely declined.

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady said, "Just ask if you need any help." On the Lantern Festival, she invited Fang Ji to her house for dinner.

Fang Ji passed the imperial examination at the age of 18, and has been hovering at the door of the Jinshi degree. He seems to be open and generous, but he is arrogant. Xu Siqin couldn't talk to him, but Xu Siyu was very popular with him. After they met, he invited Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu to his place several times and introduced some friends to Xu Siyu. Knowing that Xu Siqin decided to move on the fourth day of the second month, he agreed and said to Fang privately: "It's good to live a down-to-earth life. Fortunately, you are well educated. If you can't teach your husband, you can always teach your son!"

Therefore, he treated Xu Siqin differently and was less contemptuous than when they first met.

Xu Siqin didn't understand why, he just felt that this uncle was capricious and difficult to get along with. He used the excuse of moving to deal with trivial matters, and Fang Ji invited him three times, but he refused to go. Gradually, Fang Ji and Xu Siyu became close.

In mid-February, Li Zhong, the general of Fujian, and his son were escorted to Beijing. The truth was exposed, causing an uproar in the capital.

Fang Ji and other students who came to Beijing to take the imperial examination were very excited and wrote a ten-thousand-word letter to the emperor, demanding the execution of Li Zhong.

Eleventh Lady was very worried and tried to get Xu Lingyi's opinion: "...General Li, what does the Emperor mean?"

"It depends on what the emperor is planning." Xu Lingyi took the hot tea she handed over, "If he wants to involve the Qu family, he will naturally make a big fuss about General Li's matter. If he doesn't touch the Qu family for the time being, it will naturally make a big deal out of a small matter, and a small matter out of nothing."

"Then, based on the Marquis's perspective, will the Emperor deal with the people of the Qu family at this time?" Eleventh Lady pondered, "This is a good opportunity."

"It's indeed a good opportunity." Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "It all depends on what the emperor does!"

It is better to be safe than sorry. Moreover, even if Xu Siyu participated in this matter, he was just a cheerleader. If it succeeded, it would have nothing to do with him, but if it failed, he might be implicated.

Eleventh Lady detained Xu Siyu at home and said, "Your brother-in-law will be going to Beijing in the next few days, so we have to entertain the Shao family. Zhun'er is young, so you should stay with him and help him a lot, so as not to neglect one thing while taking care of another, and do something rude."

Ms. Jiang wanted to know the topic of the exam and the papers of the top ten and the top three in the palace exam, so that Xu Siyu could find a way to copy the papers after the spring exam and return to Le'an. She had to keep Xu Siyu until the day of the exam, and the scholars who participated in the spring exam would stop.

Xu Sizhun was a little surprised and said "yes" respectfully. He first met Shao Zhongran and the Shao family members who came to Beijing for the exam outside the city gate with Manager Zhao, then accompanied them to the Shao family's villa, ordered takeout from Chunxi Tower, and left the Shao family members to rest and settle down. The next day, he took Xu Lingyi's name card to invite the Shao family members to his house for a drink and a welcome dinner for the Shao family members. He also sent clothes and cooling ointment to Shao Zhongran on the orders of Eleventh Lady. The Shao family members invited Xu Siyu and Xu Sizhun back, and it was already the third day of March. He finally had time to see Fang Ji.

"So your eldest brother-in-law is from the Shao family in Cangzhou." Fang Ji had received a letter from Xu Siyu before, and knew that he had been entertaining his brother-in-law who came to Beijing to participate in the martial arts examination. When they met, Fang Ji said with great interest, "There are several famous knights in their family, all of whom are mysterious and elusive. Can you introduce them to me someday?"

Xu Siyu agreed readily and asked about the ten thousand word letter that he had been thinking about.

"Li Zhong's case involves the Jinghai Marquis Qu family." Fang Ji said with great joy, "The emperor has sent his close minister, Lord Wang Li, as an imperial envoy to take charge of Fujian affairs. He will leave today."

Xu Siyu couldn't help but smile: "This way, those who were wrongly killed can be vindicated!"

"It's a pity you were not there." Fang Ji's face was high. "When we rushed into the Ministry of Rites, those people were in a panic..." As he spoke, his expression darkened. "They were all important officials of the court, but they were like that common woman. They all looked pale and some even hid under the desks!" He shook his head with emotion.

"You rushed into the Ministry of Rites?" Xu Siyu was very surprised.

Fang Ji nodded: "If the Great Zhou only employs people like this, the future will be worrying!"

Xu Siyu suddenly thought of what Shiyi Niang had asked him to do these days... He stood up hastily: "My family is hosting a banquet, so I can't stay for long. I know that my brothers are all well, so I will go back first. I will come back to see you off when they come on stage in a few days."

Fang Ji had also heard of the famous March 3rd banquet at Yongping Marquis Mansion. After a few polite words, he personally escorted him out the door.

At this moment, Eleventh Lady was whispering to Madam Zhou.

"... Li Zhong admitted it completely, and An Cheng helped him find some connections, so Li Ji got rid of all the blame. I'm afraid Li Zhong's life is in danger."

He traded his father's life for a chance to live. Li Ji was afraid that he would have to live with this guilt for the rest of his life. But if he didn't accept this opportunity, the Li family might never recover, or even go bankrupt. If he accepted it, Princess Ancheng would protect him for her daughter, and he could more or less help his family.

Eleventh Lady was very sad.

Mrs. Zhou also sighed: "Li Zhong is too radical."

With Li Zhong's conviction, Madam Li will also disappear from the banquet...

The two men remembered that even Mrs. Li's smile was full of caution, and they couldn't help but fall silent.

Grandma Lin's hearty laughter could be heard from outside: "... If the Xu family's conservatory is second in Beijing, no one dares to claim to be first. Although I am not the real owner, I dare to promise you on behalf of Madam Xu Si - when the time comes, just send your maids and old women to ask for it. If Madam Xu Si frowns, it will be my fault."

Eleventh Lady and Madam Zhou both laughed.

The atmosphere in the room lightened.

"This Shao is making promises again." Mrs. Zhou stood up with a smile, "Let's go and take a look, otherwise you will suffer a great loss."

Eleventh Lady went out with Madam Zhou, smiling brightly, and saw Grandma Lin and a forty-year-old woman wearing a honey-colored jacket with gold all over them talking at the entrance of Dianchun Hall. There were also seven or eight other women standing beside them, including Grandma Huang.

She is the wife of Lord Dou.

Eleventh Lady came forward to greet her and introduced Madam Zhou to her.

"We have met before." Seeing the two of them coming out of the side room side by side, Madam Dou's smile became more intimate, "At the wedding banquet of Lord Li's eldest son. Madam Zhou, do you remember?"

"Of course I remember!" Mrs. Zhou greeted her with a smile.

Madam Dou's eyes fell on Eleventh Lady: "I've heard that Fourth Madam is good at growing flowers and grass. I came here today and couldn't help but ask..."

"It's all thanks to the sisters for their kindness. One point of kindness has become five points of kindness." Eleventh Lady said politely, "If Madam Dou doesn't mind, how about I accompany you to stroll in the garden?"

"Okay!" Madam Dou said with a smile, "That's exactly what I was thinking, but it's a little hard to say."

Eleventh Lady went with her to the greenhouse and introduced Fang to her: "This is my eldest niece's wife. She also loves flowers."

Mrs. Dou nodded to Fang, and Fang quickly knelt down to greet her. After entering the greenhouse, she took the initiative to help introduce the habits of various flowers and plants, and Mrs. Dou nodded continuously when she heard it.

A little maid came in and whispered to Eleventh Lady, "Madam, the second young master is here to see you!"

The Xu family only invites female guests to the March 3rd banquet, and Xu Lingyi always avoids them on this day. But Xu Siyu came to see her at this time. Could it be that something happened to Fang Ji?

She said "hmm" calmly and found a chance to leave the greenhouse.

Xu Siyu stood under a magnolia tree outside the greenhouse.

Snow-white petals fell on his shoulders, who were wearing a green gown, quietly and elegantly like an ink painting.

Hearing the noise, he looked over, his dark eyes flashing with a strange light, making him look very different from usual.

Eleventh Lady was slightly stunned and asked, "What happened?"

Looking at her honest eyes, the words that had been bubbling in his mind like boiling water on the way back suddenly froze at the corner of his mouth.

There are some words she has never said, but there are some things she has been doing silently.

Xu Siyu suddenly laughed.

What does it matter whether you ask or not?

She won't not do it just because she didn't say it!

"Nothing!" He took a long breath, suddenly feeling relieved. "Mother is entertaining guests, I wanted to ask my sixth brother if he wanted me to help look after her."

Eleventh Lady thought of Jing'er, who had taken out all his things and placed them on the big kang in the warm room, and she couldn't help but feel a headache. She said, "He's in the warm room. If you have time, play with him for a while!"

Xu Siyu bowed and retreated.

He accompanied Jing'er to take out things, then put them away, take them out again, and put them away again...until he was tired of playing and Mother Gu coaxed him to sleep. Then Xu Siyu sat on the armchair beside the kang, gently touched his hard black hair, and murmured something that no one could hear clearly.

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

O(∩_∩)O~