He mentioned several times the marriage was going on and clearly stated who the people were. He even suggested that Eleventh Lady send someone to Huzhou to inquire.

Eleventh Lady thought about Fang's marriage to a lower class and how the Fang family always responded to her requests... It seemed like there was a reasonable explanation for everything. She believed that this was not groundless.

But why did Jiang Jinkui do this?

If there was any special purpose, she couldn't think of any conflict of interest between Fang and Jiang Jinkui; if she was warning her out of kindness, it didn't seem like they had such a relationship. Or maybe she just had nothing better to do and wanted to gossip?

Eleventh Lady pondered and looked at Jiang Jinkui carefully again.

Jiang Jinkui frowned slightly, drooped her eyelids, and said in a low voice: "If your family knew about this, they would definitely not marry into the Fang family. But I really didn't lie to you." Then she bent her knees and bowed, "I'm leaving!" Her voice was very depressed, and she walked past her with her shoulders drooped.

In a flash, Eleventh Lady suddenly understood Jiang Jinkui a little.

She traveled thousands of miles to marry into the princess's mansion. Her mother-in-law was a noble and well-mannered person. Her husband was vicious, treacherous, domineering, and had a special hobby that everyone knew was shameful. She was like an out-of-place decoration. Not only could she not find her place in the princess's mansion, but her life must have been humble, depressed, and lonely. On those days when the water was still stagnant, she suddenly heard a piece of gossip that would interest anyone who heard it... and then it grew and spread in her heart like weeds... How could she bear it!

"I believe you didn't lie to me." Eleventh Lady grabbed Jiang Jinkui's sleeve, "Who else knows about this?" Her voice was a little low and sounded very serious.

Jiang Jinkui turned around, her face brightened, and she said hastily: "Except for me, no one should know! No, no one in Yanjing knows. Even in Huzhou, not many people know. If I hadn't asked, my mother wouldn't have told me about this... We are not the kind of people who like to talk too much..."

From her somewhat disorganized words, Eleventh Lady had already obtained a lot of information.

First, Jiang Jinkui had only known about this for a short time and only occasionally, so she did not mention it to anyone else. Second, the rumor that Fang was unlucky in marriage was only spread among some relatives and was not widely publicized - otherwise, the Fang family would not have dared to marry off their daughter with great fanfare.

"Thank you for telling me this." She looked at Jiang Jinkui honestly, "Please keep this secret for our family..."

Before Eleventh Lady finished her words, Jiang Jinkui nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry. I know the seriousness of the matter, and I haven't told anyone." Then she emphasized, "Even the princess, I didn't tell anyone." She added, "You'd better find a way to resolve this matter quickly! The truth will come out sooner or later. There are many officials from Jiangnan in Yanjing, and this matter will spread sooner or later. By then, everyone will definitely come to see the excitement in your family." As she spoke, she hurriedly said, "The princess has entered the hall, and I can't say more to you. If you have anything to ask me, just ask someone to send me an invitation. Although my husband has some conflicts with the Duke of Mao's Mansion, he doesn't take the Duke of Mao's Mansion seriously. On the contrary, he values ​​the Marquis very much. Knowing that it was you who invited me, my husband will definitely let me go. As long as my husband says something, the princess dare not refute it." As she spoke, she bent her knees and bowed to Eleventh Lady, and said, "I'm leaving", and got up and walked quickly to the main hall.

Eleventh Lady certainly didn't believe in the saying "unlucky husband". Besides, it had been more than a year since Xu Siqin and Fang got engaged and married. If Fang was really unlucky husband, how could Xu Siqin still be so lively and energetic like now?

I don’t know whether the third lady knows about this.

It would be easy if we knew. We can just think of a way to resolve the matter.

If you don’t know…

She couldn't help but feel a headache when she thought of the smug look on the third lady's face when she married the eldest daughter-in-law.

It’s hard to say what kind of trouble the third room will cause by then!

But this isn't the right occasion to think about these things.

Eleventh Lady quickly gathered her thoughts and went to the main hall.

Madam Zhou took the opportunity to ask her quietly, "What did Jiang want to talk to you about?" After asking, without waiting for Eleventh Lady to answer, she continued, "I get anxious just looking at her. Her husband is already like that, but she still looks so timid that she's afraid of being stepped on by an ant. Others look down on her. No wonder Princess Changning is angry at her for not fighting back and shakes her head when she talks about her."

The result was a vicious cycle - the more inferior she felt, the more timid she became, and the more timid she became, the more she was blamed by her husband and mother-in-law, and the more inferior she felt...

"It's nothing important." Eleventh Lady sighed secretly in her heart and said vaguely, "They said we all married here from Jiangnan, so we should walk around more when we have time."

"Huh!" Mrs. Zhou asked curiously, "When did she change her personality?" Before she finished speaking, she heard a burst of laughter coming from the Crown Princess's side.

The two of them dropped the subject and gathered around.

* * * * * *

After returning home, Eleventh Lady kept thinking about this matter.

I always feel like it's a time bomb, which makes me a little uneasy.

Xu Lingyi thought she was worried about what happened today when she entered the palace, so he put on his robe and sat up to talk to her: "...The Queen is a sensible person. She won't take the eldest princess' words to heart. Don't worry. In my opinion, this is a good thing. In the future, the palace will not summon Jin'er to the palace casually, and Jin'er won't be restrained. When he grows up and knows how to control his temper, it will be the same when he goes to pay his respects to the Emperor and the Queen."

Some things are still unclear, and Eleventh Lady doesn't want to tell Xu Lingyi so early.

"I am just worrying too much." She smiled to calm things down, "You have disturbed the Marquis too. You still have to take Zhun'er to Chen's house tomorrow morning!"

Speaking of this topic, it was Xu Lingyi's turn to feel a little depressed.

"Do you think we should pick a better servant for Zhun-ge'er?" He pondered, "I see that none of the people around him have their own opinions."

"Such a person is not easy to find." Xu Sizhun often went out for social events with Xu Lingyi these days. Compared with the past, his interpersonal communication has improved a lot, but he is not enthusiastic about it. From Xu Lingyi's tone, he behaves very passively. It's okay when he is with people of the same age or younger than him, but if he meets someone older and dignified, he will be a little timid. Xu Lingyi was very dissatisfied and took him out more frequently. Eleventh Lady also felt that Xu Sizhun needed more opportunities to practice, and was more supportive of Xu Lingyi taking him with him when he went to visit senior officials in the court or to attend some banquets. She thought of Linbo and Zhaoying, who would have to work in the outer courtyard in a few days due to their age, and she suggested: "How about finding one of Linbo and Zhaoying and putting him with Zhun'er, do you think it's okay?"

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment and said carefully: "These two have been serving me since they were seven or eight years old. Naturally, they behave very well. But Fujian is in need of talented people, so these two will go to Guangdong in a few days..." After all, he was the prince who had failed to live up to his high hopes. Although he refused, there was some hesitation in his tone.

Eleventh Lady was startled and sat up: "My Lord, is it the Qu family..."

Seeing that she was only wearing a small dress, Xu Lingyi took off his clothes and put them on her, whispering, "Man proposes, God disposes."

The words have been made very clear.

Eleventh Lady nodded slightly and couldn't help but hold Xu Lingyi's hand: "My Lord, we will definitely get what we want."

Xu Lingyi smiled and stroked her hair: "Go to sleep! Brother Jin has been getting more and more naughty these days. If you feel tired, just let the maids and old women play with him. Don't force yourself. If you fall ill, it will be more troublesome."

Eleventh Lady responded and lay down, continuing to chat with Xu Lingyi: "Since Linbo and Zhaoying will not serve you in the future, when will you choose a new personal servant? Otherwise, why not choose one for Zhun'er as well? He is the prince, and sometimes being a little special can help him establish his authority..."

Xu Lingyi said “hmm”, and the two of them fell asleep while chatting about family matters.

The next day, when Xu Siyu came to pay his respects, Shiyi Niang asked him, "How have you done with the task that Mr. Jiang asked you to do?"

Xu Siyu smiled and said, "Thanks to the help of Uncle Fang, we are just waiting for the results of the palace examination to come out."

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Now that you are done with your work, please invite Uncle Fang to your home for a meal! It will be a way of thanking him."

Xu Siyu responded respectfully, “Yes.”

Outside the house came Jing'er's heart-wrenching cry.

The two were startled and rushed out of the inner room.

I saw Jinger standing alone in the middle of the hall, crying towards the door curtain with red face. Several maids surrounded him but did not dare to approach him. Mama Gu squatted down to comfort him, but he slapped her in the face instead.

Eleventh Lady had never seen Jin Ge'er so irritable. She quickly squatted down and embraced Jin Ge'er. Just as she was about to ask Mama Gu what happened, she heard Xu Siyu loudly scolding Mama Gu: "How can you be a wet nurse? You actually made the Sixth Young Master cry like this!" The voice was more severe than ever before. Not to mention Mama Gu, even Eleventh Lady looked at Xu Siyu in surprise.

For a moment, everyone fell silent. Only Jing'er's cry was louder and more earth-shattering.

Then I saw the curtain lifted and Xu Lingyi walked in.

"What's going on?"

He wore a mutton-fat jade hairpin and a dark blue plain silk gown. He had a sullen face and his hands were behind his back. He exuded a piercingly cold aura that was so pressing that the maids and old women serving him in the room all shuddered.

Xu Sizun, who was following behind him, also felt his father's unhappiness and stood at the door, at a loss.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly stood up while holding Jin Ge'er in her arms: "The child is throwing a tantrum, I can comfort him. My Lord, you should leave as soon as possible, so as not to delay your business."

Although Jing'er is only a little over one year old, he is as big as a two-year-old child. Shiyi Niang weaned him and fed him a diet of chicken, duck, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits. He grew up to be fair, rosy, strong and powerful, and she could no longer hold him.

As he spoke, he sat down on the big kang by the window.

Jin'er's voice gradually became smaller and he sobbed and fell on Shiyi Niang's shoulder.

Xu Lingyi nodded, turned around and walked a few steps.

Jing'er burst into tears again.

While crying, she twisted her body and yelled, "I want daddy, I want daddy!"

Four words: clear and distinct.

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Especially Eleventh Lady, her tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She put Jing'er in her arms on the kang and looked at him seriously: "Jing'er, what did you say?" She looked very excited.

Jin Ge'er didn't even look at Shiyi Niang, he cried heartbrokenly, choking and saying "I want my daddy"...

Xu Lingyi was both happy and surprised. He quickly stepped forward and hugged Jing'er in his arms: "Okay, okay, okay. Don't cry!"

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Post a draft first!

O(∩_∩)O~

PS: First update.