Chapter 546: Doubt (Part 2)

If Zhu Xiang was not mistaken, the Third Lady came back at this time and neither greeted the Dowager Lady, nor did Fang mention anything... something must have happened.

Could it be related to the rumor that Fang is a murderer?

Eleventh Lady pondered and whispered to Zhu Xiang: "We are not sure whether the Third Madam has returned to Yanjing. Even if she has returned to Yanjing, she naturally does not want us to know about it. Let's just pretend that we don't know."

"Don't worry, ma'am." Zhu Xiang said hurriedly, "I don't have to worry about it."

Zhu Xiang is not only smart, but also steady. She is less frank than Amber, but more gentle. Like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each has its own strengths. Shiyi Niang gradually relies on her and often feels that she and Amber are like her left and right arms, and neither can be missing.

She thought of Amber: "Is Ping An feeling better?"

Amber gave birth to her first son on August 19 last year. She named him Ping An after Bin Ju. He is now ten months old. A few years ago, she said she had caught a cold, so she asked General Manager Bai to find Doctor Wu from the Imperial Hospital for a checkup. Only then did Eleventh Lady know about it, so she asked Zhu Xiang to bring some medicinal herbs over and even visited her in person.

"Although it's gotten much better, it still has a little cough." Zhu Xiang smiled, "Doctor Wu said that as long as we take good care of the child during the days when the temperature fluctuates, he will be completely cured after he turns ten."

Ping An got whooping cough.

"Go tell Amber that if the child needs any herbs or doctors, she can just tell Butler Bai directly. I have already given instructions to Butler Bai."

Zhu Xiang smiled and said "yes", and then she started to talk about the matter: "When I went to see Sister Hubo, Sister Yanrong also went to see Sister Hubo and brought her eldest daughter, Sister Yu."

"Oh," Eleventh Lady smiled, "She went there too."

"She originally wanted to come with me to kowtow to the madam, but Yujie kept crying, so she asked me to come back and kowtow to the madam on her behalf." As he said this, he stood up straight and was about to kowtow to Eleventh Lady.

Maybe she's afraid of getting into trouble.

Eleventh Lady smiled and took her hand: "Just take your words. I know her feelings, that's all."

Zhu Xiang knew her temper and stopped insisting, saying, "Yan Rong also said that it was thanks to Madam that Brother Cao was able to be promoted to Junior Steward."

"Cao An is quite diligent." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Without me, he would have been promoted to junior steward a long time ago."

The two were chatting, and Xu Lingyi's voice came from outside: "Eleventh Lady, have you finished washing up?"

Eleventh Lady hurriedly responded loudly, changed into her small blouse and left the clean room: "What's the matter?"

Xu Lingyi sat at the head of the bed holding Jiang'er in his arms, with a thick book in his hands.

"Come quickly." He saw Shiyi Niang coming out with an embarrassed expression, "Jian'er wants to listen to the story of "Jingwei Filling the Sea"..." Before he finished his words, Jian'er, who was sitting in his arms, stood up with a pout.

"Mom," he opened his arms and made a gesture to hug her, "Mom, tell me a story," he choked up with sobs at the end of the sentence.

Eleventh Lady hurried forward and hugged him.

Only then did he realize that what Xu Lingyi was holding in his hand was a copy of the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

She couldn't help sweating.

The refined classical Chinese only had a few short sentences. One could only recite, while the other had been taught vernacular Chinese since childhood... No wonder both father and son felt wronged.

Eleventh Lady thought of a compromise.

She smiled, hugged Jian'er and sat down with a quilt in her arms, took the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", and began to recite it, sentence by sentence in classical Chinese and sentence by sentence in vernacular Chinese.

Although he didn't understand a few sentences, he was familiar with the plot and immediately calmed down. It was not until Shiyi Niang told him the story for the sixth time that he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Xu Lingyi looked a little embarrassed and asked, "Do you usually coax Qin'er to sleep like this?"

Eleventh Lady was afraid of waking up Jiang'er who had just fallen asleep, so she nodded, patted him gently, and then put her son on the bed.

"I usually tell stories to my son in spoken language," she said with a smile, "but at that time he wouldn't speak at all. I had no choice but to keep talking to him, hoping that he could learn a sentence or two."

Xu Lingyi said nothing, looked at Shiyi Niang, and gently touched Jiang'er's hair.

Eleventh Lady discussed with Xu Lingyi: "I want to draw some of the contents in "Youth Learning" into an album and tell it to Brother Jin. What do you think, Lord Hou?"

"That's a good idea." Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "I saw that Mr. Zhao also used this method to teach his son and it worked quite well."

Eleventh Lady was very interested after hearing this.

The next morning, I went to pay my respects to the lady-in-waiting, but I only met Fang, but not Xu Siqin. Since the brothers Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian moved to Sanjing Hutong, the two children and Fang came to pay their respects to the lady-in-waiting regardless of the weather.

"Why didn't Qin'er and Zhao'er come today?" Shiyi Niang asked her with a smile.

"I was delayed by some matters today." Fang said with a smile, "I usually come at this time, but I was afraid that my grandmother would miss me if I was late. So I came first. My husband and uncle should be here soon." Then she chatted with the lady for a few words and got up to say goodbye.

After a while, the two brothers Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian came as expected, and they also said the same thing Fang said.

Eleventh Lady smiled and went back to the house with Xu Siqi.

On the way, she asked about Mr. Zhao's atlas.

"…for each sentence, a picture was drawn on a small piece of paper. Sometimes Mr. Zhao would put all the papers in a small black box. Whoever touched that sentence would recite it. It's very interesting." Then "Huh": "Mother, are you going to give enlightenment to Jiange'er?" He looked at Jiange'er who was walking in front with the maid Ajin, his eyes widened, "Otherwise, when Mr. Zhao comes back, I'll ask him for a set for mother," he promised generously.

Seeing that the little boy was acting like an adult, Shiyi Niang couldn't help but laugh and said, "I want to try to teach Qin Geer a few words so that he won't have to work hard when he goes to school." She also wanted to know what Mr. Zhao was drawing, so she asked, "Does Mr. Zhao have a few sets of picture books like this?"

Xu Siqi said: "Fourth brother has one set, I have one set, and I also found one set in the master's study."

"Then you can ask Mr. Zhao for a set for me," Shiyi Niang smiled. She went back to the room and called Qiuyu to bring in the paper. "Let's draw some patterns." As she spoke, she picked up the brush and started drawing on the paper. "Draw a few water grass patterns for the people who like to wear them, and let them embroider them around the handkerchief, leaving a blank in the middle. It's generous and simple."

Seeing Shiyi Niang's smooth brushstrokes, Xu Siyi's eyes widened even more: "Mother, you are amazing. You paint exactly like Mr. Zhao."

"How can it be exactly the same?" Shiyi Niang smiled and handed the pen to Xu Siqi, "Just draw it according to this, okay?"

Xu Siyi responded respectfully and began to paint according to her instructions.

Although his writing style is a bit clumsy, it is still very rare considering his age.

Shiyi Niang couldn't stop praising him: "Back then, I followed my teacher to learn line drawing, and it took me more than half a year to become a master."

Xu Siqi was very happy to hear this and suggested: "It's not very nice to just paint green water grass patterns. Why don't we paint some wisteria intertwined with the water grass patterns? This way the colors will be brighter."

Eleventh Lady thought for a moment and said with a smile: "Everyone has different preferences. Why don't we find a few more kinds of embroidery on it?"

"How about Honeysuckle?

The two of them chatted and laughed, and by the evening, they had already drawn seven or eight patterns.

When they went to pay their respects to the lady, Fang came without fail, while Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian used the excuse that they had social engagements and could not come.

The lady frowned slightly after hearing this: "You are still young, it is time for you to study at home, why do you have to attend any social events?"

Fang smiled gently: "I didn't ask. I sent someone to ask my grandmother when I got back."

Or maybe it was really a relationship of a generation apart. The lady doted on Xin Jie and Jin Ge'er very much, and she also loved Fang Shi very much.

"You don't have to ask," the old man said with a smile, "or she will think you have some influence with me. I will come and ask him in a few days."

Fang knelt down and bowed to thank the lady.

The lady turned her head to look at Shiyi Niang and sighed, "This is another one as honest as you. If it were Danyang, he would have hugged me and cried and laughed."

"Fifth brother's wife is of genuine character. I am a little inferior to her." Eleventh Lady said a few polite words.

Fang smiled along.

In the next few days, the Xu Siqin brothers and Fang continued to come to pay their respects to the old lady. Not only Eleventh Lady, but even the old lady became suspicious when she saw this.

She asked Shiyi Niang, "Could it be that the two of them had a quarrel? If so, you, as their aunt, must go and take a look and give them some advice."

Eleventh Lady was like someone who had taken on a hot potato. As the wife of the Yongping Marquis who was in charge of the reward, she had no reason to refuse.

She smiled and agreed. Just as she was about to tell Mother Song to prepare the carriage, Xu Siyu asked to see her.

"Grandmother, mother," he bowed, his eyes showing a smug look that he couldn't hide, "Uncle Fang, Mr. Fang, won the third place in the imperial examination."

The lady was delighted: "This is great news." Then she said to Xu Siyu, "Go and tell your father too, and let him be happy too."

Xu Siyu said hurriedly: "My father told me this news."

Since it was Xu Lingyi who asked, Qian Ming must have some news.

Shiyi Niang sent Qiuyu to ask.

Qiuyu came back: "No. 309, awarded the title of Tongjinshi."

In the end, no miracle happened to turn Qianlong around.

As for Fang Ji, the Xu family ordered a box of yellow poplar wood stationery from Duobao Pavilion. As for Qian Ming, Xu Lingyi personally visited him.

"He begged me to release the county magistrate for him." Xu Lingyi smiled bitterly, "He said that instead of being the head of the Six Questions or drafting the emperor's will in the Ministry of Personnel, it would be better for him to be the county magistrate in the county and do some real work to be promoted to the county magistrate and dominate the area."

"What does Lord Hou mean?"

"I think this is a good idea." Xu Lingyi mused, "Zhenxing will be disbanded soon, and I want to keep him in the Six Departments."

If Qian Ming also stayed in the Six Departments, it would really be too conspicuous.

"Did Big Brother agree?"

"My father-in-law agreed." Xu Lingyi answered irrelevantly, "I am also following my father-in-law's orders."

Eleventh Lady chuckled.

A little maid ran in and said, "The new champion is here."

Xu Lingyi smiled and went to the flower hall in the outer courtyard.

Under questioning

One step after he won the third place in the imperial examination, he came to visit Xu Lingyi the next step?

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but feel a little strange.

Although the two families were in-laws, they had also sent gifts. Unless Fang Ji had something else to ask of Xu Lingyi, otherwise, it was time to pay a visit to the master and make friends with fellow students… Even if she had something to ask of Xu Lingyi, she should have come early in the morning to show respect. She muttered to herself, put the colorful bat silk into a purse with a red background and white magnolia embroidery, and told Zhu Xiang: "Give one each to the second young master, the fourth young master, the fifth young master, the seventh young master, the eldest young lady, and the second young lady, and you deliver them in person."

Zhu Xiang took the rope with a smile.

The brocade cotton curtain was suddenly opened with a "swish" sound, and Xu Lingyi strode in with a gloomy face. The maid on duty at the door looked over at him in panic.

Xu Lingyi is a person who never shows his emotions.

Eleventh Lady's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately went to meet him, calling him "Mr. Hou."

Xu Lingyi's expression did not soften, but became even more stern. He ordered the waiters in the room in a deep voice: "Everyone, get out!"

Zhu Xiang quickly replied "yes" and led the maids and old women to retreat tremblingly. Xu Lingyi's eyes turned cold.

"Fang Ji came to me and said that Qin Ge's daughter-in-law wanted to divorce Qin Ge'er!"

"What?" Eleventh Lady was shocked. "What happened?"

Parked in the back seat of Sanjing Hutong was the carriage that Mrs. Ru San rode in. The estrangement between Xu Siqin and Fang, the rumor that Fang was a jinx... all these thoughts kept revolving in her mind like a revolving lantern.

"The specific situation is still unclear." Xu Lingyi's brows were cold and intimidating. "I only listened to Fang Ji's words. He said that the third lady was not satisfied with Fang and forced Qin Ge'er to divorce her. Since ancient times, there have been 'seven divorces and three no divorces'. If the Xu family wants to divorce, we must produce the certificate. If it is true, the Fang family will take Fang back to Huzhou without saying a word. If the certificate cannot be produced... Fang cannot please her mother-in-law, so her mother-in-law doesn't like her. In the future, she will have bumps and bumps, and she will feel angry when she sees her. Whatever she does is wrong, whatever she says is wrong. Their Fang family will not let their daughter suffer such grievances. It's better to talk it out, and everyone will have nothing to do with each other's marriage from now on, and it's good for both sides."

"So we want a divorce!" Eleventh Lady said thoughtfully.

For a peaceful divorce, a divorce letter is required, and both parties are willing. For a divorce, however, only a written document is needed from the man. Although both are separations between husband and wife, in the eyes of the world, there is a fundamental difference between them. For a peaceful divorce, the wife is not at fault, because the couple is not harmonious and does not want to live together. For a divorce, it is because the wife has committed one of the "Seven Reasons for Divorce" and has made a mistake, and is not tolerated by the husband's family. However, whether it is a peaceful divorce or a divorce, for those families who value family prestige, it is a matter of damaging their reputation.

Divorce by peaceful means that either the mother-in-law or the husband has a moral problem. Otherwise, how can a woman who has done nothing wrong not be able to live with her husband? She would rather live separately from her husband without being worshipped after death. As for divorce, it is not that you did not inquire about the family background and invite matchmakers to see the girl before. How come a good girl has all kinds of problems after marrying into your family for just a few years? If it is a small family, it can be said that she did not give birth to a son, and a large family can afford to keep concubines. Since it does not affect fertility, the hidden disease is not called a hidden disease. Divorcing a wife for these reasons can only show that the family is intolerant and mean. Even if the man wants to find a good marriage in the future, those families who love their daughters will avoid it.

There were also those whose natal families were strong, who changed the divorce to amicable divorce. But Xu Siqin was the nephew of Yongping Prefecture. It was impossible for him to be forced to this extent by a county magistrate, right? Moreover, Fang Ji was the new third place winner of the imperial examination this year, and the Fang family asked him to come forward... and considering Fang Ji's personality...

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but frown.

This is a male-dominated society. The Fang family had a history of war, and Fang Ji was carefully cultivated by the Fang family to revitalize the family. He should be very clear that the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty are not favorable to women. In this case, he can still ask for a divorce... Is he prepared? Or is it just a momentary act of anger?

"My Lord, I heard a rumor a few days ago. However, since it is a serious matter and I cannot prove its truth, I did not say much in front of you." Shiyi Niang told Xu Lingyi about Fang's death and what she saw and heard in Sanjing Hutong when Zhu Xiang delivered the new wheat.

Xu Lingyi slapped the table with his hand: "Ridiculous!"

Eleventh Lady had never seen him so angry before, and she was actually shocked. Xu Lingyi said, "Go to Sanjing Hutong and see if Third Sister-in-law is there. If she is, tell her exactly what Fang Ji said."

Eleventh Lady quickly responded "Yes".

Perhaps he realized that he was too serious. Xu Lingyi's expression lightened up and his voice softened a bit: "I'm afraid it will be night when I return. Bring a few more maids and old women to serve you."

"I will be careful." One is angry, the other should not add fuel to the fire. Eleventh Lady tried to make her voice sound softer, "Look, the elders of the Fang family are there, should we also say hello?"

"Of course." Xu Lingyi's expression relaxed again after listening to this. "Huzhou is far away in Jiangnan. If it's just Fang Ji's momentary interest, it's fine. But if the Fang family also intends to do this, I'm afraid we have to be alert and deal with this matter."

Eleventh Lady nodded and went to say hello to Jiang'er.

Jiang'er was having a great time playing with Xu Siyi and didn't even raise his head.

Eleventh Lady smiled and touched his head, told Xu Siqi a few words like "be careful to watch your brother", and called the maid to come in to change clothes.

Xu Lingyi walked her to the gate and said, "I'll go talk to mom."

Eleventh Lady noticed that there were more guards beside the carriage than usual. She whispered, "Don't worry, Lord Marquis," and with the help of Mother Song, she got into the carriage and headed for Sanjing Hutong.

Fang was not surprised to see Eleventh Lady.

She bowed to Eleventh Lady respectfully as she did in the past and invited her to sit down in the main hall.

"It's been a few days since my mother-in-law came back. She hasn't gone to greet my grandmother yet. As a daughter-in-law, I can't say anything." She took the tea from the maid and personally offered it to Eleventh Lady. "Please don't blame me, Fourth Aunt." Then she told the maid, "Go and tell my mother-in-law that Fourth Aunt is here."

He was so calm and composed, obviously knowing everything.

Eleventh Lady simply got straight to the point: "Uncle Fang said you wanted a divorce, and the Marquis was confused, so he asked me to come and take a look!"

Fang's eyes were like dead water; calm yet somewhat dull.

"I was raised by my grandmother since I was a child. One time, my grandmother took me to visit relatives in my mother's home in Ninghai. At the banquet, there was a child from my cousin's family who was born on the same day as me. Everyone was amazed and said it was fate. My cousin's mother said that since the Fang family married our daughter, it would be better to give us a daughter. Everyone agreed. Although my grandmother didn't agree, she didn't scold those people for talking nonsense. Not only that, when she left, she also gave Mr. Hu an inkstone, so that he could study hard, get a good name on the list of successful candidates, and bring honor to the family." She said slowly, her tone solemn and dull, "Who knew that Mr. Hu died of illness not long after we returned to Huzhou."

Since he is sitting at the women's table, he should be quite young!

Eleventh Lady asked: "How old were you at that time?"

Fang listened and looked at her with a look of spirit: "I was five years old. I don't remember the whole thing very clearly. I heard it from my wet nurse afterwards."

Eleventh Lady nodded.

"When I was a little older, my mother started to worry about my marriage." Perhaps she felt embarrassed but had to say it, Fang blushed a little, "After much selection, my grandmother chose the eldest son of the Huo family. When the two families were about to compare their horoscopes, Mr. Huo and his classmates went to the river to pick water chestnuts, but... they never came up again... Later, I don't know how, but someone dug up Ning Hai's story. They said I was unlucky in marriage. Mr. Huo's mother..."

As he was talking, a sharp voice suddenly rang out from the room: "The Fang family is also a family of scholars, but I didn't expect that the girl they taught would lie with her eyes open. Even now, she still dares to make excuses here..."

Eleventh Lady looked in the direction of the sound.

I saw the Third Lady, supported by her personal maid Xingjiao, standing at the door of the East Gate.

She was wearing a paddy field jacket and looked very haggard.

"Third sister-in-law!" Eleventh Lady hurriedly stood up and greeted her.

Fang pursed her lips and bowed to the Third Madam with a somewhat dull look.

The Third Lady sneered, then nodded to Eleventh Lady, and sat down with her as host and guest.

Fang had tea served.

The Third Lady spilled the tea on the ground and scolded Xingjiao: "Didn't I tell you? From now on, don't give me anything that belongs to Fang. I still want to live a few more years." Xingjiao glanced at Fang secretly, replied "yes" nervously, and went to pour the tea reluctantly.

Fang didn't take it seriously. She just stood there with her hands clasped in her hands, without moving her eyes or eyebrows.

Eleventh Lady looked at him strangely and explained her purpose: "Uncle Fang just went to the lotus garden and said that my nephew's wife wanted to divorce him. The Marquis specially asked me to ask my third sister-in-law why she didn't tell the Madam about such a big thing..."

Before she finished her words, the third wife jumped up: "What? She still wants to divorce? No one is at the door? What did our Qin Ge'er do wrong?" As she spoke, she stared at Fang with a pair of vicious eyes, as if she wanted to eat her up. "I said, our Zhao Ge'er has such good conditions, why is it that this family disagrees, and that family hesitates, it turns out it's all because of you. If they weren't afraid of being killed by you, why would others dislike our Zhao Ge'er? I tell you, I will not let this matter go with you Fang family!" Her chest rose and fell, and she seemed very excited. "Just wait for Qin Ge'er's letter of revision!"

However, Fang didn't even look at the Third Lady, but looked straight at Eleventh Lady.

"Aunt Four, my husband and I have been married for almost half a year. If I were that kind of person, how could my husband be standing here alive and well? He wouldn't even have a headache or a fever? Seeing how Aunt Four treats the eldest daughter, she is also a caring person. Although our Fang family is a small family, I am also my mother's heartache and the apple of her eye. Since my mother-in-law doesn't like me like this, there is no point for me to stay here!" As she spoke, she knelt in front of Eleventh Lady, "Aunt, you are a sensible person. Just think of it as a pity for my mother who still misses me at home, and fulfill my wish!"