The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a monotonous and regular "gurgling" sound, making the carriage even quieter.

Eleventh Lady was leaning sideways on a large red pillow with a multicolored cloud pattern, while Mother Song was sitting beside her on the couch and talking to her.

The voice was neither too loud nor too low, just enough to drown out the sound of the wheels, but not loud enough for the maids accompanying the carriage to hear: "...I was chatting with a few maids in the side room. I heard from those maids that when the third lady came back, she pointed at the eldest young lady's nose and scolded her, and then she was so angry that she fell "sick". The eldest young master's face was also livid. The eldest young lady was taking care of the sick by the bed, but was driven out by the third lady, who also said that she got angry when she saw the eldest young lady. If the eldest young master didn't want her to be angry to death by the eldest young lady, she shouldn't let her enter her house. The eldest young master asked the eldest young lady to leave temporarily, and he and the third young master took care of the sick by the third lady.

"The eldest young lady served outside the house. She lit the fire and boiled the medicine herself every day, brought it to the door, and then had Xingjiao deliver it to the house. The third lady advised the eldest young master to divorce his wife, and the eldest young lady heard it clearly outside the house, but she did not argue, nor did she get angry with the eldest young master. She continued to serve him with soup and water every day. The eldest young master's expression gradually eased. Later, the third lady found out that the medicine was boiled by the eldest young lady, and threw the bowl and the medicine out. The eldest young master panicked, knelt on the ground and kowtowed several times, and then went to the kitchen to boil the medicine herself. Only then did the third lady calm down. Every day, she kept nagging the eldest young master about divorcing his wife."

In other words, Xu Siqin was very angry at the beginning.

Eleventh Lady fiddled with the beads of the lotus carved from agarwood on the bowl and said in a deep voice, "What did the eldest young master say?"

"At first, the eldest young master advised the third lady not to be angry and to get well first, and that these things could be discussed after the third lady recovered. Later, he just listened respectfully and said nothing else. The third lady was very angry," Mother Song leaned over and whispered in Eleventh Lady's ear. "She used the excuse that she couldn't sleep well at night and always dreamed of bad things. She was afraid and asked the eldest young master to keep her company. The eldest young master set up a beauty couch in front of the bed and served tea to the third lady every night."

Eleventh Lady raised her eyebrows and said, "So, the eldest young master has been staying in the third lady's room these days?"

Mother Song nodded gently, straightened up, and resumed her previous voice: "The Third Madam is either ordering the Young Master to do this or that. The Young Master has to go to the Third Madam to ask for a doctor, or to get medicine, or to go to the silver shop to exchange silver bills when the family's silver is not enough. He is busy every day. Sometimes when he meets the Young Madam, he just nods.

"Not only that, the Third Lady often takes advantage of the fact that the Young Master is not at home to mock or criticize the Young Lady, making it difficult for her to sit or stand, and she has no peace of mind. If the Young Master is at home, the Third Lady will cry from time to time, saying that she has a miserable life and has to endure the anger of her son and daughter-in-law when she is old, or that she feels sorry for Jian'er who has been implicated by the Young Lady and can't even have a daughter-in-law. When she dies, how can she face the ancestors of the Xu family?

"This went on for a few days, and the eldest young lady thought the palace examination was coming up, so she sent someone to invite Uncle Fang to come. The two of them talked in the room for a long time, and Uncle Fang left without even saying hello."

Eleventh Lady thought about how the maid had to take Fang's pair of cards before she dared to act, and also thought about how Xingjiao had to look at Fang's face before she dared to pour tea... She pondered, "Since the Third Madam came back, she has been making a fuss every day like this, and has not done anything else?"

Mother Song was a little puzzled, and guessed what Eleventh Lady was thinking, "After the Third Madam came back, she didn't go anywhere. She stayed at home every day, forcing the eldest young master to divorce his wife."

Seeing that she didn't understand what she meant, Eleventh Lady pondered and said, "If I remember correctly, these maids in Sanjing Hutong seem to be the companions of the eldest young lady, right? Since they are the dowry of the eldest young lady, the Xu family does not give them a monthly allowance, and does not bear the expenses. I'm afraid that if the Third Madam has anything to do, she can't order them to do it, right? Who are these little maids who are talking to you? Have you found out clearly?"

Mother Song understood and said hurriedly, "I was also afraid that the Fang family's dowry would speak in favor of the eldest young lady, so I deliberately picked the little maid who came back from Shanyang with the third lady to speak to. It is said that although most of the people serving in Sanjing Hutong are the eldest young lady's companions, the eldest young lady is very respectful to those who serve in front of the third lady, and she has never neglected the words spread out of the main room. She speaks highly of the eldest young lady. She said that the eldest young lady is worthy of being from a scholarly family in Jiangnan. Her behavior, conversation and manners are full of the gentleness and elegance of a scholar, and she is generous and calm."

After hearing this, Eleventh Lady sighed softly.

Mother Song smiled bitterly.

Since the third wife wanted to divorce the daughter-in-law who was in charge of the household, the first thing she should do was to take back the power from her, then keep her at home, find a way to send away the capable people around her, and then find a way to put some big hats on her such as "unfilial". What's the point of just being harsh verbally?

Now that the eldest young lady has called for reinforcements, I’m afraid this matter won’t be so easily resolved?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but ask, "Madam, what do you think we should do about this?"

In Song's mother's mind, it was wrong for the Third Lady to do this behind the backs of the Dowager Lady and the Eleventh Lady, but Fang Ji's coming to the door and shouting for a divorce was a great disrespect to the Xu family. The Xu family couldn't show off their power, otherwise, wouldn't anyone be able to come to Xu Lingyi and shout at him?

"The Marquis is discussing this matter with the Madam." Eleventh Lady sorted out her thoughts, lest she be unable to answer when the Madam asked about it, or answer in a way that would not satisfy her. "Let's go back and listen to what the Marquis and the Madam have to say before making any plans!"

Yes, even if the sky falls, we still have the Marquis and the Madame Dowager.

"I was worrying too much." Mother Song smiled and took out a blue and white porcelain kettle with a handle that was kept warm by cotton wool from a wooden barrel and gave it to Shiyi Niang to continue drinking tea.

"No need." Eleventh Lady shook her hand. "We are almost at the lotus garden. I have to go and give the lady a reply later." She added, "I have something else to ask you."

Mother Song put down the kettle and replied respectfully, "Yes."

* * * * * *

When the carriage arrived at Lotus Garden, Yuban was waiting for her at the gate of the hanging flower garden with seven or eight maids holding big red melon-shaped palace lanterns.

As soon as the maid who accompanied the carriage put down the footstool, Yuban came forward and personally helped Shiyi Niang out of the carriage, whispering, "The Marquis and the Madam are waiting for Madam!"

Eleventh Lady nodded, changed to a small oil-powered carriage with a green curtain, and went to the lady's place.

Only Mother Du was serving in the room.

The old lady motioned for Eleventh Lady to sit down beside her. Madam Du poured tea, closed the lattice door and left. The old lady immediately asked, "Is the third daughter-in-law home?"

"At home." Eleventh Lady conveyed Third Lady's excuse, "Maybe the journey was too long. When I came back from Shanyang..."

Before she finished her words, the lady waved her hand at her: "There is no outsider here, so don't say these high-sounding words."

Eleventh Lady whispered "yes", and tried to answer the questions of the Madam Dowager in a concise and non-partisan manner. Finally, she conveyed Xu Siqin's meaning to the Madam Dowager and Xu Lingyi at the right time: "...Qin'er said that rumors stop with the wise. He doesn't want to divorce his wife."

Xu Lingyi frowned as he listened.

The lady couldn't help but smile: "This child is too docile. I'm afraid that Fang will take advantage of him in the future." After saying that, her eyes fell on Shiyi Niang and asked her, "Then tell me, what exactly is the Fang family planning?"

Eleventh Lady herself was also thinking about this question over and over again.

She said carefully, "It is better to destroy a temple than to break up a marriage. Every parent does not want their children to be well. In my opinion, the Fang family said they wanted to divorce because they wanted to take the initiative and come up with a strategy of risking their lives."

The lady dowager nodded slightly, and there was a look of relief in her eyes when she looked at Eleventh Lady.

"Yes. I think so too." The lady said slowly, "If Fang is divorced, it means that she is a jinx. This is something the Fang family does not want to see. Otherwise, they would not have spent so much effort to marry Fang to the north. But any family that encounters such a thing would find an excuse to divorce their wife. Instead of letting our family find an excuse to file for divorce, it is better for them to ask for a divorce first. If we insist on not agreeing because of our reputation, the fact that Fang is a jinx will no longer be an obstacle. If we would rather give up our reputation and let Fang go, Fang can also return home with the dowry given to her by the Fang family. After her parents pass away, she will have the dowry to support her, and at least she will have no worries about food and clothing, and she will not end up alone. No one to rely on." The old lady paused, "No wonder Fang Ji dared to shout in front of the fourth son. I wonder if this is an idea he discussed with Fang? Or is it a countermeasure that the family had discussed long ago? If it was discussed by two people, these two children are brave and resourceful. If it was discussed by the Fang family long ago... Even if Fang Ji is the new third place winner, he is still a junior. How can such a big thing be discussed by a junior? It's clearly testing us?" The old lady laughed coldly, "Even if the third daughter-in-law is making trouble again, it's not the turn of the Fang family to teach her a lesson?" The old lady's eyes fell on Eleventh Lady, "You are a clan woman. If the Fang family comes prepared. Tell me, what should we do about this matter?"

Fang hasn't gotten pregnant yet, and the third wife is determined to separate her son and daughter-in-law and keep her son in her own room...As long as the Xu family seizes on the "childless" issue, the Fang family will have no choice but to give in.

But there is no other solution.

It is not easy for a woman to be divorced, and it is equally hard to be divorced. Compared with the former, one is on the ground and the other is on a bamboo mat. She did not believe in the rumors about her husband being unlucky. Xu Siqin wanted to continue living with Fang, and the Fang family just wanted to use "divorce" to bargain for Fang's chance to gain a foothold... And for the sake of the Xu family's reputation, the lady would not let the Fang family do whatever they wanted in this matter, no matter whether the third lady was right or wrong.

"Mother," Eleventh Lady looked at the Madam seriously, "I think we should ask about this matter clearly. Let's see whether it was the two children's intention or the Fang family's intention. If it was really the two children who were making trouble, wouldn't we be breaking up a pair of lovebirds by doing this?"

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

O(∩_∩)O~