Zhu Xiang immediately knelt down, bowed, and retreated.

"What brings you here, brother-in-law?" Eleventh Lady went to greet him.

Seeing that there was no one in the room, Xu Lingyi held her face, kissed her on the cheek, and said with a smile: "Moyan, you have found a good son-in-law for our Xu family." He looked very happy.

Eleventh Lady felt a little strange.

Xu Lingyi smiled and turned to go to the bathroom.

Eleventh Lady had no choice but to follow him and leaned against the door of the bathroom to ask him, "What happened?"

Xu Lingyi wiped his face with a handkerchief, then walked over with a smile and told Shiyi Niang that the emperor had summoned Shao Zhongran and offered him a marriage to his younger brother: "... He thought I didn't know, so he came to tell me this!" Then he sighed, "It's such an honor to be summoned by the emperor. Sometimes a word that pleases the emperor can make a person rise to the top in one step. He is so young, but he can keep such a calm mind when the emperor asks, see the danger in it, and immediately make an appropriate response. It's really rare. Moyan, Zhongran is my Xu family's good son-in-law!"

Only then did Eleventh Lady understand.

It seems that the emperor is still worried about Xu Lingyi!

Marrying the niece of trusted minister Ouyang Ming into the Shao family was just a warning to the Shao family to remain neutral and to tell Xu Lingyi not to act rashly?

Eleventh Lady didn't want to talk about these unpleasant things. She smiled and said, "I didn't know that my eldest brother-in-law had such a quick wit. I just think that the Shao family is somewhat similar to ours. Since my eldest brother-in-law is the proud disciple of the Shao family, he must understand the intentions of the Shao family's ancestors and can also sympathize with our family's situation. That's why I think my eldest brother-in-law is better than Mr. Li." At this point, she suddenly wanted to make Xu Lingyi laugh, and joked, "It's also related to the fact that my eldest brother-in-law is more handsome than Mr. Li!"

Xu Lingyi was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter and said, "I didn't know that you also judge people by their appearance."

Eleventh Lady pursed her lips and smiled.

Xu Lingyi held Eleventh Lady in his arms and stood quietly for a while before letting go.

The two men went to see Jing'er who was sleeping soundly, and saw Ajin guarding him. Only then did they feel relieved and returned to the inner room.

"For Jin'er's birthday, should we invite a few tables to have some fun?" Xu Lingyi discussed with Shiyi Niang, "Then everyone will have some free time!"

"Several children's birthdays are celebrated with a bowl of longevity noodles." Eleventh Lady flatly refused, "Even the Marquis is the same. He is a single birthday, I think it's better not to make such a fuss."

Xu Lingyi said nothing more.

Although he didn't turn over, he kept his eyes open and didn't fall asleep.

Eleventh Lady sighed and held him in her arms: "My Lord, please rest early!"

Xu Lingyi was stunned, and after a while he pushed her away: "How can this be..."

But Shiyi Niang's hands were tightly around him, and he didn't try hard, so he couldn't break free for a while.

"My Lord, please go to sleep!" She insisted on her actions, "I want to hold you like this!"

Being held so gently by Eleventh Lady, just like a mother holding her own child, full of love and tolerance...Xu Lingyi's expression gradually changed from astonishment to something strange.

He closed his eyes, his nose filled with the faint scent of roses, his heart slowly sank, and he fell into a hazy sleep.

* * * * * *

When I opened my eyes the next day, what I saw was Jing'er's curious face.

"Daddy is sleeping in!" He tilted his head and looked at his father.

Xu Lingyi's mood suddenly became cheerful.

He sat up and hugged Jing'er: "Where's your mother?"

"Mom went to see my sister, I'm here!" The sentence was a bit long and the last few words were vague, but Xu Lingyi understood it.

He smiled and kissed his son's face. Thinking of the grand ceremony for his son's first birthday, he felt that it was unfair for his son to only have a bowl of longevity noodles on his birthday. He felt a little uncomfortable.

A few days later, Xu Lingyi got a few dogs of different sizes from somewhere for Jing'er to raise and play with.

Jing'er was so happy that he stopped playing Cuju. He opened his eyes and shouted that he wanted to go see the puppy.

Eleventh Lady was afraid that there might be something dirty on the dogs, so she specially called a few servants to follow Suifeng and help the puppies take a bath.

Jing'er found it interesting and followed Suifeng every day to help bathe the puppy.

When the lady found out, she immediately ordered him to be sent away.

"...What if there are lice?" The old lady coaxed Jing'er: "Grandma will give you a cat... No, a pair of cats. They have white fur and green eyes, so pretty. Is that okay?"

Jinger shook his head: "My puppy!"

The lady became anxious and called Xu Lingyi to give him a lecture: "What if they bite you? There should be a limit to how much you can spoil your children. There is no such thing as you. Find a way to get rid of those dogs immediately!"

Eleventh Lady also felt that Jing'er was too young. The most important thing was that there was no vaccine in ancient times, and she didn't know where these dogs came from. Jing'er liked to play with dogs, and it would be a disaster if he was caught. She also stood on the side of the Lady Dowager in silence.

Xu Lingyi asked Suifeng to send all the dogs to the farm.

Jing'er lost his dog and cried for most of the day. His voice became hoarse and no one could comfort him.

The lady blamed Xu Lingyi again: "You can't be so impatient. Just send them away if you say so." Then she asked Madam Du to go to the Yongchang Marquis's mansion to catch two cats. "…They just gave birth to four cats. They asked me if I wanted them that day, but I didn't like them because they shed hair, so I didn't want them."

Isn't this just drinking poison to quench thirst?

Eleventh Lady tried to stop him, "Mother, since the cat sheds, it's better not to keep it. Jin Ge'er only felt that the puppy was interesting, so he couldn't bear to part with it. Children are forgetful, and I think they will gradually forget about it after a while when they have new toys."

"You can't let him cry like that!" The lady didn't want to hear anything and urged Mother Du to catch the cat.

Mother Du looked at Shiyi Niang helplessly, then left and brought back two blue-eyed Persian cats that were just one month old. Jing'er took a look at them and stood there sobbing, "My dog, my dog..."

The lady hugged Jin Ge'er and said, "My dear..." She was so distressed that she ordered Xu Lingyi, "Why don't you send a servant to chase Sui Feng back!"

Xu Lingyi smiled bitterly and sent people to bring all the dogs back.

There were two more cats in the house.

Shiyi Niang stroked her forehead and sighed with Zhu Xiang, "It seems that we can only wait until Jin Ge'er grows up and becomes sensible, and then find a way to correct these bad habits!"

Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "The Sixth Young Master is lively and cute. The Madame Dowager and the Marquis like him. It is the Sixth Young Master's blessing. I'm just afraid that someone will remember what he sees and lead the Sixth Young Master astray. Madam must not be soft-hearted and must keep the Sixth Young Master under control." There was something in her words.

Eleventh Lady raised her eyebrows.

Zhu Xiang said hurriedly: "I am worried too. I haven't heard any rumors!"

"Your worry is not without reason." Eleventh Lady pondered, "If there is anything wrong with the Sixth Young Master in the future, you must tell me."

Zhu Xiang quickly bent his knees and replied “yes”.

A little maid came in and reported, "Madam, Madam Qian from Sixiang Hutong is here!"

Mrs. Qian? Wu Niang?

Eleventh Lady was shocked and quickly asked the maid to invite her in.

Wu Niang, who was wearing a bright red dress with colorful sleeves, had lost more than ten pounds and looked very haggard. She was a little bit unrecognizable when she saw her for the first time.

As soon as she entered the room, she asked the maid to quickly serve her a cup of hot tea: "She vomited everything she ate these past two days, unlike Xin Ge'er. I suspect this baby is a girl."

Wu Niang took a sip of tea and took a long breath.

The news came suddenly.

Eleventh Lady was surprised and asked, "Fifth Sister, are you pregnant?" Then, as if remembering something, she hurriedly asked, "Did Fifth Sister come back alone or with Fifth Brother-in-law? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"

Wu Niang smiled and said, "Your fifth brother-in-law is still in Wendeng." Then her expression darkened, "That place doesn't have good food or sleep. Look at me... Your fifth brother-in-law saw me and agreed that I should go back to Yanjing to take care of the baby. So I brought Brother Xin back first!"

Eleventh Lady felt relieved.

She thought something happened to Qian Ming!

"It's good to be back!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "It just so happens that Zhen Jie'er is getting married in October, so you can bring Xin Ge'er over to liven things up."

"I think so too." Wu Niang said with a smile, "Besides, Yanjing is rich in products, Qian Ercai and his wife are honest people, and with your support, and Zhuo Tao's help, Brother Xin will not have to worry about no one to take care of him..."

The two sisters talked for a long time, and Wu Niang stayed at Xu's house for dinner before going back.

* * * * * *

The weather gradually turned cooler, and Xu Siyu rushed back from Anle. Everyone began to prepare for Zhen Jie'er's wedding.

Xu Siyu was the eldest brother, so he naturally had to go to the wedding. But he didn't know who to choose as the bridegroom.

The Fifth Lady suggested, "How about letting the eldest young lady go to see her off? That way, Qin'er can go with her. Yu'er will have someone to keep him company on the road. He will also have someone to give him advice when things get tough!"

Eleventh Lady thought this was a stroke of genius and agreed immediately: "I also think the eldest young lady is the most suitable. Not only is she blessed, but she is also generous and decisive. Even though the Shao family is a century-old prestigious family, she won't be timid if she goes there."

The Madam nodded and asked someone to call the Third Master over: "... Ask the Madam to help Sister Zhen make the bed!"

The Third Master looked relieved when he heard this, and said hurriedly, "It's her blessing that her mother thinks highly of her. I'll tell Qin Ge'er right now and ask him to accompany her to Cangzhou."

The lady nodded with satisfaction, and the Third Master chatted with her for a while. A eunuch from the palace came on the orders of the Empress to inquire about Zhen Jie'er's preparations for her marriage. He got up and went to Xu Lingyi.

"Your third sister-in-law is not someone who doesn't understand reason." The two brothers were drinking tea in the outer study while talking to each other. "Just like the last time when Jian'er got married, I explained the reason to your third sister-in-law, but she didn't say anything. Afterwards, the fourth brother's wife wanted to return the extra gift money for Jian's marriage to your third sister-in-law, but your third sister-in-law refused for a long time before accepting it."

Seeing his melancholy expression, Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "But what happened?"

The Third Master nodded, "Your Third Sister-in-law is not a bad person, but she has a quick temper. It just so happens that Qin'er's wife comes from a wealthy family, and she is very slow in everything. Sometimes your Third Sister-in-law can't stand it, and she speaks directly, so the servants misunderstand your Third Sister-in-law's intentions and are not respectful enough to Qin'er's wife. Sometimes I can't help but say a few words when I see it, and those people are a little afraid. As a result, your Third Sister-in-law thinks that I control too much... Now that Qin'er's wife is married to Zhenjie, the family can be quiet for a few days!"

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Sisters, it’s the beginning of the month, please give me pink votes!

O(∩_∩)O~

PS: I’ll post a draft first and catch some bugs tomorrow.