Xu Lingyi admired her curvaceous figure that was even more prominent as she leaned forward, and said with a smile, "After all, we just came in, you should take a closer look at what she is like."
If you are willing to integrate into this family, you won't do anything too outrageous.
Eleventh Lady smiled and said "yes", got on the bed, and talked to Xu Lingyi about the banquet the day after tomorrow: "My Lord, since Madam Xiang invited everyone from the Gao family to accompany Yu'er and his family when they returned home, when we invite Madam Xiang to our home as a guest, should we invite my eldest brother and fourth brother-in-law to accompany them?"
"Sure!" Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "We are all relatives by marriage, and we live in Yanjing together. It would be good to get to know each other."
"Then I will ask the back office to help me send the invitation tomorrow." Eleventh Lady said as she wrapped herself in the quilt.
Xu Lingyi hummed, pondered for a long while, and then carefully told her about what happened this morning: "...I also know that many people are eyeing Jing'er, and it's no wonder that you lost your temper. It's just that there are many different people. Such things are inevitable, and we can only find ways to prevent them. So when Manager Bai told me about it, I also thought that your way of dealing with it was a solution, so let Manager Bai deal with the person for you." At this point, he paused for a moment, and his tone became more tactful, "But the inner courtyard and the outer courtyard are different after all. If you encounter such a thing again in the future, you might as well let me deal with it. Like you, I'm also afraid that someone will instigate Jing'er to develop the temperament of a dandy boy. If I meet such a person, I will not let him off easily." After that, the room was silent, and there was no response from Eleventh Lady.
Is he angry?
Eleventh Lady is usually a calm and rational person, but when it comes to Jin Ge'er's affairs, she becomes like a tigress protecting her cub. She will yell at anyone approaching, not to mention that she directly offended Jin Ge'er this time.
The thought flashed through his mind, and Xu Lingyi hurriedly leaned over and called out "Eleventh Lady", but what he saw was the beautiful and peaceful face of Eleventh Lady as she fell asleep.
He couldn't help but laugh.
Things have been happening at the same time these past two days, is she tired?
Thinking of this, Xu Lingyi gently tucked the corner of the quilt for Eleventh Lady, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
In that case, let him make the decision.
* * * * * *
The next day, when Shiyi Niang was in the flower hall listening to her mother who was in charge of the storehouse reporting the loss of utensils, Qiuyu walked in quietly.
Shiyi Niang didn't even look at her until she had checked the accounts with the mother who managed the warehouse. The mother who managed the warehouse retreated. She took a few sips of tea and then her eyes fell on Qiuyu.
Qiu Yu immediately stepped forward and whispered, "Madam, I just heard that the Marquis demoted the stewards who were punished by Madam yesterday. He also found the steward who did not give the Sixth Young Master firecrackers and personally rewarded him with fifty taels of silver and promoted him to a higher rank. Everyone in the mansion is discussing this matter now!"
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but feel ashamed.
She was so busy losing her temper at the time that she forgot about this matter...
If Xu Lingyi hadn't helped to remedy the situation, making people think that the handling of these managers was all his idea, she would probably have been given a reputation for being arrogant and domineering, and it would also be a blow to Xu Lingyi's prestige.
But in front of Qiuyu, Shiyi Niang could only say "hmm" and "I know" lightly, and then asked the maid to call the mother who was in charge of the kitchen to listen to her report on the banquet account...
Qiuyu stepped aside.
A maidservant came in and said, "Madam, the fourth young master is here with the eldest brother-in-law to say farewell to you!"
Eleventh Lady hurriedly invited them in.
When Xu Siyu got married, Zhen Jie'er's child was still young and did not dare to travel a long distance, so Shao Zhongran came alone to congratulate him.
The little maid served tea and snacks, and Eleventh Lady said something like "Have a safe trip", and asked Mother Song to help move the medicinal materials for Shao Zhongran's mother, and the clothes and accessories for Zhen Jie'er and the children to the Shao family's carriage. She also said something like "Zhen Jie'er is ignorant, so you have to bear with her if anything inappropriate happens", then served tea to see the guests off, and asked someone to carry Jin Ge'er to see Shao Zhongran off.
Shao Zhongran bowed and thanked him, and was escorted to the gate of the mansion by the Xu brothers. Shao Zhongran invited the Xu brothers to visit Cangzhou, and the Xu brothers asked Shao Zhongran to come to Yanjing often. After the uncle and the uncle exchanged greetings, Shao Zhongran got on the carriage.
The Xu brothers watched the carriage drive out of the lotus garden before turning around and returning home.
After Xu Siyu sent Jing'er and Chen'er to the inner courtyard, Xu Sizhun invited Xu Sijie to Danbozhai: "...Wang Yun gave me a lantern that I can crank by hand. The lantern turns very fast, and the birds painted on it look like they are flying. It's very fun."
For the first time, Xu Sijie shook his head at Xu Sizhun: "I have to go back and memorize the lessons. Mr. Zhao said he would test me this afternoon."
Studying is a big deal, Xu Sizhun didn't take it seriously: "Okay then! Come over and play when you are free!"
Xu Sijie nodded, and parted ways with Xu Sizhun at the T-junction. One went to Danbozhai, and the other returned to his own courtyard.
The girl had washed her hair and was sitting under the eaves to dry her hair.
Her mother was Xu Sijie's wet nurse, and the two grew up together, so they had a special bond. When she saw Xu Sijie coming in, she just stood up, bowed, and greeted him with a smile: "Fifth Young Master is back!" She didn't avoid him in a panic just because her hair was loose.
Xu Sijie nodded and sat on Niu'er's bamboo chair.
When Niu'er saw this, she went in, brought out a bamboo chair, and sat down next to him.
The early winter sunshine shines on people, making them feel warm.
Xu Sijie sat there with his chin in his hands, thinking about what had happened in the past few days.
It seemed that the incident started from the banquet for Dou Jing and others that day… First, Dou Jing treated him like a servant, then his mother, who used to support him in everything and even set up a workshop for him because he liked to do handicrafts, suddenly didn’t like him to learn to sing opera, and then it was his grandmother… My fifth uncle also liked to sing opera, and from what the servants said, he even hired a troupe outside to sing on stage. Every time the family invited people to sing at a party, my fifth uncle would arrange it. Why was it not allowed even if he liked it? Why were my wife and mother so afraid of him learning to sing opera?
The lady's scolding that day once again echoed in his ears.
"You are noble sons, not actors"... When she said this, my grandmother's eyes were like knives stabbing at him... "Your father spent so much time and effort to find a teacher to teach you how to read and write, is it just to let you do this kind of thing?"... At that time, my grandmother looked at my fourth brother, but her face was full of disappointment...
He and his fourth brother were scared and knelt on the ground. Seeing his grandmother lose her temper, his fourth brother stood up and ran to apologize to his grandmother. His grandmother shook her head in disappointment... He ran over, but his grandmother looked at him coldly. It was not until he knelt on the ground again that her expression slightly brightened...
Like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, my thoughts gradually spread out like ripples.
The palace gave out snacks, and he and his fourth brother each received a box. But his grandmother always opened his fourth brother's box, broke off a small piece of snack and fed it to him, smiling and asking him "Is it delicious?" The box handed to him was given by the head maid... During the New Year, when giving out red envelopes, his grandmother always smiled and personally helped his fourth brother hang them around his waist. The red envelope handed to him was also given by the head maid... It used to be Wei Zi, and now it's Yuban... Wei Zi... He hasn't seen this person for a long time. In his memory, she had a round face... At that time, he should have been very young... three years old, four years old, or five years old... He had never thought about it carefully before, and never knew that when he was so young, his grandmother treated him and his fourth brother differently...
Xu Sijie raised his head.
Under the bright sunshine, the spring toon tree in the corner is lush and green. At a glance, the reddish-brown leaves are stacked layer upon layer, appearing thick and broad.
There was a white-haired old lady wearing coarse cloth sitting under a spring toon tree, spinning yarn and shouting with a smile, "Feng Qing, Feng Qing, don't run around. I will sell this piece of cloth and buy you a sesame cake!"
He was stunned and shook his head.
In a flash, the scene appeared again.
The spring toon tree stood there quietly. Under the tree was a stone stool with a carp with its tail raised carved on it. The surface of the stool was smooth and bright, and it was obvious that someone often sat there.
As if possessed by a nightmare, he walked straight over.
"Who is sitting here?" Xu Sijie touched the cold stone cushion.
Niu'er thought Xu Sijie's question was silly and giggled: "Whoever is free can go and sit down!"
Who was sitting here just now?
Xu Sijie straightened up and looked at the yard blankly.
"Feng Qing, good boy, we won't mess with him!" That vicissitudes of life but warm voice sounded in his ears again, "He felt bad, so he hit you... If we stay away from him, he won't hit you!"
Beat him? His mother loved him so much that she couldn't wait to beat him. Who beat him?
Xu Sijie spread out his hands.
Her skin is delicate and fair, and her fingers are long and clean. They are even prettier than those of a girl.
Feng Qing, who is Feng Qing?
His heart was like a field of flowers in spring, turned over by a pear rake. The tiny bugs and leaves that had not yet completely rotted inside all came out with a strange smell... It made people feel sick just by looking at it and uncomfortable just by smelling it!
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Niuniu, where is Mother Nan?" Xu Sijie pulled Niuniu's hand.
Niu'er's hands are like Nan Mama's hands, warm and soft. No, not like that. Nan Mama's hands are always steady, and making people feel safe when holding them!
"The Fifth Young Master is looking for my mother!" Niu'er felt that Xu Sijie looked very bad.
Could it be that she was feeling unwell? Otherwise, she wouldn't be so eager to find her mother.
"Should I clean the house at this time?"
Before she could finish her words, Xu Sijie rushed out.
After turning a corner and passing through an alley, you will reach Yaojiao Gate. After exiting the gate, you will reach the East Courtyard.
Mother Nan lived in the back room of the third courtyard, but since he moved into the outer courtyard, his mother helped her move to the west wing.
Xu Sijie rushed in.
Nanyong's wife is sweeping the floor.
Seeing him sweating and pale, she was shocked: "Fifth Master, what's wrong with you?"
Xu Sijie held Nan Yong's wife's hand tightly, like a drowning man grabbing a piece of driftwood.
"Mom, do you remember my childhood?" He said with a dry mouth and hoarse voice, "My childhood, my childhood!"
Nan Yong's wife's expression darkened.
What is coming has finally come!
After moving to the outer courtyard, the lady couldn't protect him even if she wanted to, because those rumors would sooner or later reach his ears. That's why the lady put the girl next to the fifth young master. In this way, she has an excuse to visit the fifth young master. If the fifth young master has any problems, she can also report to the lady in time!
"I remember." Her lips trembled a little. "I brought you up, how could I not remember!"
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I sent Xiao Zhizhi to school and used the timed release function. The evening update will be very late, so everyone should get up early tomorrow morning to read it!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Because this is a draft, I will have to wait until I get back to correct the typos. Sorry for the inconvenience!