Eleventh Lady did not wait for Xier, but waited for Nanyong's wife.

"What happened?" Thinking that Nan Yong's wife had been coming into her room for no reason since she moved to the outer courtyard, she felt nervous and sent everyone in the room away and asked Nan Yong's wife in a low voice.

"Just now, the fifth young master came to me and asked about his childhood..." Nan Yong's wife said nervously.

Madam asked her to pay attention to Xu Sijie's movements because she was afraid that the Fifth Young Master would be bullied in the outer courtyard and someone would report it, not because she wanted to make irresponsible remarks. Although her words today were well-intentioned, they were still presumptuous. Madam knew about it, would she blame her? But thinking that this matter was related to the mother-son relationship between Madam and the Fifth Young Master, she still bit the bullet and told Shiyi Niang what had just happened.

Eleventh Lady was shocked, and thinking of Xu Sijie's strange behavior just now, she couldn't help but feel emotional.

She had never been able to find a suitable opportunity to tell Xu Sijie about what happened that year, but unexpectedly, Yongnan's wife helped her out of this predicament.

At the beginning, she was attracted to Nanyong's wife not only because she was honest and loyal, but also because she was very down-to-earth towards people and things. She hoped that Xu Sijie could be influenced by Nanyong's wife and live a down-to-earth life. Now it seems that her choice is relatively correct. If Nanyong's wife had not treated Xu Sijie sincerely, Xu Sijie would not have thought of Nanyong's wife first when he was worried, and Nanyong's wife would not have been able to comfort Xu Sijie with meaningful words, and Xu Sijie would not have been able to cheer up so quickly...

"Luckily you are here to enlighten him." Seeing that Nanyong's wife was a little uneasy, Shiyi Niang immediately said, "I was worried about this matter!" Then she told her that Xu Lingyi was going to let Xu Sijie burn incense to Tong during the New Year. "I never mentioned it before, and now I suddenly ask him to recognize Tong. I'm afraid he won't be able to accept it for a while. I wanted to tell him in advance, but I was afraid he would ask about the past... With you, he felt relieved, and I can tell him some things."

Nan Yong's wife felt relieved when she heard this, and a smile appeared on her face, but it quickly faded away, and a hint of worry appeared between her brows.

In this way, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is clear, and the people in the mansion know the attitude of the Marquis. There are some things that even the Madam and she may not be able to stop. By then, Xu Sijie's situation will be much more difficult than it is now!

But on second thought, this is also a good idea.

Only when you know how much you eat, can you know how much strength you have and how big a thing you can accomplish!

In this way, the fifth young master can live his life in peace.

Her brows relaxed again, and she said tactfully, "The New Year is coming soon. Families will come to give New Year gifts. The housekeeper will come in to greet you. The fourth young master will also have guests to entertain. By then, I'm afraid the family will be so busy that they won't even have time to drink a cup of tea."

The housekeeper came in to greet Eleventh Lady, and naturally presented small gifts from various mansions to the children. Because Xu Sijie was raised in Eleventh Lady's room, the things given to him were always the same as those given to Xu Sizhun. Moreover, during the New Year, if Xu Sizhun held a spring banquet at home, he would definitely invite his brothers to accompany him. Xu Siyu was older and had never participated in these things, so he would definitely not go. If Xu Sijie went there without knowing it, and something like Dou Jing happened again, not only would the Xu family lose face, but it would also be a kind of harm to Xu Sijie - everyone wants to be liked by others.

Eleventh Lady was thinking about it.

When Xu Lingyi came back, she discussed with him, "How about I talk to him in the next few days?"

Xu Lingyi felt that Shiyi Niang was being too cautious, so he casually said "OK", and then asked about the banquet for Mrs. Xiang tomorrow: "How many people will come in total?"

"There are two tables for male guests and one table for female guests." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I heard that the uncle who gave us Huiquan water will also come!"

"Then I'll prepare some good tea for him." Xu Lingyi said, and Xiang came over to serve Shiyi Niang dinner.

"You don't need to serve me here." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "After you have dinner in your own courtyard, just come and greet the Madam with me."

Xiang was very surprised.

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "Go ahead! I usually go there at 3:45 on the twelfth hour of the twelfth lunar month in winter and 3:45 on the twelfth hour of the twelfth lunar month in summer. You can just come over around this time!"

Xiang glanced at Xu Lingyi, and seeing that he did not express anything, she knelt in greeting and retreated.

Xu Lingyi laughed and said, "You don't even let your wife serve you!"

"It's not even convenient to talk." Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Why make everyone uncomfortable?"

Xu Lingyi didn't say much. Eleventh Lady asked someone to bring back Jing'er, who was playing with Chen'er in the back garden, and told the maid to serve the meal.

Jinger ate two bowls of lion's head in a clay pot and asked for a third bowl. Xu Lingyi couldn't help asking him, "What did you eat for lunch?"

"Let's eat fried quail." Jing'er said, and swallowed another braised lion's head.

Xu Lingyi looked towards Eleventh Lady.

Shiyi Niang put a piece of bean sprouts from the bean sprout and pork tripe soup into Jing'er's bowl and said helplessly, "At noon, we made drunken duck liver, steamed minced meat and eggs, crystal shrimp, braised yellow croaker... He only eats fried quail."

As he was talking, Jing'er hid the bean sprouts under the rice with chopsticks and continued to eat the braised lion's head with the white rice on top.

Xu Lingyi was amused and said, "It's better to eat a little bit of everything."

"Yes!" said Eleventh Lady, picking up a piece of tofu for her son.

Jinger rolled his eyes and smiled, "Dad, grandma said we can't talk while eating!"

Xu Lingyi laughed.

Xu Siyu and Xiang came over to greet them.

Eleventh Lady asked them to sit in the living room, and after they had finished their meal, she called them to the west room to talk.

Xu Lingyi asked about Xu Siyu's plan.

Xu Siyu said: "We should prepare for the next imperial examination as soon as possible. I plan to leave for Le'an in early November."

Leaving after the wedding?

So fast!

Haven’t you spent the New Year at home?

Eleventh Lady looked at Xiang, who looked calm, and it was obvious that she had known the news for a long time.

Xu Lingyi also felt that it was a bit early, and said thoughtfully: "There is no rush. Let's wait until after the Lantern Festival before setting off!"

Xu Siyu seemed to want to say something but hesitated, and finally bowed and said "yes".

Madam Wen and Madam Qiao came over to greet them.

"Our Second Young Madam is here too!" Mrs. Wen was always enthusiastic. "The bracelet on her hand is so beautiful!"

Xiang hurriedly knelt down and bowed to Aunt Wen and Qiao Lianfang, calling them "Aunt".

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie came over.

Eleventh Lady observed Xu Sijie carefully.

He stood behind Xu Sizun as usual. Although he had a smile on his face, the bright joy in his eyes was gone.

Eleventh Lady sighed slightly, said a few words, and went to the lady's place.

It just so happened that Xu Lingkuan also brought the fifth wife and children to pay their respects to the old lady, and the old lady's place immediately became lively.

Xu Sizun took the time to ask Shiyi Niang about the Chigongpu.

"Your uncle said he's looking for it for us." Eleventh Lady whispered to him, "Did Wang Yun promise when he would return it?"

"No!" Xu Sizhun also whispered, "However, when this happened, I wrote a letter to Wang Yun, saying that I accidentally dropped the book into the water. I asked him to give me a few days so that I could copy a copy and send it to him. Wang Yun listened and told me not to return it. He said that I could borrow a copy from Han Xueshi's home in the Hanlin Academy. But we damaged the things, so even if Wang Yun doesn't want it, we have to return it!"

Eleventh Lady nodded: "So, Mr. Han from the Hanlin Academy is pregnant?"

Xu Sizhun nodded and said, "Why not let my uncle find him and we can borrow a copy!"

"I don't know how your uncle's relationship with him is? I'll let your uncle go and give it a try!" Eleventh Lady smiled as she watched. Xu Lingyi's gentle and firm voice came to her ears: "...No need. Our two families are close friends. Let Zhun'er go with me. It's a good opportunity to learn some etiquette in dealing with people." Then he instructed Xu Sizhun, "Go to the Hui Office tomorrow and prepare the New Year gifts for the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion. We'll go to see the Yongchang Marquis in two days."

Hearing that he was going out, Xu Sizhun was a little bored. He said yes, and went to the office early the next morning to ask for the gift list. In the evening, after seeing off the Xiang family, he took the gift list to report to Xu Lingyi.

The New Year gifts from the two families were just some vegetable leaves, candies and the like, not exceeding fifty taels of silver.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Lingyi went to the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion.

Eleventh Lady, on the other hand, welcomed the New Year's Festival in Cangzhou.

As in previous years, the Shao family sent someone to bring a cart of Cangzhou specialties.

In addition to the mother who sent New Year gifts to the Xu family every year, Xiulan also came into the inner courtyard to greet Eleventh Lady.

She made up her face, combed her hair into a woman's bun, put on brand new silver jewelry, and looked a little excited. As soon as she entered the room, she kowtowed three times to Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady laughed: "Who did you marry?"

Xiulan blushed: "I am the servant who serves as a follower beside the master."

Uncle, that’s Shao Zhongran.

He gave his wife's dowry to his followers. It seems that Zhen Jie'er has been integrated into the Shao family.

Eleventh Lady nodded with a smile and gave Xiulan two silver lotus hairpins and a pair of silver bracelets: "This is a gift for you!"

Xiulan thanked him and told Zhen Jie'er: "...I heard from the master that the Sixth Young Master wants to find a master to teach him martial arts. There is a master named Pang in Cangzhou who is related to the Shao family. Although he has a limp in his left foot, he is very good at riding and shooting. Many children of the Shao family worship him as their master, so he opened a martial arts school. A few days ago, someone in the house died of illness and had no children. Master Pang was not interested in teaching martial arts and closed the martial arts school. I wonder if the Marquis has found a master for the Sixth Young Master? If not, the eldest grandmother would like to recommend this Master Pang to teach the Sixth Young Master martial arts!"

Eleventh Lady was surprised and asked with a smile: "What did your uncle say?"

The mother who came with them laughed and said, "Our uncle also learned horse riding and archery from Master Pang for two years, and he admired Master Pang very much. When the Marquis mentioned this matter, our uncle thought of Master Pang. But he was afraid that he was a country bumpkin and the Marquis would look down on him. Master Pang also opened a martial arts school in Cangzhou, and he didn't know whether he was willing to go north. So he put the matter in his heart. Later, he learned that no one in Master Pang's room was alive, so he came up with this idea. He asked us to come and ask." She laughed again, "It was our grandmother who told us to ask the madam first. If the madam agrees, then we can get our uncle's letter of recommendation!" As she spoke, the smile on her face became even wider.

What's the logic behind this!

She doesn't understand this.

"Give me the letter!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "I will first ask the Marquis what he thinks, and then I will write back to you!"

The two of them responded respectfully, and the Jiang family’s New Year gift arrived.

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Sorry, sorry, I'll just post a draft first and fix the bugs later!

O(∩_∩)O~