After seeing off Shi Niang, Shiyi Niang was in a depressed mood for a long time.

She thought of the days when everyone was crowded in Lujun Tower, the nervousness when going to Beijing, the amazing encounter in front of the hanging flower gate of Xu Mansion on March 3rd, and the scene when she sang "Pipa Song" for the first time... All of these seemed to be getting farther and farther away from her with the departure of Shi Niang.

Eleventh Lady's mood affected everyone around her. Jing'er would often look up while writing and stare at his mother with his bright eyes. Whenever he saw his mother sitting there in a daze with needle and thread in her hands, his childish face would show some worries that were not in line with his age, and he would do things more cautiously. Once he said to Chang'an: "My tenth aunt is gone, my mother is very sad, let's not quarrel with her."

Jing'er didn't pay much attention to Chang'an at first, but as they practiced martial arts together in Shuangfuyuan, Chang'an's seriousness and perseverance played a great advantage in martial arts that required diligent practice. Among the children, only Chang'an's progress in martial arts could match Jing'er. Jing'er looked at Chang'an with a different look. Not only did he start to greet Chang'an actively, but he also chatted with Chang'an sometimes.

Changan felt that this was not a topic he could discuss. He did not say anything, but just smiled at Jing'er.

Jing'er thought Changshun was too boring, so he took a Cuju to play with Changshun.

Changshun kicked the Cuju around with his short legs. Sometimes it landed on the corridor, sometimes in the flowerbed, and sometimes behind the fish tank. The two maids were sweating profusely while looking for him. He giggled and had more fun, trying to find ways to kick the Cuju into corners, acting like a child.

Jing'er played with him for a while with a smile on his face, then raised his eyelids and looked at Chang'an, who was waving his arms seriously under a big tree as Master Pang asked. He felt it was a bit boring, so he touched Changshun's head awkwardly and said, "You play by yourself!" Then he sat down on the beauty's bed beside him.

Ah Jin hurriedly brought a cup of warm water over: "Master, do you want to change your clothes?"

"No need!" Jing'er took the teacup and drank it all. "My mother hasn't come back yet?"

Madam Huang, the Marquis of Yongchang, fell ill, and Eleventh Lady accompanied the lady-in-waiting to visit her.

"Not yet!" Ah Jin said with a smile, "Do you want me to send someone to watch over the Chuihua Gate? Once the Fourth Madam comes back, we'll know!"

"Forget it!" Jing'er lay on the beauty bench, his legs swinging back and forth in boredom, "I'd better wait here for mom to come back!"

Ah Jin smiled and said "yes": "How about I wash some plums and apricots?"

"It's better not to wash it!" The spring sun shone on his body, and Jinger looked a little lazy. "Last time, Changshun ate a whole plate by himself, and he had a stomachache at night. We didn't sleep well."

As he was speaking, Xu Lingyi walked in.

"Why are you lying here?" he asked curiously, "Where's your mother?"

"Dad!" Jing'er jumped off the Beauty Chair and saluted Xu Lingyi.

When Chang'an and Changshun saw this, they hurried over and bowed respectfully.

"Mom hasn't come back yet!" Jing'er said, "Has Dad had lunch?" He looked like an adult.

Xu Lingyi laughed and said, "I've eaten." He thought his son's expression was very interesting and asked, "How about you?"

"I've eaten too!" said Jing'er, "I even had a nap!" He seemed quite disapproving.

"Have you finished your homework?" Xu Lingyi asked him with a smile.

"I'm done!" Jing'er tilted his head and looked at his father, "Not only have I finished my homework, I also finished reading the book that mother asked me to read first, practiced horse stance, and played Cuju with Changshun..." He looked like he had nothing to do.

Xu Lingyi looked at him and said with a smile, "Do you want to go horseback riding with Dad?"

"Okay, okay!" Jing'er jumped up, "I want to go horseback riding with Daddy!" His face lit up.

"Okay then," Xu Lingyi looked much better, "Go change into a short brown coat, and we'll go horseback riding!"

Jing'er ran back to the house excitedly.

* * * * * *

When Shiyi Niang came back, Jin Ge'er had just finished bathing, his face was ruddy, and he was sitting on a brocade stool with high spirits, talking to Hong Wen and A Jin who were wiping his wet hair: "...Sitting on a horse, I can see far away. The servants and grooms are all under my feet. I can pick the leaves above my head with just a stretch of my hand...When the horse runs, it goes up and down, which is very uncomfortable, but the wind blows towards me, my clothes rustle, and the trees and houses are all left far behind, which is very interesting!" Hearing the noise, he looked over. Seeing that it was Shiyi Niang, he immediately rushed over, "Mom, mom, Daddy took me to go horseback riding this afternoon!" Very excited, "And the fourth brother and the fifth brother. The fourth brother also praised me for my courage!"

Eleventh Lady was very surprised.

Isn’t it said that people only start learning horse riding after the age of ten?

She looked up.

Xu Lingyi came out from the inner room.

"I happened to take Zhun and Jie to the horse ranch this afternoon," he said with a smile, "and saw that Jin was alone at home, so I took him there too!" Then he asked, "How is Madam Huang's illness? You came back so late, is she seriously ill?"

"I just caught a cold." Eleventh Lady said, "It's rare for mother and Madam Huang to get together and talk about personal matters. That's why I came back late." Then she said with some concern, "Riding a horse is very dangerous, and Jin'er is still young..."

She had seen children injured from falling off horses.

"Don't worry!" Xu Lingyi felt that Shiyi Niang was too nervous about Jin Ge'er. "They are riding trained and docile mares, and there are masters who are proficient in riding watching them. At first, they just let him sit on the horse's back and let the masters lead the horse for a few laps, or take him for a trot. Nothing will happen!"

"It's better to be careful!" Eleventh Lady felt that Xu Lingyi was a little dismissive of this matter. "Jin'er is still young. I'm afraid he doesn't even have the strength to pull the reins, let alone drive a horse. I think it's better to let him learn to ride a horse after he is ten years old!"

Xu Lingyi had no intention of letting Jing'er learn horse riding so early. He just thought that boys all liked horse riding, so he took him to play. He said "hmm" and told Shiyi Niang about the Second and Third Masters Luo: "According to the date, they should be coming to Beijing in the next two days. You should also make some preparations. When the time comes, we will take the children to greet the two uncles."

Eleventh Lady nodded and said softly, "Have the matters concerning the two uncles been resolved?"

Although Luo Zhenxing was helping with the specific arrangements, Xu Lingyi also visited Chen Ge Lao, who was also the Minister of Personnel.

"We'll talk about it when the time comes!" He said vaguely, "The official document from the Ministry of Personnel will be the final word."

Xu Lingyi made it clear that he would not make any promise unless he was absolutely sure.

Eleventh Lady smiled, and felt that Jin Ge'er was being ignored and was unhappy. She pulled her mother's sleeve and said, "Mom, mom, I was competing with Fifth Brother today to see whose horse ran faster."

"Oh!" Eleventh Lady glanced at Xu Lingyi, "Didn't you say you were just going to ride the horse twice? Why are you competing to see whose horse runs faster?"

Xu Lingyi looked at Shiyi Niang and smiled.

Jing'er blushed and said in a low voice, "Let's sit behind the master and see whose horse runs faster!"

"Really?" Eleventh Lady smiled and hugged her son. "Hurry up and dry your hair. Be careful not to catch a cold." As she spoke, she went into the inner room.

Xu Lingyi followed her and took the opportunity to pinch Ana's waist: "How could I lie to you!" This caused Shiyi Niang to let out a low exclamation.

"Mom!" Jing'er asked his mother hurriedly, "What's wrong with you?" He looked very surprised.

"Nothing." Eleventh Lady suppressed her laughter, "I was stared at by a stink bug!"

The confusion in Jinger's eyes deepened: "Bedbugs? Don't bedbugs just fart? Why do they bite people?"

Eleventh Lady couldn't help laughing and glanced at Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi looked at the mother and son with a smile, with helplessness in his eyes.

Eleventh Lady burst into laughter.

My depressed mood suddenly became clear.

* * * * * *

Mr. Luo Er had been working as an official in Beijing. After arriving in Shandong, he was no longer a high-ranking official in charge of a region. He felt that he was restricted everywhere, just like in Beijing, and there was not much money to be made. He also had to go to the countryside to collect grain and taxes, which was even harder than before. He wanted to return to the six ministries. In the end, he sought a position as a Tongzheng in the Tongzhengsi. Although it was also a low-paying office, he was only responsible for reading memorials every day, and the people he interacted with were all officials from the six ministries. He seemed more noble, and Mr. Luo Er, who was already tired of specific affairs, was still very satisfied. Mr. Luo San was different. First, he was still young, and second, his two sons were still young. If he could fight for a third-rank title, one of his sons could enjoy the benefits of hereditary favors. Xu Lingyi put a lot of effort into it, and in the end, he sought the position of prefect of Jinan Prefecture.

Everybody loved it.

After a brief reunion in Yanjing, Mr. Luo San and his family went to work, and Mr. Luo Er and Mrs. Luo settled down in Laojun Hall. After the birthday of the wife, Mrs. Luo Er asked Si Niang to accompany her and invited Shiyi Niang to her home for a drink and to watch opera.

Eleventh Lady took the children with her.

Si Niang asked Xu Siyu: "...will you take part in the provincial examination this year?"

"I will!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "He wrote back during the Chinese New Year. He will arrive in Yanjing in June. I'm preparing for his return!"

Si Niang nodded and said nothing more.

Mrs. Luo's eyes fell on Xu Sijie, who had been accompanying Eleventh Lady the whole time. "Jie'er is twelve years old this year, right? Are you ready to give it a try this year?"

Xu Sijie's face suddenly turned red.

"The child wants to give it a try." Eleventh Lady didn't want to embarrass Xu Sijie, so she smiled and helped him out, "But I think he is still young, there is no need to be so anxious. Let him study hard for two years first." She added, "This year, Yu'er will take part in the provincial examination, and next year, Zhun'er will get married. If he is caught in the middle, I really can't take care of him!"

Mrs. Luo's lips twitched, and she was about to say something, but Si Niang coughed softly and said, "Did Eleventh Sister receive Seventh Sister's letter? She is pregnant again."

"I received a letter from Seventh Sister." Eleventh Lady smiled at Fourth Sister and asked Mrs. Luo, "Is she okay?"

"Good, good, good." Mrs. Luo couldn't hide her joy when she mentioned her daughter who had finally gotten what she wanted after all the hardships. "Her mother-in-law treats her like a treasure now. She only hopes that she will give birth to more children to expand the Zhu family!" Then she talked incessantly about Qinnan and never mentioned Xu Sijie again.

Eleventh Lady sat there quietly listening with a smile on her face, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

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The computer won't be back until tomorrow!

Woo woo woo…