"The length is just right." Eleventh Lady looked at it carefully for a long time. "Then I'll go back first. My mother gave me amber as a reward today. I haven't seen her yet, and I don't know what's going on in the house. I have to go back and take a look. When the lace is ready, I'll ask Dongqing to bring it to you."

The aunt did not keep her, but smiled, nodded, and sent her out.

However, the Second Aunt said something indifferently when she stepped out of the threshold.

"It's strange to say. Zhun Ge, born to our eldest daughter, is a legitimate son. He is now four years old, but he is not yet a prince. Could it be that our eldest son-in-law has learned from the heavenly family and insisted on establishing the eldest son as the heir rather than the youngest son, and the virtuous one as the heir rather than the legitimate son..."

Eleventh Lady paused.

*

At this time, Wu Niang had returned to Jiao Garden and was talking to Lian Qiao.

"...The first wife said that the wild mushroom and wild pigeon soup was delicious. She also heard that the Fourth Master didn't enjoy his food these past two days, so she asked me to deliver it to the Fourth Master."

Wu Niang smiled and said, "Is my fourth brother enjoying his meal?"

Lian Qiao smiled and said, "It's sent by the eldest wife, so it's naturally delicious."

Wu Niang sighed: "There is no considerate person around my fourth brother...If there was someone like Sister Lian Qiao who understands the warmth and coldness of his body, he wouldn't feel uncomfortable every other day!" As she said this, she gently put the candied plum in her hand into her mouth.

Lian Qiao's heart began to beat wildly as she listened.

It was not easy to go from a third-class maid to a maid close to the eldest wife. She didn't want to marry a servant like this, and then continue to be a servant when she gave birth to a son, and then become a maid when she gave birth to a daughter... But the masters in the mansion had servants around them since childhood, not to mention that the eldest young lady brought four more after she entered the house; the second master died early; the third master was the legitimate son of the second room, and it was not their turn to be attentive to the eldest room; the fifth and sixth masters of the third room were eight and five years old respectively. Only the fourth master, although he was born out of wedlock, the eldest wife had to save face, and when the family was divided, she would give the fourth master some. Moreover, the fourth master had a gentle personality and was very considerate to the sisters around him. He once made rouge for Dijin, the eldest maid in his room... As for the appearance and character of the maids in the mansion, she thought she couldn't compare with Dongqing in the eleventh lady's room. Could she be better than Dijin, the ugly monster with sparse eyebrows?

She couldn't help but blush with excitement.

The Fourth Master and his elder sister, the Fifth Miss, are the best of friends. She has been visiting the Fifth Miss frequently in the past two years, just so that the Fifth Miss can help with the planning when the time comes... Unexpectedly, the Fifth Miss actually gave in today.

"How can I compare to Sister Dijin?" Lian Qiao stared at Wu Niang with her big watery eyes, as if trying to read some clues from her expression. "With her by the Fourth Master's side, what does Miss Wu have to worry about?"

Wu Niang's lips twitched slightly, as if she had something to say but didn't know how to say it.

Ziyuan, who was standing by, coughed softly and pointed at the teacup beside Lianqiao: "Sister Lianqiao, have a drink. This is the red robe that the eldest lady gave me as a reward."

Wu Niang's face changed when she heard Ziyuan's cough. She did not mention the matter of the Fourth Master, but instead agreed with Ziyuan and said, "Sister Lianqiao, how about trying this tea?"

Lian Qiao was annoyed and secretly blamed Ziyuan for being nosy. Miss Wu was already in a difficult situation. If she interrupted her, Miss Wu would definitely not mention the Fourth Master again. Such a good opportunity was ruined by Ziyuan. If she was not the maidservant beside Miss Wu and was of the same age as Miss Wu, she would definitely follow Miss Wu to her husband's house in the future. She really doubted whether Ziyuan had the same idea as herself. However, it was not certain. The eldest wife said that she loved Miss Wu the most, but if she really loved her, she should have found a husband for Miss Wu, who had already reached the age of marriage, when the old master first fell ill, so that Miss Wu, who was already 15 years old, would not become an old maid after the three-year mourning period. From this point of view, the eldest wife may not really treat Miss Wu as her own daughter. If I can think of it, Ziyuan should be able to think of it too. Instead of following Miss Wu and not knowing whether she will marry a lame man or a numb man, it is better to make plans early and follow the Fourth Master.

As the thought flashed through his mind, Lian Qiao couldn't help but turn from resentment towards Ziyuan to hatred.

If Ziyuan really has this in mind, today is not the time to talk.

Then she thought about the fact that she still had work to do. If the eldest wife asked and she hadn't returned yet, she would think she stayed with the Fourth Master, which would not be a good thing.

She exchanged a few pleasantries with Wu Niang, then stood up and said goodbye: "...in case the eldest lady can't find anyone later!"

Wu Niang personally escorted her to the door of the room and said, "Sister Lian Qiao has something to do, so I won't delay you. We can sit together when we have free time in the future."

Lian Qiao said a few polite words, and then faint crying sounds were heard not far away.

She was stunned when she heard it.

Ziyuan smiled and said, "It's Sister Ziwei who is teaching the new maid a lesson. I don't know why, but people nowadays are not like us. If the sisters mention something, they will remember it immediately and never forget it. Now it's like tofu dropped into the ash pond. You can't slap it or hit it. If you're not careful, they will try to kill themselves. I really don't know how to discipline them." She looked very sighing.

"Who said it wasn't true?" Lian Qiao was relieved, and walked out with Ziyuan with a smile, "You don't know, the new girl Shuang He in our room actually quarreled with Mother Yao... At that time, we couldn't even think about it. Speaking of which, Mother Xu has been doing things worse than before in the past two years, and the new people are more unruly than the last. Once, my grandmother said that Mother Xu is old, and she is not as good as before when she bullies people."

"After all, my sister works in the First Madam's house, so she has a lot of experience." Ziyuan said with a smile, "Unlike us, we become weak all over when we see Madam Xu, so we don't pay attention to these things..."

As they were talking, Ziyuan sent Lianqiao out of the sedan garden.

Wu Niang has already called Ziwei over.

"...You are the eldest maid in my house. It is right for you to teach those little ones a lesson if they are disobedient. But this place is close to the main house. Qiu Ling has been sent out because of illness. If there is another bad one and the eldest lady asks about it, we will not be able to reply. Besides, her brother is still working in the account office."

"Miss, you are right." Ziwei said in a submissive manner, "It was my fault for not thinking things through. However, I just slapped her a few times. I'll have someone watch her these few days, so she won't go out and say anything."

Wu Niang nodded, gave a few more instructions, and asked Ziwei to leave.

After a while, Shion turned back.

She told Wu Niang what Lian Qiao had said to her: "... It seems that the eldest young lady is not very satisfied with Madam Xu." She thought of Lian Qiao's restless eyes again. "Fifth Miss, are you really going to let Lian Qiao serve the Fourth Master?" She brewed tea for Wu Niang again and brought it to her. "She has such a strong personality and has served the eldest lady before. If she goes to the Fourth Master's room, I'm afraid she will..."

"When did I say to let her go to the Fourth Master's room?" Wu Niang took a sip of tea. Her leisurely manner was exactly like that of the First Madam, but she didn't know it. "Besides, she is from the First Madam's room. Even the Master has no reason to arrange for her, let alone me."

Knowing that Wu Niang had no intention of taking Lian Qiao over, Ziyuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The only person the Fifth Miss can really rely on is the Fourth Master. But the Fourth Master is a soft-hearted person, and if someone like Lian Qiao goes there, it will probably be bad for their Jiaoyuan...

Wu Niang was thinking about something else and said hesitantly, "What do you think Lian Qiao meant by that?"

Ziyuan thought for a moment and whispered, "Is it because of the eldest lady's health... that's why the eldest lady sent Madam Xu to Ci'an Temple... to print the Lotus Sutra again!"

"That should be the case!" Wu Niang pondered, "It's only been a month since my father passed away, and the letter came so soon. I can't think of anything else except my eldest sister's matter. Besides, she has been ill since she gave birth to Zhun Ge. If that's the case, then what does the eldest wife mean?"

*

Wu Xiaoquan's family used a handkerchief to put the peeled oranges in a small gold-plated dish, and took a slender silver pick to prepare to remove the white orange peels as usual. But the eldest wife suddenly waved her hand and said, "So be it! I'm old, not like I used to be. Eating some orange peels can help me feel better." As she said that, she let out a long sigh.

"What are you talking about, Madam?" Wu Xiaoquan's family followed her instructions and brought the small plate to her. "You are still young, and Grandma still needs your support... You can't say you are old at this time."

The eldest wife laughed and ordered Luo Qiao behind her: "All of you leave!"

Luo Qiao and others responded and left.

Seeing that no one was in the room, Wu Xiaoquan's family smiled and said, "The two young ladies have discussed it. When Miss Eleven saw the appearance of the screen, she didn't say anything, but Miss Five thought that the combination of chicken-wing wood and boxwood was not a good match. I think what Miss Five said makes sense, and Miss Eleven also said that for the time being, the words should be written according to the size, and she will embroider it first, and then make the base and frame of the screen. It won't be too late to change the wood when Miss Five mentioned the wood..."

Before she could finish, the eldest lady waved her hand to signal her not to say anything more: "Just tell me, which of the two ladies is more confident about the embroidered screen?"

"Of course it's Miss Five." Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed, "When I went there, Miss Five had a lot of looks on her table, and she was letting Miss Eleven choose!"

"Oh!" The eldest wife raised her eyebrows, "Which one did Miss Eleven pick?"

Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed and said, "Miss Eleven seems to be undecided, so let Miss Five come to discuss it with the First Madam."

"What about Miss Five? Which one does she like best?"

"The one with the big characters in the middle." Wu Xiaoquan's family laughed, "It's said that it has both big characters and small characters, which is the most suitable."

There are both big characters and small characters, which is indeed perfect - suitable for her to show off how good her handwriting is, right?

The eldest wife sneered in her heart: "It's a pity that the second aunt said that her calligraphy is not dignified enough."

"The first wife and the second concubine are the ones with good taste." Wu Xiaoquan's eyes rolled and he said with a smile, "I just can't see it. Just like the fifth lady, I think the one with the big words in the middle is better! But at least I have someone to keep me company."

"Oh?" The eldest wife looked at Wu Xiaoquan's family with a smile.

Wu Xiaoquan's family's hearts skipped a beat.

But having said that, he just kept holding on to it.

"And there's Miss Eleven!" She laughed, "At least I can pick out a good one, but Miss Eleven thinks everything is good."

(There will be another chapter soon!)