Chapter 742: Prisoners of War (Part 2)

The Xu family became lively.

Xu Lingkuan, Xu Sinian and Xu Si'e were all helping to entertain the guests in the outer courtyard, while the Fifth Lady and Yingniang were helping the Eleventh Lady to entertain the guests in the inner courtyard. Jiang arranged the banquet and assigned the maids to serve tea and water, and the mothers arranged for the maids and old women who had come with them to rest. It was not until curfew time that everyone dispersed one after another and restored some peace.

Eleventh Lady leaned on the big pillow by the window with some fatigue. Amber came in with a cup of steaming goat milk. "Madam, the Marquis has asked Lord Wang to stay in the small study to talk. It looks like he won't be able to finish talking for a while. Fifth Lady accompanied Third Lady and the eldest and third young ladies to the dowager's place. They greeted the dowager and should be going back. If you are tired, you can rest first!" As she spoke, she laughed, "Now everyone knows that you are a married woman. Even if the hospitality is not good enough, it can't be called rude."

Just as she was about to wake up, she heard the news that Jiang Ge'er had been named the Earl. Princess Jiangdu, Madam Zhou, and Grandma Huang San came one after another. She didn't even have time to ask any detailed questions. There were many things she wanted to ask Amber. Hearing this, she smiled and pointed at Jinji who was lying on the kang: "You've been busy all day. Take a break. We can talk now!"

Amber smiled and agreed, sitting on the brocade loom, picking up the rattan basket filled with needles and thread under the kang, and helped to straighten out the scattered threads, tied them into a slipknot, and put them in the rattan basket.

Eleventh Lady asked Changan: "...Have you heard any news about him?"

At that time, I was only thinking about Jiange'er and didn't bother to ask him.

"Chang'an has benefited from our Sixth Young Master this time." Amber smiled, "It is said that he has been following the Sixth Young Master all the time. He was also present when Duoyan was captured. The Marquis of Xining said that he was loyal and righteous, and specially asked for him to be awarded the title of Qianhu. The emperor has approved it. After the prisoners are presented at the Meridian Gate, the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War will have official documents. Then we will have to change our words and call Chang'an the Wanqianhu!" Then she smiled, "Even Master Gong was also awarded the title of Baihu, and can go home to retire in glory! It was our eldest aunt who planned such a future for Master Gong. In the future in Cangzhou, he will be a man of his word!"

Everyone survived the disaster and had a good future, and Eleventh Lady was also happy.

"That's good, that's good!" She said with a smile, "If anything happens to Chang'an, how can I go to see Binju!" She added, "Is she okay?"

Even if Binju didn't know it before, she must have known it when she asked Amber to tell Wan Daxian to go to Yulin with her.

"Sister Binju cried for a whole day and night when she heard that the Sixth Young Master was missing and there was no news about Chang'an either," said Amber. "After she recovered, she went to Ciyuan Temple and knelt before the Bodhisattva, begging the Bodhisattva to protect the Sixth Young Master and Chang'an. When Master Jining found out, she came out to persuade Sister Binju, saying that the Sixth Young Master was a wealthy man and Chang'an would definitely be able to escape danger if he followed her. Sister Binju became more sincere, not only She ate vegetarian food and made a vow that as long as the Sixth Young Master and Chang'an could return safely, she would donate 500 taels of silver for incense money to hold a 49-day ritual. "She laughed as she spoke, "I got the news yesterday, and Sister Binju was so happy that she couldn't speak clearly. I came in to greet you, but you were still asleep. She said she had to go to Ciyuan Temple to fulfill her vow, so she went there first and will come back to greet you early tomorrow morning."

As a mother to her, Shiyi Niang could naturally understand Binju’s feelings.

She smiled and told Hubo: "Prepare five hundred taels of silver tomorrow. When Binju comes, ask her to take it to Ciyuan Temple for me. This will be my money for her."

Amber smiled and said "OK".

Eleventh Lady asked about Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu.

When Amber heard this, her expression suddenly darkened.

Eleventh Lady's heart skipped a beat: "What's wrong? Could it be that the two of them... Amber nodded, tears already flashing in the corners of her eyes: "They said that when they reached Qiziba, they would..." Halfway through the words, she was afraid that Eleventh Lady would be sad, so she snorted and said hurriedly, "The Marquis has sent Manager Zhao to the homes of Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu, and gave each of them 1,000 taels of silver. He also said that if any of the Liu and Huang families want to work in the mansion in the future, they should be sent first. If there are any difficulties in the future, they can also come to Manager Bai."

Eleventh Lady's heart ached, and tears could not stop falling: "In the future, you should keep the affairs of the Liu and Huang families in mind. If the outer courtyard is not well arranged, you should tell me."

Amber nodded repeatedly. Seeing that Shiyi Niang's tears were falling again after she wiped them away, she turned around and pulled out a warm handkerchief, handed it to Shiyi Niang, and said something that might make her happy: "The Emperor came to visit while you were asleep!"

Eleventh Lady thought of what she heard when she was half asleep.

It seems that it’s not my mind that is confused!

"The emperor was anxious when he heard that the Sixth Young Master was missing." Amber took the handkerchief from Eleventh Lady and said softly, "He even came incognito to see the Marquis. He heard that you were unconscious and the Marquis was taking care of you. The emperor didn't care much and went straight to the hall. I heard that he apologized to the Marquis." She told Eleventh Lady the jokes in the mansion, "Butler Bai asked the Marquis yesterday whether the teacups and chairs used by the emperor should be placed in the ancestral hall!"

However, Eleventh Lady couldn't laugh and leaned on the big pillow dejectedly.

Seeing this, Amber also put away her smile and asked in a low voice: "Madam, let my maid bring some water for you to wash up! The weather is so hot, and a bath will help you feel cooler!"

Eleventh Lady nodded, and Amber whispered to the maid to come in and serve her, and then helped her change clothes and make the bed. She did not start working until Eleventh Lady went to bed, and then she took the needle and thread and started working under the light of the standing table lamp in the hall.

Xu Lingyi came back only after the third watch drum was struck.

Amber hurried over to greet him.

"How is Madam today?" Xu Lingyi asked Amber. The couple had not had a good conversation since Shiyi Niang woke up.

"I had a bowl of bird's nest porridge for lunch, a bowl of red rice porridge for dinner, and two vegetable buns."

As long as it’s edible!

Xu Lingyi entered the house.

Eleventh Lady fell asleep lying on her side.

The light shone on her white jade-like face, which had a kind of peaceful and tranquil beauty, unlike the previous few days when she would sob in her sleep even after lighting sleeping incense.

He looked at her with a sense of relief. He washed up and got into bed quietly. He wanted to hold her in his arms as usual, but he was afraid of waking her up and asking her about Jiange'er... If he answered truthfully, she was afraid she would not be able to sleep again. If he didn't answer, when Jiange'er came back, she would think he had lied to her... After thinking it over, he moved the quilt and spread it out beside her, then quietly crawled in.

Eleventh Lady was a light sleeper and was awakened as soon as Xu Lingyi got into bed.

He had kept the news about Jian Ge'er a secret for a long time, and when Jian Ge'er returned safely, he went to the outer courtyard without saying a word. Now he returned to the room and slept separately from her as if they were separated by the Chu River and Han River... Thinking of this, she couldn't help but snorted coldly in her heart and simply ignored him.

The next day, when Shiyi Niang got up, Xu Lingyi had gotten up early and did not wait for her. He was sitting on the big kang by the window in the west room eating breakfast. When he saw her coming, he said lightly, "You're awake," and then instructed her, "When you were unconscious, the Queen Mother and the Empress sent eunuchs to inquire about you, and Princess Jiangdu, Princess Yong, and Princess Shun all came to see you in person. Now that Jian'er is fine, you should also go and say hello to these places."

Eleven nodded and said "yes", and sat on the kang opposite Xu Lingyi. Leng Xiang hurriedly brought in the bird's nest porridge.

A servant ran in: "My Lord, Prince Yong is here!"

Xu Lingyi was a little surprised and stammered, "So early," then nodded to the servant. He quickly ate the two buns in front of him, said to Shiyi Niang, "Eat slowly," and hurried to the outer courtyard.

Eleventh Lady said "hmm" and ate her breakfast calmly.

Madam Wen, with a smile on her face, and Qiao Lianfang, with an indifferent look, came over to greet her.

"Our Sixth Young Master is really amazing," Madam Wen, as always, praised him to the utmost, flattering Eleventh Lady. "I think, apart from those founding fathers who followed the emperor, our Sixth Young Master is probably the first one in the Great Zhou Dynasty to be granted the title of Earl at the age of fifteen for his military merits."

Qiao Lianfang forced a smile and agreed, "Sixth Young Master must be the first." Perhaps she was not used to saying such things, her tone was a little stiff.

Eleventh Lady chatted with them politely: "That's all thanks to Master Pang who was recommended by my eldest aunt, otherwise, how could he have such good boxing skills."

Madam Wen smiled like a flower.

Jiang and Yingniang came over with their children.

Yesterday there were guests and no one had time to say anything, but today everyone is at home, chattering and praising Jiange'er, and it's as lively as Chinese New Year.

A little maid came in and reported, "Binju is here!"

She was Eleventh Lady's companion and a respectable person in the Xu family. Both Jiang and Yingniang treated her with courtesy and congratulated her with a smile on her impending promotion to a thousand households in Chang'an and on her son's good fortune. She could not hide her joy, nor did she want to. She thanked Eleventh Lady for Jiang'er's help. Eleventh Lady asked her about Ciyuen Temple, and Amber took out the silver bills, laughing and talking, adding a bit of festive atmosphere.

In the afternoon, another news came that the surrender of prisoners at the Meridian Gate was scheduled for the first day of July.

I will be able to see my son soon!

Eleventh Lady was both surprised and delighted. She ordered Ajin and Suifeng to clean up the yard, called the needleworker to make clothes for Jiang'er, and went to the kitchen with Amber. She asked the kitchen to prepare some ingredients such as abalone and sea cucumber early for the banquet... Jiang served her wholeheartedly.

Yuan Baozhu's family also looked very happy.

Yuan Baozhu couldn't help but tease his wife: "After receiving the ten taels of silver reward from the lady, you have indeed become much more efficient in your work!"

After knowing that Jiange'er had been conferred the title of Earl, all the important officials were rewarded with 20 taels of silver each, and people like Yuan Baozhu were rewarded with 10 taels each.

"You are so stubborn!" Yuan Baozhu's wife glared at her husband. "I am happy for the Fourth Young Lady!" At this point, her eyes became much gentler. "The Sixth Young Master has a title, so he will naturally open the door in the future."

In this way, Xu Sizhen's title of Marquis of Yongping was almost certain.

Such words cannot be said clearly.

Yuan Baozhu joked with his wife: "Don't forget, there is another baby in your belly!"

"Even younger than Ting'er!" Yuan Baozhu laughed, "By the time he grows up, our prince will have stood on his own feet!" As he said that, he couldn't help but sigh softly, "I didn't expect it to be such a result!"

Very emotional.

Yuan Baozhu said nothing.

A harmonious family brings prosperity. The Xu brothers each have their own future, and the Xu family will be more prosperous in the future!