Eleventh Lady changed her clothes and came out. Shanhu from the First Lady's side came over. Amber was talking with her. Seeing Eleventh Lady, Shanhu stepped forward and bowed, smiling and said, "Miss Eleventh Lady, I am here to ask for your mercy."

When someone comes to ask for help, they will think it over in their mind and will only speak when they are 40% to 50% sure.

Seeing that she was smiling, Shiyi Niang knew that what she was asking for must be very easy, so she said with a smile: "Sister Shanhu, just tell me what you want!"

Shanhu looked at Amber and said with a smile, "You know, Amber was originally in charge of the clothes and jewelry in the eldest lady's room. Now that she has moved to your room, I will take over her original job." As she spoke, her face showed a bit of red, "The eldest lady's box has several hairpins inlaid with gold velvet. The maids took them out to look at them. They can't be restored... I want Amber to go over and take a look."

She was just curious and after she took it out and looked at it, she can't restore it!

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "You and Amber are sisters from the same family, and you are also good friends with Dongqing. If there is anything, just ask them to help. There is no need to be so polite."

When Coral heard this, her face lit up with joy. She bowed to Eleventh Lady happily and took Amber out of the door.

Outside, the sky was clear and the clouds were white. Boxwood trees, as thick as a child's arm, stood quietly.

Amber couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"You've only been here for less than a day, and you're already sighing!" Shanhu joked, "Why? Do you want to go back to the first wife's room?"

Amber smiled but didn't answer. She just took Coral's arm affectionately and said, "Thank you for coming in time, sister. Otherwise, I really don't know what to do."

"What's so difficult about it?" Shanhu said with a smile, "Your original intention was just to find an excuse to get away so that the master and servant could have a few private words. Even if I didn't come, you could find another excuse. What's so difficult about it? And you insisted on asking me to come and call you out at this time! This is your good intention, so what's the harm if they know it!"

Amber sighed softly, "After all, I am just an intruder. I am not like Sister Dongqing and Sister Binju, who served Miss Eleven wholeheartedly during her illness. Some things need more attention!"

Shanhu didn't agree with that. She chuckled and said, "You are really loyal to your master. I don't know what to say. You can give in for a while, but can you give in for a lifetime? My sister is a smart person. Dongqing is six years older than Miss Eleven. I'm afraid she won't be able to wait until Miss Eleven gets married. Even if she can wait, Mother Yao has suffered a loss and will not stop until she gets back at her. Now that the eldest wife has moved you to Miss Eleven's room, on the surface, you have suffered a loss, moving from the main room that everyone envied to the room of the concubine. In fact, this is the eldest wife's grace to you." As she spoke, she already had a hint of regret. "Unlike us, it will be like this in the future. Either we will be awarded to the eldest master or the fourth master, or we will be paired with a servant. Pairing with a servant is still okay, but if we are awarded to the eldest master or the fourth master, the grandmothers will think that we used to serve the first wife, so how can they not feel a little bit uncomfortable? When the grandmothers really take over the family, we will be too old, and we will have been thrown into some corner by the masters... It's better for you to be like this! You are only three years older than Miss Eleven, and you can follow her in the future. With your looks and talent, you will always have a few years of loving days. If you give birth to a boy or a girl, you will have someone to rely on in the rest of your life..."

Amber said nothing, but her eyes were dull as she looked at the boxwood tree.

"Sister is the only one who can speak to me from the heart!" She held Shanhu's hand, her fingertips as cold as frost. "Just as sister said, when the time comes, I'm afraid I will have to accompany Miss Eleven to her husband's house. Although this is the kindness of the eldest wife, look at the third daughter born to the eldest aunt. I heard that among the previous four, one died of illness, one was rewarded to her husband's horse-leading servant, and the other two were given away by her husband because of drunkenness... Even Miss Eleven may not know where she will end up, let alone people like us! Sister, no road is easy to take!"

Coral's lips pursed slightly, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Indeed, neither road is easy to take!

There was a hint of helplessness in her eyes, and she couldn't help but put her arm around Amber's shoulders to comfort her: "My dear sister, the first lady chose you among so many of us, you are so lucky!"

The tone was pale and weak.

*

Watching Amber and Coral leave Lujun Tower, Eleventh Lady called the people around her to talk.

"...Since the eldest wife has brought her to our house, she is now one of us. She is new here, so it is inevitable that she may feel a little strange. We should treat each other like sisters."

Dongqing, Binju, Qiuju, Zhuxiang, Mother Xin and Mother Tang all knelt down and responded respectfully, "Yes."

Eleventh Lady smiled and served the tea: "Dongqing and Binju, please stay. I have a few more questions to ask you!"

Qiu Ju bowed a few times and retreated.

Eleventh Lady pointed to the small stool beside her and said, "Sit down and talk!"

The two knew that Shiyi Niang was not a person who paid attention to empty courtesy. If she asked you to sit down, it meant that she was sincerely asking you to sit down. If she didn't want you to sit down, she wouldn't say such a thing.

Holly and Beach Daisy sat on the small stool, one on the left and one on the right.

Eleventh Lady pondered for a while, then whispered: "You two are the backbone of my house. While Amber is away, I have a few errands for you to do!" After saying that, she paused and said, "For the time being, you two just need to know these things!"

The implication is that they should not tell anyone else!

The two men saw that Eleventh Lady had a serious look on her face, and they all straightened their expressions and said in unison: "Don't worry, Eleventh Lady. We won't say anything nonsense."

Eleventh Lady nodded, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "Binju, you have a good relationship with Ziyuan in the Fifth Miss's room. Go to her room more often these days. See what the Fifth Miss has been doing during this period of time? Who has visited her in her room? Which family has she visited? The more detailed the better!"

Bin Ju quickly nodded and said "yes".

"Ask Qiuju to find out what happened to the first and second aunts back then... She was born at home, so there must be people around her who know these things."

Since she was asked to give the order, she had to keep it a secret even from Qiu Ju, not letting her know that it was Shiyi Niang who wanted to inquire about the two concubines' situation.

Binju immediately responded "yes".

Eleventh Lady's eyes fell on Dong Qing. "I am going to hold a welcoming banquet for Amber. I will invite Madam Xu, Wu Xiaoquan's family, Madam Yao, the maids in the eldest wife's room, the maids in Lujun Tower, and the maids in Jiao Garden to come and have fun. This matter will be undertaken by you."

"Invite a few mothers as well?" Dong Qing was stunned. "These are the capable people around the eldest wife. I'm afraid they are..."

What it means is: I’m afraid the portion is not enough, please don’t move!

"It's their business whether they come or not, and it's our business whether we invite them or not." Eleventh Lady didn't care about her hesitation, "Just follow my instructions and invite them."

Yes, it would be impolite not to invite him... He won't come anyway, so it might as well be a formality.

Holly nodded.

Eleventh Lady continued, "I will go and invite those in the eldest lady's room; you can go and invite the three ladies in person; as for Jiao Garden and Lujun Tower, just send a letter and it will be done!"

The young lady was thoughtful. She sent herself, so even if the mothers didn't come, it wouldn't be too embarrassing.

Holly responded with a "yes".

"The banquet will be held at 5 p.m. on the twelfth hour. The banquet will be held in the warm room where everyone usually holds banquets. When the time comes, you can chat with the sisters in the eldest wife's room. Ask what has been going on in the eldest wife's room recently. For example, the eldest master and the eldest uncle have sent letters to the eldest wife. What is the eldest wife's attitude when she receives the eldest master's letter, and what is her attitude when she receives the letter from the eldest uncle..."

After hearing this, Dongqing suddenly realized.

The days are short in winter, and it is already dark at twilight. The masters of each household have finished their dinner, and the maids and wives no longer have to work. If you set the time for the banquet, those who want to come will come naturally, and those who don’t want to come will find excuses not to come - it will be clear at a glance who wants to come and who doesn’t.

Let's talk about the people who were inviting guests. She was a maid, but she was sent to invite three powerful ladies. The Fifth Lady lived in Jiaoyuan, and the Tenth and Twelfth Ladies lived in Lujun Tower. They were all legitimate masters of the Luo Mansion, but she only sent a letter - the lady had no intention of inviting the Third Lady and the three ladies.

By then, it was freezing cold, and there were only the maids, big and small, at the banquet. After a few glasses of wine, everyone relaxed and said whatever they should and shouldn't say. What's more, she would "gossip more with the sisters in the eldest wife's room"...

Such roundabout ways are just to find out if there is anything unusual on the part of the first wife.

She thought about Amber's sudden arrival... It seemed that the matter was not as simple as just pulling one person out. Then she thought about Amber's appearance and age...

Dongqing began to feel a little annoyed.

She assured Eleventh Lady: "I will definitely find out everything about this matter."

Hearing Dongqing's decisive tone, Shiyi Niang knew that Dongqing had misunderstood.

Even though she wanted to find out the news, she was more afraid of alerting the enemy.

"If you can do it, do it. If you can't do it, don't force it." Eleventh Lady tried her best to look relaxed. "It would be bad if others knew about it."

Dongqing has been with Shiyi Niang for the past three years, so how could he not know that she is in a difficult situation?

"Don't worry, Miss. No one will know."

Shiyi Niang knew that Dong Qing was always cautious. Seeing that everything that needed to be done had been ordered, whether it could be accomplished was up to fate. Her tense heart relaxed a little. She smiled and said, "Since we are hosting a reception for Amber tomorrow, give ten taels of silver to the kitchen and ask them to help prepare a table."

Holly responded with “yes”.

Bin Ju smiled and said, "Miss, you are confused. Sister Dongqing has already handed over the keys, so why should she pay for it herself? Even if Sister Dongqing is willing, she is too poor to pay!"

Eleventh Lady had forgotten about this and couldn't help laughing.

*

In the evening, when Amber came back, Eleventh Lady told her about the banquet: "...I also want to take this opportunity to let you and the sisters in the other rooms meet formally."

After a brief moment of astonishment, she quickly smiled and thanked Eleventh Lady, but there was an unconcealable uneasiness in her eyes.

Eleventh Lady saw it clearly.

His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

*

*

*

(My health has not been very good recently, and I didn’t want to start a new article so early, but when I really take a break, I feel like something is missing.

Then keep writing!

O(∩_∩)O Haha~……

Let’s talk about it when we really encounter difficulties that we cannot overcome.

It's a bit like Ah Q spirit.

After reading the comments, I know that many new and old friends have come to support me. Although I did not reply to everyone one by one, I am still very grateful for everyone's care. There is no point in saying more. The only way is to write a good article for everyone.

(*^__^*)Hehehe…I’m going to write an article!

I will participate in PK in July, please support me! Thank you! )