After a while, Xu Lingkuan and his wife arrived.

Xu Lingkuan looked a little depressed, and the lady asked him what happened. Xu Lingkuan smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay." At least he managed to get the lady to understand.

The Fifth Lady glanced at Eleventh Lady with a half-smile.

Eleventh Lady just smiled slightly.

There are some things that she doesn't want to happen, but if they happen, she will not avoid them.

Everyone greeted each other, chatted with each other with a smile, and then the men and women, the older and younger generations, sat down at one table and had a lively meal together.

When they returned to their own courtyard, Eleventh Lady and Xu Lingyi had just sat down when three concubines came to greet them.

Eleventh Lady asked the maid to come in.

After the ceremony, Aunt Qin and Qiao Lianfang stood aside in silence, while Aunt Wen greeted Xu Lingyi with a smile: "I heard that the Marquis came back early this morning?"

Xu Lingyi hummed, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, his attitude lukewarm.

Madam Wen didn't take it seriously. She smiled and chatted with Eleventh Lady: "I thought I'd visit you this afternoon, but you went to the Madam's instead. I heard you didn't win the card game. How about we sisters practice together first? Playing cards is a matter of practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you will become. I wonder if you are free tomorrow afternoon? I have a set of old bamboo mahjong that is very easy to play. I'll show it to you when the time comes. If you think it's good, you can keep it..."

Eleventh Lady listened to her with a smile.

Madam Qin looked at Madam Wen with a smile, while Qiao Lianfang stood aside with her head lowered and her hands hanging.

A little maid came to report that Xu Lingkuan had arrived.

Eleventh Lady was quite surprised.

Such a quick reaction...

The three concubines hurriedly stood up and moved to the east room.

Eleventh Lady stood up and asked the maid to serve tea and snacks to Xu Lingkuan.

Xu Lingkuan said politely: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll just say a word to my fourth brother and leave."

Eleventh Lady smiled and retreated to the east room.

Madam Wen hurriedly welcomed Shiyi Niang to the big kang, muttering, "...Why did Fifth Master come at this time? I don't know what happened?" She laughed and said, "However, Fifth Master has always been generous. Even if there is something, I'm afraid it's not his own business. Most likely he came to ask the Marquis for help for someone else's business."

Eleventh Lady just listened with a smile. Unexpectedly, Qiao Lianfang suddenly said, "Why are you talking so much!"

Madam Wen's face turned slightly red, and a hint of annoyance flashed in her eyes.

Aunt Qin smiled and said, "Sister Wen is a warm-hearted person. Sister Qiao will know after getting to know her for a long time." She took the initiative to reply to Aunt Wen's words, "Sister, what you said makes sense. Fifth Master came here, most likely to ask the Marquis for help on other people's business." Then she asked Eleventh Lady, "Madam, I heard from Sister Wen that Miss Dongqing will go to your house in Goldfish Lane in a few days to arrange for a few companions. You are short of manpower here, so let me help keep watch at night!"

This was the first time Aunt Qin communicated with Eleventh Lady.

The words were pleasant to hear and the tone was gentle, but she was not used to this kind of behavior.

She smiled and said, "You are an old man by the side of the Marquis, how can I ask you to keep watch at night? Besides, I still have Amber and the others by my side. If all else fails, there is still Mother Tao."

Aunt Qin said hurriedly: "No matter how long I stay with the Marquis, the hierarchy of seniority cannot be abandoned. It is my duty to serve the Madam. If the Madam has anything to do, just do what she wants."

Her expression was sincere.

If he is not sincere, then he is just a master of acting.

Eleventh Lady hopes she is sincere.

Concubine Qin was born as a maid, and her life and death were not decided by herself; Concubine Wen seemed to be in a high position, but she was just a victim used by the family to get close to the rich and powerful. Once her own interests conflicted with the interests of the Wen family, the Wen family might not care about her. And Qiao Lianfang, it was her fault to fall into Yuanniang's trap, but without Mrs. Qiao's instigation, she might not fall into such a situation. Including herself. If there was a better choice, she might not marry into the Xu Mansion.

Since everyone has their own reasons, why should women make things difficult for other women?

Therefore, she hoped that Aunt Qin was sincere and would stay in her position and not overstep her authority. No, even if she overstepped her authority a little, it didn't matter. If the water was clear, there would be no fish. Who doesn't have a little selfishness? Just don't cross her bottom line. She had people she wanted to protect, and she had the life she wanted.

* * * * * *

Over there, Xu Lingkuan was discussing with his brother: "...After much thought, we decided that it would be best to move to the villa at the foot of Luoye Mountain. It's quiet there, and the scenery is great. We won't disturb the elders of the two families."

"How can that be possible?" Xu Lingyi objected immediately, "That place is too remote. So, you guys stay at home for the next two days. There will be a morning court tomorrow, and I will discuss it with the old marquis and see what he thinks. As for the places at home that need to be avoided, please stay away for the time being, and don't move around."

Xu Lingkuan nodded and stood up to say goodbye.

Xu Lingyi sent his brother out, and when he came back he told Shiyi Niang: "Don't we have a pound of blood swallows at home? Send some to mother and fifth brother's wife tomorrow morning. Fifth brother's wife is pregnant, and as her sister-in-law, you should visit her more often."

Eleventh Lady nodded and said "yes", but she thought in her heart, I'm afraid the Princess of Danyang County won't appreciate your slap in the face and then give her a date.

At this moment, the Fifth Lady was talking to her wet nurse, Mother Stone: "...all those born in the Year of the Ox have avoided this. Apart from other things, there are five or six maids in my mother's room. Do we need to buy a few maids just for this matter? Even if we buy them, we still need the mothers to help them, right? It will take a while to do it. This is a matter of mobilizing a large number of troops. Back then, she wanted to deal with the Fourth House for catching the shad, but I didn't say a word and gave her enough face. But she didn't know how to advance or retreat, thinking that I was afraid of her. I am doing this now just to let the Third House see. I originally planned to talk to the Madam in a few days and move to Fangsheng Hutong next to Ciyuan Temple - it is not close to Ciyuan Temple, but not far away. If I have any problems, Master Jining can also come to see me. But Eleventh Lady forced me to move like this, I can't help but feel unhappy!"

Mother Shi carefully put the Fifth Madam's legs together on the chaise longue and said with a smile, "You think too much. The Marquis is not that kind of person!"

After hearing this, Madam Wu suddenly burst out laughing and said, "Xiao Wu just can't stand me humming in front of him." As she spoke, her face turned red.

"That's because Fifth Master really loves you." Thinking of how the old Marquis repeatedly told her not to have conflicts with him, Mother Shi smiled and put a thin blanket on Fifth Madam, "It doesn't matter if you are a little bit petty from time to time. But you can't let Fifth Master and Marquis have conflicts. Besides, even the old Marquis has to be polite to someone like Marquis. With the support of Marquis, you can enjoy the shade under the big tree. You know, fathers and sons fight together, and brothers fight together. If this family wants to live well, the brothers must be harmonious and the sisters-in-law must be harmonious..."

"I know, I know." Madam Wu said coquettishly, "Otherwise, why would I let Xiao Wu report to the Marquis without saying anything? You nag me every day like this, and even if you say you're not annoyed, I'm tired of listening to you."

Mother Shi laughed twice and said nothing more, but her eyes were full of love as she looked at Madam Wu.

Madam Wu pulled Madam Shi's sleeve and said, "Tell me, if the people from the third room knew that I moved out, would they be so angry that they would jump up and down?"

Since the Fifth Lady listened to her advice, she naturally had to go along with her at this time.

Mother Shi immediately smiled and said, "Of course. In fact, she suffered a loss because of your move. You know, the chief steward Bai in the outer courtyard is also born in the year of the Ox, and so is the steward Zhao in the return office. These two people are used by the Marquis. If she uses this matter of yours to trip them up, you will inevitably be implicated. Our county lady is smart. She ignored her tricks and moved to Fangsheng Hutong openly. Besides, that place is your dowry, and everyone in it is our own. You can get up whenever you want and go to bed whenever you want. The Fifth Master was only happy to see it and didn't blame me."

Madam Wu smiled and nodded: "I'll let her do whatever she wants. Isn't it just to divide the family? If she said it clearly, would mother still stop her?"

Mother Shi just smiled and didn't say a word.

If you have no money, what’s the point of dividing the family?

* * * * * *

Eleventh Lady made the bed as usual, but when she turned around she saw Xu Lingyi standing at the door of the bathroom looking at her.

"Would your lordship like a cup of tea?" Eleventh Lady asked Xu Lingyi with a smile.

"No need." Xu Lingyi strode over, "Where's your maid?"

Was it because you watched her make her own bed that you were a little confused?

It's definitely not that Amber and the others didn't help, but that Eleventh Lady refused. Doing something for the unfamiliar Xu Lingyi can help calm her mind and stabilize her emotions.

"It's just some small things!" she explained with a smile, "Just a little help."

Xu Lingyi nodded, took off his shoes and went to bed: "Go to bed early, there is a big court tomorrow."

Ever since she knew Xu Lingyi had to attend the morning court, she had been mentally prepared to get up at Chou time every morning.

After blowing out the lights and getting on the bed, Xu Lingyi suddenly asked her, "The maidservant beside you has been with you since she was a child, right?"

Because Holly and Oxeye Daisy are both bigger than she is?

Shiyi Niang wanted to catch every topic that interested him: "When I was a child, I followed my father to Fujian. When I came back, my wet nurse was reluctant to leave my hometown. Amber, holly, and chrysanthemum were given to me by my mother after I returned to Yuhang. Zhuxiang was given to me by my aunt."

Xu Lingyi said nothing.

Eleventh Lady continued, "My aunt used to be a maidservant beside my mother. When I was a child, I thought she was like a fairy. It's a pity that she couldn't come with me when I got married this time."

Xu Lingyi still didn't move.

But she heard the sound of even breathing.

Fell asleep!

Eleventh Lady thought of Fifth Aunt, who was smiling but also had a hint of sadness in her eyes.

She looked at the ceiling of the tent and said softly, "...I wonder how she is doing in Yuhang?"

The eldest wife is about to go back. Now I am married to the Yongping Marquis's mansion and am his wife. She will give me some respect for Zhun Ge's sake!

"If you miss her, just ask father-in-law to take her to mother-in-law to serve her!" In the darkness, Xu Lingyi's low voice came like a distant morning bell, "There's no need to keep nagging at her like this."

Eleventh Lady turned over, rested her head on her arms and looked at the person beside her.

The moon on the 15th was full on the 16th, and was also very bright on the 14th. Through the curtains, the outline of Xu Lingyi could be seen.

He had broad shoulders and a slender build. I remember standing next to him, I was only as tall as his shoulders.

"Do I talk too much?" she asked him with a smile.

Eleventh Lady waited for a long time before she heard Xu Lingyi's answer: "Not bad."

"Compared to the Marquis, I do talk more." Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile.

Looking at her happy features, Xu Lingyi's eyes sparkled in the half-light and half-darkness of the curtains.