Zhao Sixing's face turned even redder. He moved his lips but didn't say anything. Zhou Junhong laughed twice, took Zhao Sixing's hand, and strode towards his own yard.
After Zhao Sixing and Zhou Junhong left, Xu Shao sat alone for a long time, thinking about her youngest son's studies. She got up, dressed, and went to visit her youngest son in the outer courtyard.
Because of Zhao Sixing's wedding, Zhao Sishen hadn't been to the clan school for several days. Xu Shao had seen him yesterday and thought he was having a good time. She wanted to ask him how his studies were going, but then she thought that on such a joyous occasion, she shouldn't spoil the child's fun. As she walked to the gate of Zhao Sishen's courtyard in the outer courtyard, she saw several children around ten years old gathered together, shouting something.
Xu Shao didn't disturb them. When she got closer, she found several people gathered around a porcelain cricket jar with two crickets fighting fiercely inside.
Xu Shao felt a surge of heat rush from her feet to the top of her head. She couldn't take it anymore; she felt dizzy and her legs were weak. She wanted to hold onto something, but there was nothing to lean on. She bent over and squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them again, she felt much clearer-headed.
Xu Shao looked at her youngest son, who was squatting on the ground, his face flushed with excitement and no regard for his image. His posture and the words he was shouting were all the result of years of practice.
Xu Shao felt as if her heart had lost its anchor, drifting aimlessly. She didn't want to think about anything else, only about lying comfortably in bed.
Xu Shao closed her eyes tightly again, then turned and left.
Over the years, Xu Shao has been busy filling the holes for her husband, busy fighting with her mother-in-law, and after her eldest son and daughter grew up, she was busy finding suitable marriages for them. Inadvertently, she neglected her youngest son, who was already ten years old. They had moved to this backyard for more than three years, and she had always heard the nanny who took care of him say how sensible and studious he was. Whenever her youngest son received praise from the teacher at the clan school, the nanny would go over and tell Xu Shao about it in detail. Xu Shao was happy and gave the nanny a lot of rewards.
But what was she seeing today? Xu Shao was somewhat confused. Her youngest son had turned into this without her knowledge. Xu Shao didn't blame Zhao Ziqi, the father, for not raising the child well, nor did she blame the maids and servants in her son's courtyard for keeping it from her. She only blamed herself, the mother, for not taking good care of the child.
Xu Shao's eyes reddened, feeling both wronged and guilty. When she reached the courtyard gate, her personal maidservant came out from inside the courtyard to greet her anxiously, saying, "Oh dear, Madam, what have you been doing? The maids all said that you didn't let anyone follow you and left the courtyard alone. What happened?"
Xu Shao checked the time and realized it was already past midnight. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Go and prepare a carriage for me. I need to go out for a while."
Upon hearing this, the maidservant exclaimed in surprise, "Madam, now?"
Xu Shao nodded and said, "Right now, immediately. Also, send someone to the Yongning Marquis's residence to invite the eldest son out. Tell him I have something important to discuss with him and need his help."
Seeing Xu Shao's serious expression, the maid quickly agreed and turned to go to the stable to prepare the carriage. After returning to her room, Xu Shao dressed simply, changed her clothes, and went with Granny Zhou to get in the carriage and head out.
Granny Zhou had been busy with Zhao Sixing's marriage these past few days and was quite exhausted. Seeing Xu Shao walking out with a bad expression, she asked in a low voice, "Madam, it's so late, where are you going?"
Xu Shao's eyes were red with resentment. She gritted her teeth and said, "I'm going to ask Di Ge'er for help. My youngest son has been led astray by those scoundrels and has learned to tease cats and dogs. Just now, I went to his courtyard, and several servants were with him, squatting in the yard fighting crickets. He's over ten years old. They say that when a son grows up, he's a guest. I can't embarrass him in front of so many people who serve him. If we women become estranged because of this, others will laugh at us."
Granny Zhou asked curiously, "Then what brings you to see Di Ge'er?"
Xu Shao turned around, took Zhou Mama's hand, and said bitterly, "Those servants were all arranged by the steward. Even though I didn't want to, the young master always refused to let me arrange them myself. He even said that in their mansion, the steward arranged the servants. Back then, Xing-ge'er was fine, wasn't he? There's no point in me falling out with them now. I might as well ask Di-ge'er to help me investigate whether someone is deliberately taking my Shen-ge'er out to play all day long."
Hearing Xu Shao's words, Granny Zhou was startled and said, "Madam, even if you find out, what can you do? You still have to bring Shen-ge'er back to study hard, don't you?"
Xu Shao sneered twice and said, "I've figured it out. My children have no hope of succeeding in this family. I've already made up my mind. In a few days, I'll send Shen Ge'er to Tai'an. I don't know how to teach children myself, so I'll let someone who knows how to teach children teach them."
When Granny Zhou heard this, she wanted to say that her son Shen was still young, but then she thought of the eldest son of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, who at the same age had already gone to Hexi and helped his parents build a huge family business there.
Before Xu Shao even reached the alley where the Yongning Marquis's residence was located, she saw Xu Di standing by the roadside waiting. When the carriage pulled up to Xu Di's side, Xu Di bowed and greeted him. Xu Shao lifted the curtain and said, "Brother Di, you know this area well. Find a restaurant and I'd like to have a good talk with you."
Upon hearing this, Xu Di immediately led them to the small tavern owned by the Marquis of Yongning.
This was Xu Shao's first time here. There was a small curtain at the entrance, and a few dark tables and chairs in front of it. She was led through a door next to the counter, and after passing through a narrow alley, she found herself in a small but elegantly decorated backyard.
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