Chapter 93: Asking After Someone's Well-being (Part 2)

  The tone of speech from Shiyi made Xu Lingyi feel very strange.

  It's not that kind of throwing bricks to lure the jade, nor is it a tentative probe before the polite conversation, she was just curious and asked him like a student who encountered a difficult problem asking for help from his teacher.

  Xu Lingyi fell silent for a moment before saying: "In Guizhou and that area, Sichuan also occupies a part. It's very biased, with many mountains."

  Eleventh girl "oh" a sound, then Xu Lingyi heard the "rustling rustling" sound of turning pages, apparently looking for those places he said.

  Seeing her so serious, Xu Lingyi couldn't help but ask: "Why do you like reading local gazetteers?"

  The eleventh girl turned her face and smiled at him: "Because of this, you will know that the outside world is very vast. Your own little troubles are nothing!"

  Her voice was faint and lingering, with a hint of residual sound from an empty mountain.

  Xu Lingyi was stunned.

  Is she consoling herself?

  With her back against the light, she gazed at her own eyes shining brightly, flashing with an inexplicable glow, and yet hinting at a deeper meaning.

  He suddenly found himself with a racing heart, wanting to say something, but unsure of what to say.

  The eleventh girl had already turned her face away, lowering her head to flip through a book: "Where is the northwest again?"

  Her voice was soft and gentle, her slender neck slightly bent, forming a beautiful arc. The dim yellow light fell on it, and the fine downy hair seemed to be sprinkled with a layer of golden powder, hazy and indistinct.

  Then he caught a whiff of a faint scent, unable to describe what it was, elusive yet piercing his heart.

  As if possessed by a demon, he suddenly reached out and stroked the back of her neck.

  The hands with calluses in her memory suddenly rubbed against the back of her neck, and she was stunned.

  No way...

  The sound of turning pages suddenly stopped.

  The soft skin under her palm had become somewhat stiff.

  That night her suppressed expression suddenly appeared in his mind.

  Like touching a hot yam, Xu Lingyi suddenly withdrew her arm: "Go to sleep quickly, we still have to get up early tomorrow!"

  The eleventh girl was shocked.

  She was certain that it wasn't an unintentional brush, but a deliberate caress.

  But gave up without warning...

  Why?

  But as a result, she let out a sigh of relief and wouldn't be foolish enough to pursue anything further.

  Pretending to be completely unaware, she smiled and nodded, bent down to blow out the lamp, and retreated into her quilt.

  For some reason, Xu Lingyi secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  The eleventh girl fell asleep quickly.

  She knew that if he wanted her, she had no right to refuse.

  So thinking about these useless things is no better than sleeping well and replenishing your spirit to deal with tomorrow's affairs.

  In a daze, there was a very faint rustling sound beside me.

  Is he still turning over? He is the biggest in this house, he has the right to do anything, including not sleeping at midnight. She can't... The thought flashed through her mind, she turned over and fell asleep again.

  When she woke up, everything around her was pitch black and very quiet.

  She was stunned for a moment and immediately felt around her body.

  Empty...

  "Evergreen!" Her voice was husky.

  The mosquito net was immediately lifted, and a bright light flashed before her eyes.

  "Madam, you're awake!" Dong Qing's voice was calm and had a hint of amusement.

  "What time is it?"

  "It's still one o'clock."

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but let out a sigh.

  It's just as well, there's still time to go and pay respects to Old Mistress Tao!

  "Master Hou has gone to court." Dong Qing's voice was filled with even more amusement, "He didn't let us wake you up."

  "So you didn't wake me up!" Xi Shi muttered to herself, recalling the faint rustling sound she had heard in her daze... was that Xu Lingyi getting out of bed?!

  Dong Qing didn't hear Shi Yiniang's whisper, and smiled as she turned around and lifted the door curtain.

  Soft and bright light spills in from the round lanterns with five interconnected pearls.

  "Master Hou got up early." Dong Qing served the eleventh lady to get out of bed. "Drank a bowl of porridge, ate two steamed buns, three baozi. Also brought several meat cakes. Chou Zheng was about to leave the door. Lin Bo came to pick up Master Hou." She carefully instructed Xu Lingyi's affairs.

  "I know." Eleventh Girl nodded and went to the dressing room to freshen up. Just as she sat down at the dresser, a little maid came in to report: "Madam, Tao Mama has arrived."

  So early!

  "Let her in!"

  Xiao Yaya went to call Tao Mama.

  A round-faced woman in her mid-twenties quietly walked in, curtsied to her, and then took the Huang Yang wooden comb from the dressing table to start combing her hair.

  The woman's husband was named Nan Yong, and everyone called her Nan Yong's wife. She was a specialist in hairdressing at the mansion and had been chosen by the old lady to reward her. The peony bun that she styled when she returned to her mother's home was one of Nan Yong's wife's masterpieces.

  "Just braid a simple one." Eleventh Lady ordered Nanyong's wife.

  Nan Yong's wife smiled all over her face, softly replied "yes", and quickly combed her hair.

  Mother Tao hurried in.

  "Please be at ease, madam!" She smiled and curtsied to pay her respects to Eleventh Sister.

  "Mom, what's wrong so early?"

  Tao's mother gave Nanyong's wife a glance.

  Eleventh girl felt that Nanyong's wife moved faster.

  She quickly tied up her hair and then backed away with a bow.

  "Mother Tao said: "There is also a comb beside the eldest aunt, why don't you use it? It's more convenient to talk like this!"

  The eleventh girl refused without hesitation: "Nanyong's wife was given by the old lady."

  "Mother Tao couldn't help but pause for a moment, and after a while, she said in a low voice: "When do you think it's suitable to see the people in Big Sister's house?"

  "Wait until I see Madam Tai and then we'll talk." It's been over a year since Yuan Niang passed away, Madam Tai must have made some arrangements regarding this matter.

  Mother Tao's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she was about to say something when a young maid came in and reported: "Madam, the three aunts have come to pay their respects to you."

  The eleventh girl nodded, and the little maid went to pass on the message, allowing three people to enter.

  Wen Yini smiled and greeted Tao's mother: "Good morning!"

  Mother Tao nodded slightly with some indifference.

  She then bowed to Qin Niang and Qiao Lianfang together with Shiyi Niang.

  Because they were going to see Madame Tai, the Eleventh Sister and her sisters chatted for a few words before leaving, then had breakfast, changed their clothes and went to Madame Tai's place.

  She arrived when Chen Zheng was still one minute away, but unexpectedly San Ye, San Fu Ren, Wu Ye and the three masters and three madams from the south had already arrived and were together. Seeing Shi Yi Niang, San Fu Ren smiled and greeted her: "Fourth brother's wife is up early! I heard that Hou Ye went to court, it must be very hard for you to serve Hou Ye so early?"

  The eleventh girl didn't make a sound, she just smiled and then bowed with everyone else.

  "That's right," said Naihe, "we're going back to Nanjing today. We came especially to bid farewell to the Old Lady!"

  The young woman and her guest: "Why don't you stay a few more days?"

  Hongda smiled and said: "There are many things at home, I'll come again another day!"

  Just then, Yao Huang came out: "Madam is inviting all of you gentlemen, ladies and madams to come in."

  Everyone filed into Old Lady Tao's room.

  The old lady sat on the kang by the window drinking tea. Seeing them come in, she smiled and said: "You've arrived!"

  Several people hurried forward to pay their respects to the old lady, and the maidservants brought a sedan chair and placed it on the left side of the old lady's kang. The men sat down, and they brought small stools and placed them on the right side of the old lady, and the women sat down.

  The maids brought tea, and Xu Linghong expressed his intention to return to Nanjing today.

  The old lady detained them for a while, and Xu Linghong made some excuses. The old lady then said a few words like "come and play during the New Year" and personally escorted them to the door. The third lady and the eleventh lady saw them off at the gate of the hanging flowers, and the third master and the fifth master accompanied them all the way to the dock.

  Looking at the departing carriage, San Fu Ren smiled at Shi Yi Niang and said: "I won't accompany my younger sister anymore, there's still a bunch of maidservants waiting for me to deal with in our courtyard!"

  Just then, a little maid came running over, panting: "Fourth Mistress, the Old Mistress asks you to go and talk with her."

  The eleventh daughter smiled at Third Madame and then followed the little maid to Old Madame's place.

  Yongge and Zhenji were jumping rope in the courtyard. Seeing Shiyimao come in, the two slightly hesitated, and Zhenji quickly pulled Yongge forward to pay respects to Shiyimao.

  The brother broke free from his sister's hand and ran away.

  Eleventh Sister was somewhat surprised. Zhen Jie hurriedly apologized to Eleventh Sister, "Mother, Jun Ge is a bit shy. He'll be fine once he gets used to it!"

  Isn't this a matter of recognizing one's own kind?

  However, I am not here to entertain him, but to take care of him so that he can grow up smoothly, the latter is the key point, there is no need to put the cart before the horse.

  Zhen Jie's reaction made her very happy.

  "I didn't know he was so shy." Eleventh Sister smiled and said, "Does Brother Yun have any other habits? Remember to remind me about them."

  She saw Zhenji let out a sigh of relief and nodded seriously: "I will definitely remind Mother."

  The eleventh girl smiled and asked her: "Are you going to find Brother Yun? Do you want to go with me to Grandma's place?"

  She thought for a moment and said: "I'd better go find Brother Yunba? Otherwise, he might run to Niancizhao." After finishing speaking, she had an awkward expression.

  "Is it Nian Ci Tang?" It might be Yuan Niang's house, and Yun Ge and Zhen Jie secretly gave it this name. However, Yun Ge was young, if anyone took the name, it would have been Zhen Jie who took it. She smiled and said, "Did you help take it?"

  Zhen Jie'er nodded slightly uncomfortably and said: "He cried very hard, so I..."

  The eleventh girl smiled at her and said: "Sister Zhen is indeed a good sister, taking care of her younger brother very well."

  Zhen Jie's expression was shocked.

  She probably didn't expect herself to be praising her like this!

  "Alright, you go find Brother Yun now!" Eleventh Sister said with a smile, "I'm going to see Grandmother."

  Zhenji nodded and was surrounded by maidservants as she headed towards the back door.

  Eleventh Sister suddenly called out "Zhēn Jiě".

  Zhen Jie'er turned back in surprise, and there was a guarded look at the bottom of her eyes again.

  "Found Gege, remember to tell me." Shiyi Niang smiled brightly at her, "so I won't worry."

  "Hmm!" Zhen Jie'er nodded and her figure disappeared into the corridor. Only then did Shiyi Niang enter Ta Furen's room.

  The old lady took Eleventh Sister's hand and sat down with her on the large kang by the window in the inner room, smiling as she looked her up and down: "Are you getting used to it?"

  "It's a habit!" Jing replied with a nod.

  Madam's expression was somewhat hesitant.

  The eleventh girl didn't rush either, and started chatting with the old lady: "Wedding matters are complicated and numerous, guests from the south have left, you should take a good rest these few days."

  "You're so considerate." The old lady smiled and patted her hand, chatted a few more sentences, before finally speaking up: "I want to keep Brother Yun here for a few more days!"

  That means you want to keep your brother by her side!

  That's normal.

  Although for Madame Yu, Rong'er is Yuan Niang's only flesh and blood, for Old Madam Yu, he is also a beloved grandson.

  Eleventh Girl said sincerely: "I'm young and don't understand things. Not to mention other things, if you hadn't given me a wife who combs her hair, the next day when I returned home, I might have just casually combed my hair into a bun. How can I teach and take care of such a big thing like Brother Yun? He is by your side, and I can also follow him to learn how to take care of children."

  Madam heard this and nodded with great comfort, then talked about the steward's affairs and the treatment of those who originally served by Yuan Niang's side.