Chapter 98: Turbulence (Part 2)

  Before long, Xu Lingkuan and his wife arrived.

  Xu Lingkuan's expression indeed had a few points of depression, and the old lady hurriedly asked him what was wrong. Xu Lingkuan hastily smiled and said: "Nothing, nothing." He managed to deceive the old lady past.

  The fifth lady looked at Eleventh Sister with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression.

  The eleventh girl just smiled slightly.

  Some things she didn't want to happen, but when they did, she wouldn't avoid them either.

  Everyone exchanged greetings, chatted and laughed, then sat down by gender and age, men at one table, women at another, older and younger generations together, and had a lively meal.

  Back in her own courtyard, Shi yi niang and Xu Lingyi had just sat down when three aunts came to pay their respects.

  The eleventh girl asked the little maid to come in.

  After the courtesy, Qin Yiniang and Qiao Lianfang stood aside in silence, while Wen Yiniang smiled and greeted Xu Lingyi: "I heard that Hou Ye returned early this morning?"

  Xu Lingyi murmured a response, picked up her teacup and took a sip of tea, her attitude neither cold nor warm.

  Wen Yiniang didn't think much of it, and laughed as she chatted with Shiyi Niang: "I thought I'd come over this afternoon to sit for a bit, but who knew you'd gone to Tai Furen's place. I heard you played cards, but didn't get the upper hand. Why don't we sisters practice together first? This playing cards is just a matter of getting more skilled with practice. The more you play, the more naturally you'll improve. I wonder if sister has time tomorrow afternoon? I have an old bamboo mahjong set at home that's very comfortable to use, and when the time comes, I can bring it over for sister to take a look. If you think it's good, you can keep it..."

  The eleventh girl smiled as she listened to her.

  Qin's wife smiled and looked at Wen's wife, while Jiao Lianfang stood aside with her head down and hands hanging.

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

  The eleventh girl was quite surprised.

  It's reacted so quickly...

  The three bridesmaids hastily retreated to the eastern room.

  The eleventh girl got up and called a servant girl to serve tea and snacks to Xu Lingkuan.

  Xu Lingkuan politely said: "Sister-in-law, don't bother, I'll just say a few words to Fourth Brother and then leave."

  The eleventh girl smiled and retreated to the east room.

  The aunt hastily welcomed the eleventh lady to the kang, still muttering: "...... Why did Fifth Master come at this time? I don't know what happened?" And smiled: "However, Fifth Master has always been generous, even if something happens, it's probably not his own business. Most likely, he came to ask for help from Houye because of someone else's affairs."

  Eleventh girl just smiled and listened. Unexpectedly, Qiao Lianfang suddenly said: "Why are you talking so much!"

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

  Qin Ayi hastily smiled and said, "Wen Jiejie is a kind-hearted person. After getting to know Qiao Meimei for a while, you'll understand." She then took the initiative to respond to Wen Ayi's words, "Sister, what you said makes sense. Fifth Master has come, most likely to ask Hou Ye for help with someone else's matter." Then she asked Shiyi Niang, "Madam, I heard Wen Jiejie say that Dong Qing will be moving into your Golden Fish Lane residence in a few days to arrange some accompanying rooms. Since you're short-handed here, I'll come and help with the night watch!"

  This was the first time Qin Ayi had communicated with Eleven.

  The words sound nice and the tone is very gentle. It's just that she's not quite used to this kind of behavior.

  She smiled: "You are an old man beside the Marquis, how can you be allowed to keep watch at night. Besides, I still have Hu Po and others by my side. If all else fails, there is still Tao Mama."

  "Madam Qin hastily said: 'The longer I serve Master Hou, the more I must not forget the proper order of seniority and juniority. Serving Madam is my rightful duty. If Madam has any instructions, it's only right that I obey.'"

  Her expression was very sincere.

  If it's not genuine, then he's a master of acting.

  Eleventh girl hopes she is sincere.

  Qin Yiniang was born as a servant girl, her life and death were not in her own hands; Wen Yiniang seemed like a fierce fire burning oil, but she was also just a sacrifice used by the family to climb up the social ladder. Once her personal interests conflicted with those of the Wen family, they might not care about her. And then there's Qiao Lianfang, falling into Yuan Niang's trap was partly her own fault, but without Mrs. Qiao's instigation, she might not have fallen into such a predicament. Including herself, if there were better options, she might not have married into the Xu family.

  Since everyone has their own helplessness, why make life difficult for each other!

  So, she hopes that Qin Yiniang is sincere and will stay in her own position without overstepping her bounds. Even if it's just a small overstep, it doesn't matter; clear water has no fish, who doesn't have a little bit of private motives... It's just that she can't cross her bottom line. She has people she wants to protect and the life she wants.

  On the other side, Xu Lingkuan was discussing with his brother: “...We thought about it and decided that moving to a separate house at the foot of Luoye Mountain would be best. It's quiet there and the scenery is good. That way we won't disturb the elderly from both families.”

  "That won't do." Xu Lingyi immediately objected, "That place is too remote. For now, you two stay at home for the next couple of days. Tomorrow is the Grand Morning Court, and I'll discuss it with Old Master Hou then to see what he thinks. As for who should temporarily move out or not, don't make any rash moves either."

  Xu Lingkuan responded and stood up to bid farewell.

  Xu Lingyi saw her brother off at the door and then instructed Shiyi Niang: "Isn't there a catty of blood swallow's nest at home? Tomorrow morning, send some to Mother and Fifth Brother's wife. Fifth Brother's wife is pregnant, you are her sister-in-law, so go visit her more often."

  Eleventh Sister nodded and said "yes", but in her heart she thought, you just gave a slap on the palm of your hand and gave a date, I'm afraid this master of Danyang County won't appreciate it.

  At this moment, the Fifth Mistress was also talking to her wet nurse, Shi Mama: “... All those born in the year of the cow have avoided it. Not to mention others, just in the girls' quarters, there are five or six little maidservants. Can't we just buy a few more little maidservants for this occasion? Even if we buy them back, we still need mothers to teach them, right? It's not something that can be done overnight. This is an event that stirs up the whole household. In the past, when she grasped the carp incident and wanted to clean up the four houses, I didn't make a sound, giving her enough face. She thought I was afraid of her. Now, I'm doing this just to let the Third House take a look. Originally, I planned to talk to Madame Wang in a few days and move to Fangsheng Hutong next to Ciyuan Temple - not too close or too far from Ciyuan Temple, so that if something happens, Master Jin'ning can come over to see me. But with Eleventh Mistress rushing me like this, I couldn't help but feel unhappy in my heart!

  Shi's mother carefully placed Madame Wu's legs on the imperial couch and smiled, "You're thinking too much. Master Hou is not that kind of person!"

  The fifth lady suddenly burst out laughing: "Xiao Wu can't bear to hear me humming in front of him." As she spoke, her face turned bright red.

  "That's also the fifth master who truly cares about you." Thinking of Old Master Hou repeatedly reminding her not to conflict with Master Hou, Shi Mom smiled and covered Fifth Madame with a thin quilt. "You can be a bit temperamental usually, but you mustn't let Fifth Master and Master Hou have conflicts. Besides, someone like Master Hou is the kind that even Old Master Hou would show respect to. With Master Hou's support, it's good for you to enjoy the shade under the big tree. You should know, when fathers and sons go to battle together, they fight as close brothers. For this family to live in harmony, first, the brothers must get along, and the sisters-in-law must be on good terms..."

  "Alright, alright." The fifth madam said with a pout, "Otherwise, how could I have let Xiao Wu go back to Marquis Hou so quietly? You're always nagging in my ear every day, you say it's not annoying, but I'm already tired of listening."

  Stone Mother chuckled twice and stopped making a sound. Her gaze at Wu's wife was full of kindness.

  The fifth lady pulled at Shi's mother's sleeve: "You say, if the third house finds out I've moved out, will they get so angry they'll jump up."

  Since Madam Wu had listened to her advice, at this moment, she naturally went along with what she said.

  The stone mother immediately smiled and said, "That's natural. To say that, your move made her also eat a dumb loss. You know, the white general manager of the outer courtyard is also a cow, and Zhao Guanshi of the back office is also a cow. These two are used to being used by the Hou Lord. If she borrows this matter from you to trip up these two people, it will inevitably implicate you. Our county master is smart and doesn't care about her set, and moved to Fangsheng Hutong with a big fanfare. Besides, that's your dowry, inside and out are our own people. You think what time to get up, what time to sleep. The fifth brother looked at it with only joy and no blame."

  The fifth lady smiled and nodded: "I'll let her go through the motions. Isn't she just thinking of dividing the family? If she had spoken clearly, would Mother still have stopped her?"

  The stone mother just smiled and didn't say a word.

  No money, what's the point of dividing the house?

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

  "Would Master Hou like a cup of tea?" asked Eleventh Sister with a smile to Xu Lingyi.

  "It's nothing." Xulinyi walked over with big strides, "Where is your maid?"

  She's watching herself make her bed, so she must be a bit confused?

  It's definitely not that Amber and the others didn't help, but rather that Shiyi refused. Facing the unfamiliar Xu Lingyi, doing something to avoid wild thoughts, can stabilize her emotions.

  "It's just small things!" she explained with a smile, "Just happened to be that way."

  Xu Lingyi nodded and took off her shoes before getting onto the bed: "Go to sleep early, there's still an early morning court session tomorrow."

  Ever since she knew Xu Lingyi was going on an early shift, she had mentally prepared herself to wake up at the ugly hour every day.

  After blowing out the lamp and getting into bed, Xulian suddenly asked her: "The maid by your side, has she been following you since childhood?"

  Is it because Wintergreen and Beach Daisy are a bit older than her?

  Eleventh daughter wants to grasp every topic he is interested in: "When I was young, I followed my father to Fujian on duty. When I came back, my wet nurse couldn't bear to leave her hometown. Amber, Wintergreen, and Beach Chrysanthemum were given to me by my mother after I returned to Yuhang. Zhu Xiang was given to me by my aunt."

  Xu Lingyi remained silent.

  The eleventh girl continued: "My aunt was a maid by my mother's side in the past. When I was young, I thought she was like a fairy. Unfortunately, she couldn't come this time when I got married."

  Xu Lingyi still had no movement.

  But she heard even breathing.

  Go to sleep!

  Eleventh sister thought of Fifth Aunt and couldn't help but smile, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

  She gazed at the top of the tent and said softly: "......I don't know how she's doing in Yuhang either?"

  The lady is about to leave. She has now married into the Yongping Marquis's household and become his wife. Considering her relationship with Jun Ge, she will give him a few decent ones!

  "If you miss her, just let your father-in-law bring her to serve by your mother-in-law's side!" In the darkness, Xu Lingyi's low voice came like a distant morning bell, "No need to keep thinking about it all the time."

  The eleventh girl turned over, propped up her arm and looked at the person beside her.

  The moon is full on the fifteenth and sixteenth days of the lunar month. The fourteenth day is also very bright. Shining through the curtains, it casts a silhouette of Xu Lingyi.

  He has broad shoulders and a sturdy build. I remember standing next to him, I only reached his shoulder.

  "Am I talking too much?" she asked him with a smile.

  Eleventh Girl waited for a while before hearing Xu Lingyi's response: "It's fine."

  "Compared to Master Hou, I indeed spoke a bit more." Eleventh Young Mistress couldn't help but smile slightly.

  Gazing at her joyful eyebrows and eyes, in the half-bright and half-dark canopy, Xu Lingyi's eyes shone brightly.