Chapter 58: Seeking Marriage (Part 1)

  The old lady and her son chatted for half a day, and they were also getting tired. She said: "You've been running around all day today, so go to bed early too!"

  Luo Zhenxing suddenly remembered his purpose for coming here.

  "He hastily said: 'Mother, I have something to discuss with you!'"

  The lady listened and immediately said seriously: "What's the matter, just say it directly."

  Luo Zhenxing smiled and said: "What do you think of Qian Ming?"

  The lady was taken aback.

  Lu Zhenxing said, "He is twenty-seven years old and has not yet married." Then he mentioned the matter of buying roasted suckling pigs, "...I think he handles things very cleverly, in the future I'm afraid he won't be content with being a mere mortal...What do you think? Do you want me to find someone to give him a hint?"

  The old lady immediately became interested: "You must ask clearly. Don't have one at home and then go outside and say you're not married, or else our Luo family will become a laughing stock!"

  "Don't worry!" Luo Zhenxing said with a smile, "I'll investigate thoroughly."

  The old lady thought to herself and felt excited: "This money is indeed good. Just that cleverness alone, no one can match. If it really works out, this would be a great marriage that comes with no effort at all."

  She thought of her second aunt's fourth uncle.

  The Luo family spent money and effort, and it was easy to get a juren...

  Luo Zhenxing saw his mother nodding in agreement, smiled and stood up: "Then you rest! I'll come back to see you once I've got the news."

  The lady nodded and let Luo Qiao send Luo Zhenxing out of the door, and then stopped mentioning it.

  The eleventh girl tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep. The next day she got up to look in the mirror, her face was like a newly peeled egg, without any marks at all.

  That's the advantage of being young!

  She sighed in her heart, then had breakfast and went with Wu Niang and Shi Niang to pay respects to the mistress.

  The madam was as smiling and gentle as before. After exchanging a few words with them, Mrs. Hsu brought out the daily accounts, and the madam indicated that they could withdraw.

  Neither asked the tenth girl why she came, nor what happened at home, as if time had not passed, arriving in Yanjing to see Yuan Niang, it was all like a dream.

  Just this calmness is enough to make people admire!

  The eleventh girl sighed secretly and walked out of the door in a daze.

  The fifth daughter came over and grasped her arm, saying affectionately: "Eleventh sister, what are you going to do later? Why don't we play chess instead? I'll let you win ten times, how about that?"

  "We'll be doing needlework later." Eleventh Sister smiled in response to Fifth Sister, "Or would you and Tenth Sister like to play chess? I'll sit beside you and do my needlework."

  The fifth daughter smiled warmly and looked at the tenth daughter: "Good!"

  The tenth girl raised her chin and glanced at the fifth girl with disdain before turning around and going back into the house.

  Wu Niang muttered to herself behind her back: "Alas, I don't know how Bai Zhi and Jiu Hong are doing? The old lady from the outer courtyard had chosen Bai Zhi on the fifth day of the first month, and Madame had promised to let her go this autumn..."

  Eleventh girl saw tenth girl's footsteps pause for a moment, then straightened her back and entered the west wing.

  "Eleventh sister, I'm afraid I've let you down." Fifth daughter smiled slightly and said to Eleventh daughter, "I'd rather not lose face in front of others. Let's go back to our room." She then took Ziwei and Ziyun back to their own quarters.

  "It's not like our young lady made tenth miss refuse." Bin Hua, who came out to welcome Shiyi Niang, muttered under her breath and was fiercely glared at by Dong Qing.

  The eleventh girl smiled and returned to her own residence, then took out the needle and thread, sat on the large kang by the window and made a spring dress for Brother Rong.

  At noon, he sent Amber to inquire about the situation on Madame's side.

  Huangpu returned and said: "......and settled accounts with Dainai and Xumama for a day."

  "Let's go again at dusk." The eleventh daughter hesitated for a moment and said, "See if anyone comes to visit Mother?"

  "Alright." Amber went again at dusk, "...Mrs. Tao came on the orders of Eldest Aunt to pay her respects to Madame."

  Mrs. Jiang didn't come... Eleventh Sister was somewhat surprised, and then she let it go.

  Even if you're extremely satisfied in your heart, you should still be reserved a bit!

  In the evening, she and Wu Niang and Shi Niang went to pay their respects to Madame Zhang.

  The old lady was talking to the wet nurse: "...the precious things at home are still at home. With a rich husband and a noble wife, one can't take a wrong step." Seeing the three people enter, the old lady stopped speaking.

  Who is this talking about?

  The eleventh daughter of the fox family was bewildered, but she didn't show any expression and asked after the health of the lady.

  The lady was in a good mood and not only chatted with them for a while but also invited them to stay for dinner.

  This made Eleventh Sister even more uneasy. As soon as she returned to the house, she sent Amber to ask: "What did Old Lady Tao say in the end?"

  Amber took a piece of embroidery and pretended to give it to Coral, then went to the mistress's place. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she came back.

  "Miss, miss." She looked excited and pulled Eleven Mama into the warm pavilion to talk, "Xianghu said that Master Hou is going to take a concubine!"

  "Eleventh Girl's heart went 'thud' and she said: 'Speak more clearly!'"

  She couldn't help but hold Amber's hand.

  "Tomorrow night, the sixth miss of the Qiao family will be brought into the mansion. The Xu family has arranged for several tables of wine and has also invited our master and mistress. Madame asked Mistress to send a set of hair accessories as a congratulatory gift."

  Qiao Lianfang

  For some reason, the image of her quietly sitting there with a white and delicate face like a lotus flower suddenly appeared in Xi Shi's mind.

  A girl like her is going to be someone's concubine...

  Instead of a lively wedding, I knelt down to offer tea to my wife. Instead of a phoenix coronet and a red veil, it was a pink apron. Instead of holding her head high, she was humble and kneeled...

  She felt a mix of emotions.

  This is what Yuan Niang wants!

  Covet her position, this is the outcome.

  Eleventh Sister vaguely felt that she might be the chosen one... because only in this way, Yuan Sister's plan would be perfect.

  A humble-born wife, a noble-born concubine; the noble one saw the most unbearable side of life in the humble one, and buried an uneasy seed in her heart.

  Will this woman who is inferior to herself in every way look down on herself because of this? Will she use this as a pretext to be overbearing and demanding towards herself?

  Who would want to live in such fear!

  The only way is to resist.

  Moreover, she also has her family as a backing.

  If I can get that position, my family will also be delighted!

  And what about those of humble origin?

  Apart from this position, there is no other reliance.

  No matter for life or dignity, she must think of every way to keep what she has. Whoever dares to challenge her must take out the most powerful means to kill one and warn a hundred, in order to intimidate those who are watching from the side...

  Two people like that, put in the same cage, will only fight. Not only fight, but also fight to the death... The fighting makes the family restless, disappointing the old lady, making the marquis tired... Making Brother Yun safer!

  If there is no enemy, then create an enemy, let them restrain each other... This is the most brilliant strategy!

  After figuring this out, Shiyi Nang felt a sense of relief instead.

  She had been living in such anxiety for too long... She was really afraid that the mistress would suddenly become unhappy and marry her off casually.

  That's okay too!

  At least, the road ahead is clear; at least, I still have a chance to prepare for the worst; at least, Xu Lingyi is a normal person with no physical disabilities; at least, Xu Lingyi looks cold and stern but didn't show any malice when he was designed by Yuan Niang; at least, Xu Lingyi has an arrogant and proud personality - people like this usually don't have kindness, but in life-or-death situations, they won't abandon their wives and children...

  She thought of Mrs. Jiang's flashlight-like gaze.

  It's better than being led by a big wife and being scrutinized by others, isn't it?

  Is that enough?

  No matter how hard she begs, no one will give it to her!

  The eleventh girl thought to herself with a hint of self-mockery that she had actually slept very soundly at night, without even turning over once.

  The next day went to pay respects to the old lady.

  The lady was beaming with joy. It was clear that she was in a great mood. She smiled and chatted with them: "...... At this time, spring bamboo shoots should be on the market, right? Let's ask Mrs. Xu to buy some back, and tonight we'll stir-fry spring bamboo shoots with sour cabbage."

  "Mustard greens should be on the market now!" As usual, Eleventh Sister sat to one side smiling but not speaking; Tenth Sister was expressionless and distracted. Only Fifth Sister responded to Eldest Lady, "I remember you like to eat stir-fried mustard greens with eggs. Shall I have the kitchen make some for you?"

  The lady nodded: "I really can't get used to the taste of that coriander. Eleventh girl eats with relish."

  The old lady pointed at herself and Eleventh Sister covered her sleeve and laughed.

  Just then a young maid came in to report: "Madam, Madame Wang has arrived."

  "Madam Wang?" The old lady asked in confusion, "Which Madam Wang?"

  "It's said to be the wife of Wang, the governor of Fujian..." The little maid's voice dropped several pitches.

  "Invite her in!" said the lady with a frown.

  The Fifth Daughter and the Tenth Daughter, the Eleventh Daughter all retreated to the slightly larger mistress's bedroom.

  Before long, Wang's wife's voice came: "Madam, I really didn't expect that you and Mrs. Jiang are also familiar. It turns out that Mrs. Jiang specially entrusted me to..."

  She hadn't even spoken yet when she was interrupted by the mistress: "You're a rare guest. Last time you came, I wasn't at home, and I thought you'd already followed Master Wang to Fujian, so I didn't send anyone to pay my respects. Please don't take offense, Madame Wang."

  Eleventh Sister was attracted by Madame Wang's words "Madame Jiang specially entrusted me".

  Could it be that Mrs. Jiang entrusted this task of guarding the mountain to Mrs. Wang?

  But this is also possible.

  Both families were aristocrats of Yanjing, and it was normal for them to have some connections.

  She was thinking, when she heard the old lady say: "Come, let's sit on the eastern kang and talk... it's all messy over here!"

  Obviously avoiding them.

  Eleventh girl glanced at Fifth Girl and Tenth Girl.

  Two people were calm and serene, one sitting on a large kang by the window, the other standing in the corner of the wall, stroking the leaves of the wintergreen tree placed there.

  What people fear is not being plotted against, but rather being plotted against without even realizing it.

  For some reason, Eleven shivered.

  It turns out that Wu Niang can put aside her pride and humility, seize the opportunity to step on others, and is also a skilled person. However, even so, once the mystery is revealed, even with a thousand tricks, it's likely that there will be no chance to show off again.

  Madam Wang didn't stay for long. After seeing her off, the smile on Eldest Madam's face couldn't be concealed anymore. In Fifth Girl's eyes, Eleventh Girl saw confusion.

  In the afternoon, another lady from the Ministry of Punishment came to visit Madame Huang Ren.

  At that time, the Eleventh Sister and others all returned to their rooms. The one who came to report to the Eleventh Sister was Shanhu: "... said to be coming to propose a marriage to Master Qian." As she spoke, she looked deeply at the Eleventh Sister.

  Is it because you want to strive for yourself?

  The eleventh girl thought for a moment, but couldn't help smiling wryly.

  If I hadn't stayed in the room to watch the play at that time, maybe there would still be a chance... But now, I understand Yuan Niang's plan. Shiyi Niang feels that she has no chance at all.

  Tonight's update might be until dawn, don't wait... I really can't write it out! -_-|||）