Volume 1 Chapter 88 New Marriage (Middle)

  Back in the Lotus Flower Room, Eleventh Sister and Xu Lingyi went first to pay their respects to Old Mistress.

  The old lady was delighted to see them return and hurriedly asked Du's mother to serve the meal.

  Xu Lingyi smiled and sat down opposite Madame Tai: "Have you eaten?"

  "It's finished!" Madame Tai looked at Shiyi standing behind Xu Lingyi with a hesitant expression.

  Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Mother doesn't have to worry, we met with the Empress Dowager, nothing happened?"

  The old lady wanted to speak but stopped herself.

  The eleventh lady saw it and knew that Madam Tai had something to say to Xu Lingyi.

  She smiled and curtsied to Madame Wang: "I'll go see why the dishes haven't arrived yet?"

  The mother and son exchanged a glance, but neither of them tried to stop her.

  The eleventh girl looked at it clearly and smiled as she backed away.

  The old lady looked at the back of Eleven and nodded slightly: "She's really a clever little girl."

  I don't know why, but Xulinyi coughed slightly and said, "Mother, there won't be any trouble with the Empress Dowager." Then she told Madame Tai about her conversation with the Empress Dowager, "...Shouchang Bo is trying to get involved in the sea transportation business but can't find a way. Now that I've said this, the Empress Dowager will probably forget about the previous small misunderstanding! It's likely that Shouchang Bo will be summoned for a talk today."

  Madam Tai let out a soft sigh: "In these years, the Duke of Jianning and the Marquis of Shouchang have dominated the business of the Imperial Waterworks, leaving no room for others to even insert a needle or pour in water. Who would have thought that they would now set their sights on the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Speaking of which, the Yang family has made quite a fortune over the years, why can't they just stop while they're ahead? She just can't seem to understand that only what is given by the Emperor is secure, everything else is empty and false. No matter how much money one has, it's all just an illusion."

  Xu Lingyi just smiled and said: "How many people in the world can see through these riches and honors like you?"

  The old lady couldn't help but laugh loudly: "You child, you actually know how to tease your mother." She laughed again and said, "It seems that having someone in the house is a good thing, even your speech has become more fluent."

  Xu Lingyi's face turned slightly red as she looked around and said: "What time is the family reunion? So we won't be late later."

  The old lady smiled and said: "I was afraid you would come back late, so I set it at the beginning of Shen."

  Xu Lingyi took out his pocket watch and glanced at it: "There are still two hours."

  Madam nodded and said: "There's something I'd like to discuss with you." She didn't wait for Xu Lingyi to respond, but directly said: "Jun Ge, it's better to put it in my room!"

  Xu Lingyi was taken aback.

  Old Madam said, "She is not only the child's mother but also the child's aunt. I have nothing to worry about. What I am worried about is that she is young and has just entered the manor, with many things to do, so she can't take care of it. Let me help her for a few days first. Once she gets used to it, it won't be too late to let Rong Er follow her."

  Xu Lingyi suddenly thought of the slender waist she had grasped last night...

  "It's a bit too small." He said thoughtfully, "You just watch it for now."

  Madam Tai nodded slightly and said, "Since she's already entered the house, it wouldn't be good to let Eldest Brother's wife manage household affairs. However, this was decided by Yuan Niang before her passing, and as soon as she entered the house, she took charge of the keys, fearing that rumors would spread. My intention is still to let Eldest Brother's wife manage household affairs. We'll discuss it further when an opportunity arises!"

  "My daughter is considerate." Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Let's go with your arrangement!"

  "Ah!" Madam Tai saw that Xu Lingyi had agreed to the two things she was worried about, and her smile deepened. She asked about Xu Lingyi's affairs: "How are your matters going?"

  The imperial physician said I have a case of beriberi. Can't go to cold and bitter places again, need to take care for three to five years. Otherwise, afraid will be paralyzed in bed.

  Old Mrs. laughed: "This numbness is good. It doesn't look like anything unusual, and whether it gets sick or not depends on the weather. But who can predict the weather?"

  "That's exactly what I mean." Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "In the future, I'm afraid you'll be idle at home."

  "It's great that you're idle at home!" Madame Tai looked at her son with a gaze full of pity: "You should also stay at home and take a good rest. Xiao San is honest and loyal, but Xiao Wu is not capable enough to become a great talent. You are the pillar of our family..."

  "Mother, don't say that." Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Third brother is a cautious person, Xiao Wu is still young. It will be better in the future." He didn't want to discuss this issue with his mother, so he immediately changed the subject, "When are Fifth Brother and Sister giving birth? Is there anything else I can help with? Do you want to move to a different place or move to the Western Mountain villa?"

  "What's the big deal?" said Mrs. Tai with a smile, "The astrologer from the Imperial Observatory said that as long as the cow and sheep don't meet head-on, it'll be fine. Danyang is a sheep, so as long as he doesn't run into anyone born in the year of the cow, there won't be any problems. I've already had Du Mama personally take care of it, all the family members born in the year of the cow have temporarily moved to the Western Mountain Villa to avoid... nothing will happen."

  Xu Lingyi nodded: "That's good!"

  "I don't know what's wrong with you all? I gave birth to four sons and a daughter, but none of them were as troublesome as you." The old lady sighed, "I can only hope that the Bodhisattva will bless us, and Dan Yang will give birth to a son in one try, adding another branch to our Xu family."

  Xu Lingyi was speechless on this topic. Fortunately, Yao Huang came over and asked: "Where are the dishes placed?"

  The old lady pointed to the east room, "Just put it there!"

  Yao Huang and the little maids busily removed the kang table from the large kang by the window in the east room, replacing it with a new one that had already been set with food.

  Xu Lingyi couldn't help but ask: "And what about Fourth Madam?"

  Yao Huang smiled and said: "Just having tea with Du's mother in the ear chamber!"

  Xu Lingyi was slightly surprised.

  He thought she would be standing outside the door waiting very boredly...

  Yao Huang said hastily: "Wei Zi sister has already gone to invite Fourth Madam!"

  Xu Lingyi nodded and saw Shier Niang walking in gracefully.

  "Let's just greet her and come over for dinner!" He nodded slightly towards Eleven.

  The eleventh girl responded with a "yes", and went to greet Madam Tai, then sat down across from Xu Lingyi.

  The maid brought her water to wash her hands, and she asked for a small bowl of porridge. Seeing Xu Lingyi had a large bowl of rice, she ate while waiting for Xu Lingyi. When Xu Lingyi put down her bowl, she finished eating too.

  Xu Lingyi's gaze fell on her bowl.

  Eleventh Sister thought he would say something like "I have a small appetite" or "I usually eat this much", but Xu Lingyi didn't say anything.

  The two thanked Mrs. Tai for lunch and returned to their room to freshen up and prepare for the family recognition in the afternoon.

  Xu Lingyi asked her if she wanted to take a break: "......the recognition will have to wait until this afternoon at the time of Shen."

  The eleventh girl felt like she was going to collapse and didn't bother being polite, immediately nodding: "I'll take a nap."

  Xu Lingyi nodded and went to his study - his study was in the east wing of the front yard.

  The eleventh girl immediately let out a breath of relief, simply washing and combing her hair, and fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

  When Dong Qing called her to wake up, she lay in bed for a while longer.

  Xu's first ancestor was just an orphan who didn't know his parents, but by chance followed Emperor Taizong and thus obtained this family property. Later, due to the " Zheng Anwang's rebellion case", several branches of the family went their separate ways. By the time of Yingzong's restoration of the title, except for one uncle who settled in Nanjing, the other branches could not be found.

  So Third Madame introduced her relatives from Nanjing to Eleventh Sister only saying: "This is a wealthy lady from the south, a rich second wife, and a third wife!"

  They are the three wives of Xu Lihong's uncles. Except for the husband of Hongdaniang, Xu Lihong, who is older than Xu Liyi, the other two are younger than Xu Liyi.

  The eleventh daughter kneeled down and presented her own needlework.

  Three grandmothers each gave Eleven Maiden a set of headdresses.

  "...and sworn sister of Madame Huang, the wife of Yongchangbo!"

  Madam Huang smiled and rewarded Eleventh Sister with a pair of hairpins inlaid with blue goldstone.

  As for the second lady, fifth lady, Zongge and Zheng Jie, they all knew her. So she carefully measured Xu Lingyi's eldest son Xu Siwei and Xu Lining's two sons Xu Sijin and Xu Sixian.

  Xu Si was eleven years old, with a fair face and a pair of round and long phoenix eyes. Not only did he resemble Xu Lingyi in appearance, but also had the same calm and composed demeanor as Xu Lingyi. He looked like he was molded from the same template as Xu Lingyi.

  Xu Siqin was three years older than Xu Sihuan, and he was the first in his generation. Like all young men in their youth, he was tall and slender, with delicate features, looking like Third Madam.

  Perhaps because he was of the same age as Eleven, his expression was somewhat awkward when receiving the gift.

  Xu Si Jian was neither as steady as his older cousin Xu Si Xuan, nor as shy as his younger brother Xu Si Qian. He was small and slender, with sharp eyesight. As soon as the eleventh lady handed him the needlework, he immediately came forward to take it: "How dare I trouble Fourth Aunt, let me do it, let me!"

  The little kid said something like a grown-up, and everyone burst out laughing.

  Everyone had dinner in the flower hall. The old lady saw off Madame Huang personally.

  Xu Lingkuan exclaimed that he wanted to go out and take a walk: "......It's rare to come once, so let's take a look around!"

  Three cousins from the south all had this intention, Xu Lingyi and Xu Lingning accompanied them out of the door.

  Huang Da Niang and Ding San Niang went to Er Fu Ren's place to rest, but Fu Er Niang wanted to go to San Fu Ren's place to rest: "It's been a long time since we last met when Si Fu Ren passed away, I want to have a good chat with her."

  At this moment, there were only eleven niang, three madams and rich second lady left.

  The people around Shiyi felt a bit uneasy. However, Shiyi smiled and said: "In that case, I'll just have to be lazy with my third brother and sister."

  She smiled warmly and had a friendly attitude, without showing any signs of displeasure.

  The rich lady glanced at the third madam, smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the eleventh girl, then followed the third madam to her residence.

  Back in the house, Dong Qing couldn't help but feel indignant for Shi Yi Nang: "...... your words are too hurtful!"

  The eleventh girl called over the four maids and said seriously, "Big sister is the marquis's first wife, this is something that no one can deny. None of you are allowed to hear anyone mention big sister in a way that makes them uncomfortable or have wild thoughts."

  Four people kneel in unison.

  Amber volunteered to stay and keep watch at night.

  "She helped the eleventh girl with her hair, 'Tao's mother said that the old lady gets up at 5:00 am every day, comes out of her inner chamber at 7:00 am, and has breakfast at 7:30 am. Everyone will go to pay their respects between 8:00 am and 9:00 am. After 9:00 am, she will be accompanied by a few mothers who usually serve her to the Buddhist hall to recite scriptures. She eats lunch at noon, takes a nap at 2:00 pm, and gets up at 4:00 pm. In the afternoon, she either plays with Zhen sister and Yun brother or plays cards with the third lady and fifth lady. She has dinner at 7:00 pm, then walks around the courtyard for a while before returning to her room around 8:00 pm and going to bed at 9:00 pm.'"

  It has rules and conforms to the way of nourishing life...

  "Since that's the case, then from now on, you all shout to wake me up at dawn every day!"