Volume 1 Chapter 120 Family Banquet (Pink Tickets 1140)

  A little maid led in a woman wearing a green satin jacket with a swallows' tail at the back.

  She was only thirty-seven or eight years old. She had a medium build, slightly thin, with a broad forehead and a high nose, looking very beautiful, but her eyebrows were very dignified, making her look somewhat serious.

  "Lord Hou, madam!" She respectfully curtsied to Eleventh Sister and Xu Lingyi, her movements exuding the elegance and reserve unique to women from noble families.

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but secretly praise her.

  Compared with her mother, Qiao Lianfang has a bit of "it's easy to paint the tiger's skin but hard to paint its bones" feeling.

  Perhaps it was because of this that Eleventh Sister couldn't help but slightly shake her head.

  If it weren't for being dragged into this matter, Qiao Lianfang wouldn't have to greet herself morning and night, and Madame Qiao wouldn't have received such treatment - as the mother of a concubine, she wasn't considered a relative of the Xus, coming to see her daughter required the consent of the 11th wife, not to mention having to enter through the side door.

  Xu Lingyi didn't make a sound, she just nodded slightly, her attitude seemed very indifferent.

  Qiao's wife smiled and said: "Is there anything I can help you with?"

  Mrs. Qiao's eyes dimmed, and she said in a low voice: "I have come to thank you, Lord Hou and your wife. My daughter Lianfang's father passed away early, and I only have this one child, so I have high hopes for her. She started learning at the age of three, and at five, she was reading the classics. She is intelligent and sensible, and the Duke and his wife liked her very much, taking her under their wing to teach and raise her. As a woman with limited knowledge and shallow experience, I spoiled her like a precious gem, but now she has become someone who doesn't understand the ways of the world." As she spoke, she knelt down and performed a deep bow, "If she has been impolite in any way, please forgive her because of her young age and loss of her father. I am eternally grateful!"

  Ha! I didn't expect Mrs. Qiao to be so eloquent too!

  She mentioned that Qiao Lianfang's father had passed away early, and she was raised by her widowed mother in a pitiful situation; she also talked about how her daughter was exceptionally talented; and she also mentioned the relationship between Qiao Lianfang and Cheng Guogong, as well as Qiao Lianfang's arrogant personality, which were all cultivated by herself.

  He is indeed a wonderful person.

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but look up at Xu Lingyi.

  Just in time to see Xu Lingyi's gaze shift over.

  He looked slightly displeased, as if saying this was a matter for you women, must I also intervene?

  Eleventh Girl secretly sighed in her heart, took a few steps forward and supported Mrs. Qiao: "You are too modest. Sister Qiao is polite and gentle, both the young master and I like her very much. Don't worry about her not living well in the mansion."

  You lightly retaliated - what do you mean by this, did Jiaolong House complain to you or do you think your daughter was wronged.

  Mrs. Qiao stood up, smiling elegantly at Shiyi Niang: "It's just because Lianfang is doing well here that I feel uneasy. It's just a minor cold, yet several doctors were invited to diagnose her. And someone was even sent to invite me to see her. Really, it's too much for me, and I'm quite frightened."

  Is it saying that his own daughter is more suitable or is he saying that he himself is more suitable for Joanne's house?

  Eleventh girl smiled slightly: "Master Hou treats people with kindness. We sisters also want to repay Master Hou's kindness, and harmony is the most important thing. It can't be said that it's not good or bad. Besides, asking Mrs. Qiao to come and see Miss Qiao was Master Hou's idea. If Mrs. Qiao wants to thank him, she should instruct Miss Qiao to recover soon and serve Master Hou wholeheartedly."

  Mrs. Qiao's eyes flashed as she listened, and her gaze swept quickly over Xu Lingyi.

  At Xu Lingyi's station, although standing upright like a pine tree, the slightly raised corner of his mouth revealed his impatience.

  She smiled slightly, curtsied to the eleventh lady and paid her respects: "Thank you, madam, for your teachings. I will remember them. I will definitely instruct Lianfang to serve Master Hou wholeheartedly and get along harmoniously with my sisters."

  First, serve Lord Hou wholeheartedly, then get along harmoniously with sisters...

  The eleventh girl smiled and said, "It's getting late, I and Lord Hou still need to go pay our respects to the old lady. I've already instructed the kitchen to set up a banquet, let Lady Qiao eat dinner here before heading back!"

  Mrs. Qiao thanked them sincerely and saw Xu Lingyi and Shier Niang out of the door with a bow.

  Outside the jade palace, heavy snow is falling thick and fast.

  Fortunately, all the way to Mrs. Tai's place was a covered corridor, so they didn't need to use an umbrella or wear wooden shoes. The eleventh girl followed Xu Lingyi with light steps.

  When turning, Xu Lingyi suddenly turned his head: "Be careful of slipping."

  The eleventh girl lowered her head in shock.

  The bluestone bricks were polished into fine lines, just to prevent slipping. The covered corridor is about five feet wide. It's just to prevent the wind and snow from blowing in and getting the floor wet - why suddenly mention whether the floor is slippery or not?

  She raised her head again, and Xu Lingyi had already taken big strides forward.

  Looking at his receding back, Eleventh Girl didn't dare hesitate and hastily followed him.

  The house has already lit the ground fire, warm as spring. The small silver incense burner with fresh pine fragrance is faintly floating in the house, adding a few touches of warmth to the house.

  Old Mrs. You sat on the windowsill of the large kang, leaning against a large yellow satin pillow with a crane pattern, smiling and looking at her brother-in-law, who was wearing a red silk cloak with a crane pattern, shaking his head and reciting "Qiong Lin": "...the first day of the lunar year is New Year's Day, and the seventh day is the birthday of the gods. On New Year's Day, I offer you pepper flowers to celebrate your longevity; on New Year's Day, people drink tu su wine to ward off diseases."

  Xu Lingkuan sat at the lower end of the Ta Furen, Xu Lingning sat opposite Xu Lingkuan. The Fifth Lady wore a large red silk peony flower open sleeve jacket, due to her pregnancy, she looked extremely well, with a rosy complexion sitting next to her husband. The Third Lady stood behind Xu Lingning, beside the brocade screen sat the eldest son Xu Sike and the youngest son Xu Sikuan, Xu Siyu sat beside Xu Sikuan, the two separated by about two feet wide distance.

  He was the first to see his father and stepmother enter, immediately stood up, respectfully shouted "Father", "Mother".

  Uncle Tong's recitation was interrupted, he turned his head and glanced at Xu Lingyi, then quickly ran to the side of Mrs. Tai, grabbed her collar, and stared nervously at Xu Lingyi.

  The others in the house also stood up and paid their respects to Xu Lingyi.

  Xu Lingyi nodded towards Zhangzi in the morning, then returned the courtesy to his brothers with a bow and sat down opposite Madame Tai.

  Eleventh Sister stood beside Fifth Madam.

  "Can you recite 'You Xue Qiong Lin'?" He smiled at his younger brother, who was being held in their grandmother's arms, "Who taught you?"

  Uncle's eyes showed a daze, and the old lady gently pushed him. "Your father is asking you something." He then came back to his senses, saying in a low voice: "It was grandmother who taught me!" Then he looked up and secretly observed Xu Lingyi's expression, seeing that he always had a smile on his face, without any impatience, and added somewhat fawningly: "It was grandmother who taught me. She said it's going to be New Year's soon, and I need to know the rules for New Year's..."

  Listening to the gentle and soft voice of her grandmother, Xu Lingyi did not show a displeased expression as she usually would, but instead smiled and nodded: "Not bad, not bad. Following Grandmother, I've indeed learned some manners."

  Fourth Master heard this and smiled with a hint of pride, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he glanced at Zhen Jie who was sitting beside Old Madam.

  Xu Lingyi saw that her son was getting impatient, his brow furrowed slightly. The old lady looked at him disapprovingly and hastily said with a smile: "You're all so late today. We've been waiting for you to have dinner. Others might not mind, but your fifth brother's wife is pregnant, and she still needs to return to the back garden later. It's cold outside, if anything happens to her, I'll make sure you accompany Fifth Brother in taking responsibility."

  The five madams listened and smiled with their sleeves covering their mouths.

  Xu Lingkuan stood up somewhat flustered: "No, no." Then feeling that this was not suitable, he changed his words to say, "It won't happen, I will take good care of Danyang. Won't let her get into trouble... Fourth brother doesn't need to come and apologize for me."

  Madam Tai burst out laughing, and even Xu Lingyi showed a rare smile. The others couldn't help but laugh too.

  The eleven-year-old girl took the opportunity to size up the three children opposite her.

  The smallest Xu Si grinned from ear to ear, beaming with joy from the inside out.

  Xu Siwei was also smiling, but his eyes were filled with indifference and detachment.

  Looking at Xu Siyuan's Xu Sike, there is a hint of bitterness in his smile.

  This was the second time she found Xu Siqin smiling wistfully at Xu Sijian... Among the children of the same generation, only these two had set up their own separate courtyards outside. It's said that their courtyards were adjacent to each other. Xu Sijian is only eleven years old this year. In her past life, she was often called a "young adult" at his age, but even so, she got along well with the little nanny next door, telling her how boring it was to play the piano and how "unfortunate" she was... Would Xu Sijian and Xu Siqin have a similar relationship?

  "Wei Zi," said the old lady with a smile, "serve the meal! Today Eldest Third sent over some wild ducks and I had the kitchen make a wild duck hot pot. Everyone try some."

  Xu Lingyi supported Tai Furen, while others crowded around them and went together to the resting place in the eastern wing.

  The resting place had already set up three tables, the old lady and her sons at one table, the daughters-in-law at another table, and Xu Siquan and several younger generations at another table.

  The old lady and Xu Lingyi sat down in a circle, with several younger generations also sitting down beside their respective wet nurses. The fifth lady was an exception, apologizing before sitting down, served by Shi Mama. The third lady and the eleventh lady were on the side helping Wei Zi and Yao Huang lay out the chopsticks. The old lady smiled and scolded the two: "At this time, what's with all the fuss? Just sit down and eat well."

  The two of them finally sat down after they had arranged a small table with bowls and plates for Tai Fu Ren.

  The maids and the old woman began serving dishes.

  The old lady and her sons were chatting: "Today's snow is really coming down early, it's only the beginning of November!"

  Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Who says it's not? Shandong, Shaanxi, Hebei, and Henan have all submitted reports of snow disasters. The Emperor has been busy discussing the disaster situation in various places with the cabinet these past few days!"

  The old lady was a Buddhist and couldn't help but worry: "If this snow doesn't stop, I'm afraid someone will freeze to death this year."

  "Daughter, shall we set up a porridge stall?" Xu Lingkuan asked.

  Madam Tai and Xu Lingning both looked at Xu Lingyi.

  Xu Lingyi smiled and said: "How things were done in previous years is still how they are done this year."

  The Empress Dowager hesitated for a moment: "Should I discuss this with the Queen..."

  Everyone in the house suddenly fell silent.

  Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "We overcorrected and ended up making it seem strange. I'll take care of this matter myself. Later on, we might need to trouble Mother to help with the arrangements."

  The old lady nodded: "Is that so?"

  Everyone who heard it let out a sigh of relief.

  Xu Lingning smiled and said: "Then I'll prepare some rice first. Since we're opening a porridge stall, we can't have the rice soup shining like a person's shadow, right?"

  The old lady smiled and nodded, very satisfied with Xu Lingning's words: "Get ready early. If this snow keeps falling like this, the road will be frozen and it won't be easy to walk on."

  "Don't worry, mother, I know what's at stake." Xu Lingning replied respectfully.

  The old lady nodded slightly, but the eleventh daughter noticed that the third lady's eyes were rolling around.