Chapter 142: Visiting (Part 1) (Pink Tickets 1470)

  On the road, Third Madam explained in a low voice: "It's getting too late, let the children rest first... Fifth Brother and Sister are not feeling well, so Master Hou let Fifth Master accompany them back first."

  Madam nodded and asked: "What did the children eat for dinner?"

  "Qin Ge and Jian Ge had a delicious old duck hot pot, while Yu Ge, Zhen Jie and Yun Ge made a vegetarian dish with eight treasures."

  Madam Tai nodded in satisfaction and, with Xu Lingning personally lifting the curtain to serve her, entered the house.

  Weizi, who had stayed at home, was already waiting with the maid and servant on the side. Seeing Madame Tai return, she hurried forward to help her take off her cloak and served Madame Tai as she went to the dressing room to change and wash up.

  The third lady smiled and asked Eleventh Sister: "Isn't it lively over there?"

  The eleventh girl smiled and said: "I heard that the dowry has as many as one hundred twenty-four sedan chairs."

  "Ah!" Third Madame's eyes gleamed with envy, "The Ouyang family is indeed blessed to have married the Miss Tang. Such a generous dowry, I'm afraid it's the first of its kind in all of Yanjing."

  The eleventh girl smiled slightly.

  Xu Lingning said: "When Fifth Brother's wife married into our family back then, didn't she also bring 124 chests of dowry?"

  "That's different," said the third lady. "Danyang is an only daughter, but Miss Tang has thirteen sisters."

  The two were talking when the old lady came out.

  The three madams hurried forward to support her and sat down on the kang by the window. The eleventh lady went to pour a cup of hot tea and brought it over.

  Madam took over the hot tea and took a sip, saying: "It's getting late, everyone should disperse! Tomorrow we all have our own things to do!"

  The four of them responded in unison, paid their respects to Madame, and withdrew.

  After leaving Mrs. Ta's house, Xu Lingning said to Xu Lingyi with a hint of something: "Then we'll go back first!"

  Xu Lingyi smiled and nodded, then Xu Lingning pulled away the somewhat perplexed Third Madam.

  Eleventh Sister also looked puzzled.

  It turns out that both of them are heading east and they're even on the same road. Why take separate paths?

  Just then, Xu Lingyi asked her: "Have you seen Mrs. Zhou?"

  The eleventh girl was slightly surprised: "How did Master Hou know?"

  Xu Lingyi smiled and said: "Today I had dinner with Shi Zheng. Oh, Shi Zheng is the third son of Fu Cheng's eldest princess."

  It seems that Zhou Shizeng and Xu Lingyi are really close friends.

  The eleventh girl couldn't help but laugh and say: "I heard Sister Zhou say that you two have known each other since childhood!"

  "What's wrong, little one!" Xu Lingyi's expression was somewhat disapproving, but her eyes had a warm smile. "It's just that when Empress Wu was still around, the Crown Prince and several others would often go to the Kun Ning Palace to play." As she spoke, a hint of melancholy appeared on her face. "Who would have thought that Empress Wu would be implicated by the Crown Prince and was given a death sentence by the previous emperor?"

  She didn't know about these past events and naturally had no right to comment. She just smiled and changed the subject, taking the opportunity to tell Xu Lingyi what she had said to Tai Furen.

  Xu Lingyi quietly listened and returned to her own courtyard with Shiyi Niang.

  Green Cloud and Red Ribbon led the maids and old women in waiting at the gate, and upon seeing the two enter, they hastened to pay their respects.

  Xu Lingyi walked towards the main house without stopping.

  Eleventh Sister thought he had stayed at Old Madam's place yesterday... and should have something to say to herself.

  She hastily followed him in. She called a maid to serve him and went to the dressing room to wash and change her clothes.

  Dai Shou was about to go out when Xu Lingyi was sitting on a large kang by the window drinking tea.

  The eleventh girl smiled and sat down opposite him.

  The little maid brought in hot tea, she held it in her hands and took a sip, and a look of comfort appeared on her face.

  Xu Lingyi couldn't help but smile slightly as she looked at him.

  Because the stomach is warm, people also become lazy.

  The eleventh girl took the initiative to ask about Xu Lingyi's affairs yesterday: "...... How did the prince and his wife discuss it?"

  "My mother is not a person without foresight." Xu Lingyi smiled and took a sip of tea, "She also thinks it's good for Third Brother to go. She just wants to keep Second Brother and Fourth Brother behind. A person with Third Sister-in-law's temperament would be ruined if she went to a rich place like Huzhou or Hangzhou. We can only find a poorer place for her. Firstly, it will temper her personality, secondly, such a place doesn't have much wealth, even if Third Brother is soft-hearted, he won't get into big trouble. I've also arranged for a capable teacher to follow them there. If she does something really out of line, she'll come back and report to me. It's a good thing for them, but I'm afraid that kind of place may not have good teachers, which would hinder Second Brother and Fourth Brother's studies."

  I didn't expect Lady Tai to agree so readily...

  The eleventh girl was very impressed in her heart.

  Remind yourself secretly, doing things like a great lady who can pick up and put down is the way to go.

  "What arrangements did San Ye make for the two children?"

  "I haven't said anything specific yet," Xu Lingyi said, "I just casually mentioned the idea of letting him go out. He was very interested when he heard it. I told him to discuss it with San Shu as soon as possible and get back to me quickly. That way, I can make arrangements early too."

  The eleventh girl nodded.

  It seems that the Old Mistress had discussed it with Third Master last night, and then again after coming down from the court today... That's why Third Master was being so cryptic just now, and hastily pulled Third Mistress away to discuss this matter.

  "I think, even if Third Sister-in-law wants to bring the two kids along on her trip, there's nothing wrong with that!"

  Xu Lingyi raised an eyebrow as she listened.

  "It's better for children to travel and see the world than to read books. Let them go out and gain some experience, even if it doesn't work out, they can always come back. For a family like ours, reading is just a way to cultivate one's character and pass the time. Besides, as the saying goes, 'a child does not think their mother is ugly.' As long as we are together as a family, no matter how difficult life may be, it's better than being separated from each other."

  Xu Lingyi slightly nodded: "Let's see what San Ge says on that side and then make plans! Maybe it's all our unnecessary worries, San Ge might not have any intention of bringing Qin Ge and Jian Ge to Ren Shang."

  Eleventh sister thought of Lin Dainai and said that she wanted to bring Hui Jie here to learn needlework: "...She said this in front of so many people, and the two families live next door, it's really hard to refuse. If Lin Dainai brings Hui Jie over, our family's Zhen Jie will have to come out and help with the hospitality. At that time, Jun Ge will be left alone, and I'm afraid he won't be used to it."

  Xu Lingyi was taken aback: "Your embroidery skills come from Xianyun Pavilion?"

  "The girl smiled and said: 'You've just learned some superficial things.'"

  Xu Lingyi looked at her, remaining silent for a long time.

  The eleventh girl didn't know what he meant and naturally took a step back. She smiled and said, "If the young master thinks it's troublesome, I'll find an excuse to dismiss her."

  "It's not necessary." Xu Lingyi hastily said, "Since you promised in front of everyone, it wouldn't be good to make excuses and decline privately. If she comes, just bring Zhenji with you to entertain Lin Danniang. As for Junge, I'll talk to Mother about it."

  This is no longer necessary, lest Madam thinks she said something in front of Xu Lingyi and urged her son to come forward. Although Xu Lingyi is not that kind of person, it's better to prevent small problems from becoming big ones...

  The eleventh girl smiled and said, "It's okay if Master Hou agrees. As for me, let's wait until Madam Lin really wants to come before we say anything else! What if Madam Lin is just temporarily excited and it ends up making us appear flustered?"

  Xu Lingyi couldn't help but laugh: "Who has so many petty thoughts."

  The eleventh girl saw him and couldn't help but whisper: "Women are just so careful!"

  Xu Lingyi burst out laughing, finding her very amusing. One moment she was like a grown-up, deep in thought and consideration, the next moment she was like a little child, fretting over trivial things. He then loudly called for Xia Yijin to come and attend to his washing.

  "Eleventh Young Lady was shocked: 'Lord Hou...'"

  Xu Lingyi said "oh" and calmly said: "It's late, let's rest here!"

  Something buzzed in Xiāng Niáng's head and the discomfort from that day seemed to return, and she blurted out: "No way!"

  Xu Lingyi's eyes gradually sank, like an ancient well, deep and immeasurable.

  The eleventh girl shivered and woke up.

  "No way!" She had to change her tone to a soft scolding, "I just made the rules and you're not following them. Who will believe me in the future?"

  Xu Lingyi looked at her pouting, with a resentful expression, and couldn't help but laugh. He thought what she said made sense too. Household matters were originally managed by the first wife, and she had just entered the house... He didn't want to make things difficult for her, so he stood up and said: "I was thinking of having a chat with you..."

  "I'll serve Master Hou his breakfast personally tomorrow morning!" 11th Sister smiled brightly.

  It seems like you're afraid of breaking your own rules!

  "Never mind!" Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "You don't have to get up so early. The weather is strangely cold."

  Eleventh Girl busily saw Xu Lingyi out of the door and told Shuangyu to take a lantern to send him to Qiao Niang's place.

  Dong Qing couldn't help but blame: "Madam, really, what kind of reason is it to push one's husband out?"

  Eleventh girl fell on the big bed, stretching her waist comfortably, and whispered: "Only fools would make things difficult for themselves!"

  Dong Qing didn't hear clearly and asked again: "What did you say, madam?"

  "She didn't say anything." Shiyi Niang didn't want to discuss this topic any further and changed the subject, "Where's Huopo?"

  "After dinner, Yang Hui's family came to deliver osmanthus cake," Dong Qing said with a smile. "I heard she followed you to the Zhongshan Hou Mansion and waited until now in the rear wing." Xu Pei listened and went to see her.

  "I didn't expect her to become a busy person." Eleventh Sister smiled and said, "Even the Yanghui ancestral family came to deliver things to her. What favor did she do for them?"

  "She first settled Fangfei in the backyard, and later moved Peach Blossom to the ancestral hall side, specializing in incense sticks, with a monthly stipend of 300 coins. As a result, everyone in the house was staring at her, wanting to ask for her help in finding a good job." Dongqing smiled and said, "Yang Hui's family is probably thinking along these lines too!"

  The eleventh girl smiled and went to the bathhouse, had a good soak in the bath, and when she came out, Amber was waiting for her outside.

  "Madam, I have something to say to you." Her expression was somewhat solemn.

  Eleventh daughter sent away the servant in the house.

  Amber whispered: "The second lady sent her own steward and a small servant to deliver an envelope to Lord Hou. After reading the letter, Lord Hou asked the steward to hand over the small servant to Bai Zongguan and also asked Bai Zongguan to arrange a place for him to rest. Only then did he go to have dinner with Zhou Shizheng."

  Eleventh Girl's expression turned stern: "Yang Hui Zu said so!"

  Amber nodded: "He's afraid of arousing suspicion, so he had someone from his household bring me osmanthus cake."

  The eleventh daughter was thinking of the second madam.

  Sister-in-law and younger brother-in-law... She wouldn't let her steward and a young servant send an envelope to Xu Lingyi for no reason. It's probably about Xu Sihuan's case.

  Shoot the man before shooting the horse, capture the bandit's leader first.

  Is this really the style of the second lady?

  Xu Lingyi said that he had something to say to himself, would it have anything to do with this?

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  Didn't expect a power outage...~~~~》_《~~~~