Zhuxiang immediately curtsied and withdrew.

“What did the First Son-in-law come for?” Eleventh Young Madam went forward to meet him.

Xu Lingyi saw there was no one in the room, cupped her face in his hands, pressed a kiss to her cheek, and laughed: “Mo Yan, you have truly found the Xu family a fine son-in-law.” He looked thoroughly pleased.

Eleventh Young Madam was puzzled.

Xu Lingyi had already turned away with a smile and went to the washroom.

Eleventh Young Madam had no choice but to follow, and leaned against the washroom doorway pressing him for answers: “What on earth has happened?”

Xu Lingyi wiped his face with a cloth, then smiled and came over, telling Eleventh Young Madam about the Emperor summoning Shao Zhongran and bestowing a marriage upon Shao Zhongran’s younger brother: “…He thought I didn’t know and came specially to tell me this.” Then he sighed: “To be summoned by the Emperor — what an immense honor. Sometimes a single remark that strikes a chord can make a man’s fortune overnight. Young as he is, when questioned by the Emperor he was still able to keep such a cool head — to see the danger beneath the surface and immediately make the right response. That is truly remarkable. Mo Yan, Zhongran is a worthy son-in-law for our Xu family!”

Only now did Eleventh Young Madam understand.

It was plain that the Emperor was still not at ease with Xu Lingyi.

By marrying the niece of his most trusted commander Ouyang Ming into the Shao family, was the Emperor not simply trying to startle the snake by striking the grass — both warning the Shao family to remain neutral, and telling Xu Lingyi not to act rashly?

Eleventh Young Madam did not wish to dwell on such things, which only invited unhappiness. She smiled and said: “Your concubine had no idea the First Son-in-law had such quick-witted resourcefulness. I only felt that the Shao family and our family were somewhat alike. Since the First Son-in-law is the most accomplished disciple of the Shao family, I thought he must deeply understand the intentions behind the Shao family’s generations of conduct, and be able to appreciate our family’s situation as well. That was why I felt the First Son-in-law was a better choice than that Li young master.” Saying this, she suddenly wanted to tease Xu Lingyi into a laugh, and added in jest: “It was also not entirely unrelated to the fact that the First Son-in-law is rather more handsome than the Li young master!”

Xu Lingyi was taken aback, and then burst into laughter: “I didn’t know you also judge people by their looks.”

Eleventh Young Madam pressed her lips together in a smile.

Xu Lingyi held Eleventh Young Madam quietly for a moment before releasing her.

The two of them went to look in on the sleeping Jin Ge’er, saw A’jin keeping watch at his side, and only then set their minds at rest and returned to the inner room.

“For Jin Ge’er’s birthday, shall we host a few tables and make it a merry occasion?” Xu Lingyi consulted Eleventh Young Madam. “Zhun Ge’er will have come back by then as well!”

“Everyone’s birthday is a bowl of longevity noodles.” Eleventh Young Madam refused outright. “Even the Marquis is the same. He’s a child born outside the main line — I think it would be best not to make such a fuss.”

Xu Lingyi said no more.

Though he had not turned over, he lay there with his eyes open and didn’t sleep.

Eleventh Young Madam sighed softly and drew him into her arms: “Marquis, rest early!”

Xu Lingyi was startled, and after a moment tried to push her away: “What kind of way is this…”

But Eleventh Young Madam’s arms held firm. He made no great effort, and for a moment found he could not break free.

“Marquis, sleep now!” She persisted in her gesture. “Your concubine wishes to hold the Marquis like this!”

Held in Eleventh Young Madam’s arms with such tenderness — as a mother holds her child, filled with loving care and forbearance — Xu Lingyi’s expression gradually shifted from astonishment to something altogether different.

He closed his eyes. The faint scent of rose surrounded him. His heart slowly grew heavy and still, and in a drifting haze he drifted off into sleep.

The next morning when he opened his eyes, what met his gaze was Jin Ge’er’s curious little face.

“Father sleeping late!” he said, tilting his head at his father.

Xu Lingyi’s mood lifted at once.

He sat up and took Jin Ge’er into his arms: “Where is your mother?”

“Mother went to see Sister — I’m here!” The sentence was a little long, and the last few words came out rather muddled, but Xu Lingyi understood.

He smiled and kissed his son’s face. Thinking of the grand spectacle of Shen Ge’er’s first birthday celebration, he felt all the more that it was too hard on his son to mark his birthday with nothing but a bowl of longevity noodles. A trace of disquiet lingered in his heart.

A few days later, Xu Lingyi procured, from some unknown source, several dogs of various sizes for Jin Ge’er to keep.

Jin Ge’er was overjoyed. He set aside his ball kicking, and from the moment he opened his eyes each morning he was clamouring to go see the puppies.

Eleventh Young Madam was worried the dogs might carry unclean things on their coats, and specially had several page boys assigned to help Suifeng bathe the dogs.

Jin Ge’er found this amusing and followed after Suifeng every day helping to give the dogs their baths.

When the Grand Madam heard, she immediately ordered them sent away.

“…What if there are fleas?” The old lady coaxed Jin Ge’er: “Grandmother will give you a cat instead — no, a pair of cats. White fur, bright green eyes, very beautiful. What do you say?”

Jin Ge’er shook his head firmly: “I want my puppies!”

The Grand Madam grew anxious and specially summoned Xu Lingyi to admonish him: “What if they bite someone? There is a limit to spoiling a child. Find a way to have all those dogs sent away at once!”

Eleventh Young Madam also felt Jin Ge’er was too young. More importantly, there were no vaccinations in ancient times, and she had no idea where these dogs had come from — Jin Ge’er loved to tease the dogs, and if he were bitten anywhere, that would be truly terrible. She silently sided with the Grand Madam.

Xu Lingyi had Suifeng take all the dogs to the country estate.

Jin Ge’er, seeing the dogs gone, cried for the better part of a day, crying until his voice went hoarse. No one could soothe him.

The Grand Madam then turned to blame Xu Lingyi: “You also can’t do it so abruptly — sending them off the very moment you say you will.” She then had Nanny Du go to the Yongchang Marquis Mansion to fetch two cats: “…A litter of four was just born — I was asked some time ago if I wanted one, but I said no because of the shedding.”

Wasn’t that like drinking poison to quench one’s thirst?

Eleventh Young Madam quickly objected: “Mother, since the cats shed fur, perhaps it’s better not to keep them. Jin Ge’er only found the puppies amusing and couldn’t bear to part with them. Children’s memories are short — I think in a few days, once there’s something new to play with, he’ll gradually forget.”

“But we can’t just let him go on crying like this!” The Grand Madam would not hear it, and kept urging Nanny Du to go fetch the cats.

Nanny Du cast Eleventh Young Madam a helpless glance, answered, and went off to fetch two Persian kittens with bright blue-green eyes that had just been weaned. Jin Ge’er looked at them for a moment, and standing there with hiccupping sobs said: “I want big dogs — not small dogs…”

The Grand Madam gathered Jin Ge’er into her arms: “My precious darling…” Then she instructed Xu Lingyi: “Go and quickly call someone to bring Suifeng back!”

Xu Lingyi smiled bitterly, and sent someone to retrieve all the dogs.

The household thus also gained two cats.

Eleventh Young Madam pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed to Zhuxiang: “It seems there’s nothing to be done but wait until Jin Ge’er is older and more sensible, and then find a way to gradually correct these bad habits!”

Zhuxiang smiled: “The Sixth Young Master is lively and lovable. The Grand Madam and the Marquis delight in him — that is the Sixth Young Master’s fortune. The worry is someone might notice and lead the Sixth Young Master into bad ways. Madam must not be soft-hearted about this — you must manage the Sixth Young Master firmly.” There was a pointed note to her words.

Eleventh Young Madam raised her eyebrows.

Zhuxiang quickly added: “I say this out of concern. I haven’t actually heard any gossip!”

“Your concern is not without reason.” Eleventh Young Madam said thoughtfully. “If the Sixth Young Master ever does anything improper in future, you must be sure to tell me.”

Zhuxiang curtsied and said yes.

A young maid came in to report: “Madam, the Madam Qian from Sixiang Lane has come!”

Madam Qian? Fifth Elder Sister?

Eleventh Young Madam was greatly startled, and quickly had the young maid invite her in.

Fifth Elder Sister, dressed in a five-colored full-sleeved robe on a crimson ground, had lost over ten catties and looked thoroughly haggard. The first time Eleventh Young Madam saw her, she almost didn’t recognize her.

She came through the door calling at once for a young maid to quickly bring her a cup of hot tea: “I’ve been bringing up everything I eat these past two days — nothing like when I was carrying Xin Ge’er. I suspect this one is a girl.”

Fifth Elder Sister drank a mouthful of tea and breathed a long sigh of relief.

The news came as a complete surprise.

Eleventh Young Madam said in astonishment: “Fifth Elder Sister, you’re with child?” Then, as if remembering something, she quickly added: “Did Fifth Elder Sister come back alone, or with Fifth Brother-in-law? Why give no word ahead of time?”

Fifth Elder Sister smiled: “Your Fifth Brother-in-law is still in Wendeng.” Her expression then dimmed slightly. “That place — the food is poor, the sleep is poor. Just look at the state of me… Your Fifth Brother-in-law saw what I looked like, and agreed it was better for me to return to the capital to rest during the pregnancy. So I brought Xin Ge’er back first!”

The weight in Eleventh Young Madam’s heart lifted.

She had thought…

“It’s good that you’ve come back!” Eleventh Young Madam smiled. “Zhen Jie’er’s wedding is in October — you’ve timed it perfectly.”

“I thought the same.” Fifth Elder Sister smiled. “Besides, the capital has everything you could want. The Qian second household are honest and steady folk, and with all of you to help, and Zhuo Tao there to assist — Xin Ge’er won’t want for someone to look after him either…”

The two sisters talked for a long while. Fifth Elder Sister stayed at the Xu household for the evening meal before returning home.

As the weather gradually turned cooler, Xu Siyu came hurrying back from Anle, and Jin Ge’er’s birthday arrived as well.

Eleventh Young Madam made a bowl of assorted noodles with her own hands, marking Jin Ge’er’s third birthday in this simple way. Then everyone began preparations in earnest for Zhen Jie’er’s wedding.

Xu Siyu was the eldest brother and would naturally go to escort the bride. Only it was unclear who among the female relatives should be chosen to accompany them.

The Fifth Madam suggested: “What if we have First Young Madam go to escort the bride? That way Qin Ge’er can go along too, and Siyu will have company on the road. If anything comes up, there’ll be someone to help think things through!”

Eleventh Young Madam felt this was inspired, and immediately agreed: “I think First Young Madam is the most fitting choice as well. Not only is she herself a woman of good fortune, but she is composed in her manner and decisive when needed. The Shao family may be a centuries-old distinguished house, but she won’t be intimidated or tentative.”

The Grand Madam nodded and had someone summon the Third Master: “…Have First Young Madam make up the bridal bed!”

The Third Master, upon hearing this, looked positively relieved and quickly said: “Mother thinks highly of her — it is her good fortune. I’ll go speak to Qin Ge’er at once and have Qin Ge’er go with her to Cangzhou.”

The Grand Madam nodded with satisfaction. The Third Master sat and chatted for a while, then an imperial attendant came on behalf of the Empress to enquire about the progress of Zhen Jie’er’s wedding preparations, and he went off to Xu Lingyi’s quarters.

“Your Third Sister-in-law is not an unreasonable person.” The two brothers sat in the outer study, chatting over tea. “Just like the last time, when Jian Ge’er got married — I explained the reasoning to your Third Sister-in-law, and she agreed without a word. Afterward, when Fourth Sister-in-law offered to return the surplus gift money from Jian Ge’er’s wedding to your Third Sister-in-law, she turned it away for a long while before finally accepting.”

Seeing the Third Master’s melancholy expression, Xu Lingyi smiled: “Has something happened?”

The Third Master nodded: “Your Third Sister-in-law is not a bad person — only her temper is a little impulsive. But First Young Madam comes from a great family, and does everything with measured deliberateness. Your Third Sister-in-law sometimes finds this difficult to watch, and speaks quite bluntly. The servants then misread your Third Sister-in-law’s meaning and showed insufficient respect toward First Young Madam. Seeing it happen, I couldn’t help but say a word or two — which gave those people a healthy fear. But then your Third Sister-in-law felt I was being too lenient… Anyway, now it’s worked out well — with First Young Madam going to escort Zhen Jie’er’s wedding, the household will have a few quiet days at last!”

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