Chapter 175

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Eight: Gathering (Part One)

Seeing Eleven Miss looking back at her, the elder madam tilted her mouth and trembled as she made a few indistinct sounds towards her.

Eleven Miss was startled. She hadn’t expected the elder madam’s condition to be so severe that she couldn’t even speak… In that case, why go through the trouble of organizing a large gathering? Wouldn’t it be better to just have a small family get-together?

As the thought crossed her mind, she stepped forward, curtsied, and called out, “Mother.”

Zhenjie also obediently stepped forward and called out, “Grandmother.”

However, the elder madam didn’t even glance at Zhenjie, her gaze fixed solely on Eleven Miss.

Xu Mama, who was attending to her, quickly said, “Eleven Miss, the elder madam has something to say to you!” Eleven Miss walked closer. The elder madam looked at her, her face turning red, and after a long while, she mumbled a few words, but Eleven Miss couldn’t understand any of them. She couldn’t help but look towards Xu Mama for help.

Xu Mama explained, “The elder madam is asking about the Marquis’s resignation!” She must be worried about Chun Ge, right?

Eleven Miss softened her voice, “Mother, please rest assured. The Marquis is suffering from a foot ailment. This year’s cold weather made the daily morning court sessions particularly taxing, which is why he proposed resigning. It’s not for any other reason, and the Emperor has repeatedly urged him to stay.”

The elder madam’s gaze gradually softened, and Eleven Miss felt relieved. However, the elder madam’s eyes suddenly turned sharp again, and she muttered something indistinct. Eleven Miss had no choice but to look towards Xu Mama once more.

Xu Mama wasn’t entirely sure either, so she leaned her ear closer to the elder madam’s mouth. The elder madam mumbled a few more words. Xu Mama nodded and smiled at Eleven Miss, “The elder madam says to tell the Marquis not to act impulsively. Chun Ge is still young.”

Eleven Miss nodded, feeling that it wasn’t the right time to discuss such matters—the room was full of people, and who knows how the words might be twisted if they spread. She smiled and changed the subject, “The elder madam knew I was coming to see you, so she specifically asked me to bring two ginseng roots for you to nourish your health. The Marquis also had some herbs like gastrodia elata, pseudoginseng, and angelica prepared for me to bring. Everyone is hoping for your swift recovery!”

The elder madam gave a slight nod.

Seeing that their conversation had concluded, Fourth Miss stepped forward with a smile, curtsied, and greeted the elder madam, “Last time, Seventh Brother-in-law specially brought donkey-hide gelatin from Shandong for you. How did you find it? Should I ask him to bring more?”

The elder madam’s face stiffened as she forced a smile.

Xu Mama answered on her behalf, “Please convey our thanks to Seventh Brother-in-law. The donkey-hide gelatin is excellent, and we still have some left from the last batch. When Seventh Brother-in-law and Seventh Sister-in-law have time to visit Yanjing, they are welcome to come and visit.”

“I will definitely pass on the message,” Fourth Miss smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the elder madam.

Sixth Concubine then smiled and pulled over a young woman dressed in a red embroidered silk jacket, “The two ladies haven’t met yet, have you? This is our newly married Fourth Madam.”

Eleven Miss and Fourth Miss turned their gaze towards the woman.

She was said to be twenty years old, but she looked three or four years older. She was of medium height, with skin that wasn’t fair but not particularly dark either. She had a rectangular face, willow-shaped eyebrows that extended into her temples, and a pair of clear, bright eyes that gave her a lively yet composed appearance. Her hair was styled in a Peony Bun, adorned with a pearl headband and two apricot-yellow silk flowers.

As Sixth Concubine introduced her, she gracefully curtsied to the two ladies, “I am Madam Zhou, pleased to meet you both.”

Eleven Miss and Fourth Miss quickly curtsied in return. Fourth Miss smiled and said a few polite words, “Our Fourth Brother is truly fortunate to have married such a capable wife,” and presented a pair of gold earrings. Eleven Miss first gave the elder madam’s southern pearl hairpin, then presented her own gift—a pair of gold “one-drop oil” bracelets.

Madam Zhou neither showed delight at the elder madam’s southern pearl hairpin nor displeasure at Fourth Miss’s gold earrings. She accepted them with grace, thanked the two ladies, and offered two pairs of shoes as a return gift.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but be impressed by her.

It seemed the elder madam had indeed found a good match for Fourth Young Master. She then led Zhenjie to meet Fourth Madam.

Fourth Madam’s gift to Zhenjie was a silk handkerchief, “I embroidered it myself. Please use it as you like.”

Zhenjie thanked her, and Eleven Miss introduced her to Third Concubine and Fifth Concubine.

The two concubines smiled and nodded slightly. Third Concubine gave Zhenjie a silver hairpin adorned with pearls, while Fifth Concubine presented a piece of emerald-green jade.

Zhenjie, knowing that Fifth Concubine was Eleven Miss’s birth mother, couldn’t help but take a few extra glances at her, then looked back at Eleven Miss. Seeing that the two bore a striking resemblance, she couldn’t hide her curiosity.

A young maid entered and announced, “Third Young Master and Third Wife have arrived.”

After all, he was her own brother, so Fourth Miss smiled and greeted him, "What took you so long?"

Third Wife glanced at Third Young Master and said with a smile, "Just as we were about to leave, he said he hadn’t had hot and sour soup for a long time, so he had someone make it for him."

Having lived in Yanjing for a long time, Third Young Master had adopted the local customs.

Fourth Miss laughed, "Why are you still so childish?"

Third Young Master chuckled sheepishly. Seeing the room full of women, he kept his eyes lowered, bowed to the matriarch, and then hurried over to Luo Zhenxing’s place. Third Wife and Eleven Miss greeted each other, and Eleven Miss had Zhenjie come forward to greet her third aunt. Caught off guard by Zhenjie’s presence, Third Wife gave her a ruby hairpin as a gift. Sixth Concubine then led Fourth Madam to greet Third Wife. Third Wife gifted her a pair of gold willow leaf earrings, and Fourth Madam gave two pairs of shoes in return.

The matriarch invited everyone to sit down and have tea.

Qian Ming and Fifth Miss arrived.

The matriarch smiled warmly.

She clearly had a soft spot for Qian Ming.

Qian Ming bowed to the matriarch and leaned in to speak to her, "…You look much better than yesterday. Illness strikes suddenly, but recovery is slow and steady. Don’t rush. With your eldest brother and sister-in-law managing things, just focus on getting well. That’s the greatest blessing for us as your children…" His warm smile and gentle demeanor were like a breath of fresh air. The matriarch’s eyes shone with delight.

After a few words, Qian Ming stood up, "I’ll go see my eldest brother. I’ll be back later to talk with you."

The matriarch nodded and murmured a few words. Xu Mama quickly explained, "The matriarch says, tell the young masters to drink less wine." Her affection was clear.

Qian Ming assured her, "Don’t worry, we won’t. With my eldest brother here, we’ll behave."

The matriarch smiled and nodded. Qian Ming bowed to everyone in the room with his eyes downcast and quickly left for Luo Zhenxing’s place, leaving the heavily pregnant Fifth Miss behind.

Third Concubine quickly brought her a grand chair.

She sat down, supporting her back, with Zi Yuan attending to her.

"Where’s Zi Wei?" Third Concubine asked with a smile.

"Oh!" Fifth Miss replied casually, "Han Scholar from the Hanlin Academy needed someone to care for him. I thought Zi Wei was getting older, so I gave her to him as a concubine."

Eleven Miss was stunned, noticing that everyone else in the room also looked surprised. It was clear that they, like her, were hearing this news for the first time.

She glanced at Zi Yuan, who kept her eyes lowered, her expression blank.

Eleven Miss felt a pang of discomfort. Zi Yuan had served her since childhood and was supposed to be her companion in marriage. How could she just be given away as a concubine…

But this was Fifth Miss’s household matter, and even if she had opinions, it wasn’t her place to interfere.

Perhaps everyone felt the same way. For a moment, the atmosphere became awkward.

The matriarch, sensing the tension, smiled and tried to ease the atmosphere, "Why haven’t Tenth Young Master and Tenth Madam arrived yet?"

Sixth Concubine immediately chimed in, "Yes, why haven’t they come? I’ll go check!" She then headed off to the gate with a smile.

This diversion helped ease the tension in the room.

Fourth Miss took Fourth Madam Zhou’s hand and said, "This is our Fifth Miss, you should meet her too!"

Zhou respectfully curtsied to Fifth Miss, who responded with a faint expression, presenting a pair of gold filigree bracelets as a gift. Zhou reciprocated with two pairs of shoes.

Fifth Miss smiled, and Zi Yuan stepped forward to receive the gifts. She turned to Eleven Miss and asked, "…When did you arrive?" Then she greeted Zhenjie with a smile, "Zhenjie, what a rare guest."

Zhenjie stepped forward to pay her respects to Fifth Miss.

Eleven Miss furrowed her brow slightly.

Speaking of which, Fifth Miss and Fourth Young Master were siblings born to the same mother. Fourth Young Master, as the son of a concubine, had a difficult life in the Luo family. They should have been warm and welcoming to the newly married sister-in-law, showing respect to Fourth Young Master and his wife. Instead, she acted as if she wanted to undermine Fourth Madam's authority... Fortunately, she was just a sister-in-law; if she were the mother-in-law, who knows what tricks she would have used!

As she pondered, Sixth Concubine walked in with a smile: "Madam, Duke Mao's estate sent word that Ten Miss's husband is on duty today and can't come. Ten Miss is feeling slightly unwell, so she won't be coming either."

The atmosphere grew chilly.

Eleven Miss glanced at Madam—her eyes brimmed with mockery.

Madam covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed: "This Ten Miss, her husband isn't coming, so she isn't coming either. When she has a nephew, I, as the aunt, will have to play hard to get, insisting on multiple invitations before I go."

"In the end, we’ll still have to go!" Fourth Miss teased.

Everyone laughed.

Fourth Miss took Fourth Madam's hand and said: "Don't laugh. We sisters-in-law are used to teasing each other, always casual."

Fourth Madam smiled: "Fourth Miss, what are you saying? Seeing everyone so warm and close, I can only feel envy and tease." Her words were very pleasant.

Fourth Miss joked with Madam: "See that? Another capable one. You’d better be careful, or your sister-in-law might laugh at you."

Madam didn't mind and laughed: "Two hands can’t fight four fists. I’d love to have someone to help me."

Everyone chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere became relaxed and cheerful.

But Eleven Miss caught a glimpse of gloom in Madam's eyes, and recalling the scene she saw when she first entered, she felt there was something going on...

Before she could find an opportunity to ask Madam, a servant entered and announced: "Eleven Miss, the master is asking you to come to the study for a talk."

Eleven Miss was taken aback. She instructed Amber to accompany Zhenjie and gave Zhenjie some directions before following the servant to the study.

In the study, besides the master, there was also Luo Zhenxing.

Both wore serious expressions, exuding an air of a formal interrogation.

The only thing that could make them so serious was something concerning Lord Xu.

She curtsied, and the master gestured to a small stool by the door for her to sit.

"Why didn’t the Marquis come? I invited everyone this time specifically to meet the Marquis."

Eleven Miss was very surprised.

She had thought the gathering was to introduce Fourth Madam Zhou to everyone.

"The Marquis has a foot ailment..." she said matter-of-factly.

"Really has a foot ailment?" The master looked incredulous, then frowned deeply. "The Marquis, with his silver spear, though not claiming to sweep through 180,000 imperial guards, was rarely matched. How could he resign over a small foot ailment?"