Chapter 283

Chapter 288: Confrontation (Part 2)

Lord Xu lacked Lord Xiang's unshakable confidence.

He spoke softly to Eleventh Lady, "Yuge is the eldest son born of a concubine, not the second. By convention, he should establish his own household. But immediately after the wedding, it wouldn’t be appropriate to send him away at once. He should stay at home for a few years so the family can become properly acquainted. Otherwise, if everyone lives separately and barely recognizes each other, how can we expect harmony among sisters-in-law? So I asked Second Sister-in-law to see which of the Xiang family’s three young ladies has the gentlest temperament. Such a bride would take care of her younger siblings, attend you properly, and set an example for future sisters-in-law. Moreover, when the time comes to establish a separate household, she won’t entertain unreasonable expectations or stir up resentment that would trouble Chun Ge’s wife. Silent Words, I’ve thoroughly considered this matter. At one point, I even considered that if none of the Xiang sisters met this criterion, we might have to forgo the match..."

Eleventh Lady conceded that Lord Xu’s logic was faultless.

She had no issue with the Second Lady—after all, she was merely fulfilling Lord Xu’s request.

As for whether or not to inform her, that was the Second Lady’s own affair.

What position did that leave her in?

"My lord," Eleventh Lady crossed her arms and said coolly, "I have no wish to speak with you."

Lord Xu was stunned.

"What?" His face showed disbelief. Not speak to him? She had outright refused.

In all his years, this was the first time he had encountered such a reaction... Eleventh Lady had already turned away.

Her eyes were steady as she looked at Lord Xu. "My lord, you decided on Yuge’s bride without consulting me, as though I were neither his mother nor your proper wife. Though your reasoning is sound, my resentment will not be so easily quelled. Continuing this conversation will only lead to harsh words, so let us stop here to avoid saying things we may regret."

With that, she turned her back to him.

This resolute stance left Lord Xu momentarily dumbfounded. After several heartbeats, he said, "Silent Words, let’s talk this through properly. This silent treatment solves nothing."

"It’s precisely because I don’t wish to give you this silent treatment that I choose not to speak with you," Eleventh Lady replied softly. "Besides, you’ve already explained everything clearly. There’s nothing left to resolve."

Was it that those with gentle tempers became especially stubborn when they dug in their heels?

Lord Xu pondered this, then levered himself up on one elbow, smiling coaxingly, and called to her, "Silent Words..."

Eleventh Lady kept her lips sealed.

Lord Xu continued, still smiling, "Silent Words..."

This was no trifling matter to be laughed away.

It was a matter of principle.

If she didn’t make Lord Xu understand his mistake now and ensure he learned from it, he might develop a habit of thinking his decisions were justified regardless of whether he consulted her—believing that as long as he explained, justified, and coaxed afterward, it would suffice.

Eleventh Lady slid quietly from the bed, wearing only her sleeping robes, and retrieved a quilt from the tall cabinet. She spread it over the large heated bed by the window, lay down, and wrapped herself in it. "My lord, you should rest early too. I must rise at mao hour tomorrow."

Staring at the cocooned form on the heated bed, he stood dumbfounded for several heartbeats.

Though he was in the wrong, he was the one who had asked the Second Lady to approach the Xiang family and help select a bride. If he now let Eleventh Lady make the final decision, wouldn’t that make him appear capricious?

Not only would it disrespect the Xiang family, but it would also make him seem dishonorable! At this point, the only option was to persuade Eleventh Lady to change her mind. After some thought, Lord Xu edged onto the heated bed by the window. "Silent Words, let’s discuss this properly."

Eleventh Lady ignored him, got up, and returned to the bed.

Lord Xu followed.

Eleventh Lady went back to the heated bed.

After several rounds of this, Lord Xu heaved a defeated sigh.

Lady Eleven was dressed lightly, and catching a cold would be no small matter.

He lay down on the heated brick bed to sleep, leaving the bed for Lady Eleven.

Outside, a drizzling rain began to fall.

Through the window, the sound of the rain was clear—each distinct drop—making it hard for him to fall asleep.

The next morning, the newly sprouted tender leaves were washed clean and bright by the rain, and the world seemed purified, invigorating the senses.

"Madam, it's raining."

Yanrong cheerfully brought in a change of clothes. "The weather will only get warmer from now on!"

Lady Eleven smiled and nodded, instructing Yanrong, "The marquis is still resting—don’t let anyone disturb him."

Yanrong’s gaze swept past the heated brick bed by the window without the slightest flicker of expression. She acknowledged the order with a smile, went out to instruct the maids to wait outside, and then attended to Lady Eleven’s morning ablutions before accompanying her to the hall.

After receiving greetings from the children and concubines, Lady Eleven went to see the Dowager.

They had barely exchanged a few words when the Fifth Madam arrived, carrying Xin Jieer.

After exchanging courtesies, the Dowager had Du Mama take Xin Jieer from her.

"Why does she look thinner?" The Dowager frowned slightly.

The Fifth Madam quickly replied, "She’s had some digestive complaints these past few days."

"Have Imperial Physician Xie from the Imperial Hospital take a look. He’s most skilled in treating children’s ailments."

The Fifth Madam dipped in acquiescence.

The Dowager then asked about Jining: "…Have the requiem rites been completed?"

"They have!" the Fifth Madam said. "Only incense need be offered at Ciyuan Temple on the first of every month from now on."

The Second Madam arrived.

She exchanged polite greetings with Lady Eleven but said nothing further.

Lady Eleven did not ask either.

After attending to the Dowager at the Buddhist hall, she went to the pavilion.

The rain had stopped, but the air still carried the damp freshness of the downpour.

The courtyard was filled with people.

The housekeepers stood under the eaves, while the maidservants and matrons gathered in the center.

As Lady Eleven entered, everyone instantly made partial curtseys.

Surrounded by maids like Amber and Lv Yun, Lady Eleven walked straight through the courtyard into the pavilion without deigning to look sideways and began receiving petitions from the housekeepers.

The newly appointed kitchen stewardess, Matron Li, silently rehearsed her report three more times in her mind, ensuring nothing was amiss before steadying herself. Though a long-tenured retainer of the household, she had no close ties to any of the household branches.

If it hadn’t been for Wan Xiang’s earlier misconduct when the Third Madam was in charge, leaving Old Gan with no one else to rely on, she would never have been assigned to oversee the kitchens. Nor would she have been temporarily appointed as kitchen stewardess after Old Gan followed the Third Madam to her provincial posting, let alone confirmed in the position due to Wan Xiang’s unseemly behavior.

Thinking of how Wan Xiang’s entire family had been banished to Gongxian Hutong by the Fourth Madam—later even exiled from Yanjing—she couldn’t help but quake before the Fourth Lady.

When it was her turn to report, it was just past nine in the morning.

She had barely finished when Lü Yun entered. "My lady, the two personal maids of the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Northern Prestige have come to greet the eldest daughter."

Eleven Miss smiled faintly.

She wondered what those two were scheming—the maids from Huiejie's side came twice a day.

"Have them escorted to Shaohua Courtyard," she instructed.

Lü Yun nodded and withdrew.

Seeing that all matters were settled, Eleven Miss returned to her own courtyard, sat down, and began embroidering calligraphy.

After embroidering half a character, Lord Xu came back.

He called for Eleven Miss to help him change clothes.

Eleven Miss obediently assisted him.

Lord Xu asked her, "Why have you returned so early today?"

Eleven Miss pursed her lips and remained silent.

Yanrong, noticing this, quickly gestured to the maids in the room, and they quietly withdrew.

Lord Xu tilted her chin up and chuckled, "What? Are you really not going to talk to me?"

Eleven Miss turned her head away, tied the silk sash around his waist, handed him a cup of hot tea, then silently cleared away the embroidery frame. She called for Yanrong, "It's nearly time. We should go to Elder Madam’s for lunch." Without waiting for Lord Xu, she left the inner chamber.

Lord Xu laughed and followed her.

At Elder Madam’s, with so many people around, Eleven Miss put on a cheerful face, and no one noticed anything unusual.

That night, the two still slept apart.

The next day, Lord Xu rose early and summoned Eleven Miss to attend to his morning routine.

Eleven Miss said nothing but wordlessly brought water and helped him change clothes.

At breakfast, she set his porridge before him as usual.

Lord Xu found it amusing—like observing a pouting child.

But gradually, he stopped laughing.

First, Eleven Miss no longer volunteered to serve him tea or water. Then, they began taking breakfast separately. Finally, she stopped calling for him when going to Elder Madam’s.

Her demeanor grew frostier.

Eventually, when he once asked Eleven Miss to help him change clothes, she didn’t so much as stir and instead called Xiayi in.

All warmth between them disappeared, replaced by chill and detachment.

Lord Xu realized the situation was worse than he had imagined.

Where he went left, she went right.

He took the left side, she the right.

Sometimes he would move closer to talk to her, but she kept her embroidery in hand, completely engrossed in her needlework, as if she didn’t even notice his presence.

Lord Xu thought for a moment and brought up something she had once cared about.

"Do you remember the Qu Clan?"

Eleven Miss remained silent, but Lord Xu noticed her hand holding the needle pause briefly.

He sighed slightly in relief, feeling he had chosen the right topic.

"I’ve always wondered. The sixth prince, born to the Imperial Noble Consort, is still so young. Why would the Qu Clan act now? Even if the Emperor and Empress are at odds, as long as Her Majesty the Empress makes no mistakes, the eldest and third princes remain unshakable. What they’re doing is downright reckless."

Eleven Miss kept her head down, swiftly stitching, showing no reaction.

"...Later, with Feng Qing’s matter, the Qu Clan acted with ruthless and cunning. But when they accused me of 'lapses in moral conduct,' their tactics shifted—less vicious, more refined. I found it strange at the time. The Qu Clan’s actions seemed erratic. So, when the eldest prince’s consort selection came up, I specifically instructed Ma Zuowen to report back to me. Guess what I discovered?"

Eleven Miss seemed completely indifferent, pulling out a thread and squinting to thread the needle under the lamplight.

Lord Xu felt slightly disappointed but continued, "I found the recommended candidates for the eldest prince’s consort quite interesting. The Yang family only put forward those with close ties to them. The Qu Clan, however, was different. They recommended only two daughters from allied families. The other two were nominally proposed by the Ministry of Rites, but upon closer inspection, they had subtle but traceable connections to the Qu Clan..."

The selection of the eldest prince’s consort involved court politics—full of illusions and truths, truths and illusions. Naturally, the Qu Clan would lay groundwork. That was a given. What was there to say? Eleven Miss thought scornfully to herself, keeping her head down as she embroidered.