Chapter 364

Chapter 369: Drama (Part 2)

Lord Xu did not return all night. Lady Eleven understood that even if the Emperor had reconciled with Lord Xu, and even if he harbored any grievances, he would never resort to such a crude method as summoning someone to the palace for an ambush. Moreover, since the Empress Dowager intended to form a marital alliance with the Xu family, she certainly would not harm Lord Xu. Though he remained in the palace, he was perfectly safe. Yet, Lady Eleven tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

At times, she thought about how this man, despite his high status and considerable influence, still had little freedom, often constrained by others. At other moments, she reflected that absolute freedom did not exist in this world—it was merely a matter of relative comfort compared to others. And sometimes, she concluded that it all boiled down to the system itself. Since the broader environment could not be changed, one could only strive to adapt and secure the greatest possible freedom. Everyone was merely jostling for advantage in the end... Thinking this way, she suddenly found herself rather ridiculous, overly sentimental.

Thus, she slipped in and out of sleep until dawn, her rest uneasy.

Amber came in to help her dress.

"Has Lord Xu returned yet?" Lady Eleven felt there were many matters to discuss with Lord Xu and worried that if he returned late at night, he might rest elsewhere without her knowledge.

Seeing that Lady Eleven did not look well, Amber replied cautiously, "Lord Xu hasn’t returned. There’s also no news from the palace."

Lady Eleven nodded and prepared to wash.

The three concubines came to greet her.

Qin Yi wore a look of confusion and discomfort. Lady Wen, usually talkative, was unusually silent. Qiao Lianfang kept studying Lady Eleven’s expression, hesitating as if wanting to speak but holding back.

It seemed everyone had already heard.

Since children also lived in her quarters, it was better to clarify the matter openly rather than let them speculate and create tension. In any case, the new concubine would arrive in just over ten days.

"Last night, I received an edict," Lady Eleven said slowly, sweeping her gaze over the three concubines. "The Empress Dowager has granted the third daughter of Marquis Jianning’s clansman, Yang Zhong, to Lord Xu as a concubine."

Before she finished speaking, the three concubines’ expressions changed dramatically.

Qin Yi looked bewildered and uneasy, Lady Wen was visibly shocked, and Qiao Lianfang turned ashen-faced, staring straight at Lady Eleven. "So it’s true!" she said in a tone of disbelief.

"Of course it’s true," Lady Eleven replied calmly. "The new concubine will enter the household on the twelfth of March."

"What about Lord Xu?" Qiao Lianfang’s eyes widened. "What did Lord Xu say?"

Whether it was due to lack of sleep or reality, Lady Eleven felt as though Qiao Lianfang’s slender figure swayed slightly.

"Lord Xu is still in the palace," Lady Eleven said. "We haven’t had the chance to speak yet. But since the edict has been issued, the matter is settled."

Qiao Lianfang said nothing, biting her lips until they turned white. Just then, Nanyong’s wife arrived with Xu Sijie to greet her, followed shortly by Xu Sizhun, Zhenjie, and Xu Siyu.

After some thought, Lady Eleven tactfully informed the children about the new concubine’s arrival.

Xu Siyu, as usual, stood silently to the side without a word. Zhenjie lowered her head, twisting her hands. Xu Sizhun remained calm and even asked Lady Eleven, "Should we request leave from Tutor Zhao that day?"

The "we" he referred to included himself and Xu Sijie.

Xu Sijie, too young to comprehend, sat obediently, widening his eyes curiously at Xu Sizhun and Lady Eleven when he heard his brother mention "we."

Since the new concubine was from a respectable family and bestowed by the Empress Dowager, proper ceremonies would undoubtedly be observed. There would likely be a banquet, inviting relatives, friends, and close acquaintances for a toast.

"We only received the edict yesterday. Nothing has been decided yet," Lady Eleven said with a smile. "Once arrangements are made, you’ll be informed." She then asked if they had eaten, and the children confirmed they had. Lady Eleven raised her teacup. "Everyone may go now. If anything arises, you’ll be informed in advance."

Xu Siyu bowed and withdrew.

Seeing this, Qin Yi hastily curtsied to Lady Eleven. "Then I’ll return to my room to sew garments for Young Master Five." She hurried out after Xu Siyu.

Zhenjie cast a worried glance at Lady Eleven before withdrawing to the East annex.

Lady Eleven’s room was heated by a hypocaust and warmed walls. After the first snowfall last year, she had instructed Zhenjie to move her embroidery frame to the East annex, where she could work in warmth.

Xu Sizhun took Xu Sijie's hand and said, "Mother, we're going to the Twin Lotus Courtyard."

The maidservants scurried around, some carrying food boxes, others holding book bags, filling the room with lively commotion.

Lady Wen bowed respectfully to Eleven Miss before withdrawing.

Eleven Miss stepped down from the heated brick bed (kang), intending to see the two brothers off as usual, but noticed Qiao Lianfang hesitating nearby, seemingly torn between staying and leaving. She shot Amber a meaningful look, then escorted the brothers to the courtyard gate with a smile before heading straight to the main hall to handle household affairs.

Before long, Qiao Lianfang requested an audience.

A senior maid eyed her curiously.

Her eyes flashed with unease as she bowed respectfully to Eleven Miss and said softly, "My lady, I heard there will be celebrations for the second young master on the third of March, and now a new lady is joining the household. You must have much to attend to. If there’s anything I can assist with, please do not hesitate to command me. I wish to help however I can."

*Was she trying to learn more about the newcomer?*

Eleven Miss nodded slightly. "If there’s a need, I will certainly ask for your assistance, Aunt Qiao."

Qiao Lianfang hesitated, but seeing Eleven Miss already turning to speak with the senior maid, she withdrew.

No sooner had she left than a maidservant rushed in. "Madame, Madame, Lady Zhou has arrived!"

Eleven Miss brightened at the news.

Yesterday, Lord Xu had hinted that he had persuaded Princess Fucheng to enter the palace as well. Could there be news from there?

She rose to greet Lady Zhou at the ornamental gate.

Just as she stepped out of the courtyard, she saw Lady Zhou descending from a green curtain carriage.

Her face was stormy. She wore a grand, gold-embroidered red robe, her hair styled in a round bun adorned with gold hairpins and jade ornaments. A jade belt cinched her waist, from which hung a creamy white jade pendant. Her attire was formal and lavish, as if she had just attended a banquet—or perhaps returned from the palace.

Eleven Miss wondered this as she hurried forward to greet Lady Zhou.

But Lady Zhou grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house.

Her strides were long, making Eleven Miss hurry to keep up.

"Out!" Lady Zhou commanded Eleven Miss’s maids as soon as they entered, as though she were the mistress of the house. "Dismissed! Wait in the winding corridor!"

Eleven Miss, noticing Lady Zhou’s dark expression and the agitation in her voice, grew tense herself, unsure what had happened. She signaled to Lv Yun to dismiss the attendants.

Once the lattice doors closed, Lady Zhou snapped, "Bah! Shameless creatures, acting as if they’ve never seen a man before, scrambling to offer themselves up—"

Eleven Miss was startled by such unrefined language, wondering if Shi Zheng had stirred up trouble outside. "What’s happened?" she asked hastily.

"Didn’t the Dowager Empress unexpectedly gift you a concubine?" Lady Zhou said coldly.

*The news had spread so quickly!*

Eleven Miss nodded slightly.

Lady Zhou continued with biting sarcasm, "And she sent a concubine to my husband too!"

Eleven Miss was stunned.

She stared at Lady Zhou wide-eyed. "She sent a concubine to Lord Zhou as well?"

Lady Zhou nodded, the veins at her temples visibly throbbing.

"And they even had the nerve to say 'a family of noble lineage, raising children with virtue.' What kind of 'noble lineage' does the Yang family have? If you pull out their family records and trace back three generations, they probably claim descent from the 'Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Xia and Shang dynasties.' How dare they call themselves 'noble'?" Her chest heaved with anger. "I never knew that sending one's daughter to be a concubine counted as 'raising children with virtue.' I ought to weep for all the empresses and imperial princesses of past dynasties..."

The tone of the Empress Dowager's edict resembled the appointment of inner court ladies. No wonder Lady Zhou spoke this way.

Miss Eleven, seeing her flushed with rage, quickly poured a cup of warm tea and handed it to her. "Lady Zhou, please sit down and have some tea. It's not worth ruining your health over such despicable people!"

Lady Zhou sat down in a huff and took a sip of tea. Only then did she notice that Miss Eleven appeared calm as usual. A thought struck her, and she couldn't help but say, "You probably don’t know yet who the Empress Dowager has bestowed upon Lord Xu and my husband, do you?"

Miss Eleven recalled the name "Yang Zhong, a clansman of Marquis Jianning" written in the edict and said, "They must be from a collateral branch of the Yang family?"

Lady Zhou nodded, her tone more measured now. "I sent someone to inquire. Both were personally selected by Marquis Jianning from his relatives, originally meant for the palace. For years, they were specially tutored in poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting—not to mention singing and dancing..." Here, she paused slightly. "Tell me, what decent family teaches their daughters such skills? And how could women skilled in these arts ever enter households like ours? You’re a sensible person. Having such women in the household, and with official standing at that—who knows what scandals might brew?"

"We can’t defy the edict," Miss Eleven said. "We’ll just have to fight fire with fire and take things one step at a time."

"Believe me, I know!" Lady Zhou’s mood darkened. "But I simply can’t stomach this insult. From the moment I received the decree last night until now, I haven’t been able to calm down."

Though the Yang women were banking on the Empress Dowager’s backing, the Empress Dowager’s health and the Emperor’s take on this were crucial. Yet the Yang family dared to use such forceful means to arrange marriages, clearly confident in these two Yang women.

Miss Eleven couldn’t help but ask, "What does Lord Zhou think?"

"He accompanied Princess Fukang into the palace yesterday and still hasn’t returned!" Lady Zhou sighed.

Miss Eleven’s heart stirred at this.

The imperial guards answered directly to the Emperor, and keeping figures like Princess Fukang, Lord Xu, and even Shi Zheng overnight in the palace would be impossible without the Emperor’s approval!

She thought of how the Emperor had repeatedly refused the Empress Dowager.

Could this be the Emperor’s will?

No—if it were the Emperor’s will, why was it issued as the Empress Dowager’s edict?

Her thoughts churned, and her replies to Lady Zhou grew absentminded. Meanwhile, Lady Zhou, having vented her feelings, was in much better spirits. After chatting a while longer with Miss Eleven, she rose to take her leave.

Miss Eleven escorted her to the ornate gate.

She had just returned to the main hall and sat down when Lord Xu came back.