Chapter 371

Chapter 376: Spring Blossoms (Part 1)

Lady Eleven had a maid bring stools for the concubines to sit.

Nanny Nanyong brought Xu Sijie over to pay respects.

Lady Eleven was slightly surprised.

It was barely dawn, and the sky was still dark—why had they come so early?

She looked at Nanny Nanyong, but she averted her gaze and set Xu Sijie down on the ground.

Xu Sijie bowed to Lady Eleven. Unlike usual, he didn’t rush into her arms but stood stiffly aside with his hands at his sides.

Lady Eleven found it odd, but remembering that Mr. Zhao had been teaching him etiquette lately, she let it go. She gestured to Lady Yang and introduced Xu Sijie, “This is Lady Yang.” Then she turned to Xu Sijie and said, “This is Fifth Young Master!”

Hearing this, Lady Yang quickly smiled and greeted Xu Sijie, “Fifth Young Master,” while curtsying to him.

But Xu Sijie didn’t even glance at her. Instead, he looked at Lady Eleven and mumbled, “Lady Yang,” before turning back to glance at Nanny Nanyong, then at Lady Eleven again, pouting sulkily.

Nanny Nanyong probably worried that Lady Yang would look down on her for spoiling him!

Lady Eleven smiled at Nanny Nanyong and waved Xu Sijie over, “Come, come to Mother!”

Xu Sijie beamed and rushed into Lady Eleven’s arms like a bird let loose.

“*Mother*, *Mother*! Can I play you a tune on the flute today?”

Yesterday, Lady Eleven had been busy with Lady Yang’s arrival and had Nanny Nanyong tuck Xu Sijie in early.

“Of course!” Lady Eleven ruffled his hair with a smile.

Xu Sijie grinned happily.

A maid entered, “My lady, Fourth Young Master is here to pay his respects!”

“Please bring him in at once!” Lady Eleven instructed cheerfully.

Xu Sijie, nestled beside Lady Eleven, peeked eagerly.

Xu Sizhun walked in, dressed in a sapphire-blue robe in the Huhang fashion.

“Mother!” He bowed respectfully to Lady Eleven, but when he looked up and saw an unfamiliar young woman, he realized she must be his father’s new concubine and couldn’t help but eye her with curiosity.

Lady Eleven introduced Lady Yang to him.

Lady Yang knew this child was surely the heir of the Yongping Marquis’s household.

She curtsied, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

He looked to be only six or seven years old, with snow-white skin and a slender frame, as if his clothes might swallow him.

He gave a cursory bow toward her before running to Lady Eleven’s side.

“Fifth brother!” He and Xu Sijie tumbled into a hug, and Xu Sijie giggled as he returned the embrace. Then the two exchanged whispers before Xu Sizhun tugged at Lady Eleven’s sleeve and wheedled, “Mother, I haven’t had lunch with you in days. Let me eat here today! I want those pork and corn dumplings with bean sprouts.”

“*Mother*, *Mother*!” Xu Sijie also tugged at her sleeve, “Me too!”

The atmosphere in the room instantly became lively.

"Alright, alright, don’t tear my sleeves!" Lady Eleven chided the boys with a laugh. "I’ll have Zhuxiang and the others make pork and bean sprout dumplings with corn for lunch!"

The boys cheered.

Xu Sizhun took Xu Sijie’s hand. "Mother, we’re off to school!"

"Your father drank too much yesterday and is resting in the bedchamber," Lady Eleven said, straightening Xu Sizhun’s collar with a smile. "Go and greet him before heading to school."

Hearing this, Xu Sizhun pouted and hovered near Lady Eleven.

Standing behind Lady Eleven, Qiao Lianfang’s gaze drifted toward the bedchamber’s door curtain.

Lady Wen, watching coolly, couldn’t help but think scornfully of Qiao Lianfang’s foolishness.

Even if she wanted to curry favor, she shouldn’t have done so on the very day Yang Shi came to pay her respects to Lady Eleven for the first time.

At this thought, she glanced at Yang Shi.

Yang Shi perched primly on the stool, eyes downcast, as if she hadn’t heard Lady Eleven’s words, still as a statue.

Lady Wen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

This one, it seemed, was no pushover either!

As she pondered, Qin Yi’s sweetly mocking tone reached her ears: "Fourth Young Master, with the mistress here, you needn’t worry. His Lordship won’t scold you."

Everyone in the household knew Lord Xu was dissatisfied with Xu Sizhun’s timid and weak demeanor. Whenever Xu Sizhun paid his respects, seven or eight times out of ten, he would receive a lecture.

Qin Yi’s words in front of Yang Shi carried hidden barbs.

If Lord Xu didn’t reprimand him, it would simply be a scene of loving mother and dutiful son. But if he did…

Lady Wen sighed softly to herself.

Was Qin Yi trying to tell Yang Shi that Xu Sizhun, despite being the heir, wasn’t favored? Or was she implying that Lady Eleven was merely a mere stepmother, unworthy of Lord Xu’s regard?

She turned her gaze to Xu Sizhun.

Both Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie clung to Lady Eleven’s side. One had a fine-boned face resembling Lady Eleven, while the other had sharp phoenix eyes reminiscent of Lord Xu. Both bore the prominent Xu nose, making them look like blood brothers to an outsider.

With these two standing before Lord Xu…

Lady Wen smiled faintly.

This time, Qin Yi might have misjudged!

The thought flashed through her mind, and a mischievous impulse arose. She added slyly, "Indeed, Fourth Young Master, with the mistress here, you needn’t hesitate!"

Lady Eleven gave her a quizzical glance.

Qin Yi’s words carried hidden meanings. Others might not notice, but someone as astute as Lady Wen surely did. She had always kept clear of these games—why was she now egging it on?

Noticing Lady Eleven’s glance, Lady Wen winked back mischievously.

Though Lady Eleven didn’t understand her intent, she only puzzled her further.

The children, of course, were oblivious to the adults’ thoughts. Xu Sizhun, in particular, took their words at face value. Lady Eleven always protected him—if he were scolded, she would surely speak up for him. Besides, it was his duty to greet his father.

His spirits lifted, and he led Xu Sijie by the hand into the inner chamber.

Amber moved forward without a word to lift the curtain for them, then followed the two brothers inside.

Eleven Miss relaxed slightly, picked up her teacup, and took a few sips of tea, her sidelong glance assessing Yang Shi.

For a moment, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

From the inner chamber came Lord Xu’s softer-than-usual tone and Xu Sizhun’s stammered responses, occasionally punctuated by Xu Sijie’s laughter.

Eleven Miss noticed Yang Shi’s fingers flexing faintly on her lap.

She curved her lips slightly and glanced at Lady Wen.

There, she saw Lady Wen’s mouth alight with derision as she stared at Qin Yi, her eyes filled with mockery.

Why was Lady Wen so certain that Lord Xu wouldn’t scold Xu Sizhun this time?

Eleven Miss was puzzled but knew the silence couldn’t continue. She turned to Lady Wen with a smile and said, "This is Wuyi tea gifted from the palace before the New Year. How do you find it?"

Lady Wen, ever skilled at social niceties, immediately replied, "I’m no connoisseur—any fine tea might as well be ditchwater to me. Lady Qiao, you’re the one who truly appreciates such things. What do you think of this tea?"

Qiao Lianfang’s heart felt as if it were searing in a wok.

Last night, upon hearing that Lord Xu had stayed in Eleven Miss’s quarters, she had quietly congratulated herself—perhaps Yang Shi was too plain to catch his eye, or her earlier words to Eleven Miss had worked, prompting Eleven Miss to keep him there. But this morning, upon seeing Yang Shi, her heart sank.

She hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to bestow such a stunning beauty upon Lord Xu. Even more surprising was that Eleven Miss had still managed to keep him in her room, making a pointed slight to Yang Shi.

Then she recalled how, ever since she had ruined Lord Xu’s heir, he had treated her with a veil of formality. Now, with this new beauty entering the household, if she didn’t act soon, he would forget her entirely.

Yet to counter Yang Shi, she could only rely on Eleven Miss’s position as the principal wife—because only the principal wife could take certain actions without reproach.

Having made up her mind, she had entered the hall linking arms with Eleven Miss, hoping to mend their relationship while subtly signaling to Yang Shi that she and Eleven Miss were as close as sisters.

But then Yang Shi had knelt without hesitation to present shoes and socks, her obeisance outdoing even that of Qin Yi, who had once been a maid.

Qiao Lianfang felt a chill of dread.

If this continued, Eleven Miss might grow fond of Yang Shi.

Then she thought of the ill will between her and Eleven Miss.

If Eleven Miss used Yang Shi against her… what place would remain for her?

Her heart still pounding, she suddenly heard Lady Wen call her name.

Qiao Lianfang started, taking a moment to collect herself. Seeing everyone’s eyes on her, she frantically tried to remember Lady Wen’s question before pasting on a smile. "I—I—"

She stammered for a while without finishing.

Just then, the inner chamber’s curtain was swept aside, and Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie emerged, grinning excitedly.

All eyes turned to the two brothers.

Qiao Lianfang let out a covert sigh of relief.

"Mother, Fifth Brother and I are heading to lessons!" Xu Sizhun called loudly to Eleven Miss, his voice vibrating with glee.

Eleventh Miss stood up to see them off. "Be careful on your way."

The two brothers nodded in unison as Zhenjie arrived.

"Big Sister, you're late!" Xu Sizhun seemed livelier than usual. "Fifth Brother and I already greeted Mother and Father and are about to leave for school."

Zhenjie's face flushed slightly as she defended herself, "I went to pick flowers for Mother."

Only then did Xu Sizhun notice the pale green-glazed vase (celadon) held by Xiao Li behind her, filled with four or five large camellias as big as bowls.

Zhenjie stepped forward to greet Eleventh Miss.

"Mother," she took the vase from Xiao Li, "these camellias—do you think they look nice? I specifically asked Ji Ting's wife to grow them. They're replacing the hibiscus for now, until we have magnolias in a few days."

Everyone in the household knew that Eleventh Miss loved placing large flowers on her windowsill. Though there was a greenhouse, technical limitations prevented year-round supply. While the camellias lacked the wild charm of Mu Fu's hibiscus, they carried a dignified grace, especially since Zhenjie had gone out of her way to bring them.

"Beautiful!" Eleventh Miss smiled as she took the vase. "Very beautiful!" She added, "At this time of year, asking Ji Ting's wife to grow camellias for you must have been quite a trouble for her, hasn’t it?"

Zhenjie pursed her lips in a smile but didn’t reply.