Chapter 381

Chapter 386: Green Hills (Middle)

Upon returning to Hehua Lane, Eleven Miss first went to pay her respects to the elder madam.

The elder madam reclined cheerfully on the kang by the window, watching Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie entertain Xin Jieer, who was taking her first wobbly steps, with bright red apples. The room was filled with laughter and lively chatter.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Fifth Madame had never been particularly fond of Xin Jieer playing with Xu Sijie, so why today…

Before she could finish the thought, Xu Sijie rushed over. "Mama! Mama!"

Eleven Miss quickly pushed aside her thoughts and smiled, patting his head.

She then called out 'Mother' to the elder madam.

"You're back!" The elder madam sat up straight with a smile.

Xu Sizhun, abandoning Xin Jieer, also ran over. "Mama, why are you back so late?" His tone carried a hint of playful whining. "You didn’t hear us play our flutes today—we learned a new tune from Mr. Zhao."

"Really?" Eleven Miss bent down, smiling as she looked at Xu Sizhun. "I’m so sorry. I went to visit Elder Madam Gan and missed your new song. How about you play it for me bright and early tomorrow?"

Xu Sizhun wanted to play for her right away and hesitated at her suggestion. Xu Sijie, however, was happy with whatever Eleven Miss said and clapped his hands. "Yes! Yes!" Unable to insist, Xu Sizhun gave a reluctant nod.

Meanwhile, Xin Jieer, who had just been surrounded by attention, suddenly found herself alone. Startled, she stood there, tilting her head to glance at the elder madam, who was smiling at Eleven Miss, then turned to look at her silent nurse. Finally, her gaze settled on Eleven Miss, who was encircled by Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie. Her lips quivered, and with a loud "Wah!", she burst into pitiful sobs.

Everyone was startled.

Xin Jieer’s nurse hurried over in a few quick steps and picked her up. "Aiya! Little miss, little miss…" she crooned softly.

Only then did Eleven Miss realize that neither Fifth Madame nor Nanny Shi was present.

Xin Jieer was Fifth Madame’s first child, and due to her frail health, Fifth Madame was especially protective, rarely letting her out of sight. If she had errands that made it inconvenient to bring Xin Jieer along, she would always leave her in the care of her most trusted Nanny Shi…

No wonder the three children had been playing together.

What urgent matter could Fifth Madame have?

As Eleven Miss pondered, Xin Jieer began squirming in her nurse’s hold, clamoring for Xu Sizhun, clearly demanding his attention.

Seeing this, Xu Sizhun quickly ran over and took Xin Jieer’s hand.

Xin Jieer quieted down, burrowing into her nurse’s shoulder and reducing her cries to quiet hiccups.

"Aiya!" the nurse crooned with a laugh. "So our little miss favorites the fourth young master!" Her tone carried a hint of flattery.

Xu Sizhun ducked his head, sheepish.

Everyone laughed.

Eleven Miss stepped up and curtsied to the elder madam.

The elder madam smiled and nodded, gesturing to the cushion opposite her for Eleven Miss to sit. "How is Fuzhen faring?"

"She’s doing well," Eleven Miss replied, sitting down as a maid served tea. "Though she’s still a bit listless, her complexion is much better than before."

"She’s still young and has many years ahead of her," the elder madam sighed softly. "It’s good that she’s slowly recovering."

The elder madam, also a widow, knew the feeling well.

Elevenniang didn’t want to upset the elder madam, so she smiled and changed the subject: “Why isn’t Fifth Younger Sister here?”

“She has a fever,” the elder madam replied with a smile. “She was afraid of passing the illness to the children, so she left Xin Jieer in my room for a few days.”

No wonder the children are playing together now.

In those days, even a minor cold could be fatal. Elevenniang couldn’t help but worry: “What did the doctor say? Is it serious?”

“Chief Physician Liu said a few doses of medicine will suffice,” the elder madam said cheerfully. “I sent Madam Du to check on her. She took the medicine, broke a sweat, and has just rested.”

“Then I’ll visit her tomorrow.”

As they spoke, the sound of children’s laughter rang out.

Elevenniang and the elder madam turned to look and saw three children clustered together, taking turns tugging at a chick-pecking-at-rice toy, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Watching the children’s innocent joy, both women couldn’t help but smile.

The elder madam took Elevenniang’s hand. “I’m old now and just want to dote on my grandchildren. From now on, unless it’s an old friend like Lady Huang, you can handle hosting guests without bringing them to me.”

Elevenniang was surprised but deeply moved.

She knew the elder madam disliked the Yang family, but with the Empress Dowager still alive and the Yangs moving in the same social circles as the Xus, some formalities had to be observed. This was partly why she had avoided receiving the Lady of Jianning Hou when she visited—to hint to the Yangs. She hadn’t expected the elder madam to support her so wholeheartedly, not only without reproach but also handing her the reins to the household’s social affairs.

“Mother!” Elevenniang squeezed the elder madam’s hand in return.

The elder madam chuckled and patted her hand. “Enough of that. You spent the whole afternoon with Elder Madam Gan—what did you talk about? How is the Gan family doing? The Gan elders sent someone yesterday morning to invite me to their new home for an opera performance.”

Elevenniang, grateful for the elder madam’s trust, didn’t stand on ceremony and shared some amusing anecdotes.

When the elder madam heard that Lady Gan had volunteered to perform morning and evening obeisances for Elder Madam Gan, she nodded approvingly. “‘Respect your elders as you would have others respect theirs...’ If she can truly practice what she preaches, the Gan family may yet recover.” Hearing about commissions for ceremonial robes at the bridal shop, she was delighted. “We must thank Prince Shun properly and ask if he has more such business to recommend. The first years are tough, but it gets easier.”

Elevenniang nodded in agreement. Noticing Xin Jieer yawning despite her laughter, she worried the child might become too excited to sleep and rose to leave.

The elder madam, knowing she had been out all day, didn’t insist she stay and had Madam Du escort her and Xu Sijie out.

Back in her room, Lord Xu had already washed and was reclining in bed with a book. Seeing her return, he teased, “Well? Did confiding in Elder Madam Gan all day lift your spirits?”

As if she had left in a huff.

Elevenniang was exasperated but smiled sweetly. “As Confucius said, friendship is one of the five cardinal relationships. A true friend brings benefit; I merely followed the sage’s advice by visiting one—and of course, I feel better.”

Lord Xu laughed heartily.

Elevenniang ignored him and went to freshen up.

When she returned, he was still smiling faintly. Pretending not to notice, she blew out the lamp and lay down, only to be immediately pulled into his arms.

“Mo Yan, Mo Yan,” he sighed softly. “Silly thing, don’t make things hard for yourself like this.”

She had just seized the chance to see a friend—how was that making things hard?

Elevenniang was momentarily speechless.

Two days later, Lady Zhou arrived unexpectedly.

“The Lady of Jianning Hou wants to visit me,” she said coldly. “I claimed I had plans with you today to visit the bridal shop and passed her off to the princess.”

Elevenniang wasn’t surprised.

Since Lady Jianning had come to visit her, she would naturally visit Lady Zhou as well.

Seeing her calm expression, Lady Zhou quickly understood: "She came to see you too!"

Miss Eleven nodded with a smile: "I did the same as you—avoided her!"

Lady Zhou let out a disdainful "Tch!" and said, "She really thinks she’s something! Gallivanting about—I’d like to see what good it does her!"

Her tone suggested dissatisfaction with what Princess Fucheng had called "treating her as proper family."

But since this was a private matter, Miss Eleven didn’t pry further and instead asked Lady Zhou, "Would you like to visit the wedding emporium?"

"I actually did come to buy something from you," Lady Zhou replied, her tone gradually softening. "I have two maids who’ve served me faithfully, and they’ll soon be leaving to marry. I want to prepare complete trousseaus for them—they deserve it after all their hard work."

Her words sparked an idea in Miss Eleven’s mind.

If they could make it a point of pride for maids from noble households to order their trousseaus from their wedding emporium, their business would truly establish its reputation.

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. While considering how to discuss this with Mistress Jian and the two shopkeepers, she made herself presentable and, after paying respects to the elder madam with Lady Zhou, headed to the wedding emporium.

Lady Zhou spent a good two hours there, not only selecting two trousseaus but also buying a few embroidered kerchiefs for herself. Clearly, she was pleased with the embroidery.

Shopping, venting, and indulgence could all ease one’s unhappiness.

Reading her perfectly, Miss Eleven smiled. "I was about to invite you myself!"

"Then I won’t make a proper nuisance of myself!" Lady Zhou replied cheerfully as they returned to Lotus Lane.

Just as they stepped down from the carriage at the inner gate, a page boy from Lady Zhou’s entourage rushed over.

"Madam, Lady Jianning has left!" he panted, eyes gleaming with mischievous delight. "The princess followed the old custom for receiving relatives—she made her stand in the main courtyard's very center to answer questions!" He grinned. "Lady Jianning was furious… but the princess’s attendant said, ‘This is how we’ve always treated family—we can’t make an exception for her!’"

Lady Zhou burst into laughter.

Still chuckling, she tossed Miss Eleven a triumphant look. "Ours is a princess’s household. There are rules and courtesies for receiving a marquis’s wife, and different ones for receiving relatives. If she insists on being treated as family rather than a noblewoman, then she gets the family treatment!"

Only then did Miss Eleven grasp Princess Fucheng’s intention.

A princess was royalty itself—even her own husband had to kneel before her, to say nothing of distant kin!