Chapter 385

**Chapter 390: Turmoil (Part 2)**

The news that Concubine Qiao had been sent to Great Enlightenment Temple quickly spread throughout the entire household.

The young maids who usually whispered in the alleys near the eastern courtyard were nowhere to be seen. Those standing guard under the eaves kept their heads lowered, appearing even more deferential than usual. The matrons who often lounged by the moon gate, flaunting their seniority, now hid in their rooms. The Yongping Marquisate suddenly fell into silence, with only the chirping of cicadas filling the air.

"That child—one wrong step led to another," the elder madam sighed, reclining on the heated brick bed by the window as Nurse Du fanned her. "Now she’s become unrecognizable." She lamented Concubine Lianfang’s fate.

"It’s her own fate," Nurse Du comforted her. "Our marquis is generous, and the Fourth Madame is kind. If she couldn’t find peace even with such people, she has no one to blame but herself."

"Resentment and anger only cloud judgment," the elder madam nodded. "Sending her to Great Enlightenment Temple for reflection might help her find her way back."

"Exactly as you say," Nurse Du smiled, handing the fan to a young maid and taking a bowl of lotus seed and lily bulb soup from another. "Now, regarding the wedding of the eldest son and grandson of that branch in Nanjing—what gifts should we send?"

A letter had arrived from Nanjing a few days ago, announcing that Xu Linghong’s eldest son would marry on the eighteenth of September.

"As the eldest son and grandson of that branch, we mustn’t be careless," the elder madam chuckled. "But I’m no longer in charge of the household. We’ll just enjoy ourselves and follow orders."

Nurse Du laughed. "From the way you speak, one might think you want to go to Nanjing yourself!"

"Ah!" The elder madam sat up, her face lighting up. "That’s not a bad idea. I’ll mention it to the Fourth Son and the Eleventh Miss. If I could really go, I’d have no regrets. I visited once when I was seven or eight, around this season. All I remember is my father drinking with many others in a riverside pavilion while I pestered them to leave. Some servant—I don’t recall whose—bought me a lotus-leaf-wrapped bundle of water caltrops for five copper coins. To this day, I can still recall the fragrance of that lotus leaf..."

The topic shifted, and no one mentioned Great Enlightenment Temple again.

Lady Yang, however, gasped. "She was sent to Great Enlightenment Temple?"

Nurse Yang nodded. "None of Concubine Qiao’s attendants, not even Xiu Yuan, were allowed to accompany her. I heard this from Rui Zhu. Song Mama said this in her presence—there’s no mistake."

Lady Yang’s slender brows knit, her expression growing solemn.

"My lady," Nurse Yang hesitated, "isn’t Lady Qiao’s removal to Great Enlightenment Temple... beneficial for you?"

"With one less person, things will naturally be simpler," Lady Yang murmured, glancing toward the main house where the Eleventh Madame resided. "But some matters may now require reconsideration."

Nurse Yang was puzzled. "What matters need reconsideration?"

Lady Yang knew her nursemaid was loyal but not a strategist. She smiled faintly. "How best to curry favor with the madam, of course."

Nurse Yang’s heart ached, but she didn’t know what to say.

Lady Yang then cheerfully instructed, "Bring out all the embroidery designs I brought into the household. Let’s see if any suit the bridal trousseau."

******

Meanwhile, Concubine Wen was deep in thought. "Great Enlightenment Temple... why does that sound familiar? Yet I can’t quite recall."

"Then don’t dwell on it," Qiu Hong laughed. "It’s clearly no pleasant place—why else would Concubine Qiao be sent there after offending the madam?" She was more curious about another matter. "My lady, has the madam said how she’ll deal with Xiu Yuan and the others?"

Concubine Wen snapped her fan shut twice. "They’re restricted to their quarters, assisting the embroiderers with needlework."

Qiu Hong giggled. "The madam really does love assigning needlework!"

"Needlework keeps them busy," Concubine Wen mused. "Keeps them indoors and out of trouble..." Suddenly, she froze.

"What is it?" Qiu Hong asked curiously.

"Nothing, nothing," Concubine Wen murmured, her thoughts clearly wandering. "I was just thinking... the madam often has Concubine Qin do needlework too..."

"What’s strange about that?" Qiu Hong frowned. "Isn’t it a concubine’s place to assist the madam with such tasks?"

Concubine Wen fell silent, her mind seemingly elsewhere.

That evening, when she went to greet Eleventh Sister, she seemed quieter than usual. However, Qin Yi and Yang Shi didn’t notice—compared to them, she was still quite talkative. Eleventh Sister, who did notice, mused: After what happened with Qiao Lianfang, everyone must have their own thoughts on the matter.

After a few exchanges, she offered tea.

The next day, Mistress Jian visited.

"Prince Shun has introduced another commission," she said cheerfully. "Embroidering magpie bridge patches for the Qixi Festival."

"Our shop is practically known only for patches now," Eleventh Sister laughed, then asked, "What’s the price like?"

"The same as last time," Mistress Jian smiled. "But triple the quantity. The shopkeeper sent me to discuss hiring more workers with you."

In other words, this would bring a decent profit.

"If business is good, of course we should bring in more workers."

Receiving approval, Mistress Jian took her leave happily.

Just then, the gardenia that Ji Ting had been nurturing in the greenhouse for Eleventh Sister bloomed. After giving some to Grandmother, Second Aunt, and Fifth Aunt, only four or five flowers remained. Eleventh Sister sent two to Lady Lin and brought the remaining three to Elder Madam Gan.

"It's more fragrant than tuberose and jasmine, and much bigger too," Elder Madam Gan exclaimed. "Only your household could grow such flowers!" She then told a maid to fetch a crimson-glazed bowl from the bottom of a chest to hold the flowers, and ordered another maid to cut some watermelon.

Seeing her delight, Eleventh Sister felt pleased too. As they enjoyed the fruit together, she mentioned matters concerning the shop.

Elder Madam Gan brightened. "There’s the gourd-patterned patch for New Year’s, lantern patches for the Lantern Festival, five-poison tiger motifs for the Dragon Boat Festival, chrysanthemum patches for the Double Ninth, and yang-sheng patterns for the winter solstice… There’s steady business all year round. You should show proper gratitude to Prince Shun."

"I was thinking the same," Eleventh Sister smiled. "I’d like to ask Mistress Jian to embroider a Hundred Playful Children jacket for Princess Shun. What do you think?"

"A wonderful idea," Elder Madam Gan nodded eagerly. "It’s auspicious and will showcase Mistress Jian’s skill."

They talked at length before Eleventh Sister finally left after dinner.

Song Mama greeted her at the ornamental gate. "Madam, no sooner had you left than Master Zhu Anping and Seventh Sister arrived. Grandmother kept them for dinner—they’re chatting in the western side room now."

Eleventh Sister was surprised. "She wrote just a couple days ago and didn’t mention coming to Yanjing…"

Song Mama helped her into the small covered carriage. "They said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision."

That sounded just like Seventh Sister.

Back home, three ladies were waiting under the eaves to greet her. Eleventh Sister exchanged brief greetings and dismissed them quickly, then changed clothes before heading to Grandmother’s quarters.

As she approached, she heard cheerful laughter. Entering the western side room, she saw Seventh Sister and Fifth Aunt sitting on either side of Grandmother, chatting animatedly, while Lord Xu, Xu Lingkuan, and Zhu Anping sat smiling in nearby armchairs listening.

At her entrance, Seventh Sister, Fifth Aunt, Xu Lingkuan, and Zhu Anping all stood up to greet her.

Eleventh Sister returned their greetings with a smile, and Seventh Sister immediately took her arm.

"We were waiting for you to come back," she said eagerly. "We're discussing plans for the Qixi Festival." She added, "Dan County and I have already agreed—we want to invite Seventh Sister that day. Fifth Brother promised to help us get some Qixi needles from the Armaments Bureau."

The Qixi Festival was traditionally a women’s celebration, and the Xu family always prepared grandly, playing games like threading needles and spider-web divination.

"No need to worry," Eleventh Sister laughed. "I’ll make sure fruits, tea, flowers, and incense burners are ready—I won’t let you down." Seventh Sister turned to Fifth Aunt and said, "You can trust my Eleventh Sister—she always keeps her word."

Fifth Aunt smiled gratefully. "Then we’ll bother Fourth Sister-in-law!"

Since she managed household affairs, it was naturally her responsibility.

"Fifth Sister-in-law, no need for formalities!" Eleventh Sister replied warmly before shifting the conversation to where they should best entertain Seventh Sister.

Seventh Miss and the fifth wife began to discuss things enthusiastically.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xu Linyi stood up: "The Double Seventh Festival is still a few days away, and it's already curfew time. Why don't you stay here tonight and continue tomorrow morning?"

The fifth wife and Seventh Miss got along well, so she urged her to stay: "You can rest at my place tonight, and let Fifth Master accompany Master Zhu in the western chamber."

Xu Lingkuan quickly chimed in to Zhu Anping: "Exactly, exactly! You and I can stay in the western chamber. We're about the same height—you can just wear my clothes." As he spoke, he shot Zhu Anping a meaningful look behind the fifth wife's back.

Zhu Anping remained composed, thought for a moment, and then said, "Since you're so kind, I won't refuse. I'll trouble Fifth Master and the fifth wife then."

Xu Lingkuan beamed: "No trouble at all, no trouble at all."

The elder madam had long worried that the Xu family was too few in number and seemed sparse. Zhu Anping, being both an in-law and level-headed, was well-liked by the elderly. Naturally, the elder madam was pleased to see them grow closer and said cheerfully, "Off to bed with you all now!"

The group had only dispersed out of concern that the elder madam might be tired. Hearing this, they smiled and bowed to her before leaving her courtyard together, then each returned to their quarters with Xu Linyi and his wife.

As soon as they entered, Xu Linyi called for Lin Bo: "Go and see what Fifth Master gets up to tonight?"

Eleven Miss immediately stopped him: "Fifth Master is a grown man. Besides, Zhu Anping is with him. He's not someone who doesn't know what's appropriate."

Xu Linyi pondered for a moment before washing up and retiring for the night.

However, he slept restlessly.

The next morning, when they went to pay respects to the elder madam, Xu Lingkuan looked weary.

He chuckled sheepishly: "I talked with Zhu, my brother-in-law, late into the night."

And just like that, Zhu Anping was directly promoted from "Master Zhu" to "Zhu, my brother-in-law."

Eleven Miss suppressed a smile.

Xu Linyi cleared his throat uncomfortably a couple of times.