Chapter 397

**Chapter 402: New Year (Part 2)**

The next morning, Lady Eleven rose rather late. By the time she completed her toilette and settled into the main hall, the Shao family had arrived with their New Year's tributes.

She received two matrons who had come to pay their respects in the main hall.

"How are your master and mistress?" Lady Eleven asked warmly, motioning to the maids to bring stools for the two women.

They sat gingerly on the edges of the stools. One replied, "Thank you for your concern, madam. Our master and mistress are both well. They specifically sent us with the New Year's tributes to pay our respects to you..."

The other lowered her gaze slightly, taking in the surroundings.

The main hall was a spacious three-bay room with black-lacquered furniture and pillars, adorned with navy-blue curtains. The central scroll depicted the "Eight Steeds," while the desk screen featured a double-sided embroidery of blooming peonies symbolizing prosperity. A large camellia bloom filled the porcelain vase—grand and dignified, somewhat reminiscent of the Shao family's ancestral home in Cangzhou.

Her eyes flicked toward the household stewards standing nearby.

They were of varying ages, all dressed in identical dark green Lu silk waistcoats, their hair coiled in round buns. Some wore gemstone hairpins, others adorned with Western-style pearl and jade flowers, while a few had only plain velvet silk flowers—yet each wore thick gold-wire bracelets. Their postures were upright, their expressions solemn, carrying more dignity than the mistresses of ordinary households, yet their demeanor was as deferential as that of low-ranking maids.

She was slightly surprised and quickly glanced at Lady Eleven.

Lady Yongping appeared no more than fifteen or sixteen, her dark hair loosely coiled. She wore a slightly worn, gold-embroidered pale green jacket, her almond-shaped eyes bright and clear, though a shadow of fatigue lingered between her brows, as if she hadn’t slept well.

The thought flashed through her mind but was quickly dismissed.

With the New Year approaching, which household’s mistress wasn’t beset by preparations? Especially in a prestigious family like the Yongping Marquis’s.

As she pondered, she saw her companion stand up. "Thank you, madam!"

She hurriedly followed suit, curtsying with her companion before being led away by a finely attired maid of about sixteen or seventeen.

"Please follow me, madams," the maid said softly, her tone warm and friendly.

She heard her companion address the girl as "Miss Lüyun": "You needn't trouble yourself to escort us personally—just assign a junior maid to guide us."

"Please don’t stand on ceremony," Lüyun replied with a smile. "Since you’ve come on behalf of your mistress to greet our madam, it’s as if she were here herself." She then led them to an antechamber, seating them at a square table and ordering a maid to warm two pots of Jinhua rice wine. "...for our honored guests from Cangzhou."

Realizing they were being treated to a meal, she smiled and expressed her thanks.

Lüyun exchanged polite remarks about their journey and excused herself once the dishes were served.

Peering through the glass window as Lüyun departed, she was about to sit when two young maids ushered in a fine-featured young man dressed in plain clothes and cloth shoes.

Outside, a maid exclaimed, "The second young master is back!"

All the servants in the room turned to look. Standing by the window, she studied him carefully and asked a nearby maid, "Is this the second young master who studies in Le’an?"

The maid nodded eagerly. "Yes, the second young master who studies in Le’an! He passed the county examinations last year and has returned this year to take the prefectural examinations."

"I thought you’d return in a couple of days," Lady Eleven said with a smile as Xu Siyu bowed in greeting. "I didn’t expect you home today."

Compared to when he had left, Xu Siyu had grown taller and moved with newfound poise.

Lady Eleven nodded approvingly. "It’s good you’ve returned safely." She then stood. "Your grandmother has been thinking of you—go and pay your respects to her."

Xu Siyu assented and followed Lady Eleven to the Dowager’s apartments.

Overjoyed to see him, the Dowager held his hand and asked him many questions before instructing Madam Du to send for Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie.

After the Laba Festival, Mr. Zhao had closed his school and would not reopen until the second day of the second lunar month. These days, Xu Sijie often visited Xu Sizhun’s quarters, or vice versa. The brothers spent their time practicing the flute, writing, reciting texts, or skipping rope, clearly in high spirits.

Surrounded by a dozen maids and matrons, Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie entered.

Xu Sizhun was quietly elegant, while Xu Sijie was bright and lovely. Dressed in matching sapphire-blue squirrel-fur coats, they stood side by side like figures from a painting—beautiful no matter how you looked at them, making the elder madam smile even wider.

The two brothers bowed respectfully to Xu Siyu and then stood beside the elder madam, their gazes filled with curiosity as they observed him.

Perhaps because he had previously shown favor toward Xu Sijie only to be rejected, this time Xu Siyu remained silent, standing five paces away from the elder madam and giving Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie a warm smile.

The three brothers faced each other in silence.

Xu Sizhun, lips slightly pressed together, asked hesitantly in a small voice, "Second Brother, when will you return to Le’an?"

Everyone was surprised, their expressions turning complex as they focused on Xu Sizhun.

Uncomfortable under their gazes, Xu Sizhun opened his mouth to speak, but Xu Siyu had already replied with a smile, "I’ll return to Le’an after taking the prefectural exams next April."

Hearing this, Xu Sizhun smiled slightly. "Then will Second Brother have time to go ice-skating at the Western Garden with us?" As he spoke, he shot a hesitant glance at Eleven Miss.

Two days earlier, Eleven Miss had asked Xu Lingkuan to take the two boys ice-skating at the Western Garden. Since this was originally a favor she’d asked for, Xu Sizhun now felt slightly guilty about inviting Xu Siyu on his own, though he knew Eleven Miss wouldn’t be upset.

Eleven Miss gave Xu Sizhun a bright smile, though inwardly she was deeply touched.

Under Mr. Zhao’s guidance, Xu Sizhun was growing more mature. Now he even knew how to strike up a conversation with Xu Siyu.

The happiest was the elder madam. Before Xu Siyu could answer, she laughed warmly, "Good, good, good! You should all go. I’ll speak to your fifth uncle and have him arrange for the household guards to accompany you."

A faint smile slowly spread across Xu Siyu’s face. "Thank you, Fourth Brother. It’s been years since I last visited the Western Garden—this will be a perfect chance to join in the fun."

Xu Sizhun let out a relieved sigh and laughed cheerfully. "We’ll only go for one day. It shouldn’t interfere with your studies."

"Mr. Jiang says learning isn’t something achieved overnight. One day won’t hurt."

As the two conversed, Xu Sijie glanced at the delighted Xu Sizhun, then at the smiling Xu Siyu, and also began to laugh.

The elder madam then picked up her tea. "You must be exhausted after such a long journey. Go rest well and come back tonight for dinner."

Xu Siyu exchanged a few polite words, bowed, and withdrew.

Xu Sizhun tugged at the elder madam’s sleeve, whining playfully. "Grandmother, we’re making lanterns!"

Ever since winning first place with their river lanterns, Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie had eagerly awaited festivals as opportunities to craft more.

The elder madam burst out laughing. "Go on, go on!"

Eleven Miss also smiled and patted Xu Sizhun’s shoulder.

Overjoyed, Xu Sizhun grabbed Xu Sijie’s hand and ran off.

The elder madam then gestured for Eleven Miss to sit on the opposite kang.

"Once the new year passes, Yuge will be fourteen, won’t he?"

Eleven Miss nodded.

The elder madam asked further, "The maid serving him is called Wen Zhu, right?"

"Yes," Eleven Miss replied with a smile. "You personally chose her that year. Over these years, she’s been attentive and careful by Yuge’s side, never making any serious mistakes."

The elder madam said with a knowing smile, "Yuge is grown now. There are certain matters you should start considering."

"Concerned? About what? Are you afraid Xu Siyu and Wen Zhu might get involved behind our backs?"

Sometimes children don’t even think in that direction—it’s the adults who are blowing things out proportion and making a complicated mess.

Eleventh Miss nodded. "I’ll observe carefully."

Grand Madame smiled approvingly, exchanged a few casual words with her, and then went to the prayer hall.

Eleventh Miss didn’t know where to start.

If she summoned Wen Zhu for questioning without cause and there was nothing going on, wouldn’t that be unfair to Wen Zhu? And if something *was* happening, she probably wouldn’t confess anything. If she asked someone else, they might not know anything anyway—and worse, it might tip them off. But if she didn’t clarify things while they were still at home, once they reached Le’an, it would be too remote to intervene if anything happened.

That evening, she decided to talk it over with Lord Xu.

Lord Xu laughed out loud when he heard this.

"What’s so funny?" Eleventh Miss pouted. "Mother’s concern isn’t unreasonable."

"You silly goose!" Lord Xu gently pinched her nose. "Mother meant for you to help Yuge prepare someone to serve him intimately!"

"Serve him intimately!" Now she finally understood.

It turned out the old madam had meant something completely different from what she had assumed.

She sat up abruptly. "Yuge is only thirteen this year—no, actually twelve..."

Eleventh Miss blushed in embarrassment.

She felt as though she were corrupting an innocent child.

How could someone usually so quick-witted be so clueless when it came to this... He recalled how, when she had first married him, young as she was, she had already possessed the calm confidence to handle any challenge—but when it came to private matters, she became utterly flustered...

A rush of desire stirred within him.

He pulled her into his arms.

"It's not like we're putting someone in his room right now," he murmured, nipping at her ear as his hands traced the soft curves of her body. "Just keep an eye out for now—we can make arrangements after the new year." His excitement grew. "As he gets older, curiosity is natural..." Her robe slipped away, revealing smooth, flawless shoulders. "Better to have someone proper than let him fall into bad company..." His voice dropped, husky with passion. "Once he understands, he'll learn restraint." With that, he entered her gently but firmly.

Eleventh Miss furrowed her brow slightly, adjusting to his presence.

"Let's wait a bit longer," she whispered, breath catching. "Yuge is still so young."

Lord Xu grunted in response, lost in the pleasure of their union. A sudden tenderness overtook him—he kissed her temple softly. Yet his body betrayed his restraint, moving faster, deeper, more recklessly within her as he abandoned himself to the rhythm of their passion.