Chapter 404

**Chapter 409: More Than Expected (Part 1)**

"Ask me to be the matchmaker?" Lord Xu was surprised, then laughed. "Alright! But Yiqing owes me a round of drinks first."

Lady Eleven rarely saw Lord Xu in such a mischievous mood and smiled as she sent someone to relay the message to Lady Fourth. The next morning, Yiqing sent an invitation asking Lord Xu to join him for drinks at Chunxi Tower, with Wang Li and Academician Jin as companions.

When Lord Xu returned, he said, "I had no idea Yiqing was so well-off. For his eldest son's marriage, he's prepared to spend five thousand taels on betrothal gifts."

Lady Eleven teased him, "That’s what you get for looking down on my family!"

Lord Xu laughed heartily.

He sat beside her on the heated bed, gently tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, and asked softly, "How are you feeling today?"

"Fine!" Lady Eleven glanced at Amber and Lvyun, who stood nearby with lowered eyes, pretending not to notice, and felt slightly embarrassed. "I felt a bit off in the morning, but in the afternoon, I chatted and did needlework with Amber and the others, which passed the time nicely."

Lord Xu thought for a moment and said, "Then have more people around to chat with when you're free. If you don’t dwell on it, you might feel better."

Lady Eleven nodded and told him what had happened after he left: "Mother sent Madam Du with two trunks of fabric, saying they’re for the baby’s clothes and diapers. But they’re all high-quality painted silks and brocades..." She hesitated, unsure what to do.

"Since she gave them to you, just keep them for now," Lord Xu said with a smile. "Mother’s getting on in years and dotes on children. Just the other day, she gave Xinjie a length of peony-patterned kesi silk and another with roses and begonias."

Hearing others had gotten gifts too, Lady Eleven relaxed, though she still thought such luxuries were excessive for a baby and decided to save them for later.

A maid came in and announced, "My lord, madam, the dowager has sent some yam and jujube cakes."

Lady Eleven quickly had them brought in.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie came back from their lessons.

Their faces brightened when they saw the cakes, but upon seeing Lord Xu’s stern expression, they lowered their heads respectfully.

Lady Eleven chuckled and told them, "Go wash up, then you can have some!"

They immediately brightened and rushed to wash their hands.

Lord Xu seemed about to say something but held back.

Unconcerned, Lady Eleven instructed Amber to serve the cakes on little gold-trimmed plates.

There weren’t many to begin with, and the two boys ate them eagerly, finishing quickly.

Xu Sizhun said, "Mother, can we have tuckahoe cakes tomorrow?"

"Toon leaf cakes are tastier," Xu Sijie disagreed. "The ones you make are better than tuckahoe cakes!"

Lady Eleven wiped Xu Sijie’s mouth and smiled. "We’ll have both. Tomorrow, we’ll make tuckahoe cakes and toon leaf cakes." Then she asked, "Did Big Brother and Third Brother go to class with you today?"

Xu Sijie nodded. "Teacher Zhao taught Big Brother and Third Brother from *The Great Learning*, while we studied *Elementary Learning*."

Xu Sizhun chimed in, "Big Brother says Teacher Zhao knows everything!"

Xu Sijie added, "Big Brother didn’t come with us. He said he’d go with Second Brother. Third Brother followed them too."

The two chattered on, clearly displeased that Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, who usually studied with them, had left them behind to join Xu Siyu.

Lady Eleven smiled. "Big Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother are close in age, so they like to spend time together. You and Fourth Brother are around the same age—don’t you often play together too?"

Xu Sijie thought for a moment, then tilted his head and said, "Then you’d better have a little brother! If it’s a sister, she’ll just play with Second Sister and ignore us!"

The whole room erupted in laughter.

Xu Siqin, Xu Siyu, and Xu Sijian came to greet them.

Lord Xu asked Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian how their lessons had gone that day.

Zhenjie arrived.

Amidst all the boys, she sidled up to Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss smiled and took her hand, listening together as Lord Xu questioned Xu Siyu about his studies.

Xu Siyu clearly took his studies seriously—not only did he speak eloquently and fluently, but his brows also radiated a newfound confidence, making him stand out like a jewel among stones. Xu Siqin, Xu Sijian, Xu Sizhun, and Xu Sijie watched him, spellbound, their gazes filled with admiration.

Lord Xu looked pleased. Seeing that it was getting late, he urged them to keep up their studies with Mr. Jiang before rising to visit the elder madam.

Eleven Miss walked them out.

Zhenjie quickly stepped in to steady her.

Lord Xu also said, “Stay inside and rest. Don’t overexert yourself.”

“I’ve been cooped up all day—I need to stretch my legs,” Eleven Miss insisted, believing that pregnant women needed moderate exercise, and she escorted them to the door.

Just then, she noticed Qin Yi lingering under the eaves.

Everyone was taken aback.

Qin Yi flustered forward to greet them, murmuring an explanation, “I—I thought the lord had already gone… I heard he was speaking with the young masters and didn’t dare disturb, so I waited here for a while…”

Lord Xu gave Xu Siyu a look and asked softly, “Is there something you need?”

Xu Siyu dropped his gaze and fell silent beside Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian, the earlier brilliance gone.

“N-nothing at all!” Qin Yi faltered, casting a pleading look at Eleven Miss. “I just came to see the madam!”

Eleven Miss gave a faint smile and said, “The lord’s on his way to see the elder madam. Auntie, please come inside.”

Lord Xu told Eleven Miss, “Get back inside now,” then left with the children to see the elder madam.

Eleven Miss smiled and nodded, watching them leave before turning to Qin Yi. “Let’s talk inside.”

Qin Yi meekly followed Eleven Miss into the room.

“Madam,” she said, pulling out a yellow paper charm folded into a triangle from her sleeve. “This is a peace talisman I sought for you. Hang it by the door for protection and peace.”

By the door? Not in a pouch or under a pillow?

Eleven Miss smiled and had Amber take it.

Seeing her indifference, Qin Yi quickly added, “This was consecrated by the nun Jining!”

Eleven Miss’s gaze sharpened. “Are there any other customs to observe with this?”

“No!” Qin Yi replied cheerfully. “Just place it where people come and go!”

Eleven Miss nodded and took a sip of tea.

Qin Yi rose to take her leave.

Elevenniang instructed Amber, "Take this to ask Abbess Jining about it. Say it was given by Concubine Qin, and we're unsure how to use it. Have her provide some guidance."

Amber acknowledged and left.

Green Cloud came in to ask where dinner should be served.

"Let’s have it in the hall."

Elevenniang had become particularly sensitive to smells lately. If she ate in her sleeping quarters, the lingering scent of oil and smoke bothered her.

Green Cloud directed the serving women to bring out the dishes.

Cold-tossed pea shoots, stir-fried tender bok choy, peanuts mixed with pine nuts, soybean sprouts mixed with mung bean sprouts, fried tofu skin with black fungus... Though the table was entirely vegetarian, the vibrant colors made the meal look refreshing.

Elevenniang had just picked up her chopsticks when Amber returned, beaming, carrying a steaming plate of yam and date paste cakes. "My lady, the Marquis had Lin Bo deliver these."

Her chopsticks hovered midair before finally landing lightly on the red yam cakes.

Seeing Elevenniang eat two in a row, Amber worried it might be too rich for this late hour and suggested, "If you like them, I can have the kitchen steam some more and bring them out whenever you wish."

Elevenniang nodded, took a few bites of the pea shoots, then had the table cleared.

Amber brought in fresh tangerine juice.

After taking a sip, Elevenniang received Lady Wen and Lady Yang coming to pay their respects.

Knowing of her pregnancy, Lady Wen congratulated her warmly.

She presented a gold necklace with an "Everything as Desired" lock, a pair of gold bracelets with monkeys scaling poles, and another pair with tinkling bells as gifts. After chatting for a while, she resumed her usual routine—only appearing for morning and evening greetings or when Miss Zhen needed instructions. Otherwise, she rarely showed herself. Curious, Elevenniang later learned that Lady Wen had been staying in her quarters, practicing embroidery with Qiu Hong.

Elevenniang smiled and had footstools brought for them, though her gaze flickered briefly behind Lady Wen.

Lady Wen, sharp as ever, noticed Elevenniang glancing at Lady Yang.

Since Elevenniang became pregnant, Lady Yang had seemed drawn, and these past few days, her eyes were red-rimmed, looking utterly exhausted.

Though Elevenniang had entrusted Lady Yang to her, Lady Wen had no intention of getting too close. Seeing Lady Yang in this state, she didn’t even offer polite words, affecting not to notice. This time was no different—she cheerfully talked about her needlework instead. "I embroidered some grapes but lack proper purple thread. I was hoping to ask you for a few strands."

Elevenniang had Zhuxiang find some proper purple embroidery thread. "Let me know if you need anything else."

Lady Wen smiled in agreement, just as Qiao Lianfang arrived to come to pay respects.

Unlike her former arrogance, she now seemed solitary, keeping to herself and rarely interacting with the other concubines. Still, she nodded politely at Lady Wen.

Elevenniang invited her to sit, but Qiao Lianfang declined gently. "If you have no further instructions, I’ll take my leave."

Elevenniang didn’t press her and had Amber escort her out. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lady Wen and Lady Yang, she took a sip of tea—a customary signal to take leave.

The two concubines excused themselves.

Elevenniang performed her ablutions and prepared to rest.

Amber, who had been attending her, whispered, "The younger maids say Lady Yang seems to be embroidering something. The lamp in her room sometimes stays lit all night."

"Lady Yang is skilled in embroidery," Elevenniang said mildly. "Perhaps she’s working on a large piece." Then she changed the subject. "In a few days is the elder sister’s death anniversary. The ancestral hall should have arrangements. Go check on their preparations."

Amber respectfully agreed and went to inquire the next day.

The ancestral hall steward smiled. "The elder madam sent someone to ask a couple of days ago. I said, as per custom, we prepare five hundred gold and silver paper ingots, five hundred paper coins, three sacrificial animals, and three tables of offerings. But the elder madam hasn’t sent word back, so I couldn’t proceed."

Elevenniang pondered for a moment. "Then go ask Madam Du. Perhaps there’s too much going on, and it slipped her mind."

Amber went to Madam Du and returned to report, "The elder madam was concerned the rituals might disturb you and hesitated over whether to hold Buddhist rites. That’s why the orders haven’t been given."