Chapter 408

Chapter 413: Rising Winds (Part 2)

Yanrong's thinking had not been thorough enough.

There were plenty of legitimate reasons to send Nanny Tao away.

Lady Eleven dismissed Yanrong with a smile.

Amber came to persuade her: "Madam, what Yanrong said does make sense..."

"It's not as serious as she makes it out to be," Lady Eleven interrupted with a smile. "There are many ways to get rid of Nanny Tao." She raised an eyebrow slightly. "There are some people I've never felt completely at ease with. But even tigers take naps—I can't watch them every day. No matter how many faults Nanny Tao may have, her devotion to Young Master Chun is genuine. I kept her around originally because I feared I might overlook something while caring for Young Master Chun, and she could catch what I missed!" She finished speaking and her expression turned serious. "However, Nanny Tao has always believed I've taken the place of the elder sister and am enjoying blessings that should have been hers. Now that I'm pregnant again, she must be feeling even more unsettled. You need to keep an eye on her. I never expected Young Master Chun to love me like a mother, but I also don't want our relationship to become strained."

Amber agreed and returned to her room, wondering how to discover what Nanny Tao had told Xu Sizhun, when Madam Du paid a visit.

She quickly welcomed Madam Du into her room, seating her by the window on the heated brick bed and serving her premium Longjing tea from West Lake, a gift from Lady Eleven.

Madam Du glanced around the small but tidy room—bright windows, clean surfaces, a half-new royal blue bed curtain, a scarlet satin coverlet, a soft yellow pillow, and a small pot of asparagus fern on the windowsill. It was simple yet tasteful.

She nodded inwardly and quietly stated her purpose: "...After returning from the temple, the young master visited the old residence of the late fourth lady to offer incense. Later, he actually told me that the current fourth lady enjoys flowers and has gone to great lengths to have Ji Ting's wife cultivate exotic blooms in the greenhouse in the back garden. He said she should keep them for her own enjoyment rather than giving them away, lest it invite envy and backfire, making our family appear extravagant."

Madam Du was the Dowager's most trusted and capable confidante. At times, she spoke with the Dowager's authority.

Amber was startled and immediately explained: "Please understand, Madam Du. Our lady may enjoy flowers, but she doesn't possess the legendary ability of Empress Wu to command all flowers to bloom. It's simply because we have a greenhouse and Ji Ting's wife, who is skilled and resourceful, that we can extend or shorten the flowering period by a few days. As for giving them away, aside from the elder lady of the Gan family, the eldest lady of the Lin family, and the Marchioness of Yongchang, she hasn't gifted them to anyone else. These ladies are either relatives by marriage or old friends who've weathered hardships together..."

Seeing Amber's distress, Madam Du realized she had misunderstood and quickly reassured her: "Don't worry, Miss Amber. The fourth lady's character is well-known throughout the household. It's not something that can be swayed by a single word of praise or criticism. Conveying this information to you is precisely the Dowager's intention."

Amber immediately stood up. "Please instruct me, Madam!"

Her respectful attitude pleased Madam Du like a chilled bowl of mung bean soup on a hot summer day—refreshing from the inside out. Her voice softened further: "The Dowager is concerned that Young Master Xu Sizhun is still young and has never paid attention to such trivial matters before. Why has he suddenly taken an interest? She wants you to relay this to the lady—some things should be investigated carefully. We mustn't let troublemakers manipulate him and ruin such a fine young master."

Amber's expression grew solemn. "Rest assured, Madam, I will deliver this message exactly."

Madam Du nodded slightly. With the main matter settled, she asked Amber casually, "I heard your parents are still at the estate in Yuhang. Why not ask the lady to bring them here for their retirement?"

Amber smiled. "They're used to living in the south, surrounded by old neighbors. Even though I'm not by their side, they enjoy chatting and laughing, so their days pass happily."

"Then you'll be staying in the capital?"

Amber blushed. "I serve the lady. Wherever she is, I must be."

Madam Du smiled approvingly, seemingly satisfied with her answer. After a few more pleasantries, she took her leave.

Though Amber found Madam Du's questions somewhat odd, she was preoccupied with relaying the Dowager's message to Lady Eleven and didn't dwell on it. She hurried to Lady Eleven's quarters.

Lady Eleven frowned slightly. "Where is Young Master Chun now?"

Amber replied softly, "In the fifth young master's room."

******

Xu Sizhun was deeply confused.

Before his late mother passed away, she had repeatedly urged him to trust Nanny Tao above all else and to always heed her advice. She even made him swear never to disobey her instructions. Yet when he followed Nanny Tao's advice and told Madam Du about Lady Eleven giving away flowers, Madam Du merely smiled and said, "Gifting flowers is a trivial matter. The imperial family has a gracious nature and wouldn't fault the Marquis of Yongping's household for such a thing."

Remembering the Dowager's words—"Great men often stumble over small matters"—he argued, "A great levee can collapse because of an ant's nest. The smaller the matter, the more caution we must exercise."

Madam Du laughed and praised him, "Our young master has learned much from Mr. Zhao and now understands everything. I'll mention this to the Dowager and have her advise Lady Eleven to stop giving flowers away." She then had a maidservant escort him back to his room while summoning the housekeeper waiting under the eaves: "The Dowager is only temporarily assisting Lady Eleven with household affairs. For decisions regarding summer wardrobe materials, it's best to inform Lady Eleven..." Her tone suggested she didn't take his concerns seriously.

Disappointed, Xu Sizhun wanted to consult Xu Sijian. But Xu Sijian had gone to the outer courtyard with Xu Siqin after class. According to Xu Sijian's servant, their mother's family had moved out of the residence of the Count of Zhongqin and bought their own house, allowing their grandmother to host guests freely. Since Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian had been away from the capital for two years, their grandmother often sent for them to dine or had their cousins invite them out for entertainment. They were rarely free. Xu Sizhun couldn't help but feel dejected.

Xu Sijie turned to Xu Sizhun. "Fourth Brother, don't be sad. If Third Brother won't play with you, I will." Then he told Xi Er to fetch a kite shaped like a centipede. When it arrived, he said, "...Here, you can have this."

Spring had come, and Eleven Miss had invited craftsmen into the mansion to make kites for the two brothers, even having them learn how to make kites themselves.

The craftsman brought in a multi-segmented centipede kite to show off his skills. Xu Sizhun found it fascinating, but Xu Sijie also liked it, so he let him have it. Unexpectedly, Xu Sijie then gave it back to him.

Deeply moved, Xu Sizhun imitated Eleven Miss's manner and patted Xu Sijie's head. "You keep it! We'll fly it together later!"

Xu Sijie still felt reluctant, but seeing that Xu Sizhun wouldn't accept it, he let out a relieved sigh and happily told Xi Er to put it away. "Then don't be mad, brother. Let's go fly the kite!"

Xu Sizhun looked into his hopeful eyes, feeling a wave of emotion. He thought to himself that in this world, Xu Sijie treated him the best. He then confided about Eleven Miss sending flowers: "...I'm a bit worried. So I wanted to talk to Mother about it!"

Xu Sijie listened quietly, and when Xu Sizhun finished, he nodded earnestly. "Then Fourth Brother should talk to Mother about it!"

"But I'm a junior. Is it appropriate for me to say such things?"

"Then don't say it!" Xu Sijie agreed.

Xu Sizhun was both amused and exasperated. "Hey, should I say it or not?"

Xu Sijie tilted his head and thought for a long time, blinking his large phoenix eyes before solemnly declaring, "I'll listen to Fourth Brother!"

Which was as good as saying nothing.

Seeing his innocent, carefree expression, Xu Sizhun sighed in frustration, wishing Xu Sijian were here. Yet he faintly sensed that even if Xu Sijian were present, he might not understand his mixed feelings, leaving him even more adrift.

Hearing that Eleven Miss had summoned him, he reluctantly went to see her.

The late spring sunlight was bright and radiant, warming their hearts.

Eleven Miss and Xu Sizhun sat on a bench beneath a flower trellis, basking in the sun, dappled light playing across them.

"Chun Ge," she said, coming right to the point with a smile, "Madam Du told me about your concerns. Thank you for the reminder."

Under the sunlight, Eleven Miss’s gaze was open and sincere. Xu Sizhun turned bright red.

"Y-you don't need to thank me!" he stammered, lowering his head shyly. "I... I... Mr. Zhao said that as the heir of Yongping Marquis, I must take care of Grandmother, Mother, my brothers, sisters, and younger siblings in the future."

Eleven Miss drew Xu Sizhun into a hug. "Chun Ge is a fine heir!" Her voice was filled with joy and pride.

Xu Sizhun looked up, his eyes sparkling like morning stars, his lips curling into an irrepressible smile.

"Sending flowers may indeed have been a bit imprudent," she explained gently. "However, the ladies I sent them to are all dear friends. Like Elder Madam Gan—she is both your Third Aunt's elder and the one who officiated my hair-pinning ceremony. We share a close bond, much like you and Xu Sijian..."

Xu Sizhun nodded slightly.

"...Then there's Lady Lin, your eldest brother-in-law's aunt, and Elder Madam Huang, who has been close friends with the elder madam since their youth," Eleven Miss continued with a smile. "Because I know these ladies well and trust they wouldn't gossip, I felt comfortable giving them the flowers."

Xu Sizhun gave a sheepish smile.

"I... I misjudged you, Mother!"

"But the fact that Chun Ge considered the need for discretion and the possibility of others using this against our family already shows the bearing of a future lord." Eleven Miss hugged him tighter. "Your eldest sister would be thrilled to know this. Now I can rest easy, knowing Chun Ge will take care of things."

Chun Ge gave a small smile, his gloom from the past two days disappearing completely.

After Chun Ge left, Eleven Miss had Amber find a copy of *The Primer for Children* and dog-eared the page on interpersonal relations, instructing Amber to deliver it to Mr. Zhao.

"This..." Amber looked puzzledly at Eleven Miss.

"Just deliver it," Eleven Miss said with a smile. "Mr. Zhao is a wise man. He'll get the message."

Amber bowed in acknowledgment and took the book to Mr. Zhao.