Chapter 466

Strategies of a Junior Daughter-in-law Chapter 473: Recuperation (Part 2)

A few days passed like this, and Fourth Madam Luo came over: "Your seventh brother-in-law helped find a small estate near Jinan Prefecture, barely a hundred acres, but very well maintained. If the owner’s son hadn’t gotten into legal trouble, such land would never have been sold."

So quickly!

Eleven Lady chuckled. "We should tell Sixth Concubine all about this."

Fourth Madam Luo winked at Eleven Lady. "I was thinking the same as you, Eleven Lady."

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

A maid brought in the medicinal soup.

Fourth Madam Luo silently counted the days and gasped, "Eleven Lady, are you feeling unwell?"

Even if they knew, it would only cause unnecessary worry.

Eleven Lady drank the medicine in one go and smiled. "They say it’s childbed weakness and that I need to recuperate properly."

Perhaps manor households have their ways.

Fourth Madam Luo, having grown up in the countryside, didn’t press further and changed the subject. "With this estate, even if we can’t arrange the house right away, at least we can make do."

Eleven Lady laughed. "Has the Wang family picked the wedding date?"

"On the tenth day of the twelfth month," Fourth Madam Luo replied with a smile. "I came specifically to discuss with you, to see if this date is suitable or not."

Why ask her if it was suitable?

The thought flashed through Eleven Lady’s mind, and she immediately understood.

Fourth Madam Luo wanted her to help lend prestige to the event when Twelve Lady got married.

She thought of Ten Lady.

After all, she was Duke Mao’s mother.

"Has Ten Lady been informed?"

Fourth Madam Luo smiled. "Ten Lady keeps to herself, not close to her family. Who knows if she’ll even attend? So I came to discuss it with you first."

It had been over two years since the elder madam passed away. This wedding of Twelve Lady was an opportunity for Ten Lady to reconcile with her natal family... Thinking of this, Eleven Lady gave a mental sigh. Given Ten Lady’s temperament, she probably wouldn’t bother even if she knew.

She pushed aside these heavy thoughts and smiled. "Has the date been finalized? A few days ago, I heard from the marquis that Count Zhongqin’s family set Xian-jie’s wedding for the fourth day of the twelfth month. If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Wang family have to hold two weddings in just a few days?"

Twelve Lady was marrying Wang Ji, a cadet branch member of the Marquis of Zhennan’s family, while Xian-jie was marrying the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhennan’s heir. In other words, Twelve Lady and Xian-jie would become sisters-in-law!

"I’ve heard about that too," Fourth Madam Luo said with a smile. "But from what the Marquis of Zhennan’s heir said, it seems they consider it twice as lucky. As for me, I’m afraid delaying past the New Year might bring complications, so it’s better to marry early and settle down."

Eleven Lady nodded slightly. "One is from the direct line, the other a cadet branch, and they’re entering the household one after the other. I’m just worried they’ll constantly be compared in the future."

Fourth Madam Luo faltered briefly but quickly laughed. "That might be for the best. I was afraid Sixth Concubine might give in for now but complain later."

Everything has its pros and cons.

Eleven Lady chuckled at herself for overthinking.

Since she was still in confinement, Lady Zhou and others couldn’t visit. Her health was also poor, and the elder madam, fearing too many visits would exhaust her, came sparingly. Only a few maids and matrons kept her company. After Physician Liu’s needles, she felt much better. Fourth Madam Luo’s visit was a welcome chance for good gossip.

The two chatted idly until noon, and it wasn’t until after Eleven Miss had kept Fourth Madam Luo for lunch that she finally took her leave.

Qiuyu entered and whispered to her, "Fang Ting, from the Eldest Young Master’s household, has come by several times, but seeing you were speaking with Fourth Madam Luo, she left."

What was it about?

With Third Young Master and his wife away from home, Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian needed extra oversight.

Eleven Miss wondered, "If she comes again, ask her what the matter is."

Qiuyu acknowledged and had just stepped out when she immediately returned. "The Eldest Young Master wishes to see you!"

He arrived right after Fourth Madam Luo left—how urgent!

Eleven Miss straightened her posture solemnly. "Let him in."

From the other side of the screen, Xu Siqin inquired about Eleven Miss’s health and how Jin Geer was doing, then mentioned how Xu Sijian had been spending his days making lanterns with Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie. After skirting the issue for some time, he still hadn’t stated his purpose.

Eleven Miss had no choice but to dismiss the attendants in the room.

Finally, Xu Siqin stammered, "I heard from Grandfather that our eldest cousin’s wedding is set for the fourth day of the twelfth month. After that... will Yuan Jieer be married next?"

So it was about this!

Eleven Miss suddenly realized that the guilt Xu Siqin carried over Yuan Jieer’s situation might be far greater than they had imagined...

"My health hasn’t been well lately," she said with concern. "I might not be able to attend Xian Jieer’s wedding..."

"Fourth Aunt," Xu Siqin interrupted urgently, "I didn’t mean anything wrong." He seemed agitated. "I... I just wanted to ask... I didn’t think much back then..." His voice gradually trailed off, tinged with dejection. "I thought Mother would yield for my sake... Now that she’s getting married, I wanted to ask you to give this to her when you add to her trousseau." With that, he turned and ran off before Eleven Miss could stop him. She had no choice but to have Qiuyu bring in the item.

It was a pale green pouch embroidered with red plum blossoms, containing seven or eight silver notes—some for ten taels, others for twenty—totaling over two hundred taels.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Had Third Madam relented back then, this might have been a good match.

She called Amber in.

"Give these silver notes back to the Eldest Young Master and tell him that sometimes, ignorance is a kind of happiness."

Amber, puzzled, took the silver notes to Xu Siqin.

Xu Siqin stood in the middle of the room, head bowed, holding the notes silently for a long while.

Fang Ting and the others kept their distance. It wasn’t until Xu Sijian returned and slapped him on the back that he spoke. "Brother, what’s wrong with you?" Catching sight of the silver notes in Xu Siqin’s hand, he snatched them away. "Ha! Last time Eldest Cousin asked you to buy wine, you said you had no money—yet here’s such a large sum!"

Xu Siqin looked at his exuberant younger brother and said flatly, "How are your lanterns coming along?"

Seeing his brother’s downcast expression, Xu Sijian sobered. "What’s wrong? You were fine earlier." Then, as if realizing something, he added, "Did Father refuse to let us attend Jinxi Academy? Is that why you’re upset?"

"No." Xu Siqin shook his head lightly and turned to enter the inner chamber, not even bothering to reclaim the silver notes from Xu Sijian.

Back in the ninth month, Third Young Master had written to his two sons, saying he would return to the capital in spring for official assessments and that their studies could be discussed then.

Xu Sijian had been brooding over this for a long time until Xu Siqin consoled him. Now, seeing his brother in low spirits, he had meant to tease him, only to find Xu Siqin utterly unresponsive, like punching a pillow.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Sijian pushed the curtain aside and followed him inside. Xu Siqin lay on his back on the daybed by the window, gazing blankly at the ceiling.

"Brother, I heard something." Xu Sijian thought for a moment, then sat beside Xu Siqin. "Li Ji—the one who often accompanied Marquis Zhongshan’s sixth son, Tang Li. Do you remember him?"

"I don't remember!" Xu Siqin replied dismissively.

Xu Sijian pressed on: "He's the one who married the Tenth Young Miss from Princess Ancheng's family."

"Oh," Xu Siqin muttered, feeling even more unsettled. His aunt had asked Lady Lin and Lady Zhou to propose several matches for him, but whenever word reached his mother, she either dismissed the families as lacking prestige or too poor. Now, even his aunt hesitated to intervene.

"I heard from our cousin that Li Ji made great contributions in Fujian and was exceptionally promoted to Quanzhou Commander, granted a fourth-rank title, and even received an audience with the emperor," Xu Sijian said, admiration evident. "But some say he didn’t actually defeat five thousand pirates—apparently, most of them were private troops from the Jinghai Marquis’ estate."

"Who told you that?" Xu Siqin bolted upright.

The Jinghai Marquis had long governed Fujian, and their so-called "guards" were essentially the family’s private troops.

Given Fujian’s distance, successive emperors had turned a blind eye as long as the Jinghai Marquis didn’t cause trouble.

"Young Master Tang the Sixth!" Xu Sijian said. "Otherwise, how would we know?"

"That guy’s petty and jealous of anyone better than him," Xu Siqin said gloomily. "You can’t trust a word he says."

"But he spelled it all out—how many pirates, Ou family members, civilians… every detail!"

"Stay out of this," Xu Siqin cut in, sensing something amiss. How could such sensitive information leak so easily? "Maybe it’s just jealous haters spreading lies. Gossiping like this puts us on their level." He added, "Besides, Uncle has reminded us—our family is different. We must act with caution to avoid being exploited and dragging others into trouble."

Xu Sijian nodded thoughtfully. "So… are we going to Li Ji’s wedding or not?"

Xu Siqin was surprised. "Wait, you got an invite?"

Xu Sijian nodded. "A few days ago, at our cousin’s place, I met the Nineteenth from the Dingguo Duke’s family. He asked me if I’d be there. When I said I hadn’t received an invitation, he sent three the next day—one for you too."

Xu Siqin pondered. "No way. We’re not close, and his crew’s always at Cuihua Alley’s brothels—awkward either way."

"But how do we explain it to the Nineteenth?" Xu Sijian hesitated. "He meant well…"

Xu Siqin mused, "What if we ‘have to’ go to Luoyeshan instead?" The idea grew on him. "We can say Uncle sent us there to study. That way, they can’t insist. If we stay indoors, how could they confront us?"

Those loudmouths strut around, but one word from their elders and they fold.

Xu Sijian brightened. "Genius! Let’s roll with that."