Chapter 472

Chapter 479: Situation (Part 2)

Fourth Miss was sharp-witted. Seeing this, she smiled and said, "I’ll go check on your fourth brother-in-law to see if he’s drunk again." With that, she moved to climb down from the heated bed.

Eleven Miss wouldn't hear of her pregnant sister leaving.

She chuckled, "Fourth Sister, you should rest here for a while. If you’re worried about Fourth Brother-in-law, I’ll have Amber go check on him." She added, "Fifth Sister and I will go check things out and come right back."

Fourth Miss didn't argue and nodded with a smile, watching them leave.

Fifth Miss then pulled Eleven Miss aside into an empty side chamber.

"Do you know why Big Brother didn’t come?" she asked bluntly.

Eleven Miss thought of Fourth Madam Luo’s hesitant words earlier and remembered that Luo Zhensheng was Fifth Miss’s full brother... She smiled and said, "Fourth Sister-in-law mentioned that Big Brother had some matters to attend to."

Fifth Miss sneered, "Let me tell you—Big Brother went to deal with the family’s assets in Fujian!"

Fujian! Eleven Miss’s pulse quickened.

Fifth Miss continued, "Back when Father was in office, Mother partnered with someone to run a tea plantation. After Father entered the mourning period, the business declined sharply, and the partner wanted to buy out our share. It wasn’t until you married into the Yongping Marquis’s household that things gradually improved. Now that Fujian is in chaos, the tea plantation, though somewhat recovered, is still not what it used to be. Father has been considering selling our share to the partner. Otherwise, how could Twelve Miss have so generous a dowry?"

Eleven Miss was inwardly shocked but replied vaguely, "Fujian is too far away. Selling the plantation might be for the best."

Fifth Miss’s eyes gleamed. "Do you know how much silver the plantation was sold for?"

Warning flags went up in Eleven Miss’s mind. She shook her head slightly. "No matter how much it was sold for, it’s the family’s property. How does that concern us?"

"Are you naive?" Fifth Miss exclaimed in a hushed voice. "Twelve Miss’s dowry was five thousand taels of silver. How much was ours when we married? Didn’t Mother say back then that having three daughters to marry off in a row left her short on funds? Now that the family has money, they should at least compensate us a little!"

"Compensate our dowries?" Eleven Miss stared at Fifth Miss in disbelief.

"Yes!" Fifth Miss declared righteously. "I’ve looked into it—there are precedents for this. When a family comes into wealth, they sometimes compensate married daughters with additional dowries."

Eleven Miss’s mind raced. Why was Fifth Miss bringing this up to her? Clearly, she wanted to use Eleven Miss’s status to pressure Luo Zhenxing into agreeing later!

"I think you should discuss this with Big Brother directly," Eleven Miss said carefully. "When I married, Mother did spend money on me. Any of you can bring this up, but if I do, it would seem unreasonable." Unwilling to engage further, she opened the lattice door. "I wonder who’s ahead in the betting pools today—someone must be making a fortune." Without waiting for Fifth Miss’s response, she walked out.

The next day, the actual wedding day took place. Lord Xu and Eleven Miss left Jin Geer at home, while Xu Sizhun, Xu Sijie, and Zhenjie went to Gongxian Hutong for the wedding banquet. Fourth Miss’s sons, Yu Cheng and Yu Li, also attended. Yu Cheng was older, while Yu Li was two years older than Xu Sizhun. The boys quickly hit it off. After returning from the wedding, Xu Sizhun couldn't stop talking about Yu Li and wanted to visit Fourth Miss’s home.

"After eating the Laba Festival rice porridge, it’ll soon be New Year’s," Eleven Miss advised. "If you visit now, every household will be busy preparing for the New Year, and having guests would just create more work. Why not wait until after the New Year?"

Xu Sizhun reluctantly nodded.

A young maid came in to report, "The people sent to Falling Leaves Mountain have returned. The second young master plans to return home early on the twenty-fourth."

With the New Year approaching, Eleven Miss had sent someone to fetch Xu Siyu.

She instructed Amber to check on Xu Siyu’s courtyard: "Make sure the hypocaust system is lit when he returns, and that everything is prepared—replace what needs replacing, add what’s missing."

Amber acknowledged with a smile. Just then, Chief Physician Liu arrived.

"Madam’s recovery is progressing well," he said after completing the acupuncture treatment. He quickly stepped outside the bed drapes. "From now on, I’ll only need to perform acupuncture every ten days or half a month."

Lord Xu pressed for clarity, "Ten days or half a month?" He chuckled at himself. "No matter which I pick, it’ll be wrong!"

Eleven Miss recalled Chief Physician Liu’s initial advice: "It’s best to rest for seven or eight days. If possible, ten days to half a month would be even better. At the very least, four or five days." She couldn’t help but giggle.

Lord Xu turned and glared at her through the bed drapes as she dressed. Eleven Miss quickly lowered her head. Chief Physician Liu coughed awkwardly. "Madam should focus on herbal remedies now, with acupuncture as supplementary. There’s no need to adhere strictly to the timing."

Lord Xu escorted Physician Liu out and returned to find half the bed curtains still drawn, with Eleven Miss nestled under the blankets, her fair face tinged with a faint pink, serene as a sleeping lotus.

"You’re getting bolder by the day," he murmured, brushing his fingers over her forehead.

Roused from sleep, Eleven Miss gave a soft murmur, frowning as she turned her face slightly to evade his touch.

Lord Xu withdrew his hand and tugged the blankets higher over her, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave just yet. He sat quietly for a moment before leaning down to press a feather-light kiss to her still-pale lips. Only then did he rise and step outside. Eleven Miss opened her eyes, gazing blankly at the glossy bluestone tiles in a daze.

Soon, the end of the month arrived. The head maids, maids, and older women bustled about sweeping dust, hanging peachwood charms, and arranging festive decorations. Eleven Miss busied herself preparing festive clothing—there would be the reunion feast on New Year’s Eve, offering New Year greetings at the palace on the first day of the new year, and accompanying Lord Xu on New Year visits to various households from the fifth to the fifteenth day...

Zhenjie sat by the window on the heated brick bed, holding Jin Geer in her lap, occasionally commenting, "This red outfit looks nice," or "Purple suits better—it’s more stately."

Eleven Miss could only feel exhaustion. "I used to look forward to New Year’s for the red envelopes. Then I’d wrap them in a handkerchief and stow them away in a chest, and somehow, my heart would feel a little steadier." As she spoke, she paused, startled. These days, her memories of Yuhang sharpened, while those of her past life seemed to fade. Would they one day fade into a mere shadow?

Zhenjie chuckled softly. "No wonder Mother and Aunt Wen are so close. She’s said something similar—that she sleeps sounder with banknotes under her pillow."

Eleven Miss never discouraged Zhenjie from interacting with Lady Wen, and gradually, the two had begun exchanging a word or two.

Hearing this, she quickly composed herself and lifted Jin Geer from Zhenjie’s arms. Her son stared up at her with wide, unblinking dark eyes. She kissed him lightly and teased, "Why aren’t you asleep yet? Eavesdropping on Mother and Sister?" No sooner had she spoken than Jin Geer flashed a tiny smile.

"Zhenjie, look, look!" Eleven Miss exclaimed excitedly. "He’s smiling!"

Zhenjie hurried closer, but Jin Geer’s smile had already vanished. Instead, he was busy bending his little arm with great effort, trying to shove his tiny fist into his mouth. Even so, Eleven Miss found him utterly adorable.

She stroked his head and adjusted the little cap tied from a handkerchief, laughing. "Yesterday, when I laid him on the kang to dress him, he actually lifted his head as if trying to sit up. When I didn’t pick him up right away, he started wailing—wouldn’t tolerate a second’s delay. Such a temper!"

"Sixth Brother doesn’t like lying down," Zhenjie agreed. "He prefers being held up and walked around."

Eleven Miss had noticed the same. "They say babies don’t lift their heads until after a hundred days. Why is he so early!"

"Should we ask Tian Ma?" Zhenjie suggested, equally unsure.

Eleven Miss nodded and was about to summon Tian Ma when a maid announced from beyond the curtain, "Madam, the second young master has returned!"

It was barely past noon—she had expected Xu Siyu to arrive in the afternoon or by dusk.

"Bring him in at once!" Eleven Miss said with a smile as Zhenjie slid down from the kang.

Xu Siyu entered, dressed in a plain lake-green silk robe.

Compared to half a year ago, he hadn’t grown taller, but his frame had filled out, giving him a more commanding presence.

"Mother," he greeted Eleven Miss with calm respect before smiling at Zhenjie. "Elder Sister." His gaze then settled on Jin Geer in Eleven Miss’s arms.

"You’ve gifted us a smiling Bodhisattva, yet you’ve never met him," Eleven Miss said cheerfully, shifting Jin Geer slightly for Xu Siyu to see. "This is your sixth brother."

Xu Siyu studied Jin Geer with a smile. "Sixth Brother has phoenix eyes, just like Fifth Brother."

He didn’t say they resembled his own, nor did he step closer.

Jin Geer’s features had begun to define themselves, the shape of his eyes becoming more distinct.

Knowing Xu Siyu’s guarded disposition, Eleven Miss didn’t press him, simply smiling down at her son. "I think his eyes do look a bit like Jie Geer’s." No sooner had she spoken than Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie arrived.

After Laba Festival, Mr. Zhao had closed his school and returned to his hometown, leaving the two brothers on break. Every morning, after practicing calligraphy in Xu Sijie’s room, they would visit Eleven Miss to see Jin Geer. If Jin Geer was napping, they’d return after their own midday rest.

Spotting Xu Siyu, the two brothers quickly clasped their hands in greeting, their cheerful expressions sobering slightly.

Xu Siyu returned the courtesy and asked gently, "I heard Mr. Zhao has gone home. Did he leave you much homework?"

Xu Sizhun responded with a "Yes": "Mr. Zhao said the school will reopen after the Lantern Festival. He will check our assignments then. Those who haven’t finished will have to plant ten trees in the garden." He couldn’t hide a hint of pride as he spoke. "Xu Sijie and I have almost completed our assignments—only a hundred pages of calligraphy remain."

Xu Sijie nodded repeatedly beside him, as if confirming Xu Sizhun’s words. Xu Siyu gave a faint smile in response.

Xu Sijie then ran over to Lady Eleven. "Mother, Mother, Fourth Brother and I brought something nice for Sixth Brother," he said, tugging at Jin Geer’s chubby little hand.

A flicker of surprise passed through Xu Siyu’s eyes as he watched. Just then, Xu Sizhun pulled out a toy of a chick pecking at rice from his sleeve. "Look, Sixth Brother, what’s this?" he said while demonstrating the toy.

Jin Geer was immediately captivated by the "click-click-click" sound of the chick. He gasped "Ah!" in excitement, reaching for Xu Sizhun.