Chapter 474

Chapter 481: Brothers (Part 2)

Zhenjie, seeing this, also rose to take her leave.

Lord Xu, however, was gentle with his daughter and instructed Lady Eleven, "The north wind is blowing outside. Find her a cloak to wear."

Zhenjie froze in surprise.

Lady Eleven responded with a smile and took Zhenjie’s hand, leading her into the inner chamber.

"How about this cloak?" she asked, draping a vermilion silk cloak lined with grey squirrel fur over Zhenjie’s shoulders. "It pairs perfectly with your unadorned sapphire-blue silk jacket."

Only when she felt the weight of the cloak did Zhenjie regain her composure. She grasped Lady Eleven’s hand, her lips trembling slightly, but no words came out. Instead, a glimmer of tears gradually welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Lady Eleven understood her feelings. Gently patting the back of her hand, she said, "You’re a girl—it’s only natural for your mother to take care of you. Even if your father loves you dearly, he wouldn’t know how best to do so."

Zhenjie nodded emphatically, holding back tears as a joyful smile spread across her face.

Lady Eleven took out a handkerchief to dab at her eyes, teasing, "Don’t cry now. If your father sees, he’ll think I mistreated you. Then I’ll have hell to pay!"

"He wouldn’t!" Zhenjie clung to Lady Eleven’s arm. "Father respects you the most. He’d never think that."

Lady Eleven chuckled and pressed the handkerchief into her hand. "Then dry your tears quickly."

She added, "Your second brother has returned today, and your father wants to welcome him properly. Go back, make yourself presentable, and attire yourself properly for dinner at your grandmother’s. Comporting yourself with grace and dignity is also a way of showing respect to others."

Zhenjie nodded, wrapped in the cloak Lady Eleven had given her, and went to bid Lord Xu farewell before Xiao Li escorted her back to her room.

Once she was gone, Lord Xu turned to Lady Eleven. "About Zhenjie—have the Shaos been pressing for the wedding again? If we delay too long, might they take umbrage and think we’re being difficult? That wouldn’t portend well for Zhenjie’s future." He sounded genuinely concerned.

"We agreed on the betrothal terms long ago," Lady Eleven reassured him with a smile. "The Shao family’s eagerness is simply a sign of respect for the Xu family, meant to honor Zhenjie and make others see what a prize she is as a bride. There’s no need to worry, my lord."

"If anything unexpected were to happen, they’d follow the Wang family’s example and send an intermediary to explain things clearly to us."

Lord Xu found this needlessly intricate. "You womenfolk always complicate matters so," he remarked. "Since you understand these subtleties, attend closely to Zhenjie’s matters. There’s no need to upset our in-laws over trivialities. After all, Zhenjie will be living with them morning and night. No matter how powerful we are, we can’t intercede in every trifling matter for her." He spoke with uncharacteristic melancholy.

Lady Eleven understood completely.

It was like how a mother-in-law lavished attention upon her son-in-law—all in the hopes that he would treat her daughter well in return.

Even so, she couldn’t help but notice that Lord Xu seemed uncharacteristically tender today.

She poured him a freshly poured cup of tea and sat across from him, inclining slightly forward as she asked in a low voice, "My lord, has something happened?"

Lord Xu looked up and met her concerned gaze.

"Nothing," he replied out of habit. But the moment the words left his mouth, he realized how dismissive they sounded. After a brief pause, he added, "I was just thinking of Chun Ge."

"Chun Ge?" Lady Eleven was puzzled. "What of him? He’s been doing well lately—completing all of Mr. Zhao’s assignments diligently, playing with Jin Ge, and even helping look after Jin Geer… Has something happened that I don’t know about?"

Lord Xu shook his head. "Once the new year passes, he’ll be ten. According to the family’s traditions, it’s time for him to move into his own courtyard. Yet he’s still so preoccupied with playing with his younger brothers—fashioning kites, shaping lanterns… When will he ever grow up?" His tone took on a deliberative note. "I was thinking of speaking with Mr. Zhao when the school reopens. Perhaps we could add lessons on etiquette, civil and military duties, so Chun Ge doesn’t remain so childishly devoted to amusement."

But Mr. Zhao’s teaching methods were play-based to begin with, weren’t they?

Still, as Chun Ge’s tutor, he undoubtedly understood the boy’s progress best. With his talent for tailoring education to the student, he likely had his own plans and insights for Chun Ge’s future. Yet directly rejecting Lord Xu—a man accustomed to giving orders—would be unwise.

"You raise a valid point, my lord," Lady Eleven said with a smile. "This matter does merit careful deliberation with Mr. Zhao." Then she subtly shifted her stance. "However, Mr. Zhao is a scholar. When you speak with him, it would be best to choose your words carefully. Since we all want what’s best for Chun Ge, let’s avoid any misunderstandings."

Lord Xu nodded. "I’ll gauge the situation when the time comes."

Elevenniang saw that the message had been conveyed and it was getting late, so she called a young maid to assist with her grooming. She then changed into a chestnut fur coat and stepped out of the inner chamber.

"The wind outside is too strong. Let’s keep Jin Geer indoors."

Lord Xu noticed that though she looked slightly weary, her skin was as smooth as fine jade. Dressed in the chestnut fur coat with two diamond hairpins in her dark hair, she appeared anything but frail—instead, she exuded an air of regal grace.

"Very well," he said with a smile, standing up. "We wouldn’t want him catching a cold."

Yet he walked over and gently embraced her. "All ready?"

Elevenniang glanced at the maids in the room, all of whom had lowered their heads, and blushed. "All ready!"

Unlike usual, she didn’t push him away.

The elder madam’s eyes shone with unrestrained delight as she looked at the room full of children.

"So, according to you, they’ll arrive by the end of February?"

"Father said they’d set off right after the Lantern Festival," Xu Siqin, who had just received a letter from his father, reported to the elder madam. He smiled. "By my calculations, they should make it in time."

Xu Sijian quickly added, "Father also mentioned in the letter that he’s bringing back lots of local specialties for everyone."

The elder madam chuckled. "What specialties does Shaanxi have? Just some dates, I suppose!"

Xu Siqin laughed along, but Xu Sijian hurried to the elder madam’s side. "Grandmother, it’s not just dates—there are medicinal herbs too! Huangqi (astragalus), schisandra, forsythia, honeysuckle, gastrodia, and eucommia are all produced there."

The elder madam laughed heartily and took Xu Sijian’s hand. "Well, I’ve learned something new today." But inwardly, she suspected that even if these herbs were available, her third daughter-in-law’s "local specialties" would likely still just be dates. The thought passed fleetingly, and her smile deepened. She nodded slightly and instructed Madam Du, "Make sure to have someone thoroughly clean the courtyard where the third son will stay when the time comes."

Madam Du acknowledged with a smile.

The elder madam’s gaze then shifted to Lord Xu and Elevenniang, who had just entered. "Why didn’t you bring Jin Geer along?"

Lord Xu quickly replied, "The wind outside is too strong—we didn’t want him catching a chill, so we left him at home."

The elder madam turned to the second wife sitting beside her and remarked playfully, "Ah, it’s like the poem—‘one is missing from our reunion!’" Her smile faded slightly.

The second wife stifled a smile and glanced meaningfully at Elevenniang.

Should we bring the child over?

Elevenniang hesitated, but then Lord Xu spoke again. "…This matter is for you to decide. Staying in the Imperial Guards would mean a more leisurely post. If you go to the Five City Military and Police Office, you’ll have to deal with every kind of person and handle all kinds of affairs. It won’t be as prestigious as serving in the Imperial Guards."

The elder madam and the second wife immediately perked up and turned their attention to Lord Xu and his brother.

"What’s going on?" The elder madam asked, her expression anxious.

"It’s nothing major," Xu Lingkuan replied, a trace of awkwardness flashing in his eyes. He hadn’t expected his brother to bring this up in such a setting. "A few days ago, the commander of the Five City Military and Police Office spoke to our captain, asking to transfer a few men from our unit. I happened to be present, and our captain asked if I’d be interested." He glanced at Lord Xu. "The position would be assistant commander. I came back to discuss it with Fourth Brother, and he told me to decide for myself."

The elder madam fell silent, lost in thought.

This concerned Xu Lingkuan’s career path, and everyone in the room held their breath, watching the elder madam.

The second wife glanced at the elder madam and said softly, "Mother, I’d say drop the idea. Given the current instability, it’s better to avoid unnecessary complications. Besides, the Five City Military and Police Office deals with all sorts of people—one wrong move, and you’re tangled in trouble. If it’s just about the rank of assistant commander, I’d say wait a while longer, and you could still secure a similar position in the Capital Guards. As His Lordship said, the status would be more distinguished. And do you really want to spend your days dealing with coal peddlers and cabbage vendors?"

The elder madam nodded slightly and turned to the fifth wife seated beside her. "What do you think?"

The fifth wife smiled. "I’ll go along with Mother and Second Sister-in-law." She then addressed Xu Lingkuan. "Our family lacks neither food nor clothing—why should you go to such a place? I’ve heard that the Five City Military and Police Office often shakes down street vendors. You, a nobleman—why stoop to that? And if you don’t, you’ll rub your coworkers the wrong way. I think it’s better to stay in the Imperial Guards."

Xu Lingkuan grumbled, "But the promotions come quicker in the Five City Military and Police Office…"

"It's just a third-rank Commandery Marquis," Fifth Madame said with a smile, glancing at Lord Xu. "Our family hardly needs such titles!"

Xu Lingkuan suddenly understood, casting a somewhat guilty look at Lord Xu. "I was being foolish. I’ll go and turn down the commander’s offer tomorrow."

The elder madam nodded in satisfaction, giving Fifth Madame an appreciative glance before earnestly advising Xu Lingkuan, "A good wife brings half your blessings. You are a blessed man. You must cherish it."

The elder madam was quite pleased, shifting to climb down from the heated bed. "Alright, alright, it’s getting late, and the weather is cold. After dinner, you may all disperse."

The second madam quickly rose to support the elder madam, while several maids knelt to help her put on her shoes. Sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, granddaughters, and matrons crowded around as they moved toward the eastern chamber.

No one brought up Jin Geer again.

Xu Siyu’s expression stiffened slightly.

Eleven Miss, walking at the back, cast a sidelong glance at Lord Xu beside her, his expression unreadable.

Her large almond-shaped eyes, bright and captivating, swept over him, making Lord Xu’s heart race before he finally composed himself.