Chapter 475

Chapter 482: Brothers (Part 2)

As the Little New Year passed, the festive atmosphere grew even stronger.

The entire estate was spotless, with crimson lanterns hung along the covered walkways. Lush potted plants were placed around the houses, and the kitchen bustled with frying and preparing marinated dishes for the New Year. Everyone had received their New Year's red envelopes, and every face beamed with joy.

Lady Eleven discussed the New Year arrangements with Amber: "...Before the fifteenth day of the first month, try to give everyone at least two days off."

Amber nodded with a smile.

The sewing department delivered two twenty-four-pleated Xiang skirts that Lady Eleven had urgently requested.

"The plum blossoms are embroidered beautifully," Amber remarked in admiration. "I didn’t expect such fine craftsmanship from the sewing team."

Lady Eleven nodded and asked the matron who delivered the skirts, "Whose work is this?"

"It’s Ou’er’s embroidery," the matron replied softly. "She’s the younger sister of Cui Er, who used to serve by Qin Yi’s side but later took ill and died."

Lady Eleven fell silent.

The matron grew anxious and immediately knelt on the ground. "Please forgive me, madam! Please forgive me! The work was urgent, and with the cold weather, several in the sewing team caught a chill. Though Ou’er is new to the household, her needlework is outstanding, so we had her embroider a few plum blossoms. It was our oversight—we didn’t realize she was still in mourning..."

"Rise," Lady Eleven said, knowing the matron had misunderstood but not deigning to explain. She signaled a maid to help her up. "Cui Er was a good girl. Tell her sister that since she’s now in the household, she must perform her duties well." She then instructed Amber to reward Ou’er with five taels.

"...The embroidery is lovely, and I’m very pleased with it."

Relieved that Lady Eleven wasn’t angry, the matron gratefully accepted the silver and withdrew with effusive thanks.

Lady Eleven then asked about Yanrong. "How is she doing?"

Amber laughed. "She’s quite formidable. I think Brother-in-law Cao struggles to wear the pants in the family."

Lady Eleven, looking at Amber’s newlywed radiance, teased, "I suppose our Steward Guan and Brother-in-law Cao would have plenty to commiserate about."

"Madam!" Amber flushed scarlet and turned away to fold the skirts.

Lord Xu entered.

"Oh! New clothes?"

Lady Eleven stood to help him change. "For New Year visits."

Lord Xu said, "Let’s also make two brocade tunics for Jin Geer. He’ll be visiting relatives too."

"He’s barely a month old. Brocade tunics would be wasteful, not to mention they might scratch his delicate skin."

Lady Eleven immediately objected and added, "Are we really taking Jin Geer along for New Year visits?"

Since the day elder madam had expressed her eagerness to see Jin Geer, Lady Eleven had made sure to bring him along during visits, bundled warmly in a fox-fur mantle despite the cold. But visiting various households was different—they might not find anyone home, and most of the time would be spent traveling in carriages. The child was still too young.

"The Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince have all sent palace eunuchs to request that we bring the child to the palace for a visit during the New Year."

That couldn't be refused.

"Then we definitely shouldn’t make brocade tunics," Lady Eleven said with a smile. "It would be too ostentatious."

"During New Year's audiences at the palace, everyone wears their best finery. Jin Geer wearing a brocade tunic wouldn't be inappropriate," Lord Xu countered, thinking she was overly concerned. "But if you’re worried about his skin, we can make him a little cape instead."

If Lord Xu keeps this up, Jin Geer is bound to become a spoiled brat!

Eleven Miss felt her early education plans going up in smoke.

She couldn’t help but chide, “My dear, no matter how fine something is, it must be comfortable to wear. Though embroidered silk is beautiful, it’s too stiff. It’s not as soft and warm as the Songjiang cotton elder madam gifted us…”

Lord Xu hadn’t given it much thought. Though embroidered silk was expensive, our household could certainly afford it. Besides, all our other children had some, so he thought Jin Geer should have a piece too.

Hearing this, he smiled and said, “Then you decide! Just make Jin Geer a nice new outfit so we can take him out for New Year's calls.”

A new outfit should do!

Eleven Miss pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile.

A young maid came in to announce, “Madam, Fourth Madam from Bowstring Alley has arrived!”

Since Twelve Miss’s third-day wedding return and the formal family introductions with Lord Xu, the two hadn’t met again.

“Please invite Fourth Madam in at once!” Eleven Miss said, rising to greet her guest in the main hall.

Fourth Madam Luo wore a navy blue gold-brocade jacket, her hair neatly coiled into a round bun adorned with a large crimson satin hair ornament. Though she looked composed, there was a trace of anxiety between her brows—clearly, she had come for a reason.

“Eleven Miss,” she greeted with a curtsy, “Wu Xiaquan’s wife brought some salted fish yesterday. Since the New Year is still a few days away, I thought I’d share some with each household as a New Year's gift.”

“You’re too kind, sister-in-law,” Eleven Miss replied warmly, ushering her to the heated bench-bed by the east window. Amber stepped out to receive the gifts from the older women. “How are Big Brother and his wife? Have they mentioned when they’ll come to the capital?”

Fourth Madam Luo’s expression softened into a smile.

“Big Brother originally planned to come in early November,” she said, accepting tea from a maid. “But then Big Sister-in-law found out she was pregnant. He decided to postpone the trip until after the Lantern Festival. To ease our worries, he sent word ahead.”

“Big Sister-in-law is pregnant?!” Eleven Miss exclaimed in delight. “Chuanger is already eight years old… What wonderful news!”

“Indeed!” Fourth Madam Luo laughed. “Otherwise, Big Brother wouldn’t have delayed his journey.”

“We must send a letter to congratulate them,” Eleven Miss said cheerfully. After some small talk, Fourth Madam Luo gradually steered the conversation to her real purpose.

“When Twelve Miss married, Duke Mao didn’t even come for the wedding feast. I didn’t want to force myself where I'm not wanted, but your elder brother said no matter how she acts, we should do what's right with clear hearts. I thought it made sense, so I planned to drop off her portion first, then come here to rest and chat properly. But who knew I’d run into Fifth Miss at Ten Miss’s doorstep…” She trailed off, her gaze turning unreadable.

Eleven Miss was startled. Her hand holding the teacup paused slightly. “You met Fifth Sister?”

Fourth Madam Luo nodded, choosing her words carefully. “Fifth Miss told me she was visiting Ten Miss before the New Year. When she learned I was delivering salted fish, she accompanied me to see Ten Miss.”

“Yin Ping seemed nervous when she saw me, saying Ten Miss was unwell and couldn’t receive guests, asking for my understanding. I left the gifts and was about to leave when Ten Miss suddenly appeared.” Her expression turned awkward. “She said loudly, ‘A married daughter is like water poured out—no matter how wealthy the Luo family is, it’s the Luo family’s money. Now that I’m a Wang, I’m a Wang in life and death. I have nothing to do with the Luo family anymore, and I’ll never go back to demand money.’”

“‘If Fifth Sister feels wronged and can’t swallow this injustice, she and Eleven Sister can go back to the Luo family and demand money themselves. Just don’t drag me into it.’”

Eleven Miss was at a loss for words.

Not only was Fifth Miss obsessed with money, but she was also putting them up to it to demand more!

Ten Miss had specifically mentioned her—likely because Fifth Miss had said something to plant the idea that Eleven Miss was involved. Otherwise, Fourth Madam Luo wouldn’t have come under the pretense of delivering fish to feel her out!

Realizing this, Eleven Miss stated firmly, “Among us sisters, I can’t speak for others, but when I married, Mother treated me fairly. I would never ask Big Brother to add to my dowry. If that’s your concern, you needn’t worry.”

“Eleven Miss, you misunderstand,” Fourth Madam Luo said with a bitter smile. “I know your character better than most. But after leaving Ten Miss, I confronted Fifth Miss, and she insisted this was something the two of you had agreed on—that because you and Ten Miss don’t get along, she was acting as the intermediary…” She spoke carefully, “I thought it best to inform you, so you wouldn’t be caught unawares by gossip. After all, there’s still Twelve Miss between you sisters.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law,” Eleven Miss said gratefully. “I’ll speak with Fifth Sister properly. And I’ll make sure to set things straight with Twelve Miss too.”

"No need for that," Fourth Madam Luo said with a smile. "I was heading to Twelve Miss's place to deliver the dried fish anyway. Just talk to Fifth Miss about it."

Fifth Miss was Luo Zhensheng's sister, so there were some things Fourth Madam Luo found difficult to say.

Eleven Miss expressed her thanks, and after Fourth Madam Luo paid her respects to Elder Madam, she returned to Bowstring Lane.

Eleven Miss sat down to draft a congratulatory letter to Luo Genxing, but her thoughts kept returning to Fifth Miss. The more she thought about it, the more unreasonable Fifth Miss seemed. She had grown up in the main household, and though she had suffered some financial hardship after marrying Qian Ming, her situation was still far better than most. How had she turned so petty?

With a sigh, Eleven Miss set down her brush.

Sixth Concubine had only focused on getting more for Twelve Miss without considering her position. Even when Eleven Miss had married into the marquisate, her dowry had been kept on par with Fifth Miss and Ten Miss to maintain fairness and avoid disputes among the sisters. Now, regardless of whether Fifth Miss succeeded in getting the money, the rift between her and Twelve Miss was probably already there.

Lord Xu, seated cross-legged on a chair with a red brocade cushion, had noticed his wife's distraction since Fourth Madam Luo left. Now, seeing her brows furrowed with worry, he asked softly, "What's wrong?" as he put on his shoes and sat beside her. "Did something troublesome happen at Bowstring Lane?"

Feeling frustrated and comforted by Lord Xu's gentle presence, Eleven Miss decided to explain the situation: "...Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve—I should wait till after the Lantern Festival to do anything. But I’m worried she might make another move in the meantime..." She looked troubled.

After a moment’s thought, Lord Xu said, "I think... I should speak to Zi Chun about this."

"That might not be appropriate," Eleven Miss replied.

"If you men handle this openly, it could cause problems. What if Qian Ming doesn’t even know about this? It might create a rift between them."

Lord Xu disagreed. "If Zi Chun doesn’t know, then it’s all the more reason to tell him. If she’s acting behind his back like this, she clearly doesn’t respect him as her husband. Sooner or later, it’ll lead to disaster. Better to let Zi Chun rein her in now than deal with an irreparable mess later. And if Zi Chun already knows..." His eyes darkened. "A true scholar knows right from wrong. If he tolerates this, even if he enters officialdom, he’ll never achieve anything great."