Chapter 487

Chapter 493: Anxiety (Part 2)

After seeing Lord Xu off, Lady Eleven tidied her slightly disheveled hair into a neat bun and went to the heated sitting room.

Jin Geer lay on the soft bedding, kicking his legs gleefully in the air.

Lady Eleven had once heard that parents should help their children exercise appropriately, as it benefits their health. However, she didn’t know exactly how to do it—before marriage, she had assumed that parenting books were readily available everywhere and that she could simply buy one when needed.

Now, she truly regretted not having studied such matters earlier.

She could only coax Jin Geer to grasp her fingers and sit up or roll him gently from side to side.

Jin Geer giggled with delight, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Lady Eleven kissed his left cheek, then his right.

A maid hurried in and announced, "The eldest daughter, Fourth Young Master, and Fifth Young Master are here!"

"Please invite them in quickly!" Lady Eleven’s face still glowed with the joy of playing with Jin Geer.

The maid hurriedly pulled back the curtain, smiling.

"Mother," Zhenjie called out cheerfully as she stepped in first.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie slipped out from behind her and ran to the kang, calling out "Mother" before peering eagerly over the edge. "Sixth Brother! Sixth Brother!"

Jin Geer, still cheerful, turned his head at the sound and beamed at Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie.

The brothers were thrilled. "Mother, Mother, look! Sixth Brother is smiling!"

Lady Eleven chuckled and picked up Jin Geer.

Seeing everyone in the room, Jin Geer chortled even louder, shoving his hands in his mouth, babbling away.

Zhenjie caught his hand. "Sucking your fingers again? Be careful, or Mother will spank you."

Jin Geer tilted his chubby little face and gazed at Zhenjie, babbling as if replying or arguing with her. This left Zhenjie both astonished and delighted, and she immediately called out to Lady Eleven, "Mother... do you think Sixth Brother is about to talk?"

"It might still be too early," Lady Eleven replied hesitantly, uncertain. "I heard Tian Ma say that children usually start speaking after their first birthday." In her memory, a colleague’s child had begun speaking before turning one...

"Oh," Zhenjie said, disappointed, and gave Jin Geer’s hand a little tug. "You should start talking soon. Then you can just tell Gu Ma what you want—wouldn’t that be wonderful?"

"These things can’t be rushed," Lady Eleven said with a smile, ruffling her son’s hair before tying a little handkerchief hat on him. "You all haven’t eaten yet, have you? It’s late—I’ll tell the kitchen to make dinner."

Xu Sizhun chimed in right away, "Mother, Mother, I want mushroom chicken soup!"

"Of course," Lady Eleven said with a smile before turning to Xu Sijie. "What would you like?"

Xu Sijie tilted his head, confused. "Nurse Nan says we should eat whatever the adults give us and not be picky."

Feeling embarrassed, Lady Shier quickly explained, "Mother Nan is right. However, Mr. Zhao will be back soon, and you will all resume your studies as before. This is the last gathering before school starts, so everyone can order one dish."

Xu Sijie jumped up at this: "I want to eat soy sauce meat buns."

Lady Shier couldn't help but want to laugh, but then she heard Xu Sizhen's voice: "But Grandmother said we can eat whatever we want, no need to hold back..." His tone was hesitant.

Xu Sizhen had always been frail and could only eat what he wanted when his health improved. The Dowager naturally hoped he would eat more and better. It wasn't wrong for him to say that. Neither was it wrong for Mother Nan to be strict with Xu Sijie.

Thinking of Lord Xu’s words, “Sizhen can’t remain a child forever,” Lady Shier smiled and recounted the Dowager’s expectations for him.

“So, so Mother Nan is right?” Xu Sizhen lowered his head, looking somewhat sad.

“You can’t simply say who is right or wrong,” Lady Shier laughed. “I remember your father once told me that after your tenth birthday, you will move to the outer courtyard and live in your own yard. That means you are growing up and won’t be able to do whatever you want like you do now.” She teased, “Don’t complain about how strict your teacher is and start crying!”

It was also a way to prepare Xu Sizhen in advance.

Hearing this, Xu Sizhen laughed, “I won’t cry!”

Lady Shier smiled and nodded. Seeing Zhenjie, Xu Sijie, and the innocent Jinge all looking at them with wide eyes, she had an idea. “Today, we’ll take a day off. Do whatever you want!” She then asked Zhenjie, “What do you want to eat?”

Zhenjie was a sensitive child and knew that Lady Shier was trying to change the subject. She smiled and joined in, saying, "Mother, the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall we had here last time was delicious. Mother, could you ask the kitchen to make it again?"

"Sure," Lady Shier smiled and asked Jingge, "What does our Sixth Young Master want to eat?"

Jingge cooed at Lady Shier, who kissed her son and instructed Qiuyu to order more dishes from the kitchen. She also asked Zhuxiang to invite Third Auntie Huang over for a meal, then placed Jingge on a thick, crimson brocade mat embroidered with five blessings holding up clouds. She took a rattle and tried to get him to roll over.

His little arms and legs were quite strong, and he managed to turn to his side after a few tries. With a slight push from Lady Shier, he rolled over completely. Xu Sizhun watched enviously and took the rattle, saying, "Mother, let me try, let me try!"

Whether from fatigue or boredom, Jingge lay still when the rattle was handed to Xu Sizhun, lazily sucking his fingers. Xu Sizhun became flustered, sweating profusely, "Why isn't Sixth Brother rolling over?"

Lady Shier quickly caught Jingge's hand and laughed, "He had been rolling over for quite some time before you came." She added, "It seems we should follow Nurse Tian's advice—put some chili on his hands to stop him from sucking his fingers."

Zhenjie was shocked, "Do, do we really need to use chili?"

Lady Shier was also uncertain about this and showed some hesitation. Just then, Zhuxiang returned with news, diverting the topic, "...Third Madam has invited Third Auntie Huang to have lunch there."

"In that case, we won't wait for Third Auntie Huang," she said with a smile, instructing Zhuxiang, "Tell the servants to set the table!"

Zhuxiang smiled and left, while Elveniang and the children went to the eastern secondary room.

Shuangyu, the head maid by Xu Sijie’s side, gave a few instructions to Sixi before returning to her own room.

Since Xu Sijie had gone to the main hall, Nan Yong’s wife was not attending him but was in the room with a young maid, tidying up the trunks—now that the wind no longer felt cold on the face, it would be time to change into spring clothes in a few days, and she wanted to prepare everything in advance.

Nan Yong’s daughter, Jier, was seven this year. She had grown up with her mother in Xu Sijie’s quarters, more familiar here than at her own home. She was sitting on a small stool beside, folding socks for Xu Sijie.

“Mother Nan, I have something to tell you!” Shuangyu burst in like a gust of wind, pulling Nan Yong’s wife into the warm pavilion. “Fifth Young Master just said at Lady’s place...” She recounted what Xu Sijie had said about “eating whatever the master gives,” telling Nan Yong’s wife, “I heard it all clearly from outside. What do we do if Lady blames us?”

Nan Yong’s wife pursed her lips, remaining silent.

Shuangyu couldn’t help stomping her feet.

This Nan Yong’s wife, she was good at everything except that she wouldn’t speak up even if hit with three sticks, sometimes making people feel truly frustrated.

“Anyway, those words were yours. And you’re the one in charge here.” She was eighteen this year, and her family was arranging a marriage for her. When others heard she was a second-rank maid in the household of the Yongping Marquis’s wife, they were very satisfied, and several wealthy families had come forward to propose. She didn’t want this matter to affect her marriage prospects. “If Lady blames us later, I will have to speak the truth.”

These words were spoken by myself, and the deeds were done by myself.

Nan Yong's wife nodded without hesitation.

Shuang Yu looked so angry she could hardly breathe, thinking that after lunch, the Fourth Young Master might come to their room as usual for his afternoon nap. The hand warmer needed to be lit, the incense had to be burned, and the warm tea and snacks should be prepared... There was plenty to do! She turned and walked away, waving her handkerchief.

The girl who had been listening at the door tiptoed in: "Mother, will Madam not relieve you of your duties?"

She resembled her mother, delicate and refined, her small face creased with worry.

Nan Yong's wife stroked her daughter's head: "Since Madam has entrusted me with the Fifth Young Master, I must respect him as my master and love him as a child... What I do is for the good of the Fifth Young Master."

The girl was somewhat puzzled.

Nan Yong's wife sighed softly, looking through the glass window to see Shuang Yu standing under the eaves, hands on her hips, directing the young maids to fetch charcoal and water. Her eyes dimmed: "The Fifth Young Master is different from the other young masters... He is still young now, as are the Second Young Master, the Fourth Young Master, and the Sixth Young Master... When they grow up, they will understand the differences... Some people are born with the right to ask for things, while others are born without the privilege to be picky... If he learns this from a young age, he won't feel uncomfortable when he grows up!"

After speaking, she couldn't help but stroke her daughter's hair again, as if Xu Sijie were standing before her, and she was trying her best to comfort him. The girl seemed to understand, yet didn't, saying, "Is it like me, just resting here with Mother? Although the Fifth Young Master's insect-grass canopy is beautiful, it belongs to the Fifth Young Master. I can only look at it; no matter how much I like it, I can only keep it in my heart. No matter how delicious the pastries made by Aunt Wu in the small kitchen are, they are for His Excellency, Madam, and the young masters. Even if I am tempted, I can only secretly swallow my saliva and dare not let anyone see."

"Don't tell anyone, and when they offer me food, I have to say I'm full!"

Mrs. Nanyong laughed, bending down to lovingly stroke her daughter's fair face: "Exactly!"

"But... but he's a master!" The little girl tilted her head and looked at her mother.

Mrs. Nanyong didn’t answer.

**********

After the meal and seeing the children off, Eleven Niang immediately sent Zhuxiang to the outer courtyard: "Check if the marquis is back yet."

Zhuxiang rushed off to check.

Eleven Niang coaxed Jin Geer, full from his meal, to take his afternoon nap.

Perhaps too excited from playing earlier, he squirmed on the bed, refusing to sleep.

Madam Huang came to say goodbye.