Chapter 494

Chapter 501: Choice (Part 2)

If she was going to turn back, why did she stand for so long at the Spring Grace Pavilion?

Lord Xu looked at the eleventh lady with a calm and composed demeanor, secretly amused in his heart.

She still didn’t understand his nature; the more he cared about something, the more indifferent he would appear.

He was only interested in the first half of her sentence.

"Why did you think of coming to see me?" His gaze, directed at her, couldn’t help but carry a hint of a smile. "I have Lin Bo taking care of me, and there are also rough servants around. I’ve stayed at the Half-Moon Pond before for a month, and all the necessary clothes for changing are available. You don’t need to worry about running over here in the middle of the night, which makes me worry that you might hurt your feet." As he spoke, he glanced at the eleventh lady’s red embroidered shoes with magnolias.

The eleventh lady subconsciously pulled her feet back.

Earlier, she thought the key point of her statement was “turning back halfway,” which made Yang Shi’s presence at the Half-Moon Pond a topic worth discussing... She had already prepared a strategy for this. If he asked, she planned to tell him: The Half-Moon Pond is the Marquis’s academy. With the Yang family being seized, Yang Shi came to seek an audience at night, surely to discuss important matters. As a woman of the inner chambers, it is proper for me to avoid such situations.

Perhaps Lord Xu would tell her everything Yang Shi said at the Half-Moon Pond after hearing this.

But he didn’t mention it at all, focusing instead on the first part of her sentence, as if she had gone there involuntarily to meet him privately.

The eleventh lady felt frustrated. Not answering would seem to confirm his words; answering would leave her struggling to find a dignified reason... In a moment of panic, her mind raced, yet she sat even more upright, her smile becoming even warmer, and her eyes casually glanced at the coral-carved cherries in the jade dish behind Lord Xu, casually saying, "Marquis, when you returned at noon, you saw..."

Seeing that Little Jing had left and hadn’t stayed for dinner, the maids picked some Chinese toon buds and made Chinese toon pastries. As they were the first sprouts, they were both fragrant and tender, very refreshing to the palate. She planned to take some over to give Lord Xu an additional dish for his breakfast tomorrow.

"Really?"

"Isn't it true that Chinese toon buds should be picked early in the morning? Although he didn’t stay for lunch at noon, he played with Little Jing for quite a while. If the Chinese toon pastries were really made, given Eleventh Lady’s character, she would either have sent them over through a servant boy right away or instructed a maid to deliver them early tomorrow morning. It wouldn’t be someone running over to Half Moon Pond when it’s dark."

A mischievous glint flashed across Lord Xu's eyes.

"It’s already time to eat Chinese toon, is it?" He smiled, "I’ve been so busy these days that I forgot about this." Then he said, "It’s good that you’re fine. Have a young maid pack some Chinese toon pastries for Linbo to take over."

"The Chinese toon buds were indeed picked in the morning, but instead of making Chinese toon pastries, we made Chinese toon noodles."

"I didn’t expect Lord Xu to come over," Eleventh Lady smiled. "Just as Du Mama was ordered to check on Little Jing, she found them interesting and took them back." She added, "Since Lord Xu likes them, I’ll send a young maid to pick some Chinese toon buds early tomorrow morning."

Lord Xu neither confirmed nor denied, saying, "There are still Chinese toon buds at home, aren’t there?"

It was a statement, not a question.

Eleventh Lady smiled faintly.

True lies usually have nine and a half out of ten parts being true.

The spring sprouts should be picked just as the sun rises to ensure they are tender. She instructed the kitchen to make spring sprout pancakes for Xu Situn and Xu Sijie early tomorrow morning. If they wait until the sun is up, it will be too late, so the kitchen must have kept some spring sprouts.

She smiled brightly and replied, "Yes."

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, like a child who had just pulled off a prank. Lord Xu barely managed to suppress his laughter.

"I've been busy all this time and haven't eaten yet. Could you make me a bowl of spring sprout noodles?"

If you want to eat, I'll cook for you.

"Alright," Elven laughed as she got off the kang, "It's already mid-morning. How could His Excellency not have eaten yet?"

Don't you usually skip the night meal? I'll make a big bowl in a moment and see if you eat or not.

She smiled sweetly, "His Excellency, please sit for a moment; the noodles will be ready soon."

But Lord Xu followed her to the small kitchen.

"First, Shi Zheng came and talked to me for a long time, then Wang Li arrived." He sat at the square table in the outer room of the kitchen, watching Elven knead the dough, "We were so engrossed in conversation that we lost track of time. They were both planning to stay for dinner. But then a servant from the Princess's residence rushed over, saying there was an urgent matter that required Shi Zheng to return home quickly. Just as we were about to start eating, the head steward from the Wang family came looking for Wang Li, saying that an attendant had come with a message from the Emperor asking him a few questions... The food had just been served when Yang Shi requested an audience, and now my stomach is still empty."

Elven listened to Lord Xu with a smile. Wu Mama, the kitchen manager standing beside her, was inwardly anxious.

She couldn't figure out what play the Lord and Lady were performing.

Even if Lady needed a bowl of noodles, she could just instruct the small kitchen; there was no need for her to do it herself.

As for Lord Xu, he could have his noodles while sitting and drinking tea. Yet, he actually came to the small kitchen himself and waited there.

She thought about how unwell the Eleventh Miss was, and seeing her arm, free from the bracelet, so slender, pressing lightly on the dough leaving only a shallow imprint, she couldn't help but feel secretly anxious.

Kneading dough requires strength; if not done well, the noodles would turn into lumps when cooked.

Her eyes were fixed intently on the Eleventh Miss.

Finally, when the Eleventh Miss's sleeve slipped down, she hurriedly stepped forward to help roll it up, taking the opportunity to whisper in the Eleventh Miss's ear: "I've already instructed the cook outside to knead the dough. When you see me give you a signal, you can leave the dough and go to the kitchen to cook the noodles."

The Eleventh Miss continued kneading the dough without showing any emotion, chatting with Lord Xu with a smile: "Food is the heaven of the people. Next time, His Excellency should eat first before dealing with such matters."

But Lord Xu, who understood nothing, only found the Eleventh Miss's gentle and unhurried movements beautiful and soothing to watch, leaning back in his armchair to admire: "I thought it would be a few words, but it turned out to be a long ramble."

The Eleventh Miss smiled and asked: "What did she say?"

She wasn't sure if Yang Shi had persuaded Lord Xu to help.

"Yang Shi said she wants to become a nun," Lord Xu said casually. "I've agreed. Tomorrow, I'll have Steward Bai find a suitable temple. When the time comes, you can have someone pack her things. If you feel too tired, you can also entrust Wen Shi with the task."

This news came as a complete surprise.

Mother Wu, Zhuxiang, Qiuyu, and the others exchanged glances, then fell silent.

Eleventh Miss's expression was also one of surprise.

"Why this sudden decision to take monastic vows? Is it temporary, to stay at the temple for some time? Or..."

If it was the former, Lady Yang still had a chance to return; if the latter, it would be tantamount to expulsion from the Xu family.

"She has already decided to become a nun," Lord Xu's voice was not only clear in the quiet space but also somewhat loud. "She will first reside at the temple as a lay devotee for some time, then formally receive the tonsure."

What exactly had happened?

Eleventh Miss’s heart was in turmoil. She wanted to ask what had transpired but thought it inappropriate to press further with at least ten people standing around in the kitchen. Biting back her questions, she softly replied, "Understood. I will arrange for someone to help Lady Yang pack her belongings tomorrow."

Lord Xu noticed Eleventh Miss’s subdued mood and regretted bringing up the topic, which had dampened the mood. He chimed in brightly, "By the way, how much longer for the dough?"

Lady Yang was led away from the path by two young servants.

"Madam, we can only take you this far," the servants released her, and Lady Yang's legs gave way, sinking into the grass. "It's getting late. Please return to your room soon, or the patrolling matrons might mistake you for a trespasser and give you a thrashing."

The pain in her feet snapped Lady Yang out of her daze.

What was wrong with her? Instead of thinking of a way to escape, she had been lost in a daze.

With that thought, she struggled to get up.

A sharp, searing pain shot through her left ankle.

Had she sprained it?

But the night stretched empty around her, with not a soul in sight... If she cried out, she might alert the patrolling matrons, who would question why she was here...

Gritting her teeth, she bore the pain and limped forward.

All the attendants in the room sensed Lord Xu's intention.

Mother Wu put on a quick smile and said, "It'll be ready soon, very soon. If you're hungry, my lord, there's black chicken and ginseng soup simmering on the stove. Shall I serve you a bowl to hold you over?"

"No need," Lord Xu sat calmly. "I’ll wait for the mistress’s noodles."

As he spoke, Mother Wu saw the kitchen maid peer out from the kitchen.

Understanding, she signaled to Eleventh Miss, "Madam, I think it's about time to knead the dough, isn't it?" She handed over the rolling pin as she spoke.

Eleventh Miss looked at Lord Xu's eager face and found it amusing. Her earlier irritation melted away... She took the rolling pin from Mother Wu.

Waiting anxiously by the garden gate, Mother Yang saw a figure staggering toward her and hissed in alarm, "Who's there?"

"Mother," Lady Yang's voice was weak, "it's me."

"Madam!" Mother Yang was shocked and hurried forward to support her. Seeing Lady Yang's disheveled state, she grew even more anxious. "My lady, what’s happened?"

"Quick, help me into the woods over there," Lady Yang said, eyeing the approaching red lanterns near Breeze Pavilion. "It must be the patrolling matrons. We'll talk more when we get back."

"Mother Yang complied, busily helping Yang Shi into the nearby woods.

"Excellent," Lord Xu set down his chopsticks and took the tea offered by Zhuxiang to rinse his mouth. "The noodles are chewy, and the Chinese toon shoots are refreshing. We'll have these toon noodles again tomorrow."

Mother Wu and the others sighed in relief, then exchanged glances.

Thankfully, Lord Xu hadn’t followed them into the kitchen, or their secret would have been discovered.

"There’s none left," Eleven Miss placed the *Da Hong Pao* tea brought by Qiuyu before him, said reproachfully. "I was saving the rest to make Chinese toon shoot noodles for Zhun'er and Jie Geer tomorrow morning."

No one expected Lord Xu to devour three large bowls all at once.

"Then make it for them the day after," Lord Xu chuckled, standing up. "I’ve eaten too much and need to walk it off." He then took Eleven Miss’s hand. "Let’s stroll around the courtyard for a bit."

Mother Yang held the lamp closer to examine Yang Shi’s ankle, which had swollen badly.

"I’ll fetch cold water to soothe it," Mother Yang said hurriedly. "Tomorrow morning, I’ll inform the mistress and ask her to call a doctor for you."

"No need," Yang Shi tugged at Mother Yang’s sleeve. "Just borrow some medicated oil from Lady Wen for me to apply."

Under the lamplight, her expression looked grim.