Chapter 509

Chapter 515: The New Bride (Part 1)

Lord Xu's smile deepened as he flipped over and pressed Eleven Lady beneath him. "You still dare to complain?" His gaze grew scorching.

Eleven Lady pursed her lips in amusement.

Lord Xu took her soft earlobe between his lips, sucking gently for a moment, his breath slightly uneven.

Just as Eleven Lady thought he would make a move, he suddenly rolled onto his back beside her, letting out a long sigh.

"Go to sleep..." His tone carried a hint of frustration.

Eleven Lady found it equal parts frustrating and endearing.

This misunderstanding had to be cleared up. Otherwise, Lord Xu would hold back in the days before and after, while she would hold back during the middle—leaving them with few opportunities to truly enjoy each other's company.

With that thought, she pressed herself against him.

Though Lord Xu didn’t push her away, he closed his eyes, signaling that he intended to sleep.

Eleven Lady clenched her jaw.

Honestly, must he always be so stubborn? Yet deep down, she knew that his self-discipline and principles were precisely what she admired most about him.

Her face burning scarlet, she leaned against his shoulder and whispered, "When I was carrying Jin Geer... it was during the middle of my cycle!" Before she could finish, Lord Xu’s eyes flew open.

His burning gaze locked onto her face, so intense it almost stung.

She knew her cheeks must be flushed crimson by now and, flustered, breathed against his ear, "Every woman's body is different..."

Lord Xu remained silent for a long moment, as if considering the truth of her words.

Time seemed to crawl.

Eleventh Lady, who had been one-sidedly clinging to his neck, felt increasingly awkward.

Like she was the one left wanting...

The thought had just formed when Lord Xu gave a soft "Hmm" and patted her back. "Sleep..."

Was she being rejected...?

Eleventh Lady stiffened, lifting her head in surprise, only to see Lord Xu close his eyes again.

She really had been rejected!

Burning with humiliation and irritation, Eleventh Lady felt as if Lord Xu had suddenly grown thorns, prickling with discomfort. She couldn't just turn away now—it would only confirm her dissatisfaction. Yet staying draped over him without his strong arms embracing her robbed her of that cherished feeling of being protected.

After a long pause, she quietly slipped out of bed and walked to the heated brick bed by the window, pouring herself a cup of warm water. Gazing at the dancing red lanterns beneath the eaves of the western wing, she took a few sips, her feelings slowly calming.

She'd never humiliate herself like this again...

The thought had just formed when she was suddenly lifted into the air.

A startled gasp escaped her lips.

A familiar voice chuckled softly by her ear.

From outside came the drowsy voice of the night-duty maid, Qiuyu: "Madam, is everything all right?" That familiar gaze, that warm embrace... It could only be Lord Xu.

Eleven Miss glared at him and said, "It's nothing, nothing. Go back to sleep!" Before the sound of Qiuyu's departing footsteps could be heard outside the curtain, Lord Xu had already swept her up around the screen into the inner chamber. "Why so angry? I just wanted to rest for a while... Couldn't you wait..." His amused voice carried a hint of teasing.

Lord Xu was actually teasing her like this!

Eleven Miss blushed. "What strange things the marquis says. Your wife was merely thirsty and got up to drink some tea. Yet the marquis couldn't wait to follow..." Unaccustomed to such banter with him, her words trailed off awkwardly by the end.

Lord Xu tossed her onto the soft bedding and stood by the bed removing his clothes. "I was afraid you'd go complain to Zhenxing about me," he said, revealing his broad shoulders and firm chest.

Eleven Miss's mind was in turmoil.

She turned her face away. "What wrong has the marquis done to fear me going back to complain to my family?" Before she finished speaking, Lord Xu had already pulled her beneath him.

"Didn't you say I was bullying your family?" He gazed at her face, slowly caressing her body as he spoke absentmindedly, "What if you ran home crying and Zhenxing came to settle accounts with me? That would be troublesome..."

Everywhere his hands touched left her tingling and burning with desire!

"So the marquis fears I'll go home crying!" She writhed beneath him, breathing lightly, her words fragmented.

Lord Xu chuckled low in her ear. "That's why I have to keep you here..." He entered her slowly, "To prevent you from going to complain about me..." Eleven Miss's brows furrowed slightly before relaxing, but she could no longer speak.

Soft moans filled the room.

...

When Eleven Miss's monthly cycle arrived as expected, Lord Xu sighed in relief and subsequently adjusted his schedule accordingly. Eleven Miss also relaxed, treating Lord Xu with even more affection than before. Whenever Lord Xu dined at home, she would inquire about the menu. One day she even had Zhuxiang and others organize Lord Xu's trunks. Only then did she discover that Lord Xu had many clothes scattered everywhere—not just at Half Moon Pavilion, but even at Elder Madam's residence there were several trunks. Often he would wear new clothes when staying overnight elsewhere, only to return the next day in old ones. After staying here for several consecutive days, those new clothes would gradually be forgotten, and when taken out again, they became new once more. Eleven Miss decided to reorganize all his clothes systematically—which items stayed at Half Moon Pavilion, which at Elder Madam's, which in the main residence, and even placed some at Lady Wen and Qiao Lianfang's quarters. She assigned the meticulous Yu Mei to be solely responsible for Lord Xu's wardrobe. This busy period lasted until the beginning of August, when it was time to send Mid-Autumn Festival gifts.

The maidservant who went to Dajue Temple to deliver incense money returned to report: "Lady Yang is now called Jingkong. She tends to the plants and flowers in the abbot's courtyard. When the young nuns heard I was looking for Master Jingkong, they eagerly led me to her. She shares a separate south-facing room with another young nun, with a toon tree as thick as a bowl planted at the entrance. She seems to be living quite comfortably. Elder Madam need not worry!" With her abilities and methods, she could live well anywhere!

Eleven Miss smiled and had Qiuyu reward the maidservant with some silver taels before sending her off.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, news came from Bowstring Lane that Elder Madam Luo had given birth to a son on the eleventh of July, with both mother and child doing well.

The messenger was the wife of Elder Madam Luo's elder brother, Hang Liu.

When Luo Zhenxing came to Yanjing, Elder Madam Luo assigned her brothers Hang Liu and Hang Jiu to assist him. After Luo Zhensheng and his wife, along with Sixth Concubine and Yingniang, returned to Yuhang, Hang Liu took over the household affairs at Bowstring Lane.

"Who has elder brother sent back to Yuhang with the news?" Eleven Miss summoned Hang Liu's wife to inquire, "I'd like to send some gifts for my nephew I haven't yet met!" Hang Liu's wife half-sat on the small stool by the kang and immediately stood up upon hearing this: "Reporting to Eleven Miss, Elder Madam wrote asking the second young master to be named. The elder master said he would have my younger brother return to Yuhang once he decides on a name. The exact date isn't set yet. If Eleven Miss wishes to send gifts back, please prepare them and I'll come collect them." She was quite articulate.

Eleven Miss had Zhuxiang bring out the prepared gifts like golden longevity lock amulets—she had calculated the dates earlier and prepared everything in advance.

She wanted to ask about the child's condition, but unfortunately Hang Liu's wife had only heard secondhand. Considering asking about Luo Zhenxing's recent circumstances, but thinking he had concubines to care for him, such questions seemed unnecessary.

Just as she was about to dismiss Hang Liu's wife, Madam Huang arrived.

Eleven Miss hurried to welcome her, inviting her inside for some iced mung bean soup.

Madam Huang held the blue porcelain bowl with a bitter smile. "The Fang family's wedding procession has already set sail—a true ten-li red dowry. This time your family's third madam has saved a fortune. But with the bride's dowry filling every nook and cranny, I don't know how your sister-in-law can enjoy it with peace of mind..."

The Fang family was even more generous than third madam expected. They took measurements of all the furniture at Three Well Lane, and upon hearing the bridal chamber would be at Yongping Marquis' residence, sent people to measure there too.

Elder Madam frowned upon hearing this, and Eleven Miss naturally couldn't say anything either. She could only say, "Sister, have you come to discuss receiving the wedding procession with third sister-in-law?"

Grandma Huang knew that Lady Shiyi couldn’t easily discuss the matter, but she just wanted to vent her frustration—though the marriage was arranged, if others were to gossip about it later, they might think it was the matchmakers who had demanded the dowry, which would be a great embarrassment for her. She had merely come to Lady Shiyi to complain.

"The Fang family’s intention is to have the bride carried directly into the manor," Grandma Huang said, no longer mentioning the issue, smiling, "I think this is better. With so much dowry, if we follow the previous plan and first store it at Liu Dailang’s residence before sending the bride on the next day, not only would we have to give red envelopes twice to those carrying the poles, but it would also be easy for items to be lost or casually taken away..."

"Sister has experience in handling such matters," Lady Shiyi smiled, "Following Sister’s advice will surely be right..."

Grandma Huang sighed, smiling, "It’s a pity you’re not the mother-in-law. Otherwise, my job as a matchmaker would be much easier..."

Lady Shiyi accompanied her with a smile for a while.

Grandma Huang then mentioned Xu Suyu: "Apart from mourning, it should be time to talk about his marriage, shouldn’t it?" "Yes!" Lady Shiyi replied, "But since Brother Yu doesn’t have an official title, it’s hard to arrange a marriage." Grandma Huang nodded, "Indeed, it’s quite difficult. Being the eldest son, and the heir is only a few years older than him. Families with modest means, you wouldn’t consider. Wealthy families, on the other hand, find Brother Yu’s situation too challenging. If he had an official title, it would be much easier to speak of marriage..."

The two chatted for a while, and then Grandma Huang went to see the Third Lady.

The Third Lady disagreed.

The wedding procession could not take the same route again; first storing the dowry at Liu Dailang’s residence meant that when the entire Yanjing City saw the procession, everyone would know how rich the dowry of the eldest daughter-in-law was, making it easier to arrange a good marriage for the second son.

Grandma Huang frowned, "You will be in-laws, and you should understand each other. The Fang family initially planned to spend ten thousand taels of silver on this marriage, but now it’s probably over twenty thousand..." Before she could finish, the Third Lady smiled, "We’ve already walked ninety-nine steps, what’s one more step..." Her tone was somewhat smug.

Grandma Huang was speechless with anger and mentioned this slightly when bidding farewell to the Grand Lady.

After seeing off Grandma Huang, the Grand Lady called the Third Lady over, "There’s less than a month until Qingen’s wedding, how are your preparations coming along?" The Grand Lady had never inquired before, and the Third Lady was inwardly puzzled. Now that the Grand Lady had spoken, she hurriedly smiled, "The walls in Sanjing Alley have been whitewashed, the paint applied, and all the seasonal curtains and screens are ready. I didn’t expect that after a few years away, both labor and material costs had risen, and two thousand taels of silver were spent without a sound, leaving me to use my own petty cash, which still wasn’t enough. We’re waiting for Lord Third to bring money back to decorate the new room here..."