Chapter 511

Chapter 517: The Bride (Part 2) 517

Childhood is the most simple and joyful time. Such innocent days are fleeting.

Lady Eleven smiled and patted Xu Sijie’s head. "If you all go, who will help me take care of Jin Geer?"

At ten months old, Jin Geer was lively and active. The moment you took your eyes off him, he would crawl to the edge of the heated platform, putting anything he could grab into his mouth. When held, he would grow restless within moments, kicking his little legs against your stomach as if trying to propel himself free. Anyone holding him had to stay alert. He hadn’t yet learned to speak, only cooing "ah-ah-ah" at everyone. Lady Eleven was worried, but the elder madam thought she was overreacting. "The fourth lord didn’t speak until he was a year and a half old. Jin Geer is only ten months!"

Unsure whether a ten-month-old should be talking, Lady Eleven spent her free time holding him and pointing out household items to him.

Hearing this, Xu Sijie’s eyes lit up. "Then I’ll stay home and play with Jin Geer!"

Xu Sizhun looked disappointed. "Then... I’ll bring back some treats for you both!"

"That’d be lovely!" Lady Eleven quickly replied with a smile. "And when you return, tell me all about your mountain hike. I’ve never been hiking before!"

She meant in this era—where a noble would walk ahead while attendants followed behind carrying stools, feather fans, and even chamber pots.

Xu Sizhun happily agreed.

Lady Eleven saw the two brothers off at the door.

Song Mama approached. "Yi Yiniang’s mourning period is almost over..."

"Proceed as tradition dictates," Lady Eleven nodded.

Song Mama acknowledged and left.

On the appointed day, Taoist and Buddhist clergy were invited to conduct seven days of rituals. Xu Siyu changed into fresh clothes and returned to pay his respects to Lord Xu, the elder madam, and Lady Eleven.

Lord Xu questioned him about his studies, while the elder madam asked after his health. When it was Lady Eleven’s turn, Xu Siyu noticed Jin Geer’s nurse, Mama Gu, and Wan San’s wife, one of the serving matrons from Jin Geer’s household—standing under the eaves in a breezy spot, chatting. He was surprised.

Wen Zhu whispered, "Her Ladyship personally looks after the sixth young master. I heard she plans to wean him once he turns one."

If she loved children so much, why not let Jin Geer nurse a little longer?

Xu Siyu found it odd but simply gave a noncommittal hum, ignoring the maids and older women who curtsied as he passed. He followed Qiuyu into the west sitting room.

Lady Eleven and Jin Geer were seated on the large kang by the window. The kang table had been moved aside. Lady Eleven sat at the edge while Jin Geer sat in the center, clutching a drumstick used for striking a wooden fish. Around him were bowls and plates of varying sizes, along with a wooden fish, small drum, and the like. Jin Geer was happily banging away.

When he saw Xu Siyu enter, he looked up and grinned, showing off his two little front teeth.

Something about it made Xu Siyu’s heart melt.

"Sixth Brother has grown so much!" He stared at Jin Geer for a moment before speaking.

Lady Eleven held Jin Geer in her arms and smiled. "You’re back. Was your journey smooth?"

Only then did Xu Siyu remember to bow to her.

"I’m well, Mother—thank you."

After just these few words, Jin Geer began wriggling in Lady Eleven’s arms, arching and kicking, eager to return to the bowls and plates.

Not wanting to dampen the child’s excitement, Lady Eleven gave Xu Siyu an apologetic smile. "He’s quite the handful!" Then she set Jin Geer back on the kang.

Jin Geer immediately crawled toward the small drum but realized his drumstick was missing. He looked around, befuddled before scrambling back to grab it. As he headed toward the drum again, he fumbled the mallet once more. Frustrated, he glanced at Lady Eleven, then at Xu Siyu, before letting out a wail.

Xu Siyu found him quite amusing and without much thought, handed the mallet to Jin Geer.

Jin Geer immediately stopped crying, his face still wet with tears as he broke into a smile.

Xu Siyu couldn’t help but pat his head.

Jin Geer ignored him, lowering his head to beat the small drum. The room filled with uneven "dull thuds," monotonous and somewhat noisy.

Only then did Xu Siyu notice the red mallet in Jin Geer’s hand, worn smooth with use, with a lotus motif carved into its head.

He turned to Lady Eleven in surprise.

Lady Eleven smiled apologetically. "It’s a bit noisy!" she explained. "But if I take it away, he’ll cry even louder!"

"Perhaps it’s because I’ve heard it less—it doesn’t seem noisy to me," Xu Siyu replied with a smile, glancing at Jin Geer, who was happily playing.

His expression was gentle, his tone unhurried, the picture of a refined young nobleman.

Lady Eleven smiled and brought up Xu Siqin’s wedding. "Our household is small. Now that you’re back, it’s perfect for you to take the stewards to Tongzhou to help Brother Qin escort the dowry procession!"

Xu Siyu smiled and agreed. "He told me as much a few days ago when we went to Luoyeshan."

So, Xu Siqin had gone to attend Aunt Qin’s mourning rites!

Lady Eleven said meaningfully, "Since you brothers have already discussed it, I won’t say more. The first three days of marriage are without formalities. Relax and enjoy yourselves for a few days."

Xu Siyu smiled and nodded. Noticing that Jin Geer, who usually played with him, had dropped the mallet and crawled into Lady Eleven’s arms, fussing, he stood up. "Since you have matters to attend to, Mother, I’ll go pay my respects to Second Aunt first."

"We’ll gather at elder madam’s for dinner later," Lady Eleven said, since there was little else to discuss. She instructed Qiuyu to see him out.

Xu Siyu bowed and took his leave, his eyes lingering momentarily on the red mallet Jin Geer had casually tossed to the corner of the kang before turning to leave.

Lady Eleven picked up the mallet.

How perceptive of him!

Even Xu Sizhun hadn’t noticed.

This was the elder madam’s own mallet. That day, Jin Geer had grabbed it and refused to let go. Afraid he would cry, elder madam had given it to him...

She smiled and had the items put away just as Fifth Madam arrived.

"They say children thrive without worry..." she said, taking Jin Geer’s hand and leading him in a little walk around the room symbolically before handing him to Gu Ma. She sat with Lady Eleven on the kang. "After all those years of waiting, look—he’s walking now. Soon, he’ll be calling ‘Father’ and ‘Mother.’"

Lady Eleven smiled and sat with her. "Nanny Shi told me that Shen Geer can already lift his head?"

Fifth Madam’s face lit up with joy at the mention of her son. "Only for a short while. He tires quickly, so I don’t dare let him try too much..." Then she got to the point. "What have you prepared for Brother Qin’s wedding?"

Lady Eleven smiled. "I’ll defer to the marquis..."

Fifth Madam’s eyes flickered. "That’s for the records. What I mean is, what gift will you give the bride when she meets the family the next day?"

"That depends on elder madam’s wishes!" They couldn’t possibly go over elder madam’s head.

"Elder madam is the senior," Fifth Madam said. "Naturally, she won’t sit in the hall waiting for the bride to greet her. They’ll go to her room to pay respects." She blinked at Lady Eleven. "But it’s different for us. Not only will we meet the bride in the hall, but when giving gifts, Third Sister-in-law’s relatives will be there too. You know how it is—if the gifts seem meager, who knows what the Gan family will say about us. That’s why I came to discuss it with you..."

Lady Eleven’s lips curved into a pleased smile. "What do you suggest, then?"

She leaned close to Eleven Miss's ear and whispered something.

Eleven Miss couldn’t help but laugh.

Fifth Madame, however, repeatedly reminded her, "It’s settled then. Don’t let anything go wrong when the time comes..." Thirteenth Miss nodded eagerly.

On the fifteenth day of the ninth month, Eleven Miss and the others dressed in their finest attire to welcome the dowry into the house.

Every piece of furniture was made of the finest black lacquer, the surfaces smooth and gleaming. The porcelain and pewter were all in matching sets, while the bed curtains and quilts featured both timeless classic designs and the latest fashionable patterns. The clothing trunks were packed so full that not a finger could fit inside. It was clear that eldest daughter Fang’s dowry was not only lavish but also practical.

The women murmured admiringly.

Third Madame glowed with pride, loudly greeting the arriving guests.

Eleven Miss observed that the two matrons accompanying the dowry from the Fang family were dressed simply yet festively, their speech warm yet composed, and nodded to herself in approval.

Someone approached Eleven Miss to pay their respects: "You must be the groom’s fourth aunt? I’m the elder sister-in-law from your nephew’s wife’s family!" Eleven Miss instinctively turned toward the voice and saw a smiling, medium-built young woman in the bloom of youth looking at her.

"Ah, so you’re the auspicious one who prepared Siqin’s wedding bed," Eleven Miss greeted her with a smile. "This is our first meeting, so I’m afraid I don’t recognize you. Please pardon my lack of recognition!" She silently praised this elder sister-in-law of the Fang family for her shrewdness in addressing her as "the fourth aunt of the groom" right away.

The elder sister-in-law quickly replied, "As the elder, it’s my place to greet you first. Your kindness only highlights my oversight." She then turned her gaze to Fifth Madame and said, "This must be the fifth aunt..." With that, she curtsied to both of them. "Our eldest daughter will rely on your wisdom, ladies." She had sought out Eleven Miss first, then Fifth Madame...

Fifth Madame glanced at Eleven Miss and said with a smile, "Not at all! The Fangs are a distinguished scholarly family, unlike our humble origins. Should we fall short in any way, please put in a good word for us with the Fang family..."

"You flatter me, Fifth Madame," the elder sister-in-law replied with a smile. "We simply maintain the legacy our ancestors left us..."

She didn’t deny that the Fang family was a long-established scholarly clan while the Xu family had humble roots.

Fifth Madame glanced at Eleven Miss again.

Seeing her standing there with a smile, she resisted the urge to respond.

Near the trunks, a woman ran her hand over the embroidered quilt with a grand phoenix-and-sun motif and remarked with a laugh, "Twenty-four sets! Why, they’ve even prepared quilts for the grandchildren!"

The elder sister-in-law chuckled. "Among Jiangnan’s elite families, this is how we marry off our daughters. The tradition is to provide a dowry so lavish that even after entering her husband’s household, the bride’s lifelong needs are covered by her family. In times of need, she can even assist her husband’s relatives. That’s how she secures her place and commands respect in her new household!"

Her words left the entire courtyard in stunned silence.

Fifth Madame looked at Eleven Miss once more.

This time, their gazes met in midair, and both saw a flicker of astonishment in each other’s eyes.

The elder sister-in-law laughed heartily. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t have already started saving for my daughter’s dowry."

Some of the women joined in the laughter.

The hushed courtyard soon buzzed with chatter once more.