Chapter 522

Chapter 528: Discord (Part 2) 528

Lord Xu noticed Eleven Miss seemed somewhat downcast but mistakenly thought it was due to Jin Geer's first birthday ceremony. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders to comfort her: "To understand the world is learning; to navigate human affairs is true wisdom. In the military, countless skilled warriors end up as lieutenants at best, while many who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag become generals. What truly matters is whether one handles affairs with wisdom. Since our Jin Geer picked the drinking game token, he’ll surely grow into someone who enjoys making friends. With friends to support him, he’ll have nothing to fear!"

Meeting his concerned gaze, Eleven Miss felt a faint pang of frustration.

Fourth Miss had sought her out solely to urge Lord Xu into ensuring the authorities wouldn’t interfere in the Zhu family’s succession matter. Yet interfering in another family’s affairs could tarnish Lord Xu’s reputation.

Wrapping her arms around Lord Xu’s waist, she made a decision.

"Seventh Miss is in Yanjing, the capital!"

Lord Xu was surprised. "Another fight with Zhu Anping?"

"There were many guests at the time, and Fourth Miss wasn’t entirely clear on the details," Eleven Miss replied. "I’d like to visit her tomorrow."

Lord Xu nodded. "Should I help persuade Zhu Anping?"

"Let’s see how things unfold," Eleven Miss said. "Marital spats are unpredictable. Sometimes advice is like timely aid, other times it’s just pouring oil on the flames."

Lord Xu had always viewed Seventh Miss as willful and Zhu Anping as magnanimous. Assuming Seventh Miss was at fault again, he didn’t press further. After exchanging a few casual remarks with Eleven Miss, they retired for the night.

The next day, Eleven Miss simply mentioned visiting Fourth Miss and set off with Zhuxiang.

Yu Yiqing wasn’t home. Fourth Miss was surprised by Eleven Miss’s visit, uttering only, "You’re here," before leading her to the easternmost room in the rear quarters.

The room was tidy and simply elegant. Eleven Miss stared at the gaunt, hollow-eyed woman seated by the window for a long moment before softly calling, "Seventh Sister."

Seventh Miss turned to her and gave a self-deprecating smile. "I look like a ghost, don’t I? You didn’t recognize me at first, did you?"

Eleven Miss chose not to lie and remained silent.

Seventh Miss gestured to the opposite kang. "Sit. I need your help this time." Her tone was cold, even a bit commanding.

Fourth Miss shot her an apologetic glance and whispered, "She hasn’t been herself lately. For my sake, please bear with her."

Eleven Miss gave Fourth Miss a reassuring look and sat across from Seventh Miss.

With no servants present, Fourth Miss went to prepare tea while Seventh Miss murmured, "He promised me that if nothing worked out, we’d adopt a son from among our sisters. Now that adoption is necessary, it should be one of our sisters’ sons."

Eleven Miss suddenly understood.

If Zhu Anping agreed, why was Seventh Miss so insistent on that old promise?

She didn’t respond, sipping the tea Fourth Miss handed her before asking softly, "Didn’t Seventh Brother-in-law come with you?"

Seventh Miss pressed her lips together and tersely said, "No." But Fourth Miss simultaneously answered, "He did." Their mixed answers left it unclear whether Zhu Anping had come or not.

Fourth Miss glanced at Seventh Miss and quickly added, "He stayed for two days but had matters at home and returned to Gaoqing County. He said he’d come back in a few days to fetch Seventh Miss." She was clearly covering for her.

Some things were better left unasked.

Eleven Miss nodded and offered a few comforting words like, "Heirs are important, but these things take time, Seventh Sister," before rising to leave.

Seventh Miss gave a half-hearted nod, letting Fourth Miss escort Eleven Miss out.

The two sat by the window in Fourth Miss’s inner chamber.

"Where’s your little Qi Geer?" Eleven Miss asked with a smile, pulling a pouch from her sleeve. "I picked up these blessings at Ciyuan Temple when releasing creatures for Jin Geer’s blessing. One for him, one for Qi Geer."

Fourth Miss hurriedly took it, thanked her, and placed it in a nearby box: "Let the wet nurse keep it!" Then she called in a little maid, "Bring Third Young Master over to pay respects to his aunt!"

Eleven Miss asked about Yu Cheng and Yu Li: "Have they gone to school?"

Fourth Miss nodded. "Your brother-in-law thinks Cheng Geer should sit for the imperial exams this year. He’s been studying hard these days."

As they spoke, the wet nurse carried in six-month-old Qi Geer.

"Oh!" Eleven Miss took him in her arms. "So plump and healthy! He’s grown so well!" She looked at Qi Geer, then at Fourth Miss. "Look at his nose and eyes—just like yours, Fourth Sister."

Fourth Miss smiled modestly and adjusted her son’s clothes. "Some say he takes after me, others say he resembles your brother-in-law. He’s still young—hard to tell for sure!"

Eleven Miss picked up a nearby rattle drum to play with Qi Geer.

"Pity our Jin Geer looks just like the marquis," she said with a laugh. "But even so, whenever I think of how I carried him for ten months and went through the pains of childbirth, it fills me with joy from the bottom of my heart." Then she asked Fourth Miss, "Fourth Sister, do you think all mothers feel this way?"

Fourth Miss found her question childish and chuckled. "That’s just how mothers are!"

Eleven Miss pursed her lips in a smile. "I think, among your three children, you must dote on Qi Geer the most."

Fourth Miss laughed. "Why do you say that?"

"I was thinking," Eleven Miss said with a grin, "Qi Geer looks so much like you. When he grows up and takes a wife, he might have a grandson who resembles you, and then that grandson might have a great-grandson who looks like you too... Seeing children who take after you, you’d be so happy you’d laugh in your sleep." She added emphatically, "If it were me, I’d definitely wake up laughing..."

Fourth Miss burst into laughter at her teasing.

But Eleven Miss’s smile faded, and she looked solemnly at Fourth Miss. "Fourth Sister, how could you bear to give Qi Geer away?"

Fourth Miss’s smile froze.

Eleven Miss let out a melancholy sigh. "Fourth Sister, you’ve always been the most strong-willed of us sisters. If it were me, I could never do it..."

Tears spilled unbidden from Fourth Miss’s eyes. She turned her face away and wiped them.

"Fourth Sister, you must think carefully about this," Eleven Miss said, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Once Qi Geer is sent off to Gaoqing, he will no longer be your son. Besides, the Zhu family’s affairs are tangled. If Seventh Sister can remain in charge of the household, it might be fine. But if anything happens... the child will remain with the Zhu family. What will you do then?"

Before she could finish, Fourth Miss interrupted.

"Enough!" she said resolutely. "I can’t just stand by and watch Seventh Sister be trampled underfoot by the Zhu family!"

"Fourth Sister," Eleven Miss said gravely, "Seventh Sister’s true victory lies in managing the Zhu household, raising filial children, and being enshrined in the Zhu ancestral hall after her death—not in fighting over which family’s son is adopted."

"I know that!" Fourth Miss’s expression softened slightly. "But this is Seventh Sister’s life—she must be willing to live it..."

Eleven Miss stared intently at Fourth Miss. "If none of us interfere, in time, Seventh Sister will come to understand..."

Fourth Miss’s face flushed dark red.

Eleven Miss’s implication was clear—she was accusing Fourth Miss of being unreasonable and indulging Seventh Sister’s tantrums.

"I told her that if a woman divorces, she can only return to her parents’ home. She said she’d rather do that. When I drove her out, she threatened to shave her head and become a nun," Fourth Miss said, wiping her tears. "With Father and Mother not in Yanjing, as the eldest sister, how can I stand by and watch her make such foolish choices?" She added, "And Zhu Anping once promised to adopt a son from among our sisters. Seventh Sister is simple-hearted—now the Zhu family has opened their ancestral hall without even consulting us. How can she accept this?"

After all, they were sisters by blood. Even knowing Seventh Miss was wrong, Fourth Miss still defended her.

Eleven Miss smiled bitterly and said softly, "Fourth Sister, have you considered why the Zhu family acted so swiftly and ruthlessly this time, leaving no room for our Luo family?"

Fourth Miss had sought Eleven Miss’s advice precisely because she was the most resourceful among their sisters. She had no intention of hiding anything. When asked, she answered frankly: "Seventh Sister keeps running back home, and the Zhu family finds it humiliating. Especially last time, when she flaunted her journey all the way from Shandong to Yanjing—the whole province gossiped that Zhu Anping had wronged her, filling the Zhu matriarch with righteous indignation. She tells anyone who’ll listen about Seventh Sister’s faults. And Seventh Sister, proud as she is, ignores her even more. Over time, people see her as wayward and haughty. Add to that their lack of heirs—the Zhu family covets their wealth and convinced the Zhu matriarch to stir up trouble." She straightened her expression. "At this point, it’s no longer about right or wrong. We can’t let our Luo family’s daughter be bullied like this. Third Brother lacks backbone—we can’t rely on him. I’ve already spoken to Eldest Brother, and he agrees. He’ll handle negotiations with the Zhu family. You just need to persuade the marquis to have a word with the officials to stay out of it." Her gaze turned icy. "We absolutely cannot let the Zhu family establish an heir like this. Otherwise, even if Seventh Sister remains the Zhu family’s mistress, she’ll just be a puppet. Better to have no adopted heir at all..."

Eleven Miss looked at Fourth Miss’s resolute expression and knew this path was closed.

She headed back home.

...

The steady clip-clop of hooves echoed along the stone-paved path as Eleven Miss's mind raced.

She had already spoken to Luo Zhensheng... Even if she didn’t mention it to Lord Xu, when the time came, Luo Zhensheng would surely beg Lord Xu to intervene... Since marrying into the Xu family, Lord Xu had never refused a request from the Xus...

At this thought, her brows furrowed tightly.

The carriage came to a halt.

"My lady, we're home!" came the respectful announcement from the older women outside the carriage.

Absentmindedly, Eleven Miss took Song Mama's arm as she stepped down.

A few young maids, giggling and whispering excitedly, approached from the opposite direction. Spotting Eleven Miss, they immediately fell silent, pressed against the wall, heads bowed and hands folded.

Eleven Miss stopped short.

"Madam?" Song Mama whispered cautiously, "Is something the matter?"

Eleven Miss collected herself and instructed Song Mama, "We're going to 'Bowstring Lane'!"