Chapter 577

Chapter 583: Soaring (Part 2)

Lord Xu whispered, "You mentioned Yuge's marriage is difficult. What exactly makes it so?"

The main issue was Xu Siyu's status—born into a noble family yet the eldest son born to a concubine.

But Lady Eleven couldn't bring herself to say this in front of Lord Xu.

Nor did Lord Xu expect an answer. He said solemnly, "The real difficulty lies in what path he can take in life."

Lady Eleven nodded in agreement.

Lord Xu had hit the nail on the head.

As Lord Xu's son, Xu Siyu could receive an official position through hereditary appointment, but such appointments were limited in number. Moreover, Lord Xu had a young new wife (her), and it was only natural to assume she would bear more children for the Xu family in the future. The likelihood of Xu Siyu receiving such an appointment would only diminish with the birth of younger siblings.

As the saying goes, marriage is about practicality—roof and rice. For a poor family, ten taels of silver could sustain them for years. But Xu Siyu was born into nobility. Even just maintaining social connections costs hundreds of taels yearly. Who would be willing to marry their daughter to someone who couldn’t even guarantee basic necessities?

"If Yuge passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, though it’s not a grand achievement," Lord Xu continued, seeing Lady Eleven's agreement, "at the very least, he won’t have to kneel in court, and he’ll be exempt from corvée labor and land taxes. Even without hereditary appointment, with our family’s influence, securing a minor official post wouldn’t be difficult. Besides, as the eldest son born to a concubine, he could establish his own household after marriage." He chuckled. "That’s why I said you’d have your pick of daughters-in-law!"

"Lord Xu, really!" Lady Eleven chided. "You scared me for a moment. I thought you already had your eye on some young lady and were just waiting for Yuge to pass the exams before proposing. Turns out it’s all just pie in the sky!"

"No rush," Lord Xu reassured her with a smile. "When he’s older and more settled, he’ll understand how to live his life. Marrying too young, when both are still children, can lead to unnecessary quarrels over trivial matters. Resentment builds, and affection fades, turning love into bitterness."

Was he speaking from personal experience?

Lady Eleven nearly asked but held back when she noticed the faint sorrow in his expression. Instead, she changed the subject to something lighter. "Did you know, Lord Xu? Lady Wen and I recently sorted out many of Jin Geer’s old clothes and sent them to Cangzhou. The messenger said Zhenjie is doing well. Her mother-in-law, afraid she might feel uneasy, even invited a talkative niece—who had borne four sons—to stay with her, keeping her company and looking after her daily needs. The Mid-Autumn Festival is in a few days. I thought of writing a thank-you letter to send with the festival gifts. What do you think?"

"Is a thank-you letter really necessary?" Lord Xu hesitated. "She’s the mother-in-law. However she treats Zhenjie, we can’t really interfere."

"Oh, it’s just to butter her up a little!" Lady Eleven waved it off. "Who doesn’t like hearing kind words? This way, she’ll feel respected, and if Zhenjie ever falls short, she’ll be more forgiving." She smiled. "I’ve been counting the days—Zhenjie should give birth in two months. I wonder if it’ll be a boy or a girl. The older women I sent to deliver gifts said Zhenjie looks like she’s carrying a girl, but I suspect they’re just fishing for tips. When I was pregnant with Jin Geer, everyone said the same thing..."

Lord Xu listened to her rambling before nuzzling his cheek to hers and murmuring, "What about you?"

"What?" Lady Eleven didn’t understand.

Lord Xu chuckled softly. "If you’ve given away all of Jin Geer’s clothes, what’ll our *next* boy wear, hm?"

"Jin Geer’s outgrown them anyway..." she began, then suddenly grasped his meaning. Flustered, she stammered, "Well, everyone says Jin Geer is blessed—that the Crown Princess’s safe delivery of the Emperor’s grandson thanks to his luck. I just wanted to reassure Zhenjie..."

"The imperial grandson owes his birth to Jin Geer’s luck?" Lord Xu was stunned. "Who said that?"

"You really didn’t know?" Lady Eleven covered her mouth, laughing. "The other day, when I visited Elder Madam Gan, I ran into the fourth wife of the Tang family—the Marquis Zhongshan’s household—at Count Zhongqin’s residence. The moment she saw Jin Geer, her face lit up. She insisted we visit her home, saying her daughter-in-law was on her fourth pregnancy—all daughters—and wanted Jin Geer to sit on her bed. If I hadn’t blamed Princess Fucheng’s summons, I wouldn’t have escaped. Even then, she followed me all the way to the princess’s residence before finally leaving. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stopped by Sister Zhou’s place so abruptly!"

Lord Xu laughed and teased her, "I think he should sit on his mother’s bed first!"

Lady Eleven couldn’t help swatting his shoulder. "You devil!"

"I’m serious," Lord Xu said, still grinning. "Out with it—how many of Jin Geer’s clothes have you given away?"

Lady Eleven laughed helplessly. "Some to Zhenjie, two to the fourth wife of the Tang family, and a couple earlier to Princess Yong’an..."

Their teasing eased Lord Xu’s mood, distracting him from brooding over Wang Jiubao’s conviction.

***

Come the eighth month, a steady drizzle began to fall over Yanjing.

Lady Eleven looked at Xu Siyu's brand-new dark blue silk robe embroidered with the "Ascending Success" pattern and smiled, "Luckily your father reminded me to air out your examination kit back in June, or it would have been a disaster!" She added, "Lord Xu said that since this examination kit accompanied you through the local and regional exams, it will surely be with you for the provincial and metropolitan exams too."

She wanted to give Xu Siyu more encouragement before the exams.

Xu Siyu smiled without saying a word, but his eyes brightened.

Lord Xu was unaccustomed to Lady Eleven speaking like this in front of their son. He cleared his throat lightly and said calmly, "Alright, it’s getting late. After paying respects to your grandmother, you should head out. Otherwise, the roads will be jammed with crowds, and you’ll have to walk to the examination compound in the rain." Then he instructed Xu Sizhun, who was standing nearby, "Accompany your brother to the examination compound with Bai the steward!"

The two brothers bowed and respectfully replied, "Yes."

Jin Geer ran over.

He grabbed Xu Siyu’s hand, blinking his large almond-shaped eyes as he looked up at his brother. "I want to go too!"

Xu Siyu chuckled.

He bent down and said gently, "When you're older, you may go."

Lady Eleven quickly picked him up. "Your brother has things to do. Don’t bother him. I’ll tell you a story later."

Jin Geer had reached the age where he loved listening to stories, just like Xu Sijie—insisting on hearing the same tales repeatedly until the storyteller was hoarse.

Though he didn’t insist on going, Jin Geer pouted, clearly unhappy.

Afraid he might dampen Xu Siyu’s mood, Lady Eleven urged him to leave. "I’ll have Zhuxiang escort you to your grandmother’s place. She’s been thinking about your exams too and should already be up by now!"

Xu Siyu acknowledged with a hum but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he asked Jin Geer, "What would you like to eat? I’ll bring it back for you!"

Jin Geer had never tasted street food before, unlike Xu Sijie, who had savored even a single piece of candy as a child. Though he never fussed about food, he also never insisted on eating anything specific.

Cocking his small head in thought, he finally looked at Lady Eleven and said, "Crispy anchovies!"

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

We'd had crispy anchovies for breakfast that very morning.

Still smiling, Xu Siyu said seriously, "Chunxi Restaurant likely serves crispy anchovies. I’ll bring some back for you after the exams!"

Jin Geer grinned and nestled against Lady Eleven.

Lord Xu interjected, "Just focus on your exams. We can have a servant fetch the fish for him."

Neither father nor son had any intention of deceiving Jin Geer.

Lady Eleven felt relieved.

She hated when adults made promises lightly to children, thinking they wouldn’t remember. Over time, children would lose trust in them.

After the exams, Xu Siyu did bring back crispy anchovies for Jin Geer.

Unfortunately, Jin Geer had already fallen asleep.

Xu Siyu apologized, "I meant to return earlier, but Elder Fang was waiting outside the examination compound and dragged me for tea. Some of his fellow candidates and officials were there too, so I sent Zhuxiang back with a message... I wanted to give it to him myself, but the discussion ran long..."

It was understandable.

Like a celebration after civil service exams, whether the results were good or bad, everyone just wanted to unwind. Whether they would qualify for a first-rank academy or have to retake the exams was a worry for later.

She smiled. "It’s fine. I’ll see he gets it tomorrow!"

Xu Siyu left with an apologetic air.

Lord Xu, who had been sitting on the heated brick bed by the window waiting for Xu Siyu's return, set down the book in his hand and said, "When did he become so close with Fang Tanhua?"

Earlier, he had instructed someone to wait at the door and have Xu Siyu come to greet him upon returning. Yet when he saw Xu Siyu, he didn’t ask a single question.

Lady Eleven couldn’t help but smile.

"Yuge and Fang Tanhua have always been close!" she said. "It’s just that before, due to the business with Siqin’s wife, they each had their own stance. Now that the two families have reconciled, they’ve naturally grown closer."

Lord Xu nodded and said no more. The next morning, when Jin Geer woke up and saw a packet of crispy fish by his bedside, he looked puzzled.

"This was bought specially for the sixth young master by the Second Young Master from Chunxi Lou," Gu Ma quickly explained. "He brought it over last night, but you were already asleep."

Jin Geer's face lit up, grabbed the crispy fish, and ran into Lady Eleven’s private quarters. "Mother, mother! Second Brother bought me crispy fish!"

Lady Eleven smiled and kissed Jin Geer’s cheek. "Remember to thank Second Brother when you see him later!"

Jin Geer nodded and obediently thanked Xu Siyu when he saw him.

"No need!" Xu Siyu laughed, patting Jin Geer’s head.

A young maid hurried in. "Madam, the Second Lady asks if the Second Young Master has come to pay his respects yet. If he has, she requests that he go to Shaohua Manor."

Before she finished speaking, another maid rushed in. "Madam, Yu Ban from Elder Madam's household is here. She says she’s been sent by Elder Madam to ask if the Second Young Master has arrived. If he has, she says to send him over immediately!"

Xu Siyu had returned too late the previous night, so neither Elder Madam nor the Second Lady had been able to see him.

They must be concerned about how he did in the exam, right?

Lady Eleven couldn’t suppress a smile.

In contrast, Lord Xu hadn’t asked a single question.

She instructed, "Go quickly! Don’t keep Elder Madam and your second aunt waiting!"

Xu Siyu responded and hurried off.

A few days later, news came from the Shuntian Prefecture that Xu Siyu had placed ninth in the examinations, becoming a state-supported scholar of the Da Zhou Dynasty. Not only could he attend the prefectural school, but he would also receive six pecks of rice every month.