Chapter 586

Chapter 593: Full Moon (Part 2)

Some things only need to be hinted at. Saying too much can breed resentment, sometimes turning even a reasonable point into an unreasonable one. Xianglin Sao is a classic example.

Lady Eleven looked at Xu Sizhun’s solemn little face and smiled. "Alright, I’ll have Qiuyu and the others fetch water for you to wash your faces. That place was filled with smoke and noise. Later, you’ll need to pay respects to your grandmother—don’t let it bother her." She then called Qiuyu in. "Since we’ve already alarmed the elder madam, don’t trouble her further. Have the maids bring water and then leave. You help the fourth young master and fifth young master wash up." She instructed Qiuyu to take Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie to the side chamber. Then she summoned Zhuxiang. "Go inform the elder madam that with all the commotion today, I’m afraid Jin might get frightened, so we won’t be going out to listen to the opera later."

Zhuxiang acknowledged and left.

Lady Eleven’s smile faded slightly as a thoughtful expression crossed her face.

In earlier years, though Xu Sijie was pretty, he was still young and raised in the inner courtyard, surrounded only by close friends and relatives. Most of the Xu family’s children were also exceptionally good-looking, so no one paid it much mind. But as he grew older, his features developed a delicate, almost feminine beauty unlike the Xu family’s typical rugged handsomeness. If left unmentioned, one might simply think the child was too pretty. But now that someone had pointed it out, it was hard not to recall past rumors and associate him with the once-famed actor Liu Huifang. Rather than drawing unwanted attention and inviting trouble, it was better to find an excuse to stay in the warming room until the opera ended.

Lady Eleven had always been attentive to Jin’s matters, so the elder madam didn’t suspect anything. The two children, engrossed in sharing amusing anecdotes from their daily lives under Lady Eleven’s guidance, didn’t notice her intentions either. Only Jin, having "slept well," heard the lively chatter, laughter, and deafening drums outside and was fidgeting, clamoring to go out and join the excitement.

Xu Sijie, who usually adored clinging to Lady Eleven, couldn’t help but show eagerness at the suggestion. He pressed his lips together, restraining himself repeatedly before finally lowering his head.

Lady Eleven noticed and sighed to herself, then instructed Zhuxiang to fetch Shen from Fifth Madam’s quarters. "Having a companion will keep Jin from acting up."

Fifth Madam had already been displeased with Third Madam for inviting so many neighbors, fearing some rough character might frighten Shen. Zhuxiang’s arrival gave her an excuse to step back. Not only did she send Shen’s nursemaid to the warming room, but she also sent Xin Jieer along.

Fang Shi was in the side room accompanying the elder madam and her own mother. Thinking of the room full of boys with only Xin Jieer as the lone girl, and recalling how well Xin Jieer usually got along with Jin Shi, she quickly invited Jin Shi over to keep her company.

Children listened while adults talked. Jin Shi, bored at the moment, happily agreed and left.

Third Madam couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

Since Fang Shi’s arrival in Yanjing, she had clashed with her several times, losing every round. This time, she had deliberately placed Jin Shi beside the elder madam, hoping to show Fang Shi how much the elder madam doted on Jin Shi. Yet before the elder madam could even exchange a few words with her, Fang Shi had pulled Jin Shi aside—and Jin Shi had left willingly. Third Madam couldn’t help but think of her as a "lost cause."

Ever since Xin Jieer had fallen out with Jin over a pair of orioles, she would turn her head away whenever she saw him. Strangely, Jin had long forgotten the incident and would run up to her, calling, "Sister!" Xin Jieer, seething, couldn’t ignore him outright with Lady Eleven present. Reluctantly, she grumbled, "Sixth Brother," then beamed and ran to Xu Siyu. "Fourth Brother, let’s play sandbag toss!" She even shot Jin a triumphant look.

Meanwhile, Jin was being chased by her younger brother, Shen. "Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother, let’s play horsey!"

Unlike Xin Jieer, Shen adored playing with Jin. Not only were they close in age, but in Jin’s room, Lady Eleven—unlike Fifth Madam—imposed few restrictions. Many things forbidden in his own home were allowed here, giving him a sense of freedom.

The moment he entered the room, he squirmed out of his nursemaid’s hold, tugged at Jin’s sleeve, and begged sweetly, "Sixth Brother, let’s play horsey!" His expression was utterly fawning.

Xin Jieer stamped her foot and screeched, "Shen! I’ll tell Mother if you misbehave in Jin’s room!"

Their father doted on Xin Jieer, making her the most temperamental. Shen had long grown indifferent to her frequent outbursts and continued pestering Jin. "Please? Sixth Brother? Please?" Jin also loved playing with Shen.

In Jin’s mind, Xu Siyu was here today, gone tomorrow—hardly memorable, a barely there presence. Xu Sizhun, though kind, was timid.

He wouldn’t let Jin do this or that, stricter than the maids. Xu Sijie, who lived with him, always patiently accompanied him in whatever he wanted to do, even crafting little chickens and birds for him. But it still couldn’t compare to the pure fun of playing with Shen.

Without hesitation, Jin scrambled onto the armchair by the long table, clumsily pulling a feather duster from the vase.

A Jin hurried over to help.

Jin handed the duster to Shen, who clamped it between his legs like a horse and began bouncing around the room, shouting, "Giddy-up! Giddy-up!" He called out to Jin, "Sixth Brother, come play too!" Jin then grabbed a horsetail whisk from the kang, and the two began roughhousing around the room.

Xin Jieer’s face tightened. Xu Sizhun quickly intervened. "Second Sister, let’s play sandbag toss!"

Jin Shi also coaxed Xin Jieer. "Yes, yes! It’s been so long since we played together!" Only then did Xin Jieer’s expression soften slightly.

Though the children now found each other irritating, these moments would become fond memories when they grew older.

Lady Eleven watched with a smile, clearing the heated bench for Xin Jieer to play sandbag toss.

Meanwhile, the two little ones—one wielding a feather duster, the other a horsetail whisk—began play-fighting.

The room was livelier than a funeral.

Eleventh Miss, however, breathed a sigh of relief.

Back home, she asked Lord Xu, "What's the gossip about Jie Geer?" Lord Xu was taken aback and replied, "Have you heard something?" Eleventh Miss recounted the day's events in detail: "Once is enough to start a pattern. We can't protect him forever. We must make plans early!"

Lord Xu pondered and said, "What do you propose?"

"Jie Geer will move to the outer courtyard next spring," Eleventh Miss said. "I want to arrange a secluded courtyard for him and have Steward Bai select a few sharp young servants. That way, gossip won’t easily reach him. In a couple of years, when he’s more mature, we can tell him about his origins. We won’t elaborate—just say his birth mother was the marquis’s concubine, and after her passing, the marquis brought him home..." Lord Xu thought for a moment and agreed, "Very well, we’ll proceed as you suggest."

A few days later, during the winter solstice, Eleventh Miss took the opportunity to mention this while helping the elder madam paste the "Nine-Nine Winter Countdown" chart: "A quiet environment will be better for his studies."

The Xu family’s boys traditionally moved to the outer courtyard at the age of ten, and arrangements were left to their mothers. The elder madam didn’t question it. Smiling, she fed Jin Geer a small piece of dried persimmon and said, "You handle it as you see fit!"

"Then I’ll start preparing for Jie Geer’s move," Eleventh Miss replied, handing the elder madam a brush dipped in vermilion pigment to dot the plum blossoms on the chart—once all eighty-one petals were marked, winter would be over.

Jin Geer stood up eagerly. "Grandmother, let me help you dot them!"

"Good, good," the elder madam indulged him, passing the brush. "Let Jin Geer help Grandmother." Then, as if remembering something, she exclaimed, "Ah! Last time during the opera, Mrs. Fang mentioned she’d soon be returning to Huzhou. For the parting gifts, have Zhuxiang fetch the silver from Yu Ban."

According to the household’s custom, relatives like Mrs. Fang received twenty taels for travel expenses. By having Yu Ban provide it, the elder madam was using her own funds, clearly intending to add more.

Recalling Mrs. Fang’s dignified demeanor in front of the elder madam, Eleventh Miss understood her favor. She agreed cheerfully and later hosted a farewell banquet for Mrs. Fang, presenting gifts from both the elder madam and herself.

Mrs. Fang thanked them warmly before departing for Huzhou. Before the New Year, while sending Spring Festival gifts to Third Madam, she specially included two fifty-year-old ginseng roots for the elder madam and premium blood-nest swallows for Eleventh Miss—topping their gifts by ten percent.

Eleventh Miss recounted this to Lord Xu, who remarked, "That’s why I steer clear of such families. If you don’t send gifts, they think you’re rude; if you do, they insist on calculating every detail and adding more. It’s exhausting."

Eleventh Miss laughed. "I heard the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Court of Censors holds Tanhu Fang in high regard and wants to recruit him. Is it true? If so, their family may soon have another censor!"

Lord Xu was surprised. "Who told you that?"

Eleventh Miss teased, "Must the marquis monopolize all news, while his humble wife remains ignorant?" Lord Xu chuckled.

A young maid hurried in. "Madam, the New Year gifts from Gao Qing and Nanjing have arrived!"

While the outer courtyard stewards logged the items, any accompanying matrons would come to pay respects and present small tokens. Eleventh Miss left Lord Xu for the reception hall.

From Nanjing came trendy trinkets. Since the elder madam no longer received guests, Eleventh Miss gave the couriers silver and a meal before sending them off to rest. Seventh Miss sent medicinal herbs, along with two letters—one for Eleventh Miss and one for Fifth Madam.

The matron beamed. "Our lady learned she was expecting in September and is doing well. Knowing you and Fifth Madam have been concerned, she wanted to inform you early. Since Fifth Madam is nearing her delivery date, our lady also sent baby clothes. That’s why the New Year gifts were delayed—to combine everything. We hope you won’t mind!" She curtsied.

"Truly?" Eleventh Miss was overjoyed for Seventh Miss. She tore open the letter, scanning it quickly, and called for Qiuyu. "Take this matron to Fifth Madam."

The matron left happily. As the matron left, Eleventh Miss suddenly remembered Seventh Miss’s adopted heir!