Chapter 645

Chapter 653: Falling (Part 2)

After seeing off Tenth Lady, Eleventh Lady was in low spirits for quite some time.

She thought about the days when everyone crowded into the Green Bamboo Pavilion, the anxious feelings when they first arrived in the capital, the stunning encounter at the Xus' carved gate on the third day of the third month, and the scene of their first performance of "The Lute Song"... It seemed that all these memories were becoming more and more distant with the departure of Tenth Lady.

Eleventh Lady's mood affected everyone around her. Jingge often looked up from his writing, his bright eyes gazing at his mother. Whenever he saw her holding her needlework but sitting there in a daze, a look of worry, beyond his years, would appear on his innocent face, and he would move even more quietly. Once, he told Chang'an, “My Tenth Aunt is gone, and my mother is very sad. We shouldn't disturb her.”

At first, Jingge didn't pay much attention to Chang'an, but as they practiced martial arts together in the Twin Lotus Courtyard, Chang'an's seriousness and dedication gave him a significant advantage in the skills that required diligent practice. Among the children, only Chang'an's progress in martial arts could match Jingge's. Gradually, Jingge's attitude toward Chang'an changed. He began to greet Chang'an proactively and sometimes even chatted with him.

Chang'an felt this wasn't something he should comment on. He didn't say anything, just smiled at Jingge.

Jingge found him too dull and took out a cuju to play with Changshun.

Changshun kicked the cuju with his short legs, sending it flying onto the veranda, into the flower beds, and behind the fish tank. The two young maidservants searched with sweat on their foreheads, while Changshun giggled and played even more enthusiastically, trying to kick the cuju into every nook and cranny, full of childish energy.

Jingge laughed and played with him for a while, then looked up at Chang'an, who was practicing arm movements under Master Pang's guidance beside a large tree, feeling a bit bored. He patted Changshun's head awkwardly, “Play by yourself!” and then sat down on a reclining chair nearby.

Ajin hurried over with a cup of warm water, “Young Master, would you like to change your clothes?”

“No need!” Jingge picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp, “Has Mother returned yet?”

The old lady of Yongchang Marquis was ill, and Eleventh Lady had accompanied the Grand Lady to visit her.

"还不用！”阿锦微微一笑，“要不要派人到垂花门口守着——这样四姑娘一回府我们就知道了！”

“Never mind!” Jingge lay on the reclining chair, swinging his legs idly, “I'll wait here for Mother to come back!”

Ajin responded cheerfully, “How about I wash some plums and apricots?”

"No need to wash it!" Basking in the spring sunshine, Jingge appeared rather languid, "Last time Changshun ate a whole plate by himself and ended up with a stomachache at night. None of us slept well."

As he spoke, Lord Xu walked in.

"Why are you lying here?" He asked curiously, "Where's your mother?"

"Father!" Jingge jumped off the beauty recliner and bowed to Lord Xu.

Chang'an and Changshun, upon seeing this, hurried over to bow respectfully as well.

"Mother hasn't returned yet!" Jingge said, "Has Father had lunch?" He sounded quite grown-up.

Lord Xu chuckled, "I have." Finding his son's manner amusing, he asked, "And you?"

"I've eaten too!" Jingge replied, "I even took a nap!" He seemed rather indifferent about it.

"Have you finished your homework then?" Lord Xu asked him with a smile.

"Done!" Jingge tilted his head to look at his father, "Not only did I finish my homework, but I also read the book Mother told me to read first, practiced my horse stance, and played cuju with Changshun..." He looked quite idle.

Lord Xu felt a stir in his heart and smiled, "Would you like to go riding with Father?"

"Yes, yes!" Jingge jumped up, "I want to go riding with Father!" His face lit up.

"Alright," Lord Xu's mood improved significantly, "Go change into a short robe, and we'll go riding!"

Jingge ran back to the room, brimming with excitement.

When Elveniang returned, Jingge had just finished his bath. With a rosy complexion and radiant spirit, he sat on a brocade stool, chatting with Hongwen and Ajin who were drying his wet hair: "...On the horse, you can see very far. All the servants and grooms are beneath me. Just reach out, and you can pluck the leaves from above... When the horse runs, it bounces up and down, which is quite uncomfortable, but the wind blows in your face, making your clothes flutter, and trees and houses are left far behind. It's so much fun!" Hearing the commotion, he looked over. Seeing Elveniang, he immediately rushed over, "Mother, Mother, Father took me riding this afternoon!" He was very excited, "Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother came too. Fourth Brother even praised me for being brave!"

Eleventh Miss was surprised.

"Didn't you say he wouldn't start riding until he was ten?"

She looked up.

Lord Xu emerged from the inner chamber.

"I happened to take Zhun'er and Jie Geer to the equestrian grounds this afternoon," he said with a smile. "Seeing Jin Geer alone at home, I took him along too!" Then he asked, "How is Madam Huang? You returned so late—was she seriously ill?"

"It was just a chill," Eleventh Miss said. "Mother and Madam Huang rarely get to chat, so they exchanged some confidences. That’s why we were late." She then added with concern, "Horseback riding is dangerous, and Jin Geer is still so young..."

She had once seen a child injured from a fall while riding.

"Don’t worry!" Lord Xu felt Eleventh Miss was being overly cautious about Jin Geer. "They were riding gentle, well-trained mares, with experienced riding instructors supervising. At first, he just sat on the horse while the instructors led it around, or took him for a short trot. There's no danger!"

"Still, it’s better to be careful," Eleventh Miss said, sensing Lord Xu’s dismissiveness on the matter. "Jin Geer is too young—he probably doesn’t even have the strength to pull the reins, let alone control a horse. I think he should wait until he’s ten to learn riding."

Lord Xu hadn’t planned to teach Jin Geer to ride so early either; he simply thought boys enjoyed it and took him along for fun. He grunted noncommittally and changed the subject to Second Master Luo and Third Master Luo. "By my count, they should arrive in the capital in the next couple of days. You should prepare—we’ll take the children to greet their uncles."

Eleventh Miss nodded and asked softly, "Have their positions... been finalized?"

Though Luo Zhenxing was handling the arrangements, Lord Xu had also been making frequent visits to Minister Chen, who concurrently served as Minister of Personnel.

"We’ll see when the time comes," he said vaguely. "The official appointments will be determined by the Ministry of Personnel."

Lord Xu was decisive—he never made promises unless he was absolutely sure.

Eleventh Miss smiled faintly, but Jin Geer, feeling left out, tugged at his mother’s sleeve. "Mother, Mother, today I even raced Fifth Brother to see whose horse was faster!"

"Oh?" Eleventh Miss gave Lord Xu a pointed look. "I thought you said he was just sitting on the horse for a few rounds? How did it turn into a race?"

Lord Xu smirked at her.

Jin Geer flushed and mumbled, "We sat behind the instructors and saw whose horse ran faster!"

"Really?" Eleventh Miss laughed and hugged her son. "Come dry your hair now, or you’ll catch a chill." As she spoke, she carried him into the inner chamber.

Lord Xu followed and took the opportunity to give her slender waist a pinch. "As if I’d lie to you!" he teased, eliciting a soft gasp from Eleventh Miss.

"Mother!" Jin Geer clung to her neck. "What’s wrong?" he asked, bewildered.

"Nothing," Eleventh Miss suppressed a laugh. "A stink bug got me!"

Jin Geer looked even more confused. "A stink bug? Don’t they just make foul smells? How could it bite?"

Eleventh Miss couldn’t hold back her laughter and glanced at Lord Xu.

Lord Xu watched them with amusement, though his eyes held a hint of resignation.

Eleventh Miss couldn't help laughing.

Her previously gloomy mood suddenly cleared like a sunny day.

Second Master Luo had always served as a capital-based official. After moving to Shandong, where he wasn’t in a leading position, he felt as restricted as in Yanjing, with few perks. The added burden of collecting taxes in rural areas made his work even harder than before, so he sought to return to one of the Six Ministries. Eventually, he secured a position as a Transmission Commissioner in the Office of Transmission—a minor post, but one that involved reviewing memorials and interacting with officials from the Six Ministries, which suited his preference for the prestige to field work.

Third Master Luo, however, was different. Being younger and with two small sons, he aimed for a third-rank position to secure hereditary benefits for one of his children. Lord Xu pulled many strings and finally secured him the post of Prefect of Jinan.

Everyone was delighted. After a short visit in Yanjing, Third Master Luo’s family left to assume his new post, while Second Master Luo and his wife settled in Laohutang. After the elder madam’s birthday, Second Wife Luo invited Eleventh Miss to their home for drinks and opera, accompanied by Fourth Miss.

Eleventh Miss went over with the children.

Fourth Miss asked about Xu Siyu, "...Is he taking the civil service exam this year?"

"He is!" Eleventh Miss replied with a smile. "He wrote back around New Year’s, saying he’d return to Yanjing in June. I’m already getting things ready for his return."

Fourth Miss nodded and said nothing more.

However, the second wife’s gaze lingered on Xu Sijie, who had been accompanying Eleventh Miss. "Jie Geer must be twelve this year, right? Is he planning to take the exam this time?"

Xu Sijie’s face flushed instantly.

"He does want to give it a try," Eleventh Miss said, not wishing to put him on the spot, and quickly came to his defense with a smile. "But I think he’s still too young—there’s no need to rush. Let him focus on his studies for a few more years first." She added, "Yuge is taking the civil service exam this year, and Zhun'er will be discussing marriage next year. If he were to join in between, I’d be completely overwhelmed!"

The second wife’s lips moved as if she wanted to say more, but Fourth Miss gave a soft cough and interjected, "Eleventh Sister, have you received Seventh Sister’s letter? She’s pregnant again."

"I’ve received Seventh Sister’s letter," Eleventh Miss replied, glancing at Fourth Miss with a smile before asking the second wife, "Is she doing well?"

"Yes, yes, very well!" The second wife, speaking of her daughter who had finally found happiness, couldn’t hide her joy. "Her mother-in-law dotes on her now, just hoping she’ll bear more children to expand the Zhu family’s lineage!" She then rambled on about Seventh Miss, never bringing up Xu Sijie’s matter again.

Eleventh Miss sat quietly with a faint smile, listening attentively, letting out a silent sigh of relief.