Chapter 218: New Year greetings

It’s better not to talk about this kind of topic involving the emperor.

Xu Lingyi smiled and changed the subject: There is no rush in this matter. Once a teacher, always a father. Knowledge is important, but the teacher's character is more important. It is better to choose carefully.

Eleven Niang nodded.

She thought of Mr. Zhao who had been a teacher in Hou Tang's family in Zhongshan, but it was a pity that he didn't have such a fate. Otherwise, if someone close to the Luo family looked after Brother Chen, she could feel more at ease.

Eleven Niang went to Mrs. Tai's place with Xu Lingyi with a little regret.

Everyone was here, and when they saw them coming in, they stood up one after another. The fifth lady even joked: Why have the Marquis and the fourth sister-in-law been gone for so long? We have been sitting here drinking a cup of tea. We are so hungry that our chests are touching our backs.

. He came forward to tease Xu Sijie again. This child is really beautiful.

Xu Sijie looked at the fifth lady curiously with his big eyes open.

The Fifth Madam was a pregnant woman, so the Tai Madam was afraid that she would be hungry, so she specially prepared snacks for her. On the way back to Hehuali, she ate snacks all the way back. The Eleventh Madam was not worried about her being hungry. It was obvious that she was teasing Xu Sijie, and she was thinking

I always felt weird. I smiled and asked: Why don’t you see Brother Chen?

They were playing backgammon with Brother Qin in the room. The madam smiled and asked Xu Sijie if he had eaten.

After eating, Eleven Niang responded with a smile and stepped forward to salute the Madam.

Let him play with Brother Zhun, Mrs. Tai ordered, and Mother Du helped her to the East Room.

Bin Ju hurriedly bent her knees.

Thinking of her promise, Eleven Niang fell a few steps behind and touched Xu Sijie's head: Brother Jie, you and Bin Ju have a good time playing in Brother Zhun's house. Mr. Hou and I have something to do. I will come to pick you up when it gets dark.

.OK

Xu Sijie's eyes showed reluctance, but he nodded and answered softly.

Eleven Niang smiled brightly at him, touched his head, and then asked Binju to take him to Brother Zhen, and then went to the Dongci Room.

After dinner, everyone sat down to drink tea in the West Room. Xu Lingyi asked Xu Lingkuan: I heard that you played until midnight yesterday. Do you want to go back and catch up on some sleep?

Xu Lingkuan immediately said: "That doesn't matter. If I hadn't seen Brother Qin all yawning, I would have planned to play until dawn." As he said this, he thought that his brother never liked him having fun all night long, and his voice dropped again.

However, Xu Lingyi remembered the words of Eleven Niang and regarded Xu Lingkuan as a colleague. In this case, she could not accuse him of these personal matters.

He said to Xu Lingning, the third master who was sitting aside: "It seems that we can have some leisure time this year." Then he told Xu Lingkuan, since you are not tired, well, your fourth sister-in-law and I will go to Jiang's house. If there are guests at home,

Please help with the reception

Xu Lingkuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and then showed a little worry: I, can I do it?

Isn't there the third brother at home? Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "What do you not understand? There is Manager Bai outside and Manager Zhao, and there is a third brother at home, so don't be ashamed to ask."

Xu Lingkuan couldn't help but look at Xu Lingning.

Xu Lingning smiled and nodded towards him.

Xu Lingkuan was young and had a wild temper. In the past, he and his fourth brother had always been responsible for anything that happened to the Xu family. Now that he wants to go out, he has to leave the things in his hands to someone reliable. Last night he picked up the children

Although he played like crazy, he was able to restrain his playfulness and urge the children to rest before Chou Chu. Since the fourth brother wanted to test his abilities, of course he had to assist him properly.

The madam looked at it with her jaw slightly raised, and her joy was beyond words.

Although she was angry with the child for failing to live up to his expectations, she hoped that he would live up to his expectations.

Xu Lingkuan was overjoyed. Unexpectedly, the third and fourth brothers agreed to let him entertain guests on behalf of the Xu family.

He jumped up and said: Third brother and fourth brother, don't worry, I will do my best.

The fifth lady looked at her husband with a smile.

She did not expect this husband to be an official, nor did she expect him to be promoted or make money, but if he could shoulder the responsibilities of the family, the fifth lady would still be very happy.

The third lady felt slightly unhappy.

After all, they are brothers. During the Spring Festival, I don’t know how many dignitaries took this opportunity to come to the house to congratulate me. For such a publicity, the Marquis gave Xu Lingkuan a lip service. The thought flashed, and he thought that he would soon follow his husband.

After leaving Beijing, what do you do with all this mess? Maybe Xu Lingkuan will cause a big mess before they leave and needs Third Master's help to solve it.

Thinking of this, she laughed.

Eleven Niang sighed a little.

Looking at Xu Lingkuan's behavior, it's not that he doesn't want to do things, it's simply that his family has never regarded him as someone capable of doing things and hasn't even given him a chance.

Seeing that the family affairs were clearly explained, Xu Lingyi took Eleven Niang to Jiang's house.

Hearing that Marquis Yongping and his wife had come to pay New Year's greetings, Jiang Bai, who was drinking and enjoying orchids with a group of friends and nephews, was slightly surprised.

Marquis Yongping wanted to go to the palace to pay homage, but after counting the time, he came to wish him a happy new year as soon as he left the palace.

Some of the people present looked envious.

Jiang Bai hurriedly ordered the boy to report to his wife, and after talking to his friends a few times, he went to the flower hall.

The Xu Mansion's carriage stopped in front of the hanging flower door of Jiang's house. Xu Lingyi and Jiang Bai went to the flower hall, while Eleven Niang was welcomed into the main room of the inner courtyard by Mrs. Jiang.

Mrs. Jiang is also a transparent person. The actions of the Xu couple were just a tactful expression of their determination to marry to the Jiang family. Naturally, she could not neglect it. She received Eleven Niang with good family etiquette and not only called her "

The children came to visit Eleven Niang and introduced her two nieces and nephews who were guests at home to Eleven Niang.

Eleven Niang was a little surprised when she heard that the two children were Jiang Gui's legitimate children.

Then why did Mrs. Jiang Gui return to Yanjing with her two children when she was not with her husband in Taiyuan Mansion to celebrate the New Year?

Mrs. Jiang explained: Mrs. Wang was in poor health and a little worried, so she came back to take a look.

Eleven Niang felt even more strange.

She also saw Mrs. Wang in the morning and didn't see anything bad. Besides, since she came back to visit her mother, why didn't she take the child with her and stay in Jiang Mansion?

She was puzzled and didn't want to ask further. She had just given the two children a meeting gift when a little maid came in and said to Mrs. Jiang: Mr. Chen Ge's wife is here to wish you a happy new year.

Eleven Niang was very surprised.

She didn't expect Mr. Chen Ge to have such a friendship with Jiang Bai.

Looking at the confusion on Mrs. Jiang's face, she was obviously puzzled by Mrs. Chen's visit.

It seems that Mrs. Chen is no longer a welcome guest.

Eleven Niang calmly picked up the tea cup

The Xu couple did not stay at Jiang's house for long before leaving.

Jiang Bai and his wife personally escorted the two of them to the carriage.

Eleven Niang told Xu Lingyi about Mrs. Chen’s visit: I don’t know if you have met Mr. Chen Ge.

When he met Xu Lingyi, he smiled slightly. It seemed that Mr. Chen Ge was in favor of launching a sea ban.

Eleven Niang didn’t understand: What does this have to do with the Jiang family?

Xu Lingyi looked at her and laughed: Wang Jiubao's family has been in the sea for so many years, can't they just rely on some brute force?

Eleven Niang thought that not long after the amnesty was issued, Xu Lingyi received a letter from Wang Jiubao

what do you mean

Since Emperor Xiao, our country has been closed to the outside world. However, maritime trade, which can bring a profit of ten thousand, is exciting, and some people will inevitably take risks. Xu Lingyi suppressed his smile, and as time went by, others followed suit. Nine out of ten wealthy Fujian merchants were involved with pirates

Collusion. There is something behind his words. Now that Wang Jiubao is amnesty, he wants the emperor to impose a sea ban. If he can find me, he can naturally find others.

Eleven Niang still didn't understand what the relationship was.

Xu Lingyi looked a little solemn: If you want to establish a sea ban, you can't do it without the support of the Gongqing family, and it can't be done without the support of the scholars.

Only then did Eleven Niang have a vague idea.

When she was studying history, when she talked about the sea ban, she would talk about how it restricted the development of the country, and when she talked about reform, she would talk about the tragic fate of the reformers. She couldn't help but ask: Mr. Marquis, do you also support the launch of the sea ban?

When Xu Lingyi heard the worry in her tone, he couldn't help but smile and pat her head: I resigned from office and was recuperating at home. These major events in the court will naturally be decided by the elders. It's not my turn to criticize.

If that's the case, why did you even look for a map?

Eleven Niang looked at Xu Lingyi in surprise and saw a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

When the two returned home, before they could stand firmly, a young boy came running over: The Fifth Master asked the young man to wait here. When he saw the Marquis, he immediately reported that Mr. Liang Ge had been waiting for you outside the study.

Mr. Chen Ge was in the Jiang Mansion, and Mr. Liang Ge had been waiting for Xu Lingyi to meet the two elders. It felt like a storm was coming.

Eleven Niang and Xu Lingyi couldn't help exchanging glances, then one went to the outer courtyard and the other to the Madam.

The Madam's place was also full of guests.

Mrs. Liang, the wife of Mr. Li, the wife of the Minister of Rites

Everyone talked and laughed, wiped cards and ate wine, and left only when it was time to light the lanterns.

Eleven Niang took Xu Sijie back.

On the way, I asked him: What are you doing with your brothers?

He answered the question incorrectly: The muffins at Fourth Brother’s house are delicious.

Eleven Niang laughed.
To be continued...