Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Awakening to the bright morning light, Meng Die finally changed into her finest attire before paying a visit to her neighbor.

After a restful sleep, there was no sign of fatigue on Wen Shi's face. Upon seeing Meng Die, she greeted her with a smile, "Sister-in-law is here."

"Congratulations to Sister-in-law."

Wen Shi beamed with satisfaction.

Meng Die: "How do you feel now? Are you able to eat?"

Wen Shi: "Yes, I wasn't very hungry before, but the physician Mother found prescribed a dietary recipe. As he said, it has indeed stimulated my appetite."

Meng Die was thoroughly relieved: "That's good. Just take your time to rest and recover gradually."

Nanny Xia's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Second Lady is right. Our Lady is always worried about Little Master. I told her we're here to take care of him, but she can't help but be concerned."

Wen Shi smiled faintly, her lips curving up slightly.

Meng Die chuckled. "Nanny Xia is right, Eldest Sister. You were raised by her since you were a child. With her looking after my nephew, how could he possibly suffer? The current wet nurse was also carefully chosen by our mother; she must be utterly reliable. Therefore, your well-being is of utmost importance right now."

Wen Shi nodded in agreement.

Nanny Xia rejoiced, saying, "Second Lady truly puts it more clearly. I've been explaining for a long while, but our Lady still hasn't quite grasped the idea."

Meng Die, with her impeccable skill in serving tea, replied elegantly, "It's only natural for a mother to be concerned about her child; Elder Sister-in-law's uneasiness is understandable."

After chatting with Lady Wen for a while and taking a look at her newborn great-nephew, Meng Die, showing her astuteness, took her leave. Early this morning, the Marquis's residence would undoubtedly send word to the Wen residence in the capital to share the joyous news. It wouldn't be long before Lady Wen's mother came visiting; it was best she not linger and get in the way.

In the meantime, the Crown Prince and Li Mao shared the joyous news of their newborn sons with their fellow officials, who showered them with congratulations.

The entire marquis's residence was immersed in joy due to the birth of a son in the eldest branch, and soon the day of the baby's third-day bath arrived.

The triple bath ceremony is a grand ritual, not to be taken lightly. Early in the morning, Lady Ning arrived at Orchid Xuan Courtyard, directing the servants to set up the altar and arrange the offerings, including fruits, candles, and other sacred items. Only after that did she order the invitation of the Three Ladies of Dawn and twelve other main deities.

Lady Jin from the Wen family arrived at the Marquis residence early in the morning. She spent her time conversing with Lady Wen in her chamber.

At noon, everyone enjoyed a lavish lunch, and then the solemn Three Washes ceremony commenced.

The two midwives, now assuming the roles of birth attendants, first devoutly lit incense and paid respects to the thirteen divine deities. Afterwards, they entered the main hall of Orchid Xuan Courtyard.

In the main hall, many items had been moved to facilitate the onlookers. Large copper basins, prepared beforehand, were filled with a decoction made from wormwood and other herbs, now at a temperature that was neither too cold nor too hot, just perfect.

Two midwives, with utmost care, cradled the golden descendant of the Marquis's household. The Marquise, being of the highest seniority, took the lead in adding to the fortune basin. She cast in gold ingots, setting the tone. Following her, Lady Ning and Lady Jin also contributed gold ingots, albeit slightly smaller in size. The remaining madams from various branches, along with a few others from collateral lines, tossed in silver ingots.

When it was Meng Die's turn, there were elders among the collateral branches of her generation. According to the order of seniority, they had to fill the basin first. They threw in various red-colored fruits. Meng Die also tossed in three red-dyed longan fruits.

A woman whispered to Meng Die, "Why is it three pearls?"

Meng Die had never seen this person before but still whispered her reply, "Three Oranges, Three Yuan, a Triple Success in the Imperial Examinations."

"Oh my, what a wonderful omen!"

Her voice rose slightly with excitement, drawing the attention of those around her. She hurriedly shared the auspicious meaning she had just learned with her neighbors. Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up, and they all fixated on the three red-dyed longan fruits in the basin, contemplating doing the same when they had their next child.

After the addition of the symbolic items, the midwife began the official task of bathing the baby, reciting auspicious words as she did so, "Washing the head, to become a king or noble; washing the hands, for wealth and treasures year after year..."

The baby, suddenly immersed in water amidst so many people, started crying without exception. Everyone chuckled, saying that it was a good sign—the louder the cry, the healthier the baby, indicating a strong constitution nurtured within the mother's womb.

After the purification ritual, the child was swaddled in a vibrant red blanket. The midwife handed the baby to Madam Ning, and the two of them went on to pay their respects to the gods.

By the time all the customs were completed, evening had arrived. The old Marquis, the heir, and Li Mao each sent exquisite delicacies to their colleagues. Naturally, a banquet was held at the marquis's residence, filled with merriment.

The 15th of July called for ancestral worship, but this was different from the Qingming Festival when people visit tombs. The 15th of July was Ghost Festival, a day dedicated to deceased ancestors. On this festive occasion, food and drink were abundant. Hence, before this day, descendants only needed to offer paper clothes, paper money, and gold ingots as offerings; no other rituals were required.

The 15th was followed by Lady Marquis's birthday, which wasn't a significant milestone. Nevertheless, the family celebrated joyfully. Meng Die presented her needlework as a gift.

Before they could catch their breath, Li Mao and Wen's eldest son reached his full moon celebration. This was a grand event, and as an elder, Meng Die couldn't simply present needlework. However, it didn't require much effort on her part. Among her dowry, there were many fine jade pendants and clasps. Selecting a few was an easy task for Meng Die.

"Nanny Fan, I've exchanged the silver earned from soap and soup sales this month into banknotes. They're all here, along with the account ledger," Nanny Fan handed the book to Meng Die.

Meng Die took the ledger and casually flipped through it. "There's something I need your help with, Nanny."

"What is it?"

Meng Die replied, "I want you to inquire at the brokerage. Are there any estates for sale within a three-day journey? It doesn't matter what kind, just let me know if there are any available."

Acquiring an estate was a reputable and legitimate means of wealth generation for noble families in this era. Nanny Fan readily agreed, "I'll visit the brokerage tomorrow and ask around. Should I only look for those nearby? Estates in Jiangnan generally yield higher returns."

Meng Die chuckled. "Do you still think it's like twenty years ago? Back then, our dynasty had just been established, and many lands were ownerless except for the outskirts of the capital. As long as one had money, they could buy land anywhere. But times have changed. The population has grown, and so has the number of wealthy people. The Jiangnan region has always been known for its abundance in fish and rice; those lands have long been claimed."

Nanny Fan responded, "Aside from the fertile lands, there must be other suitable areas, right? Lands within a three-day journey from the capital city are also prime locations. Perhaps there won't be many for sale."

Meng Die replied, "It's alright. I'm not in a hurry. I'll find something eventually."

"Understood."

Meng Die continued, "One more thing, ask Headman Wang to look for a larger plot of land within the estate to build a house. Here's the blueprint; show it to them."

Nanny Fan took the blueprint and examined it. "These rooms are so tiny. What can they be used for? Are you planning to install underfloor heating instead of building kang beds?"

Meng Die replied, "I want to establish an orphanage, and these rooms will be for the orphans."

Nanny Fan's eyes widened with approval. "That's a magnificent act of kindness that will accumulate good karma. I'll present the blueprint to Headman Wang as soon as I return home. The sooner the orphanage is built, the less suffering those poor children will endure."

Meng Die nodded in agreement.