Chapter 24

Chapter 24

On the first day of October, the Cold Clothing Festival arrives, a time to honor our ancestors by offering them clothes and money for the afterlife. This day also marks the onset of winter, a reminder to stock up on warm garments and brace against the chill. Within the Marquis's mansion, the inhabitants alike shift their quarters, abandoning their usual bedchambers for adjacent rooms equipped with kang beds, better suited for the colder months.

Meng Die also became busy. Her first task was to request the soap-making workshop to expedite production before the Little New Year, so that they could create a large batch of soap. The shop would open on the sixth day of the first lunar month and operate until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth. During these days, they planned to sell five hundred bars daily. Starting from the sixteenth, they would revert to selling two hundred bars per day.

Another significant task she had to undertake was the preparation of New Year's gifts. According to custom, married women would present festive offerings to their birth families, and in return, the birth family would reciprocate with even more substantial gifts, demonstrating that they had not forgotten their daughter. These return gifts often served as a source of confidence and support for the daughter in her husband's household.

For the New Year's gift, Meng Die put tremendous effort into creating something extravagant, for fear that her modest return gift might invite criticism. If she were to give too little in response, she would feel deeply concerned for her grandfather, grandmother, father, and mother.

In the end, Meng Die prepared a double-decker chest. Though it was the size of an ordinary chest, it was divided into two tiers. The upper layer held various specialties from the capital city, while the lower compartment contained precious writing brushes, ink, paper, and exquisite fabrics.

With everything in order, Meng Die finally exhaled a long sigh of relief.

Nanny Fan led her husband through the back entrance of the Marquis residence. Fan Hong kept his head slightly lowered, his gaze unwavering as he steadily followed Nanny Fan into the Qixia Courtyard.

"Pay respects to Second Lady," Fan Hong knelt in the courtyard outside, completing his salutation with utmost propriety, then stood upright and respectfully.

Meng Die sat in the main hall of the house: "On your journey to Ganzhou, you should follow the guidance of Elder Xia, who is a seasoned servant of the Marquis's household and has been making this trip almost every year. Your father and mother have also sent Steward Zheng, whom you can consult for any matters you are unsure about. The gifts have also been prepared, and you will take a few reliable servants to carry them out shortly, and they will set off together with the Marquis's entourage."

"Yes."

Meng Die: "There's also a letter. You must deliver it personally to Grandfather or Father."

Fan Hong: "Madam, please rest assured. I will attend to every detail myself."

"Mm-hmm."

Fan Hong withdrew, and Nurse Fan added, "Madam, the nursery you instructed us to build last time is now complete."

"Then proceed immediately to the local authorities to register, and make arrangements to promptly take in any orphaned or abandoned infants." Meng Die paused before adding, "One thing, whenever an infant is taken in, they must be brought to the officials for registration the same day. Not a single day should be delayed, as long as the office is open."

"Yes."

Having accomplished another task, Meng Die heaved a sigh of relief. Soon, it would be Li Hui's wedding day. Li Hui was to marry into the Duke Cheng'en's residence, which was also the family of the current Empress. Her husband-to-be was the Duke's younger, illegitimate son, thus the Empress's own younger half-brother. Their social statuses and family backgrounds were well-matched.

The day before Li Hui's wedding, the entire Marquis Yongyi Manor was adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations, crimson lanterns and resplendent characters of "Double Happiness" adorning every corner. Feast after feast was laid out, and the four most renowned theatrical troupes in the capital – the Joyous Band, the Spring Celebrating Troupe, the Southern Garden Players, and the Crimson Ensemble – took turns performing on stage, delighting the assembled relatives and friends with a veritable feast for the senses.

On the day of the wedding, the entire marquis's estate, from top to bottom, was arrayed in new attire. The relentless crackle of firecrackers echoed from dawn until the arrival of the groom, ushering in a fresh crescendo of celebration.

The Marquis Yongyi's heir carried Li Hui, dressed in resplendent bridal attire, out of the house and into the wedding sedan chair. As her brother and sister-in-law, the heir and Lady Ning, along with several other lords and ladies, joined the procession to the Gao family's residence, the Duke Cheng'en's manor.

At the Gao family's residence, it was even more bustling with excitement. Numerous imperial relatives had personally come to offer their congratulations. The emperor and empress, who had been youthful sweethearts, had an excellent relationship. Their eldest son, the current crown prince, was the future heir to the Great Yi Dynasty. Who wouldn't give face to the crown prince's maternal family?

The festivities at the Gao residence reached another climax when the empress and crown prince's gifts arrived.

Three days later, Li Hui paid a visit to her parents' home. It was another round of revelry. Judging from the bashful look on Li Hui's rosy cheeks, Meng Die inferred that she was doing well and being treated kindly by her husband.

After Li Hui's marriage, Meng Die found herself completely idle. She eagerly awaited the return gift from Ganzhou, but instead, she received an unexpected visitor before the gift arrived.

Ying'er rushed in, holding up her skirt, to report, "Second Lady, they just sent word from the second gate that there's a visiting card for you."

"A visiting card?" Meng Die was taken aback. "Quickly, show it to me."

Ying'er handed the visiting card to Meng Die.

"Two of them?" This was entirely unexpected. Meng Die unfolded both cards and a smile lit up her face.

"Is it Third Master Zhuang?" Ying'er asked.

Meng Die glanced at Lu Wei and said, "It's indeed Uncle, and he's come with Aunt this time. There's also an invitation from Uncle on the Hu family's side."

The Zhuang family was the husband's side of Meng Tingyi's younger sister, while the Hu family was Meng Die's grandmother's maternal clan.

Xing Huang exclaimed, "Ah, both families sent their invitations on the same day. How coincidental!"

Meng Die chuckled. "What coincidence? They traveled to the capital together this time."

Xing Huang was surprised. "Oh? How could the masters and mistresses of both families be traveling together?"

"I'm not sure either. I'll find out tomorrow." With that, Meng Die picked up her pen and composed a reply.

Considering the visitor was an elder, Meng Die instructed Lu Wei to send a message to Lady Ning, ensuring they were adequately prepared.