Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Upon arriving in the capital at the age of thirteen, Kuke had just fallen ill. He initially assumed that his neck would eventually swell like the others, but to his surprise, not only did the swelling on his neck not increase after three days, it actually began to shrink, and all other discomforts in his body vanished completely.

Tamu supported Kuke's shoulders, examining his neck with a stunned expression. "Good heavens, your illness is gone! Is this really true?"

Kuke touched his neck, equally astonished.

Tamu asked, "Kuke, how do you feel now?"

Kuok: "Excellent, truly excellent. These past few days, I was constantly hungry and weak, but now I'm full of energy. Uncle, I'm recovered, my illness is really gone."

"Uncle, let's buy all the sea fish? Imagine how much profit we'd make if we bring such a divine creature back! Perhaps we could even gain the king's favor."

Tamu was indeed tempted, but he also knew that the Second Madam of the Marquis household had already purchased all the sea fish. He was well aware that she was a formidable figure; attempting to acquire this divine treasure from her would undoubtedly cost him dearly. "No rush, let's see what others have to say."

Although Tamu claimed there was no hurry, he refused to venture out to inspect other goods in the following days. He stayed confined within the inn, constantly observing the servants' necks. To those in the know, he was assessing the effectiveness of the cure; to the uninformed, he might easily be mistaken for a pervert.

They soon discovered that those who had been ill for a longer time didn't show particularly remarkable effects, whereas those who had been ill for a shorter duration exhibited highly noticeable improvements.

Tamu himself was not affected by the illness. He called over Halgate, the oldest and sickest member of their trading party, "How do you feel?"

Halgate's eyes shimmered with vitality, "Tamu, I feel fantastic, better than ever since falling ill. We must purchase these sea fish. Once we bring them back, glory and wealth will be ours."

Halgate was also a minor shareholder in the trading group. He secretly planned that if Tamu didn't buy them, he would find a way to acquire some from Meng Die no matter what.

Tamu glanced at the newly invigorated Halgate and promptly made up his mind. He instructed his servant, "Take my calling card to Brother Fan's residence. I'll pay him a visit tomorrow."

The servant was taken aback, "Brother Fan?"

Tamu: "It was Fan Hong, one of the two attendants who joined us for wine at the estate last time."

"Yes."

The servant left, and Harrogate only then inquired, "Why Fan Hong? From what I saw, Headman Wang was also quite favored."

"You don't know, Fan Hong's wife is the wet nurse to that Second Lady. In the Great Yi Dynasty, wet nurses hold considerable influence before their masters." Tamu remembered how, when Lu Wei came to deliver the sea fish, Headman Wang stood up to greet her, while Fan Hong remained seated. This observation had stayed with him, prompting him to discreetly inquire about Fan Hong's residence.

Harrogate nodded in understanding.

Fan Hong received the letter of visit, and Nurse Fan instantly heaved a sigh of relief before joyfully conveying the news to Meng Die's quarters.

Before Meng Die could react, Xing Huang began spinning around the room in delight. Meng Die placed a hand on her forehead, amused by her overly energetic maid.

Nurse Fan couldn't help but scold, "What sort of behavior is that?" However, she couldn't suppress her own excitement and also revealed a joyful expression.

Xue Qing and Lu Wei transitioned from subtle smiles to outright laughter.

Nurse Fan, brimming with happiness, said, "Second Lady, Hu Shang now wishes to purchase seafood. I believe it would be no issue for us to sell it to him for half a million or sixty thousand silver taels."

"Five or sixty thousand?" Meng Die chuckled. "If I wanted to sell for that much, I wouldn't have bothered with Hu Shang."

Aunt Fan's heart skipped a beat. "Then Second Lady intends to sell for..."

Meng Die immediately made a cutting gesture with her fingers.

Aunt Fan's confusion turned to wide-eyed astonishment. "Twenty thousand..." She covered her chest in shock.

Xing Huang stumbled and fell, while Xue Qing pricked her finger hard with the embroidery needle she was holding. Lu Wei appeared the calmest of them all, but upon closer inspection, her gaze was unfocused, as if her soul had left her body.

"Pathetic," Meng Die scornfully remarked.

Nanny Fan took several deep breaths, but her voice still trembled slightly. "Second Lady, will Hu Shang be willing to pay such a high price?"

Meng Die replied, "Why do you think I bought all the sea fish back then? This is the advantage of a monopoly. Trust me, he'll buy it even if he has to sell everything he owns."

Nanny Fan, Lu Wei, Xue Qing, and Xing Huang couldn't help but feel that their Second Lady was somewhat cunning, though they didn't know why.

Meng Die didn't dawdle either. Upon receiving Hu Shang's visitation card, Lu Wei went to Nanny Fan's house the following day. As Nanny Fan was illiterate, and Fan Hong's literacy was limited, Lu Wei had to take charge of the situation.

Upon meeting Lu Wei again, Tamu's enthusiasm knew no bounds.

Without beating around the bush, Tamu asked straightforwardly, "Miss Lu Wei, how many sea fish does the estate have in total, and what is their value?"

"We initially purchased 2,560 jin (about 1,300 kg). After consuming some, we still have over 2,500 jin left. If Mr. Tamu is interested, we can sell 2,500 jin," Lu Wei paused. "As for the price..." She mimicked Meng Die and made a scissors gesture with her fingers.

Tamu's voice trembled, "Two hundred thousand?"

Lu Wei chuckled. "Now, isn't that something! Do you think that's my Second Aunt's style?"

Tamu swallowed audibly: "Two million?"

Lu Wei nodded demurely.

"Tsk—" Tamu inadvertently bit his tongue. He knew that the Second Lady of the Marquis household was a formidable figure, swift in action and ruthless in heart, but he had still underestimated Meng Die's ruthlessness.

Lu Wei remained silent, sitting upright while savoring her tea leisurely.

"Miss Lu Wei," Tamu took a deep breath, "I've heard that this Seafood Mansion was purchased from a sea merchant?" His words hinted that he was aware of how much Meng Die had spent on acquiring the property.

"Certainly," Lu Wei acknowledged openly. "We purchased it for one hundred thousand taels of silver, and the whole capital is aware of this fact."

Tamu couldn't help interjecting, "You bought it for one hundred thousand taels, yet you're now asking for two million. Miss Lu Wei, such business practices don't exist in this world."

Lu Wei smiled. "Mr. Tamu, this is not the same matter. When we bought the sea fish from the merchants, it was just an ordinary food item. What we're selling to you is a potent medicine that can heal illnesses."

Tamu was momentarily speechless.

Lu Wei continued, "Indeed, the price is substantial. Mr. Tamu, why not consider it? We won't seek another buyer within the next three days. How does that sound?"

At this point, Tamu knew that there was no room for negotiation. He was also aware that once news of the sea fish's ability to treat goiters spread, merchants from his own country and even neighboring countries would be willing to pay two million silver taels for it.

"I don't have enough silver on me. I'll discuss it with the others and get back to you by tonight at the latest, or tomorrow noon at the very latest. Whether we buy or not, I'll definitely give Miss Lu Wei an answer."

Lu Wei replied, "Alright."

Tamu hurried back to consult with Haragat about whether they should purchase the sea fish and how they could do so. There was no way he could scrape together two million silver taels in cash, let alone any other assets.

Haragat listened in silence for a long while.

Tamu fretted, grasping at his head. "What do we do? Two million taels of silver – even selling myself wouldn't raise that amount."

Hargate suggested, "What if we purchase just a portion?"

"A portion? Then what advantage would we have when we bring it back to our country?" Meng Die understood the concept of monopoly, and Tamu did as well.

Hargate shook his head. "I doubt Lady De will sell in small quantities. My idea is that you could find some partners, and we can pool our resources to buy it together."

"Find partners?" Tamu paused in his head-scratching, a pensive look appearing on his face.

"Let's find one or two trustworthy friends and join forces to purchase it. Later, we can privately divide the ocean fish among ourselves. From what I've observed, the individual from Marquis Manor also seems disinclined to meddle. Once we acquire the ocean fish, we'll make our exit promptly. This year, we're sure to make a substantial profit."

Tamu slapped his thigh, "Indeed, let's proceed with this plan."

Having identified a course of action, Tamu swiftly assessed his acquaintances in his mind, selecting a few candidates. After further consultation with Haragit, they decided on one individual to visit immediately.

Efficiency was remarkable, and by the break of dawn the next day, Tamu arrived at Nurse Fan's residence alongside his close friend Li Teer. Lu Wei, having been informed, was already waiting there.

Upon their first encounter, Tamu eagerly introduced, "Miss Lu Wei, this is my good friend Li Teer."

Li Teer chuckled. "My original name was Little, but when I decided to do business in the Yi Dynasty, I thought it best to assimilate and adopted the Li surname."

Lu Wei responded, "What a coincidence, our Marquis household also bears the Li name."

Li Teer agreed, "Indeed, it seems fate has brought us together for business."

After exchanging a few polite remarks, they delved into the main matter at hand. Given that the transaction involved a Hu merchant, they naturally needed to seek the assistance of the Department of Ceremonial Affairs.

The Department of Ceremonial Affairs had two chief clerks in charge of foreign merchants. One was currently away, leaving only a Mr. Bai, whom Lu Wei did not know personally. However, Li Teer and Tamu were acquainted with him.

Bai Buchu observed the two of them. "So you've taken a liking to the goods?"

Tamu's face was wreathed in smiles. "Indeed, we have. But there's quite a substantial amount. I'm afraid we'll need Lord Bai's assistance for this."

"That's no issue," Bai Buchu said, his gaze landing on Lu Wei.

Lu Wei promptly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "This servant, Lu Wei, pays her respects to Lord Bai."

Bai Buchu's face froze in obvious bewilderment. "Miss Lu... Wei?"

Lu Wei: "I dare not take such credit. Yes, I am the servant you're referring to."

Bai Buchu glanced at Tamu and Li Teer. "I suppose you two aren't here to buy sea fish, are you?" A hint of awkwardness flickered across his face.

Tamu raised his thumb. "Lord Bai, you've got it spot on. We indeed came to purchase some sea fish."

Bai Buchu laughed heartily. "What sorcery is this? Miss Lu Wei was here at the Board of Rites on her previous visit, and I happened to be in the office too."

Li Teer remarked, "What a coincidence."

"Sir," Lu Wei smiled. "The seafood is stored at the manor. Why don't I pay the taxes first, finish the procedures here, and then you can directly inspect the goods over there, completing the matter altogether."

Bai Registrar pondered for a moment before nodding. "That's a good idea. Draft the trade agreement first, and I'll prepare a salt tax receipt. How many catties of seafood are being sold in total?"

"Two thousand five hundred catties."

Bai Registrar was slightly surprised; it seemed they were selling everything.

A nearby clerk offered paper and pen, and Lu Wei took up the brush to write the trade contract.

Bai Buchu cast an appreciative glance and couldn't help but praise inwardly. After all, she came from an erudite family; even their maids could wield a brush with finesse. He promptly picked up his pen to draft the salt tax documents.

Lu Wei took the sealed tax invoice from Bai Buchu's hand and waved towards the door. Immediately, a servant entered to pay the sum of two hundred and fifty taels of silver.

The clerk in charge of receiving payments at the Honglou Temple quickly counted the coins, "Your Excellency, it's precisely two hundred and fifty taels."

Bai Buchu nodded, "Very well, have it delivered to the treasury."

Lu Wei then inquired, "Lord Bai, how should we pay taxes when trading goods with Hu merchants?"

"You deal in seafood, which classifies as ordinary merchandise. However, since it is sold to the Hu Shang rather than local merchants, the tax rate applies as one-fortieth of your profits."

Out of every forty, Lu Wei picked up her brush and began calculating on the paper. A profit of forty meant subtracting the initial capital of one hundred thousand taels. After that, Second Madam would net a profit of one million nine hundred thousand taels. Taking one from every forty taels...

Bai Buchu cast a glance at Lu Wei, his gaze then settling on Tamu and Li Teer. "How much did you spend to acquire these this time?"

Both voices echoed in unison, "Two million taels."

"How much?" Bailu knew that as a seventh-rank official of the Great Yi Dynasty, he should remain composed, unruffled, and... to hell with it, he was going to lose his mind right now!

Li Teer replied, "Two million taels."

Bai Buchu was now only grateful that he was seated; otherwise, he would have surely embarrassed himself. Goodness gracious! His legs were weak, and his feet were trembling.

Two million taels—what kind of concept was that? When the Great Yi Dynasty was first established, with everything in disarray, the first year's tax revenue had barely reached three million taels.

Counting every person in the entire capital, be it civil officials, military officers, imperial relatives, or aristocrats, they might own properties, but not a single one of them could produce two million taels in cash on the spot.

After composing himself for quite some time, until Lu Wei had calculated that the tax due would amount to 47,500 taels, Bai Buchu finally regained his composure completely. "Any transaction exceeding a million taels requires reporting to the director of the bureau. Please wait a moment."

Lu Wei: "Lord Bai, please."

Bai Zhubu rose to his feet, his steps soft and uneven, as he made his way to the chamber of his immediate superior.

Bai Zhubu: "Lord Fu, I have a transaction here involving over a million taels. I humbly request your presence to verify the details."

"Oh?" Fu Sicheng set down his writing brush. "Over a million? I recall that a certain Hu merchant recently visited. Did such a substantial deal conclude so swiftly?"

Bai Zhubu: "Lord, might you hazard a guess as to which particular transaction this is?"

Fu Siqing's movement of rising paused, and only after straightening up did he say, "With such an inquiry, this transaction is indeed quite renowned."

Bai Buchu: "Indeed, it's vastly renowned, known throughout the entire capital."

Fusu Chengkan was taken aback and pondered carefully for a moment. "Luo Family's incense?"

Bai Buchu shook his head.

"Dragon's Breath from the Liu family, or the Sea Pearls from the West Gate family?"

Bai Buchu shook his head once more, no longer keeping anyone in suspense. "None of those. It's the batch of sea fish from Marquis Yongyi's second madam."

Fusu, the vice minister, was dumbfounded. "I recall we bought that batch of sea fish for 100,000 taels? How, how did it turn into a business worth a million?"

"Far more than that," the white-clad chief scribe couldn't help but divulge, "The one in the Marquis's Manor has just sold sea fish to two Hu Shang for a deal of two million taels."

"Hmm... How much?"

Bai Buchu: "Two million, without a shadow of a doubt."

Astonishment froze in Fu Sicong's chest, nearly choking him with its intensity.

Clerk Bai stole a glance at the other's expression and felt relieved. It was not that he lacked knowledge or experience; it was chiefly that this matter was utterly bizarre.

After a while, Fu Shiqing lowered his voice and said, "Are those two Hu merchants not quite right in the head?"

Bai Buchu: "I know both of those Hu merchants. Tamu is not someone I'm particularly acquainted with, but you're familiar with Li Teer, and he's undoubtedly a cunning trader."

Assistant Secretary Fu: "Purchased by Li Teer?"

"Yes, they purchased it together," Baili Registrar said, equally perplexed.

Vice Minister Fu: "Tell me, what do you think they're aiming for? Everyone in the capital knows how much that noble house spent to acquire her. Don't they have any ambitions?"

Bai Buchu: "This humble official is also perplexed. From the looks of it, it's not the Second Lady from the Marquis household who is urgently selling, but rather Tamu and Li Teer who are eager to buy."

Clerk Fu shook his head repeatedly, uttering, "How peculiar, how peculiar."

As the two gentlemen engaged in gossip, they strolled leisurely to the neighboring chamber.

"Vice Director Fu."

Vice Director Fu waved his hand. "No need to be formal. Where are we in the process?"

Lu Wei replied, "In response, Your Excellency, this servant has already calculated the tax silver that should be paid. Whether we pay the taxes first or inspect the goods at the estate is entirely up to Your Excellency's decision."

Fu thought for a moment. "Let's pay the tax silver first. The two clerks and Accountant Shi have gone out. We'll inspect the goods when they return."

"Yes." Lu Wei waved in the direction of the entrance.

Manager Rong was waiting outside the office. Upon seeing Lu Wei's signal, he promptly had his men carry in the silver.

Over forty thousand taels of silver equated to over four thousand catties.

Bai Clerk summoned all the clerks from the Board of Rites who were in charge of counting silver. Together, they began the process of verifying the amount, which was relatively straightforward since each ingot weighed fifty taels.

Once the counting was done, Manager Rong instructed his assistants to follow Bai Clerk as they transported the silver into the Board of Rites' treasury. Meanwhile, Vice Director Fu took up his pen to write out an official tax receipt, sealed it, and handed it to Lu Wei.

With both hands, Lu Wei received the document, and with great care, she placed it alongside the similar salt tax receipts in her bosom.

While counting the silver, the two clerks had already returned, and just as they caught their breath, they were dispatched on official business with Assistant Temple Minister Bai and Clerk Bai.

Upon arriving at the manor, Assistant Temple Minister didn't waste any time, immediately commencing the inspection alongside Clerk Bai.

When foreign merchants like the maritime and Hu traders arrived in the Great Yi Dynasty, they had to present their goods at the Board of Rites for inspection and taxation before selling. For instance, when Lu Wei purchased items from Chief Eunuch Zhao, the inspection was merely a formality.

However, when these traders bought goods from the Great Yi Dynasty, the inspection was more rigorous, ensuring no contraband, such as tightly controlled tea or iron, was smuggled in. The dynasty strictly regulated these items.

This time, Assistant Temple Minister and Clerk Bai scrutinized every detail. Each box of seafood needed to be opened and inspected, then sealed with an official stamp. Tamu's and Li Teer's people carried the boxes to their carriages.

Two thousand five hundred catties of sea fish – our work was so engrossing that we were occupied until the sun was high in the sky.

Lu Wei: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's quite late. Why not have a meal here with your servant for now?"

Fù Sìchéng raised his gaze to the blazing sun, feeling a dizzying sensation with golden stars dancing before his eyes. "So be it," he murmured.

Promptly, Lu Wei arranged a refined and clean chamber for the esteemed lords and instructed her attendants to prepare modest toiletries. After the gentlemen had freshened up, she then ordered the serving of the dishes.

In this part of the manor, there were no gentlemen of equal status to the officials, so no one was arranged to entertain them. Thus, Tamu and Li Teer were accompanied by Head Wang for their meal.

After partaking in the midday meal and taking a brief respite to regain their vitality, Fu Shicheng resumed his work accompanied by his subordinates. They busied themselves relentlessly until the late afternoon, when the hour of Wei was drawing to a close.

Tamu and Li Teer were anxious to return home. Not only had they poured all their available cash into this venture, but they had also pledged some possessions and borrowed heavily to acquire this cargo. Thus, as soon as the inspection was complete, they promptly bade farewell to Headman Wang and Lu Wei.

Lu Wei advised, "My dears, while sea fish is indeed a delicacy, it shouldn't be consumed excessively. Enjoy it every three or two days, that would suffice."

"Many thanks for Miss Lu Wei's kind reminder." The two bowed their gratitude and, each accompanied by their entourage, departed directly from the manor, leaving the capital behind as they embarked on their journey back to their hometowns.

Kingdom Steward Wang arranged for carriages to convey the esteemed officials back home. Lu Wei also presented each of them with a small embroidered purse as a token of farewell.

Fusi Cheng looked at the sachet and asked, "What's the meaning of this?"

"Your Excellency," Lu Wei smiled. "This isn't a bribe from a servant. Inside the sachet is soap, the same kind we sell in our cosmetic shop."

"The smell of the sea fish is quite strong. With all the officials examining it for so long, not to mention their hands, even their official robes must have absorbed some of the odor. This soap doesn't have any other special function, but its scent is pleasant and can help mask the smell of the sea fish."

One of the clerks subconsciously lifted his arm to his nose, and his face instantly paled. He hadn't just absorbed some of the smell – he was thoroughly steeped in it.

Fusi Cheng fell silent for a moment before succumbing to the allure of the scent.

Upon their return, they were teased by their peers once more. However, the presence of those sachets became even more legitimate, and more people learned that the perfumed soap sold at that cosmetics shop was exceptionally effective in eliminating unpleasant odors. As a result, the soap sold even more swiftly for a time.

Having completed her errands, Lu Wei visited Mother Fan's residence and underwent a meticulous cleansing before changing into fresh attire. Only then did she return to the marquis manor.

Xing Huang: "Sister Lu Wei, Sister Lu Wei, how was it? Did everything go well?"

Lu Wei passed the small box in her hand to Xing Huang, and playfully pinched the still-chubby cheeks of the young girl. "No wonder Ama Fan says you have a quick temper."

Xing Huang: "Dear sister, do tell me, did everything proceed smoothly?"

Lu Wei: "Don't worry, everything is going smoothly."

Xing Huang: "Oh, that's wonderful!"

Amidst their laughter and chatter, Lu Wei entered the room and promptly took out the tax receipt from her sleeve. "Second Aunt, here's the tax bill."

Meng Die took the slip and examined it. "A tax rate of one in forty on net profits?"

"Yes, that's correct," Lu Wei replied as she took the small box from Xing Huang's hand and opened it. "Second Aunt, these are the silver notes from the sale of the sea fish. As instructed, I've set aside five thousand taels each for Manager Fan (Fan Youliang), Head Wang, and Manager Rong, in case they need it. Here are the remaining one million nine hundred and eighty-five thousand taels."

Meng Die: "Put everything away."

"Ah!"

Xing Huang: "Sister Lu Wei, when they heard that Second Aunt sold the sea fish for two million taels, how did they react?"

"What kind of reaction?" Lu Wei smiled after putting away the banknotes. "Needless to say for ordinary folks, even those officials in their robes couldn't hide their astonishment, their voices cracking upon hearing the news."

"Hahaha..." Xing Huang burst into laughter. "Second Aunt still thinks we're good for nothing? Just look at them!"

This news could not be concealed; it was bound to rock the entire capital by tonight, Lu Wei mused, feeling rather prescient.

However, Lu Wei had only guessed half right. The city did erupt, but not that very evening. While she was freshening up at Fan MaMa's place, the news spread through the capital as swiftly as autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, and then promptly exploded.

How many were choked by their tea, how many stumbled and fell, and how many dropped their playthings... particularly Hai Ye, who had sold the sea fish to Meng Die, sat motionless in his chair, lost for words.

In countless households, upon hearing the news, the first thing their masters did was scold the messenger: "You actually believe such preposterous tales? Have you lost your mind?"

"Sir, this is absolutely true. It came from the Department of Ceremonial Affairs. They've collected taxes amounting to forty-seven thousand five hundred taels just on this item. How could it be fake?"

Everyone's second thought was, "Could this Hu merchant have been cursed, or perhaps bewitched with a hypnotic potion?"

The third reaction was to immediately dispatch someone to inquire about the reason behind the Hu Shang's purchase.

Upon inquiry, it was discovered that the Hu merchant, after purchasing the sea fish, promptly departed the capital for his hometown. As for Meng Die's situation, Lu Wei had managed affairs in such a way that within the Marquis's residence, all servants on the manor obediently followed orders without being made aware of the specifics.

The only other person who might know is Nurse Fan, but she's Meng Die's wet nurse—absolutely loyal and would never breathe a word of it.

For a moment, the managers of the Marquis household became the center of attention once more. Numerous families instructed their servants to cultivate relationships with these managers, using the opportunity to gauge the situation and gather information.

All these details were unknown to Meng Die, and she didn't bother to find out. For now, she was simply relieved that she had fulfilled her evening duties and could have a peaceful night's sleep. As for whether Madam Hou or Madam Ning would inquire about it tomorrow, that was a matter for the following day.

After a restful night, Meng Die met with Lady Wen in the morning as if nothing had happened. They then proceeded together to the East Courtyard.

Lady Wen was as she usually was, so Meng Die saw no reason to bring up the topic. The two of them engaged in casual conversation as they always did, and before long, they arrived at the East Courtyard. Madam Ning, freshly attired, led them to the main residence without asking any questions, though a hint of fatigue was visible on her face.

Upon reaching the main residence and paying their respects, it was not Lady Wu but Lady Zhou who spoke first: "Butterfly, I've heard that you sold all the seafood you bought from the sea merchants the other day?"

"Yes, I did sell them all," Meng Die admitted openly without hesitation.

Madam Zhou hesitated, "The servants said that it was sold for a huge sum, two million taels of silver, is that true?"

Meng Die replied promptly, "The servants didn't deceive Third Aunt; it's true."

Never did Madam Zhou expect Meng Die to admit it so swiftly and directly, leaving her momentarily at a loss.

Lady Hou took up the conversation, "Die, have all the taxes been paid in full?"

Meng Die answered, "In full? The sea fish tastes as salty as salt, so an additional salt tax was levied."

Lady Hou nodded in satisfaction. "You're always so thorough in your actions." Then, she turned to Lady Wen. "I recall that one of your sisters is getting married today, isn't she?"

Lady Wen replied, "It's my cousin. After we finish our breakfast, I'll head back."

Lady Hou said, "In that case, go on ahead. Return early. If there's anything you can assist with at home, lend a hand."

"Ai." Lady Wen rose and bowed her farewell.

After Lady Wen left, Lady Hou looked at Lady Ning. "Did you not sleep well last night?"

Madam Ning: "I won't hide it from you, Mother. I haven't been sleeping well these past few days. There have been far too many banquets lately. Yesterday morning, I attended Zhou Canzhang's house for his grandson's full moon celebration. In the afternoon, I went to Qi Chengmen's residence for their daughter's wedding. Today, Yun's family is a distant relative, so I don't need to attend, but I'll be visiting the Duke of England's mansion later, as they also have a daughter getting married."

"Let alone Eldest Sister," Fang said, taking over the conversation. "I'll be visiting my natal family later as well. We welcomed a new girl into our home three days ago."

Madam Zhou fanned herself gently. "I just returned from my own family's home the other day."

The Countess fell silent for a moment. "Nowadays, every household in the capital has a sizeable population, and there are certainly many more activities than when I was younger."

Madam Zhou: "Eldest Sister, you must also take care to rest. I can see dark circles forming under your eyes."

Madam Ning nodded at Madam Zhou. "I've been considering lately that for any minor matters concerning the younger generation, I'll have Yun-er handle them. If there's anything she can't manage, then I'll step in."

Lady Hou nodded. "That's a viable solution."

Madam Ning replied, "I still have several younger siblings. If not now, then when should I rely on them?"

Madam Wu pretended to be enlightened. "So it turns out that Eldest Sister-in-law is planning to delegate tasks to us."

A hint of amusement curled at the corners of Madam Ning's lips.

The matter of Meng Die earning silver was not mentioned by anyone.

Exiting the main chamber, Madam Ning hastened to attend to social obligations. Meng Die returned to her quarters, had breakfast, and then, accompanied by Lu Wei and Xue Qing, hurried to the Jingming Pavilion. Today, neither Wen lady nor Lady Li Jin were present, leaving Meng Die all alone.

The housekeepers reported their various matters in turn, and Meng Die attended to each issue diligently. It seemed like an illusion to her, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that these housekeepers were particularly obedient today, even going so far as to curry favor with her.

"Second Lady, the medicinal herbs in the storeroom are running low; we should replenish them," said Qian Youcai's wife, presenting the ledger for her perusal.

Meng Die flipped through the book and said, "I recall that there's a decent recipe involving Rehmannia. When should we use it?"

"Five or six days ago, our neighbor's ancestor, Li Sanzhu, sought relief from the heat but unfortunately caught a chill. Lady instructed someone to send over some medicinal ingredients, including Fuling."

"Oh," Meng Die nodded. "Is Ancestor better now?"

"He has fully recovered."

Meng Die replied, "Then purchase the items as listed on the list."

"Yes, Madam."

With everyone's cooperation, the productivity today was unexpectedly high, and by noon, all tasks were completed. Meng Die returned to her room cheerfully for lunch.

As Xing Huang arranged the meal, she asked, "Why is everything done so quickly today?"

Lu Wei replied, "Those stewardesses were all trying to please Second Lady today."

Meng Die raised an eyebrow. "You noticed it too? Seems like it wasn't just my imagination." Saying that, she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Xing Huang was puzzled. "Why would they suddenly try to curry favor with our Second Lady?"

Xue Qing put down her sewing: "Now everyone outside is curious about how Second Madam managed to sell those sea fish at such high prices. You don't know, Ying'er's and the other three girls' parents are suddenly very sought after."

"Not just that," Lu Wei opened a wardrobe, took a glance, then closed it again. "According to the household rules, there are four spots for second-class maids like you and Xue Qing under Second Madam. But currently, there are only the two of you – we're still short of two."

Xing Huang commented, "They want to send their daughters in now? They weren't this eager before."

"Before? Times have changed." Lu Wei lowered her voice. "Back then, everyone knew it was best to be on the side of the eldest son when the family split, as he would inherit the family business. Although Second Master is a legitimate child, he is, after all, the second-born son." And he's not even here; whether he'll return or not is another matter entirely. Lu Wei didn't voice this out loud.

She continued, "But now, it's different. Even though the eldest son inherits the family business, he must also look after his brothers. The country estates are permanent landholdings, and most of the ancestral lands are for rituals. Whatever produce they yield will need to be shared among the siblings. If the division is unequal, it could lead to accusations of mistreatment. If one isn't strict enough, there won't be much left for oneself amidst so many brothers."

"Unlike our Second Aunt, those two million taels of silver are her genuine personal assets. The emperor himself has no say in how she spends it or who she spends it on. Moreover, the fact that Second Aunt has amassed such a fortune indicates her capabilities. If they join our branch when the houses are divided, won't they also enjoy prosperity? With such benefits dangling before them, they naturally strive to curry favor and send their people our way."

Xing Huang exclaimed, "Goodness gracious, the Old Marquis and the Old Lady are still around, yet they're already contemplating the division of the main house—what foresight!"

Lu Wei commented, "Even if there's no division, wouldn't it be better to align with Second Aunt, uncover the truth about the sea fish, or even earn some wealth alongside her? These servants, with generations of experience in the household, are shrewd to the core; their eyelashes seem to have minds of their own."

Meng Die finished her meal and rinsed her mouth. "If anyone asks you about adding new staff lately, tell them that Second Master is not at home, and I have no pressing matters requiring additional help. For now, there are no plans to hire more people."

"Understood."

Meng Die pondered that for the time being, she should behave obediently and lead a peaceful life – it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Wen Shi unexpectedly spent the night at home. The following morning, after breakfast, she returned. When paying respects in the evening, Meng Die inquired, "I thought you would come back last night. Why did you only return today?"

Wen Shi replied, "My brother's wife is expecting. We only realized it after the chaos of yesterday. Then, there was another round of hustle and bustle. By the time we were done, it was already late, and traveling at night would have been inconvenient, so I decided to stay over."

Meng Die asked, "Is it their first child?"

Wen Shi answered, "Yes, it is. Otherwise, they wouldn't be completely inexperienced."

Meng Die: "Congratulations, Eldest Sister. You're going to be an aunt soon."

Wen Shi smiled. "I recall Mother mentioning that Second Uncle's family should be returning within three or five days, isn't that right?"

Meng Die: "Yes, I've been thinking about that too. How about we tidy up the Western Wing together tomorrow?"

"Sounds good."

In truth, both Second and Fourth Branches resided in the structures that belonged to the Western Wing, much like how the First, Third, and Fifth Branches all lived within the Eastern Wing's territory.

The second branch resided in the front section of the western courtyard, aligned with the main residence where the Marquis and Lady Marquis lived. Similarly, the eldest branch occupied an equivalent position in the eastern courtyard. This arrangement symbolized the status of the first-born and second-born sons.

After concluding their affairs at the Jingcu Pavilion, Madam Wen and Meng Die led their respective maidservants to the second branch in the western courtyard. The area was consistently maintained and cleaned, so the rooms didn't appear dilapidated, albeit slightly spacious.

"Greetings to Eldest Lady and Second Lady," they bowed.

Ruixue introduced, "These are Nurse Han and Nurse Zhao. They have been in charge of overseeing and cleaning this place."

Madam Wen glanced at the room and asked, "Are the windows usually kept open?"

Nanny Han stepped forward and replied, "In response to Lady Han, the windows were not opened today because the sky was slightly overcast. Normally, we would air out the room every two or three days."

Wen Shi nodded and said to Meng Die, "I notice that there are no curtains or drapes here. Perhaps we should have them hang the outer curtains and drapes first. As for the inner ones, we can wait for Second Aunt to return and decorate according to her preferences."

Meng Die agreed, "That's fine too."

Wen Shi then inquired the two nurses, "Both of you have been with the family for a long time. Surely, you're familiar with how the room was arranged when Second Master and Second Lady were still around?"

"Indeed, Lady Han, we are well aware. We know exactly where everything that is currently stored in the warehouse should be placed."

"That's wonderful. Later, you can go to the storage house to register and retrieve all the items. Then, arrange them properly." Wen Shi pondered for a moment. "If there's anything else you need, just make a list, and we'll add it."

"Yes, ma'am."

With the elders present, Wen Shi and Meng Die didn't have much trouble sorting things out. Glancing at the time, the two of them didn't return to their respective courtyards but instead went straight to the main residence together to pay their respects. Today, Madam Ning was still occupied with socializing and was not in the eastern annex.

Upon arriving at the main residence, the two sisters-in-law exchanged a glance, sensing that the atmosphere was off.

As they turned into the main hall and entered the flower hall, they noticed that today, an elderly woman was seated on the left-hand side of Lady Hao, her hands hanging down in a respectful manner.

Meng Die was acquainted with this woman, having paid her a New Year visit during the Spring Festival. She was the eldest son's wife of Li Sanzhu, born into the Liu family, of the same generation as Lady Hou but a year older. Within the Marquis's residence, she was respectfully addressed as Old Lady.

Meng Die and Wen Shi first paid their respects to Madam Hou, then to her daughter, before standing aside to attend to them.

Lady Liu cast a glance at Meng Die and offered a ingratiating smile before turning to Lady Hou. "Sister-in-law, it was our foolishness that led us astray. We acted improperly and angered Father. Now, he insists on separating the households. How, how can parents and children part ways like this?"

Lady Hou: "Since you've offended your uncle, just go and apologize to him."

"How could we not admit our mistakes? Your elder brother and I have apologized profusely, but Father remains unconvinced." Lady Liu offered a conciliatory smile. "That's why I hope you, as my younger sister-in-law, can help mediate. We can't possibly let the family truly split apart, can we?"

Lady Hou: "Lady-in-Law, you're mistaken. It's only natural for a large tree to have branches diverging."

Madam Liu was left speechless.

Lady Hou continued, "Moreover, if Uncle wishes to separate households, how can I, as his niece-in-law, dissuade him? Neither I nor even our Marquis has the right to interfere in Uncle's affairs."

"I...," Madam Liu sputtered, her face alternating between red and white. She was too aggrieved to react further.

In the end, Madam Liu could only leave with an ashen face, feeling resentful but unable to express it.

Madam Hou wore a faint expression as she glanced at Lady Wen and Meng Die. She forced a smile and said, "It's getting late. You should head back now."

"Yes," they both replied.

As Lady Wen and Meng Die left the main chamber, Lady Wen whispered, "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Meng Die was even more confused than Lady Wen. "No, I haven't heard a single whisper about it."

Lady Wen observed, "Grandmother seems to be very upset."

"Yes," Meng Die recalled. "During the New Year, I remember Grandmother addressing the two ladies from the other households as sister-in-law and younger sister."

Wen Shi confirmed, "Your memory is correct. Our grandfather had no biological siblings, so calling them sister-in-law and younger sister was a way to express closeness."

The two sisters-in-law exchanged glances, now clearly seeing the distinction in how Lady Hou directly addressed the elder sister-in-law compared to the younger.

The perplexed duo returned to their respective courtyards, each carrying a load of unanswered questions.