Chapter 53

Chapter 53

In Ganzhou, after finishing her household chores, Madam Shen sent some items to her husband and returned to her chambers for a rest. The ten thousand silver taels from Meng Die and the recovered silver from Huzhou had thoroughly alleviated the immediate financial crisis of the Meng family.

With money in their pockets, managing the household became much easier for Madam Shen.

"A lady from outside wishes to request an audience with you, Lady," her servant informed her. "She claims to be a merchant."

"A merchant?" Madam Shen dismissed the idea without a second thought. "I shall not see her."

"Madam, they are Hu merchants, newly arrived from the capital. They claim to have a letter for Miss," the servant reported.

"Dear Butterfly!" Madam Shen's eyes sparkled. "Hasten and invite them in."

Upon seeing Madam Shen, Su Mu and Li Shan immediately prostrated themselves, as their husbands had instructed. In the Great Yi dynasty, merchants held a low social status. Kneeling before officials and their wives was always the safest course of action.

The maid attending to Madam Shen promptly supported the two women. As messengers for Miss, it would be improper to let them kneel.

"Please, have a seat," Madam Shen urged kindly.

"Madam Xie," Su Mu made no pretenses and promptly took the letter from his chest, handing it to the maid. "Last year, we were aided by Second Madam of the Marquis Household. This year, when we went to thank her, she inquired if our journey back to the kingdom would pass through Ganzhou. We said it did, and thus, she entrusted us with delivering this letter."

"Many thanks to you both." Shen took the letter, recognizing Meng Die's handwriting from the characters on the envelope. Recalling Old Master's instructions, Shen promptly unfolded the letter – indeed!

After reading it, Shen was fully informed. "You two have traveled far. Allow me to extend some hospitality as the host."

"Thank you, First Madam."

The nanny beside her immediately understood and instructed the maids in the room to prepare a meal while she herself stood guard at the door.

Madam Shen stated frankly, "Butterfly mentioned that you wish to purchase a batch of soap to take back with you?"

Su Mu and Li Shan nodded eagerly. "Yes, Madam doesn't know, but the soap sold at Second Aunt's shop is truly excellent. Its scent lingers for an entire day."

Madam Shen inquired, "How much do you desire?"

Su Mu and Li Shan exchanged glances before chiming in unison, "However much there is?"

Recalling the stockpile of soap at home, Madam Shen chuckled. "Eight thousand bars."

"We'll take them all." The two of them spoke in unison once more.

Madam Shen paused, somewhat astonished. They wanted all eighty thousand bars of soap? The old master had only ordered that many, fearing they wouldn't be able to sell them all: "You want all eighty thousand?"

"Yes, yes, all of them," Su Mu and Li Shan beamed with delight. As women, they understood the importance of soap in the hearts of other women. Forget eighty thousand, they would have purchased even double that amount.

Madam Shen was speechless for a moment: "Very well, I'll sell them all to you. As for the price..."

Tamu and Li Shan's hearts skipped a beat, afraid that Madam Shen would raise the price too much.

"Let's settle on seven hundred wen per piece then."

Li Shan, with her unpolished official dialect, blurted out, "Why is it even cheaper than in the capital?"

Madam Shen responded, "Your assistance in delivering Dai'er's letter – how can this debt of gratitude be repaid with mere hundred wen? You shall give a total of fifty-five thousand silver taels."

But that wasn't just a hundred wen; each piece was worth a hundred, making it eight hundred thousand! Plus the additional deduction of over a thousand taels. Su Mu and Li Shan exchanged glances, quickly realizing that everything was more expensive in the capital, hence the higher initial price. In Ganzhou, many items were cheaper, likely due to lower production costs.

Regardless, Lady Dai was generous, as was the Meng family.

Madam Chen hesitated for a moment. "As for the agreement, it wouldn't be very convenient for me to sign it with you. But we can send someone to accompany you when you leave the customs. There won't be any issues."

Li Shan felt a bit nervous. What if the Meng family changed their minds after receiving the silver? Without a contract, she felt uneasy.

Without much deliberation, Su Mu agreed. "Then I'll trouble Madam. We need to rest tonight and will set off at dawn tomorrow morning."

Meng Die had mentioned the risks in her letter, which Madam Chen was aware of. Seeing how readily Su Mu had agreed, she was delighted. "Rest assured, everything will be arranged properly on our end."

"Thank you, Madam," Su Mu immediately handed over a banknote worth fifty-five thousand taels to Madam Chen.

"Madam, the meal is ready."

Shen: "Please, both of you."

"Lady Shen, please lead the way."

The meal proceeded with merriment, and upon its conclusion, Shen hurried to the main residence to hand over the banknotes to Mother Hu.

Hu received the banknotes and extracted two thousand taels. She then instructed her servants to keep the remaining thirty-five thousand taels safely. "I didn't expect them to ask for such a substantial amount."

Madam Shen, unusually bashful, replied, "I didn't expect them to say they wanted it all. I was momentarily at a loss for words. It seems this soap is extremely popular, no wonder Dai'er personally assigned someone to teach its production."

Madam Hu's brows relaxed as she said, "The most important thing is that this item has low initial investment but can be sold at a good price. It's almost like a risk-free business."

Madam Shen agreed, "That's precisely what I was thinking. Looks like we'll need to make more soap next year. We'll also have to expand the pigsty on our estate. Thankfully, Father had the foresight to instruct the servants to raise a few sows long ago. Otherwise, where would we get so many piglets next year?"

Madam Hu nodded in agreement.

"Reporting to Matriarch, Grandfather has sent word that he will return in the evening."

"I see." Lady Hu pondered for a moment. "Considering our friendly relations with them, you should pay them a visit later."

"Indeed," Lady Shen responded with a smile. "It's perfect timing. Recently, Dai-er has been bored at home and started cultivating mushrooms in a mushroom house. She even managed to grow some successfully. This time, she asked those two merchants to bring some along. I'll deliver some to the Tang family later."

Lady Hu nodded in agreement.

When Su Mu and Li Shan returned, Li Shan asked apprehensively, "Do you really trust the Meng family that much?"

Su Mu replied, "What kind of person is the Second Lady of the Marquis House? How powerful is she? Would her family be short of such a small amount of silver compared to us?"

Li Shan pondered and agreed. Indeed, upon sharing the news, Tamu and Li Teer both endorsed Su Mu's decision.

The Meng family proved efficient; before dawn the following day, a detachment of soldiers arrived at the inn where Tamu and his companions were staying. The leader, a man in his early thirties, was neatly dressed and full of energy, a stark contrast to the slovenly soldiers they had encountered in the past.

Li Teer inquired, "Might I ask for your esteemed surname, sir?"

The soldier bowed respectfully. "You're too kind, sir. My name is not of great importance, but folks usually call me Head Gu."

Li Teer replied, "Greetings, Head Gu. I'll have everything ready for you right away."

Gutou said calmly, "No rush. Take your time and go over it carefully to avoid leaving anything out."

"Tremendously, tremendously," Tamu and Li Teer replied with beaming smiles.

With everything prepared, they would immediately set off for the customs checkpoint.

All Hu merchants and seafarers who conducted business in the Great Yi Dynasty knew the rule: when purchasing large quantities of goods, one needed to register and pay taxes at the local office. The authorities would provide a receipt, which was as useful as a travel permit. Upon arriving at each provincial capital, one had to get it stamped at the local office – this was to prevent tax evasion.

Otherwise, how could they inspect merchants only at the borders? What if they colluded with border guards and didn't pay a single coin in taxes?

Merchants reaching the frontier need not re-validate their documents at the provincial offices; the border clearance is sufficient, illustrating the greater authority of the border military commanders.

As for avoiding taxes by purchasing large quantities of goods at the frontier, like Tamu Li Teer did this time, the emperor is certainly aware of this practice. However, he tacitly approves, as it's practically impossible to prevent. Rigorous inspections might instead upset the military officers. Besides, the borders are generally barren lands with few specialties; thus, where would such bulk goods for merchants come from?

For miscellaneous items like dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, or cosmetics, as long as each type does not exceed three hundred catties or three hundred boxes, no tax needs to be paid at the local offices.

Only when departing the Great Yi Dynasty, one must pay a corresponding amount of silver at the customs checkpoint. This is, in essence, a welfare granted by the emperor to the border guards. With frequent battles at the frontier, one must offer incentives if they wish for others to risk their lives.

Eight thousand bars of soap, despite their individual modest size, still occupy a significant volume. As soon as Tamu Li Teer's caravan appeared at the border, it drew much attention. However, what garnered the most curiosity was the troop that accompanied them.

The captain of the city gate guard, recognizing their attire, immediately greeted them with a broad smile. "Commander Gu, what brings you here? Please come in and have a seat."

Commander Gu waved his hand. "Not today, I'm escorting these two gentlemen out. We can catch up another time when we're both free."

"Of course, please proceed."

Despite his invitation, Commander Gu didn't allow Tamu or Li Teer to skip the queue; they waited patiently in line. The number of people exiting the city was moderate, and it wasn't long before it was their turn. To Tamu and Li Teer's surprise, not only were their soap items unchecked, but even other miscellaneous goods were spared from inspection.

Throughout their journey, they had adhered to regulations regarding the more strictly controlled porcelain and silk, which were under the government's watchful eye. Hence, they had no concerns about being inspected now.

After the inspection, the border general readily allowed them passage without taking a single coin. Tamu and Li Teer exchanged a glance, then as they bade the Chief Gu goodbye, they handed him a silver banknote worth five hundred taels. "Chief Gu, the weather is getting colder. Please use this to buy some wine for everyone to warm their bodies."

Chief Gu modestly declined. "No need, it's my duty."

Tamu persisted, "Even if it's your duty, we can still tell if someone puts in extra effort or not. This is just our little token of appreciation for buying some wine."

Only then did Chief Gu accept the banknote and bid farewell to his comrades.

Li Teer couldn't help but express his admiration. "Second Lady indeed has a kind heart. That's why our journey has been so smooth."

Tamu: "Indeed, working under Second Lady guarantees a good life."

Gutou had no idea who orchestrated all this. All he knew was that when he reported back to the Admiral, the only question asked was, "Did you see them off?"

"Admiral, they've been sent away. They even gave me a banknote worth five hundred taels, saying it's for the brothers to buy some drinks."

Tang Yanan chuckled. "If it's meant for your drinking, why are you telling me? Scram and get the alcohol!"

"Ah." Gutou's brows lifted in delight, and he swiftly left. In the past year, life had indeed improved. He wondered where the Admiral got those delicious stewed dishes; their flavor was addictive, and they were proper meat dishes. Many of his men had put on weight from them.

Tang TiDu was also delighted. Who wouldn't be happy to receive twenty thousand taels for nothing? It wasn't a one-time deal either. Ah, he should get some wine to share with his wife; the mushrooms sent from the neighbor smelled delightful.

Everyone was pleased.

Not long after the 15th of July came Lady Hou's birthday, which was supposed to be a lively event. However, with Li Jin's pale face, everyone's mood vanished instantly.

They managed to have the meal, and as soon as the banquet was cleared, Madam Ning took Li Jin back to the eastern wing. Wen Shi and Meng Die naturally followed, though their expressions were far from pleasant.

Upon entering the room, Madam Ning dismissed all the servants, leaving only Nurse Zheng behind.

Madam Ning took the initiative to ask, "Jin'er, what has happened? Why do you look so pale?"

"Mother," Li Jin began, and her tears immediately streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to speak through her sobs.

Anxiously, Madam Ning understood that she needed to give Li Jin time to express her emotions and waited patiently.

After some time, Wen Shi gently wiped away Li Jin's tears with a handkerchief. Meng Die poured a cup of tea and passed it to Li Jin. With her tears dried and after taking a couple of sips of tea, Li Jin's emotions finally stabilized.

Li Jin said, "Mother, my husband, he... he has a concubine."

"AH?" Mrs. Ning was utterly astonished. She had speculated that her mother-in-law might be making things difficult for her or that her husband might be having an affair with a maid, but she never imagined that he would have a secret concubine.

Even the usually mild-mannered Wen lady couldn't hold back and scolded, "How shameless! How could you engage in such disgraceful behavior?"

Meng Die was also taken aback, "When did he start keeping this concubine? Do you have any idea about her background?"

With teary eyes, Li Jin looked at Meng Die and shook her head, "I don't know when it started. I overheard a servant mentioning 'cousin missy' once, but I'm not sure if they were referring to the secret concubine."

Mrs. Ning asked, "A servant? Which branch of the family are they from? What did they say exactly?"

Li Jin: "She was a young maid from Lady-in-law's quarters. I only caught a glimpse of the phrase 'Miss originally...', but that was it."

Madam Ning held her handkerchief tightly, her face grave. "Has your mother-in-law learned of this matter?"

Li Jin nodded. "Yes, Grandmother-in-law knows too. Originally, I planned to invite Mother and my sisters-in-law to the manor for discussion."

Madam Ning lowered her eyelids, deep in thought.

Madam Wen embraced Li Jin, caressing her back. "Don't worry, you have your parents, your brothers, and your sisters-in-law. We will definitely help you seek justice and not let you suffer this injustice in vain."

Meng Die: "Sister Jin, does your father-in-law and Elder Chen know about this?"

Li Jin: "I'm not sure if Elder Chen knows, but Father-in-law is aware. He punished my husband with a whipping and made him kneel in the family temple. If it weren't for Grandmother's birthday today, he'd still be kneeling there."

Madam Ning exhaled. "It seems your in-laws are reasonable people."

Li Jin remained silent, inwardly acknowledging their wisdom. Ever since the incident, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had been comforting her, while her father-in-law had taken decisive action, sparing no effort to save face for her. This was why she hadn't rushed back to her natal home immediately. With such supportive in-laws, if she were to cause a scene, not only would she receive no sympathy, but people might also think she lacked propriety.

Madam Wen also breathed a sigh of relief. "If the Chen family is reasonable, it will be easier to handle. We can discreetly send that concubine away and find a suitable match for her to marry. Just make sure the matter is handled quietly to avoid any loss of face for both families."

Seeing Meng Die's silence, Madam Wen asked uncertainly, "Sister-in-law, what do you think?"

Meng Die replied, "I don't think it's as simple as that."

"Why so?" In the room, three sets of eyes were now fixed on Meng Die.

She snorted coldly. "Sending away a concubine is such an easy task. Would the prestigious Family of the Grand Stable Director, who is an imperial prince's relative, lack such means? Why would they need to consult our Marquis Manor?"

Madam Ning, Madam Wen, and Li Jin's expressions changed. It did make sense. How could a mere concubine be too much for the family of a high-ranking official of the third rank to handle? Wasn't this a joke?

Meng Die: "An affair with a concubine wouldn't just be exposed the day after it started. It must have been going on for some time. If they've managed to keep it hidden for so long, why would it suddenly come to light now? What's the reason behind this?"

Madam Ning's face turned ashen: "Jin'er was married in early summer, and now it's autumn. It hasn't been that long. The concubine might have been kept even before the marriage. Now that it's revealed, it could be because they're afraid that Jin'er has firmly established herself as the lady of the house, and the concubine fears she'll never have a chance to enter the mansion again. Or perhaps..."

Madam Ning glanced at Madam Wen, who immediately understood. She looked at Meng Die and found no surprise in her eyes. With a heavy heart, Madam Wen uttered three harsh words: "She's pregnant."

Li Jin's mouth gaped wide, her face filled with disbelief. Then, tears that she had barely held back burst forth like a river in flood.

Madam Ning: "Jin'er, don't cry. You'll damage your voice and harm yourself. Don't worry, I'm here. I won't let them take advantage of you and produce an illegitimate firstborn."

"Mother, Mother..." Li Jin rushed to Madam Ning, weeping uncontrollably.

Wen Shi felt her limbs turn icy cold, a wave of weakness engulfing her. "How could, how could Second Brother Chen do such a thing!"

Meng Die pondered for a moment. "Mother, how about this – since the Chens have invited us, Father and you should hold off on going for now. Elder Brother, Elder Sister-in-law, and I, along with Brother Peng, can go first to see what their intentions truly are."

Madam Ning considered it. "That might work. Just remember one thing: our family's girls are treasures, born to live in luxury and happiness. They must not endure the slightest bit of injustice."

Wen Shi and Meng Die nodded solemnly in agreement.

It wasn't until the sky darkened and lanterns were lit that Meng Die and Madam Wen finally left Lady Ning's quarters.

Meng Die paused in her steps. She seemed to have caught a fleeting glimpse of someone who vanished in an instant. After a moment's reflection, she realized it must have been Li Jin's biological mother, Concubine Wang, who wore silk clothing yet dared not make a bold appearance.

Sigh, even if one raises a child to a hundred years old, worries still linger for ninety-nine.

Upon Meng Die's return to Qixia Courtyard, Xing Huang approached promptly. "Second Lady, Madam has sent word for dinner. Have you had your evening meal?"

"I'm not hungry." Meng Die entered the room and sat down on a chair. "Mei'er."

"Ah," Mei'er promptly entered the room. "What instructions does Second Lady have?"

Meng Die: "Send someone to invite Nurse Fan from her home, ask her to come here as swiftly as possible."

"I shall attend to it immediately."

Meng Die removed the bracelet from her wrist and the rings from her fingers. Meihong promptly stepped forward to gently take off her hair ornaments and undo her elaborate hairstyle, rearranging it into a loose, casual bun.

In the brief span of time that had passed, Xing Huang returned with a food box in hand, announcing, "Second Mistress, I've prepared a bowl of chicken shreds soup noodles. It's light and not the least bit greasy; please, do try to have some."

"Certainly."

Xing Huang's face lit up with a smile as she placed the soup noodles on the table and then took out a few appetizers from the food basket.

They were all palate-tingling dishes, and Meng Die's stomach was indeed empty. Now, she picked up her chopsticks and ate without even lifting her head, causing the maids in the room to collectively heave a sigh of relief.

Before Meng Die had finished eating, Mei'er and Nurse Fan entered the room, both panting heavily. Nurse Fan took a deep breath to calm her racing heart before entering the inner chamber. "Second Lady."

Meng Die immediately put down her chopsticks. "You all may leave."

Nanny Fan moved closer to Meng Die, and she whispered discreetly, "Miss Jin's husband has taken a concubine outside their home."

Nanny Fan's eyes widened in astonishment, overwhelmed by the revelation.

Meng Die replied, "Try to gather more information about this concubine. Especially her background."

Nanny Fan asked, "Her background? Does Second Lady suspect that she's not a courtesan or just an ordinary commoner?"

Meng Die continued, "After the incident, Miss Jin overheard someone addressing her as 'Young Miss' in her mother-in-law's courtyard."

Aghast, Nurse Fan's mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg inside.

"Meng Die, focus your investigation on Lady Chen's maternal family first, then on the family of Lady Chen, the elder wife," Meng Die paused. "Also look into the family of Jin's eldest sister-in-law, though the likelihood there is lower. The most crucial point is the background of the current Lady Chen, the matriarch."

Nurse Fan understood that this meant the second wife. "I see."

"Search for information through multiple channels, especially in gambling dens and the pleasure quarters; people there tend to have the most up-to-date gossip," Meng Die instructed.

Nurse Fan hesitated. "But... those who know might not be able to keep secrets."

Meng Die scoffed. "The Chen family dared to do such disgraceful things; how could they expect me to spare their face? If they provide a satisfactory answer when I visit the Chen residence in two days, then that would be acceptable. But if our Marquis household is displeased! Hmph." The unspoken consequences hung heavily in the air.

Nanny Fan couldn't help but shiver.

Meng Die said, "There's nothing else. You may go now."

"Yes, ma'am."

After Nanny Fan left, the other servants entered. The congee had thickened during her absence, but Meng Die didn't mind and finished it all.

The Chen family was efficient; the day after Lady Hou's birthday celebration, they dispatched someone to deliver an invitation. As both parties had yet to escalate their conflict, the Marquis household happily agreed and promised to visit the following day.

Madam Ning sent for Madam Wen.

Madam Wen asked, "Does Mother have any instructions for me?"

With dark circles beneath her eyes, Madam Ning replied, "After much contemplation last night and further discussion with my own mother today, she also agrees that it's best for me not to go just yet. Instead, you, along with Dai-er, Mao'er, and Peng'er, should proceed first. However…" Madam Ning hesitated, "When confronting the Chen family members, you…."

Madam Wen interrupted, albeit respectfully, "Mother, I understand. I've always been gentle in nature, unlike my younger siblings who are more decisive. Tomorrow, during the negotiation, I will take Dai-er's opinions as the main guide."

By virtue, it should be the eldest sister-in-law leading with the second supporting. But now that Meng Die is in charge, it's clear they don't trust the Wen family, and it's an insult to her.

Madam Ning managed a smile. "That's not the issue here."

"Oh?" This time, it was Wen who was puzzled.

Madam Ning continued, "I've never worried about you. I'm concerned about Die-er. Don't let her cheerful and magnanimous appearance fool you. In reality, she has a strong will and fiercely protects those close to her. If the Chen family doesn't behave tomorrow, I fear she might explode. You should at least try to calm her down."

Wen found the situation both amusing and frustrating. "Sister-in-law has always been methodical in her actions; she won't act recklessly."

Madam Ning cast a glance at Madam Wen, her eyes clearly conveying the message: You are far too naive.