Chapter 64

Chapter 64

The next day, after the morning greetings were over, Madam Zhou went to visit Madam Wen. Indeed, Madam Wen had a candidate in mind - a younger brother of her sister-in-law, who was also sixteen years old and had been passionate about martial arts since childhood. His family had hired several instructors to teach him, and now he was skilled in horseback riding and archery.

Initially, Madam Wen had considered proposing this match, but then she thought better of it due to the significant difference in their social statuses. Madam Wen wasn't an arrogant person; she didn't naively believe that marrying into a marquis's household would equate the salt merchant family's status to theirs.

Moreover, it was customary for a lower-class family to marry into a higher one, but never the other way around. Now, however, circumstances had changed. Since Madam Zhou had asked for her help in assessing the young man, Madam Wen's proposal could be seen as a well-intentioned gesture. Even if it didn't work out, no one would mock her for being overly ambitious.

Upon hearing the young man's background, Madam Zhou was intrigued and expressed her willingness to evaluate his character. Upon receiving this news, Madam Wen promptly returned to her natal home to share the matter with her mother and sister-in-law.

Wen's younger sister was from the Wang family, also with origins in the salt trading business. The Wang family's wealth far exceeded that of the Wens. It was only because Wen, the legitimate eldest daughter, had married into the noble household's main branch that the Wang family would consider marrying their own legitimate eldest daughter into the Wen family.

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang's eyes immediately sparkled with interest. However, she then grew somewhat concerned. Would the noble daughter of the Marquis household truly be willing to marry into a salt merchant's family? Might there be some impropriety or unsuitability with this young lady?

Wen's tone was gentle as she spoke, "Sister-in-law, allow me to say something that might not be pleasing, but I've been wanting to mention this matter before. However, I held back because of the difference in our families' statuses."

Wang-shi hastily concurred, "Elder Sister speaks the truth. Our clan indeed reaches upwards to the Marquis's household, like a climber scaling a ladder, seeking heights beyond our own standing."

Lady Wen smiled. "I'm sure you've heard about the situation at Duke Cheng'en's residence. Recently, Uncle, Aunt, even my grandparents have all said that they don't care about one's background, as long as the young man is of good character. That's why I dared to mention it. Aunt then suggested that Uncle should first assess the person, repeatedly emphasizing that his goodness is all that matters."

Madam Wang's earlier concerns were instantly alleviated, and she felt a great sense of relief. The Emperor had issued a clear edict regarding the incident at Duke Cheng'en's residence. These days, the entire capital was abuzz with the news; Duke Cheng'en's wayward behavior and Gaoling's brutality were well-known to all.

Putting herself in the shoes of the Marquis Yongyi's household, Madam Wang could understand their fear of encountering another Duke Cheng'en-like situation. Social status mattered little compared to a person's character.

With this information, Madam Wang promptly shared it with her family, who were naturally overjoyed. Establishing such a connection would greatly benefit the Wang family.

Both parties eager for the alliance, progress was swift. Li Zhen seized an opportunity on his day off to meet the young man from the Wang family. The second son of the Wang family, diligent and courteous, met with Li Zhen's full approval.

Satisfied, the Wen family, now a potential bridge between the two households, promptly arranged a floral banquet, inviting the womenfolk from both the Wang and the Marquis's families to appreciate the flowers.

Madam Zhou introduced Yan Girl to the Wang family's ladies, and both parties were highly pleased with each other. The Wang family's attitude was exceedingly amiable and sincere, which naturally satisfied Madam Zhou. Yan Girl's appearance and demeanor surpassed expectations; the Wangs were delighted beyond words. Initially, they had assumed that this noble daughter might lack nothing but possess only an average appearance. However, they were pleasantly surprised by Yan Girl's remarkable beauty, which was truly the embodiment of loveliness.

How could Yan Girl's looks be anything but outstanding? Li Zhen was a concubine-born son, and his mother, Concubine Ye, was renowned for her beauty. Marquis Yongyi himself was also dashing. Li Zhen inherited their good genes, resulting in him being strikingly handsome. Madam Zhou, too, was born of a concubine and was a beauty in her own right. Usually overshadowed by Madam Wu's exceptional looks within the marquis's residence, Madam Zhou possessed a fair share of allure.

Could a couple as attractive as Li Zhen and Madam Zhou produce an unappealing child? It was possible under unfortunate circumstances, but Yan Girl was not one of those unlucky cases. She inherited the best traits from her parents, and it would not be an exaggeration to say she was more beautiful than a flower. Li Jin's looks paled in comparison, which partly explained Madam Zhou's lingering dissatisfaction.

After privately matching their horoscopes and finding no ill omens, the Wang family promptly engaged a reputable matchmaker and set a date for the formal proposal. This sealed the matter conclusively.

With Yan Girl's marriage arrangements settled, Madam Zhou was overjoyed, wearing a constant smile on her face every day.

Glad tidings arrived once more from the Marquis household: Li Ai had distinguished himself yet again on the battlefield, earning another promotion to the rank of Associate Third Class Yuji General.

"Congratulations, Madam, congratulations to Lady, and congratulations to Second Lady," the maidservants and matrons chimed in unison.

Lady Hou's smile wrinkles crinkled her eyes into slits. "We share in this joy, we share in this joy."

Lady Zhou looked at Lady Hou. "Mother is so blessed. With Second Brother achieving such accomplishments, it's not impossible that Mother may one day receive dual titles from two nations."

Lady Wu joined in the jest. "I agree with that sentiment. By then, Eldest Sister-in-law will also hold dual titles."

Madam Fang also nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Wen Shi also joined in the amusement, smiling as she said, "Mother will likely be entertaining more frequently lately, with no time to rest."

Madame Ning's face split into a wide grin. "I hope your well-wishes come true, I truly do."

Within the main residence, the masters reveled in laughter and joyous conversation, while the maids and matrons, upon hearing news of tripled rewards, wore smiles that danced in their eyes. For a moment, the entire marquis's estate was engulfed in a sea of merriment.

Meng Die returned from the main chamber, and Nurse Fan immediately approached with delight to offer her congratulations.

Meng Die: "Auntie Fan, why are you here today?"

Auntie Fan slapped her forehead. "Look at me, I was so thrilled about Second Master's promotion that I almost forgot the main reason for my visit." As she spoke, she took out a small porcelain bottle, about ten centimeters in diameter, from her sleeve.

Meng Die took the bottle and her eyes lit up as she opened it. "You've made it? Why did you suddenly think of doing this now?"

Auntie Fan's face was radiant with a smile. "This year's weather has been exceptionally hot. There's a slope on the estate where we grow sweet potatoes, and fetching water there every day is quite a struggle. Lately, the leaves have started to show signs of scorching and drying up. Headman Wang went to inspect the field and found the sweet potatoes to be quite large. So, he decided to harvest that plot early. A small portion was tasted by the folks on the estate, and the rest was given to Youxin."

Lowering her voice, Auntie Fan continued, "The process of making sugar from these is quite similar to sugarcane. Youxin quickly produced cane sugar, and then selected some of the highest quality ones to refine into this white sugar using the yellow clay method."

Meng Die hurriedly asked, "What's the sugar yield like?"

"Feng Nanny has received word that this type of beet has an incredibly high sugar content, almost comparable to sugarcane," Feng Nanny's voice brimmed with excitement. Everyone knew how expensive sugar was.

Meng Die was taken aback, quite surprised. She had assumed that the unimproved beets would have a lower sugar yield than sugarcane. Then she realized that both the beets here and the sugarcane were unmodified original strains; it made sense that their sugar yields wouldn't differ much.

Feng Nanny suggested, "Madam, why don't we ask Head Wang to start estimating the beet harvest now? It would be best to harvest them slightly before the autumn rush, so we'll have more manpower available."

Meng Die nodded. "All the harvested beets should be handed over to Youxin for sugar production. The higher quality ones can be made into refined sugar, while the rest can be sent to the mushroom house."

Nanny Fan nodded repeatedly. "Speaking of mushroom houses, there's another matter. The letters mentioned that during the boiling of beetroot to extract its sweetness, the last round hardly yields any sweet water. It's a pity to simply discard it without cooking, but boiling it consumes a significant amount of firewood and labor. He thought of not boiling it for the last time and sending the beetroot residue to the mushroom houses to see if mushrooms can be cultivated from it."

Meng Die pondered for a moment. "Yi Xin's idea is good; it's indeed worth a try."

Nanny Fan's face lit up with joy. "I'll tell him so when I return."

Meng Die asked, "Have you thoroughly examined and selected the people for mushroom cultivation?"

Nanny Fan replied, "Yes, they have been chosen. We've identified sixty women who are both discreet and efficient. They are organized into groups of four, and these women can adequately tend to fifteen small mushroom houses."

Meng Die: "Select a few team leaders from them, and I'll have Lu Wei come over tomorrow to teach them how to mix the ingredients."

"Indeed."

Meng Die: "Reward Headman Wang and Yu Xin each with five hundred taels of silver. The rest will receive decreasing amounts based on their contributions. Count the total and collect the silver from Manager Rong's office."

Nanny Fan: "I'll express their gratitude to Second Lady on their behalf."

Meng Die: "One more thing, have Headman Wang prepare himself. In addition to learning how to cultivate sugar beets, he should also study the process of making sugar. During this year's Spring Festival, I want him to make a trip to Ganzhou."

"Ai."

Meng Die looked up just in time to see Xing Huang leading Mei'er and the others in with a food tray. "Auntie, why don't you have dinner with me tonight? The manor just sent over a few fresh fish."

Nanny Fan rejoiced, "Then I shall consider myself fortunate to have enjoyed such a treat today."

Meng Die was having her meal when Xue Qing, who had returned from her supposed embroidery work but in reality had been gossiping, came back in a hurry. The moment she arrived, she couldn't wait to ask, "Sister Lu Wei, what does 'the sealing of two nations' mean? When I was chatting with them today, they were all talking about it."

Lu Wei pondered for a moment and said, "In our dynasty, only those with an official rank of second class or higher can be titled 'Madam.' Third-class ranks are referred to as 'Lady.' Let's set that aside. The term 'Madam' has existed for centuries, primarily used as a title for the wives of marquises, such as the Han State Madam or the Zhao State Madam. In those days, 'Madam' carried the connotation of a national lady."

"A dual investiture signifies being honored as a Lady twice by imperial decree. It's not easy to attain such a distinction; one's husband must hold high rank and request the title for his wife, which counts as the first investiture. Then, if the son also rises in status and requests another title for his mother, or if a grandson distinguishes himself, receiving a noble rank, he can request an investiture for both his mother and grandmother. Hence, a woman who receives two such honors is known as having a dual investiture."

Xue Qing was curious. "So our Matriarch has a dual investiture now?"

Lu Wei chuckled. "Not quite. Inherited titles cannot be used to request an investiture for one's mother. The son would have to earn his own merits for his mother to receive such an honor."

Xue Qing understood. "No wonder everyone says our Lady is blessed. So that's how it is."

Hulu smiled. "Since our Second Master can request an investiture for our Lady, he could also do the same for our Second Lady. Our Second Lady could become a Lady by imperial decree too."

Xue Qing's and Xing Huang's eyes lit up simultaneously. Of course, how could they have overlooked this? If Second Master could request an imperial title for his mother, he would undoubtedly do the same for his wife, perhaps with an even lower threshold.

Meng Die put down her chopsticks. It was less delightful to be caught up in the drama herself: "Lu Wei, you should visit the manor tomorrow and teach them how to prepare the mushroom seasoning. Guide them along."

"Alright."

After a satisfying meal, Nurse Fan rinsed her mouth: "Oh, I was so caught up in the joy that I almost forgot something."

Meng Die chuckled: "It probably isn't anything too significant."

"It truly isn't significant; I was merely being overly cautious." Nurse Fan wiped her mouth. "Hasn't our manor been constantly purchasing servants lately? And mostly women at that. Perhaps the news has spread, and recently, more women have been recommended to us by brokers."

Xing Huang handed Nurse Fan a cup of tea. "Nurse, isn't this a good thing?"

Nurse Fan replied, "It doesn't sound bad on the surface, but lately, many of the women who offer themselves for sale do so because they can no longer endure the mistreatment in their homes."

Hulu's eyes widened. "Mistreatment from their own family? How could family members mistreat their own children?"

Nurse Fan explained, "They've all come from famine-stricken regions. Unable to make ends meet in the capital, they think of selling their daughters for a few taels of silver. This is understandable, but the problem is that among these girls, there are quite a few with some beauty. Many parents and elder brothers wish to sell them into brothels just to gain a few extra taels."

Hulu was utterly shocked. "This, this is too ruthless. To sell such innocent girls... to those places."

Lu Wei asked, "Auntie, you didn't abandon those girls during the famine-stricken journey. Why do you want to sell them now that we've reached the capital?"

Meng Die chimed in, "Although many regions were affected by the disaster this year, the relief efforts were prompt. In places where survival truly became impossible, local officials would organize assistance to escort these refugees to seek livelihood elsewhere. With the government's support, their journey wasn't overly difficult."

Nanny Fan replied, "Second Lady speaks the truth. The girls we purchased all mentioned that although they didn't have enough to eat on the road, they had food daily. When they passed through unscathed areas, local county offices often organized wealthy citizens to donate and provide them with a full meal. Upon reaching the capital, some families managed with their new lives, but others, seeing the city's prosperity, were tempted. Thus, they sold their daughters. Some were destined for brothels, others were sold as concubines to elderly men on their deathbeds, and there were even those forced into remarriage with men who had murdered their wives. Oh my, there really is every kind of person out there."

"Some girls accept their fate, while others choose to take matters into their own hands, hoping to find a kind master. Our estate has gained a reputation, and now countless women are eager to be sold here. It doesn't matter to the estate if we buy people, but I'm worried about the girls' parents and brothers causing trouble."

Meng Die chuckled. "We just need to follow the laws of the Great Yi Dynasty. I'm not afraid of them causing trouble." Seeing Fan Nanny still looking worried, she added, "Besides, I know my reputation in the capital. They wouldn't dare to provoke me."

Lu Wei and the other maids couldn't help but laugh.

Meng Die continued, "Didn't we also purchase quite a few male servants? Have Head Wang organize a few of them to patrol around the manor every day. If they come across any idle men who don't know their place, have them apprehended and sent to the authorities as a warning to others."

Fan Nanny heaved a sigh of relief. "That's true. As long as we act according to the rules, we'll have the moral high ground, even if it comes to a lawsuit. We won't be intimidated."

Meng Die nodded. "Exactly. You don't need to be too selective with those girls either. Buy them all if you can. With such a large manor, there will always be work for them."

Nanny Fan chuckled. "Second Lady is so compassionate." Men had an undeniable advantage when it came to farming and tending the land.

Time flew by swiftly during these peaceful days. Before they knew it, Meng Die's melon field was filled with round, plump watermelons that produced a resonant thud when tapped.

Meng Die never quite mastered the art of selecting watermelons. Eventually, this challenging task fell upon the capable hands of the head chef, Xing Huang.

One had to admit that some things simply required natural talent, such as a keen tongue or the skill in choosing the best produce. Xing Huang deftly patted and inspected the melons, initially picking ones that were superior to those chosen by Meng Die. After some practice, by the time the harvest season arrived, Xing Huang had developed an eagle-eyed prowess.

Today, a dozen large watermelons had ripened in the garden. Meng Die instructed her servants to place them in the well water. The following morning, she ordered them to bring the well-chilled fruits to the main house. "Grandmother, the watermelons in my field have ripened. Last night, I had them stored in the well overnight. Now would be the perfect time to enjoy them."

Lady Hou: "Oh? It's ripe? Today, we must all taste it to our heart's content."

Madam Fang eagerly replied, "I love eating fruits, especially melons. I've been watching them grow ever since Butterfly Girl started cultivating them. Now, I can finally have a taste!"

Li Zan chimed in, "I adore watermelons too. I knew when Second Sister-in-law was planting them. I was wondering when they'd be ready, and to my surprise, they're ripe today."

Amidst the chatter and laughter, Xing Huang had already skillfully sliced the watermelon into small pieces. Each person received a small plate of melon cubes. Since they hadn't had breakfast, this little taste would suffice.

The watermelon's red flesh was moist and visually appealing. With skewers, everyone picked up a piece and savored it. The juice was abundant, and the sweetness was accompanied by a distinctive, refreshing aroma. Everyone's eyes lit up with delight.

"Tasty, very tasty," Xige eagerly gave his feedback.

Wen Shi smiled. "It truly is delicious. The weather is so dry these days, and this watermelon is so refreshing. One bite makes the whole body feel rejuvenated."

Fang Shi nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, I always feel that this watermelon tastes better than those bought outside."

Wu Shi teased her with a smile. "The ones outside are bought, but this one is a gift from your niece-in-law, filled with the aroma of affection. Naturally, it tastes much better."

Fang Shi playfully tickled Wu Shi's armpit, and the two of them engaged in a playful scuffle.

Madam Ning, having finished her plate of watermelon, promptly said, "This watermelon seems worthy of being planted in greater abundance next year."

Meng Die replied, "Yes, we should certainly plant more, but I don't plan on cultivating too much just yet. The breeding process is still underway, and it requires further nurturing."

Wen's wit shone through as she teased, "I find it quite delicious already. If peaches exist for immortals in the heavens, are you attempting to cultivate divine watermelons for mortals?"

Meng Die raised her head proudly, "Indeed, one must have dreams, don't they?"

Amidst laughter, the entire room echoed with amusement.

Meng Die returned to seriousness. "I'm not trying to cultivate a heavenly peach for mortals. At present, at least half of each melon is white flesh, and the red part is still too small. I want to increase the proportion of the red flesh, and I also wish to breed two distinct textures – one crisp, the other juicy."

"If you can achieve that, everyone will be in for a treat. However, I fear it won't be a task accomplished overnight."

Meng Die replied, "We'll take our time. As long as I can cultivate a delicious watermelon with ample red flesh, no amount of time would be too much..."

"Something terrible has happened, Madam! It's about our Second Lady!" A servant woman rushed in, bowing anxiously. "Madam, our esteemed Lady, our Second Lady has been impeached by an imperial censor."

Oh no!

Everyone in the room was startled. Had an imperial censor impeached them?

Madam Hou sat up straight. "What's going on?"

The servant woman looked panicked. "Little Yaotao reported that an imperial censor has accused Second Lady of bewitching many women into selling themselves as slaves, abandoning their children and deserting their husbands."

Meng Die barely managed to suppress her laughter. The troublemakers hadn't dared to provoke her, but an imperial censor had impeached her, as if challenging her. Was this person so desperate for fame? "Is it the Left Censor-in-Chief, the Right Censor-in-Chief, or one of the censors from the Board of Censors who impeached me?"

"Aah?" The servant woman was taken aback.

The crowd observed Meng Die's composed demeanor, and their anxious hearts were greatly reassured.

Wen asked, "What is the difference between the Left and Right Supervisors of the Board of Censors, and the other Censors within the same department?"

Meng Die elaborated carefully, "The Left and Right Supervisors are the top two officials in the Board of Censors, both holding the rank of second-class grandees. When they impeach someone, it is usually backed by ample evidence and involves severe cases, almost always resulting in conviction. For instance, they were the ones who impeached Duke Cheng'en in the previous incident."

"The Censors in the Board of Censors typically hold the rank of seventh-class grandees. They have the authority to report rumors and don't need concrete evidence; they can impeach based on mere hearsay. Most officials in the court have been impeached by them at least once, so being impeached by them isn't uncommon."

Looking at Meng Die expressionlessly, Wen commented, "You also know that they impeach officials throughout the court. Have you forgotten your own status within the inner household?"

Meng Die blinked innocently, feigning ignorance.

Madame Ning, who had observed everything, couldn't hold back her laughter. Her mirth instantly dispelled the remaining tension in the room.

At that moment, a servant reported, "Matriarch, Madame, Second Lady, the envoy is almost here. Second Lady is requested to present herself in the annex of the Diligent Governance Hall for self-defense."

"I understand. I'll change my clothes right away." At home, Meng Die dressed more casually, but she needed to be more formally attired when going out.

As Meng Die finished changing, the envoy arrived, and she boarded her carriage.

On the way, Meng Die learned the details. It was Inspector Zhang, an imperial censor, who had impeached her. The Emperor immediately turned to Marquis Yongyi.

Marquis Yongyi replied, "Your Majesty, Lady Meng is my granddaughter-in-law. As my grandson is not at home, it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in his wife's affairs. I must admit, I am not well-informed about this situation."

The Emperor fell silent. Indeed, it couldn't be blamed on Marquis Yongyi. For a grandfather to meddle in his grandson's marital matters would be absurd.

Marquis Yongyi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I truly am unaware. May I humbly request that you allow her to defend herself in a side palace?"

The Emperor remained silent, but Inspector Zhang, the one who had impeached her, interjected, "If she is to defend herself, it should be as your esteemed wife, wouldn't you agree?"

Marquis Yongyi dabbed at his eyes with his sleeve. "With our children growing up, my lady has been preoccupied with their matrimonial affairs, inevitably neglecting Madam Meng and being unaware of the specifics. It would be more thorough to let Madam Meng defend herself."

Upon mentioning the children's marriages, the emperor promptly agreed. "Your proposal is approved."

Zhang Yuansi's expression soured. Madam Meng was known for her sharp tongue. Yet, upon further reflection, her outburst would expose her true colors to everyone, and his reputation as the wronged party might grow even stronger.