Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Li'er was unaware of Lu Wei's thoughts. Having received Lu Wei's promise, she hurriedly rushed back home that very evening.

Li'er's father was named Wu Miao. Born premature, he had been in poor health as a child. His family had consulted a fortune teller to give him this name, hoping it would bring him better health. Whether it was due to his growth or the influence of his name, Wu Miao's health indeed improved over time.

The whole family was gathered at home when Li'er returned. Her mother, Madam Zhao, immediately asked, "Li'er, how did it go?"

Li'er didn't hide anything: "Mother, I asked, and Sister Lu Wei said they are short of laborers at the manor."

Madam Zhao paused, a clear disappointment in her eyes. "Doesn't your courtyard still lack servants? There are many more in Lady Lan Xuan's quarters, both matrons and maidservants."

Li'er replied, "Mother, Lord Lan Xuan is at home, and they have Young Master Xi and Miss Can. Of course they need more help. Our Second Aunt has always said that since Second Uncle is away, she doesn't require so many people. That's why the second entrance of the courtyard has been locked all this time, unused."

Madam Zhao remained silent, only gazing at her youngest daughter.

Li'er's elder brother, Wu Zhu, spoke up. "Are they only looking for laborers on the estate? Isn't there any position for running errands or managing affairs?"

Upon hearing this, Li'er finally sensed something amiss. "Aunt wants to manage the affairs? What is she thinking? Second Aunt has only two estates and one shop. The shop was part of her dowry, and Manager Rong is from her maiden family, an experienced manager himself. He also has his own sons."

Wu Zhu pressed urgently, "But aren't there still two manors? The smaller one is fine, but what about the larger one?"

Li'er shrugged. "That larger one is mostly hilly land. Second Grandma isn't in any rush to do anything with it. Headman Wang is managing it well, and besides, he has a son. And there's also the original Headman Jiang from that manor; our Second Grandma loves fish, and he's an expert at fishing and aquaculture, so he's highly favored by her."

Finally, Wu Zhu revealed his true intention. "There were quite a number of sheep being raised, weren't there?"

Li'er replied, "Manager Fan specially invited Mongolians to tend to them."

The room fell silent.

Wu Zhu was somewhat unwilling to accept this: "If not outside, then what about inside?"

Li'er responded, puzzled: "What inside?"

Wu Zhu expressed his frustration: "Of course, I mean our estate. Look at this year, most of the matters have been handled by the First Branch. Now, their people are everywhere; even those who aren't directly affiliated are on good terms with them. Eventually, won't all the family wealth belong to the First Branch? Second Grandma needs to have her own loyal supporters!"

Li'er couldn't help but chuckle.

Wu Zhu pointed at Li'er and said, "You see, you're still laughing. Haven't you heard the saying? Poverty from overeating or overspending is temporary, but poverty from poor planning lasts a lifetime."

Li'er's laughter grew even brighter. "Big Brother, you're overthinking it. Although Second Aunt didn't say it explicitly, Sister Lu Wei and the others have hinted at it. A good man doesn't rely on his family's wealth, and a virtuous woman doesn't cherish her wedding dress. Second Aunt has no intentions of claiming anything from this estate. As for Second Master, if he had been attached to the family property, he wouldn't have left in the first place. Besides, he's almost building his own fortune now. Why would he still hanker after the estate?"

Wu Zhu was dumbfounded.

Wu Miao looked at Li'er with pride. "Oh my, my daughter is really growing up, understanding such profound truths!"

Li'er's eyes curved into a smile. "I can read now, after all!"

Her sister-in-law Shi looked at Li'er. "Sis, you do love homemade noodles, don't you? I'll make them for you often in the future. You should visit more frequently."

"Niece-in-law?"

Madam Shi nudged her son closer to her. "When you come back, teach your nephew how to read and write too. Who knows, he might even become a respected manager one day if he's lucky."

Wu Miao was struck with realization, as if by a bolt of lightning. "Yes, yes, that's right. Your sister-in-law is wise. Study hard, and then instruct your nephew. Perhaps he will have a great destiny someday."

"Alright," Li'er agreed promptly.

As Lu Wei had anticipated, no one who was skilled enough to work in the elegant and cunning tasks within the household would be willing to do farm work on the manor. Li'er never mentioned the matter again.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Manager Zheng and Chief Steward Fan hurried alongside Lord Yang, finally making it back before New Year's Eve. After washing away the dust of their journey, they promptly reported to their respective masters.

Madame Ning exhaled in relief upon learning that her son had shaved his beard, returning to his youthful appearance. Smiling broadly, she said to Nurse Zheng, "Go to Qixia Courtyard later and ask Second Madam how the melons we sent to the palace for New Year's Eve turned out. Forget it, just have her spare some time to come over. I have another matter to discuss with her."

Nurse Zheng smiled knowingly. "Understood."

Sure enough, on Meng Die's side, Chief Steward Fan was discussing this matter. He was particularly adept at his choice of words. "Our Second Master has truly and thoroughly established himself at the border. He's dropped all pretenses."

Meng Die found this intriguing. "Pretenses?"

Supervisor Fan beamed, "Yes, Lord Second was young then. When he was at the border, he feared others wouldn't take him seriously, so he wore a fake beard to appear more mature. Now that he's achieved the rank of Third-Class Yuji and firmly established himself, he can finally remove it. Otherwise, he'd have to stick it on every day, which would be bothersome and time-consuming."

Xing Huang was astonished. "The beard was fake?"

"It was indeed fake. To make the beard look more natural, Lord Second even darkened his complexion," Fan Hong revealed with a wry smile, turning to Meng Die. "Because of this, I made a fool of myself. I didn't recognize Lord Second and even asked Steward Zheng who this person was."

Xing Huang exclaimed, "The difference is that significant?"

Fan Hong sighed. "Oh, the difference was immense. Back then, he looked no different from a rough fellow from the northwest. But now, I can confidently say that there aren't many princes or nobles in the entire capital who can match up to our Lord Second."

Meng Die blinked in genuine surprise. When Fan Hong had hinted at Li Ai's ugliness before, she had suspected that Li Ai might have disguised himself for her sake. If she were in Li Ai's shoes, she would certainly adopt some disguise before heading to the frontlines. However, she hadn't expected Li Ai's disguise to be so complete, nor had she imagined his true appearance to be so captivating. Fan Hong was not one to make groundless remarks; he dared to praise Li Ai so highly, which meant that Li Ai must indeed possess exceptional looks.

Excellent looks were beneficial. With such attractiveness, it would be easier for him to marry into an esteemed family, and in turn, easier for her to extricate herself from this situation. A pleased expression involuntarily graced Meng Die's face.

Nanny Fan discreetly signaled to Fan Hong, who stole a glance at Meng Die and felt a wave of relief wash over him. After two trips to the frontline and two encounters with Li Ai, Fan Hong was thoroughly satisfied with the man.

Aside from his good looks, noble background, and personal drive, Li Ai also knew how to protect his family, didn't believe in baseless rumors, and treated others sincerely and generously. He was undoubtedly an ideal husband. Fan Hong was genuinely delighted for Meng Die, as he saw her marrying such a man.

As for his own mistress, Meng Die, she was perfect in every way. Hence, he looked forward to their future harmony: "Second Lady, here is a handwritten letter from Second Master."

Nanny Fan hastily took the letter and personally handed it to Meng Die. The maidservants exchanged glances, giggling behind their hands as they craned their necks to watch the letter and Meng Die's every move.

Nanny Zheng arrived silently, entering the courtyard with deliberate stealth. Upon hearing the replies from within, a smile flickered in her eyes, and she inwardly thanked the heavens that the young couple's first impression of each other seemed favorable.

Nanny Zheng made her footsteps more audible, and a young maid lifted the curtain for her, saying, "Second Madam, our Lady asks that you pay her a visit when you have the time."

Meng Die put down the letter and rose to her feet. "I happen to be free at the moment. I'll go now."

Madam Ning sought Meng Die mainly for two reasons.

"Mother."

Madam Ning waved her hand, dismissing the maidservants. As she gestured for Meng Die to sit down, she inquired, "How is the state of the melons in your quarters? Will you be able to harvest any by the thirtieth day?"

Meng Die chuckled and said, "She looks quite pleasing. Xing Huang has inspected her and assures us of at least six eggs. If the sun is strong for the next couple of days, we might even have eight."

Madam Ning couldn't help laughing upon hearing this. "Your melons are large and have plenty of sweet red flesh. Six would certainly suffice. It seems that our Marquis Manor will be the envy of others once again this year."

Meng Die also laughed along, "It was just luck, who could blame my love for good food?"

Madam Ning's laughter shook her shoulders. "There have always been gourmets throughout history, but I've never seen anyone like you who can create such delicacies."

Meng Die replied, "Indeed, there are countless recipes for dishes, and I suppose most of them were likely conceived by those with a voracious appetite."

Madam Ning pondered, "That does make some sense. There's something else I've wanted to ask you for a while, but I've been too busy to find the time until now. Your great-uncle mentioned in his letter that this sweet vegetable can actually be turned into sugar – is that true?"

Meng Die nodded confidently. "The sugar I sent to the frontlines this year was produced just like that."

Madam Ning was astonished. "My goodness, there really is such a vegetable! Do you think we should immediately purchase more manors to cultivate it?"

Meng Die: "Impossible. My people have been cultivating this beet for two years, and we've learned through trial and error that the climate in our capital and the regions south of it is unsuitable for it. The success on my estate is owed to its hilly terrain, with diverse microclimates and varying temperatures. Only in specific areas can this vegetable thrive. In genuinely fertile lands with higher temperatures, it simply cannot adapt. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent the seedlings to Ganzhou this year."

"In my correspondence with my natal family over the past two years, they too had mentioned the climate of Ganzhou. After comparing notes and consulting with Headman Wang, we concurred that Ganzhou's conditions were more favorable for cultivation. I had initially intended to request Grandfather to purchase a few more estates, but Uncle-Grandfather, with a generous stroke, had already acquired several additional ones." Naturally, this overpurchase was meant to benefit the Marquessate.

Madam Ning nodded repeatedly. "What a pity that we can't cultivate such fine plants here. Still, a few manors are more than sufficient." Then, Madam Ning chuckled. "You truly got a bargain with that mountain estate now."

Meng Die's eyes curved into a delightful smile. "Indeed, it seems there are advantages to being a glutton." Back then, the excuse given to the outside world was her craving for fresh fish.

Madam Ning laughed heartily, "Indeed so. But the invention of sugar refining is a significant matter; it might even attract the Emperor's attention someday. You should go back and carefully recount how you obtained the seeds and how you thought of refining sugar. If the Emperor were to inquire about it in the future, having prepared yourself beforehand would prevent excessive nervousness."

Meng Die paused and replied crisply, "Yes."

As she returned from Lady Ning's residence, Meng Die couldn't help but wear a smile on her face. Obtaining the beetroot seeds was unexpected, but later, her focus on preserving them was purely for her natal family. Discovering a new source of sugar would undeniably benefit both the nation and its people, making it an impressive political achievement for any official. Originally, she had hoped that her family could regain their status in the capital through this.

The outcome was self-evident. Meng Tingyi, after a lifetime of ups and downs in the bureaucracy, quickly befriended the local powerbroker, Admiral Tang, and exposed corruption, earning great merit without needing to rely on his granddaughter's achievement to return to the capital. Thus, when Meng Tingyi wrote to her this time, he disclosed the smuggling incident, largely to tell Meng Die that the Meng family was doing well and could rely on their own abilities to return to the capital. This tremendous credit was still hers to keep.

What surprised Meng Die even more was the Marquis House. Today, her mother-in-law had sought her out, but all the other matters were mere distractions. The true essence of their conversation was to assure her that the great achievement of discovering the beetroot sugar method belonged solely to her, and the Marquis House would not take credit for it. In these times, it was rare for a mother-in-law not to claim her daughter-in-law's accomplishments as their own. It was not that all in-laws were vain or fond of exploiting their daughters-in-law; it was simply the way society functioned. If such a significant accomplishment were credited to a woman, even if the emperor were to reward her, it would likely be with material wealth or at most an honorary title.

Yet when it falls upon men or influential families in the bureaucratic world, it brings promotions, greater networking, and control over the discourse within the court. With such gains, how much wealth could not be acquired? Such accomplishments would yield the greatest benefits when credited to a man or a family, for it would truly be a waste if bestowed upon a woman.

Meng Die's lips curled up as she muttered, "It's like a charming glance wasted on a blind man, all for naught." Though her words carried a hint of complaint, her tone was filled with pure joy. With such supportive families, her heart felt warm, as if immersed in a soothing bath, radiating warmth from within.

Xing Huang exclaimed, "Oh, Second Lady has returned, and you seem so delighted."

Looking at Xing Huang, Meng Die replied, "Mother inquired about the melons. I told her we're guaranteed at least six. Mother said that even six would suffice. Do you think the melons in our quarters might be better than those in summer?"

Xing Huang chuckled, "Second Lady, rest assured. With this batch of seeds, those melons will surely surpass the ones from the summer months."

Meng Die sat on the cushion and immediately noticed the letter on the table. She also observed the maids in the room, all preoccupied with their tasks, their hands and eyes busy, yet seemingly oblivious to one another.

Meng Die chuckled. "Open it, open it, let me see." As she picked up the letter, she tore open the wax seal. In truth, she was quite curious about what Li Ai had written this time, despite having never met her and having no emotional connection.

The last letter Li Ai had sent through Fan Hong during the spring had been filled with awkward small talk, which Meng Die found amusing. Although her own reply had been equally uncomfortable, she believed in seizing moments of joy whenever they came. After all, she got to enjoy someone else's amusement first.

As she unfolded the thick pages of the letter, surprise flickered in Meng Die's eyes. So much content? Was it no longer an awkward exchange? She began reading from the start.

Her already upturned lips curved even further and didn't return to their original position. After reading through it in one breath, Meng Die burst into uninhibited laughter, her composure forgotten.

The maidservants were anxious, but Meng Die, adhering to the idea that joy shared is joy doubled, generously shared Li Ai's letter with them. As she had never met Li Ai and had no emotional connection, there was nothing confidential in her letters for others to pry into.

Lu Wei took the letter first, quickly scanning the first page before passing it on to Xue Qing and the others. Xue Qing, Xing Huang, and Meihong were all literate, while Hulu and Lake Green had recently learned to read from Xue Qing and Xing Huang. With their diligent efforts, Li Ai's letter, written in simple and vivid language without any obscure or overly formal words, was easily comprehensible to all.

When the maidservants finished reading, laughter echoed throughout the room, and they all stumbled about with mirth. Xing Huang put her hand on her stomach, exclaiming, "Oh dear, my belly is aching from laughing so much!"

Meng Die massaged her cheeks, saying, "Stop now, my face is even starting to ache from smiling."

After her laughter subsided, Xing Huang complained, "I thought those on the front lines were all great heroes defending their country, but turns out they're just as gossipy as anyone else."

Meihong added, "They were quite disrespectful at first but overly courteous later."

Lu Wei's eyes curved into a smile. "The term 'ostentatious respect after initial arrogance' doesn't quite fit. It's true that they were inconsistent, though."

Xue Qing chimed in, "I think these people are actually quite decent. They only speak their minds, which is better than secretly harming others."

Lu Wei nodded. "It's clear that Second Master has excellent rapport with people. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to tease him so openly the first time. Chronic bronchitis, hahaha..."

Hulu laughed and commented, "Second Master actually knelt down in front of the carriage all of a sudden. That was hilarious."

In his letter, Li Ai mainly recounted the incident where he accidentally knelt in front of the carriage, followed by how others teased him and mentioned Meng Die's boldness. He also described how they praised Meng Die upon seeing the refined sugar.

Individually, these events might not seem amusing, but when presented together by Li Ai, the humor quotient skyrocketed.

Xing Huang asked, "I see on the last page that Second Master mentioned he requested the inspection of the Commander, Marquis Yongwei. What's the story behind that?"

Meng Die explained, "Their military commanders and soldiers on the frontlines must have their letters scrutinized layer by layer before they can be sent home. Each time, the letters are opened for reading, and if deemed uncontroversial, the reader seals them with their personal stamp. Should any issue arise from the letter in the future, those who stamped it would bear responsibility."

"Ahh!" The maidservants were quite astonished, their eyes all focusing on the letter in their hands.

Meng Die chuckled and pointed at the letter. "There's actually a less troublesome way to send mail. The families of military leaders would accompany the grain convoys when they travel. When the leaders write letters home, they just need to have the main commander review them. Once the commander confirms that the content is correct, they seal the letter with wax, stamp it with their personal seal, creating a unique pattern. Upon leaving the city, the family members present the sealed letter. The inspectors check the wax seal's pattern, and if it matches, there's no need to open it for inspection. Alternatively, the commander can inspect the letters during the Spring Festival. But since many people write letters then, those who have already written one during the grain convoy trips usually don't write again during the holiday."

Lu Wei understood. "That makes sense. Besides the letter for New Year's peace report, this year, Second Master's only sent the one brought back by Manager Fan last time and this one. It does seem like quite a hassle."

Xing Huang held the letter, smiling as she spoke. "It's not just about the hassle. If everyone in the entire camp knew what was in Second Master's letters, I wonder if he'd still have any friends."

"Ha ha ha..."

Meihong commented, "Who knows for sure? This last page was added by Second Master later on."

Indeed, the final page was indeed appended by Li Ai. He had shown his written letter to Marquis Yongwei for approval. As one of the involved parties, Marquis Yongwei could no longer maintain his smile: "You little rascal, you're actually complaining about your niece-in-law."

Li Ai looked at Marquis Yongwei speechlessly, the implication clear: I am that little rascal, my wife is your niece-in-law, can you be any more hypocritical?

Marquis Yongwei harrumphed, equally blatant in his response: I can be even more hypocritical!

On the spot, Li Ai added another page, making it clear that even if he was the commander and an elder, this was a personal letter, and he could write as he pleased.

In the end, Marquis Yongwei, fuming with anger, sealed the letter and dragged Li Ai off to the training field. It was said that the two of them sparred for at least two hours, much to the applause of the entire army.

Time flew by swiftly, and before they knew it, it was the eve of the New Year. Early in the morning, Meng Die accompanied Xing Huang to the greenhouse to select melons and pick mushrooms. Xing Huang took charge of choosing the melons, while Meng Die and the other maids busied themselves with harvesting the mushrooms.

Having made all the necessary preparations, Nurse Zheng personally arrived at Meng Die's courtyard. "Second Madam, Lady has sent me to inform you that the imperial edict will be arriving shortly. Second Madam is expected to receive it."

Meng Die was bewildered. She had received an imperial edict, but what kind of edict was it? On the thirtieth day, it was true that the palace would distribute rewards and food to noble households, but those were always received by the head of the family. What did it have to do with her, a mere woman confined to the inner chambers? Even if they were to reward her, she hadn't even sent the watermelon into the palace yet!

Observing Meng Die's bewildered gaze, Nurse Zheng pursed her lips and smiled gently. "Second Madam, you'd better start preparing." With that, she turned and left, leaving Meng Die even more perplexed.

Meng Die: "What could this possibly mean?"

Lu Wei gestured for Xue Qing and Meihong to fetch clothing and jewelry while gently guiding Meng Die to the dressing table. "Regardless of the meaning behind it, the fact that Madam specially sent Nurse Zheng to inform Second Lady shows her seriousness. It's best to get dressed first."

Meng Die obediently seated herself in front of the dressing table.

Meihong swiftly redid her hair and adorned her with precious jewels. Xue Qing helped Meng Die into an elegant gown and then attached a purse, jade pendants, and other accessories to her.

Just as they finished, Lotus, the senior maid from Madam Ning's quarters, arrived. "Madam has sent me to inquire if Second Lady is ready."

Meng Die glanced at her reflection in the mirror. "I'm ready. Should I head to Mother's chambers?"

Lotus Pod: "It's to Lady Elder's quarters."

Upon reaching Lady Elder's side, Meng Die noticed that both Lady Elder and Lady Ning were already elegantly attired, adorned in resplendent court costumes. This was expected; each year, the imperial decrees granted rewards to Marquis Yongyi and his heir, as well as to the Marquis' wife and the heir's wife.

The Lady of the Manor looked at Meng Die and nodded in approval. "Have a seat."

Meng Die expressed her gratitude and sat down, feeling that something was amiss with today's atmosphere. It seemed like everyone was brimming with joy, except for her, who was left in the dark.

The eunuch sent from the palace to deliver the imperial edict arrived promptly. The Lady of the Manor knelt at the forefront, Lady Ning behind her to the left, while Meng Die knelt behind her to the right.

Meng Die assumed she was merely a supporting figure, but when the imperial envoy began to read, she was bewildered. Why did he say "by the will of heaven and the emperor's command"? This was the tone of an imperial edict, not an empress's decree.

"The Lady Li Meng is virtuous and wise, with an elegant disposition... She is hereby ennobled as a Third Rank Shu Ren, by imperial decree." The eunuch finished with a smile, respectfully presenting the edict with both hands.

Meng Die, still in a daze, accepted the edict. "This humble woman thanks the emperor for his generous favor."

Two more eunuchs stepped forward. One carried a tray with an official robe, while the other held a tray filled with jewelry and accessories. Immediately, two elder matrons from Marquis Yongyi's household bowed and took them.

Only then did the envoy produce another imperial decree. This time, there were not two but three decrees for the ennoblement of the Marquis Yongyi's consorts.

Still in a daze, Meng Die had no idea what the second imperial edict contained. After the eunuch conveying the edicts left, Meng Die accompanied Lady Hou back to the main residence. Servants and maidservants came in waves to congratulate her. It was then that Meng Die finally realized – Li Ai had actually requested an imperial title for her.

Amidst the chorus of congratulations, Meng Die could only think, 'What now? With this title, my status as the legitimate wife is officially recognized by the emperor and the court. Escaping this situation will be much more difficult in the future.'

Yet, human joys and sorrows do not resonate universally.

Lady Hou's mouth curved into a wide grin. Addressing Madam Ning, she said, "Today, let Butterfly Girl pay for all the servants' bonuses. None of us should contribute."

Madam Ning also wore a delighted expression. "Mother speaks wisely. Today is her glorious day; she should indeed bear the cost of the rewards."

Meng Die smiled and nodded. "I'll contribute, I'll contribute. This month, everyone will receive double their monthly stipends."

The senior maids, such as Qianceng Jinzao, immediately gathered around. "Second Madam is so generous, thank you, Second Madam."

After a lively exchange, Meng Die finally returned to her courtyard. Upon entering, the attendants who had stayed behind—Xue Qing, Xing Huang, Meihong, and Hulu—led the other maids and servants in bowing. "Congratulations, Second Madam. Congratulations."

Meng Die replied, "We all share in this joy. In addition, I'll give each of you triple the usual reward money."

"Ah, thank you so much, Second Madam."

Meng Die returned to her room and sat down, gazing at the familiar surroundings. The surreal sensation of walking on clouds began to dissipate.

Xue Qing approached with delight, "Sister Lianqiao just delivered the imperial robe. I checked the measurements, and they're spot on. No wonder Sister Lianqiao asked about Second Grandma's size a few months ago; it must have been for making this robe."

Meng Die was taken aback, "A few months ago?"

Xue Qing nodded, "Yes, around five or six days after we heard about Second Master's promotion. We were doing needlework together, and Sister Lianqiao inquired. At the time, I didn't think much of it and assumed it was for another dress order in the manor. Later, when no fabric was provided, I forgot about the incident."

Xing Huang interjected, "If they already had the measurements for the clothes back then, why has the imperial edict only arrived now?"

Xue Qing tenderly arranged the exquisite Four Seasons Rank Robes for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. "You silly girl, how much time and effort must have gone into crafting such intricate garments?"

Lu Wei chimed in, "In our dynasty, imperial decrees for conferring titles are usually issued during festive occasions. Lady Second, judging by the timing, Second Master has put considerable thought into this."

Meng Die was at a loss for words. Li Ai, aware of his new status as a married man, had indeed shown great consideration by promptly requesting an imperial decree of honor for his wife upon his promotion.

That evening, during the reunion dinner, the Marquis's residence was once again filled with harmony and joy. Meng Die was repeatedly toasted by Wen Shi and several of her young aunts, even though the fruit wines they offered were of low alcohol content. Despite this, Meng Die's cheeks flushed rosy, and her eyes shimmered with a spring-like glow.

The banquet was dismissed, and all assembled to welcome the New Year, gazing at the fireworks illuminating the sky. Perhaps due to the abundance of congratulatory cheers or the mesmerizing beauty of the pyrotechnics, Meng Die found that the expected melancholy did not descend upon her. Instead, an indistinct sense of joy had quietly taken root in the depths of her heart.

Finishing the soothing hangover soup in one go, Meng Die looked up at the sky once more. It turned out that even an unfamiliar stranger, if they were willing to shield you from adversity, to offer you respect, could fill your heart with joy.

With this title bestowed upon her, who would still dare to claim that Meng Die was but a bride married off to ward off ill fortune? Who would still dare to criticize the Meng family? Regardless of Li Ai's true motives behind securing this imperial title for her, and whether or not it would make her future departure more difficult, in terms of reputation, both she and the Meng family were beneficiaries. In this moment, Meng Die was grateful to Li Ai.

On the first day of the New Year, Meng Die was awakened early to don her magnificent court robes, adorned with appropriate jewelry. Alongside Madam Ning, she accompanied Lady Hou to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress during their New Year's greetings ceremony.

Among the assembly of court ladies, Meng Die's presence stood out significantly. Most of those who could bestow noble titles upon their wives were no spring chickens, and similarly, their lawful consorts were also of advanced age. Meng Die, being young and radiantly beautiful, naturally drew the attention of all present.

Meng Die's melons, naturally, also earned her commendation.

On this day, both Marquis Yongyi, who paid respects to the emperor in the imperial court, and Lady Yongyi, who did the same for the Empress Dowager and Empress in the harem, held their backs particularly straight. There was nothing that brought them greater joy and pride than the continuation of their marquis household.

Upon returning from the palace, Lady Yue, leading the group of daughter-in-laws, awaited Lady Yongyi at the second gate. Naturally, Lady Wen was among them. Meng Die stepped down from her sedan chair, letting out a long sigh of relief. For the first time, she felt an infinite attachment to the marquis residence – it truly felt like home, a place where she could finally rest.

Lady Yue approached to support Lady Yongyi. "Mother, the charcoal in your chamber has been lit, and hot soup and tea are ready."

Lady Yongyi's face glowed with happiness. "With all of you here, I am at ease."

Meng Die had risen early and was severely sleep-deprived. After kneeling and bowing in the palace, her entire body now felt as if it were falling apart, with not a single comfortable spot. All she wanted was to return to her room, crawl into bed, and sleep until she lost all sense of time.

Walking alongside her, Wen Shi observed Meng Die nodding off repeatedly, her lips covered by a handkerchief as she chuckled softly. "Rest assured, Xue Qing and the others in your chamber have taken care of everything. You can go back to sleep now."

Meng Die nodded profusely.

Upon awakening, Meng Die was dazed from her deep slumber. It took her a while to sit up in bed, staring blankly ahead for a moment before fully regaining consciousness.

Descending from the bed, Meng Die yawned widely. Glancing at the brightening daylight outside, she called out, "Lu Wei, what time is it?"

The curtain moved as Lu Wei entered from the outer room. "Oh my, Second Lady, you're finally awake. Today's already the second day of the month."

Meng Die's eyes widened in astonishment. "I slept for an entire day and night?"

Lu Wei attended to Meng Die as she freshened up. "Indeed, I was terrified. But considering it was the first day of the new year, I didn't want to trouble a physician. Instead, I invited Elder Lady over. She said there's nothing to worry about; you were just too exhausted. She advised you to sleep well."

Xing Huang entered the room with a tray of food.

Meng Die sat down and observed the offerings. "Why is everything porridge?"

Xing Huang chuckled. "Elder Lady instructed this. She said after such a long sleep, it's best to start with easily digestible porridge and noodles as a light meal before moving on to solids later. Noodles can become clumpy, and it's hard to time it right, so I prepared the porridge first."

Meng Die chuckled. "So while I was asleep, you all invited Grand Lady to take charge, huh?"

Lu Wei and the others burst into laughter.