Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Li'er's words swiftly reached both Lady Hou and Lady Ning. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat in a small reception hall. Lady Hou chuckled and said, "Are you reassured now? You were unnecessarily worried all day."

Lady Ning couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "Mother is right. I was indeed overly worried. Yun-er is truly excellent in every way, except for her humble background. If not for her luck in giving birth to Xi-ge soon after entering the household, managing others would have been even more challenging for her."

Lady Hou replied, "Yun-er's background is indeed modest. She hasn't had an easy time these past few years. But things will get better."

Lady Ning's face lit up with joy. "Yes, it will get better. With Butterfly-er there, and with her respect for this eldest sister-in-law, and An-er, who speaks her mind, I think they're both great. With the two of them around, we won't have to worry about any factions forming or constant conflicts among future brides."

Lady Hou also heaved a sigh of relief. "They say that many children bring much happiness, but with more people, there are bound to be more issues. Back then, you were the legitimate heir's wife among five brothers, and the second brother's wife was on your side. The other three wouldn't dare harbor any ill intentions, even if they had them, they wouldn't dare act on them."

Madam Ning chuckled. "With this generation, our family has three boys. Your second uncle has two, and your third uncle has three… roughly speaking, there will be at least a dozen wives in their generation. Without a truly capable one to keep them in check, our household would be torn apart by strife. When I go out recently, I see how many families are now fighting like chickens with black eyes."

Lady Hou fell silent for a moment. "It's still a matter of lacking capability. If they can't make a living outside, they can only focus on the little inheritance left by our ancestors."

Madam Ning savored her words. "That's true. Butterfly is capable. Her little shop might seem inconspicuous, but the taxes she pays are substantial. Based on the tax silver, even if the cost of her soap is two-thirds of its selling price, she earns only one-third. That amounts to thousands of silver taels per year. Such an income could cover the expenses of a typical large family for a whole year."

Speaking up to this point, Madam Ning smiled. "People outside say she's the reincarnation of the God of Wealth, so the silver seems to fly into her arms as if it has wings."

Lady Hou laughed heartily. "It's amazing how they could come up with such words."

The atmosphere between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was harmonious. Meng Die was also delighted.

With a broad smile, Lu Wei continued, "What an admirable girl. Last time, she innocently believed that her aunt's family would really sell her off. I was worried that her simplicity might make her vulnerable to deception. But surprisingly, she has a clear understanding of crucial matters."

Meng Die was equally pleased. "Indeed. I didn't expect her to speak like that. Xue Qing mentioned that she has been studying diligently lately and has become much more composed. It seems that's true."

Lu Wei got up and opened Meng Die's dressing box. "I recall a hairpin adorned with a butterfly made of tiny pearls. It would be perfect for Li'er at her age."

Meng Die: "If you want to reward someone, why use my belongings as a favor?"

Lu Wei retrieves the hairpin. "I refuse to believe that Second Madam doesn't want to reward Li'er. In my opinion, not only should Li'er be rewarded, but Meihong and Hulu, as well as the others, deserve it too. Although they didn't express themselves as clearly as Li'er when they returned home today, they still warned their families. It's evident that they haven't been in vain."

Meng Die laughs. "Alright, alright, I'll reward them all. Consider my jewelry box ransacked by bandits today. Take whatever you wish to give them."

Lu Wei chuckles and begins to carefully select the accessories.

While the masters are mostly delighted, the servants feel as if it's already freezing, even before the coldest part of winter arrives. Often, it's during the masters' conflicts that they can benefit, for whoever is in power tends to be lenient with "their own people." However, when the masters don't fight and follow the rules strictly, the servants dare not play any tricks.

In this household, whoever made a mistake would be punished, and no one belonged to anyone else. Thus, there was no fear of punishing a servant and slapping the face of their master. As a result, meting out punishments became particularly effortless.

Ever since Meng Die was granted her noble title, she had been diligently gathering influence among the stewards and their wives in the estate. Amidst this frigid winter, her scheming plans had officially come to a halt. In that instant, the servants in the household grew alert, discarding their previous laziness and indifference.

The following morning, Nurse Xia addressed them respectfully, "We have investigated the matter thoroughly. The woman in charge of the felt, Iron Wife, assumed it wouldn't rain and left the felt outside for half a month without checking on it. This led to the rodents damaging it."

Wen: "Was this her sole responsibility, or did her spouse also have a part in it?"

"It was both of them," replied Nurse Xia.

Wen: "Send the whole family to the manor. If they make another mistake in the future, there's no need to bring them back. Sell them off far away."

"Mm-hmm." Auntie Xia continued, "The head of the Wang Village has also been interrogated. It turns out he didn't accidentally overturn the sesame oil jar. He recently took a fancy to a woman who sells oil, and he gave her the oil."

Wen was so shocked that she was momentarily stunned.

Meng Die raised an eyebrow. "A lover? How did a lover suddenly appear? When did they meet? Is this woman married? Has she always been selling oil?"

Auntie Xia's face revealed a hint of surprise, but she still answered, "Head Wang admitted that he met her at the beginning of this year. The woman is not married; she used to be a concubine of a wealthy merchant. Due to her appearance, the main wife couldn't tolerate her and forced her out. So, she used her savings to open an oil-selling shop on the street."

Meng Die: "A merchant's concubine? Which merchant? Was she truly cast aside just because of her beauty?"

Auntie Xia hesitated for a moment.

Meng Die: "Tell it as it is. If they can do it, why can't we speak of it?"

Auntie Xia: "This woman was originally a courtesan."

A flicker of realization crossed Meng Die's mind. Having always enjoyed success in her endeavors, she had recently encountered a series of setbacks. Her informants mentioned that the slender beauties of Yangzhou were transported to the capital from outside, but they were unable to uncover which households they ended up in.

Upon previously instructing Nurse Fan to spread the word that she was willing to provide shelter for courtesans seeking redemption, Meng Die had assumed that those in need would eagerly seek her out, believing there would be someone to protect them. But it turned out that Meng Die had merely been overestimating herself; no one came to her doorstep.

After so many days, not a single courtesan approached. Nurse Fan grumbled several times, assuming that those women were content with their lowly status and had no desire for a stable life. This left Meng Die deeply discouraged.

Now, upon hearing news of a courtesan, Meng Die promptly inquired, "Since she is a courtesan, which brothel did she originally belong to? Was it from the capital or elsewhere? Make sure you investigate these details thoroughly before reporting back to me."

Even the composed Nurse Xia couldn't hide her astonishment as she looked at Meng Die. Seeing that Meng Die remained calm and collected, she could only acquiesce, "Yes, I will."

Wen and Jin also turned to Meng Die, puzzled. If it was about protecting against courtesans, they could handle the situation, but this had nothing to do with Meng Die.

Meng Die offered no explanation, and naturally, the two did not press further. Lady Wen remarked, "The head of Xiao Wang Village has been a long-serving member of our household. Even if he hasn't made significant contributions over the years, he has certainly toiled. Moreover, his family hasn't committed any wrongdoing in this matter. Considering the bond between master and servant they once shared, it would be unseemly to forcibly separate them through sale. I propose this: I will permit his entire family to purchase their freedom, and waive the redemption fee. This way, their master-servant relationship ends here amicably."

Meng Die was taken aback, then silently gave Lady Wen a mental thumbs up. Brilliant, truly brilliant – this punishment was sheer genius. Xiao Wang, the village headman, had been at the Marquis's estate for years. How many relatives and connections did he have? Not to mention others, his own brother, Wang, was the chief headman, a man of considerable influence and ability.

Indeed, if Young Master Wang were to sell his hair, not only would it be an embarrassment to Head of Wang's estate, but he could also easily arrange for someone to purchase it back. Then, by changing the owner's name and assigning a position within the estate, the deceit could be concealed from the world. His family would still be able to occupy prestigious positions within the manor.

Allowing his family to buy their freedom at this point would render them model citizens altogether. This way, it wouldn't disgrace Head Wang, while also ridding his household from the premises.

Nanny Xia's countenance was far from pleasant. She stole a glance at Meng Die and Lady Jin, noticing neither of them spoke up. Reluctantly, she lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

Upon returning to Qixia Court from the Concentrated Essences Pavilion, Xing Huang announced, "Nanny Fan has arrived."

Meng Die's eyes lit up.

Nanny Fan entered to report, and Meng Die inquired, "Has the stove been completed?"

Nanny Fan found the situation amusing yet frustrating. "I've never seen Second Lady so eager about something before. The master craftsman is still adjusting it; he says the heat distribution isn't even."

Meng Die felt a twinge of disappointment.

Nanny Fan beamed with joy. "Second Lady, the imperial envoy who was sent to Ganzhou has returned."

Meng Die instantly regained her energy. "And how was it?"

Nanny Fan spoke with pride. "It surpassed all expectations. The crop seems to thrive exceptionally well in that environment. The superior fields yield around three thousand eight hundred catties per mu. That's acceptable since superior fields are usually reserved for grain crops. But what's truly remarkable is that the newly cultivated poor-quality fields yield about one thousand two hundred catties per mu, with only a slight difference in sugar content compared to the superior fields."

Meng Die exhaled in relief.

Nanny Fan continued, "Now, all the sweet potatoes from the inferior fields there have been harvested. The best ones in the superior fields haven't been picked yet, as they're being saved for seed production. Next autumn, the seeds will be harvested, and the following year, the government plans to widely promote this sweet potato cultivation in the northwest of Ganzhou. Then, they'll uniformly purchase the crop from the people."

Meng Die nodded eagerly. "It's best if the crop thrives easily. That way, any family with extra labor can plant a few seeds and harvest sweet vegetables. The government will purchase them, providing additional income and improving the lives of the border folk."

Auntie Fan beamed with pride. "Do you know what the people in Ganzhou say about you, Second Lady? They believe you're the reincarnation of Shennong, the divine farmer, for discovering such a miraculous crop to care for their needs at the border."

Meng Die blushed at the praise; she hadn't initially pursued the sweet vegetable for the greater good but rather out of personal interest.

Xing Huang chimed in, "Now she's Shennong? People in the capital say our Second Lady is the embodiment of the God of Wealth, otherwise how could she have a golden touch?"

Auntie Fan chuckled heartily. "I see it now, whether it's Shennong or the God of Wealth, our Second Lady must surely be a deity descended from heaven."

Xing Huang nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's precisely what I was thinking."

Mei'er entered the room by lifting the curtain. "Second Lady, Little Ya at the entrance delivered an invitation."

Meng Die was taken aback. "An invitation?" It wasn't surprising for Meng Die to be puzzled. She had grown up beside Meng Tingyi and had no close female friends or confidantes. Instead, she knew several of her brother Meng Yuan's classmates.

With no friends, there were naturally no gatherings to attend. As for relatives, there weren't many Meng family members living in the capital—only three households, one of which was the Cui family. The other two were not particularly familiar to her and would never suddenly extend an invitation. If any relative from Marquis Yongyi's side wished to invite her, they would have to go through Madam Ning first. This was why, despite her wealth, Meng Die had managed to evade all attempts by others to establish connections with her.

The sudden appearance of an invitation left Meng Die startled. Upon holding the invitation in her hand, she paused again, realizing it was from the Grand Princess's residence.

In essence, the Grand Princess, seeing that the weather was pleasant and it was the prime time for chrysanthemums to bloom, planned to host a flower-appreciation banquet. She wanted to invite some young people to enjoy the flowers and have a lively gathering.

Meng Die's gaze lingered on the word "young," and she suddenly smiled. "Mei'er, go to Madam's quarters and see if she's there. Tell her that I and Lady Grand will arrive shortly. Tao'er, go next door and invite Lady Grand to come to Madam's place right away."

"Alright."

Fanny was puzzled. "Second Lady?"

Meng Die chuckled. "It's a good opportunity. You can go back first. Keep gathering information, and by the way, include those young, unmarried women in the city who run their own shops in your inquiries. Try to learn more about them."

"Very well."

Meihong and Xue Qing helped Meng Die adjust her attire and accessories. Meng Die then led the trio, accompanied by Lu Wei, towards the eastern courtyard. Of course, she carried with her the invitation from the Grand Princess's residence.

Exiting the room, they happened to encounter Wen Shi, who was also on her way out. The two parties converged, and Wen Shi lowered her voice to inquire, "Is there something amiss?"

Meng Die responded in a hushed tone, "The Grand Princess's residence has just extended an invitation to me. They mentioned a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet three days from now."

Wen Shi pondered for a moment and glanced at the matrons and maidservants following them. She decided against asking further questions.

Today, Lady Ning was unusually at home resting instead of socializing. Lying lazily on her couch, she asked Mei'er upon hearing her words, "Did your grandmother mention anything specific?"

Mei'er replied, "Second Aunt didn't say anything particular. However, earlier today, a young servant from the second gate delivered an invitation. After I gave it to Second Aunt, she sent me over here."

Lady Ning casually inquired, "An invitation? From whom?"

Mei'er answered, "I recognized the writing on it as being from the residence of the Grand Princess Dachang."

Lady Ning paused, then sat up straight on the couch and looked at Nurse Zheng, "Has there been any recent news from the frontlines?"

Nanny Zheng was utterly perplexed. "I haven't heard anything. Could it be related to the grain transport? In late autumn, the Ministry of Revenue said they would send the overdue grains along with this shipment, hence the delay in departure. So, what's the issue now?"

Madam Ning reclined back on her couch. "That could be a possibility." Then, she turned to Mei'er. "You, little one, can read as well?"

Mei'er smiled bashfully. "I couldn't before. Sister Xue Qing and Sister Xing Huang would teach us when they had free time, so I've learned a bit."

Madam Ning laughed. "Study diligently. Only by knowing how to read can you better serve your Grandmother's tasks."

"Alright."

"Mistress Grand and Mistress Second have arrived," announced a young maid from outside the door.

Cheng nanny hurried to lift the curtain, while Mei'er stepped back outside. Meng Die and Wen entered together, both silently leaving their maids behind in the outer room. Seeing this, Cheng nanny, being perceptive, also retreated to the outer chamber, carefully lowering the curtain and standing guard by the entrance.

Meng Die came straight in and produced an invitation. "Mother, this is an invitation from Princess Dowager's residence."

Madam Ning took it and glanced at it; her eyes widened suddenly before she quickly scanned through it again. Then, she passed the invitation to Wen. Wen read it swiftly, her gaze similarly drawn to the word 'young'.

Madam Ning asked, "What do you think of this?"

Lady Wen cast a glance at Meng Die and handed her the invitation. "I believe that this time, Princess Grandee's residence has ulterior motives. The invitation to you is just a pretense; they genuinely wish to meet Sister Lang."

Meng Die smiled. "Eldest Sister-in-law truly shares my thoughts. I had the same suspicion."

Madam Ning's face lit up with joy. "I thought the same as well. I was actually quite worried about Lang'er's marriage. There have been many suitors, but either their family backgrounds or characters fell short. Now, with Princess Grandee's invitation, I hope she will have the fortune to find her match."

Li Lang, Madam Ning's eldest daughter, was the legitimate sister of Li Mao and Li Ai.

Madam Ning continued, "For the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet, I must hurry and instruct someone to make her a new dress."

Wen lady hesitated, seemingly holding back her words.

Madam Ning prompted, "What is it? Speak your mind directly."

Wen lady paused before saying, "I believe that with her young age, simplicity outshines extravagance."

Meng Die chimed in, "For a young maiden, it's not desirable to appear overly lavish. Delicate refinement would be more suitable."

Madam Ning pondered for a moment. "You're right. I got carried away with my excitement. Indeed, such luxury wouldn't suit her as a young lady." She then turned to Meng Die, "I'll make proper arrangements. Bring her along to the banquet three days from now."

Meng Die nodded slightly. "Indeed."

Exiting the eastern courtyard, Wen Shi lowered her voice. "Don't laugh at me, but I'm a bit confused. Normally, wouldn't one send an invitation to their own mother?"

Meng Die also spoke softly. "Our two households have had little interaction in the past. Suddenly inviting Mother to their residence like this, any observant person would understand the motive. If it doesn't work out in the end, there'll inevitably be gossip."

"I've had the chance to meet His Highness before, and he's hosted similar gatherings in the past. If I take my sister along this time, no one will suspect anything. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, outsiders won't find out."

Wen Shi nodded. "I see, now that you mention it, I recall hearing about such banquets organized by His Highness previously."

Meng Die nodded in agreement. Upon returning to her courtyard, she promptly instructed Xue Qing and Meihong to prepare her outfit for the event three days later. At home, she could dress however she liked, but given her current status as Meng Die, elegance and grandeur would undoubtedly be the priority when she stepped out.

Three days later, Meng Die and Li Lang boarded a carriage to the residence of the Grand Princess.

Observing Li Lang's nervousness, Meng Die chuckled. "There's no need to be so uptight. What difference does it make if you try your best to present your best side? Even if it works out, can you maintain that facade for the rest of your life? Wouldn't that be exhausting? Life is about finding joy and comfort in oneself. Just be your usual self at home; if it succeeds, you won't have to be cautious and pretentious every day. If not, it just means it wasn't meant to be."

Li Lang blinked, his tension easing significantly. "Second Sister-in-law has a point. If I were to live my life constantly on edge, where would the fun be?"

Meng Die replied, "That's precisely the idea."

Li Lang, having regained her composure, arrived at the Grand Princess's residence with her usual poise restored.

The servants of the Grand Princess led them to the garden. They weren't early nor late; the garden was already bustling with people who had arrived earlier, now gathered around a vibrant chrysanthemum bush.

"Auntie is here! Come over quickly," a cheerful young girl, around ten years old, called out to Li Lang.

"Little Cousin," Li Lang whispered softly, "Second Sister, she is the eldest daughter of the Prince Qi's heir."

Meng Die understood. Prince Qi was the youngest son of the founding emperor. When the founder passed his kingdom to the current emperor, he bestowed the title of Prince Qi upon his youngest son, a hereditary peerage without reduction.

The wife of the Crown Prince Qi was from the esteemed Rong Guo Gong Mansion, who happened to be the niece of Marquis Yongyi's wife. Her daughter was indeed a cousin to Li Lang.

As Li Lang accompanied Meng Die, the young lady looked at Meng Die with curiosity. Li Lang introduced her with a smile, "This is my second sister-in-law. She rarely goes out, so you've probably never met her before. Second Sister-in-law, this is our cousin, she's the daughter of our aunt from the maternal side, named Jia Yin. We all call her Jia'er."

Guo Jia Yin was the first to greet, "Cousin-in-law."

"Cousin," Meng Die replied.

In the past two years, Li Lang had attended numerous banquets with Madam Ning for her marriage arrangements. She knew quite a few people. Today, it was said that Meng Die brought her along, but in reality, Meng Die barely knew anyone. It was Li Lang who quietly introduced her to many acquaintances.

Upon learning that Meng Die was Li Lang's second sister-in-law, the notorious shrew, everyone was astounded. Could this refined and elegant lady be that abusive woman? It didn't seem likely! This was clearly a well-educated young lady from a respected family.

At noon, the Grand Princess made an appearance to host a banquet, allowing everyone to dine together. As they ate, they grew more familiar with each other. After the meal, someone suggested playing the game of arrow shooting, and the others eagerly agreed. Even the Grand Princess approved, instructing her servants to prepare the necessary items while she watched with keen interest.

Meng Die was aware of the game of arrow shooting, but only in passing. It wasn't commonly played in the households of scholarly officials, as it required precision, while their gatherings usually involved poetry and verse composition. Hence, Meng Die was not skilled at it.

Li Lang, on the other hand, was proficient and had a good aim. He hit the target three times in a row, earning applause from the onlookers.

Guo Jia Yin, being younger, managed to hit the target twice out of three attempts. The achievement flushed her cheeks with excitement. "Cousin-in-law, would you like to give it a try?"

In short, quite a few people turned their gazes toward Meng Die.

Meng Die chuckled. "I won't give it a try. Mainly, I'm afraid it might make you all feel awkward."

Guo Jia Yin was puzzled. "Why would we feel awkward?"

Meng Die lifted her chin proudly. "Of course, it's because I'm too skilled. I can hit any target with absolute precision."

Guo Jia Yin's eyes widened. "You're really that good? You can hit wherever...?"

Princess Dowager laughed heartily, "Jia'er, Jia'er, you've been deceived by her." Then she turned to Meng Die, "As an elder sister-in-law, how could you deceive people? You boast about your skills, but with such thick skin, aren't you afraid of being exposed and feeling embarrassed?"

Meng Die replied, "Your Highness, our ancestor once said that those with thin skin get nothing, while the bold ones have their fill. Besides, if I'm not embarrassed, then it's the others who should be."

Princess Dowager laughed until her face ached, "Do you speak so candidly in front of your mother-in-law too?"

Meng Die sighed, "I did try to maintain an image, but secrets can't stay hidden forever, and a fox's tail can't be concealed. It was only a matter of time before my true nature was revealed."

At this point, the girls who had been struggling to contain their laughter couldn't hold back any longer. They tumbled with laughter, each one giggling uncontrollably.

Amidst laughter and jests, the group proceeded to take a leisurely cruise on the lake. By now, the lotus leaves had withered, leaving behind only a pond of desolate stalks. Yet, the spirits of the company remained undiminished.