Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Perhaps due to her long-standing role managing Ming Tang’s storeroom, Wen He felt a pang of imbalance as she meticulously cataloged the new jewelry. "Since you’ve acquired so many new pieces for nothing," she prompted, "shouldn’t you have some new clothes made to match?"

"You certainly know how to keep me busy," Ming Tang replied, resting her chin in her hand, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Wen He confidently justified herself, "The Duke sent you all this jewelry—surely he wants you to dress up properly? Besides, it’s been a while since you last had new clothes made."

"Did you throw away all the ones made before the wedding?" Moreover, in Ming Tang’s opinion, Pei Yue’s sudden generosity likely had no deeper meaning; he probably just felt like it.

Still, the suggestion to make new clothes was timely. "We ought to pick out some suitable fabrics for a few riding outfits."

You never know when they might be needed. Better to be prepared.

Seeing her proposal approved, Wen He grew even more enthusiastic. That night, instead of resting, she pulled Zhe Liu to the storeroom to select fabrics for Ming Tang.

Since the outfits were for riding and time was of the essence, they chose sturdy, durable materials with existing patterns. Zhe Liu deliberately picked the most vibrant designs, planning to use them for trims and belts to prevent the final garments from looking too plain.

The next morning, after paying their respects, Pei Ze, his face bright with excitement, followed Ming Tang into the main hall of Chengyi Hall. Soon after, several unfamiliar people filed in. Normally, Ming Tang would sit beside him, reading or chatting, but today she remained seated, conversing with these strangers.

Since Ming Tang’s marriage into the household, this was the first time she had summoned the seamstresses. The needlework team had even bickered over who would meet the future mistress, ultimately settling on the most skilled Madam Xue, who brought along a few exceptionally talented assistants.

From the moment they stepped into Chengyi Hall, the seamstresses felt a strange excitement. Before the Duke’s marriage, few in the household had ever gained entry to his residence—most only knew he lived there. Now, not only had they entered, but they were also received in the main hall for instructions—something rare to boast about.

Ming Tang sat in her chair while Zhe Liu and Wen He displayed the fabrics selected the previous night and provided Ming Tang’s measurements, explaining that the young mistress wanted riding outfits made.

One group conveyed the client’s wishes, while the other, as the service providers, pointed out, "These fabrics might not be suitable for riding outfits. Do you have anything sturdier?"

As the one making the request, Ming Tang was bored when she suddenly felt a small presence by her leg. Pei Ze, seeing that she wasn’t coming to him, had made his way over himself and now stood beside her.

Still very young, Pei Ze only reached Ming Tang’s knee. When she looked down, all she saw was the top of his round head.

Pei Ze had only recently begun growing out his hair. It was still short and fine, soft to the touch. Since he was right there, Ming Tang gave in to the urge to ruffle it, mischievously messing up his neatly combed locks.

The little boy looked up at her with chubby, rosy cheeks, adorable. He shook his head slightly to dislodge her hand and protested, "Nanny says... touching makes kids... not grow tall."

Ming Tang pretended to be serious. "I’m touching A Ze’s hair, not A Ze. So A Ze will still grow tall."

Pei Ze looked doubtful. "Really?"

Ming Tang nodded. "Yes. When I was little, my mother, elder sister, and brother often touched my head, and I still grew taller than you."

Pei Ze compared their heights and finally gave in. "Okay then."

Leaning slightly against Ming Tang, he pointed at the lively discussion happening nearby. "Making clothes?"

This kid really knew how to make himself comfortable. Ming Tang glanced down at Pei Ze, who was practically pressing his face against her knee, and patted his head as if taking payment. "Yes. Does A Ze want new clothes too?"

Pei Ze shook his head earnestly. "A Ze has... clothes." After a pause, as if remembering something, his tone turned slightly pitying. "But Uncle... no clothes. Wears same... every day."

Ming Tang was confused. Since the wedding, Pei Yue’s outfits had never repeated.

Pei Ze, however, began counting on his fingers. "Blue... black... that’s it!" He paused, glanced at Ming Tang, and added, "And red!"

He looked at his fingers, counted again, and nodded solemnly. "Uncle... three clothes."

Ming Tang was stunned, then put her hand to her forehead. So, in his mind, the same color equaled the same outfit.

Having lived together for some time, she had noticed that Pei Yue seemed reluctant to draw attention to his appearance and didn’t care for extravagant attire. Still, as a nobleman, his daily life was far from lacking in refinement.

The thought that Pei Ze saw his uncle as someone who rotated between two—no, three—outfits seemed ridiculously funny to her.

Holding Pei Ze’s three little fingers in her palm, Ming Tang held back a laugh and said in a secretive whisper, "Since Uncle is so pitiful, how about Auntie orders some new clothes for him? A Ze can pick the fabrics."

Pei Ze tilted his head, thinking it over, then looked eagerly at the group discussing designs. "Okay!"

Without hesitation, he left his spot by Ming Tang and headed straight toward the maids displaying the fabrics.

As the Duke’s eldest grandson and possibly the sole heir of the next generation, Pei Ze’s status in the household was extremely high.

Thus, despite his young age and still learning to speak, the seamstresses immediately fell silent when he approached. Madam Xue knelt down respectfully. "Does the young master have any instructions?"

Pei Ze turned to see Ming Tang giving an encouraging nod. Emboldened, he straightened his back and pointed authoritatively at the most eye-catching fabrics. "This... this... this... for Uncle’s clothes."

Madam Xue looked where he pointed and paled. The fabrics he’d chosen were the most ornate and flamboyant—the very ones Wen He had suggested for trims to avoid dullness. Considering the Duke’s usual preference for understated elegance, she hesitated. With Pei Ze watching expectantly, she glanced pleadingly at Ming Tang.

No matter how esteemed the child was, the final say still lay with the young mistress—especially regarding the Duke’s attire.

Ming Tang found Pei Ze’s choices surprisingly appropriate. After all, in his eyes, same color meant same outfit. If he was finally being allowed to choose clothes for his "poor" uncle, why wouldn’t he pick the brightest options?

Seeing Madam Xue's questioning look, Ming Tang nodded. "Since the young master has chosen, let’s make a few riding outfits for the Duke as well."

Madam Xue agreed reluctantly. "But, young mistress, riding outfits need to fit perfectly. We haven’t taken the Duke’s measurements this month..."

Not just this month—they hadn’t measured him all year. Even for the wedding robes, he’d refused, insisting last year’s measurements would suffice since the robes didn’t need to fit tightly.

Ming Tang nodded. "Wait a moment." She stepped into the adjacent study.

Soon, she returned with a slip of paper bearing all the necessary measurements.

Madam Xue, a lifelong tailor, glanced at the numbers and realized this year’s clothes had indeed been a bit loose—though not noticeably so.

As for how the young mistress obtained such precise figures... Madam Xue could usually estimate sizes at a glance, but only if the person was undressed...

Noticing Ming Tang’s calm expression, Madam Xue chided herself for imagining things. They were husband and wife—what was so strange about undressing in front of each other?

As discussions with Wen He and Zhe Liu concluded, Madam Xue prepared to leave with the fabrics. Ming Tang, observing Pei Ze’s happy face, suddenly asked, "After making the Duke’s clothes, there should be leftover fabric from the young master’s selections, right?"

Though not an expert at sewing herself, Ming Tang had a keen eye for such things. After a brief calculation, Madam Xue confirmed, "About half of each should remain."

"Good." Ming Tang pointed at Pei Ze. "Then make a matching set for the young master in the Duke’s style."

Pei Ze said excitedly. "A Ze gets... new clothes too?"

"Of course." Ming Tang smiled. "But only if A Ze memorizes a few more lines from the *Three Character Classic*. If you can’t, Auntie will give your new clothes to someone else."

Pei Ze clenched his tiny fists, determined. "A Ze... will try!"

Ming Tang mirrored his gesture, marveling at how easily children were motivated. "A Ze, do your best!"

The trusting Pei Ze spent the entire morning loudly reciting texts, desperate to earn his promised outfits. Once he’d memorized the passage, he eagerly dragged his study partner, Hong Ying, to Ming Tang for inspection.

After their flawless recitation, Pei Ze gazed at her with shining eyes. "A Ze... did it!"

So hurry up and promise A Ze his new clothes!

Ming Tang nodded, then slowly said, "But the clothes aren’t ready yet. A Ze must keep reciting for a few more days."

Pei Ze was instantly disappointed, then quickly grasped the key point: "How many days?"

"Hmm, until the new clothes are finished?" Ming Tang feigned uncertainty.

Pei Ze then sighed in relief: "It's a deal!"

When Grandmother commissioned new clothes, they always arrived very quickly.

Ming Tang glanced at Pei Ze, who seemed completely unresentful, and secretly smiled to herself before instructing someone to tell the sewing room to bump Pei Ze’s clothes to the bottom of the list.

Thus, the recitations in Chengyi Hall continued for several days, until just before the autumn hunt, when the sewing room finally delivered the new clothes to Pei Ze, who was nearly worn out from all the memorization.

Though, at his age, Pei Ze didn’t yet understand what despair truly meant.

But just as he was complaining to his grandmother that his aunt might go back on her word, the long-awaited new clothes arrived, instantly dispelling his grievances. Instead, he cheerfully asked Nanny Zhou to carry him away to try them on.

Watching Pei Ze leave with a beaming face, Mrs. Pei was also quite pleased: It really paid off to have a daughter-in-law from a scholarly family—despite being just two years old, A Ze had been patiently reciting texts for days under her guidance.

Though young and unlikely to retain much in the long run, it was still far better than mindlessly eating and playing all day.