Qī's mother rubbed her hands as she entered the warm pavilion of ān Yuán, and the warmth that rushed to meet her made her let out a long sigh.

  "Mom must be freezing!" Shen Muqing, who was sitting at the desk looking at the account book, heard the commotion and looked up. He took out the hand warmer from his arms and handed it to Luo Mei, "Go, take it to mom."

  Plum blossoms fell with a sound and accepted the past.

  "Use it yourself, miss! I'm just cold-handed and hot-bodied!" she said, pushing the hand warmer back.

  Shen Mu Qing saw her and didn't say much either, smiling: "Is there something?"

  Since Mr. Li spoke, the An Garden suddenly became lively. Shen Muqing didn't like his residence to be like a vegetable garden with people coming in and out, so he cleared out three rooms of the main hall and sat there handling family affairs.

  Qī's mother smiled and took out a few sheets of paper from her sleeve to hand over to Luò Méi: "The two families' helpers in the kitchen have come up with a menu."

  The fallen plum was handed over to Shen Muqing. Shen Muqing took a look, smiled and nodded, saying: "The color of the dish is also reasonably arranged. It's just that the portion needs to be increased by 40%."

  Mrs. Qi's face showed a pleased expression: "These past few days' guests have all declined to stay for dinner..."

  Shen Muqing smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the old master's birthday, I'm afraid those who are coming will all arrive at this time." With a hint of teasing in his tone, "The master of the house is not at home, who would know if someone came?"

  Madam Qi covered her mouth and smiled: "The young lady is right."

  "But there are still some things that require Mother's extra attention." Shen Muqing said seriously.

  Madam Qi also hastily stood up with her hands hanging down: "Miss, just give orders directly, if it's said like this, I won't be able to bear it."

  "Tomorrow's guests, I'm afraid, will be of no low rank. They are all worldly and knowledgeable. Mother will go talk to the chef later. The weather has turned cold, so we'll have venison and wild boar on the table. Big fish and meat are nothing special, but let's prepare more of those fresh and light dishes from the greenhouse, like cucumber, bok choy, and radish. They're refreshing and good for the palate. Also, tell the wine steward to only serve Shanxi Fen wine in the outer courtyard's west wing, where the grooms and sedan chair bearers will be waiting. For the guests in the flower hall, use Jinhua or Shaoxing wine, something milder, so no one gets drunk and loses their composure. As for the ladies in the inner courtyard, we'll serve Jinjianluo or Taixi White, which are nourishing wines from the imperial court, bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. These are not available outside, even with money. The gentlemen have had them at banquets before, but perhaps their wives haven't, so this is a good opportunity to treat them. As for tea, let's serve Wuyi tea in the west wing, it has a strong and rich flavor. In the master's study and the ladies' quarters, we'll use Laojunmei, which is warm in nature. Everyone else can have Longjing tea, its flavor is clear and refreshing, and fragrant!"

  Qī's mother listened attentively, and after Shěn Mùqīng finished speaking, she repeated her words again. Seeing that there was no discrepancy, she slightly relaxed and flattered Shěn Mùqīng: "Still, Miss thinks more thoroughly!"

  This part is experience from past lives, and some of it was learned by following Li around and knowing how to eat and drink.

  "This is also something I learned from being with my wife." Shen Mu smiled lightly and changed the subject: "Is the silver ingot ready?"

  "Entirely remade according to young lady's instructions."

  Shen Mu nodded solemnly, saying with some concern: "Mother must make it clear. The plum blossom and crabapple-shaped ones are made of snowflake silver, while the ingot-shaped ones are made of seven-tenths pure silver. When giving rewards, be careful not to make mistakes. The people beside you, masters and madams, will give out the plum blossom and crabapple flowers, the sedan bearers and carriage drivers will receive the ingots... beware of making a joke out of it."

  Qī's mother repeatedly responded.

  Shen Mu Qing instructed Luo Mei: "Go, bring out that bunch of jasmine flowers and let Mom pick two to wear."

  Qie's mother hastily got up and thanked her: "Sister, you really are exhausting me. This is something rewarded from the palace."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled: "Look at these few strands of hair on my head - if I wore them as a hat, wouldn't they be buried?"

  Qī's mother heard this and her face lit up with a smile.

  She was quite ordinary in appearance, but had a head of thick and dense black hair, which she could wear up without needing a wig, something she had always been proud of. Shen Muqing's praise had struck her right in the heart.

  Luo Mei brought out a small red lacquer box, opened it, and inside were seven or eight artificial flowers: "Mom, pick two to wear, the rest I'll send to Auntie and Fourth Sister."

  "This is all thanks to the young lady's good fortune." Qi Mama picked a pomegranate and a hibiscus, and left with a thousand thanks.

  Ying Fan just happened to pass by Wei's mother and looked at the two peonies with wonder: "Mom, where did you get these?"

  Mrs. Qi smiled happily: "It was given by the young lady."

  Ying burst into the house and immediately spotted the red lacquer carved box on the tea table, muttering: "The young lady is being too generous."

  "I knew you'd argue." Shen Muqing smiled and said, "The girls and aunts at home can't even wear them, but you can wear them out, aren't you afraid of hurting your eyes?"

  "I am a personal maid by the girl's side, no better than a housekeeper." Ying Fen pretended to be angry: "If that's the case, I'll also manage a housekeeper."

  Shen Mu Qing burst out laughing: "Which one have you set your eyes on? I'll help you make the decision, and guarantee you'll be completely satisfied!"

  Ying Fen's face turned red and she shouted: "This is also something a young lady would say!"

  Luo Mei also covered her mouth and laughed: "If this flower is for you to wear, I'm afraid you'll have to walk around the yard in a circle. The wife of the Qi family is not like you, she's much more mature. Don't believe me? Just watch, before Madam even puts it on her head, Mrs. Qi will definitely not be able to bring herself to wear this flower. You still want to be the mistress, better follow Mrs. Qi and learn from her."

  "Ah, this Qi mama is quite capable. I remember when the mistress had something to say, she would always instruct Li mama... but somehow these two months, she's gained the mistress' favor and taken over all of Li mama's duties."

  Shen Mu Qing listened intently and her heart skipped a beat. She composed herself and said, "Luo Mei, I've been busy with matters these past two days. You can go see Jin Xiu."

  "Yesterday was still there!" Luomei's expression darkened: "Still the same old thing."

  He nodded calmly with a clear face and no expression.

  ******

  Qie's mother took those two flowers into the Li family's house.

  Li was lying on the kang listening to Wang's mother reading out the list of gifts that had been sent over the past few days. When she saw Qi's mother arrive, she gently waved her hand at Wang's mother: "You go down first!"

  Wang's mother glanced lightly at Qi's mother with a smile and went along with her.

  Qie's mother walked up to Li's wife with a mysterious air, took out the two silk flowers from her bosom and said: "Madam, these were given to me by your daughter."

  Li glanced at the two silk flowers and smiled: "Since it's a reward for you, just take them."

  Qī's mother listened and smiled all over her face, then tucked the flowers back into her sleeve.

  "What did your sister say when you took the menu away?" Li asked calmly.

  Qī Māma smiled and recounted Shěn Mùqīng's words.

  Li listened with an expressionless face and remained silent for a long time.

  Madam Qi cautiously observed Mrs. Li's expression and measured her words: "Ma'am, I think the young lady makes sense..."

  "Alright, I know. You can go now! From now on, if anything happens at your sister's place, don't need to come and report to me."

  Mrs. Qi immediately smiled and responded with a "yes", then retreated.

  Li gazed at the empty land with a single but lavishly decorated house and burst out laughing.

  The laughter was unrestrained and hearty, the maidservants standing under the eaves were all shocked.

  Only then did Yu Jade rush in hastily: "Madam, madam, what's wrong?"

  Mr. Li looked at Pu Yu and a relieved smile spread across his face, saying in a low voice: "Our family has a good girl!"

  Yu Yu looked at Li with a dazed expression and said: "Our family's girl is originally very good. Every time she meets me, she will give me sugar to eat."

  ******

  The next morning, goose feather-like snowflakes floated in the sky. Within an hour, the world had turned into a vast expanse of white.

  Despite this, as Shen Muqing had expected, many guests came to the Shen residence. Not only were there many of them, but most of them wore brocade and fur, arriving in large sedan chairs with silver tops and silk canopies. The maidservants of the Shen household didn't need to be told, and the outside servants, including those from the kitchen, tea room, and wine room, were all extremely cautious, nervously attending to their duties, fearing that they would make a mistake at this critical moment.

  As things had been arranged long ago, Shen Muqing's side became idle, but she didn't dare sit down and was serving in the Li family's house.

  There were several wives of officials and scholars who came with their husbands, such as the wife of Hu Xin, a fellow Grand Councilor in charge of the Ministry of Works, and the wife of Qin Wei, Duke of Fuyang, and the wife of Zhao Fu, Left Vice Director of the Censorate, and the wife of Liu Jin, Commander of the Five Cities Garrison. However, some came on their own, including the wives of Shen Zhen and others. Seven or eight ladies in elegant attire, adorned with pearls and jade, sat in the main hall of the Chaoxing Temple according to their rank, their feet resting on bronze foot warmers with longevity symbols, while the tables were set with seasonal flowers, old kiln tea cups, and intricately carved red lacquer boxes containing snacks such as orange cakes, cloud-shaped pastries, pine seed cakes, soft fragrant cookies, peanuts, walnuts, melon seeds, almonds, and millet. On high-footed lotus-leaf plates were arranged a variety of fruits, including apples, honey pomelos, loquats, grapes, red dates, and pears. Everyone was eating pastries and drinking clear tea, chatting and laughing, creating quite a lively atmosphere.

  Shen Mu Qing stood behind Li's family, occasionally glancing at this one and that one. The maids serving by her side would follow her gaze to serve tea, pour water, and offer towels, making everything run smoothly for the time being without any mishaps.

  Several ladies chatted and the topic turned to Chen Xuewen, a lecturer at the Hanlin Academy, marrying the widow of Han Mao Yuan, the former governor of Henan Province. Everyone seemed delighted.

  The wife of the Minister of Justice, Shi Lang, smiled and said: "Speaking of which, Mr. Han and our family's old master are from the same hometown and the same year, and have been serving as prefects in Jiangnan for over 20 years. Later, they were promoted to Henan Buzhengsi, and even got involved in a corruption case. Their ability to accumulate wealth is not the first in the current dynasty, but it should be among the top ten. This time, they have made a dowry for someone else."

  "Isn't there anyone in the Han family who can take charge?" Madam Zhao asked in surprise, "Can they just let Madame Han take the Han family's assets to the Chen family like this?"

  A sister asked, why the public chapter shows as Chapter 5. Actually, something small happened, well, it's not a small matter - my bag was stolen, and the U disk in the bag is also gone... So I backed up the published articles, maybe I touched somewhere, and the result is that the public chapter became like this... Now I can only rewrite again...

  Alas... it seems I'm really not destined for a literary career!