Last year, Jiayin made it clear to her whole family that she would no longer take a single penny of the profits from Baihuayuan, but would leave them all to her second uncle to help the family build momentum and accumulate strength.

Firstly, the Baihuayuan Garden owes its current size and reputation to my second uncle's painstaking efforts.

Secondly, she was just a few flowers that she casually planted in the space; there was really no more or less than that.

Moreover, she enjoyed the protection of her family, so it was only right and proper for her to contribute a few flowers and do her part for the family.

But the family didn't think so, and the second uncle was unwilling to covet his niece's money.

Therefore, after normal use, the profits from the Hundred Flowers Garden are converted into gemstones, jewelry, fabrics, etc., and then returned to Jiayin's small warehouse...

Days passed by, neither hurried nor slow.

Jiayin was in the village handling family matters, preparing and distributing New Year's gifts, and also attended this year's village dividend distribution meeting.

In her spare time, she also goes into the city to oversee the business of several shops and is busy with year-end accounting.

Fortunately, with the village chief in charge and Gu Li managing the shop, things weren't too busy.

One day, Jiayin looked up and realized it was already the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, with only five days left until the New Year.

She was eager to attend the banquet at the palace, so she quickly called out to Shuiyun and Shuiling.

"Since you have nothing to do today, help me pick out some clothes and jewelry. I'm going to the palace for a banquet during the New Year."

"The clothes don't need to be amazing, but they just don't need to be something people laugh at."

Shuiyun couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Miss, young ladies from other families are preparing their New Year's clothes a month in advance. Isn't it a bit too late for you to only think about it at the end of the year?"

Jiayin slumped in her chair, munching on a pear, and waved her hand dismissively.

“For young ladies from other families, their daily work consisted of eating and embroidery.”

"You all don't see how busy I am. I wish I had eight hands. How could I have time to deal with such trivial matters!"

Shui Ling handed her master a damp cloth to wipe his hands and added a phrase that was her master's favorite saying.

"Yes, new clothes are nothing compared to making money. With money, you have everything!"

Everyone laughed along with them.

Finally, it was Granny Lin who stepped forward and said, "Miss, the eldest young mistress sent over two new dresses the other day. They were both hand-sewn by the eldest young mistress and her maids, saying that they were for you to change into during the New Year."

"Oh dear, I completely forgot about that." Jiayin slapped her forehead and laughed, "It's so nice to have a sister-in-law like me. I don't even have to think about it; she's already prepared everything for me."

After saying that, she instructed everyone, "Remember to remind me to pick out a set of jewelry for my sister-in-law in the next couple of days, to add some joy for the New Year."

Before anyone could respond, the Marquis arrived with his chief steward.

The Marquis entered the courtyard first, but the head steward instructed the servants to unload eight large boxes in one go.

Soon, the boxes were moved into the main room, so much so that there was no room to step on the floor.

"Godfather, how come there are so many boxes? Have you struck it rich?" Jiayin said jokingly as she poured tea for the Marquis.

She didn't forget to invite the head butler to sit down and poured him a cup of tea as well.

In a way, the head housekeeper had watched her grow up.

Whenever the Marquis's residence had something delicious or fun, it was always the first thing sent over.

She also treats the head housekeeper like a senior!

The head steward rose in a flustered manner, accepted the gift with trepidation, and only sat down after bowing.

The Marquis took a sip of hot tea to dispel the chill from his body. "There are six boxes of clothes and personal items here, prepared for you by the head steward."

"The other two boxes contain some precious jade artifacts that I brought back from abroad. You can organize them when you have free time. If you find any you like, you can keep them as part of your dowry later."

Six boxes of dresses?

Jiayin was surprised, but then her face lit up with a smile, and she said happily, "This is just like a pillow sent to someone who's sleepy!"

"I was just telling Shui Ling and the others to prepare dresses for the palace banquet, but my godfather sent them over. I don't have to worry about that anymore!"

There's nothing more gratifying than giving a gift that touches the heart.

The Marquis nodded with a smile.

The head steward, his eyes brimming with pride and joy, said repeatedly, "The needlework ladies in the Marquis's mansion have been idle for most of the year, and even the princess doesn't think to use them."

"This old servant has no choice but to make the decision on behalf of the princess. I wonder if the princess likes these styles of dresses?"

Jiayin immediately called on Shuiling to open a box.

The first thing you see is a bright red button-down jacket with gold embroidery, the workmanship is extremely exquisite, and the embroidery alone takes a month to complete.

Below that are several other colors, including peach, light blue, emerald green, and lilac, bringing together almost every color and style of jacket.

The second box contained skirts of various colors—horse-faced, pleated, and floral—each one exquisitely beautiful.

The third box contained six cloaks, all lined with fur and embroidered with silk, combining beauty and warmth.

The fourth box contained various small items such as hand warmers, purses, and hand warmer covers made of different furs.

The fifth and sixth boxes contained various embroidered shoes and boots.

Some were adorned with tassels, others with pearls; they varied in height and thickness, a dazzling array that left one breathless.

What woman doesn't love beauty? Jiayin was captivated by these beautiful clothes and shoes.

Even Granny Lin, Shui Ling, and Shui Yun gathered around, chattering and discussing how to coordinate their outfits.

For a moment, the noise inside the house was so loud it almost lifted the roof off.

The Marquis sipped his tea slowly, a smile playing on his lips.

The head butler, however, couldn't sit still and decisively got involved, offering suggestions from time to time.

Determined to make his princess the most beautiful girl at the palace banquet!

Halfway through the discussion, the Liu family unexpectedly sent a maid over with a box of clothes and shoes.

Clearly, Madam Liu was also worried that with the women of the Li family absent, there would be no one to prepare New Year's clothes for Jiayin.

Before Liu's nanny could leave, Madam Jia the Second also sent someone over...

Finally, Jiayin counted and found that the new clothes, shoes, socks and other items totaled ten boxes!

They won't have to worry about what to wear for the New Year; instead, they'll have to worry about what to do with all the clothes they can't wear.

After all, the weather will gradually warm up after the New Year, and we'll need to slowly shed our heavy winter clothes.

She's grown so much taller that by next winter, these dresses will be too small.

Fortunately, Baozhu was much shorter than her, so she could send her to help "share the burden".

However, Baozhu is a bit chubby, so in order not to waste these dresses, we'll have to supervise her to eat less and exercise more next year!

Baozhu, who was having a snack at home and learning how to manage things from her mother, suddenly sneezed loudly.

Even though the floor heating was on at home, why did she feel a deep chill...?

When the long-awaited Lunar New Year finally arrived, countless people in Xinduli breathed a sigh of relief.

It's almost Chinese New Year, the Emperor has stopped writing, and the censors have also fallen silent.

They no longer have to live in fear, wondering who the next unlucky one will be.

Even if there are any problems, that's something for next year.

My only goal right now is to have a good New Year!

After a year of hard work, people look forward to having a good meal at the dinner table.

Even the powerful and wealthy, after a year of hard work, just want to have a peaceful meal and a good night's sleep!

Unfortunately, everyone seems to have been too happy too soon.

Because the palace banquet is about to begin.

Jiayin, who had never attended a banquet before, went to the palace with her adoptive father and second uncle.

The Empress Dowager, who had been largely out of the public eye for several years, also attended in full regalia...

Served at midnight~~