Before they knew it, it was the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yuan Huiniang was busy with all the gifts and farewells, and Li Yueniang would also help out when she had time.

Yan Qingqing's idea was to have Li Yueniang learn to manage the household, so that Yuan Huiniang would have more people to consult on matters at home.

Furthermore, Li Yueniang would still be able to use these skills even after she married into her husband's family.

Yuan Huiniang even praised Li Yueniang in front of Yan Qingqing, saying that she was so clever and could learn anything so quickly.

That day, Yuan Huiniang and Li Yueniang were in Yan Qingqing's room reporting on the recent delivery of festival gifts and the arrangements for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet the next day.

This wasn't the first time Yuan Huiniang had handled these matters, so she was quite adept at it.

Even the interactions with people in the prefectural city were handled exceptionally well.

Just as Yuan Huiniang finished speaking, the gatekeeper hurriedly reported that someone from the capital had arrived to deliver festival gifts.

Their family had almost no contact with people in the capital, and if they had any relatives, it was only Li Xinniang.

However, since Li Xinniang married into the capital, she hadn't written a single letter home, so Yuan Huiniang and the others didn't dare to hope that the person delivering the gift was sent by Li Xinniang.

Yan Qingqing, however, spoke calmly, "Since they're here, let them in."

Soon the gatekeeper led in a man who looked like a manager.

After entering, the man kowtowed to Yan Qingqing and said, "I am the second steward of the Wu family in the capital. I have come to deliver festival gifts to Ming Zhaoshuo on the orders of our young master and young mistress."

Yan Qingqing glanced at him and said, "If that's the case, then get up. Manager Wu, you must be tired from your journey."

When Manager Wu saw that Yan Qingqing was not enthusiastic towards him, he knew that Yan Qingqing probably looked down on him as the second manager.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Although the Wu family started early, they were still merchants at heart.

Yan Qingqing was a genuine third-rank imperial consort, bestowed the title of "Mingzhao Shuoren" by the emperor himself, and her eldest son was also an eighth-rank agricultural official. It was understandable that she looked down on him.

However, what Manager Wu couldn't understand was why their mistress, with such a prestigious family background, still looked down on her.

Their young mistress is only fortunate to have their young master protecting her, otherwise who knows how she would have been tormented by their mistress.

Even so, the young mistress still couldn't get away with it. After all, their mistress was the mother-in-law, and the young mistress couldn't afford to be labeled as unfilial.

But Manager Wu dared not say this in front of Yan Qingqing.

Seeing the awkward silence, Yuan Huiniang spoke up: "Since Steward Wu is the steward of the Wu family, I would like to ask how my sister is doing at the Wu family? Why hasn't she returned? Did she ask you to bring back a letter?"

Not only Yuan Huiniang was concerned about this issue, but Li Yueniang, who was standing to the side, also looked at Steward Wu with anticipation.

Although Yan Qingqing said she didn't forgive Li Xinniang, the way she was listening intently betrayed her.

After all, they are children I've loved; I can't truly ignore them.

Upon hearing this, Manager Wu's face showed a hint of embarrassment, but he quickly recovered and replied, "Young Madam, you have truly stumped me with your question."

I am merely the steward of the second gate and do not usually have access to the inner courtyard.

I'm not really that clear about the specifics of my young mistress's situation.

As for the letters, the young mistress didn't give them to me; she only asked me to pass on a message home saying she was well and that her family shouldn't worry about her.

Yuan Huiniang and Li Yueniang were both disappointed upon hearing this. They had thought that even if Li Xinniang didn't come back in person, she would at least bring back a letter.

However, Yan Qingqing did not miss the trouble in Steward Wu's eyes; she knew that Li Xinniang's days were not going to be easy.

The thought that Wu Jingzhi had broken his word and failed to protect Li Xinniang sent chills down Yan Qingqing's spine.

Manager Wu suddenly felt a chill run through his body, and a sense of oppression swept over him.

So he quickly took out a gift list from his sleeve and handed it to Yan Qingqing, saying, "This is the gift list. Please take a look, Master Mingzhao."

At Yan Qingqing's signal, Ruyi stepped forward, took the gift list, and handed it to Yan Qingqing with both hands.

Yan Qingqing then opened the containers and looked inside. Most of the items were gold and silver jewelry and fabrics. The two buckets of crabs were probably the freshest.

However, given that it was transported from such a far distance as the capital, it's uncertain whether the goods are still alive.

In the past, this gift would have been considered quite substantial for the Li family. However, given Yan Qingqing's current status, it's simply not enough.

However, Yan Qingqing was not one to nitpick, and she was still very happy that Li Xinniang had this intention. She just didn't know whether these things were actually sent by Li Xinniang.

So Yan Qingqing instructed Yuan Huiniang, "Pick some things from the storeroom to take back to your younger sister."

Also, calculate the profits from the embroidery workshop over the past six months and have Manager Wu take them back to your younger sister.”

Yuan Huiniang quickly agreed.

Yan Qingqing looked at Steward Wu and said, "Go back and tell your young master and young mistress that I've been very busy lately and can't get away."

I'll have to go to the capital sometime when I have some free time.

The Emperor bestowed upon me a mansion in the capital, but no one cleans it.

Tell them to send someone to clean up regularly when they have time, otherwise it will get dusty and unpleasant.

Yan Qingqing's words were clearly threatening, and Manager Wu naturally understood them. He replied with a cold sweat on his forehead, "Don't worry, Master Mingzhao, I will definitely convey your message."

Yan Qingqing then waved for him to leave.

After Steward Wu left, Yuan Huiniang and Li Yueniang looked at Yan Qingqing with worried expressions.

Both of them were shrewd, and from Steward Wu's words and Yan Qingqing's attitude, they could guess that Li Xinniang was probably not having a good time in the Wu family.

However, Li Xinniang was far away in the capital, thousands of miles away, so even if they wanted to, they couldn't.

Seeing their expressions, Yan Qingqing knew exactly what they were thinking.

She was still angry and said irritably, "Look at me, I'm useless. She chose this path herself."

Whether she lives a good or bad life depends entirely on her own fate.

However, the fact that they were still able to send holiday gifts back this year shows that they are still doing alright.

Upon hearing this, the two exclaimed "Ah!" and looked at Yan Qingqing with some confusion.

Although they were both very talented at housekeeping, the Li family's environment was too simple and clean, and there was no secretive business in the backyard, so there were some things they naturally couldn't have imagined.

Yan Qingqing sighed and gave them another lesson on the intrigues within the household.

The two were stunned. Only now did they realize how much Yan Qingqing's family rules favored them.

If things were really like Yan Qingqing described, with people fighting to the death for favor and control of the household, they probably wouldn't last more than a few days before being killed by others.

The more this happened, the more worried they became about Li Xinniang's situation. Fortunately, Wu Jingzhi currently had no concubines.

Thinking of this, Yuan Huiniang said, "Mother, when we return the gifts, I'll copy down a copy of our family rules and give it to my younger sister."

Upon hearing this, Yan Qingqing glanced at Yuan Huiniang, thinking that this daughter-in-law was quite shrewd, and then nodded in agreement.