“Miss, the second young lady made a special trip to Red Clothes Lane and sent someone to deliver a letter, but the young master’s heart is as hard as iron. He still spends all his time outside with Xiao Taohong. It seems that he really won’t go back until he takes Xiao Taohong into the family.”

When Qingxing brought back the news from Red Clothes Lane, Jiang Shuwan had just stepped into the kitchen.

The large kitchen was bustling with activity, the stove was roaring, the water in the pot was boiling and making a "bubbling" sound, and the steamer next to it was emitting steam, with various aromas mingling together.

Jiang Shuwan, dressed in an elegant padded jacket and skirt, walked in gracefully.

Li Gui's wife, the head of the kitchen, was extremely busy when she saw Jiang Shuwan come in. She quickly put down her work and went to greet her.

"Young Madam, why have you come in person?" Li Gui's wife asked with a respectful smile.

Ever since Jiang Shuwan helped her get rid of her rival and taught her to read, she has truly respected and loved Jiang Shuwan with all her heart.

Jiang Shuwan smiled faintly, "The New Year is coming at the end of the month, so I came to check on your inventory."

"Alright, I'm making the sweet porridge that the old lady loves in the kitchen. I'll have Fang Xiaomei come with you to see it. Fang Xiaomei is Granny Fang's daughter. This girl is very clever and quick-witted, and I've already promoted her to be a junior steward."

As Li Gui's wife spoke, she called out Fang Xiaomei's name, and Fang Xiaomei, dressed as a little manager, hurriedly ran out from the pastry room.

"Greetings, young mistress. May you be well."

Fang Xiaomei was also very happy to see Jiang Shuwan, and Jiang Shuwan nodded to her.

She had met Fang Xiaomei several times, but this time the girl had clearly grown taller. At her age of teens, being a junior manager was quite a good position.

She understood from Granny Fang's words that they had recently started looking for a marriage partner for Fang Xiaomei, and it wasn't just a matter of looking at potential partners; they weren't in a hurry to finalize a marriage.

"Young mistress, I remember all your instructions. The New Year is coming at the end of the month, and the imperial examination is in February. The imperial examination is the most important event in the mansion. You instructed that we should celebrate the New Year more lively and festive than ever before. I have brought in a lot of delicacies from the mountains and I guarantee that I will not let you down."

"good."

Jiang Shuwan nodded approvingly, and went to the storeroom with Fang Xiaomei to take a look. She also looked at the New Year's menu prepared by Li Guijia and felt relieved after finding it all satisfactory.

After all, this is her first New Year since she took over the household management. Pei Yanzhi is going to take the imperial examination, and the mansion is also going to hold ancestral worship ceremonies. There can be absolutely no mistakes.

No sooner had she come out of the kitchen than Qingxing brought her a cloak and a hand warmer to keep her warm.

Walking forward with her head down, Jiang Shuwan asked softly, "Do you think the young master still doesn't want to come back?"

"Yes, even though the Second Miss wrote a letter to apologize, the Young Master still hasn't returned. It's really because the Second Miss is giving him face. I heard that Madam (Song) has been urging the Second Miss to get a divorce."

"Madam always speaks on behalf of the young master and has always advised the second young lady to be tolerant of the young master's wife and to help the second young lady to maintain a good relationship with her mother-in-law."

"Now that's good. Even Madam wants the Second Miss to divorce, which shows that Madam is really angry with the Young Master."

"What's Father's attitude?" Jiang Shuwan asked as she walked.

“Master has also agreed to the divorce,” Qingxing said, glancing at the maids coming and going. She lowered her voice and said, “An imperial censor has already impeached the Earl’s family in court. Master is so ashamed that his old face is red. He hasn’t gone to the yamen these past few days. He’s sick at home.”

"..."

Her father was faking illness too?

Jiang Shuwan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Ever since she was kicked out of Lotus Manor by the Wen family a while ago, the Wen family has regretted it and has been sending people to invite her every day, hoping that she will work hard for Pei Yunzhou's marriage again.

Jiang Shuwan, however, didn't want to get involved anymore. Wen Shi was too ambitious, and she didn't even like the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue. Where could she find someone Wen Shi liked?

So she declined the Wen family's invitation, citing illness.

Unexpectedly, she was faking illness at the Marquis's residence, while her father was faking illness at home.

Looking at them all, it seems that only Jiang Yao in the Jiang family is really stupid.

When she married Jiang Yao, one daughter married into a marquis's family and the other into an earl's family; her father had a very clever plan.

Now that the old master of the Marquis's mansion has become a monk, and Pei Lingyu has been impeached by the censor for frequenting prostitutes, her father is about to give up on Pei Lingyu as his son-in-law.

But Jiang Yao remained stubbornly obstinate, clinging to a rotten cucumber.

"Miss, the Madam has also sent you many gifts. According to Li Mama, who delivered the message, the Madam wants you to persuade the Second Miss to return home as soon as possible."

"..."

She's not in a position to make decisions for Jiang Yao.

The more she tried to persuade her, the more likely Jiang Yao would do the opposite.

Jiang Shuwan shook her head and chuckled, then instructed Qingxing to have someone send the gifts back.

As they were talking, the master and servant entered the large garden.

In the depths of winter, the entire Grand Garden is covered in snow, a silvery landscape stretching as far as the eye can see.

A biting wind howled through the winding corridors, causing the red lanterns under the eaves to sway slightly.

Just as Jiang Shuwan entered the large garden, she saw a group of maids and servants struggling to carry several baskets of lotus roots as they slowly walked over.

The maid was dressed in thick cotton clothes, wrapped up tightly, with only her red, frostbitten cheeks showing.

The servant boy hunched over, his hands gripping the wooden poles used to carry the basket tightly, his breath instantly dissipating into the cold air.

Their footprints, some deep and some shallow, were imprinted on the snow, indicating that they were quite heavy.

Jiang Shuwan stopped and glanced at the lotus root basket.

A thin layer of snow covered the surface. After sweeping away the snow, each section of lotus root was plump and tender, with a slight pink hue, making it particularly eye-catching in the icy and snowy landscape.

She had just come out of the kitchen storeroom, where there was plenty of lotus root, enough for them to eat until the end of the month.

Therefore, these baskets definitely did not come from the kitchen.

“Miss, the head maid sent word a couple of days ago that Madam has been picking lotus roots in the pond these past two days.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuwan raised an eyebrow with amusement.

Ever since she feigned illness, the Wen family has stopped sending people to invite her.

On the contrary, the head maid was sending her messages every few days, as if she wanted to seek refuge with her.

She neither agreed nor refused.

Now it's time to express our gratitude.

"Send someone to deliver some silver to the head maid's family. Be discreet so that no one else finds out, and tell her family to keep it a secret. I want her to stay by Madam's side forever."

Qingxing quickly replied "Yes," then looked with suspicion at the maids and servants carrying lotus roots toward the old lady's courtyard.

Those maids and servants were all brought over from the Marquis's residence by Madam Wen.

"Miss, what does it mean that Madam sent lotus roots to the old lady's courtyard?"

"In this freezing weather, instead of reciting scriptures, you're out in the lotus pond picking lotus roots. Madam, isn't this self-inflicted suffering a bit too contrived?"

"Whether it's pretentious or not doesn't matter; what matters is feeling sorry for the audience."

That evening, a lotus root soup was served.

The dining room was brightly lit, and a table was laden with sumptuous delicacies.