The days were peaceful and warm. Ye Chen had lived two lives and had never been as happy as he was now.
On the first day of the dog days of summer, Ye Chen and Shen Qiu moved into Nianqiu Pavilion. Because the water pavilion had special cleaning servants, they only brought Mingyue and Xing'er, as well as a maid who took care of Shen Qiu's makeup.
Happy days always pass quickly.
That morning, Chen Qiu woke up at the stroke of 1:00 AM. The old Duke's birthday banquet fell on her without a doubt. The banquet was tomorrow, and she would be very busy today, having to send someone out to buy things. She had someone come to pick up the sign after 1:00 AM yesterday.
She was about to get out of bed when Ye Chen put his arm around her waist and said lazily in a hoarse voice, "Qiu'er, what are you going to do?"
Chen Qiu whispered, "I'm getting up. I'll have the maids come find me at the end of the morning hour. It's already morning hour, so you should get some more sleep!"
Ye Chen exerted force on his hands and pressed Shen Qiu onto the bed. He kissed Shen Qiu, buried his head in Shen Qiu's neck, and said coquettishly: "Qiu'er, I can only see you when I eat for several days. Don't you miss me?"
Chen Qiu said: "Don't we sleep together every night? Why do we only see each other for dinner?"
Ye Chen snorted and said, "Is that what you call a meeting? These past few days I've been waiting for you every night until I fall asleep, and when I wake up in the morning you're gone!"
Chen Qiu thought about it and realized that this was true. She had been busy with the things in the warehouse and the account books these past two days. It was the first time she had hosted such a large banquet. She was so nervous and busy that she was dizzy. Even her meals sometimes required Ye Chen to worry about her.
Chen Qiu patted Ye Chen's back apologetically and said, "Be good. After I'm done with Grandfather's birthday party, I'll spend some time with you, okay? This is the first time I've done something this big. I don't want to make any mistakes, and I don't want to embarrass you!"
Ye Chen looked up at Shen Qiu and said, “You won’t be embarrassed, I will help you!”
Shen Qiu's eyes sparkled with smiles, and she kissed Ye Chen and said, "Thank you, my husband, but you also have things to do, and I also want to see how far I can go!"
A bright light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. He lowered his head and gently kissed Chen Qiu, saying, "Okay, as you say, but now I want you!"
As he spoke, he deepened the kiss. Shen Qiu was so anxious that she didn't know what to do. But Ye Chen had already unbuttoned Shen Qiu's shirt and his hand had already reached inside. Since there was no other way, let's end it quickly, otherwise it would be really embarrassing.
"Husband, hurry up, otherwise I told people to come see me at the end of the Mao hour, but I didn't show up myself. It would be bad if I didn't even start managing the household!"
Ye Chen said "hmm" and quickened his pace. But when Chen Qiu arrived at the study, it was already a quarter past seven.
The waterside pavilion where they lived was originally Ye Chen's study. Their bedroom was behind the study. From the bedroom, across the water corridor was the study in front.
When Chen Qiu arrived at the study, everyone was already waiting. The housekeeper was leading a group of maids and servants waiting.
Chen Qiu sat in the upper seat. Xing'er handed her a booklet and said, "Madam, this is a record of the various responsibilities for tomorrow's banquet and the people assigned to them. Please take a look!"
Chen Qiu took the booklet, looked at it, and said, "Okay, Xing'er will take this booklet."
Then he said to the crowd below: "Madams, are you clear about the specific matters you are responsible for? If there are any problems in any link, I will report directly to the head nanny. Tomorrow is a big day, I don't want any mistakes, and I don't want those dirty things to happen. Keep your subordinates under control."
Then he said to a plump young woman standing nearby, "Wife Sun Gui, take your men and check the storage room on the west side, room by room. Lock up the unused storage rooms and woodshed, and also the remote, uninhabited courtyards."
Actually, it's not Chen Qiu's fault for making a fuss. She has been returning to Kyoto every year since she was twelve years old. She came back in the summer and early autumn, which was the time when the young ladies and ladies from various mansions were most active. She would also attend some flower shows and tea parties every year, but as expected, some dirty things would happen every time.
Every time something happens, it happens in the most inconspicuous place at a banquet, but someone always finds it.
This time, the Duke's Mansion invited all the prominent figures in Kyoto. If something happened to these people in the Duke's Mansion, although it would not affect the status of the Duke's Mansion, it would still be unpleasant and would make enemies for the Duke's Mansion for no reason.
The emperor might come, so it’s better to be cautious and not let anything go wrong.
Chen Qiu continued, "You should all go to the warehouse to collect the locks for the doors of these courtyards. Manager Zhang, give the keys for each lock to Sun Gui's wife. You should check them out and put your fingerprints on the collection book. If anything happens to these courtyards tomorrow, I will contact Sun Gui's wife directly."
Chen Qiu made a booklet for each item of food, drink, and entertainment. There were two copies of each booklet, one for the person in charge and one for the person receiving the items. Both parties put their fingerprints on each item received.
Apart from the wedding of the Duke and Ye Chen, the Duke's Mansion had not held such a banquet for eight years. In the first two years, they were fighting outside. Later, something happened in the Duke's Mansion, and the old Duke was bedridden. Since then, there has been no large banquet since then.
She had no idea what to do, so she went to the Shen family several times and asked Madam Xiao for advice.
Ye Chen listened outside. His wife was too tense. How could she not be tired? But he had promised her not to interfere, so he let her do it. According to her arrangement, it would be fine for one day tomorrow, but it would not work for a long time.
After all, if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. But seeing how seriously she works, I feel both distressed and helpless! Whatever, let's finish tomorrow's work first!
However, if she arranges it this way, those who want to use the Duke's Mansion to cause trouble will probably have no chance. What a pity, this is such a good opportunity for them!
Ye Chen sneered. His Qiu'er did a good job. In this way, the disgusting things in the previous life should not happen in this life.
In the previous life, at the Duke's birthday banquet, someone ruined his grandfather's banquet in order to get promoted. It was also handled by Chen Qiu in the previous life. Ye Chen didn't pay attention to it, but he knew that the people below did not obey her.
Of course, this was also tacitly approved by him. Because of his dislike, even the servants in this family did not obey her.
But this life is different. Chen Qiu is the apple of his eye. These old stewards in the mansion are all smart, so naturally no one dares to make things difficult for his Qiu'er!
After hearing Chen Qiu tell everyone to go and prepare, Ye Chen walked into the study. Mingyue and Xing'er also left when they saw Ye Chen coming.
Ye Chen pinched Chen Qiu's shoulders: "Are you tired?"
Chen Qiu looked at Ye Chen and said, "Aren't you also going to take care of the front yard? Why are you here so soon?"
Ye Chen smiled and said, "You can buy all the food and drinks here. I just need to ask Uncle Fu to arrange the opera troupe and the drinks! Uncle Fu will take care of the rest. He is used to doing this."
Chen Qiu sighed and said, "There are no conventions in the mansion for me to refer to. I can ask my grandmother for big things, but I still have to make decisions on small matters myself! I haven't even officially taken charge of the family yet, and I'm exhausted from just one banquet. What will I do in the future?"
Ye Chen gave her some advice: "I think you can train Xing'er. This girl is careful and would be a good housekeeper. That way you can be lazy too!"
Ye Chen knew that Mingyue and Xing'er were the most loyal to Shen Qiu. Xing'er died for Shen Qiu in her previous life, but ultimately failed to protect Shen Qiu. In this life, she and Mingyue should be fine! After all, they also loved his Qiu'er very much.
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