Chapter 36 Everyone is too kind.
When Lady Wuding received yet another invitation from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, she was so angry that she smashed the teacup beside her.
She thought that after the two families had such a falling out last time, how could Shangguan Jin possibly send another invitation to the Marquis of Wuding's residence!
But Shangguan Jin was thinking, "I sent gifts to your family five times last year alone."
If we don't bring back those we sent out, wouldn't we be losing out big time?
Anyway, the invitation has been sent, but the person isn't coming, but the gift still has to be sent.
However, in the eyes of Marquis Wuding, this was simply a demonstration.
So what? I've had your lord fined three years' salary and locked your second son up at home. What can you do about it?
If you're so capable, then don't come!
Lady Wuding really didn't want to go.
But now that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion seems to have really risen again, while their own mansion has been punished by the imperial family.
So, you have to hold your anger in.
After showing the newly appointed steward around the storeroom, Lady Wuding really wanted to return the congratulatory gifts that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion had sent earlier, untouched.
But the thought of what might happen if those guys from the Inspectorate found something to use against me...
Fine, I'll just have to accept it!
I gritted my teeth and searched the warehouse for a long time.
"This one! This one! And that one!"
This ruyi scepter was a gift from the Empress Dowager; it's pure gold. Wear it.
And that incense burner, it's made of jade, bring that too.
Madam Shen came from a poor background, so she must have liked things like gold and jade.
Also, during the Lunar New Year, it wasn't like Xing Rong had two boxes of gold beans; he would take one box.
Didn't we order a lot of hairpins for Miss Biao and the others before? Pick the heaviest ones, the ones made of gold, and take six of them to put in the box.
Madam Shen hasn't seen much of the world. If we were to give her antiques, calligraphy and paintings, or exquisite porcelain and bronzes, it would be too much of a waste.
"They might not even understand it!" Lady Wuding said with a sneer.
The new housekeeper was very nervous.
Please don't send the wrong gift this time! Last time, the gift-giving manager misunderstood and sent some inferior items instead.
Then he was beaten to death with a cane...
That serves as a cautionary tale; I mustn't follow the same path as the butler.
Now, the lady completely regards the Duke of Dingguo's mansion as nothing more than a nouveau riche village!
"Madam, the Marquis is out escorting grain supplies, so he may not be thinking about things at home."
Why don't you discuss it with the Duchess of Anguo?
After all, the imperial family had already sent congratulatory gifts, so the Duke of Dingguo's mansion holding a birthday banquet this time might be the imperial family's idea!
"If we prepare well this time, who knows what the imperial family might reward us with when the Marquis returns!" the steward advised from the side.
Even though Lady Wuding was unwilling, she couldn't help but fear that Wuding would return and lose his temper again.
“What you say makes sense. How about this, bring four bolts of brocade from the inner tribute.”
Brighter colors are better.
And... bring that octagonal jade screen that the Imperial Concubine gifted me last time!
The butler breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, the lady listened to his advice this time.
If we don't add these two items, just sending all that gold and jade to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion would probably cause trouble for the Shangguan family again.
Lady Dingguo is the eldest daughter of the Shangguan family. If you use so much gold and silver to slap her in the face, she will definitely hold a grudge.
The day finally arrived for Shangguan Jin to hold the second birthday banquet for Madam Shen.
That day the sun was shining brightly, and it felt hotter than usual.
The Duke of Dingguo's mansion was just as festive as before, with two clean stone lions at the entrance adorned with bright red ribbons.
Everyone in the manor had a genuine smile on their face.
If you manage to keep busy for the day, you'll have another month's salary coming in.
Even the guard dogs didn't need Dongmai's instructions; as soon as they saw someone carrying a load of congratulatory gifts into the house, their tails would wag so hard they wanted to sweep the floor again.
Shangguan Jin also got up early in the morning to get busy.
Seeing the much more generous congratulatory gifts being carried into the mansion, her eyes were practically drooling with joy.
Sure enough, those with thick skin get to eat a lot, while those with thin skin don't!
As before, Madam Shen got up early and was dressed up by everyone, wearing brand new jewelry and clothes.
A true old feudal lord!
Madam Shangguan and her wife were among the first to arrive.
The old lady was accompanied by Madam Shen, while Madam Shangguan followed Shangguan Jin to the front yard to stand guard.
"I'll make the arrangements for you. All the ladies who could come today are here. It wouldn't be good if we didn't take good care of anyone!" Madam Shangguan said with a smile.
Holding her mother's slightly trembling hand, Shangguan Jin knew why.
"Mother, news has come from the palace that the Seventh Prince will be delivering congratulatory gifts on behalf of the imperial family and the Empress later," Shangguan Jin said softly.
This is what Eunuch Hu whispered to us last night when Butler Shen went to deliver something to him.
Tell the Shen family to make preparations so as not to be impolite.
Madam Shangguan's hands trembled even more violently.
"Alright!" Madam Shangguan nodded emphatically.
Shangguan Jin focused on greeting guests with Madam Shangguan.
Dongmai, along with Chuntao and the other women who had come as part of the dowry, carefully checked the congratulatory gifts sent by each family.
I don't know the value of the gifts everyone gave.
But just by looking at Dongmai's almost gaping mouth, you can tell that this gift must be quite substantial.
As Dongmai checked the congratulatory gifts from the Marquis of Wuding's residence, she kept nodding.
That's good, this time you've made up for both of the previous two.
No, the value of those gold items alone seems to equal the congratulatory gifts sent by the Duke of Dingguo's mansion over the past year.
Now I'm starting to regret my decision to grow winter wheat.
If she had known that the Marquis of Wuding's mansion would send so many things this time, she would have kicked that second young master less hard last time.
Oh well, what's done is done!
Dongmai smiled and led everyone to continue checking.
In the front courtyard, the ladies from various households had mostly arrived.
The Crown Prince's residence sent congratulatory gifts, and the Prince of Qin's residence also sent congratulatory gifts.
Although neither the Crown Princess nor the Princess Consort of Qin came in person, the gifts were clearly carefully selected.
In addition, the Duchess of Qi arrived, and the Duchess of An also came with her daughter-in-law.
Lady Wuding has learned her lesson this time.
She did not come alone, but came with the Lady of Anguo.
Shangguan Jin, of course, didn't hold it against her!
Just because they came back a second time and even brought a gift, we shouldn't refuse someone who's smiling at us.
"Madam Song is really something! It's enough that the person has come; why bring so many gifts!"
"Hey! Where's your niece? Didn't she come with you?" Shangguan Jin even looked behind her.
"It has already been sent back to its hometown!"
"It's the old lady's birthday, I should come." Lady Wuding said with a forced smile.
Shangguan Jin smiled and welcomed all the ladies to the front yard.
This time she suffered a major hemorrhage, so she asked the housekeeper to find an opera troupe to perform for everyone.
Otherwise, it would be too boring for everyone to just sit in the courtyard drinking tea and eating melon seeds.
As the sun rose higher and higher, almost everyone from each prefecture had arrived.
Shangguan Jin and his wife kept glancing towards the door.
finally......
"Madam, the Seventh Prince has arrived!" the steward said as he approached Shangguan Jin.
The courtyard immediately fell silent.
Those who were preparing to perform also withdrew.
"Please come in quickly!"
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