Madam Lu called for the seamstress to take measurements for the household. The embroidery workshop where the seamstress worked was one of the businesses owned by the Duke's residence.
The seamstress was quite perceptive. Seeing how generously Madam Lu treated Wen Ye, she realized that the relationship between the sisters-in-law was different from what was rumored outside. As a result, she treated Wen Ye with even more respect.
In truth, Madam Lu didn’t think much of it. She simply felt that since Madam Shen, as Wen Ye’s stepmother, could be so generous, she, as Wen Ye’s elder sister-in-law, naturally couldn’t fall behind.
It had nothing to do with Wen Ye personally; it was merely a matter of competition between the Duke’s residence and the Wen family.
After the measurements were taken, Wen Ye finally had a chance to sit down and rest. The walnut pastries Tao Zhi had bought from Furong Pastry Shop were much tastier than the ones Xu Yuejia had brought back from Caiyun Pastry Shop.
Wen Ye ate two pieces and then, in front of Madam Lu, opened an envelope.
The letter wasn’t written by Madam Shen. Wen Ye read it from start to finish. Besides mentioning the clothes, the letter also talked about her younger sister Wen Ran’s failure to be selected for something. However, the concubine mentioned that Wen Ran wasn’t upset at all because the Emperor had rewarded her with many valuable items and silver.
The jade in the box was an imperial gift, and the concubine emphasized this in the letter, fearing that Wen Ye might forget. After reading the letter, Wen Ye had Tao Zhi put it away.
Madam Lu, seeing that Wen Ye had finished reading, asked, “Is everything well at your family’s home?”
Wen Ye replied, “Everything is going smoothly.”
Madam Lu glanced again at the clothes in the box and said, “This outfit, both in style and color, suits you perfectly. In a few days, it will be my birthday. Why don’t you wear this to accompany me when I receive guests?”
The clothes from the residence’s tailor would take over a month to finish, even if rushed, so they likely wouldn’t be ready in time. Wen Ye put down the pastry and asked, “How does Sister-in-law plan to celebrate your birthday?” If Madam Lu hadn’t mentioned it, Wen Ye might have completely forgotten about it.
Madam Lu said, “I’ll naturally invite some close acquaintances. Besides your two aunts, most of the guests will be my old friends from before I married.” However, now that everyone was married and had children, opportunities to meet were rare.
Although her rank was high, she was still young, so it wasn’t appropriate to host a grand celebration. Moreover, since it was only once a year, Madam Lu didn’t want to invite people who were only superficially friendly.
On her birthday, Madam Lu simply wanted to relax.
Wen Ye had an idea and smiled, “Since Sister-in-law thinks this outfit suits me, I’ll wear it.” She wasn’t picky about what she wore because every outfit she had was beautiful. Wen Ye never had the chance to wear anything unattractive.
Madam Lu didn’t want to hear her flattery anymore. “Alright, take these things from the Wen family back and organize them.”
“Oh,” Madam Lu remembered something and added, “Take these walnut pastries back too. Xu Yuxuan can’t eat walnuts, so make sure you finish them before he sees them.”
This was the first time Wen Ye had heard that Xu Yuxuan couldn’t eat walnut pastries.
No wonder she hadn’t seen any walnuts in the residence. If she wanted to eat them, she had to send Tao Zhi out to buy them. Back in the west courtyard, Wen Ye began to think about Madam Lu’s birthday.
A gift was definitely necessary.
Given how well Madam Lu had treated her, the birthday gift couldn’t be something superficial.
However, Madam Lu lacked nothing valuable. Her private storeroom was filled with chests of treasures, and she probably grew tired of looking at them every day. Besides, the most valuable items Wen Ye owned were gifts from Madam Lu herself.
She couldn’t just give them back.
After much deliberation, Wen Ye decided to make a birthday cake. Though it would be time-consuming and labor-intensive, it wouldn’t be a burden on her. A good gift was one that truly touched the recipient’s heart.
Hongxing had never made a cake before, so Wen Ye dictated the steps from memory and had Hongxing try them out one by one.
The cake base was easier to make. After a few failed attempts, Hongxing quickly got the hang of it. The failed bases weren’t thrown away; most of the failures were due to incorrect ingredient ratios, resulting in cakes that were either too sweet or not fluffy enough.
They were still edible, though. Wen Ye tasted some, and the rest were given to the servants in the west courtyard by Yun Zhi and Tao Zhi.
The cream, however, was more troublesome. Without a modern mixer, it had to be whipped by hand.
For several days, many of the servants in the west courtyard had sore arms, and their hands trembled when they held things. Tao Zhi also tried a few times, but the next day, when she served tea to Wen Ye, she nearly spilled it all over her.
Xu Yuejia soon noticed the changes in the west courtyard.
Two days before Madam Lu’s birthday, they finally managed to make a decent-looking cake. It was a simple round shape, about the size of an adult man’s palm.
During dinner, Wen Ye had the cake placed in the center of the table. Xu Yuejia glanced at it and asked, “Have you been busy with this these past few days?”
Wen Ye nodded. “Yes, would you like to try it?”
She had great confidence in Hongxing’s and her own skills.
Wen Ye had Yun Zhi cut a slice for Xu Yuejia and said, “I plan to personally make a cake for Sister-in-law as her birthday gift. What do you think?”
Xu Yuejia raised his eyes and looked at her. “Are you short on money?”
Wen Ye almost couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. “Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘A heartfelt gift is worth a thousand pieces of gold’?”
Xu Yuejia understood, but after dinner, he still sent someone to deliver a chest of silver ingots.
Wen Ye: “…” She really wanted to know what kind of image she had in Xu Yuejia’s mind.
To keep it a secret, only Xu Yuejia and the people in the west courtyard knew that Wen Ye was working on a new type of pastry. However, they didn’t know it was meant for the Duchess.
Wen Ye had instructed them not to tell anyone, so she didn’t explain its purpose either. A heartfelt birthday gift should be a surprise.
Most of the people in the west courtyard were used to the second madam’s unconventional ways, so they assumed she was just experimenting with new pastries to pass the time.
Only Xu Yuxuan felt the absence of a playmate recently and was a little disappointed.
Nanny Ji had an inkling of what was going on, but she didn’t pry. She pretended not to know and continued to focus on taking care of the young master. Today was the Duchess’s birthday, and the second madam had gone to the waterside pavilion early in the morning.
Xu Yuxuan finally had a chance to visit the west courtyard, but he arrived only to find it empty. Feeling a little upset, he carried a small stool to the outer wall of the main hall, set it down, and sat on it.
His small, solitary figure somehow looked pitiful.
Nanny Ji couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy, but she didn’t offer to take him to find his mother.
Today, the Duchess had only invited a few close friends and relatives. Even the young master, the second young master, and the Duke himself had to stay away during the day. It was even less appropriate for the young master to join the gathering.
So Nanny Ji comforted him, “How about I kick a shuttlecock for you to watch?”
The last time had been an accident, but Nanny Ji refused to let herself fail again. Once her legs had recovered, she began practicing kicking the shuttlecock for fifteen to thirty minutes every day.
After half a month, her legs no longer ached, and she could kick the shuttlecock more than ten times in a row.
Xu Yuxuan seemed to understand that Nanny Ji wouldn’t take him to find his mother, so he reluctantly nodded. He even said politely, “Thank you, Nanny.”
Nanny Ji smiled warmly. “It’s no trouble at all, really.”
The Duchess’s birthday banquet wasn’t held in the main courtyard but in a side courtyard by the water.
Though not large, it was the most scenic spot in the Duke’s residence, modeled after the courtyard where Madam Lu had lived before her marriage. Hosting the banquet here held special significance.
The guests, in a show of intimacy, all addressed Madam Lu by her maiden name.
Of Madam Lu’s old friends, Wen Ye only knew Aunt Yu, but today she met a few more.
There was the daughter-in-law of the Hanlin Academician, the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the Minister of Justice, and the wife of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
In addition to the two aunts and her cousin’s wife, Lady Yao, the table was just full.
Madam Lu had more friends before her marriage, but after marrying, some of them had changed due to their circumstances, making further association inappropriate. Over the years, only these few remained.
The daughter-in-law of the Hanlin Academician was from the Meng family, and her husband was the fourth son. Her maiden name was Liu. Wen Ye only found out after asking that she was from the same clan as her second sister-in-law, Madam Liu. However, due to wartime turmoil, their ancestors had been forced to separate, and it wasn’t until the generation of Fourth Lady Meng’s grandfather that the two families reconnected.
Fourth Lady Meng had long known that her clan sister, Liu Ru, was married to Wen Ye’s second brother. When her friend invited Wen Ye to the birthday celebration, Fourth Lady Meng understood everything. As a result, among the guests, she showed the most obvious goodwill toward Wen Ye.
Lady Zheng was the eldest granddaughter-in-law of Old Minister Jiang, and her husband also worked in the Ministry of Justice, making him a subordinate of Xu Yuejia.
The Zheng family was not a prominent household. During the reign of the previous emperor, because the Zheng family had refused to take sides, they were repeatedly suppressed by several princes vying for the throne. Lady Zheng's grandfather, father, and brothers were nearly falsely accused and imprisoned.
In the end, it was Xu Yuejia who, at a critical moment, found sufficient evidence to clear the Zheng family's name, allowing them to escape disaster.
After this incident, Xu Yuejia was transferred away from Sheng Jing and was not promoted for several years.
Because of this, Lady Zheng always felt a sense of guilt towards the Duke's household, and today, upon meeting Wen Ye, this guilt naturally transferred to her.
The wife of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was from the Chen family. She had been Madam Lu's childhood friend, having known each other since they could walk.
Lady Chen was originally the daughter of a marquis's household, but her father had angered the previous emperor and was stripped of his title and demoted. It was only after the new emperor ascended the throne that her father was reinstated and his title restored.
By then, however, Lady Chen was already married. Still, her father's restoration of his title benefited her as a married woman.
At the very least, her mother-in-law no longer dared to openly mistreat her.
Setting aside other factors, the three women had a very favorable first impression of Wen Ye. Her eyes were clear, and she seemed free of any ulterior motives.
However, the main focus of the day was Madam Lu, and the gathering was primarily to celebrate her. After everyone had been introduced, the attention turned to Madam Lu.
As friends, they didn't often have the chance to meet. Madam Lu, as the mistress of the household, could use her birthday as an excuse to invite everyone over, while others didn't have such convenience.
Take Fourth Lady Meng, for example. As the daughter-in-law of the fourth branch, she didn't have to manage household affairs, but being stuck in the middle, neither here nor there, was quite uncomfortable.
Her husband had seven brothers, all living under one roof, and there were inevitably conflicts between the brothers and their wives.
For instance, when the emperor was selecting companions for the princess, her sisters-in-law had a huge argument that still hadn't been resolved.
As for hosting a birthday gathering and inviting friends over, Fourth Lady Meng knew that was out of the question.
Everyone chatted and laughed, enjoying the scenery, and then began presenting their gifts. None of the gifts were particularly extravagant, as the emphasis was on thoughtfulness. After all, Madam Lu didn't organize this gathering every year for the sake of receiving gifts.
Madam Lu accepted each gift one by one, her joy evident on her face as she said, "You all know me best."
Aunt Yu glanced at Fourth Lady Meng and said gently, "This peace pendant was personally blessed by a master at the temple."
Madam Lu replied, "I love whatever you give me."
Aunt Xu and Eldest Aunt also presented their birthday gifts, both chosen with Madam Lu's preferences in mind.
Lady Yao gifted a sachet she had sewn herself, filled with her own recipe for calming incense, which was said to be very effective. She even included the recipe for Madam Lu.
As the mistress of the Duke's household, Madam Lu undoubtedly had many responsibilities. Lady Yao, after some consideration, felt that Madam Lu would benefit more from the calming incense than she did.
Managing the Shen Family's household affairs was already a challenge for her, and she couldn't imagine how Madam Lu had managed all these years.
Wen Ye waited until everyone else had presented their gifts before saying, "Sister-in-law, I've prepared something too, but it's a bit different from what everyone else has brought."
Madam Lu was aware of the comings and goings in the west courtyard, though she didn't know the specifics.
Recalling that Xu Yuxuan hadn't been able to visit the west courtyard for several days, Madam Lu guessed, "So, you've been busy with this these past few days?"
Not one to miss an opportunity to shine, Wen Ye replied, "I've come up with a new dessert called 'cake.' I'm sure Sister-in-law will love it."
With that, Wen Ye called for the maids to bring out the cake.
The cake Wen Ye had prepared was a three-tiered, round creation. The innermost layer was a sponge cake with fruit filling, covered with a smooth layer of hand-whipped cream. On top were cream flowers tinted with fruit juice, totaling eighteen in all.
Lady Chen exclaimed in surprise, "This is the first time I've seen such a large dessert!"
The others were equally astonished, their eyes shifting from Madam Lu to Wen Ye, filled with curiosity. Wen Ye, as if performing a magic trick, produced a small oil-paper candle from behind her—one of eighteen specially made for the occasion.
She inserted the candles into the top layer of the cake and, before lighting them, said to Madam Lu, "These are birthday candles. In a moment, I'll light them, and you should close your eyes, make three wishes in your heart, and then blow out the candles. That way, your wishes will come true."
Madam Lu couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart—it was a little bittersweet. She chided, "Such a fuss. Where did you learn all this?" Wishes weren't so easily granted.
Wen Ye grinned and said, "Today is Sister-in-law's birthday. The heavens will be lenient. Trust me."
Madam Lu looked at the oddly shaped dessert and asked, "How do we do this? You take charge." She had no idea what to do.
Wen Ye lit the small candles one by one, then said, "Sister-in-law, it's time to make your wishes."
This was a first for Madam Lu, and she found it quite novel. She closed her eyes, carefully made three wishes, and then slowly opened them. Under everyone's gaze, she blew out the eighteen candles.
"What's next?" Madam Lu couldn't help but ask.
Wen Ye removed the candles and said, "Next is the cake-cutting. You make the first cut, Sister-in-law."
Madam Lu hesitated but made the cut. She asked uncertainly, "Have you tasted this before?"
Wen Ye shamelessly dragged Xu Yuejia into the conversation, whispering to Madam Lu, "The first time I made this, it was a bit rough, but my husband ate a piece and said he wanted more."
Madam Lu: "..." Why are you telling me about your private moments with Xu Yuejia?
But with this assurance, Madam Lu felt more at ease and personally cut several slices to share with everyone present.
Aunt Xu and Eldest Aunt both praised the cake, saying it was soft, sweet, and fragrant, with a layer of cream that melted in the mouth.
Lady Zheng, being more observant, had counted the candles earlier and had a question in mind. After tasting the delicious cake, she couldn't resist asking, "Why eighteen candles?"
Wen Ye replied, "The eighteen candles represent my wish for Sister-in-law—to stay forever young, always eighteen."
Madam Lu scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Though her upturned lips betrayed her true feelings, making it hard to believe she was truly reprimanding Wen Ye.
Wen Ye blinked her sincere eyes and said, "I mean every word." Her words were so sweet that the others, holding their plates of cake, couldn't help but look away.
Lady Zheng, who had overheard: "..."
She shouldn't have asked.
Fourth Lady Meng, thinking of her own strained relationships with her sisters-in-law, found the cake sticking in her throat, neither going down nor coming up.
Once again, Madam Lu had managed to show off.
