Chapter 141: Chapter 140 Honeycomb Beauty Care
After the housekeeper left, Housekeeper Tang reported to Madam that Mrs. Li had returned home today and brought back seven terracotta jars of honey for the Tang Family.
“Oh, are they all five catties per jar?” Having realized the benefits of honey, Madam felt it rejuvenated her complexion even more than bird’s nest.
For a woman who loves to maintain her beauty, honey is the best supplement and the finest beautifying product.
Sitting in the position of Mrs. Tang, and with her husband having taken concubines, she naturally did not want to age and yield her husband to others. For the happiness of her son and grandson and for her own, personal maintenance was of utmost importance.
“The jars that were delivered are smaller than the previous ones, they seem to be new jars that can hold about two catties of honey. But according to Mrs. Li’s explanation, they are meant as gifts, so naturally, they are packed one catty per jar. She said this kind of honey is very rare; this time she only brought six catties and a two-catty honeycomb.”
“Are you talking about that kind of honeycomb that you eat directly?” Madam, hearing about the honeycomb, showed an expression of delight. Having tasted exotic delicacies and bird’s nest, she was unexpectedly fond of honeycomb.
“Quick, quick, quick, bring that jar of honeycomb to my courtyard. I want to use it to entertain Old Master and young Master and to snack on during leisure time.”
“All right, I’ll have Jinhua collect it from the storeroom, just say that it was Madam and the housekeeper’s instruction, and no one else should know about the honey.”
After hearing the housekeeper’s words, Madam waved for someone close by to find Jinhua. Today, Jinhua had been assigned to the courtyard of her little grandson to look after him and had not returned by this point; she knew there had to be a handover with Mrs. Li.
The housekeeper departed from Madam’s courtyard to report to Old Master’s study, to inform him and the Eldest Young Master about the day’s proceedings.
Meng Zhaojun had not visited the Tang Family for several days since the day she and her mother were ‘expelled’ after dining by Lady Tang.
Mrs. Meng was furious. No matter what, she was an official’s wife, with her husband serving as a parent official in the county, an object of flattery from others. Being treated like that by Lady Tang made her angrily return home with her daughter.
She was still brooding at home even the day after Lady Tang sent pastries over as a conciliatory gesture, which failed to appease her.
Meng Zhaojun was also quite upset at first but could not bear to see her cultivation plan come to nothing. If she were to give up now, wouldn’t all her previous efforts be wasted?
Her pride would not allow her to quit, her pride would not tolerate a failure in her cultivation.
Despite persuading her mother many times, her mother not only disallowed her from visiting the Tang residence, she forbade anyone from helping her send gifts or written invitations there.
Mrs. Meng, aware of her daughter’s intelligence and capability, nonetheless forbade Meng Zhaojun from writing any invitation or sending anything to the Tang residence on her own.
Meng Zhaojun, unable to persuade her mother, unable to visit the Tang residence or send gifts there, felt somewhat disheartened.
She couldn’t just become a stranger to the Tang Family; she still wanted to see the young Tang Shunyan.
Feeling bored and helpless, she decided to embroider a scented pouch during her needlework lessons with Mr. He. While her needlework skills weren’t yet up to par for complex designs, she was certainly capable of embroidering a simple one. Anything intricate was beyond her.
Meng Zhaojun stitched the scented pouch one thread at a time, unable to execute complicated embroidery, she simply adorned the pouch with a bamboo design.
Once the embroidery was completed, she had her maid fill it with fragrant spices, preparing to gift it to Tang Shunyan on his birthday.
Tang Shunyan’s birthday was in two days, just a few days earlier than hers.
Meng Zhaojun had finished embroidering the pouch and had her maid inquire whether Tang Shunyan’s birthday celebration was going to be a grand affair.
If it was, would they send an invitation to their mansion?
If an invitation arrived, would her mother discard it or take her to the party?
While she pondered these things, her chief maid entered to report:
“Lady, Madam has requested your presence in her courtyard.”
Meng Zhaojun stepped out of her room and approached the doorway, where the maid who usually attended her mother was standing.
“Lady, Madam has sent for you.”
“Hmm, Mother wants me to go to her courtyard, is there something the matter?”
Meng Zhaojun had, for the past few days, been incessantly mentioning her desire to visit the Tang Family, which had irritated Mrs. Meng. She had decreed that her daughter stay in the courtyard without wandering about and avoid bothering her unless called for.
“Lady, Madam wants to have new clothes made for you.”
“Oh, that is indeed very good…” Meng Zhaojun seemed to understand—the possibility was that her mother intended to attend a banquet and wished to have clothes made for her. After all, winter attire had already been taken care of, and spring garments should probably be made after the New Year!
Meng Zhaojun entered her mother’s courtyard, not heading to her own room but to the parlor where guests were received, as the tailoring assistance would definitely be arranged there.
Upon entering the parlor, she saw a tailor shop owner sitting on a chair, sipping tea.
Her family did not maintain a plethora of shops with many embroidery ladies like the Tang Family did in the same locality.
The main business interests of her family lay in the Capital, and since their arrival here over a year ago, Mrs. Meng had only purchased two shops in the county—one a pastry shop and the other a cosmetics retailer.
Meng Zhaojun entered the parlor, paid her respects to her mother, and acknowledged the shop owner with a nod.
Upon seeing the official’s daughter nodding to her, the shop owner rose and returned the gesture, then addressed Mrs. Meng with a smile:
“Mrs. Meng, Miss Meng grows ever more beautiful by the day. As a child, she looked like a little Beauty and, growing up, is sure to become a stunning beauty and talented lady.” Ms. Ding, the tailor shop owner, had quite a sweet tongue—befitting of a businesswoman.
“Ms. Ding, take her measurements and make us both a new set of clothes.”
“Mrs. Meng, would you like casual wear or something for attending a banquet?”
“For a banquet, I suppose! It should be unique, so we don’t end up wearing the same outfit as someone else.”
“Okay, I will take measurements for the Lady. When do you need the clothes by?” Ms. Ding, the tailor shop owner, feared she wouldn’t have enough time.
“They must be ready in two days’ time.”
“Then, including today, we only have two days. We will work overtime to finish them on time. Please rest assured, Mrs. Meng. Even if we have to set aside all other business, we will prioritize completing your dresses.”
Ms. Ding took Meng Zhaojun’s measurements and then those of Mrs. Meng.
In fact, both of their clothes had always been custom-made at this shop, but for the sake of caution, the shop owner still took measurements each time they needed new garments crafted.
Clothes that were too small were difficult to adjust, and clothes that were too large needed alterations. Mrs. Meng’s size might not have changed much over a period of time, but it was different for Miss Meng—children always grow taller and bigger.
Having taken the measurements, Ms. Ding asked them what color of fabric they wanted, bringing along swatches for them to choose from.
Mrs. Meng selected the fabrics for the dresses for her daughter and herself, and to expedite the tailoring process, Ms. Ding, with her items in hand, excused herself from the parlor.
“Mother, what banquet are we attending?” Meng Zhaojun had her suspicions but still asked the question outright.
“A clever girl like you asking such questions,” Mrs. Meng chided gently.
“Mother, please tell me!” Meng Zhaojun clung to her mother’s arm, shaking it coquettishly as she begged.