Being a second wife is difficult: I'm busy raising children in the Earl's mansion.

As dawn broke, morning mist swirled among the scattered eaves of the Earl's mansion, and a cool morning breeze swept through the courtyard, bringing with it the unique tranquility of early morning.

Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking on the gate of the east courtyard. The sound was soft, but it carried a hint of panic.

Lu Hui, dressed in a neat blue academy robe, jogged through the mist, his robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.

He ran fast, his chest rising and falling slightly, his lips still trembling with breath, and a thin layer of morning frost clinging to his shoulders.

A hint of weariness lingered in his eyes, yet his lightheartedness was undeniable.

He stayed up all night, carefully polishing the wooden blank by the light of a flickering lamp.

Fearing that too much force would ruin the pattern, and too little force would make it not delicate enough, he made repeated revisions until he finally finished polishing the wooden mold of the hairpin with the plum blossom and scroll pattern.

Tiny wood shavings were still stuck between his fingers, but he didn't care at all. He tightly protected the small wooden box in his arms with one hand and clutched the bulging plain cloth bag with the other. He rushed into the courtyard and headed straight for the main house.

The room was bright and clean, with morning light streaming through the window and falling on the desk, where Jiang Wan sat quietly.

Lu Hui quickly stopped in his tracks, steadied his breathing, and bowed respectfully.

"I have met my mother."

He carefully handed over the wooden box with both hands, and then gently placed the heavy cloth bundle on the table.

Lifting a corner of the wooden box revealed a neat and tidy wooden mold inside. The plump and rounded wintersweet blossoms and the flowing and natural scroll patterns were far more exquisite than the initial appearance yesterday. One could immediately tell that it was the result of a whole night's hard work.

Inside that cloth bag was all the savings he had accumulated over the past six months.

He saved every penny of the small amounts of silver and copper coins he earned from the monthly allowance at the academy and from helping his classmates with carpentry jobs in his spare time.

"Yesterday, I troubled my younger brother Zhao to bring back the blueprints for me. I also thank my mother, aunt, and younger siblings for their concern." Lu Hui said, panting, his face relaxed.

The worries that had been weighing on my heart for so long have finally been put to rest.

He kept a tight rein on himself these days, studying during the day and secretly polishing wooden blocks and counting money at night, being extremely careful in everything he did and not daring to let the slightest word out.

They were afraid that the news would leak out in advance and ruin the surprise of preparing a birthday gift for Aunt Zhou.

Now that the blueprints and wooden models are all in place, his long-held anxiety has finally subsided.

He looked up at Jiang Wan, his eyes filled with the trepidation of a young man.

"Mother, please ask the silversmith about their rates. If I don't have enough money, please let me know. I'll save up the rest slowly and make up the difference, not a penny less."

Jiang Wan lowered her eyes to look at the exquisite wooden model and the heavy bag of change on the table, her expression gentle.

"Don't worry," she said softly, her tone reassuring and calm. "I'll take care of everything and make this hairpin exactly as you wish."

After saying that, she looked up at the boy's slightly haggard face.

"I won't be harsh on you this time, knowing it's out of filial piety. But this is a one-time thing; you must never stay up late again and harm your health. You still have to go to the academy for your studies every day; overworking yourself like this is the worst thing you can do."

Lu Hui's ears turned red instantly, and he lowered his head shyly, looking both bashful and obedient.

"I've got it in mind, and I won't do it again."

He subconsciously glanced at the sky, his expression suddenly changed, and his speech became more rapid.

"Oh no! It's getting late, I'll be late if I delay any longer!"

He quickly bowed and said urgently, "Mother, I'm going to the academy now. Please take care of everything else!"

Before he finished speaking, the boy turned and ran outside, his steps light and hurried.

Jiang Wan got up and walked out of the house, standing quietly on the porch to see him off.

Upon seeing this, the servant waiting outside the courtyard dared not delay, quickly picked up his satchel, and hurried after his master.

The master and servant hurried away along the long road of the mansion, disappearing in a moment outside the moon gate shrouded in morning mist.

Qinghe stood beside Jiang Wan, watching the boy's running figure, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"The young master is now extremely focused on his studies, fearing every day that he will be late and punished, and dares not slack off in the slightest."

Jiang Wan looked at the empty intersection, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"It's not that I'm paying attention to my studies; it's that I stayed up all night last night and am feeling guilty, afraid that the teacher will catch me distracted and scold me today."

This child sometimes appears composed, but deep down he still retains the awkwardness and restraint of a young person.

Once the figure had completely disappeared, Jiang Wan turned to look at Qing He beside her, her tone gentle and entrusted.

"Qinghe, it's time for you to make another trip and deliver the blueprints and wooden models to Cuizhen Pavilion, which was recommended by Madam Xu."

She lightly tapped two objects on the table with her fingertips.

The unfolded blueprints are clearly defined, and the wooden mold beside them is three-dimensional and complete, with petals, vines, and scrolling grass patterns all present. The finished product can be seen at a glance.

"Have the shopkeeper give you a fair price, and ask about the materials, procedures, and exact production time. Write down all the details carefully, and then come back and let me know."

"I understand."

Qinghe readily agreed, carefully put the blueprints and wooden box close to her body, straightened her clothes, turned and left the mansion, heading straight for Liujin Street, the most bustling street in the capital.

Cuizhen Pavilion has always been known for its low-key approach among the prominent families in Beijing. It never hawks its wares on the street, nor does it cater to individual customers.

She relies solely on recommendations from acquaintances to do high-end custom-made business, dealing with stewards and personal maids from various households. She has been rooted in the industry for decades with her exquisite craftsmanship, and her reputation has never been ruined.

When Qinghe arrived, the shop was quiet, and the stewards from various prefectures were waiting in an orderly manner without making a fuss.

The shopkeeper behind the counter was a worldly-wise middle-aged man who was very good at observing people and situations.

He was accompanied by a quick-witted and charming young waiter who was adept at flattery and conversation, making the atmosphere in the store exceptionally lively.

Manager Lou glanced up and saw Qinghe entering. Seeing that she was dressed neatly and had a dignified demeanor, she was definitely not an ordinary maid. He immediately smiled and went to greet her.

"Miss, have you come to order jewelry today?"

Qinghe nodded slightly, took out the blueprints and wooden models from her bosom, and laid them flat on the counter.

"Please help me take a look at this pattern, give me a reasonable price, and set a production date."

Manager Lou bent down to examine the blueprints closely, first looking at the layout of the blueprints, then comparing them repeatedly with the wooden model, and soon he had a clear understanding of the design.

He looked up at Qinghe, his smile resolute.

"This wooden mold is crafted with great care; the grain and proportions are perfectly balanced. It must have been a carefully prepared item from your household. Judging from the young lady's demeanor, she must be a trusted confidante of the First Madam of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion, right?"

The young shop assistant immediately stepped forward, praising him with admiration, "Please don't be offended, young lady. Our manager's eye is unparalleled on the whole street! He can identify people from all walks of life and all kinds of items at a glance, and he never makes a mistake!"

Qinghe chuckled inwardly.

These two, master and servant, are quite interesting; they sing in unison and their coordination is flawless.

As expected of a long-established restaurant rooted in Beijing, their ability to recognize and treat customers is truly exceptional.

She remained composed and replied softly, "Shopkeeper, you have a good eye. My wife was recommended by Madam Xu and heard that your shop has solid craftsmanship and uses high-quality materials, so she specially sent me to place this order."

Upon hearing the words "Madam Xu," the shopkeeper's polite smile instantly turned into a genuine and familiar one.

"So it was Madam Xu's favor! I have known Madam Xu for many years, and she has always trusted our craftsmanship. Since she recommended us as a distinguished guest, we naturally used our best craftsmanship and the finest materials, and we would never dare to be perfunctory."

The young shop assistant chimed in, "Of course! For guests recommended by Madam Xu, the manager personally oversees the work, ensuring every detail is polished to perfection!"

The shopkeeper sighed and gestured for him to behave, then focused on the blueprints.

"This set of winter plum blossoms paired with scrolling grass patterns has an elegant and refined design. It avoids excessive carvings, and its simplicity is full of character. It is most suitable for women to wear every day, as it is both pleasing to the eye and elegant."

He lightly touched the lines with his fingertips and slowly recited the details.

"Forged from solid pure silver, with hand-carved lines and fine polishing, the entire hairpin can be completed in ten days if there is no rush."

"—Madam Xu's old customers receive preferential treatment; the full set is priced at seventeen taels."

The prices are transparent and fair, with no hidden fees.

Qinghe memorized everything, and after confirming that everything was correct, she put away the items, bid farewell to the two, and quickly returned to the Earl's residence to report back.

Back in the East Courtyard, Jiang Wan was sitting idly in the courtyard.

Qinghe stepped forward and replied in detail: "Madam, the Cuizhen Pavilion has already made arrangements. The plum blossom and scrolling foliage silver hairpin is made of pure silver with exquisite craftsmanship. The total price is seventeen taels, and the normal production time is ten days. You can pick it up on the due date."

Jiang Wan nodded slightly, understanding in her heart.

Seventeen taels.

Creating such exquisite jewelry is already quite expensive; this amount is not cheap, but it is by no means an exorbitantly high price.

The shop recommended by Madam Xu was indeed reliable and honest, with fair pricing and no intention of cheating customers.

She kept this recommendation in her heart and would definitely repay it when she had the chance.

"Is the silver that the young master has saved enough?" Jiang Wan asked softly.

"It's still a little short," Qinghe answered truthfully. "The difference isn't much, but the young master only has small change saved up on a daily basis, and it's just a little short to pay the full amount."

Jiang Wan sighed softly to herself.

Lu Hui is still young, and it is already quite remarkable that he has managed to save up so much money through his monthly allowance and odd jobs.

Thinking this, she casually picked up a bag of prepared loose silver and handed it to Qinghe.

"I will make up the rest of the money. Go to Cuizhen Pavilion again and finalize all the matters."

"Make it according to the original pattern, size, and fine workmanship standards. Polish it steadily within ten days. No cutting corners is allowed. Just finish on time."

"This servant understands."

Qinghe took the silver and returned to the silver shop.

This time, she paid the remaining balance directly and carefully finalized the carving depth, hairpin thickness, and polishing process with the shopkeeper, confirming all the details one by one, ensuring that the customization was completed smoothly and without any oversights.

After making two trips back and forth, by the time Qinghe had finished everything and returned to the manor, the sun was already setting in the west, and soft sunlight filled the courtyard. She could finally take a good rest.

When Jiang Wan saw her return and knew that everything had been settled, she smiled and told her to go and rest. Suddenly, a clear voice from the gatekeeper came from outside the courtyard.

"Madam! A messenger from the front courtyard reports that Master has completed the handover of all his official duties and will be returning home soon!"

A gentle evening breeze swept through the courtyard, and the soft glow of the sunset bathed the entire Yongchang Marquis's Mansion in tranquility.