By this time, the sky had already brightened considerably.

The front courtyard had long since been prepared with tables and chairs. Because this was a birthday banquet for female relatives, there was no separation between men and women. Instead, families sat together at tables, with several dozen low tables prepared.

Just as they passed through the front courtyard where the banquet was set up, before the main gate had been fully opened, a matron suddenly rushed over: “Eldest Miss, something has happened. You need to make a decision quickly.”

The birthday banquet matters were mainly handled by Xie Ping, so the servants came directly to report to her.

Xie Ping felt somewhat annoyed. These servants truly had no sense at all. With so many elders present, wasn’t this deliberately making her lose face?

She took a deep breath and asked: “What happened?”

The matron spoke: “Eldest Miss, just now when preparing the dishes, the kitchen discovered that the fish delivered early this morning were all only palm-sized. Small fish would be one thing, but they’re all dead! What should we do about this?”

“What?” The old madam could hardly believe it. “What household serves dead fish at a birthday banquet?”

Wouldn’t this be inauspicious, cursing her to die early?

Xie Ping hurriedly said: “Take me to see.”

The old madam’s right eyelid kept twitching. She always felt uneasy: “The time is still early. The guests won’t arrive for a while. Let’s all go take a look together.”

Xie Zhongcheng, Xie Jingyu, and Xie Shi’an remained in the front courtyard. The old madam led a group of female relatives toward the back kitchen.

When she saw the small fish floating on the water’s surface with their white bellies turned up, the old madam’s expression completely darkened: “Who was responsible for purchasing this fish?”

One matron said: “Kitchen procurement is all handled by Steward He.”

Xie Ping clutched her handkerchief tightly.

She had trusted He Xu so much, handing most matters over to him. She never expected this bastard would create such a huge disaster for her!

Small fish would be one thing, but to actually deliver dead fish—just how much silver had he embezzled!

“Old Madam, I—I failed to judge people properly.” Xie Ping lowered her head. “I’ll immediately arrange for people to buy fresh large fish and bring them back.”

Yuan Shi sighed: “By the time the fish are bought back, the banquet will have already started. There won’t be enough time.”

Concubine Tao spoke: “Then we might as well just not have the fish dish.”

“The birthday banquet cannot be without fish.” Yun Chu said lightly. “These fish died about half an hour ago. If we make the flavoring heavy, we can suppress the lack of freshness.”

The old madam looked at Yun Chu: “Are you certain this will work?”

“The Yun residence has a dish called Spicy and Sour Crispy Fish. Through high-temperature deep frying, combined with dogwood and aged vinegar for flavor, ordinary people won’t be able to detect it.” Yun Chu spoke. “Concubine Yu, you know how to make this dish. I’ll leave it to you.”

Her calm and composed manner made everyone, who had been in a panic, suddenly feel as if they had found a backbone. It was as if dead fish wasn’t such a serious matter after all.

Tingyu stepped forward: “Yes.”

Among the four senior maids by the madam’s side, she was the one skilled in culinary arts. She felt she finally had a place to demonstrate her abilities.

She handed the child over to the wet nurse and walked into the kitchen. As she entered, she heard Yuan Shi speaking: “Chu’er, our household still needs you to manage things. Thank goodness you’re here, otherwise we truly wouldn’t know what to do…”

Concubine Jiang chimed in: “Madam has the talent for household management. This small matter is naturally nothing to her.”

Walking inside, Tingyu bit her lip. She was clearly the one solving the current thorny problem, yet everyone only praised the madam, completely forgetting about her…

The old madam’s expression was complex.

She had originally wanted to hold a perfect birthday banquet and take back Yun Chu’s household management authority, but before the banquet even started, something had gone wrong, and she still needed Yun Chu to handle the aftermath…

The old lady had to admit that a legitimate daughter raised by the General’s residence was indeed superior to others in all aspects.

“All the items delivered for procurement this morning—inspect every single one.” Yun Chu said coldly. “You’re all experienced hands who’ve worked in the kitchen. Handle small matters yourselves. If you truly can’t deal with something, report it immediately.”

“Yes!”

The matrons and maids in the kitchen acknowledged the order in unison.

Only then did the old madam lead the female relatives to the front courtyard to receive guests.

The corner of Yun Chu’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

She knew this birthday banquet wouldn’t be particularly outstanding, but she never imagined such a huge problem could arise.

Before it even started, an entire tank of fish had died. Who knew how many more troubles awaited later.

However, did He Xu really have the audacity to procure an entire tank of dead fish? She couldn’t help but feel these fish had been deliberately suffocated to death by someone…

Although the rough-work matrons in the household had many complaints about Xie Ping, they probably wouldn’t dare to sabotage the birthday banquet.

Yun Chu thought to herself that perhaps it was just the old madam’s bad luck…

The old madam, Yuan Shi, and several young masters and ladies sat in the flower hall of the front courtyard talking. Concubines were not permitted to attend such occasions. Yun Chu and Xie Jingyu, along with the eldest son and eldest daughter Xie Shi’an and Xie Ping, stood at the main gate receiving guests.

The first to arrive with birthday congratulations was Xie Jingyu’s subordinate, Official Hu, who brought his wife and daughter to celebrate the old madam’s birthday.

“Lord Xie, Madam Xie.” Official Hu cupped his hands in salute. “A humble gift—please accept it.”

Xie Jingyu returned the salute: “Shi’an, escort Official Hu inside to take his seat.”

Official Hu looked at Xie Shi’an with emotion: “When this official first visited the Xie residence two years ago, Young Master Xie was only this tall. Now he’s grown so much taller.”

Xie Shi’an exchanged pleasantries with Official Hu as they entered the front courtyard.

Yun Chu smiled and greeted Madam Hu.

Madam Hu looked at Yun Chu’s pale complexion and said: “I heard Madam Xie was seriously ill, yet you still had to manage the birthday banquet. It must have been truly exhausting.”

“Not really.” Yun Chu spoke. “This birthday banquet was entirely organized by my daughter. I only provided a bit of guidance. All the major and minor matters were decided by her. With Miss Ping helping me, I’ll have much less to worry about in the future.”

Madam Hu looked at Xie Ping with surprise: “Miss Xie is only thirteen or fourteen years old, yet she can organize such a large birthday banquet by herself?”

Xie Ping spoke: “It’s all because Mother taught me well.”

This meant she was acknowledging that she had managed this entire birthday banquet herself.

Just then, quite a few guests arrived and heard that this birthday banquet was organized by a thirteen-year-old young lady. They couldn’t help but show looks of admiration.

Xie Ping accepted all these praises without reservation.

Just at this moment, a matron anxiously rushed over from behind.

Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly said: “This junior still has some matters to handle. Please excuse me for a moment.”

She led the matron to the side and frowned: “What now?”

“Eldest Miss, the pork and mutton purchased for the back kitchen are each short by at least ten pounds.” The matron slapped her thigh. “If we arrange for people to buy more now, there won’t be enough time…”

Xie Ping ground her teeth in anger.

He Xu was her own maternal uncle. How could he specifically sabotage her like this?

She clutched her handkerchief and said: “Then make each portion slightly smaller. Today’s guests are all officials with means. They won’t miss a bite or two of meat.”

The matron opened her lips but ultimately swallowed the words she wanted to say. She acknowledged the order and returned to the back kitchen to continue working.

Xie Ping adjusted her emotions and returned to Yun Chu’s side to continue receiving guests.

Every madam who came would inquire about Yun Chu’s illness. Although Yun Chu said she had recovered, her pale complexion and frail figure made it obvious she was forcing herself to appear and receive guests.

At this time, the Yun family’s carriage arrived.

Last time, the Yun family had publicly intervened to bury the Xie family’s prematurely deceased legitimate son and daughter beside the Yun family ancestral shrine, which was equivalent to openly slapping the Xie family in the face. Everyone was curious about what attitude the current Yun family would have toward the Xie family, now that Yun Chu had fallen so ill.