Old Ford was exceptionally efficient.
Before dawn the next day, the gate to the western courtyard was packed with estate stewards in black uniforms. At their head stood an elderly butler with white hair, clutching an absurdly thick stack of parchment covered in densely written preparation lists.
Su Li had not yet gotten out of bed when Saina was awakened by the commotion.
Wrapped in her blanket, she sat up and glanced at the dense sea of heads outside the window.
"Making a racket before dawn!" Saina shouted, and the dozen or so stewards outside immediately took two neat steps back.
The old butler braced himself and stood in the middle of the courtyard, waiting a full half hour.
Su Li finally wandered out in a wrinkled old jacket, still carrying half a hard flatbread he had not finished chewing the night before.
"His Grace's exact words were—'Pull out all the stops, spare no expense, and make sure Mr. Su is satisfied with everything.'" The old butler handed over the stack of papers, bending nearly double at the waist.
Su Li took it and flipped through two pages. They were full of arrangements for the wedding banquet venue, guest receptions, formations of musicians, and the like.
He flipped straight to the final page and found the section labeled "Gift Money Registration and Storage."
"Fine. I'll keep these pages. Give the rest to Elena." Su Li tore out the pages related to money and stuffed them into his pocket, then tossed the remainder behind him.
Elena strode over and caught the stack.
She had washed her hair the night before, and her long reddish-brown hair was still damp, casually tied behind her head with a ribbon. After flipping through a few pages, her brows drew tighter and tighter.
"Only one formation