Qin Yuan's words had a lot to do with each other. On the surface, she was scolding the servant for favoring her and bullying the newcomer, but in reality, she was indirectly criticizing the two women, the aunt and her sister-in-law.

Gu Baozhu had never been treated like this before. She raised her two thick, handsome eyebrows and was about to lash out when Madam Gu Liu quickly stopped her and said with a smile, "The title of Marquis is hereditary and cannot be changed. Most of the servants in the family have served for generations. Third Sister-in-law does not know that in noble families like ours, we pay great attention to respecting the elderly. Those old servants are very respectable in front of the young masters, so they are bound to be a bit arrogant and domineering. They are really hard to manage."

Looking at Qin Yuan's expression, he added, "In my opinion, those blind fools should be punished. Yesterday, the Marquis severely punished Steward Wang and that scoundrel to vent Third Sister-in-law's anger; otherwise, they would have accompanied Third Sister-in-law back to her parents' home long ago."

Qin Yuan seemed oblivious to the mockery in Madam Gu's words, and smiled with pursed lips.

Gu Baozhu laughed sarcastically, "It's rare for Third Brother to get angry for a woman. I thought he only had eyes for that mother and son at Fengxuan Pavilion."

The two women, sister-in-law and aunt, had a very good understanding.

Qin Yuan sneered, "Seventh Sister seems to have some misunderstanding about your Third Brother? Doesn't the Marquis have any respect for you? He even told me that your personality is too lively and active, and asked me to discipline you more for his sake, so that you won't be disliked by your husband's family after you get married."

Upon hearing this, Gu Baozhu slammed her fan heavily on the table and said, "What do you mean by this, Third Sister-in-law?"

Qin Yuan then added sarcastically, "What do you think this means? Of course it's well-intentioned."

Gu Baozhu got up angrily and was about to grab her clothes when Hongye quickly stepped in front of her and protected her firmly.

Hearing the commotion inside, Madam Gu knew that the old lady was about to come out, so she quickly tried to dissuade her, saying, "Stop joking around here, the old lady is coming soon."

Qin Yuan peeked out from behind Hongye and said, "Sixth sister-in-law is wrong. I'm not joking with seventh sister. Seventh sister is a young lady of the Dingbei Marquis's mansion. She has a noble status, but she should also have the virtues of a young lady. After all, she will eventually get married and can't be an old maid forever. The old lady and the Marquis love you and naturally want the best for you."

Gu Baozhu stamped her foot: "...Sixth Sister-in-law, listen to her, how dare she speak like that..."

Qin Yuan continued to act like an elder, saying with a disapproving look, "No one says anything to you when you talk nonsense at home, but if you develop this habit and do the same outside, it will be too late to bring trouble to the Marquis's mansion and the Marquis. As your sister-in-law, even if the Marquis didn't tell me to teach you, I would still do so, and it's all for your own good."

Unable to win the argument, Gu Baozhu, in a fit of rage, lunged at her. She quickly hid behind Cuiming and Hongye.

"Outrageous! What kind of behavior is this!"

After some time had passed, Old Madam Gu finally spoke.

The crowd quickly separated and stood with their hands at their sides.

Madam Gu glanced displeasedly at the women in the hall; none of them were easy to deal with. She frowned and asked, "What happened? Baozhu, why were you fighting with your third sister-in-law?"

Gu Baozhu, having lost her arrogance, tearfully complained, "Mother, I was in a hurry to go out yesterday and accidentally used my third sister-in-law's car. I apologized just now, but she won't let it go."

"Oh?" Old Madam Gu looked at Qin Yuan, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes. "What do you say?"

The newlywed bride and her sister-in-law immediately fell out.

Even if you are in the right, the elders will still feel that you are not humble and tolerant enough.

Qin Yuan said softly, "Mother, I was just trying to protect the Marquis. The more Seventh Sister said it, the less plausible it seemed. I was afraid that if she talked about it outside, it would cause trouble for the Marquis and the Marquis's mansion. So I said a few words, but I didn't expect that Seventh Sister wouldn't listen."

A daughter-in-law arguing and arguing to protect her son are two completely different things.

Madam Gu's brows relaxed.

Gu Baozhu hurriedly shook her head: "Mother, Baozhu didn't. My third sister-in-law cursed me to be an old maid for life and never get married, that's why Baozhu is angry."

Madam Gu looked at Qin Yuan in surprise.

Qin Yuan sighed, "It's all my fault for meddling. My sixth sister-in-law and seventh sister are close, and I should have taught her a lesson long ago. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be my turn as the new bride. Seventh sister, don't twist my meaning like that. Even if you're determined not to marry, does the Marquis's mansion have any more chopsticks for you?"

Madam Gu, who had intended to sit back and watch the fight unfold, was speechless.

Unable to understand the dispute between the two, Old Madam Gu looked at Sixth Madam Gu and asked, "You were here too, what do you say?"

Madam Gu looked at Gu Baozhu, whose eyes were filled with tears, and then at the weak and innocent Qin Yuan. She looked troubled, wanting to treat both sides equally but unable to. She sighed and said, "I don't know why, but the two of them started arguing back and forth. Seventh Sister is young and can't keep her temper. Third Sister-in-law just arrived and is putting on airs as an elder to lecture Seventh Sister. It's understandable that Seventh Sister is not convinced."

Madam Gu seemed to be deep in thought.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Mother, Seventh Sister is still young. Like a sapling that has grown crooked, she needs to be corrected early so that she can become a good person."

"The Marquis is the head of the Marquis's mansion. Seventh Sister-in-law's words were disrespectful, and Sixth Sister-in-law couldn't point it out and ask Seventh Sister-in-law to improve. Instead, she accused me of putting on airs as an elder and lecturing Seventh Sister-in-law, which made Seventh Sister-in-law resentful. No wonder Seventh Sister-in-law dares to talk nonsense in front of me. The servants in the mansion are hard to manage."

Her tone was kind, but her words were anything but kind, displaying a ruthless streak that seemed ready to tear off any pretense of civility.

Everyone was stunned.

The hall fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

After a long pause, Madam Gu, with red eyes, sobbed, "Third Sister-in-law, are you dissatisfied with my steward? If so, I am willing to step down."

Gu Baozhu spoke up in defense: "Third Sister-in-law, you've only been in the household for a few days, while Sixth Sister-in-law has managed the household for many years. Even if she hasn't made any great contributions, she has certainly worked hard..."

Qin Yuan said solemnly, "By protecting the Marquis, I am protecting the dignity of the Marquis's mansion. Only when the Marquis is well can the Marquis's mansion be well. Although the title of Marquis of Dingbei is hereditary, how can the salary of the title alone support the expenses of such a large family? The wealth and glory that our ancestors risked their lives for must be maintained by our descendants. There is absolutely no reason to sit around and eat our wealth away."

Upon hearing this, Madam Gu nodded, her eyes filled with admiration.

Qin Yuan continued, "Lord Marquis earns his future through swords and spears on the battlefield, but Seventh Sister says that Lord Marquis only has eyes for that mother and son in Fengxuan Pavilion. If outsiders heard this, I wonder what they would think of Lord Marquis."

Gu Baozhu's face was deathly pale, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Old Madam Gu at the head of the table.

Qin Yuan continued, "You should know that if a large family falls apart, it always starts from the inside. Seventh Sister, as a member of the Marquis's family, has inadvertently protected the Marquis, which has given others something to talk about. Shouldn't I speak up? Sixth Sister-in-law, you live with Seventh Sister day and night. Have you ever fulfilled your duty as a sister-in-law and advised Seventh Sister?"

Madam Gu gritted her teeth inwardly.

Qin Yuan's words were aimed at Old Madam Gu's sore spot. Gu Jinghui was beaten yesterday because of that mother and son, which shows that it is a heartache for the old lady.

As expected, Old Madam Gu asked coldly, "Baozhu, what exactly did you say?"

Before Gu Baozhu could speak, Old Madam Gu said again, "Call in a young maid who is guarding outside and let her speak."

Rong Mama quickly called in one of the young maids who had just grown her hair back and was guarding outside, and instructed her: "Tell me what the ladies and young misses were saying in the room just now."