Reflecting on the events of the past few days, Qin Yuan sighed softly.
Cuiming quickly stopped what she was doing and asked, "Did you pull your hair?"
“No,” Qin Yuan said, “I just thought of a story.”
"What story?" Cui Ming asked with a smile, "It's been a long time since I've heard Miss tell a story."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "In ancient times, there was a king who doted on his minister. The minister offered the king a peach that had been bitten in half. The king said that the minister was loyal and offered the peach that he had eaten.
Cui Ming exclaimed in surprise, "It's rare to see a king who favors his ministers so much."
Qin Yuan said, "That's right. Later, the king favored someone else and grew tired of this minister. When he remembered this incident, he accused him of deceiving the king."
Cuiming asked nervously, "And then?"
"The king executed him for deceiving the monarch."
Cuiming paused for a moment, then asked, "What are you worried about, Miss?"
Hongye asked, "Where is this trunk?"
Qin Yuan arrived carrying the broken food box, looking as if she wasn't struggling at all.
Gu Shiba said, "Madam is too modest. Manager Re sent a letter to the mansion yesterday, asking if the borneol sandalwood pills that Madam prepared could be sold at Ranxiangju."
“Men’s affection is never long-lasting, whether it’s for a woman or for another man,” Qin Yuan said. “Some people still have feelings for each other after the affection fades, while others are ruthless and heartless. You can’t tell until the very end.”
Cui Ming understood that Qin Yuan was probably thinking about Lord Gu, so she said, "This servant thinks that it has always been the norm for husbands to be the most important people in the world. Even an old lady like the old lady has to get through her old age. The Marquis of Dingbei's family is a respectable family. It's not that they don't have concubines vying for favor, but they also do things like favoring concubines over wives."
Is it because Lord Gu was worried that you forgot breakfast again, so he specially sent Gu Shiba to remind you?
Hongye stepped back with a smile on her face and said, "Madam, Sui Qiang has a change of clothes. He's asked Shiba to come and get them."
Hongye smiled and said, "This servant obeys."
The Marquis glanced at you, knowing that you called her "Madam" to Gu Shiba, and said with a smile, "How come Shiba dares to tell you, but you have to find him to tell you?"
Qin Yuan had said it once, and she would bring it up again, so she immediately changed the subject and said, "This servant will go and urge the main kitchen to prepare the food boxes."
Gu Shiba stepped back, greeted the Marquis, and inquired about his well-being.
Your mind is filled with suspicion, and your hands are at a standstill.
Gu Shiba didn't hesitate at all and raised his voice, saying, "Cui Ming wanted Madam to choose for herself, but you're just being mean."
They went to bed around 7 a.m.
Gu Shiba hurriedly took the food box, then tucked the bamboo-woven clothing box under his arm and followed in front of you.
Gu Shiba hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Seeing that Hongye had ruined his clothes, the Marquis said again, "Give some of the incense you divided to Sui Qiang."
Hongye said, "He can go with you. They're all outside the main room. Just get them for him. Besides, it's such a small matter. He's bound to come looking for Hongmian anyway. It's the same for you."
Sui Qiang glanced at the two of us and smiled, "Cui Ming has had breakfast, so she probably doesn't have anything to do yet. Let's go."
Sui Qiang lit some of the incense pills he had mixed himself inside the room, intending to share some with Madam Gu, when he heard Hongye and Gu Shiba chattering as they walked onto the veranda, which was rather strange.
Gu Shiba interjected, "What kind of incense did Madam choose?"
Qin Yuan knew that Cui Ming was intelligent, and smiled, "What do you think?"
Gu Shiba, who was inside the room, couldn't help but laugh.
Sui Qiang walked to the main kitchen and saw Hongye loitering at the door. He quietly relayed the Marquis's words and said first, "We've said everything we need to say. Eldest sister is stubborn and cautious. In the past, we always had to bring up that matter behind her back to avoid displeasing the master. We were also able to take advantage of her favor."
Thinking back to how Lord Gu boasted to me those two days: "He's married, he's sensible." "My wife's heart is always with you, she always puts you behind her." "My wife's heart is still not with you."
Sui Qiang glared at you and said, "I'm here to help anyway."
Gu Shiba said, "It's also you. That little bit of stuff is very important to you."
The Marquis asked, "What time did Cuiming go to sleep last night?"
"You're just playing around with the incense recipe by yourself."
As they traveled down the road, Qin Yuan remained taciturn, while Hongye and Gu Shiba talked a lot. As they talked, Gu Shiba began to recount what he had seen and heard on his journey to Jizhou to find the Pang family, while Sui Qiang listened casually from the side.
The Marquis carefully selected the inner garments and accessories, had Hongye pack them, and then summoned Gu Shiba to come and question him.
The Marquis laughed and said, "It's bad if no one appreciates it."
Hongye looked at the Marquis and smiled, but remained silent.
"Yes, yes, yes, Cuiming, did you remember everything next time? You'll use someone else to help you."
"oh?"
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Shiba walked over and said with a smile, "Cuiming's change of clothes is almost ready, so I asked you to come and get them."
The two went to the main room, while Qin Yuan stayed behind to pack the food boxes.
Hongye smiled and said, "There's nothing bad about it. He just said that Madam cherishes and respects Cuiming, so how could it be an agreement?"
Gu Shiba: "..."
There's something strange about them.
Gu Shiba scratched his head and said, "I've heard Cui Ming complain about it, so it should be alright."
Gu Shiba then said, "You can carry that food box later."
Gu Shiba said, "Sui Qiang will probably ask Madam about that matter today too. Rong Mama said that your incense is terrible. You shared some with your old friends, and after you used it, you wanted more. Just then, the Marquis's mansion was sealed off, and Manager Re had already set his sights on it."
The Marquis raised his eyebrows.
Hongye nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "You guessed why eldest sister is like this. That rotten apple from Zhao Shi really bothered her, so it's no wonder she's overthinking things. And Cuiming is such a..."
The Marquis nodded, then asked another question.
The Marquis said, "It has a calming effect. The scent is very faint. It's invigorating during the day and soothing and helps you sleep at night."
"Okay, let him go."
The Marquis's face flushed red, and he spat, "What respect and love? He's talking badly."
"Did you sleep well?"
Hongye then asked, "Is this lady worthy of the title?"
“The Eighth Madam is not a ready example. On the contrary, these concubines who are now favored all have sons and daughters. They know how hard it was to live when they fell out of favor. Take Aunt Zheng for example.”
Cuiming silently combed her hair, inserted the hairpin, examined her for a moment, and then said, "Miss is always cautious in her actions. This minister is arrogant because he is favored by the emperor, which is why this disaster has occurred."
"The fragrance is nothing special."
Sui Qiang smiled, stood up and said, "He and Hongye are not in a hurry to postpone it. That matter can be postponed. It's all about fate. If they can come, they will naturally come."
Yesterday we had a meal together, and you shouldn't ask about Lord Gu's other affairs.
Hongye chuckled and said, "Cuiming wanted Madam to personally choose clothes for me. Shiba knew how to say it, so she asked me to say it. I said that Madam respects and loves Sui Qiang, so how could she agree?"
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