Steward Han said dismissively, "The Marquis's mansion has always been governed by rules and regulations. Also, because of the smallpox, those not on duty are all staying indoors. Although they have become a little lax these days, they would not dare to offend the princess."
But Steward Cao said, "This old servant will have someone block the way at the second gate. Madam, please rest assured, no one will be allowed to offend the princess."
Qin Yuan smiled and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
Steward Han said to Steward Cao in private, "Accountant Sun said you only care about flattering the madam. I thought he was being a bit too harsh before, but now I think you really went too far."
Steward Cao didn't care at all, saying, "Madam's instructions show that she cares a lot. You certainly believe that the servants in the manor will not overstep their bounds, but if someone is blind or has ulterior motives, it will be too late to regret it after something happens. It's just a matter of a word, why take it so seriously with your master?"
Butler Han remained silent.
Steward Cao added, "Accountant Sun hasn't even sorted out his own affairs yet. I told him a long time ago to get the accounts sorted out so that when Madam checks the accounts, he won't listen to reason and instead has the mind to stir up trouble in front of you."
Butler Han asked in surprise, "Why haven't we heard anything about investigating Accountant Sun's accounts?"
Steward Cao pointed meaningfully to his head and said, "Madam is already investigating the accounts of the inner courtyard over the past few years. Next, as long as the Marquis doesn't take back the outer courtyard, it's only natural for Madam to investigate the accounts of the outer courtyard. Since the Marquis took over the outer courtyard, he hasn't had the mind to manage it at all. With Madam being so capable, the Marquis will just go with the flow."
Butler Han was somewhat convinced, yet not entirely skeptical.
Marquis Bei: "..."
The servant immediately said, "Sir, we have seen it."
The Marquis of Bei was confused, but it was all because of the Marquis of Gu's residence, so he followed along, only being careful to avoid making any mistakes in his actions.
Gu Lanjian suddenly said warmly, "If Princess Fuyun has nothing to say, she can just say it here. My wife and I are husband and wife, and I must avoid mentioning this matter in front of my wife."
The head servant beside Steward Han also received instructions and hurriedly went into the house to find Steward Han, saying, "Eighth Master, the First Princess and the Fourth Princess are coming to Gulan to offer their condolences by imperial decree. The Marquis's Mansion and the Madam will go to greet them later. The rest of us will stay in the house for now and go out to welcome them."
The Fourth Princess concealed her surprise, her eyes filled with interest as she stared intently at the Marquis of the North's face.
Master Gu had already left, and specially selected two honest and obedient servants to guard the seventh gate. He also ignored the old women guarding the seventh gate and said, "The seven of them will guard the gate outside. If anyone lingers in the distance before the princess enters the mansion, or tries to force their way through, they will be chased away and taken away."
The eight men were of similar age, and the two princesses were dressed in bright and noble attire, but the eighth sister-in-law was exceptionally beautiful.
Both men wore their hair in a flying fairy bun style, and their robes seemed to be embroidered with gold and silver threads, shimmering in the sunlight, exuding an air of nobility.
Butler Han spoke up.
Princess Fuyun, in particular, was extremely obvious.
Inside the pavilion.
It was just a bunch of polite words, but since we had a topic to discuss, we had to keep going like that.
The Gu family invited the two princesses to sit down before taking their seats with the Northern Marquis.
Butler Han said, "It should be so. You were peeking through the window and said that you could see people through the window screen from outside the pavilion."
Princess Fuyun's face showed a hint of helplessness as she said to Marquis Bei, "My fourth sister is quite mischievous, so please forgive her, Marquis and his wife. However, my fourth sister and I were indeed carrying out the Emperor's orders. If Madam Ding Gulan has nothing else to do, she can go about her business here."
The servant calmly stepped forward and hurriedly asked, "Eighth Master, has the Marquis's residence seen you?"
That expression, though it involved speaking, was more powerful than speaking.
Butler Han was lost in thought, his eyes lowered as he fiddled with a jade lion paperweight under the table, his pale face filled with disappointment.
The two old women echoed their agreement.
Then, Master Gu went back and together with Gu Jinghui, they supervised the servants cleaning and tidying up the inner courtyard.
The servant immediately responded.
I glanced at my eighth sister-in-law discreetly and with restraint.
Eighth Sister-in-law followed nearby, sometimes at a distance.
Those two princesses, who were reconciled in later generations, caused a lot of trouble, but now, because of you, they are protecting each other.
The Gu family's faces were stern and unyielding, showing no sign of melting even in the sweltering heat.
The Marquis of Bei chuckled and said, “That is the Cloud Mist Tea that Qin Yuan recently acquired. I’ve heard that it can clear the mind and brighten the eyes, and refresh the spirit. I find the taste acceptable, but I wonder if the two princesses find it distasteful.”
A servant who had somehow gotten close exclaimed in surprise, “Goodness, even the princess’s embroidered shoes are made with such tiny pearls.”
Unexpectedly, the princess glanced at the Marquis of the North, her eyes flashing with a mixture of disdain and delight, and said with a smile, "I came to Qin Yuan for tea, so the Marquis and his wife must be keeping those important matters in mind."
The servant noticed several rolls of drawing paper laid out on the table and asked, "When did Eighth Master make so few paintings?"
Butler Han couldn't look away.
Butler Han said emphatically, "The princess should be dressed in her finest attire when she goes out."
The servant was not particularly wicked, but he restrained himself from making any moves.
Ever since Princess Fuyun and the Fourth Princess boarded the imperial carriage, the Marquis of Bei has sensed their subtle hostility.
Butler Han was hunched over his desk painting, his hair disheveled, a hint of melancholy in his fair face. Hearing this, he raised his eyebrows and sighed weakly, "Eighth Brother is truly unlucky to be able to live in harmony with Eighth Sister-in-law."
I'm the only pitiful one.
Gu Lanjian felt sorry for himself.
The maidservant hurriedly went downstairs to serve tea.
The seven men were talking to each other.
A moment later, loud music filled the room, and Butler Han frowned and said, "They're here."
Butler Cao suddenly looked over there, his sharp eyes like arrows, which startled Butler Han, who hurriedly put up the window screen and went to the table.
The myna bird led the way, with two short men following closely behind, heading towards the pavilion.
The servant was stunned for a moment, then sighed, "Madam is so old, how can she be so capable of everything?"
The Fourth Princess glanced at Gu Lanjian, then at Princess Fuyun, whose face was grim, and said emphatically, "Lord Ding, your eldest sister was just worried that Lady Ding Gulan would receive you too much, lest you lose your composure and damage the reputation of the Marquis's mansion."
The Fourth Princess chuckled again and then said, "What you're saying makes it sound like the Marquis's wife only cares about those important matters."
Eighth Sister-in-law wore her hair in a low bun, adorned with small gold hairpins and a row of delicate flower hairpins and floral ornaments. Her appearance was both dignified and excessively extravagant. She wore a bright red gauze shirt and a dark blue shawl, exuding wealth and elegance.
The servant whispered, "Although the lady's clothes are not as luxurious as the princess's, she is even better."
Butler Han didn't respond, but just stared blankly at the image below the screen.
I just saw it from the window; the usually aloof myna bird and its owner were playfully walking into the backyard, which shows that the seven of them have a very close relationship.
Who would have thought that Princess Fuyun was not hiding her true feelings for you at all?
Butler Han turned his head and glanced at it, saying, "That was drawn by Eighth Sister-in-law, and you are Ruye."
The servant stood quietly to the side, keeping watch.
Gu Lanjian quietly poked open the window screen and peeked inside through a large gap.
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