Sixth Master Gu had some thoughts in his mind.
Now that Mr. Matsuyama has said it so bluntly, I panicked and stammered in response.
"Well... but it can't just be the three of us. My third brother doesn't like these things, and my seventh sister doesn't like studying either."
There were very few people studying in the entire Gu family.
Sixth Master Gu looked at Mr. Songshan with disappointment.
Mr. Songshan said, "Since that's the case, why not invite the Qin brothers over? They're all relatives, so there's no need to be so discreet."
Mr. Songshan had intended to compose and appreciate poetry with Qin Yuan, and with just a few words, he won over Master Gu.
After hesitating for a moment, Gu Liuye said, "Then I need to ask Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law what they think first."
Mr. Songshan laughed and said, "Then we should hurry. I heard that you will be holding a banquet in your household in a couple of days, followed by the Qiqiao Festival. Women will all go out to play on that day. In a few more days, I'm afraid we won't be able to see fireflies anymore."
Sixth Master Gu hurriedly said, "I'll inquire as soon as possible."
Mr. Songshan said, "That's good. I'll wait for your good news, Sixth Master."
The two had their own thoughts, but they quickly reached an agreement.
Many people have visited in recent days, and Gu Jinghui has been busy entertaining them. Qin Yuan has also been quite busy and is unaware that the two of them have such a plan.
Two days later, Qin Yuan had finished preparing everything and sent out the invitations. When she went to the main room to pay her respects to Old Madam Gu, she said, "Mother, I am still young and I am afraid that I have not thought things through. I will need your help on the day of the banquet."
Madam Gu laughed and said, "My son, I'm afraid you're better at handling this than I am. Just do your job. If anyone dares to disobey you or cause any trouble, tell me and Hui-ge'er, and I'll have them stand up for you."
Qin Yuan leaned against Old Madam Gu and said sweetly, "How can I compare to Mother?"
Madam Gu was even happier. She hugged her and said, "Our Dingbei Marquis's Mansion has always been tough. Besides, this time we've invited relatives and friends, as well as military officers and their families who associate with Hui-ge'er. Just follow the list you made. You've thought of everything so thoroughly. If something still goes wrong, it won't be your fault."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "My mother is so good to me."
Madam Gu smiled and said, "You are the daughter-in-law I went to great lengths to win over. You were brought in with great pomp and circumstance as the Lady of the Marquis. If I don't treat you well, who else should I treat well?"
Qin Yuan's eyes welled up with tears.
In her past life, Lin's mother was always harsh on her, finding fault with everything she did.
In this life, she met Madam Gu, who protected her in every way.
Qin Yuan suppressed her thoughts and said, "Mother, I'm not very familiar with the women in the family, and my sixth sister-in-law is ill. I'll need my seventh sister to help me with the social interactions. Judging by the days, my seventh sister should be coming out soon."
Madam Gu nodded and said, "I remember. Baozhu has been holding back for a long time. Last night, she had her maid tell her that she would be coming to pay her respects starting today. She gets up late and has breakfast in her own courtyard. If you are in a hurry to do something, I will tell her."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Then I'll stay here and chat with Mother for a while. I haven't seen Seventh Sister for so long, I miss her too."
Rong Momo couldn't help but laugh.
Gu Baozhu and Qin Yuan's relationship was far from pleasant; the word "thinking" is quite apt.
Madam Gu also thought of this, took Qin Yuan's hand, patted it, and said, "Baozhu is the old Marquis's posthumous child. She is the youngest in the family, and Aunt Wen doesn't take care of her. I practically raised her. I raised so many sons, so I inevitably spoiled her a bit. Daughters of military families are naturally pampered and don't know much about manners. I've spoiled her even more. As her sister-in-law, you should be more tolerant and teach her a thing or two."
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "Mother, please don't worry. The Marquis said the same thing, saying that he was worried that Baozhu might not get along well with her husband's family after she gets married. But I think that Baozhu has been cherished since she was born. If she marries into a family that is too particular about rules, she might not have a good life. It would be better to think more carefully when choosing a marriage partner."
Madam Gu said, "That's true. Anyway, she still has the third and sixth sons protecting her. I just wanted you to teach her to understand things better. Being worldly-wise is a skill in itself. Even if she doesn't study or learn needlework, she can't be completely ignorant of right and wrong. Otherwise, what will become of the reputation of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion after she gets married?"
Both Madam Gu and Lord Gu harbored the idea of having Qin Yuan tutor their sister-in-law, and they repeatedly hinted at it.
Qin Yuan couldn't refuse, so she said, "Mother, as the sister-in-law, I should naturally teach Seventh Sister more. However, I was thinking that Seventh Sister was forced to practice needlework by the Marquis a few days ago and was punished with confinement, so I had some thoughts but didn't say them."
"Then tell me."
“Yuan’er thinks that Seventh Sister should also learn to manage the household. Why not let her take care of some general affairs first, and then have more social interactions, so that she can make a good impression in front of the ladies and find a husband in the future?”
After a moment of contemplation, Madam Gu said, "What Yuan'er said is right. Why not start with this banquet and let her learn some social etiquette from you?"
Rong Momo nodded and said, "Example is better than precept. Seventh Miss is spoiled and arrogant. Following behind Madam, she might really change."
Qin Yuan's lips curled up slightly.
With just a few words, Gu Baozhu, who arrived late, was taken care of.
"Mother, my third brother signed me up for the Qixi Festival embroidery competition and told me to practice hard so as not to embarrass the Marquis's mansion. How can I have time to help my third sister-in-law manage the household?"
Gu Baozhu's spirited eyebrows were furrowed pitifully.
In the past, if she had acted coquettishly and complained like this, Old Madam Gu would have softened her heart. But today, Old Madam Gu hardened her heart and said with a stern face, "You can do some small things with your third sister-in-law first. After the Qixi Festival, you can do more."
Gu Baozhu was annoyed and glared at the leisurely Qin Yuan a few times.
“Mother, you don’t love Baozhu anymore. You’ve locked Baozhu in the yard to learn that stupid embroidery. She’s pricked her fingers so many times, and you don’t care at all. You’re forcing Baozhu to manage the household. Isn’t Third Sister-in-law enough? She’s so capable, can’t she manage it? Why do you have to make me do something?”
Qin Yuan only feigned helplessness and remained silent. In Madam Gu's eyes, she was magnanimous and tolerant, but in Gu Baozhu's eyes, she was just putting on an act.
Madam Gu's face suddenly darkened.
The nanny beside Gu Baozhu was so anxious that she kept reaching out to pull her.
But Gu Baozhu ignored her completely and continued, "Mother, I was worried about whether you were doing well these days, whether you were eating well, and I even wanted to give you the best handkerchief I embroidered."
Madam Gu, who had been keeping a stern face, couldn't help but laugh and said, "Stop trying to fool me. I'd be grateful if you could even embroider a pair of mandarin ducks. You should bring me your best handkerchief to see. Don't be worse than Yu-jie."
Not to mention that Old Madam Gu wanted to see, Qin Yuan also wanted to see how well Gu Baozhu had learned needlework these days.
Gu Baozhu raised her chin and said smugly, "Mother, you are looking down on me too much. You even used Yu Jie'er to humiliate me."
As he spoke, he casually pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, handed it over, and said, "Mother, take a good look and see how my needlework is?"
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