Seeing Qin Yuan's worried expression, Hongye and Cuiming also frowned.
No one can answer the question of where Xu Zhen went.
After walking in silence for a while, Qin Yuan suddenly said, "Hongye, after you come back from the main house, go find Gu Shiliu and ask him to find out if the Xu family is involved in any cases related to lending money at exorbitant interest rates, where the cases were handled, who handled them, and who helped them behind the scenes."
If the Xu family was merely trying to intimidate the Marquis's mansion, she wouldn't have gone so far as to exterminate them.
But if the Xu family really is as Steward Cao said, using the matter of Xu Zhen's disappearance to endlessly manipulate the Marquis's mansion, then she will never allow this hidden danger to remain in the world.
Hongye replied, "Yes."
Qin Yuan added, "Please urge them again to find Xu Zhen's whereabouts."
Hongye replied, "Yes."
Qin Yuan added, "It seems we need to find a way to urge that brother and sister to move out as soon as possible."
Cui Ming nodded.
Hongye sighed, "I'm afraid Xiaohong will start bothering me again."
Cui Ming laughed and said, "Xiao Hong is the most mischievous and can be quite a handful. That child is rather pitiful."
Qin Yuan also smiled.
Xiao Hong and Hong Ye exchanged messages frequently, and their relationship grew stronger. Xiao Hong was going to live in the neighboring courtyard with the twins, and she would probably talk about it to Hong Ye for a long time.
After chatting and laughing for a while, Qin Yuan had calmed down and entered the main room with a relaxed expression, seemingly without any worries.
As soon as I stepped onto the porch, I heard Old Madam Gu's laughter.
The maid lifted the curtain and whispered, "Seventh Miss is here."
Qin Yuan nodded and went inside. She saw Gu Baozhu, who had changed into a slightly worn crimson palace dress, leaning against Old Madam Gu and chatting and laughing.
"Mom, I could hear you laughing happily from far away."
Qin Yuan bowed as she spoke, and Gu Baozhu quickly stood up to greet her in return.
Madam Gu laughed and said, "Your sister is up to her old tricks again. She keeps pestering me that there must be a polo match on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and that it won't be possible without her. She asked me to talk to Hui-ge'er and tell him that even if she doesn't pass the test at the Qixi Festival, we shouldn't put her in confinement."
Qin Yuan was somewhat surprised.
"Is your sister going to play polo?"
Gu Baozhu raised her chin and gave a smug "hmm," saying, "Third sister-in-law probably rarely fights or watches. We daughters of military families are not as delicate as you, sitting in our boudoirs all day reciting poems, painting, embroidering, and playing the zither. I learned to ride horses from a young age, and even boys might not be as good as me."
Qin Yuan was very supportive, saying, "My little sister is so amazing."
Madam Gu scolded, "How dare you speak to your third sister-in-law like that? You can ride horses and play polo, while your third sister-in-law can compose poems, paint, embroider, and play the zither. Aren't you all good at your own things? How come you make it sound like being able to ride horses is more important than being able to compose poems and paint? Even when people take the imperial examination, there are both civil and military champions."
Gu Baozhu sniffed, wrinkles forming on her nose, and said somewhat reluctantly, "Mother, that's not what I meant, and Third Sister-in-law won't misunderstand. I just wanted to say that I'm not that delicate, and I ride horses better than others."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "What's there to think about? Speaking of horseback riding, I think it's quite easy to learn. I often ride my horse, Li Nu, around the track when I have nothing to do."
"Li Nu?"
Old Madam Gu pronounced the name somewhat awkwardly.
Gu Baozhu said, "It was Third Brother who specially found the horse for Third Sister-in-law so that she could learn to ride."
"Oh," Madam Gu couldn't help but laugh a few times, saying, "I never imagined your third brother was so good at making your third sister-in-law happy."
Gu Baozhu said sourly, "That's right, ever since Third Brother married Third Sister-in-law, he's put me, his younger sister, behind him."
Everyone knew that she was holding a grudge against Lord Gu for being confined to learn embroidery.
Qin Yuan said, "I might have already learned to ride horses and play polo, while you haven't even mastered embroidery yet, let alone composing poems and painting."
"How is that possible?"
Gu Baozhu's competitive spirit was greatly aroused.
Qin Yuan provoked him: "Then how about we have a competition?"
Gu Baozhu raised her two straight eyebrows and said with a half-smile, "Third Sister-in-law, are you serious?"
“Of course it’s true,” Qin Yuan provoked again, “Don’t you dare to compete with me?”
Gu Baozhu said smugly, "What a joke! I just think that Third Sister-in-law would be at a disadvantage if she competed with me. You know that Fengniang from Jinxiu Pavilion said that I have quite a talent for embroidery, but I started a little late. Otherwise, I could have brought some honor to the Marquis's mansion at this year's Qixi Festival. But it's hard to say whether Third Sister-in-law is good at playing polo. If I really competed with Third Sister-in-law, wouldn't it be an unfair victory?"
Cuiming and Hongye couldn't help but smile.
Hearing Gu Baozhu's confidence in her embroidery skills, Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I'm not afraid. I also think I have a lot of talent for riding horses and playing polo."
Madam Gu quickly intervened, saying, "What are you two arguing about, Yuan'er? Listen to me, don't compete like this. She's young and doesn't know any better. You're older and shouldn't stoop to her level. She's been riding horses since she was little and has been playing polo for several years. How could you possibly be so foolish as to compete with her like this? Besides, you have to learn to play polo slowly. It's easy to fall and get injured on the field. It's not something a refined person like you can play."
Having finally found such a lovely wife by his side, if she were to suffer any injury or have her face ruined, Old Madam Gu might not know if the third son could bear it, but she definitely couldn't.
Gu Baozhu said, "Third sister-in-law, look, it's Mother who disagrees, not that I'm afraid to compare myself to you."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Fine, it's not that you're afraid to compete with me, it's that you can't compete with me."
“That’s right!” Gu Baozhu said, “If Third Sister-in-law were to compete with me in composing poetry and painting, I would definitely be no match for you. Let’s just forget about it to avoid hurting our relationship.”
Qin Yuan looked at Gu Baozhu with some surprise.
Gu Baozhu smiled at Qin Yuan and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Third Sister-in-law, why hasn't Third Brother come to Mother's for a meal?"
"He has a guest; His Highness Prince Qi has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu's forehead twitched slightly.
Gu Baozhu asked in surprise, "How come the Crown Prince came yesterday and the Prince of Qi came today? It looks like they're having a contest."
It was no secret in the capital that the Prince of Qi was dissatisfied with the Crown Prince.
Just then, Qiuju and the others had finished setting out the food. Old Madam Gu interrupted Gu Baozhu and said, "What's so strange about your third brother having dealings with them? They didn't associate with you when your third brother wasn't home."
Gu Baozhu wisely kept quiet. After finishing her meal, she asked Qin Yuan, "Third Sister-in-law, shall we go together?"
Qin Yuan was somewhat surprised, and said with a smile, "Sister, you should go back first. I have something to say to Mother."
Gu Baozhu's eyes darted around, and she said, "Third Sister-in-law, is there anything you want to say to Mother alone? Can I listen in?"
Qin Yuan said, "It's nothing, it's just that there's something going on with the Xu family, and I need to talk to my mother about it in detail."
The implication was that it was inappropriate for Gu Baozhu to listen here.
After Gu Baozhu went out, she took a few steps and then quietly circled back, instructing the maids not to make a sound, while she stood under the window to eavesdrop.
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