Old Wang drawled, "You can't take it with you when you're born, and you can't take it with you when you die. Whatever rewards you receive will eventually remain in this palace."
The young eunuch was about to speak when Old Wang said, "Go around to your godfather later and have him urge Prince Qi to say that the Emperor wants to relax in a few days and needs to select some good players for Cuju (ancient Chinese football).
...
When Qin Yuan woke up, she found that Lord Gu had not returned last night either, and she couldn't help but sigh.
Hearing the commotion, Hongye came in to attend to her, asking, "Miss, are you awake? Some of the anxious stewardesses have already sent someone over to report and request supplies. Should we tell them to wait, or..."
Qin Yuan said, "Let them come in and talk after I've finished washing up."
Hongye responded.
After washing up in the clean room, Qin Yuan came out and sat in front of the dressing table to comb her hair. The head maids came in one by one to report their business.
In the short time it took to comb her hair, she took care of several other things.
Hongye felt a little sorry for them and said, "We can't let them come when we're serving the meal later. It's not a big deal, is it?"
Qin Yuan nodded, "That's right. How can you maintain your health if you don't eat properly? Even the emperor doesn't starve his soldiers. This is my first time handling a task, so as long as I don't make any mistakes, that's fine. Do you expect me to risk my life for something?"
No one argued with her anymore.
She's not the kind of person who has to be perfect in every way so that everyone has to give her a thumbs up.
The Marquis of Dingbei's family has been around for so many generations, has it never held a funeral for a concubine's wife?
She could find examples everywhere to refer to, and she just followed those examples. She didn't need to save money for anyone, so she spent everything within the limit, and the total amount didn't exceed a few hundred taels of silver.
Seeing that Qin Yuan was taking it easy, Hongye went out to instruct the staff to set out the meal and had them stop the stewardesses from coming to report anything, instead having them wait in the council courtyard near the second gate.
Cuiming interjected, "The masters' clothes are all ready. I heard from Mama Li that in previous years the servants were given clothes. If they really couldn't make it in time, they were just asked to dig out their old ones to use as substitutes. But those who have entered the manor in the last two years haven't been given any yet. If we think about it this way, we can still make it in time."
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "You can make the arrangements as you see fit. If there's really not enough time, just find a few embroidery workshops to help. You don't have to suffer too much."
After saying that, he sat down at the table and waited for the maids to serve the meal.
Cuiming agreed, then quietly asked, "Miss, why didn't the Marquis return all day yesterday? Could it be that something happened to keep him away? Or did you and the Marquis have a fight?"
Qin Yuan shook her head.
Cui Ming frowned involuntarily, her face showing a hint of bitterness.
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you go to the front yard and say... say..."
What should I say?
Qin Yuan tapped her fingers lightly on the table.
Even after Hongye and the others had laid out breakfast on the table, they still couldn't come up with a suitable word.
Qin Yuan simply said, "Let's eat first."
Nothing is more important than eating.
Cuiming suggested, "Why don't I go to the front yard later and deliver breakfast to the Marquis?"
Qin Yuan said, "Okay."
Hongye glanced at Cuiming with concern.
Qin Yuan gestured with her eyes, indicating that the two of them should sit down and have their meal properly.
After having breakfast, Qin Yuan got up and slowly walked towards the second gate. She met a servant who was usually by Master Gu's side. The servant stopped and bowed when he saw her, saying, "Madam, Master Gu asked me to tell you that nearly a hundred people have left their poems in the poetry competition at the Imperial Academy. In the past few days, more and more people have come to watch and write poems. Shen Chang Le is planning to invite someone to make the judgment. I wonder what Madam thinks?"
Qin Yuan nodded and said softly, "Thank you for making this trip."
The servant smiled obsequiously and said, "Sixth Master instructed me to go and check on you every day and report anything to Madam. I returned late yesterday, so I didn't go to Wutong Garden to disturb you."
Qin Yuan instructed Hongye to give the servant a tip, saying, "I'll need your help running around often in the future; take the money for tea."
The servant didn't refuse; he thanked him and accepted the gift, stuffing it into his pocket.
Qin Yuan asked, "Where did Sixth Master rest yesterday? Did Kang Ge'er and his brother go with him?"
The servant said, "Yesterday, Sixth Master was resting in the outer courtyard, and the Marquis was there too. They talked for quite a while. The Marquis drank some wine and even hugged Sixth Master and cried. Speaking of which, the Marquis really feels sorry for Sixth Master."
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "If you go today, please tell Shen Changle to consult with my father about who should be invited to make the decision. Also..."
Qin Yuan paused for a moment, then said, "Tell him not to be afraid of the trouble, find some people to make copies, and post them outside the Imperial Academy so that the talented scholars passing by can also participate in the selection."
The servant replied, "This servant will certainly deliver it."
The servant went straight out of the second gate to the front courtyard. Hongye said happily, "Miss, it seems that the Marquis was busy comforting Sixth Master last night."
Qin Yuan muttered, "Why did he sit in the study yesterday and not come out, and not eat? And then he cried in Sixth Master's arms after drinking last night? What major event happened?"
Hongye said, "If something serious happens, the Marquis will definitely come to talk to Miss. Perhaps the Marquis is so sad because he feels sorry for Sixth Master. After all, Sixth Master is the Marquis's only living brother. Sixth Master is determined to sue the Xu family, which is also for the Marquis's sake. Didn't he say that he would separate the family and not give people a chance to find the Marquis? The Marquis must have thought of something to make him so sad."
Qin Yuan was both somewhat convinced and somewhat skeptical.
A long queue had formed inside the council chamber. Hongye said, "Miss has been so busy every day these days. I guess the Marquis is feeling bad for Sixth Master and doesn't want to tell you. This is also the Marquis's way of being considerate of Miss."
Qin Yuan said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. We'll know what happened when Cui Ming comes back. Let's focus on finishing up the things in front of us."
There was much more to do today than yesterday, with a constant stream of people coming and going in the courtyard.
Qin Yuan's voice was a little hoarse, and she didn't even have time to properly drink a cup of tea.
The three of them, including Hongye, were even busier.
"Let's have lunch here. Take a look at what you want to eat, and then we'll have the kitchen prepare it."
Qin Yuan remembered that she hadn't ordered the small kitchen to cook anything in the morning, so she simply had her maid take a few strings of cash and have the main kitchen prepare and deliver the food.
Hongmian said, "This is the most convenient way, but Madam can no longer take a nap."
Qin Yuan smiled wryly and said, "Let's get through this busy period first."
Mo Zhu said, "Have someone move a couch to the side room later, so that Madam can take a break from her busy schedule."
Hongmian immediately said, "I'll go and give the order."
Hongye said, "Go quickly, go quickly. By the time you run back, the food from the main kitchen will have arrived, so it won't delay your meal."
Hongmian suddenly ran out.
She also brought back Cuiming's message: "Sister Cuiming said that the Marquis was still hungover at noon and had asked the gatekeeper to take away the food box, so he probably won't have lunch."
Qin Yuan nodded to indicate that she understood, though she didn't show it on her face, she was feeling very uneasy inside.
Since Hongmian and Mozhu were there, she ate first, and the remaining food was divided among Hongye and the other two. With the portions sent from the main kitchen, it was quite a feast.
Qin Yuan had just rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, and was about to drink a cup of tea when she heard the sound of clappers outside.
It is the fourth tone.
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