After returning to his residence, Lord Gu went straight to Wutong Garden. As soon as he entered, he asked, "Where is Madam?"
The maidservant in the corridor hurriedly said, "Madam is in the study."
Lord Gu then slowed his pace and slowly strolled into the inner room.
A maidservant who looked unfamiliar came forward from inside. Furong smiled and asked, "Would the Marquis like some tea?"
Lord Gu casually said, "Bring it up."
He relaxed and leaned back in the armchair, thinking to himself that his little wife was really busy. Even Mozhu and Hongmian were being put to good use, and new servants had been brought in to take care of him.
I was planning to tell my wife about what I saw and heard at the Six Ministries today when we had dinner together later.
The maid, carrying a teacup, stepped on something and suddenly lunged forward, sending the teacup, still dripping with boiling water, flying towards Lord Gu, who was lost in thought.
"ah!"
Qin Yuan was pondering the rhyme scheme of a few lines in her new poem when she suddenly heard a sharp shout, seemingly coming from the inner room. She quickly put down her brush, stood up, and asked, "What's going on?"
The maidservant guarding outside said, "Just now, the Marquis returned to his inner chamber, and Pearl was on duty. This voice sounds like it came from Pearl."
Qin Yuan hurried to the inner room.
Upon entering the house, one would see a mess on the floor.
Broken porcelain shards, discolored tea leaves, a steaming puddle of water...
Pearl was struggling to get up from the ground, looking extremely disheveled.
Gu Jinghui sat far away, coldly reprimanding, "Clumsy! Luckily, I'm here. If you had splashed the madam like that, wouldn't her appearance have been ruined? What kind of maid serves tea with boiling water? From now on, don't serve me and my wife again."
What happened?
Qin Yuan asked hurriedly.
Gu Jinghui quickly suppressed his anger and said, "I was sitting here peacefully when this idiot came over to serve tea. I don't know what happened, but the teacup flew right in front of me. Luckily, I was quick enough to dodge it. If that boiling water had splashed on me, wouldn't I have gotten a lot of blisters?"
As she spoke, she glared at Pearl, who had just managed to get up, and said, "I don't know how you were chosen. You're so clumsy. Don't serve the master anymore. If you hurt someone, how many lives do you have to pay for it?"
Pearl had hoped to make a good impression on the Marquis when no one was around, but her haste made things worse. Hearing that she was no longer allowed to enter the house to serve him, she burst into tears: "My lord, my lady, it's all Pearl's fault, please..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qin Yuan said, "Alright, go downstairs now. If you get burned, quickly find some medicine to apply to prevent scarring."
Pearl wanted to plead a few more words, but a maidservant covered her mouth and dragged her out.
Then a maid came in to clean.
Lord Gu then stood up, took a few steps, and said to Qin Yuan with a wronged expression, "You actually use someone so clumsy? You scared me to death just now."
"You're not afraid of a thousand troops, but this little maid has scared you."
Qin Yuan gave Gu Jinghui a disgruntled look.
Gu Jinghui said, "Do you know what I'm afraid of? I'm afraid it would be terrifying if it splashed on your body and face." Then he gritted his teeth and said, "How can such an idiot be allowed to work in the inner room? I would rather she do a simple task like sweeping the yard. Even the servants outside the second gate are more efficient than her. Don't use this person anymore. Investigate who recommended her and give her a good scolding. These servants are getting less and less conscientious in their work."
Qin Yuan reassured her, "Alright, alright, I understand. I will never use this person again. Let her go out and do some manual labor."
Gu Jinghui was a little happier and hugged Qin Yuan. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Yuan shoved him and said, "You haven't changed your clothes yet."
"Isn't it because you're not here?"
Lord Gu reluctantly let go of his hand and said, "I was quite bored that you weren't waiting for me in the house. I rushed home as soon as I finished my business. What did you do today? I heard you were in the study when I got back. Were you reading?"
Qin Yuan bent down to find his clothes, and upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "You keep asking me questions, which one should I answer first?"
Lord Gu smiled and leaned closer to her, saying, "Just talk to me, it doesn't matter whether you answer or not."
Qin Yuan took out her casual clothes from home and handed them to him.
"Let's change to this one first. Do you want your hair loosened up?"
Lord Gu said, "No need. I still need to go to the main camp after lunch. I haven't been there in so long, and I'm a little worried. Besides, I need to send some military advisors to help with the capital inspection."
Qin Yuan asked, "Have you finished visiting all six departments today?"
Lord Gu walked behind the screen, changing his clothes as he spoke, “I’ve finished running around. Only the Minister of Personnel is not here. I left a message for their Assistant Minister. I’ve asked for people from all the other ministries. It’s just a bit strange.”
"What's strange about it?"
"They kept advising me to take care of my health, and their eyes were really strange."
Qin Yuan thought about it and understood, then laughed and said, "Well... you brought this on yourself."
Lord Gu said, "You knew all along, but you didn't tell me, keeping me in suspense."
Qin Yuan just smiled.
Lord Gu emerged from behind the screen, swept Qin Yuan up in his arms, threw her onto the daybed, took off her embroidered shoes, and tickled the soles of her feet. "Let's see if you'll talk or not. I'll give you a good beating."
"...Haha...don't...haha..."
Qin Yuan laughed until she was breathless and collapsed onto the daybed. Lord Gu felt a tickle in his heart and leaned over to steal a kiss. Qin Yuan quickly dodged. The two were having a good time when, without noticing, Qin Yuan's jade foot kicked him right in the face.
Lord Gu was stunned.
Qin Yuan quickly moved away, barely managing to stop laughing, and said breathlessly, "This isn't my fault, it's all your fault."
“I didn’t say anything.”
"Go wash your face first, I'll have someone set the table."
Qin Yuan gently wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes with her fingers. Just as she was about to get up, Gu Jinghui leaned closer again. Qin Yuan said with disdain, "You haven't washed your face yet, why are you sticking so close to me?"
"I don't mind you, yet you're complaining about me."
Lord Gu was puzzled.
Qin Yuan said, "Go wash your face quickly, or don't come closer to talk."
Lord Gu snorted, but still got up and went to the washroom to wash his face.
At this moment, Hongye and the others returned. Qin Yuan called out from inside the house, and Hongye came in and asked, "Why did Pearl come to me begging me to plead with Miss to let her stay and serve her? Has she done something wrong?"
Qin Yuan said, "If the Marquis doesn't want to use her anymore, see where you need someone and arrange for her to go. Don't let her do personal servant work."
The red leaves responded.
Qin Yuan added, "I'll have someone send a letter to Miss Dong later."
Hongye asked, "It's still a few days until the fifteenth, why are you sending them already? We haven't even had time to make the mooncakes yet."
Qin Yuan said, "It's not that. Today, the Sixteenth came and said that the poetry contest has alarmed the owner of Shuhai Pavilion, who sent people to compete for the title. I was thinking of inviting some women to write poems about fireflies and also publishing a collection of poems about fireflies by women. Miss Dong has started a poetry society in Jinling and can gather many talented women."
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