"Did Madam also know about this?"
Butler Han's usually stern face showed a look of surprise, which seemed quite strange.
"Indeed!" Steward Cao leaned closer and whispered, "I just overheard Madam hinting to the Chief Secretary of the Qi Prince's Mansion that the Yelü family didn't have money to buy pepper, which means they know what happened last night."
Steward Han clapped his hands and laughed: "Wonderful! Madam and our Marquis are a perfect match. I was worried that Madam, being a delicate young lady from a civil official's family, would not get along with the Marquis. But I never expected that they would be such a perfect match."
Butler Cao nodded and sighed, "I really wish the whole world knew that the two of them were a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Steward Han patted Steward Cao on the shoulder and said, “I know you’ve been holding your breath for over ten years. Don’t worry! Our Marquis has the style of his ancestors. Look at him, he wasn’t blinded by the Emperor’s rewards when he came back from the north. He dealt with those wild donkeys as soon as he said he would. Those bastards were having so much fun last night. If I were twenty years younger, I would have joined in. Beat them up when you want, burn them down when you want, rob them when you want, and put out fires when you want. What can those wild donkeys do even if they find out?”
Butler Cao said, "This afternoon, Madam wants to personally examine the accountants. Are you going to go and watch?"
"Of course I'll go."
The two had arranged to watch how the madam selected and tested the accountants when the gatekeeper hurriedly came over and said, "Both stewards are here. Princess Fuyun requests an audience with the madam."
Butler Han glanced at Butler Cao.
The same thought flashed through their minds: the Seventh Princess was really in a hurry; she came to visit right after the Marquis's mansion finished holding a funeral.
Steward Cao said, "Why aren't you going to report to Madam right away?"
The gatekeeper said, "Princess Fuyun did not use the princess's entourage, nor did she send an invitation beforehand."
After a moment's thought, Steward Cao instructed, "You handle this for now, I'll go ask Madam."
The gatekeeper went to deal with the situation at the front gate, while Steward Cao quickly ran towards the second gate.
Upon arriving at the council courtyard, Qin Yuan was discussing various matters related to the Mid-Autumn Festival with the stewardesses. Seeing him arrive, Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Steward Cao, why are you in such a hurry? Is someone here to visit again?"
Steward Cao said, "Princess Fuyun has arrived without any ceremonial entourage. She requests an audience with Madam."
Qin Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "This is like the sun rising in the west!"
Princess Fuyun's feelings for Marquis Gu are probably known to everyone in the Marquis's mansion, except for Marquis Gu himself.
Every time I saw her, she was either full of resentment or full of anger.
Although I helped her out of a predicament last time and showed some goodwill, we weren't close enough to visit without sending an invitation or bringing an entourage.
Steward Cao kept his eyes down, waiting for Qin Yuan's instructions.
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I will go to the gate to personally greet her and take her to sit in the flower hall in the outer courtyard. You should send someone to inform Sixth Master so that we don't bump into each other."
Butler Cao immediately went to clear the area.
Hongye said, "Fortunately, the chief clerk of the Prince Qi's mansion has only been gone for a short while, and Miss hasn't changed into her formal attire for receiving guests yet, otherwise it would be too troublesome."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "In the future, we should also prepare a few sets of clothes and accessories for receiving guests here, so as to save us from having to run back and forth."
Hongmian immediately replied, "Your Majesty's instructions are correct. I will bring the box over tomorrow and have someone keep a close watch on it."
Qin Yuan then said, "Then I'll leave this matter to you. Hongye usually takes care of my clothes and jewelry, so I'm afraid she'll be too busy. You can help her out."
Hongmian happily agreed and said to Hongye, "I'll have to trouble Sister Hongye to give me lots of guidance in the future."
Hongye nodded: "It just so happens that Madam will be adding a lot of jewelry and clothes in the future, and I can't handle it all by myself. With your help, you can handle everything from the inbound to the outbound and keep a record, so things won't get messy."
Hongmian said, "Don't worry, Sister Hongye, I will do my best."
Qin Yuan tidied her hair in front of the mirror and hurriedly led her maids to the front gate to welcome Princess Fuyun.
Princess Fuyun had already alighted from the carriage and entered the mansion. Surrounded by a group of maids and nannies, she stood at the entrance. Seeing Qin Yuan come to greet her personally, she smiled and said, "Thank you for welcoming me, Madam."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I am honored that the princess has graced my humble abode with her presence. How could I not come to welcome her?"
Princess Fuyun was dressed much more simply than usual today, and her smile before she spoke made her appear even more kind and approachable.
While secretly trying to figure out her purpose, Qin Yuan exchanged pleasantries and led her to the flower hall.
Princess Fuyun sighed, "I've always come and gone in a hurry, and I haven't had a chance to really see the scenery of the Marquis's residence."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "If the princess has nothing else to do today, I can act as her guide."
Princess Fuyun hurriedly waved her hand and said with a smile, "Let's wait until the next banquet to come. I didn't send an invitation in advance, which was already considered impolite. Fortunately, Madam doesn't mind, so I wouldn't dare to push my luck."
Seeing her humble posture, Qin Yuan couldn't say anything else, and just smiled and said, "It doesn't have to be that bad."
Princess Fuyun said seriously, "The princess's residence has fewer people than the marquis's residence, and the chief clerk in charge of the residence is already overwhelmed. The lady is in charge of all the affairs inside and outside the marquis's residence, so she must be very busy. When you are a guest, you can't be an unfriendly guest and make the host want to kick you out."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Princess Fuyun is so witty, how can she be considered an unwelcome guest? There are indeed many things to do in the manor, but the stewards are all very capable and experienced. With their help, I can relax a lot."
Seeing that Qin Yuan showed no self-respect whatsoever, Princess Fuyun felt ashamed in her heart.
“In the past, I was arrogant and ignorant of the hardships of life, and I offended you in many ways. I hope you will forgive me.”
Princess Fuyun's words completely confused Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "What's past is past. I suppose the princess has been misled by others' slander and has some misunderstandings about me. The princess remembers the Marquis's kindness and it's understandable that she has high expectations of me."
Princess Fuyun said, "My brother said you are intelligent and magnanimous, and it is indeed so. I was blinded by my own limited perspective before and was disrespectful to you. But I will not do so in the future."
She referred to herself as "I" in every sentence, making her intention to win people over obvious.
Qin Yuan quickly waved her hand and said, "Your Highness, you flatter me."
The two sat in the flower hall and chatted for half a day, talking about flowers and plants, before finally getting to the main topic.
Princess Fuyun asked, "Does Madam have any way to arrange for me to meet that young master from Nantang?"
Qin Yuan: "..."
What's so great about this young master from Nantang? Why did Qin Wan ask Princess Fuyun the same question?
Seeing Qin Yuan hesitate, Princess Fuyun quickly asked, "Is this young master from Nantang eccentric and unapproachable to strangers?"
Hongye couldn't help but wink.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I'm not familiar with him and don't know what his temperament is like. I have heard my cousin mention him, saying that Young Master Nantang is a loner..."
Princess Fuyun looked disappointed.
Qin Yuan pressed further, "Why does the princess wish to see that young master from Nantang?"
Princess Fuyun blushed and after a long while said, "I, I also admired Young Master Nantang's poems. Other people's poems are also good, but Young Master Nantang's poems are more elegant and graceful, which shows that he must be a handsome and outstanding scholar."
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