Gu Baozhu found it amusing and giggled.
"Yes, Third Sister-in-law probably never expected that there would be the best sister-in-law in the world waiting for you here."
Seeing her so silly and playful, Hongye couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Why are we talking about marriage? I'm young and don't know much. If we're talking about marriage... it's a fundamental human obligation. Apart from nuns and self-combed women, whose daughter doesn't get married? Even palace maids have to be released when they reach marriageable age. Do you know why? It's because the founding emperor was worried about imbalances in yin and yang, which would cause resentment and disrupt the harmony of heaven, so he established palace rules early on. In the common people, if a family has a daughter who hasn't married by the time she's of marriageable age, the government will fine them. Let me tell you, that's still considered good. After the war, the population was dwindling, and girls had to marry at thirteen. If they didn't marry by the time they were a year older, the taxes would increase significantly. If a girl was still unmarried at twenty, her family would be punished by the government. It's only because of generations of hard work that our dynasty has a dense population and prosperous people, so we don't care anymore."
Gu Baozhu shivered.
"Thirteen years old..."
She's about that age by now.
Hongye said, "Seventh Miss doesn't want to get married now, but she will when she grows up. Otherwise, it would be boring if everyone else got married and you didn't. And it would be even more boring if everyone else had children and grandchildren and you didn't."
Gu Baozhu lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Then the only option is to find a husband and marry into the family. Why not find a man to marry into the family?"
Hongye was so surprised that she opened her mouth wide. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Qin Yuan shake her head at her, so she quickly shut her mouth.
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Haven't you heard the saying, 'The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge'? Why think about these things now? You'll know when the time comes. The Old Man of the Moon has already tied the red thread; if it's there, it's there, and if it's not, it's not."
Gu Baozhu smiled and said, "Third sister-in-law is right. It's more practical to eat something delicious than to think about these things."
Qin Yuan said, "You've come to eat here again?"
Before he could finish speaking...
Lord Gu's voice rang out from outside, "Gu Baozhu, why don't you go and talk to your mother? You left after the Mid-Autumn Festival, why don't you spend more time with her instead of constantly running to me?"
It's obvious they're not going to tolerate it anymore.
Gu Baozhu stood up and walked out, annoyed, "Is he annoyed with me? He's so stingy, he won't even give his own sister a meal. What kind of brother is he? Even a dog wouldn't want him! I'll never miss you when I go to Baihe Academy."
Lord Gu retorted without backing down: "It's best if you don't want to. Remember what you said, and it's best not to cause trouble by coming back, or you'll lose face."
Gu Baozhu was even angrier, calling out as she walked, "Where's Sixteen? Where's Sixteen? This is outrageous! I need to have a good talk with Sixteen and get us to leave as soon as possible. If we stay any longer, we'll be looked down upon to death."
Qin Yuan was both annoyed and amused. She scolded Lord Gu, who strode in, "Why are you making her so angry?"
Lord Gu said sternly, "Otherwise, why do you keep coming here? I can't even have a private talk with you."
One sentence made Qin Yuan's face flush again, and she said softly, "We have plenty of time to talk. Baozhu will be gone for two years. She's still young. Can you let her have her way?"
Lord Gu gave a haughty snort and fell silent.
Hongye quickly served tea, which Lord Gu accepted and drank in one gulp. Qin Yuan asked softly, "Would you like to change your clothes?"
Lord Gu then smiled and said, "No, I have to go out after I finish my meal."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "So you came back specifically to have a meal with me. It's all my fault; I didn't appreciate your thoughtfulness."
Lord Gu blushed slightly and said awkwardly, "It's not that, it's just that I thought the food at home was delicious, and I'm fast on my feet, so it wouldn't take much effort."
Hongye couldn't help but laugh as she went out.
Lord Gu asked in surprise, "Why is she not avoiding me today? Before, she was like a mouse in front of a cat."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Isn't it all for Sixteen?"
Lord Gu glanced at Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan asked, "What's wrong with Sixteen? It's like she's avoiding the red leaves."
Lord Gu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Qin Yuan frowned, and Lord Gu quickly said, "Actually, it's nothing serious. I have some things to take care of, so I sent him on a long trip."
Lowering his voice, he added, "This one isn't Sixteen, so naturally we should avoid the red leaves."
Qin Yuan was startled.
Lord Gu said, "Don't tell anyone. Only Prince Qi and I know about this."
Well, now she knows even more.
Qin Yuan then asked, "Then this..."
Lord Gu said, "He shaved off his eyebrows to cover his tracks. You've met this person before; he's one of the Prince of Qi's men."
“Oh,” Qin Yuan paused, unable to recall seeing anyone around Prince Qi who resembled Gu Shiliu. She said helplessly, “Shiliu will be going to Baihe Academy with Baozhu after the festival, so Hongye will have even less chance to have a proper conversation with Shiliu.”
Lord Gu laughed and said, "Baozhu wants this person, not Sixteen. Sixteen will be back after he finishes his business."
Qin Yuan paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh, "You're being so mysterious, won't Baozhu be angry if she finds out?"
"She didn't recognize the person's true nature, so who can she blame? This person's martial arts skills are on par with Sixteen's, and he also has skills that Sixteen doesn't know. He also has some connection with Baozhu, so it's alright."
Qin Yuan was finally relieved.
Lord Gu said, "Don't tell Hongye about this. She has a big mouth and wears her heart on her sleeve."
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and understood. Although Lord Gu had other reasons for going to such lengths, it was also to guard against spies in the mansion. So she said, "Alright. I won't tell her."
As they were talking, Hongye walked in, followed by a line of maids carrying food boxes. Lord Gu squeezed Qin Yuan's fingers, and the two smiled at each other.
Seeing this, Hongye pursed her lips, arranged the food, and then led everyone out.
The outer room.
Hongye said sourly to Cuiming, "I don't know what the young lady and the marquis were talking about. When they saw me go in, they were making little movements and secretly laughing."
Cuiming laughed and said, "Now you're talking about other people, but who knows what the situation will be like when you and Sixteen get married."
"Ah..." Hongye sighed softly, her heart filled with sorrow.
The little girl eating next to her hesitated, her face turning red, before finally putting down her chopsticks and asking with a puzzled look, "Sister Hongye, are you saying you're going to marry Gu Shiliu? I heard that Hongmian's family is getting engaged to Gu Shiliu's family?"
The little girl's words were like a thunderclap, leaving Hongye stunned.
"Who told you that?"
Hongye's voice suddenly became sharp, rising several notches in pitch.
The little girl trembled with fear and said in a trembling voice, "Sister Hongye, my godmother's family and Gu Shiliu's family are next door. After hearing about this, we met at the side gate today and chatted for a while. I heard what she said."
Cuiming quickly put her arm around the little girl's shoulder and comforted her, "Your sister Hongye wasn't scolding you, she just overheard it and lost her composure."
The little girl's eyes reddened, and her voice was thick with tears. She said, "Sister Cuiming, I know. Sister Hongye teaches us very diligently, which is why I said it."
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