Looking at the swaying beaded curtain, Qin Yuan: "..."
This time it was better; at least I didn't panic and fly out the window.
Then the rest of Lord Gu's words came from outside: "...I'll tell you the rest later..."
after.
And then it will be later.
Qin Yuan fidgeted with the round fan in her hand, and couldn't help but mutter under her breath: "Are you in such a hurry, like your pants are on fire? I wonder what you've thought of this time. You're so easily startled, can't you just talk to me properly?"
Hongye walked in, leaned closer, and whispered, "Why did you rush out again, Lord Marquis? Is something important happening again?"
"Who knows?" Qin Yuan sighed. "As we were talking, I don't know what she thought of, but she said she was going to find Sixth Master. Let's not worry about them. The old lady said that the clan will worship their ancestors together for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the clan head's wife wanted me to help. Fortunately, the Marquis said it was not possible, so the matter was postponed. But how will the manor celebrate this festival?"
Hongye also felt a bit awkward, so she said, "Why don't we discuss it with the old lady? If the clan celebrates it, the manor will probably still have to celebrate it, since it's a proper festival after all. This is our first time celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival since we entered the manor, so it's better to be careful and meticulous than to give people something to talk about."
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "That's the only way."
Then she remembered something else: "We must put a lot of effort into the lanterns to be presented during the festival, lest someone catch us and displease the Empress Dowager. Have someone pass a message to Shen Changle, and tell him to have a good discussion with Manager Leng."
Originally, I just wanted to get by on the Empress Dowager's birthday without making any mistakes, but now I have to be on my guard to prevent others from spreading rumors and currying favor with Empress Lin and the Crown Prince, and slandering the Marquis's family in front of the Empress Dowager.
Hongye agreed, then hesitated several times before speaking.
Qin Yuan simply said bluntly, "What's wrong now? Are you still uneasy because you haven't seen Sixteen? Just say what you want to ask."
Forgetting her shyness, Hongye stammered, "My heart is pounding with anxiety, about my family at sixteen..."
This is because they are worried about whether Gu Shiliu's family can handle the Hongmian matter properly.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Sixteen isn't the kind of person who doesn't think things through. Don't worry, Sixteen's family won't act on their own initiative and displease their master anymore. Let me be frank with you, the Marquis and the Crown Prince don't get along, and I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble in and out of this mansion in the future. The Marquis is almost like Yu the Great controlling the floods, passing by his home three times without entering. I'm afraid Sixteen will also be like a spinning top, unable to care about these things. Just put your mind at ease and do your job well."
Hongye remained defiant: "Who cares about him? Humph, I'm just wondering what the outcome of this matter will be, and how Sixteen's parents will handle the aftermath."
Qin Yuan tossed aside her fan, yawned lazily, and said, "You're really busy with nothing. You haven't even married into the family yet, and you're already worrying about so much. I knew that daughters grow up and leave home, so I should just send you away as soon as possible. From now on, it'll just be me and Cuiming taking care of you."
These words greatly angered Hongye, who busied herself with swearing and vows. Seeing that it was already late at night, she finally helped Hongye to rest.
Qin Yuan had intended to wait for Lord Gu to return so she could recount the story of the twins in detail, but she fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The outer courtyard.
Lord Gu and Sixth Master Gu sat side by side behind the desk, staring blankly at the portrait hanging on the wall for quite some time.
"So similar."
Lord Gu sighed, breaking the silence in the room.
Sixth Master Gu said somewhat shyly, "I don't think it's very lifelike. It's just a pity that my painting skills are too poor to make Fourth Brother look more like him."
Lord Gu replied, "It looks very similar."
Just as Master Gu was about to bring the teacup to his lips with a pleasant expression, he heard his good third brother say, "Baozhu and Lao Si's mouths, eyebrows, and noses are so alike. If you hadn't drawn them so carefully, I would have thought I was seeing things."
"What?"
Sixth Master Gu stared at the portrait intently for a long time before listlessly saying, "Indeed. After all, they were born of the same father, so it's not surprising that they look alike."
His sister was born to the same mother and father as him, so why doesn't she look like him?
I felt inexplicably sad.
Lord Gu turned his head and stared at him, asking, "Don't you find it strange that Baozhu looks so much like the Fourth Prince? I saw her dressed as a man today and suddenly remembered that the Fourth Prince was also so dashing and romantic when he was young. I thought I was mistaken. I remembered that you have a portrait of the Fourth Prince here, so I came here specifically to take a look."
Sixth Master Gu sighed, "What's wrong with that? Baozhu and Fourth Brother's eyebrows look like Grandpa's, their noses look like Dad's, and their lips look like Mom's..."
At this point, Master Gu paused.
He shook his head.
Just then, Lord Gu instructed, "Bring out Mo Xiaoni'er's portrait as well, let me take a look."
How did you know I drew it?
Sixth Master Gu asked in surprise.
“I’ve known you since you were naked. How could I not know what you’re capable of?”
With a flushed face, Sixth Master Gu coldly uttered two words: "Vulgar."
But he still ordered his servant to find the portrait and hang it up.
After scanning the two portraits hanging side by side on the wall, Lord Gu finally sighed, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is. I've been kept in the dark for so long."
Sixth Master Gu couldn't help but ask, "Third Brother, what exactly do you know? Tell me, can we stop playing games between brothers?"
Lord Gu stood up, stepped forward, took down Mo Xiaoni'er's portrait, quickly rolled it up, and said, "I'll tell you once I've investigated. I've taken this painting."
"Alright, is this how you're going to find out where she is?" Master Gu said with some regret, "After all, so many years have passed, and I don't remember the details very clearly. She may have changed a bit, so we can't just follow the clues."
"I understand," Lord Gu said, head bowed, and started to walk out. After a few steps, he stopped and turned back, saying, "I have things to do. You should rest first. Mother said today that you've been working day and night to paint this picture, and you don't take care of yourself. Your sister-in-law also said that Physician Li has repeatedly told you to take good care of yourself. You should really take care of yourself. If you ask me, what difference does it make if this painting is done a day earlier or later?"
"I understand, don't worry," Sixth Master Gu was very pleased, and casually asked, "Where is Third Brother going so late?"
"The ancestral hall," Lord Gu said succinctly.
"What are you going to the ancestral hall for?" Master Gu asked in surprise.
A faint smile appeared on Lord Gu's face, mysterious and unpredictable, fleeting in an instant.
"I haven't spoken with my ancestors in a long time, let's go and see them."
He was about to leave when Sixth Master Gu suddenly pounced on him and grabbed his leg, smirking, "I'm going too. I've known you since you were naked. You must be up to something. You can't hide it from me."
The servant standing to the side could only stare blankly as he counted how many lotus petals were carved on the opposite window frame.
"Let go," Lord Gu shouted, his body stiff and his face flushed. "Let go now."
But Master Gu was determined, and this tactic didn't work.
Lord Gu forced himself not to kick the person away. He took a deep breath and patiently coaxed, "Let go. I really have something to do at the ancestral hall. You're weak and timid, why are you coming with me to suffer like this?"
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