Outside the window, Hongye's stern voice could be heard.
"Today is the joyous occasion of the Marquis and his wife. Who is making such a racket here?"
"My lord, my lord, something has happened to the young master! He has a high fever that won't go down. Please go and see him immediately!"
A middle-aged woman shouted in a shrill voice, sounding panicked and anxious, as if she was about to cry.
Gu Jinghui's expression froze, and he looked at Qin Yuan with hesitation.
It was as if she was asking how she knew something would happen to Zhao Niangzi tonight.
It was as if she was asking if he agreed to go and see her.
Hongye scolded, "The Marquis is not a doctor. Doesn't anyone in the Marquis's mansion manage these matters? You invited the Marquis, so what are you shouting about here? Did I stop you or hit you? Your master caused a scene here before, and you came again at night. Why do you and your servant like to ruin other people's happy occasions?"
"My lord, my lord, the young master is really in trouble," the woman continued to plead in a mournful voice, ignoring Hongye's words.
"Alright, let them in to talk." Qin Yuan spoke up before Gu Jinghui could: "You've only just arrived at the Marquis's residence and don't know your place. If you accidentally offend someone important, I can't protect you. Besides, on such a joyous occasion, who has the patience to listen to people crying and making a scene?"
Gu Jinghui's expression brightened after hearing the first half of the sentence, but darkened again after hearing the second half.
Qin Yuan pretended not to see anything, stood up and asked, "My lord is going out tonight, so I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to wear your wedding clothes again. Why don't you have a servant bring your usual clothes?"
“Okay,” Gu Jinghui sat up and nodded in agreement.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Tonight is our wedding night. We will support and cherish each other as husband and wife. As husband and wife are one, my dignity depends on you, my lord."
Seemingly not expecting her to say that, Gu Jinghui was stunned for a moment. Hongye had already led the person into the outer room and reported outside. Qin Yuan then asked her to ask the servant guarding outside to fetch the outer robe that the Marquis usually wore.
She had already taken on the role of mistress of the house and begun to serve Gu Jinghui's daily needs.
Gu Jinghui didn't know what to feel. He strode out and asked coldly, "What exactly happened?"
Qin Yuan stood in the inner room and heard the woman say through the door, "Young Master is suddenly not well. He has a high fever that won't go down. Madam Zhao is so worried that she cried and begged me to ask the Marquis to come and take a look."
After a moment of silence, Gu Jinghui said, "Go back first and have Steward Han send someone to fetch the Marquis's invitation to the imperial physician. I'll be there in a bit."
Hearing this, Qin Yuan turned back to the bed and sat down, waiting for Gu Jinghui to leave before calling Hongye and Cuiming in to sleep.
Unexpectedly, Gu Jinghui came in again, walked to the bedside, and solemnly made a promise.
"Don't worry, Madam, I'll be right back."
"Okay," Qin Yuan smiled obediently, but the smile vanished instantly.
Gu Jinghui glanced at her, wanting to say something more, but the servant had already brought his outer robe, so he could only hurriedly change his clothes in the outer room and leave.
"Hongye, Cuiming, both of you come in and stay inside to keep watch."
Qin Yuan let them all in.
When the male homeowner isn't in the room, they don't have to work so hard.
Hongye asked softly, "Miss, didn't the Marquis say he would be right back?"
"Heh," Qin Yuan scoffed, "He said he'd be right back, and he really did? After all that trouble Zhao Niangzi has gone to such lengths, how could she let him just leave and come back? She'd at least keep him there until midnight."
Cui Ming sighed.
This wedding night was truly awful.
Hongye asked again, "Miss, aren't you worried that the Marquis and that slut will get involved together?"
Qin Yuan smiled confidently and said, "Am I a dead man? The Marquis wouldn't be."
Cuiming asked, "Did you do something, Miss?"
Qin Yuan said, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed."
As if remembering something, Cuiming fell silent.
Hongye was still thinking about consummating their marriage, and said, "If the Marquis comes back early, will it delay the Marquis and Miss from consummating their marriage if we sleep on the footstool?"
"Consummate the marriage?" Qin Yuan raised her long, delicate eyebrows. "Hongye, we can't consummate the marriage today, and that's not what I care about."
The man surnamed Zhao didn't want them to consummate their marriage.
Madam Gu Liu did not want them to consummate their marriage.
She herself did not want to consummate the marriage.
Gu Jinghui was almost thirty years old and naturally anxious to have a legitimate son, but she wasn't in a hurry. She was only sixteen and her body was very delicate, but she couldn't withstand this rough man's rough handling.
She didn't want to have children too early, lest it harm her health.
In her past life, she suffered from physical ailments and sought medical help in vain. Only after reading the medical books left by her aunt did she learn that women who gave birth before the age of twenty would have their lifespan shortened. Ancient customs also required women to marry at the age of twenty, but the imperial court, due to wars and disasters, wanted to increase the population, which forced women to marry early.
She became pregnant not long after marrying Lin Ziqi, but unfortunately she lost the baby and her health was also damaged.
In this life, she really wants to live well, live happily, and live a worthwhile life.
Cuiming was anxious: "Miss, you should give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible to protect yourself."
Hongye also said, "If that slut wins over the Marquis, and the Master gives birth to a son born out of wedlock, wouldn't you be upset, Miss?"
"The eldest son born out of wedlock?"
Qin Yuan chuckled softly.
In their previous life, Gu Jinghui and Zhao Niangzi stayed together, but they still couldn't have a child.
Moreover, she had already instructed Cuiming to drug the nuptial wine.
Even if both people want to, there's nothing they can do.
If she doesn't succeed, no one else will.
"Zhao Niangzi is still in mourning, so don't worry so much. Go to sleep early. I've been wandering around all day and have been through so much. I'm exhausted."
Qin Yuan yawned, turned over, facing inward, and ignored them.
It's early summer, and the nights are neither too cold nor too hot, making it a perfect time to sleep.
Qin Yuan slept until dawn.
Hearing the rustling sounds outside, she turned around and found that Cuiming and Hongye had already gone out.
I don't know what time it is, I wonder if that guy surnamed Gu came back last night.
If they don't come back...
Qin Yuan secretly planned how she should speak and behave when serving tea to Old Madam Gu later.
Upon hearing the commotion, Cuiming and Hongye came in carrying a copper basin to help her get up.
"Has the Marquis returned?"
Qin Yuan changed her clothes, sat in front of the dressing table, and asked Cui Ming, who was combing her hair behind her.
It was as casual as asking, "Have you eaten?"
Cui Ming, who was originally feeling sorry and sad for her young mistress: "..."
Although she didn't know what Qin Yuan's plans were, she understood that Qin Yuan wouldn't suffer a loss.
The young lady truly didn't care whether the Marquis had returned last night or not.
She muttered a complaint in a low voice, "He hasn't come back yet. He's probably held up by that Zhao lady."
"Um," Qin Yuan asked, "What time is it?"
Cui Ming said, "It's already 3:45 AM."
Qin Yuan said, "After you've finished combing your hair, hurry up and set the table. If the Marquis doesn't return soon, we'll go directly to the main room to serve tea."
"Aren't we waiting for the Marquis?" Hongye asked hurriedly.
“What are you waiting for him for? This is the Marquis’s mansion. Do you think he’ll starve himself? I’m a new bride. I can’t neglect my mother-in-law.”
No sooner had Qin Yuan finished speaking than someone outside chimed in: "Is it acceptable to neglect one's husband?"
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