Chapter 13
Qin Yuan had a vague guess in her heart.
She tentatively scooped up a bowl of soup and pushed it towards him.
Gu Jinghui looked over, his eyes softening and his lips curving slightly. He then ladled a bowl of duck and bamboo shoot soup for her and placed some fish on the porcelain plate in front of her.
"You're so frail, eat more meat and gain some weight."
Gu Jinghui said it seemingly casually.
Qin Yuan responded, picked up the piece of fish, put it in her mouth, and savored it carefully.
The cooks at the Marquis's residence are quite skilled; their food is very fresh.
She loved eating fish and shrimp, and smiled as she said to Gu Jinghui, "Well done."
Seeing that she was eating with relish, Gu Jinghui's cold and stern features softened a little, and he picked up another piece of food for her.
“Yuan’er…”
Gu Jinghui opened his mouth as if to say something, when a commotion arose in the courtyard. Gu Shiliu, who was guarding outside, asked, "Why are you here again?"
The word "again" is very clever.
Qin Yuan glanced out the window.
“I have no choice. The young master won’t take his medicine. He’s crying and demanding to see the Marquis. He says he’ll only drink it if his father coaxes him.” The woman’s deep voice came in, sounding very troubled.
Gu Jinghui put down his chopsticks and looked at Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan remained silent, listening intently to the conversation outside.
Gu Shiliu seemed somewhat embarrassed and said, "The Marquis is having a meal with his wife, and you've been staying in the manor for a while now. Why did you come at this time?"
"I'm troubling the sixteenth brother to help inform them. We can't afford to delay the young master's health." The woman used both soft and hard tactics.
Hongye had already chased him out, saying, "It's you again, haha, I guess there's no one else like you. You always come to invite the Marquis at the exact time, not even letting him have a peaceful meal."
The sarcasm in the words is impossible to ignore.
Qin Yuan coughed and said, "Hongye, come back for dinner. We still need to put the dowry into storage later, and we're going back to our parents' home tomorrow. We're very busy."
The implication is that there's no point in paying them any attention.
Whether or not to go is Gu Jinghui's business; it has nothing to do with them.
Hongye responded with a huff.
The woman simply shouted from outside, "My lord, the young master is making a huge fuss. Even Zhao Niangzi can't coax him to take his medicine. Yu Jie'er also misses her father. She says she hasn't seen him for several days and wants to go out and play."
Qin Yuan smiled enigmatically, looked at Gu Jinghui, and asked, "My lord, would you like to change your clothes before going over?"
Gu Jinghui: "..."
In the end, Gu Jinghui still steeled himself and said, "I'll still go see him. Cheng-ge'er grew up by my side, but he's become distant from me since returning to the capital. The child is still young and he's a little unaccustomed to it..."
Qin Yuan said, "Then you may go, my lord. But don't forget, I'm returning to my parents' home tomorrow."
Her voice was still gentle, but it made Gu Jinghui inexplicably flustered: "Yuan'er, I will come back soon. Didn't you finish tidying up your dowry and hand over Wutong Garden? I won't forget what I promised you. I will remember this important day of returning home."
Qin Yuan stood up and said with a smile, "My lord, please return soon."
Gu Jinghui seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Okay."
After Gu Jinghui left, Qin Yuan sat down again and began to eat slowly and carefully.
Hongye lifted the curtain and came in, saying, "Miss, that Zhao woman is so close to the Marquis. Anyone who doesn't know better would think she's someone close to him. That old woman is clearly up to no good. She keeps saying she misses her father and hasn't been out to play in a long time. It's obvious she's trying to drive a wedge between you and the Marquis."
Qin Yuan didn't care at all and laughed, "What are you joking about? The Marquis's heart isn't with me, so what heart is there to leave?"
“Zhao Niangzi is the widow of his benefactor, and we’ve spent every day together in the northern frontier. How could I be as close to the Marquis as he and his mother? She’s tried to cause trouble for me several times, but have you ever said anything to her?”
"Even if the Marquis doesn't care about his reputation or face and insists on taking Zhao Niangzi, what can I do? Instead of worrying about this woman and getting so angry, you should help me manage my dowry properly."
Hongye said resentfully, "Miss, you're too good-natured."
Qin Yuan said slowly, "Let's eat quickly, it's getting cold."
Does having a temper make her eat well, sleep well, and live a good life?
The two were not speaking loudly, but Gu Jinghui had practiced martial arts since childhood and had sharp hearing and eyesight. Even though he had reached the courtyard gate, he could still hear them clearly. He stood at the gate for a while with a dark face and his hands clenched into fists in his sleeves.
Gu Shiliu thought the Marquis had forgotten something, but then he heard the Marquis ask in a cold voice, "Shiliu, how's the matter I asked you to inquire about?"
I did find out, but...
Gu Shiliu hesitated, glancing at the old woman beside him, and said, "Reporting to the Marquis, we have found out the details, but..."
Gu Jinghui's expression grew even colder. He said, "We'll talk about it when we get back."
After having lunch, Qin Yuan took a leisurely nap before getting up to comb her hair and change her clothes. Seeing that the sun was already setting, she asked, "Has the dowry been stored away yet?"
Cui Ming said, "It has already been cataloged and put into storage. Old Hu, who guards the storeroom, checked the catalog with me and signed it."
"Hmm," Qin Yuan asked, "Has the Marquis returned, or has he brought back a message?"
Cui Ming pouted and said, "No."
Qin Yuan thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "It seems that the young master is seriously ill, and the Marquis will not be back for a while. Why don't I go and visit the old lady?"
Confused, Cuiming asked, "Miss, are you telling the truth?"
Qin Yuan nodded. "Of course it's true."
The old lady is a money god, generous and magnanimous. Instead of trying to win over Lord Gu, she should try to win over the old lady.
With the old lady as her backer, would she still have to worry about her future?
Let Zhao Niangzi and Gu Jinghui do whatever they want.
Having made up her mind, Qin Yuan called Hongye again, and the three of them went to the upper room along the old path.
When Madam Gu heard that Qin Yuan had come to pay her respects, she was surprised and asked Rong Mama, "What's going on? Why is she, a newlywed, coming to see me instead of staying in the Wutong Courtyard?"
Rong Momo replied suspiciously, "Could it be that the Marquis has..."
Madam Gu sighed.
"Go and find out what exactly happened."
While Rong Momo went to inquire about the news, Old Madam Gu sent her head maid Qiuju to fetch Qin Yuan inside.
When Qiuju came out from behind the curtain, she saw the newlywed Lady Hou, accompanied by two maids, standing in the waterside pavilion, leisurely watching the koi in the pond.
The wind ruffled the hair by her ears, and the shade of the trees by the waterside blocked some of the sunlight, casting dappled shadows on her. Her jade-like face was beaming with a smile that could make anyone forget their worries.
Qiuju couldn't help but praise it in her heart.
This Lady Hou is truly beautiful.
No wonder the old lady liked it so much; in her excitement today, she even brought out the jade pendant she had kept for many years.
Qiu Ju took a few steps, and Qin Yuan saw her and came to greet her with two maids.
Qiuju thought to herself, "This Lady Hou is kind and doesn't put on airs."
"Madam Hou, the old lady requests that you come in to speak with her."
Qin Yuan smiled and agreed, then followed Qiu Ju into the inner room. Old Madam Gu pulled her along, asking with a loving expression, "Why are you here to see me again instead of spending time with Hui-ge'er?"
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