When Cui learned that her daughter was doing well, she felt a little comforted, but that comfort was mixed with a bit of bitterness and resentment.
After all, today is also the day Qin Yuan returns to her parents' home.
When she got married, Qin Yuan already had the upper hand over her daughter. Now that she's returning to her parents' home, with the Marquis's mansion as her backing, won't she have an even stronger hold on her daughter?
Regardless, Madam Cui still hoped that Qin Yuan would gain power in the Marquis's mansion and help the Qin family rise to a higher level.
Everyone eagerly awaited, but Qin Yuan did not arrive after a long time.
Someone remarked, "Now that the eldest daughter-in-law has married into the Marquis's household, she's become a bit too arrogant."
Others tried to smooth things over, saying, "Maybe it's because the Marquis's residence is busy."
Cui remained silent.
Qin Wan scoffed coldly, "She's definitely not coming today."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Cui retorted angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could she not come on such an important day as her return to her parents' home? The Marquis's mansion isn't the kind of people who don't know etiquette. Perhaps something has delayed her."
Immediately someone echoed, "Don't worry, Madam. The eldest aunt must have been delayed by something. How can she not visit her parents' home on her wedding day?"
Cui's expression softened somewhat.
Qin Wan pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "I told you she wasn't coming, but you didn't believe me. Just wait and see."
Mrs. Cui glanced nervously at her daughter, who was busy eating cherries with her head down.
If Qin Yuan really doesn't return to her parents' home...
The Qin family can't afford to lose face like this. Does it mean that the Marquis of Dingbei looks down on the Qin family? Or did Qin Yuan do something shameful at the Marquis's residence?
She forced a smile and sat for a while longer, but Qin Yuan still didn't come, nor did she send a letter.
In the outer courtyard, Qin Jijiu was also restless.
He had planned to show off when the Marquis's son-in-law arrived, but now, the people sitting in the hall didn't show it on their faces, but their eyes were all looking a little strange.
"What exactly is going on? Madam, why don't you send someone to inquire about it?"
Qin Jijiu pretended to go to the toilet and slipped into the inner courtyard to ask Cui Shi to come out and inquire.
Madam Cui sighed, "Wan'er said she definitely won't come, she said..."
"What do you mean?"
"It's said that the people in the Marquis's mansion don't like that girl Qin Yuan, so they probably haven't even consummated their marriage."
These words immediately chilled Qin Jijiu's ambition to curry favor with the powerful.
"How could this be, how could this be..."
Qin Jijiu didn't believe it at all: "How could someone as beautiful as Yuan'er be so disliked that she can't consummate the marriage?"
He looked at Cui Shi with a complicated expression, "Is it just that Wan'er is making things up because she has something on her mind? She's a newlywed, where would she get such information from?"
Cui was of average appearance, and he had already consummated their marriage. There was no reason why Lord Gu would still refrain from consummating their marriage if Yuan'er was so beautiful that she could enter the palace as a favored concubine.
Unless, unless Lord Gu is incapable.
Cui was not entirely sure either.
Qin Jijiu comforted himself, saying, "Since ancient times, entering the gates of a noble family is like entering a deep sea. Perhaps something has tripped him up. Let's wait and see."
Cui could only go back and wait.
As soon as she returned to the room, she heard Qin Wan say sarcastically, "Qin Yuan won't be going back to her parents' home. Why? She's afraid to come back, and the Marquis doesn't like her."
Madam Cui frowned, feeling that her daughter was a fool.
She picked up a pastry, stuffed it into Qin Wan's mouth, and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Returning to your parents' home doesn't necessarily have to be three days in advance."
“Yes, yes, yes,” the others paused for a moment, then immediately echoed, “Maybe the eldest aunt is going back to her parents’ home in seven days. If the date is changed, someone will send a message soon.”
Qin Wan looked at him with an expression that said, "Just wait and see if you don't believe me," and continued eating.
"The eldest aunt is here, she's here!" the old woman guarding the second gate shouted as she rushed inside.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Wan was so surprised that she dropped half of a pastry.
"Quickly, go and greet them!" Cui Shi excitedly stood up, no longer caring about scolding the old woman for breaking the rules.
Immediately afterwards, Hongye's voice rang out from outside: "Be gentle, be gentle, this is a homecoming gift personally prepared by the old lady of the Marquis's mansion, don't break it."
Cui's face immediately lit up with joy, and she hurriedly went out to greet them. The maids had already lifted the curtain, and the radiant Qin Yuan, supporting Hongye, gracefully walked in.
The mother and daughter clasped hands.
Madam Cui's voice choked with emotion: "Yuan'er, why did you take so long to come? Your father and I were getting impatient. We thought you wouldn't be back for seven days."
Qin Yuan sighed, "It's all my fault for making Mother and Father worry. The Marquis has some things to attend to and will be coming up later."
Madam Cui hurriedly said to the maid outside, "Quickly, quickly send someone to the front hall to inform the master that the eldest son-in-law has been delayed and will be coming later..."
Qin Yuan chimed in, "It's getting late. Let them start the feast first. There's no need to wait for the Marquis. It's not right to let the guests go hungry."
Cui asked, "Is this appropriate?"
Qin Yuan nodded: "Suitable."
The maidservant went to the front hall to report the news on her own, and Madam Cui took Qin Yuan's hand and led her to a seat.
Upon seeing Qin Yuan's attire, Qin Wan asked in surprise, "Where did you get all this from?"
Those who don't know its value might only think it looks nice, but Qin Wan could tell how precious it was.
“The old lady gave it to me, saying I should wear it when I return to my parents’ home,” Hongye said proudly. “She also gave me a jade pendant, saying that the master and madam could rest assured that the Marquis’s mansion would never mistreat the young lady.”
The women all cried out in pain.
"My dear aunt is so lucky! The old lady likes her so much. If she can have more children in the future, she will enjoy endless blessings."
Everyone praised Qin Yuan from head to toe, not even sparing a single hair.
Qin Yuan's outfit today was both elegant and beautiful. The women who usually liked to gather and chat felt a little awkward and didn't dare to come forward to touch the fabric. They just stared at her intently.
Madam Cui's eyes also lit up, and she sighed, "My good daughter, the Marquis's family background is truly extraordinary. Even a single hair that the old lady could pluck is thicker than my leg."
Qin Wan's eyes flashed with jealousy, wishing she could strip him naked.
She remembered that this was the old lady's treasured possession, which she only allowed her daughters-in-law to see, not even to touch. In her previous life, in order to request the title of heir apparent, the old lady sent this vermilion robe to the palace.
She didn't even get the dark blue wedding robe that represented the rank of a Marquis's wife, because Rong Momo said that the old lady liked it when she was alive and it was buried with her.
Seeing Qin Yuan wearing this outfit, Qin Wan felt as if she were being slapped in the face repeatedly.
She suddenly sneered, "Sister, you're still so concerned about your image, dressed so elegantly for your homecoming. Why didn't your husband come along?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "The Marquis was delayed by something and will arrive later. Sister, are you hungry? Mother, please start the meal."
Cui glared at Qin Wan, reminding her that that was enough.
Qin Wan stiffened her neck and snorted, "Sister, I've been waiting for you for so long. I thought you weren't coming. I heard that the Marquis's mansion has strict rules, and the steward is Madam Gu Liu. The Marquis also brought back a woman and a pair of twins from the battlefield. I suppose your life isn't easy either."
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