Hongye was stunned.
Qin Yuan also walked back to the table and picked up the calligraphy copybook to study it carefully.
Neither of them paid any more attention to Hongye.
After standing there for a while, Hongye realized she was getting bored and went outside.
Qin Yuan asked quietly, "What do you think she'll do when she goes out?"
Cui Ming chuckled softly, "Miss is incredibly insightful. Please speak first."
The two remained locked in a stalemate for a while.
Qin Yuan said, "I have a jade bracelet here, which was given to me by my stepmother before I got married, as you know. I'm using this as a prize; if you guess it correctly, you can take it."
Cui Ming smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"I'll take care of all the embroidery patterns on your inner robes from now on."
It's a deal.
The two made a vow by high-fiving.
Qin Yuan asked, "Should I speak first or you?"
Cuiming said, "How about we learn from Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu and write it down on paper so we can look at it together?"
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Alright, let's be elegant for once."
The two took out paper and pen and started writing with the ink that was still running out. After they finished writing, they exchanged their writings and laughed.
Cui Ming asked, "Then how should we calculate it?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "If I win, you can take the bracelet and embroider a design for me."
What if it doesn't work?
Qin Yuan laughed even harder, "We both guessed the same way, how could we be wrong? If we're wrong, it's still the same. You take the bracelet and go back to embroidering for me."
Cui Ming smiled too.
A moment later, Hongmian came in to ask about something. She saw the two of them leaning against the table, looking cheerful and smiling. She couldn't hide her envy and said, "I wonder what good thing is going on? Madam and Sister Cuiming are both smiling so happily."
Cui Ming smiled and said, "I just told you something funny. If you have anything to say, say it quickly before Madam takes her afternoon nap, so as not to delay things."
Hongmian said to Qin Yuan, "It's nothing, it's just that the Sixth Master's concubines have been sending messages through intermediaries, hoping to pay their respects and have a word with you, Madam. I wonder if you have the time?"
That's quite interesting.
Qin Yuan was taken aback and asked, "Is the allowance not enough, or is someone skimping on it? Are the young masters' daily needs not being taken care of?"
Hongmian thought for a moment and said, "These are things that Sister Hongye manages on a daily basis, so there shouldn't be any problem. Perhaps they are worried that after the Sixth Madam's passing, the Sixth Master will be immersed in poetry and painting again, and will be sad in the mansion without anyone to rely on in the future, so they want to come to Wutong Garden to visit."
Cui Ming glanced at Qin Yuan but remained silent.
Qin Yuan said, "Alright then, you go and ask them later if anyone has been shortchanged on their daily expenses, and whether the young master's living arrangements are in order. If there is anything missing or needed, just report it to you or Hongye. As for moving around... I'm too busy right now, let's talk about it after the funeral. By then, Sixth Master should have a proposal."
Hongmian smiled and said, "That's what I said too. Now that the affairs of the inner courtyard are being temporarily managed by Steward Qian, I suppose he wouldn't dare to disrespect these concubines. As for how to arrange things for them, Sixth Master will naturally have his say."
Cuiming smiled and pinched Hongmian's mouth, saying, "Look at this little mouth, it's clever. The key is that it's not only clever with words, but also clever with its mind."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Hongmian is indeed clever and capable."
Hongmian lowered her head and smiled, "To be appreciated by Madam is a blessing I have accumulated over many lifetimes."
Qin Yuan said, "Just go back to them like that."
Hongmian agreed and left.
Cui Ming said leisurely, "Hong Mian is capable, but she has too many ulterior motives."
Qin Yuan walked to the dressing table and smiled, "She is naturally not as close to you and me as Hongye. It doesn't matter who her master is, as long as she is given important responsibilities. I understand this. Hongye is simple-minded and doesn't think much, so you should remind her more."
Cuiming stepped forward to help her remove her hairpins and said, "It's good that Miss knows what's going on. It would be better to have more maids like Hongmian. Other people's dowries consist of four maids, but Miss only has two. If we get married and have children, there will be a period of time when we can't be with Miss."
Qin Yuan said, "Let's take it slow."
The old lady Gu never interferes with her managing the household affairs, and the Marquis Gu will support her. Isn't that better than anything else?
If there's a shortage of people, she can train them gradually.
As long as you're generous and have a clear head, there are plenty of people willing to fawn over you.
However, Hongye and Cuiming had a different relationship with her. In their previous life, the two had gone through too much for her, and Cuiming lost her life at a young age.
Having achieved wealth and status early in life, she naturally wanted to help the two of them.
After Qin Yuan took a midday rest, she first sent someone to deliver a letter to the Qin family. Qin Jijiu happened to be on leave at home. After reading the letter, he sighed for a long time.
Then Cui asked, "What's wrong now?"
Qin Jijiu said, "My eldest daughter is worried about the Xu family."
"She's worried about the Xu family?" Madam Cui frowned, puzzled. "Let her worry about her. What are you sighing about here for? You're just wasting your good fortune. There are so many people in the Marquis's mansion, powerful and influential. Surely they can control the Xu family? You really know how to worry. Instead of worrying about your son and son-in-law, think about your son and son-in-law."
Qin Jijiu said, "She was worried that the Xu family would harm Siyuan. Yesterday, one of the Xu family's sons who is good at playing football got close to Qin Heng and Qin Wan, and her maidservant saw this and quickly reminded her."
Cui said mysteriously, "There's something wrong between the Gu family and the Xu family. Some people say that Sixth Master Gu and the Xu family are suing each other. But the Xu family also came that day, and they seemed to be doing well. Yuan'er only mentioned it a few times, so I didn't feel comfortable asking too many questions."
"Hey, why did you provoke Siyuan for the sake of this Xu family member? Don't you know anything about it?"
Qin Jijiu briefly mentioned Xu Zhen's matter.
Mrs. Cui covered her mouth in shock.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com