Lin's mother muttered something under her breath, just enough for everyone sitting at the table to hear.
"She's such a pampered young lady from a high-ranking official's family. Her husband is coughing like this, and she doesn't even care. If you ask me, she still has a lot to learn from Xiaolian."
Madam Yu remained silent, but Qin Wan could immediately discern the sneer and smugness in the corners of her eyes and mouth.
Lin Ziqi naturally remained silent.
Unable to vent her anger, Qin Wan immediately put down her chopsticks and said, "Please enjoy your meal."
He got up and left.
Seeing this, Madam Lin raised her eyebrows, about to scold Qin Wan for her lack of manners, when she heard her loudly instruct the maid, "Go, go to the Imperial Sacrificial Minister's residence to find my mother. Tell her that I've been helping out at the Marquis's mansion these past few days and the incense smoke has made me unable to eat. Ask if there's any more pickled goose at home. If so, bring back a bowl. Also, if there's any fermented rice wine, that would be even better. Bring it back so I can cook it as a midnight snack. Today's meal... it cost a whole penny and there wasn't a single dish I liked."
When the topic of money came up, Lin's mother felt a little guilty and didn't dare to ask Qin Wan directly, so she complained to her son instead.
“Look at your wife, she’s been married into the family for so long and she’s still like this… I just can’t get her to behave. I told her not to go out and about, but after only a few days she’s already getting wild and disobedient.”
Lin Ziqi didn't even look up: "Mother, please don't worry about Wan'er going to her maternal home and the Marquis's mansion. No matter how good Xiaolian is in your heart, no one will acknowledge her when she goes there. I married her because of her as a person. No matter how good other people are, they are not the daughter of the Imperial Academy or the sister-in-law of the Marquis of Dingbei."
That's a very straightforward statement.
Madam Yu and Madam Lin were both speechless with resentment.
Qin Wan felt much better after returning to her bedroom: "I can feel better now that I don't have to look at that old hag and that vixen."
Yan Hong coaxed, "Just bear with it for the sake of your son-in-law. Good days will come after you pass the imperial examination next year."
Qin Wan'e frowned and sighed, "How else can we think about it?"
She paused, then whispered, "If she can get through it, so can I."
Yan Hong looked at Qin Wan in surprise, not understanding who she was referring to.
Not long after, Lin Ziqi arrived. Before Yan Hong had even left, he anxiously asked, "Is what Xiao Lian said true?"
Qin Wan said irritably, "Why are you asking me instead of asking her?"
"You've been helping out at the Marquis's residence these past few days, haven't you heard any rumors?"
Qin Wan thought for a moment and said, "The seventh young lady of the Marquis's mansion is a hothead. I knew she and Madam Chang had a fight. I saw they were fighting so fiercely that I went outside to stand and watch. How would I know anything about that? Besides, although Madam Chang was in a hurry and didn't know what she was saying, it was still unseemly. It was only because my sister is gentle that she coaxed the seventh young lady back. Otherwise, it would have been too good for her to have someone beat that Madam Chang with a big stick."
On one hand, he secretly wondered, "Could it be that Lord Gu is really incapable?"
No wonder you didn't consummate your marriage with me in your past life.
But if it really doesn't work, was Zhao's exclusive favor in her previous life just a lie?
Qin Wan couldn't quite articulate her own thoughts; did she hope that Marquis Gu would be incompetent or capable?
However, on the surface, she must defend Lord Gu, especially since these rumors were spread by Madam Yu and even provoked Madam Lin to give her a hard time, so she must refute them.
After hearing this long speech, Lin Ziqi said angrily, "I just asked a question, why did you have to say so much? You're in a terrible temper today. My mother just muttered something, and you have to go on and on to provoke me. Have you taken out your gun?"
Qin Wan snorted and said, "Your cousin runs around everywhere, taking advantage of the Marquis's mansion being too busy to handle things, she goes to places where men frequent. What rumors did she hear and tell you, and you come to find fault with me? If you believe her so much, then let her run around everywhere from now on, what use do you have for me?"
Lin Ziqi had no choice but to patiently coax her.
"She's nowhere near as good as you. She's just a country girl with no experience. It's only because my mother cares about her family that I've settled down in the capital and will be able to take the imperial examination next year. If I'm lucky enough to pass, she can help her find a good marriage. What would it look like if I asked her to go out and make arrangements in your place?"
This statement was made in a very serious tone, while also completely absolving the other party of any responsibility.
If I hadn't stumbled upon their secret meeting, I would have believed it. In the end, I can't blame myself for being too stupid; it's just that they were too good at pretending.
Qin Wan sneered inwardly, but said on the surface, "What's so difficult about finding her a husband? If I were to say that arranging a marriage for her as soon as possible is the right thing to do, there are so many scholars and officials at the Imperial Academy. For my father's sake, they might be willing to be engaged to her. This is much better than her wandering around and causing a scandal. Don't you think so? I'm worried that she might cause some trouble and ruin my reputation when I take her around."
Lin Ziqi's expression changed several times before he said, "Then you should keep an eye on her. When you take her out in the future, keep a close eye on her to prevent her from doing anything shameful and ruining the Lin family's reputation."
In the end, he couldn't bring himself to say no to letting Yu Niangzi go.
Qin Wan nodded in agreement.
Lin Ziqi then coughed and said, "When you talk to your sister, try to speak your mind to her. After all, it was us who ruined her marriage. If something really happens to the Marquis, how can we be at ease?"
These words sounded very respectable, but Qin Wan was even less convinced.
If he were truly uneasy, he wouldn't have gotten involved with her. He abandoned Qin Yuan back then without caring about her life or death, and now he's talking about whether he can rest assured or not.
Qin Wan sneered, "Of course I'll talk to her. Just tell me the truth, are you still hung up on her? Let me tell you, whether the Marquis is capable or not is none of your business. She married into the Marquis's mansion, and her mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law all side with her. She's been given all the affairs inside and outside the mansion, and her life is far more comfortable than mine. Is it not enough that I'm being tormented by your mother and cousin? Do you have to make sure I'm also without a man to be considered fair?"
Stunned by these words, Lin Ziqi pointed at her with his finger, his mouth opening and closing several times before he managed to squeeze out a trembling sentence.
"Bullshit, you're talking nonsense..."
Qin Wan said, "I'd better be lying. You can't let her go now, so you can only suffer. When I married you, I gave up the Marquis of Dingbei. My father was already unhappy. Fortunately, Qin Yuan was betrothed by the Marquis's family, so I didn't lose a Marquis's son-in-law. If you marry his legitimate daughter and still have your eyes on his other daughter who married into the Marquis's family, you can see if he will still be willing to talk to you."
After saying that, he lifted the curtain and went out, only to find Madam Yu hiding behind the door eavesdropping.
Upon seeing her come out, Madam Yu's face flushed red, and she stammered, "Sister-in-law, I was just about to talk to you when my cousin went back in. I'll wait here."
"Oh!"
Qin Wan sneered and strode away.
Inside the house, Lin Ziqi gritted his teeth in anger, when suddenly a headache struck him. He clutched his head and collapsed to the ground, curling up in a ball and groaning softly.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Yu, who had been standing outside in a daze, rushed into Qin Wan's room without thinking of anything else.
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