Just as Cui was drifting off to sleep, Qin Jijiu spoke up: "Nine out of ten things in this world don't go as planned."
Cui understood that Qin Jijiu was reluctant to part with his eldest daughter and son-in-law.
This means you'll have to act according to the situation.
...
Qin Yuan waited until nightfall, but Lord Gu did not return, so she went to bed feeling depressed.
When I got up in the morning and saw that the bedding beside me was neat, I knew that Lord Gu had not returned home last night, and I couldn't help but feel a little worried.
When Hongye came in to serve, she saw Qin Yuan sitting on the bed in a daze, wrapped in a bright red gauze quilt. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and only half of her porcelain-white face was visible.
Like a crabapple tree that has just woken up, its half-open petals glistening with morning dew.
Who wouldn't be tempted by this?
Hongye instantly forgot her worries from the previous night and silently gazed at her young mistress.
Qin Yuan looked up and asked with a smile, "Why are you standing there like an idiot without saying a word?"
Hongye then came to her senses and said, "I was just worried that I might disturb you because you were thinking about something."
Qin Yuan stretched lazily, lifted the gauze blanket, and began to dress.
Hongye said cautiously, "I don't know how Sixteen and the Marquis are doing. They haven't been home for a whole day and night."
Qin Yuan chuckled lightly: "Don't overthink it. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. The Marquis and his men are veterans who have returned from the battlefield. Why should we, the women of the inner quarters, worry about them?"
Hongye said with relief, "That makes sense. I was overthinking it."
I immediately felt lighter.
Qin Yuan forced a smile, though she spoke lightly, she was actually quite worried inside.
But what's the use of worrying?
After Qin Gang finished washing up, Qiu Ju came with two maids carrying a food box and said, "Madam, the old lady noticed that there were a few dishes in the small kitchen's breakfast today that you usually like to eat, so she specially asked me to bring them over."
Hongmian stepped forward and opened the food box, which indeed contained all of Qin Yuan's favorite dishes whenever she went to the main room for meals.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Mother is so kind. She even thought of me during breakfast. I was planning to go to Mother's place for a meal while the Marquis was away, but I woke up a little late, so Mother sent someone to bring it over."
Qiuju smiled and said, "The old lady is hoping that you will dine in the main room more often. The old lady said that the Marquis has many affairs to attend to. He is currently in charge of the capital inspection and can still go back to the mansion to rest every day. Once this matter is over, he will probably have to stay in the camp for a long time. If you feel bored, you can go to the main room more often to eat and chat."
This was a message relayed to the old lady. Qin Yuan quickly stood up and, after listening, said, "I know what Mother is saying. The Marquis is busy with important matters and naturally won't behave like an ordinary man. I wish I could have meals in the main room every day, but I'm afraid Mother will find me annoying."
Qiuju quickly smiled and said, "Madam, what are you saying? When you went to the main room, the old lady and Rong Mama were both happier than usual, and the old lady ate more than usual."
Qin Yuan smiled and had Cui Ming bring out some silver to reward the little maid, then asked Qiu Ju, "Do you still want the incense pills from last time?"
Qiuju smiled shyly, "That would be the best, of course. I've been wanting to ask, but I haven't had the chance."
Last time Manager Leng came to the main house to pay his respects to the old lady, he mentioned the business of Ranxiangju. He said that the lady's incense pills were in high demand and short supply, and the price had been raised several times, but people still lined up to buy them every day. He also said that the incense pills that the lady presented to the old lady were so popular that it was impossible to buy them anywhere else.
Qiuju found it even more difficult to speak.
He was overjoyed to see Qin Yuan take the initiative to ask.
Cui Ming smiled slightly, took out a packet of fragrant pills from the inner room, handed it to Qiu Ju, and said, "We don't have many left here. Madam is busier than before, so we can only prepare a smaller amount. You can take this and use it first."
Qiuju took the gifts with both hands, beaming with joy, and said, "This is quite a lot already."
After seeing Qiuju off, Cuiming returned and saw that the food had been set out. She said, "The old lady was worried that Miss might overthink things, so she had Qiuju bring breakfast over."
Hongye said, "It's clear that before Miss married into the family, the Marquis often did things like this and didn't come back."
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Never mind that. The dishes made in Mother's small kitchen are quite delicious. Let's think about what to send over for dinner to add to the meal."
The three of them had only taken a few bites when a maidservant outside said, "Madam, a servant from the second gate has brought an invitation from the Imperial Academy."
"Post?"
Qin Yuan asked in surprise, "When did we become so distant?"
Hongye hurriedly said, "Why don't you send the invitation in quickly?"
The maidservant hurriedly brought in the invitation. Qin Yuan opened it and saw that it was from Madam Cui, saying that she wanted to visit at noon today to discuss something.
Qin Yuan looked at it over and over, but still couldn't figure out why they would send an invitation out of the blue.
Hongye asked curiously, "Why send a formal invitation when you could have just sent a verbal message? This is too much..."
For a mother to want to see her daughter, she has to send an invitation card; it's really too formal.
Furthermore, if it were truly a formal occasion, it wouldn't be appropriate to visit today and only send an invitation today.
In short, it's somewhat incongruous and has a slightly unsettling feel to it.
Cuiming asked, "Could it be that Madam wishes to pay her respects to the Old Madam, but finds it inappropriate to bypass Miss and deliver the visiting card directly to the Old Madam?"
But what business does the Qin family have with Old Madam Gu?
If it's a serious matter, why not just send a visiting card to Madam Gu directly?
Qin Yuan frowned and said, "Send someone to tell you that your daughter will be there to welcome you, Mother."
Qin Yuan's anxiety finally subsided when she met Cui Shi at noon.
Cui's face was gloomy, and she had dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she was preoccupied with worries.
Qin Yuan greeted her with a smile and asked, "Mother, would you like to sit in the Wutong Garden first, or would you like to pay your respects to the Old Madam first?"
Madam Cui said with a stern face, "Of course I want to see the old lady, but there's no rush. I have something to say to you."
Qin Yuan understood that what Cui was talking about was still related to her, so she immediately led Cui into the inner room of the main house and sat her down. After dismissing everyone else, she personally served tea and offered Cui some rare fruits and snacks that had been prepared in advance.
Everywhere Cui looked was extraordinary, which made him increasingly uneasy. He hesitated several times before finally picking up his teacup and slowly sipping it. It took him a long time to finally manage to utter a word.
"Are you still my daughter?"
Qin Yuan was startled and hurriedly put down her teacup, kneeling on the ground and saying, "Mother, why do you say that? Have I done something wrong?"
Madam Cui was both angry and speechless. After a long while, she finally said, "Get up. You're getting on in years now, and you've married into the Marquis's household. You've grown too big for your britches. I can't stand you acting like this."
Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "Mother, you are too kind to say that. Could it be that someone has said something bad about me to you, making you so angry? Please allow me to explain."
Cui said angrily, "Your sister said some things to me."
He paused and then said, “This is not something your sister intentionally made up. You are sisters, so naturally she is worried about you. Let me ask you, now that you have married into the Marquis’s mansion, are you still a daughter of the Qin family? This concerns your entire life, so how could you hide it from your parents? Your father heard about it yesterday and didn’t sleep well all night. He got up as soon as the rooster crowed this morning to put on his court robes and go to court.”
(End of this chapter)
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