MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 16

 Glossary

· Qin Yuan: The female protagonist, reborn. Wife of the Marquis.

· Marquis of Dingbei: Gu Jinghui, Qin Yuan's husband.

· Hongye: Qin Yuan's maidservant.

· Cuiming: Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

· Zhao Niangzi: The woman brought back by the Marquis from the battlefield.

· Old Madame Gu: Gu Jinghui's mother.

· Rong Mama: A senior maidservant attending Old Madame Gu.

· Qiuju: A senior maidservant attending Old Madame Gu.

· Gu Shiliu: A young male servant attending the Marquis.

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Chapter 16: Even He Felt Embarrassed for His Master

"You're quite capable..."

Before he finished the sentence, Gu Jinghui turned and strode out of the courtyard.

Gu Shiliu hurried to keep up, panting, "Marquis, you..."

Didn't the Marquis want to ask about the matter he was told to investigate this morning? Why was he suddenly leaving again?

Gu Jinghui walked briskly for a few steps, then stopped, turned his head, and asked Gu Shiliu, "In my wife's eyes, is this Marquis untrustworthy?"

Gu Shiliu: "..."

How should he answer that?

The Marquis hovering around Zhao Niangzi and her children, leaving the Madame aside, was a fact.

Even his own parents said the Marquis was being foolish.

Gu Shiliu also didn't understand what the Marquis was thinking. He asked hesitantly, "What did you promise the Madame, Marquis?"

Gu Jinghui was stunned. After a moment, he said, "Let's go back. Accompany the Madame for the evening meal."

So Gu Shiliu ended up just following Gu Jinghui around in circles.

"Marquis, didn't you want to ask about this morning..."

Gu Jinghui strode into the courtyard to find Qin Yuan, too impatient to hear him finish, waving his hand irritably. "Enough, enough. We'll talk next time."

Gu Shiliu was also tired and found a spot to rest outside the corridor.

Shortly after Gu Jinghui went in, Qiuju came over waving the gift list.

"Sister Qiuju, are you here to see the Madame?"

Qiuju smiled and asked, "So the Marquis is willing to return?"

Gu Shiliu gave an awkward chuckle. The way his master was handling things, even Sister Qiuju from the Old Madame's side knew. "Did the Madame complain?"

Qiuju shook her head. "The Madame just entered the residence; how would she go complain to the Old Madame? The Old Madame likes the Madame and had Rong Mama find out."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Gu Shiliu felt a bit embarrassed for his master.

Qiuju said, "I won't talk long with you. The Old Madame sent me to bring the return gift list for the Marquis and Madame to review."

"The Marquis just went in. Maybe wait outside for a bit?"

Qiuju ignored him, walked straight to the front of the hall, and said softly, "The Old Madame sent me to deliver the return gift list. Please announce me."

A maid guarding outside hurried in. After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Hongye came out and said, "The Madame invites Sister Qiuju inside."

Upon entering the inner chamber, Qiuju saw the Madame helping the Marquis change clothes.

The Marquis, who always did things himself and never needed maids to serve him, had his arms spread, letting the Madame arrange his clothes.

He was saying, "Why didn't you wait for me to return to handle Wutong Yuan matters?"

The tone, Qiuju felt, hinted at a storm brewing.

The Marquise, while adjusting the Marquis's collar, said softly and slowly, "I had nothing to do and didn't know when you would return, so I went to keep Mother company. Mother gave me many things and sent Rong Mama to help me overhaul Wutong Yuan. She said I'm new and unfamiliar with the residence's situation, that the fence needs to be secured to prevent stray cats and dogs from barging in randomly."

Qiuju's heart skipped a beat.

She really came at a bad time.

The room had grown dark. The Marquis's face was half in shadow, his eyelids half-lowered, long lashes casting deep shadows, making him seem somewhat inscrutable.

The Marquise paid him no mind, calmly instructing Hongye and Cuiming, "Hurry and light the lamps."

The lamps in the room were lit one by one.

Seeing the Marquise look at her, Qiuju quickly bowed and said, "Madame, this is the return gift list the Old Madame sent me to deliver. She said for the Marquis and Madame to look it over and see if anything is missing."

Qin Yuan didn't have a maid take it; she took it herself to look at. Smiling, she said, "Mother is so good. I think there's no need to add anything; this is already more than enough. What do you think, Marquis?"

As she spoke, she handed the list to Gu Jinghui, who was still standing there.

Gu Jinghui frowned, glanced at it casually over Qin Yuan's hand, and said, "Whatever the Madame finds good is fine."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan handed the list back to her and said with a smile, "Qiuju, go back and report to the Old Madame for me. Say that I find the list Mother prepared perfect everywhere and no additions are needed."

Qiuju agreed with a smile.

When she went out, Gu Shiliu craned his neck and signaled with his eyes, asking, "How was it?"

Qiuju didn't know how to put it.

The atmosphere inside was a bit strange. The Marquis seemed to be holding in some temper, almost as if he wanted to be coaxed. But the Madame neither provoked him nor neglected him, nor did she seem to care much about him.

"It was... alright."

Qiuju hurried back to report.

Inside the room, Gu Jinghui stared into Qin Yuan's eyes and said, "In such a short time, you're calling her so affectionately, even calling her 'Mother'."

"Mother protects me; of course I'm close to her," Qin Yuan seemed not to hear the barb in his words nor notice his discomfort. She asked, "Will you be staying for the evening meal, Marquis? Earlier, I sent someone to the kitchen to order a banquet. I originally wanted to reward Rong Mama, but she wouldn't stay. It happens to benefits the two of us."

Hearing the words "the two of us," Gu Jinghui's awkwardness inexplicably lessened somewhat. He tilted his head and snorted, "Naturally, I'll eat. If I don't keep you company, what if you get angry and go complain to Mother?"

Hongye, standing nearby, couldn't help rolling her eyes.

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "Mother is truly good to me. I must have accumulated merit for eight hundred lifetimes to have such a good mother-in-law."

Pricked by her words, Gu Jinghui both frowned and laughed, asking through gritted teeth, "Is your husband not good to you?"

Qin Yuan looked at him, smiling, and said nothing.

Her expression seemed to say, What do you think?

Searching his conscience, Gu Jinghui couldn't bring himself to say "good."

After a long while, Qin Yuan slowly said, "My husband is naturally good. He knows how to repay kindness and takes excellent care of Zhao Niangzi's family."

Just then, the banquet was brought in. Hongye and Cuiming set it on the nanmu table by the window and invited them to dine. Qin Yuan said, "You stay and serve the dishes. I'm tired from the busy day and won't be serving the Marquis."

Gu Jinghui's face, which had just cleared, clouded over again.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan smilingly offered him the first taste, then ate by herself. She ate with great relish, as if nothing in the world was more important than eating.

Seeing her eat happily, Gu Jinghui, who initially had no appetite, also started eating.

After the meal, the two leaned back in their chairs, holding cups of fragrant tea, slowly savoring it.

Qin Yuan sighed contentedly inwardly. Life in the Marquis's residence was truly comfortable. Even this tea was Mount Huang mist tea, a thousand taels per pound.

Not enjoying it properly but seeking anger for oneself—how foolish would that be?

The fool Gu Jinghui suddenly asked her, "Were you sincere in what you said earlier?"

"About what?"

Qin Yuan pulled back her thoughts, thought and thought, unsure which statement he meant.

"That part where you said I was very good... that one."

Gu Jinghui was somewhat awkward.

Qin Yuan said, "It was sincere."

Gu Jinghui was somewhat pleased.

"Only..."

Gu Jinghui's interest was piqued. He hurriedly asked, "Only what?"

Qin Yuan looked at him meaningfully, making him somewhat uncomfortable, before she finally said with a smile, "As for the 'only what,' let's talk about it after we return from the visit tomorrow."

(End of Chapter)

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