MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 19

Glossary

· Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, the new wife of the Marquis.

· Plump Steward (胖管事): The steward involved in the carriage incident.

· Cuiming (翠茗): Qin Yuan's quick-witted maidservant.

· Hongye (红叶): Qin Yuan's loyal and hot-tempered maidservant.

· Rong Mama (容嬷嬷): Old Madame Gu's trusted attendant.

· Carriage Driver (车夫): The driver who withheld the carriage.

· Seventh Miss (七小姐): Gu Baozhu, the younger sister who took the carriage.

· Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): The family member currently managing the household.

· Old Madame Gu (顾老夫人): Qin Yuan's mother-in-law.

· Marquis Gu Jinghui (顾景晖): Qin Yuan's husband.

· Qin Wan (秦婉): Qin Yuan's sister.

· Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

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Chapter 19: In the Future, She Will Be Stepped Under My Feet

The Plump Steward's courage wavered, but he stubbornly held his ground. "This humble one fears Madame is not fully aware. Sixth Madame Gu has managed the household for many years, and even the Old Madame has consistently praised her skill. For you to suggest her management is at fault... we servants would not dare to comment. The truth of any matter lies in the public's judgment. Today's incident was born of necessity, and I must implore the Marquise to be magnanimous."

Cuiming was so incensed she let out a cold laugh.

"How cleverly you speak. You know your own incompetence cannot be pinned on Sixth Madame Gu, so you instead admit that you act without the Marquise's authority, feigning compliance while secretly defying her!"

The steward hemmed and hawed. "We are but lowly servants! How would we dare to disregard the Marquise? Do you think we have a death wish?"

He turned, intending to offer up the carriage driver for punishment to placate Qin Yuan.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The driver, however, whispered to him, "Her maid claimed she was going to fetch Rong Mama from the Old Madame's courtyard, but it's been so long with no sign of her. It's clear the Old Madame doesn't hold her in high regard either. And the Marquis didn't even..."

Perhaps the Marquise had never sent her maid at all and was simply bluffing.

The Plump Steward knew this man was the uncle of Sixth Madame Gu's chief maid and was reluctant to offend him. After a moment's hesitation, he put on a mask of earnest sincerity. "Madame, any further delay will truly make your homecoming late. Please, allow this humble servant to arrange a carriage for you now. We will not make a mistake this time."

Qin Yuan remained silent.

Cuiming spoke instead. "Hongye has already gone to bring Rong Mama. We ask the Steward to be patient."

The steward gave a dismissive smile. "Who knows how long this back-and-forth will take? All carriages in the Marquis's estate are allocated for specific uses. If we wait much longer, other members of the household may take them to go out, and I fear I will be unable to arrange any carriage for your homecoming at all. At that point, the Marquise would have no choice but to wait for Seventh Miss to return, or for the Marquis himself to be available."

This renewed threat, laced with insinuation, finally broke Cuiming's composure. "Who gives you the audacity to speak such words? If we brought this matter before the highest authority in the land, the right and wrong of it would still be perfectly clear!"

Qin Yuan sat serenely, using her round fan to partially shade her face. Her eyes watched them with keen amusement, as if she were viewing a theatrical performance.

The Plump Steward scowled in irritation. "Here we are, racking our brains to find a solution for the Marquise, and you, a mere maid, presume on your master's status to insult us? Let me be blunt: if you refuse this chance, there will not be another. When the Marquise returns late and becomes a laughingstock, do not blame us servants for our incompetence, or the Marquis's household for its lack of discipline."

He made to leave, but at that very moment, Hongye turned the corner, followed by Rong Mama and her attendants.

After exchanging greetings with Qin Yuan, Rong Mama fixed her gaze on the steward. "Steward Wang, what is the meaning of this?"

Steward Wang immediately began to plead his case.

Rong Mama cut him off after a few sentences. "The carriage was prepared for the Marquise's homecoming. How could it be given to Seventh Miss? Why was Seventh Miss's own carriage not used?"

The driver mumbled, "Seventh Miss said she was going out for amusement and feared her own carriage would not be spacious enough, so she took the Madame's."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cuiming interjected, "A moment ago, didn't you say Seventh Miss believed that since the Marquis wasn't accompanying the Marquise, she wouldn't be needing the carriage at all?"

The driver shook his head vehemently. "This lowly one never said any such thing!"

"And you claim there are no other carriages to be had?" Rong Mama pressed.

Cuiming answered for him. "The driver previously claimed he was ignorant of such things, that the rules of the household are strict, and that the carriages of the Old Madame and Sixth Madame Gu are not for the Marquise's use. Steward Wang then said he would try to arrange a carriage, but warned that if the Marquise did not take it immediately, she would have to wait for Seventh Miss's return or for the Marquis to have time for her, as there would be no carriage otherwise."

Hearing this, Rong Mama was so furious her eyes seemed to shoot sparks. "You dare to treat the Marquise with such contempt?!"

Steward Wang and the driver stood utterly crestfallen, not daring to utter a word.

It was only then that Qin Yuan rose and stepped forward, a faint smile on her lips. "Please do not upset yourself on my account, Mama. It is my own fault for not managing the household; I bear the empty title of Marquise, so it is no wonder they show me such disregard. The hour for my homecoming is already late. I must trouble you, Mama, to make the arrangements. I would not dream of imposing further on the steward or this driver. Cuiming has witnessed everything. She will remain here. You may direct any questions to her."

Rong Mama hurriedly replied, "The Old Madame was furious when she heard. These worthless wretches who eat their fill without doing their duties—if they cause offense to your family, flaying them would be too light a punishment! Please, Madame, you must set out. The Marquis has been delayed by business, but he will follow shortly. Leave these wretched scoundrels to me. Do not let them spoil your mood."

Qin Yuan assented with a nod. The Old Madame's personal carriage was brought forth, and she was invited to board. A procession of smaller carts followed, laden with the homecoming gifts, and they swiftly departed for the Qin residence.

Steward Wang, knowing he had encountered an immovable obstacle, broke into a cold sweat, his lips trembling. "Rong Mama, I beg for your mercy!"

Seeing his despair, Cuiming felt a wave of profound satisfaction.

Rong Mama glared at him. "You should have thought of the consequences before you acted. Who put you up to this that you would dare mistreat the Marquise so?

"Do not think I can save you.When the Old Madame learned of this, her rage was towering. She would have your skin if she could. The Marquis would be here already were he not occupied with other matters.

"Think carefully about how you will explain yourself to him. It may spare you some of the pain."

Steward Wang collapsed to the ground, a picture of hopelessness and utter confusion.

Inside the carriage, Qin Yuan turned to her maid.

"Why were you gone for so long?"

"Young Lady," Hongye began, "if not for the Marquis, I would have returned with Rong Mama much sooner."

"Oh?"

Hongye's face lit up with glee. "When I arrived, the Marquis was bent over a bench, and the Old Madame was striking his backside with a plank!"

Qin Yuan nearly laughed aloud but managed to restrain herself. "What was his offense?"

"The Old Madame called him a muddle-headed fool and a good-for-nothing scoundrel. I don't know how he provoked her so."

Qin Yuan, however, had her suspicions.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hongye let out a sigh. "To think the Marquis's estate is little better than the Qin household. It seems all crows under heaven are equally black."

"I find it considerably better," Qin Yuan countered. "And I suspect it will improve further in days to come."

Hongye changed the subject, her voice laced with concern. "For you to return home alone today, and so late at that... I can only imagine how smug Second Young Lady will be."

Qin Wan was, indeed, immensely pleased.

She had been waiting for this day to finally hold her head high.

From the moment Qin Yuan's engagement to the Marquis was settled, Qin Wan had been forced into her shadow. But today, Qin Yuan would be humiliated.

Eager to witness her sister's misfortune, Qin Wan had returned to her family home early with Lin Ziqi.

She sat surrounded by the women of the household, who chatted idly and asked after her new life. Was her marriage to the Lin family agreeable? Was Lin Ziqi good to her? Was her mother-in-law easy to live with?

Qin Wan answered all their questions with a serene smile.

The loving partnership she had craved her entire previous life—it was finally hers in this one. She would savor this moment of triumph.

Her days in the Lin household had their challenges; Mother Lin could be difficult. But Lin Ziqi was harmonious and devoted, consulting her on all matters.

The sole drawback was the Lin family's poverty. Their daily expenses relied heavily on her dowry.

But this was temporary. Once Lin Ziqi passed the imperial examinations and received an official post, their circumstances would improve.

Let them spend her money now. In the future, Lin Ziqi would repay her a hundredfold, not only with the title of a Chancellor's wife but with a lifetime of devotion, always putting her first.

Just as he had for Qin Yuan in that other life.

(End of Chapter)

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