MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 23

Glossary

· Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, the Marquise.

· Gu Jinghui (顾靖晖): The Marquis, Qin Yuan's husband.

· Qin Wan (秦婉): Qin Yuan's younger sister.

· Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

· Madame Cui (崔氏): Qin Yuan and Qin Wan's mother.

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

· Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis is protecting.

· Hongye (红叶): Qin Yuan's maidservant.

· Cuiming (翠茗): Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

· Gu Shiliu (顾十六): The Marquis's attendant.

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Chapter 23: Saving Her the Effort of Pretending Affection

He had expected to be reproached by Qin Yuan, but instead, she spoke in a soft, gentle tone: "My sister... she drank a little too much today. Please, husband, do not take her words to heart. I have already scolded her, and I believe Mother will speak to her as well."

She seemed deeply concerned that he might bear a grudge and become displeased with the Qin family.

How could a grown man be so petty?

Gu Jinghui relaxed, picked up the teacup from the small table, and took a sip, magnanimously saying, "It is of no consequence."

He completely failed to notice Qin Yuan's hesitant, unspoken words.

Qin Yuan uncomfortably turned her face away.

That was the teacup she had just used, the rim still bearing the faint imprint of her lip rouge.

This man truly was...

If it were a pedantic scholar like Lin Ziqi in such a scene, he would surely compose a flowery little poem, murmuring something about residual tea touching rouge-stained lips.

But Lord Gu had neither noticed nor cared.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Truly... unconcerned with minor details.

Gu Jinghui finished the tea in two or three gulps, then idly toyed with the cup in his hand. His narrow, sharp eyes fixed on the charming little mole at the tip of Qin Yuan's nose. "Your sister heard the nonsense spread by outsiders. I do not blame her. However, the fact that she questioned you so publicly, without a single thought for your feelings, does displease me somewhat. But for your sake, I will not pursue it."

Qin Yuan turned her face back, sighing softly. "Where there's smoke, there's fire. That such talk has reached my sister's ears, compelling her to confront me directly, shows how wildly these rumors are spreading. My husband's righteous act of repaying a debt of gratitude is now being twisted into this... It angers me on your behalf, and I felt ashamed facing my family today."

Hearing this, Gu Jinghui's body tensed again. "Those wretched scoundrels with their loose tongues! Slandering my household's name outside... I... I must have someone deal with them properly."

Qin Yuan seemed somewhat relieved. "That would be for the best. Otherwise, Zhao Niangzi has not yet completed her mourning period. If these rumors persist, must she prove her chastity through death? When those children grow up, might they come to suspect their own mother and the Marquis of having an illicit affair? Your intentions were honorable, yet you've neglected your own home for the sake of those children. If this is the result, I truly feel it is unjust to you."

As he listened to Qin Yuan's thoughtful considerations, Gu Jinghui's face grew darker.

Yet, by the end, his anger turned to delight. He took Qin Yuan's hand and said triumphantly, "Wife, why do your words carry a hint of vinegar? How about having dumplings for dinner tonight?"

Hongye couldn't help but secretly roll her eyes again.

Qin Yuan tried to pull her hand back, chiding, "I was showing concern for you, and here you are, thinking of dumplings!"

As if he had caught her in some fault, Gu Jinghui laughed heartily. "I knew you must have been brooding these past two days over my frequent visits to Fengxuan Pavilion. I've watched those children grow up since they were small. They are only five, newly arrived in the capital from the northern frontiers and still unaccustomed to it all. They've also become more distant from me than before, so it's natural they are a little clingy. Once you spend time with them, you'll see how delightful they are. They will grow close to you too."

Qin Yuan humphed softly.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Gu Jinghui's heart softened even further.

That faint humph inexplicably reminded him of the Persian cat his mother doted on—incredibly pampered, usually aloof and proud, but on the rare occasions it deigned to be affectionate, pressing its soft body against you, it became utterly endearing and impossible to let go.

His wife was similarly fragrant, soft, proud, and utterly lovable.

He truly had neglected her these past days. No wonder his mother had felt the need to beat him.

He was just about to say something sweet to coax her when Qin Yuan spoke again. "Has my husband not considered this? You returned from a great victory, your reputation at its peak. How dare people spread such rumors? Could they harbor some hidden malice towards the Marquis's household? Zhao Niangzi and those children should never have become publicly known in the first place."

This gave Gu Jinghui pause.

If someone was deliberately trying to tarnish the household's and his own reputation, what was their aim?

The matter of Zhao Niangzi and the children was no secret on the northern frontier, but only those close to him knew the details. Why was it being spread all over the capital, even reaching his sister-in-law's ears?

Perhaps the marriage had been switched initially precisely because of this sister-in-law.

Thinking this, Gu Jinghui adopted a serious expression. "Wife, you must believe me. Although I regard those children as my own, they are absolutely not my blood. And there is not even a hint of impropriety between Zhao Niangzi and me."

Qin Yuan nodded perfunctorily. "I naturally believe you. But it is essential that outsiders believe you as well."

The entire journey back, Gu Jinghui was lost in thought. Upon arriving home, he immediately said, "I have matters to attend to with Mother. You should return to Wutong Yuan and rest."

Qin Yuan said, "I wish to go to Mother's as well, to speak with her."

Returning from her homecoming visit, chatting with the Old Madame about family matters and expressing thanks was a perfect opportunity to strengthen the bond between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She also wanted to secure control of the household management sooner rather than later.

Gu Jinghui sighed a long, seemingly helpless sigh, then familiarly took Qin Yuan's small hand. "I know I have not spent much time with you these past two days, but there is no need for you to be quite so clingy."

Qin Yuan: "..."

Her lovely face flushed a deep red.

She never imagined that Gu Jinghui would think of her in such a way.

Well.

It did save her the effort of pretending affection.

Then, Gu Jinghui's voice softened improbably as he coaxed her. "Be good and go back to rest first. I promise I will not go anywhere else today. I will stay and keep you company properly."

Gu Shiliu, standing nearby, wished he could vanish into a crack in the ground.

Unable to defend herself, Qin Yuan had no choice but to return to Wutong Yard with Hongye.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hongye giggled quietly the entire way.

"Why hasn't the Marquis returned yet?" As dinnertime approached, Hongye kept glancing at Qin Yuan's expression and muttering. "Don't tell me he's going back on his word again."

Qin Yuan couldn't be bothered to respond.

By evening, Gu Jinghui was carried back on Gu Shiliu's back.

His inner robe was torn and stained with blood, his forehead was burning hot, and his eyes were tightly closed.

Qin Yuan was startled.

When they had parted, he was full of vigor. How had he ended up in this state in such a short time?

Seeing Cuiming and Hongye flustering about tidying the bed, Qin Yuan quickly instructed, "Go and prepare the Xiangfei bamboo couch."

Lying on his stomach would prevent pressure on the wounds on his back and legs. With the weather being hot, lying on the bamboo couch would be more comfortable.

Gu Shiliu, standing to the side with swollen eyes, mumbled, "Madame, we must send for a physician quickly. The Marquis has suffered greatly today."

Qin Yuan asked, "What on earth happened?"

Gu Shiliu stammered, "The Marquis... was beaten by the Old Madame."

"Ah?" Cuiming exclaimed in shock. "But wasn't the Marquis already beaten once?"

The Marquis had been caned in the morning but seemed perfectly fine afterward, spiritedly dealing with Steward Wang and the carriage driver before riding off to the Qin residence. Cuiming had thought, 'The Marquis is truly a veteran of the battlefield, completely unfazed by such minor injuries.'

Gu Shiliu, as if resigning himself, said, "The Marquis was beaten twice."

Hongye asked, "What did the Marquis do this time to anger the Old Madame so?"

Gu Shiliu glanced awkwardly at Qin Yuan, stamped his foot, and said, "The Marquis, he... Ah, best not to mention it. It's all because of that tro uble from Fengxuan Pavilion."

(End of Chapter)

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