MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 26

Glossary

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

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

· Gu Baozhu (顾宝珠): Seventh Miss, the younger sister of the Marquis.

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

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

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

· Confidant Matron (心腹嬷嬷): Sixth Madame Gu's trusted servant.

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Chapter 26: Only That Woman Is Unacceptable

The young maid, being small and having a good memory, repeated everything sentence by sentence.

After listening, Old Madame Gu's face turned ashen, her anger barely contained. She scolded, "Gu Baozhu, you are an unmarried young lady! How could you spout such nonsense in front of your Third Sister-in-law? I have raised you with such care all these years, never knowing when you learned these bad habits."

Seeing how angry Old Madame Gu was, Gu Baozhu hurried forward, threw herself into her arms, and sobbed, "Mother, your daughter knows she was wrong. I beg for your forgiveness."

Old Madame Gu held her forehead and sighed deeply. "You are the only girl of your generation in the Gu family, raised by my side since childhood. People outside flatter and elevate you only because you are the young lady of the Dingbei Marquis household. How could you utter words that damage your Third Brother's reputation?"

"Moreover, your Third Brother treats that mother and son well out of gratitude for a kindness. By saying such things, what position are you putting your brother and Zhao Niangzi and her son in?"

"If even our own family speaks this way, outsiders will only spread even uglier rumors. If you still consider yourself a daughter of the Dingbei Marquis household, do not speak such distorted words again."

These words were severe. Gu Baozhu didn't dare say another word, only responding between sobs, "Mother, your daughter was wrong. Your daughter will apologize to Third Sister-in-law immediately and will never say such things again. If I transgress again, may I be struck by lightning, and I will submit to any punishment from you, Mother."

Qin Yuan simply kept her head down, looking at the tips of her own shoes.

Gu Baozhu had been raised by Old Madame Gu's side for many years; their bond was deep. Qin Yuan understood the principle that an outsider should not come between close relatives.

Sixth Madame Gu said with a grim expression, "Mother, this daughter-in-law was mistaken in her thinking. Third Sister-in-law is right. When a younger sister-in-law speaks incorrectly, she should be admonished. I shouldn't have indulged her just because she is young."

Qin Yuan gently pursed her lips.

Old Madame Gu ultimately punished Gu Baozhu with three months of confinement at home. She was to read the 'Four Books for Women' to correct her behavior and learn needlework, which made Gu Baozhu wail in dismay.

Learning needlework seriously was very laborious. Before, Old Madame Gu had turned a blind eye.

After ten years of study, Gu Baozhu only knew how to thread a needle and embroider two mandarin ducks that looked like ducks.

Now, Gu Baozhu had to start from the beginning.

Spinning thread, weaving cloth, embroidery, and cutting—all required hiring female tutors to teach her.

Old Madame Gu said she wanted to temper her disposition properly before arranging a good marriage for her.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

After sending Gu Baozhu away, Old Madame Gu turned the topic to the management of the Marquis household.

"Over the years, this old woman wanted to be lazy and left all the household management to you, without considering whether you could handle it all. You have to serve me above, take care of Sixth Lang, and bear and raise children. It is truly too taxing. Why not let your Third Sister-in-law manage the household with you? An extra person to share the burden will make it easier."

The words were pleasant, but they pierced Sixth Madame Gu's heart, making it bleed.

Although she knew the household management of the Marquis estate would eventually have to be handed over—the Marquise was the legitimate mistress of the household—Sixth Madame Gu, having held the reins for so many years, found it hard to let go. Even one day later was better.

Sixth Madame Gu forced a smile. "It's not as serious as Mother says. Being able to serve a mother-in-law like you is this daughter-in-law's blessing. In the entire capital, households as lenient and harmonious as the Marquis's can be counted on one hand. Both Third Sister-in-law and I have fallen into a nest of good fortune."

These words made Old Madame Gu smile.

"Previously, I was the only one managing the household, so oversights and shortcomings were inevitable. Having a clever and understanding person like Third Sister-in-law to help, I am very happy."

She praised Qin Yuan after praising the Old Madame.

Qin Yuan thought to herself that Sixth Madame Gu was deep and cunning, unlike Gu Baozhu, who jumped at the slightest provocation. This would require a slow approach.

Old Madame Gu said with a smile, "Yuan'er is still young. Although she has some cleverness, she has never managed a household before and has much to learn. What I value most is her tendency to always put the Marquis first, that drive to keep the Marquis's household close to her heart. In the future, when the two of you manage the household together, with her help, you will have an easier time, and the household's defenses will be tighter."

Only then did Qin Yuan speak up, "Mother, Sixth Sister-in-law, in the future, whenever I don't know something, I will ask you. I beg you not to withhold your guidance."

"Haha," Old Madame Gu laughed. "So eager to assume your post already."

Qin Yuan simply smiled.

Sixth Madame Gu looked at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair with a mixture of jealousy and envy.

To show she wasn't clinging to power, Sixth Madame Gu initially suggested assigning areas like the kitchens and accounts to Qin Yuan. Qin Yuan smilingly refused. "I've just arrived and know nothing. Learning household management by following Sixth Sister-in-law is also to avoid being helpless later."

Hearing this, Sixth Madame Gu felt a jolt in her heart. She glanced at Old Madame Gu, whose face was full of smiles, clearly in agreement.

Instantly, half of her competitive spirit withered.

Qin Yuan finally took charge of the tea room, the carpentry workshop, and the needlework room—all places with many miscellaneous tasks and little profit.

Sixth Madame Gu breathed a sigh of relief but missed the approval in Old Madame Gu's eyes.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The few of them sat together making small talk for a while before Sixth Madame Gu took her leave, arranging to hand over responsibilities after the midday meal.

Once she left the main house, Sixth Madame Gu's face abruptly darkened.

"Who would have thought that turtle hiding in its shell would have the face to make a scene?" Sixth Madame Gu complained to her confidant matron. "Does she even see herself as a new bride?"

The confidant matron was also disheartened. "I thought Seventh Miss could provoke her into losing her composure. Instead, it was Seventh Miss who was provoked into confinement."

Sixth Madame Gu snorted angrily. "She's useless. The Old Madame dotes on her, the Marquis dotes on her, Sixth Lord dotes on her. They've spoiled her—a big temper with little skill, overthrown by Qin Yuan in two or three moves."

The confidant matron warned, "Madame, the Third Madame is formidable; you must be careful. She has only been in the household a few days, yet Wutong Yuan is already tightly under her control. What exactly happened to the Marquis yesterday in the main house? Not a whisper has leaked out."

If it were just the main house, that was one thing—the Old Madame was old and had managed things for years. But Qin Yuan had only been here a few days and could control things so tightly.

Sixth Madame Gu frowned deeply.

Faced with Qin Yuan, none of the methods used against new brides had been effective.

"Useless! They're all useless! That Zhao woman is also useless, failing to stir up even a ripple."

In the main house, Old Madame Gu held Qin Yuan's hand and asked, "Good child, how is Hui'er?"

Qin Yuan smiled and replied, "The Marquis has been sleeping to regain his energy. Yesterday, I twisted my ankle and summoned Li Langzhong from the Renhe Clinic. He gave me some ointment that works very effectively. I guarantee the Marquis will be back to his old self after lying down for three to five days."

"Ai…" Old Madame Gu sighed, gently stroking Qin Yuan's small hand. "I know the son I raised. He delayed marriage until this age not just because the war was intense and he couldn't get away. He's just like his father—a blockhead. You have suffered a grievance by marrying him."

Qin Yuan was startled and wanted to speak, but Old Madame Gu stopped her. "He doesn't understand the affairs of the inner household, thinking it's like the military camp—too simplistic. We women, our entire lives are lived within these four square walls. Wanting to live comfortably, with filial children and a harmonious marriage, is no simple matter."

After all this paving the way, the Old Madame finally got to the main point.

"If he says anything about giving that Zhao woman an empty title to stop the rumors outside, so she can raise the children in peace, or similar nonsense, don't agree just for the reputation of being virtuous. Just push him over to this old woman. This old woman's word stands: anyone can enter these gates, only that woman is unacceptable."

(End of Chapter)

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