MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 29

Glossary

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

· Marquis Gu (顾侯爷): Gu Jinghui, Qin Yuan's husband.

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

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

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

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

· Cheng Ge'er (程哥儿) & Yu Jie'er (玉姐儿): The twin children.

· Seventh Miss (七妹妹): Gu Baozhu, the Marquis's younger sister.

· Sixth Madame (六弟妹): Sixth Madame Gu.

---

Chapter 29: Must Find a Way to Make Her Change

Upon hearing this, Marquis Gu quickly smiled and said, "Mama, what jest is this? Yuan'er has a soft temperament; how could she have a disagreement with Seventh Sister and Sixth Sister-in-law?"

Hearing this, Rong Mama couldn't help but laugh. "Marquis, you'll understand once you hear the little maid repeat it. This old servant is certainly not here to complain."

Only then did Marquis Gu feel half-relieved. He placed the food box on the table and opened it. It contained a bowl of lotus seed soup. It seemed Rong Mama's delivery was just a pretext; her real purpose was for him to hear what Qin Yuan had said.

He turned his face towards the young maid, lifted his chin slightly, and narrowed his long, narrow eyes. "Speak."

The young maid, who had already gained notice today for her good memory, became even more careful upon the Marquis's command. She repeated every sentence verbatim and even imitated each person's tone of voice.

After listening, the clouds of worry cleared from the Marquis's face. In very good spirits, he praised, "There's such a clever little maid in the main house."

Rong Mama smiled. "If the Marquis takes a liking to her, you can ask the Old Madame for her. Wutong Yuan still has many positions to fill. This girl has a good memory and is clever; she will certainly be useful in the future."

The young maid blinked her eyes, looking at the Marquis with anticipation.

Gu Jinghui declined. "I have never asked for a maid to serve me. This must be shown to the Madame. If she takes a liking to her, then let her ask to keep her by her side."

Rong Mama was quite surprised.

Gu Jinghui explained, "Matters of the inner residence are decided by the Madame. It wouldn't be right for me to interfere."

If you suspect someone, don't employ them; if you employ them, don't suspect them.

Qin Yuan had managed Wutong Yuan without any slip-ups so far; it wouldn't be right for him to interfere.

Rong Mama then said, "Then the Marquis should ask the Madame when you have a moment."

Gu Jinghui asked, "Who is this little maid to you, Mama?"

"She is Old Sun's granddaughter, just selected from the estate."

Gu Jinghui nodded. "Old Sun, I know him. The most honest fellow. He actually raised such a clever child."

He asked the little maid, "What's your name? How old are you? Have you studied? Can you read?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The little maid immediately answered crisply, "Reporting to the Marquis, this slave is called Xiao Hong. I am eight years old. I have not studied formally, but my grandfather taught me to recognize over a hundred characters."

For a slave to recognize that many characters was quite sufficient.

Gu Jinghui instructed, "In the future, when the Madame goes to the main house, be clever about it, understand?"

"Understood."

Gu Jinghui glanced at Gu Shiliu.

Gu Shiliu quickly took out a piece of broken silver and handed it to the little maid. "The Marquis rewards you."

The little maid didn't take it immediately, first looking at Rong Mama. Seeing Rong Mama nod, she then accepted it, promptly and deftly kowtowed to Gu Jinghui. "Thank you for the reward, Marquis."

"Her manners are good," Gu Jinghui praised the little girl again before saying to Rong Mama, "I understand Mother's meaning completely. Yuan'er is still young. In the future, I must trouble Mother to take more care guiding and protecting her."

Rong Mama's eyes showed satisfaction.

For the Marquis to say this made her trip worthwhile.

The Marquis added, "I will often be going to the camp outside the city from now on. I must trouble Mother to worry more about household affairs. Nothing else is needed, I only ask that she keep an eye on Yuan'er. If the unruly servants in the residence are disobedient, with Mother overseeing them, they will have more restraints."

Rong Mama agreed to everything. She then took Xiao Hong to kowtow to Qin Yuan, but unfortunately, Qin Yuan had gone to Songtao Pavilion to discuss matters with Sixth Madame, so it was left for another time.

Marquis Gu put away his lighthearted expression, his face darkening as he asked Gu Shiliu, "You said earlier you found those rumors all started from within the residence?"

Gu Shiliu nodded.

Gu Jinghui said angrily, "I said everything was fine up north, so how did it become like this as soon as we returned? Zhao Niangzi even said the customs up north are open, with few taboos between men and women, while the capital is overly strict, hence the situation. Now it seems someone is deliberately doing this. Investigate, dig deeper for me. Find out exactly whose people are spreading this outside."

If not for Qin Yuan's reminder, he wouldn't have known his own household's defenses were already loose.

Gu Shiliu hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

Gu Jinghui's sharp gaze swept over him. "Is there something else you haven't said?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Has Master forgotten? Previously, Master instructed me to inquire about what Zhao Niangzi and the Madame said to each other on the wedding day."

Gu Jinghui paced back and forth in the room, hands behind his back. "I remember this matter. Other things always came up later, so I didn't ask you again."

Gu Shiliu repeated what he had found out.

Gu Jinghui's face grew darker and darker.

"No wonder, no wonder..."

Gu Jinghui muttered to himself, finally sighing. "But I still have to consider Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er's feelings..."

If not for the monk's sake, then for the Buddha's sake.

His deceased benefactor, the two children as close to him as his own... all forced him to indulge Zhao Niangzi's demands.

Involving the master's family affairs, Gu Shiliu didn't dare say more, could only stand quietly waiting for the Marquis's instructions.

After a long while, Gu Jinghui spoke with difficulty. "Regarding the matter from the night before last, keep a tight seal on it. Absolutely must not let the Madame hear of it, lest it creates a rift between us."

Gu Shiliu shuddered.

Even without the Marquis's warning, he wouldn't dare speak of it. Now, with this additional warning, he wouldn't even dare talk in his sleep.

Indeed...

The Old Madame was furious when she heard.

Let alone the Madame.

Gu Shiliu also felt the Marquis was in a difficult position.

"What if Zhao Niangzi sends someone to find the Marquis again?"

Gu Jinghui was startled, asking incredulously, "She would still send someone?"

Gu Shiliu said, "Even if the bone is broken, the tendons remain connected. If Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er want to see the Marquis, will you go or not?"

The two children are so young; their mother would always be with them. If the Marquis goes, how could he avoid meeting Zhao Niangzi?

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Gu Jinghui frowned with disgust.

"Why are women's affairs more difficult than war?"

Gu Shiliu said, "This slave's old mother says matters concerning women should be handled by women. Men don't understand. Why not hand this matter over to the Madame?"

"Absolutely not."

Gu Jinghui shook his head.

"I'll go to the camp and consult a few military advisors."

He didn't understand, but he could ask.

The subordinate commanders around him had been married for years and were full of theories on managing a wife. Some had married seven or eight concubines, and their households were harmonious.

Now was the chance for them to showcase their expertise.

Gu Shiliu felt this was unreliable.

But Gu Jinghui had already set this matter aside. "Shiliu, you heard how the Madame defended me in front of others."

Gu Shiliu nodded. "The Madame's heart is inclined towards the Marquis. She doesn't allow anyone to speak recklessly at all."

"Right. On the surface, she seems completely indifferent about where I go, but in reality, she cares deeply," Gu Jinghui couldn't help sharing with Gu Shiliu. "You aren't married yet. You'll understand once you have a family."

Gu Shiliu: "..."

Gu Jinghui added, "Mother is still too soft on Seventh Sister. With her current disposition, what will become of her in the future? How could her in-laws and husband tolerate it? Must find a way to make her correct her faults."

(End of Chapter)

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