MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 30

Glossary

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

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

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

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

· Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): The family member Qin Yuan is now sharing household management with.

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

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

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Chapter 30: The Young Lady Never Suffers Losses

The good elder brother, Marquis Gu, frowned in deep thought but found he had no way to deal with his younger sister.

He absolutely refused to admit it was to vent Qin Yuan's anger.

That didn't stop Gu Shiliu from thinking it, however.

Gu Shiliu's brow furrowed, and a plan came to mind. "This lowly one has heard that Seventh Miss has made plans with someone to go out and see the festivities on the night of the Qixi Festival."

Gu Baozhu loved a lively scene. If they found a way to stop her a few times, she would surely be hopping mad.

"What festivities are there for the Qixi Festival?"

Having spent many years on the northern frontier, Gu Jinghui was utterly ignorant of these girls' festivals.

Fortunately, Gu Shiliu had many sisters at home and knew a little about it.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Legend says the Qixi Festival is the day the Cowherd and Weaver Maid meet on the Magpie Bridge. That night, my old mother always takes the sisters at home to make offerings to the Cowherd and Weaver Maid stars."

"In the capital, they set up 'Begging for Skill Pavilions' in the West Market, where women compete in talents, and there are prizes. If a family's daughter wins the competition, she gains a reputation for having skillful hands and can marry into a good family."

"That day, merchant associations organize vendors to operate all night, the curfew is lifted, and women first make offerings and 'drop needles' at home, then arrange to go to the pavilions to watch the competitions. The pavilions have all sorts of food and drink. The sisters at home never return before dawn."

"Oh?" Gu Jinghui was delighted. "Go tell Baozhu that I, her brother, said the Marquis's household has signed her up for the embroidery competition at the Qixi Festival. She must win a good reputation for the Dingbei Marquis household. If she loses, she can forget about going to temple fairs or lantern festivals in the future. She'll stay home and embroider properly."

Gu Shiliu hurried off to deliver the message.

Gu Jinghui murmured to himself, "This day has very good symbolism. I'll take Yuan'er to watch Gu Baozhu compete then, and while we're at it cross a bridge together. It can count as my apology."

Qin Yuan, still unaware that Gu Shiliu had made Gu Baozhu cry into her pillow, spent the entire afternoon managing affairs with Sixth Madame Gu in Songtao Pavilion.

Sixth Madame Gu, intending to suppress Qin Yuan, put on a full display of authority. She summoned all the stewards and matrons of the household and had them report one by one on the progress of their respective duties.

Big and small matters alike, without distinguishing their importance or urgency, she questioned and commented on them all.

Qin Yuan sat quietly by her side without uttering a word.

Sixth Madame Gu rejected the matters reported by several head matrons, discussed some other things, and then turned apologetically. "Third Sister-in-law, I've been so busy discussing matters, I've neglected you. You mustn't find it tedious, I hope?"

Qin Yuan smiled and shook her head, speaking softly, "Sixth Sister-in-law, please don't worry about me. I've never managed a household before. I find it all quite novel and interesting. I had no idea you handled so many matters every day."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

These words caused a faint, almost imperceptible flash of smugness in Sixth Madame Gu's eyes.

The expressions of the head matrons standing below became subtly disrespectful.

These people had already received the news that they would soon be working under the Marquise.

Seeing the Marquise was young and seemingly cowed by Sixth Madame Gu, even speaking timidly, they couldn't help but feel she would be easy to manipulate, secretly harboring other thoughts.

This was exactly what Sixth Madame Gu hoped to see.

If she couldn't control the head matrons, Qin Yuan would soon find herself unable to move a step without causing offense. Then the Old Madame would know that she alone was capable of managing this household.

Sixth Madame Gu said apologetically, "Then why doesn't Third Sister-in-law listen for a while longer. I didn't expect so many miscellaneous matters today. After I finish with these, I'll explain the affairs of these head matrons to you separately."

Qin Yuan obediently nodded in agreement, seemingly completely unaware that Sixth Madame Gu was deliberately making things difficult for her.

The disrespectful expressions on the head matrons' faces were now hard to conceal, and their postures became noticeably more casual.

Sixth Madame Gu didn't actually have many matters that needed handling today, but to keep Qin Yuan waiting, she dragged out every big and small household matter for discussion.

The faces of Hongye and Cuiming behind Qin Yuan were gloomy, but Qin Yuan herself stared at everyone with curious interest, the very picture of a sheltered young mistress who was easily fooled and unaware of the world's dangers.

After nearly two hours had passed, Sixth Madame Gu finally finished. She then addressed the listless head matrons: "I imagine you already know that from now on, you will work under the Marquise. Matters you previously reported to me should henceforth be reported to the Marquise."

The head matrons acknowledged this without enthusiasm.

The affairs they managed had little profit and were insignificant. Being assigned to anyone made little difference.

Seeing the Marquise being suppressed by Sixth Madame Gu at every turn made them even more disheartened.

Qin Yuan gave a light cough.

Sixth Madame Gu hurriedly asked, "Does Third Sister-in-law have something to say?"

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "These head matrons will be under my direction starting tomorrow. However, their accounts from today and before must be properly handed over to avoid any future misunderstandings."

Sixth Madame Gu quickly smiled and said, "I've truly been so busy today it addled my brains. Third Sister-in-law is right. These things certainly must be done."

She had originally thought to drag it out until Qin Yuan lost patience and, being inexperienced, would take over the mess she left behind, inevitably causing herself future trouble.

She didn't expect Qin Yuan to be in no hurry to speak with the head matrons, but to first bring this up with her.

She wondered who had advised her.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan then turned to the head matrons. "The work you did before fell under Sixth Madame Gu's management. The work you do from now on falls under my management. One thing is one thing. Sort it out clearly before you come to report to me."

The implication was that these head matrons should first settle all accounts clearly with Sixth Madame Gu before seeking her out.

Sixth Madame Gu's face soured slightly. If things couldn't be sorted out clearly, she couldn't wash her hands of the matter in the meantime, since Qin Yuan hadn't taken over yet.

But she had already been sitting for so long today, her throat was dry.

Qin Yuan stood up. "The Marquis is waiting for me, so I shall take my leave first. Once Sixth Sister-in-law is finished, have them come find me at Wutong Yuan."

Sixth Madame Gu had no choice but to agree. Qin Yuan returned to Wutong Yuan with Hongye and Cuiming.

Once they reached a deserted spot, Hongye complained, "Does Sixth Madame Gu think we are fools? Although the Qin residence was small, it had all the necessary parts. If we haven't eaten the pork, haven't we at least seen the pig run? She practically dragged out matters from eight hundred years ago and eight hundred years in the future. She's deliberately putting on airs for the Young Lady to see."

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "I was just worrying about not knowing what Sixth Madame Gu busies herself with all day. Her little performance today gave me a rough idea."

She had observed Sixth Madame Gu's methods coldly; they weren't particularly masterful, just average.

It seemed taking over the household management wouldn't be too difficult.

Cuiming nodded. "Have you forgotten? The Young Lady never suffers losses."

Hongye laughed again. "Young Lady, do you have a plan to deal with those head matrons? I could see they practically had the words 'perfunctory' and 'idling' written on their faces."

Qin Yuan smiled. "No rush."

Why hurry?

Sooner or later, they would learn that she was their mistress, their legitimate and rightful mistress.

(End of Chapter)

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