MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 48

Glossary

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

 ·Gu Jinghui (顾靖晖): The male protagonist, Marquis Gu.

 ·Old Madame Gu (顾老夫人): Gu Jinghui's mother.

 ·Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis brought back.

 ·Cheng Ge'er (程哥儿): The twin boy.

 ·Yu Jie'er (玉姐儿): The twin girl.

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

 ·Bai Que (白雀): A maidservant serving Zhao Niangzi.

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Chapter 48: Never Heard of Something So Tragic

"How can that be?" Gu Jinghui said. "Yuan'er already dislikes them, mother and children. If she finds out about this, I'm afraid she'll look down on the two children in the future. It's for their sake that I find myself in such a difficult position."

He hadn't stayed in the mansion much before, and when he returned, he would spend time with the two children whenever he had a moment. How could he have known that rumors had already spread like this within the mansion? As for outside matters, no one dared to speak of them to his face.

His treatment of them was similar to how it was in Saibei. Occasionally, he felt something was amiss, but Zhao Niangzi said that the capital wasn't as open-minded as Saibei, and those well-bred young ladies who enjoyed reading and reciting poetry would inevitably look down on her. But she believed that the pure needed no defense, so he didn't pay it much mind.

What a fine "the pure need no defense" that was.

Now, it was clear they couldn't remain pure.

Gu Jinghui sighed.

Old Madame Gu asked, "What exactly did Yuan'er say to you?"

Mentioning this, Gu Jinghui couldn't help but sigh again. "She said she isn't a jealous woman and wouldn't stop me from taking concubines, but Zhao Niangzi is an exception. She would only cause chaos in the inner household. Yuan'er even told me a story about someone named Qin wiping out the entire Cui family. I roughly understand what she meant."

"Someone named Qin wiped out the entire Cui family?"

Old Madame Gu narrowed her eyes and thought carefully, but she couldn't recall ever hearing about such a terrifying event all these years.

And why would Yuan'er tell such a story?

"Oh?"

Old Madame Gu suddenly remembered that Qin Yuan's father was surnamed Qin, and her legal mother was surnamed Cui.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"It can't be, it can't be," Old Madame Gu shook her head.

"You also think it can't be?"

Gu Jinghui breathed a sigh of relief. "I think Yuan'er was just being alarmist."

Old Madame Gu said, "Can you tell me more about this story? How come I've never heard of such a thing?"

Gu Jinghui choked up and said, "This story... I don't remember it too clearly either. I only vaguely recall reading it somewhere, but I'm not sure which book recorded it."

Old Madame Gu relaxed and said, "That's what I thought, it can't be. What, you mean it's written in a book? Yuan'er is different indeed. Her father is the Chancellor of the Imperial College, the most learned person in the entire Imperial College. When Yuan'er speaks, it's always so refined, and she can even tell stories from books."

The topic had veered off by a hundred thousand miles.

Gu Jinghui asked, "Then, Mother, do you have any ideas?"

This "Mother" he had heard Qin Yuan call a few times, so he naturally called out that way now.

But Old Madame Gu was taken aback. She looked at him for a long moment and said, "Now you're anxious? Weren't you saying before that you might as well take her in properly, give her a status, put an end to the outsiders' gossip, and let the mother and children live permanently in the Marquis residence, just as if you were raising your own children?"

Gu Jinghui's face flushed red. "Mother, didn't you already beat your son once? Why bring it up again?"

All the past events, if mentioned now, were nothing but satire.

Satire on how foolish and ignorant of human affairs he had been.

Old Madame Gu couldn't be bothered with him and asked, "What exactly did Yuan'er say to you? Tell me properly."

Gu Jinghui had no choice but to patiently recount it again.

Old Madame Gu said, "What exactly is this story? Go find a way to ask and make it clear. That child Yuan'er is steady and reliable in her actions, both clever and tolerant. If she's only saying it now, she must have thought it over for a long time. If you don't figure it out, how will you speak with her in the future?"

Gu Jinghui was dumbfounded.

At that time, he thought that in front of Qin Yuan, he wasn't like Lin Ziqi, who could recite poetry and discuss history, so he was already at a disadvantage. If he said he didn't know, wouldn't that be embarrassing?

After all, he had already understood Qin Yuan's meaning, and it was similar to what he thought: she wanted Zhao Niangzi to leave the mansion with the children.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He hadn't considered this layer that his mother mentioned.

"These scholars, they just can't speak plainly," Gu Jinghui couldn't help but complain.

Although he was literate and could read, he only had a rough understanding.

He was born to go to the battlefield; being able to read military texts and write memorials was enough.

Where did these literati get all their troubles, needing to quote classics and histories just to say something?

In his family, probably only Sixth Brother could speak clearly with Qin Yuan.

Should he go find Sixth Brother?

While he was lost in random thoughts, Old Madame Gu had already started speaking with Rong Mama: "We have been personally taking care of Fengxuan Pavilion all along. When the Marquis brought the mother and children back, afraid they would be wronged by others, he didn't even let Sixth Madame intervene. Now that Zhao Niangzi is sick, why hasn't anyone reported it? What's going on?"

Rong Mama said, "Since Zhao Niangzi has started scheming, she has probably promised many benefits to these maids. How about this old servant find an excuse to summon Bai Que and ask that wench what exactly is going on? Has she developed outside loyalties?"

Old Madame Gu nodded.

After a short while, Bai Que arrived. Smiling, she called from outside, "Rong Mama, you called me here to get some good tea?"

"Come in with me to have a look. The Marquis newly acquired some. Old Madame wants you to choose some for Zhao Niangzi."

Bai Que said delightedly, "Old Madame always remembers Fengxuan Pavilion. It's truly Fengxuan Pavilion's good fortune."

As she spoke, she followed Rong Mama inside and met Gu Jinghui's deep, pond-like eyes. Her face couldn't help but blush, and her heart began to beat violently.

Seeing her like this, Rong Mama understood everything.

Bai Que was a second-rank maid in Old Madame Gu's rooms, assigned to serve Zhao Niangzi. Who would have thought she would also develop feelings for the Marquis?

With just this one look, Rong Mama had guessed much.

Bai Que swayed gracefully as she bowed to Old Madame Gu and Gu Jinghui, her voice shy as she said, "Pay respects to Old Madame, pay respects to the Marquis."

Gu Jinghui made a vague sound in his throat.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Old Madame Gu, however, stern-faced, said sharply, "Bai Que, you are serving Zhao Niangzi in Fengxuan Pavilion. How could you not report such a major matter as Zhao Niangzi falling ill?"

Only then did Bai Que realize the matter had been exposed. She fell to her knees with a "thud" and wept, "I beg Old Madame to spare my life! This servant did not intentionally conceal it. It was just that Zhao Niangzi tearfully begged me, saying she didn't dare to make a big fuss and call a physician to see her. She originally had some illnesses and pains in Saibei, and she would recover after resting for a few days. This servant was momentarily confused and didn't come to disturb Old Madame."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Gu Jinghui's expression.

Gu Jinghui's face was ashen; indeed, as Zhao Niangzi had said, he was still concerned about her.

Bai Que felt relieved.

"You, a servant, actually dare to make decisions for your mistress?" Rong Mama scolded angrily. "Now, in front of Old Madame and the Marquis, speak honestly. How exactly did Zhao Niangzi get sick? How long has she been ill? Why didn't she allow you to call a physician?"

Bai Que, hearing this tone, though she felt something was amiss, thought Rong Mama was blaming her for inadequate service. She said, "This servant doesn't know what's wrong with Zhao Niangzi either. These past few days, she often sighs at the moon, sitting dazedly by the window in the wind, as if she has something on her mind."

"This servant tried to console her, but it was useless. Zhao Niangzi probably caught a chill from the wind at night. She begged me, saying we absolutely must not call a physician to see her, afraid that the Madame would be displeased and the Marquis would be troubled if he found out. This servant, seeing her speak so pitifully, was momentarily confused…"

Then, she kowtowed to Gu Jinghui and said, "The two young masters have had no smiles all day because of Zhao Niangzi's health. If the Marquis has time, it would be wonderful if you could visit Fengxuan Pavilion."

(End of Chapter)

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