MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 56

 Glossary

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

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

 ·Sixth Madame Gu (六夫人): Wife of the sixth son, Gu Jingjun.

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

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

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

 ·Cai Mama (蔡妈妈): A stewardess in charge of repairs.

 ·Zhao Mama (赵嬷嬷): Sixth Madame Gu's personal maid.

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

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

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Chapter 56: Anxious to Dig a Pit

Qin Yuan looked at Sixth Madame Gu and asked, "Is this Bai Que highly regarded by Mother?"

Sixth Madame Gu was at a loss for words.

If she said yes, she was just a second-rank maid. If she said no, wouldn't that imply Zhao Niangzi wasn't regarded highly either?

But if a maid regarded highly by Old Madame Gu did something so foolish, didn't that mean Old Madame Gu lacked judgment?

The ever-diplotmatic Sixth Madame Gu was actually stumped by a question, frowning as if she didn't know where to begin.

Qin Yuan added, "Should we inform the Marquis about this matter? Let's see if he thinks it's important. I truly didn't know."

The stewardesses exchanged glances.

If Qin Yuan weren't present, they would have started discussing already.

Hongye then said, "This servant will go and return shortly."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Hongye exited the main hall and went towards the side room.

Sixth Madame Gu said guiltily, "So it was me speaking out of turn. Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law actually didn't know."

Who would believe that?

The person was standing right outside Wutong Yuan. Even if Bai Que chose to stand there herself, didn't anyone inform Qin Yuan?

Qin Yuan must have blocked the news.

Sixth Madame Gu inwardly screamed while waiting for the Marquis's reply.

She had brought so many stewardesses here today, all as witnesses. If Hongye dared not report truthfully, Qin Yuan would face even greater embarrassment later.

Qin Yuan wouldn't be that foolish.

This time, that sharp-tongued maid's face would be slapped swollen.

Unexpectedly, after the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Hongye returned with light steps and said, "The Marquis said to ignore her. Not everyone who comes from Old Madame's side has good judgment. Bai Que only grows older, not wiser. If she can't understand her master's words, she should be released from service."

Sixth Madame Gu: "..."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

This, this, this.

The stewardesses stared dumbfounded at Qin Yuan.

This Marquise truly had remarkable skill.

Just a few days ago, Zhao Niangzi of Fengxuan Pavilion was a guest in this mansion whom no one dared offend.

Even Sixth Madame Gu had to flatter and respect her.

Bai Que was from Old Madame Gu's side and was assigned to Zhao Niangzi. Her parents had long stated that no servants in the mansion need propose marriage; their daughter would follow Zhao Niangzi and become a mistress.

Who couldn't understand what that meant?

Qin Yuan nodded and said, "We'll do as the Marquis instructs. As for Mother's side, the Marquis will naturally handle it."

Sixth Madame Gu came back to her senses, forced a dry laugh, and said, "It really was me meddling in others' affairs. So that girl was foolish and upset Third Brother."

Qin Yuan shook her head: "Not so, not so."

Sixth Madame Gu's hand tightly gripped the handle of her round fan. She smiled and asked, "What does Third Sister-in-law mean?"

"She was foolish, but she didn't upset the Marquis. The Marquis didn't even know it was her who came."

Sixth Madame Gu's face stiffened.

So, if she hadn't brought it up, Bai Que might still be safe and sound in Fengxuan Pavilion?

A miscalculation.

Wouldn't Bai Que's parents hate her once they found out?!

Sixth Madame Gu said resentfully, "Third Sister-in-law, I have other matters to attend to and won't disturb you further. Regarding the pepper, I await your instructions."

Qin Yuan nodded gratefully and said, "On such a hot day, you made this trip for me, truly holding my matters in your heart. How could it be a disturbance?"

Sixth Madame Gu didn't want to stay any longer. She stood up and said, "We'll take our leave."

Qin Yuan saw them off all the way to the gate of Wutong Yuan before turning back.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hongye, holding back laughter until her stomach hurt, said, "Sixth Madame's expression was truly unpleasant."

Cuiming said, "She has so many schemes. Bringing all those stewardesses and immediately saying she wanted you to help them get rich. If you let them make money, the favor would still be hers. If they lose money, the fault would all be yours."

Hongye said, "We can't call her 'Young Lady' anymore; we must call her 'Madame,' to avoid slipping up in front of the Marquis later."

Gu Jinghui's words had given Hongye face, and she was starting to side with him.

Qin Yuan chuckled softly.

Hongye was straightforward and sharp-tongued, but Marquis Gu could tolerate her.

Hongye added, "Her little schemes can't even fool us, let alone the Madame."

Cuiming said, "She calculates every step so precisely, but there's always a moment of lapse. This servant is somewhat worried. Could that batch of pepper she mentioned have problems?"

Qin Yuan said, "We'll see then. It probably won't. Sixth Madame Gu wants me to buy the pepper quickly to avoid long nights and many dreams (meaning: to prevent complications)."

Sixth Madame Gu was indeed thinking this.

She urgently instructed her personal maid, "Go hurry them up. Check the quality of the pepper and ask for the bottom price."

Zhao Mama knew she was anxious for Qin Yuan to suffer a loss and said, "Shouldn't we take the opportunity to make a profit this time?"

Sixth Madame Gu shook her head.

"My Third Sister-in-law, though young, is very cautious in her actions, probably honed from being worn down by her legal mother in her maiden family. If the pepper is tampered with, she will surely detect it. To gain her trust, I must show sincerity."

Zhao Mama then abandoned the idea of tampering.

Although it was a pity, her mistress made sense.

Sixth Madame Gu said, "Find a way to get her to buy the pepper quickly and make it a settled matter."

Zhao Mama suddenly understood.

"Right, as long as she buys it, she's destined to lose."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Sixth Madame Gu had also gathered much information. Having managed the Marquis household's affairs for years, she was well-informed and knew Manager Leng's words were true.

Qin Yuan's business venture was doomed to lose money.

Having encountered setbacks repeatedly and seeing Fengxuan Pavilion lose favor, she became increasingly anxious to dig a pit for Qin Yuan.

"It seems that auspicious signs aren't reliable for everyone who dreams of them."

Zhao Mama went out to deliver the message without stopping. At the inner gate, she encountered several stewardesses surrounding Cai Mama and talking. She stopped and asked with a smile, "Is everyone contributing shares?"

"Yes, yes, we're pooling a bit to follow Sixth Madame and Zhao Mama in catching some of the Third Madame's financial luck."

Zhao Mama chuckled and slipped out of the inner gate.

The stewardesses said to Cai Mama, "You weren't at Wutong Yuan just now. You don't know how much the Marquis truly dislikes 'that side.' You really have foresight."

Cai Mama was dazed.

"That side?"

The stewardesses lifted their chins towards the direction of Fengxuan Pavilion.

Cai Mama understood and asked, "What happened?"

They were much friendlier to her than before.

These past two days, because Sixth Madame Gu had been giving her looks, the stewardesses had intentionally distanced themselves from her, occasionally making sarcastic remarks about her clinging to the Marquise's favor just because of a small kitchen renovation, wanting to get rich alone.

Cai Mama felt embarrassed but couldn't help it. She hadn't expected these people to suddenly change their attitude, cornering her at the inner gate, surrounding her with enthusiastic conversation.

One doesn't hit a smiling person, so Cai Mama pretended they had never drifted apart.

"Who knows what 'that side' is making a fuss about again? That wench Bai Que stood under the sun wanting to see the Marquis, got heatstroke, and still didn't get to see him."

"More than that! Sixth Madame mentioned it, and the Marquise said they didn't even know it was Bai Que. The Marquis even said Bai Que had no brains and wanted to release her from service. If Bai Que hadn't wanted Sixth Madame to plead for justice for her, maybe nothing would have happened."

"Hah, now Bai Que's parents will be dumbfounded. Before, they were dreaming the grand dream of a sparrow turning into a phoenix (meaning: drastic social climbing). They almost had me convinced it was real."

Cai Mama asked curiously, "A sparrow turning into a phoenix? Who did Bai Que want to become a concubine for?"

(End of Chapter)

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Translator's Note: check out my other work— The Marquis’s Beloved is a Black-Hearted Lotus and Rebirth as the Matriarch of a Noble Family (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡(づ￣ 3￣)づ

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