MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 59

Glossary

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

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

·Qin Jijiu (秦祭酒): Qin Yuan's father, Chancellor of the Imperial College.

·Qin Heng (秦恒): Qin Yuan's brother.

·Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

·Qin Wan (秦婉): Qin Yuan's sister.

·Madame Cui (崔氏): Qin Yuan's mother.

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

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

---

Chapter 59: Absolutely Impossible to Be Well-Off

Qin Jijiu looked bewildered. "Someone named Qin... why would that person named Qin wipe out the entire Cui family? What incident is this?"

Gu Jinghui had been waiting eagerly at the gate of the Imperial College to intercept his father-in-law, expecting the most learned man in the Great Xing Dynasty to explain it to him. He never expected his father-in-law wouldn't know.

Meeting Qin Jijiu's troubled gaze, Gu Jinghui quickly added, "It was Yuan'er who said it. It's a story from a book, very famous. Many people know it."

Qin Jijiu: "..."

If your daughter said it, why are you asking her father?

On second thought, how many books could Gu Jinghui have read?

Yuan'er had known how to read people's expressions since she was young;she would never use an obscure allusion to embarrass Marquis Gu.

"Oh, oh, that one," Qin Jijiu reacted and said with a smile, "My worthy son-in-law waited here just to ask about this? That's a long story. That lad Qin Heng thinks of you every day. Come, come back with me, have some drinks, and we'll talk slowly."

Gu Jinghui immediately said, "Alright, Father-in-law. Wait a moment for me; I'll be right back."

As soon as Qin Jijiu nodded, Gu Jinghui took his servant to nearby shops to buy wine, food, fruits, and vegetables.

A son-in-law visiting empty-handed wouldn't be proper.

Qin Jijiu stood by the carriage, stroking his beard, and said to the coachman with a laugh, "My eldest son-in-law is quite courteous."

Marquis Gu's official rank was higher than his, his family status was higher, yet he was still extremely respectful towards him.

This made Qin Jijiu feel very honored.

Especially at the bustling gate of the Imperial College, watched by everyone, Qin Jijiu was very pleased.

The coachman smiled and said, "Congratulations, Sir. The Marquis respects you and also cherishes our Eldest Miss."

Qin Jijiu nodded.

His eldest daughter was beautiful and sensible; how could she not win the Marquis's heart?

It wasn't like what his younger daughter said, that the Marquis only had that Zhao woman in his heart.

It made Madame Cui toss and turn for two more nights; he didn't even dare visit his concubines.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Eldest Miss has a gentle yet decisive nature. She would do well married to anyone. I've never worried about her."

As he spoke, he waved to Lin Ziqi, who had stopped to look their way: "Ziqi, come here."

Lin Ziqi hurried over, bowed, and asked, "Father-in-law, why are you standing here? Is something the matter?"

"Your brother-in-law just stopped me here to ask about something. I invited him home. You come too. Bring Qin Heng along by the way. Tell him his eldest brother-in-law came on his fine horse; have him ask for leave to come home for a meal."

Lin Ziqi smiled and said, "Good, I'll go find Qin Heng right away."

When Qin Heng heard his eldest brother-in-law was eating at home, he immediately followed Lin Ziqi out of the Imperial College. At the gate, he saw Qin Jijiu chatting animatedly with Gu Jinghui, while a servant held the reins of that black thousand-li horse (meaning: a horse that can cover a thousand li in a day) with white hooves that had captivated his dreams.

"Eldest Brother-in-law, you're here."

Qin Heng immediately rushed over, his eyes fixed on the horse, scrutinizing it in detail.

Lin Ziqi and Gu Jinghui exchanged greetings but had little to say to each other.

Qin Jijiu said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go, we can talk more at home."

Qin Jijiu and Lin Ziqi got into the carriage. Gu Jinghui rode his horse. Qin Heng said eagerly, "Eldest Brother-in-law, can you let me ride the horse too?"

Although he felt somewhat timid facing the heroic Gu Jinghui, the horse was too tempting for him.

Gu Jinghui understood. He reached out, pulled Qin Heng up, and with a scream, Qin Heng was seated on the horse's back.

Qin Heng, his face red, said, "Eldest Brother-in-law is so skilled."

Qin Jijiu stuck his head out of the carriage window, laughing, "Marquis, don't spoil him. He's still a child, doesn't know his limits."

Gu Jinghui shook his head. "It's fine. My younger sister in my family can ride horses and even likes playing polo. How could a boy not love horses?"

Qin Heng felt even more that his eldest brother-in-law understood him.

Riding the thousand-li horse behind Gu Jinghui just once would be enough for him to boast about for half a year.

Lin Ziqi, who hadn't ridden much and didn't particularly like riding: "..."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Jijiu occasionally spoke to Marquis Gu through the window. Qin Heng chirped incessantly about his views on the thousand-li horse. Lin Ziqi sat silently in the carriage, only occasionally exchanging a few words with Qin Jijiu.

And so they arrived at the Qin residence.

Lin Ziqi felt the journey was much longer than usual.

When Madame Cui learned her Marquis son-in-law had come, she quickly ordered seasonal fruits to be set out and had a matron bring sour plum and lemon drinks bought from outside to relieve the heat.

If Lin Ziqi came alone, he wouldn't have received such hospitality.

After making the arrangements, Madame Cui stopped him and said with a smile, "Wan'er hasn't been here long, and now you've come too. Have a meal together before returning."

Lin Ziqi asked, "Why is Wan'er here?"

Madame Cui forced a dry laugh and said, "She came to ask me for two embroidery patterns, so I kept her to chat for a while. She intended to go back, but you all happened to arrive. Simply have a meal together before leaving."

Lin Ziqi could only nod.

He also understood that Qin Wan disliked the Lin family's poverty, where food and drink couldn't compare to the Qin residence. His mother was accustomed to frugality and disapproved of Qin Wan spending money on food and drink, always obstructing her. Qin Wan had thrown many tantrums over this. Today, she had probably taken advantage of his studying at the Imperial College to come to the Qin family for a good meal.

His mother-in-law was covering for Qin Wan.

But what could he say?

The gifts Gu Jinghui bought were numerous and varied; he had even bought a bunch of flowers to fragrance the room.

Madame Cui smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits. "Son-in-law, you came, why bother bringing gifts?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Your son-in-law came on short notice and just bought some ready-made food, fruits, and the like from the street shops, to save you, Mother-in-law, some trouble. Please don't blame your son-in-law for being presumptuous."

Qin Jijiu laughed heartily and said, "The Marquis is so cautious! It's no trouble, no trouble. Ziqi is a regular guest in my home. You must come often in the future; please don't be so polite."

Lin Ziqi: "..."

Madame Cui smiled and withdrew to the inner courtyard. There, she said to Qin Wan, "The Marquis and Son-in-law Lin came together. He also bought many things, very courteous. By the looks of it, he seems quite attentive to Qin Yuan."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Wan chuckled and said, "How is that possible? He's just putting on a show. If he truly cared, why didn't he bring Qin Yuan along?"

Marquis Gu was a nobleman's son; he was never lacking in courtesy.

In her past life, when she and Marquis Gu went out to banquets together, they could maintain appearances on the surface. Who would know that behind closed doors, they couldn't even exchange half a sentence?

"Last time, when Ziqi and I were buying something for his cousin at the West Market, we ran into her standing alone. When I asked why the Marquis wasn't accompanying her, she evaded the question."

"Mother, that Zhao woman in the Marquis household and his sister-in-law are very difficult to deal with. The two of them are birds of a feather (meaning: villains of the same ilk). Even if Qin Yuan had three heads and six arms, she couldn't handle them."

Madame Cui glanced at her, half-believing, half-doubting.

Oh well, she was already married; discussing this was pointless.

"What's the matter with Son-in-law Lin's cousin? Why wasn't it mentioned before? Why is she coming right after you got married?" Madame Cui felt something was amiss.

"Mother-in-law used to focus on Ziqi's studies and couldn't attend to her. Now she has free time and wants someone to keep her company. The cousin grew up by Mother-in-law's side. They haven't seen each other since the Lin family came to the capital."

"Then why come now? Isn't the cousin engaged?" The more Madame Cui listened, the more she felt something was wrong.

(End of Chapter)

---

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＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

← prev next →