MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 60

Glossary

·Qin Wan (秦婉): Qin Yuan's sister.

·Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

·Madame Cui (崔氏): Qin Yuan's mother.

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

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

·Qin Heng (秦恒): Qin Yuan's brother.

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

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

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

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

·Zi He (紫荷): Another maidservant previously assigned to Zhao Niangzi.

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

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Chapter 60: Since Ancient Times, Wealth Tempts the Heart

Qin Wan said, "She was originally engaged, but the man retracted the marriage proposal. Mother-in-law said that after Lin Ziqi passes the imperial examination, he can help his cousin find a good match among his fellow students at the Imperial College."

Madame Cui smiled, "Your mother-in-law is quite the planner."

Qin Wan said, "That's fine too. If she marries well, Ziqi will have another helper in the future."

Madame Cui said, "This cousin-brother relationship... you must be careful not to let other things happen."

Qin Wan pouted: "Ziqi only has me in his heart and eyes. How could he? He's not that kind of person. The cousin is a country girl; how much insight could she have? How could she compare to me?"

That kind of person?

Like Marquis Gu?

Madame Cui sighed inwardly.

Knowing she couldn't reason with her daughter, and continuing would only make her angry, she said with a smile, "Today, they are eating outside. We'll eat inside. Eat here and then go back with your husband. It's only been a few days, but you've lost weight."

Qin Wan complained: "Ziqi's mother is really difficult. She insists on rules even for meals. When I spend my own money to buy things to eat, she stops me. There are hardly any edible dishes on the table. She also says Ziqi studies hard, so he should eat first. Ziqi has said something a few times, and she just cries."

Madame Cui frowned and said, "Didn't you say your mother-in-law was the most amiable and easy to get along with?"

Qin Wan said, "She doesn't speak loudly or aggressively, but she just cries incessantly. Then Ziqi begs me to endure it a little, saying he will be good to me and repay me properly in the future."

Madame Cui: "..."

She lost her appetite. What was going on?

Outside, after three rounds of drinks, Qin Jijiu began to talk more. He brought up the story of Qing Feng killing Cui Zhu. "After the powerful Qi minister Cui Zhu lost his wife, he remarried a woman named Tang Jiang, who had been married before. After they had a son, he wanted to leave the family estate to the younger son and disinherit the two legitimate sons born to his former wife. The son Tang Jiang had with her former husband was also brought to the Cui family. He and Tang Jiang's brother were heavily relied upon by Cui Zhu. They joined forces to push the two legitimate sons into a corner with no way out. So the legitimate sons allied with Qing Feng to take back the family estate."

Gu Jinghui asked in surprise, "What happened later?"

Qin Heng quickly said, "Eldest Brother-in-law, I know this. I studied it in the outer school."

Qin Jijiu smiled and tested his son, "Then tell your eldest brother-in-law about it."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Qing Feng at the time resented Cui Zhu for holding power and wanted to eliminate him. Seeing the internal strife in Cui's family, he was naturally pleased. He lent troops to Cui Zhu's two sons. They took advantage of Cui Zhu meeting with Tang Jiang's eldest son and brother to kill those two. Cui Zhu fled and begged Qing Feng for help. Qing Feng then sent troops to charge into the Cui residence and killed the two sons. Tang Jiang committed suicide. Tang Jiang's youngest son happened to be away and thus survived. Cui Zhu returned to the Cui family, full of gratitude, only to find all his retainers had fled and Tang Jiang was dead. Only then did he realize he had fallen for Qing Feng's vicious plot. But with no hope for revenge, he committed suicide. In the end, the youngest son secretly returned, buried his parents, and fled to another state."

As Qin Heng spoke eloquently, Gu Jinghui was as if struck by thunder.

Qin Jijiu said, "You are correct. Tang Jiang was excessively beautiful. Duke Zhuang of Qi, because he admired Tang Jiang, had an affair with her. Cui Zhu killed him too. Later generations all say that once Cui Zhu married Tang Jiang, the Cui family was doomed."

Lin Ziqi frowned. He didn't understand why they were discussing this story and interjected, "Cui Zhu originally went to offer condolences and saw the widow Tang Jiang, then had thoughts. This is also 'even a hero can be tripped over a beauty' (meaning: even the strongest can be weakened by love). His remarrying Tang Jiang might be one thing, but he shouldn't have brought the son she had with her former husband into the Cui family. After Tang Jiang had the younger son, with internal and external cooperation, the legitimate sons from the former wife were naturally in danger."

This statement was also conventional, as most people generally said.

But Gu Jinghui asked, "How so?"

Lin Ziqi glanced strangely at Marquis Gu and said, "The son Tang Jiang had earlier was older. Having gained Cui Zhu's trust, he naturally hoped the Cui family estate would fall into the hands of his younger half-brother, so he could enjoy lasting wealth and status. He and his uncle had already gained influence. They could also join forces with Tang Jiang to speak ill of the two legitimate sons in front of Cui Zhu. Cui Zhu, for Tang Jiang's sake, even killed Duke Zhuang of Qi. How could he not become confused and try to disinherit the legitimate sons in favor of the concubine's son?"

Gu Jinghui suddenly slammed the table and exclaimed, "Such things happen in the world! Such a foolish man exists!"

Qin Jijiu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood something. He smiled, poured more wine for Gu Jinghui, and said, "Come, come, come, my worthy son-in-law, drink this cup. If you drink it, I have another story to tell."

Gu Jinghui drank it in one gulp.

Qin Jijiu had his son pour more wine for his eldest brother-in-law.

Gu Jinghui drank another cup in one gulp.

Qin Jijiu glanced at Lin Ziqi.

Lin Ziqi understood and also smiled, saying he wanted to toast his brother-in-law.

Gu Jinghui did not refuse and drank three cups consecutively, only his face turning slightly red.

Watching Marquis Gu drink wildly as if it were plain water, Lin Ziqi truly couldn't understand how Qin Yuan got along with such a coarse man.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Even elementary school children knew this story, yet Marquis Gu was completely unaware.

Judging from the poem Qin Yuan composed with him and the policy essays she helped him copy and comment on, Qin Yuan's talent was exceptional.

While Marquis Gu's abilities lay solely in clubs, knives, and spears.

This was truly a case of a clever woman sleeping with a clumsy husband.

Lin Ziqi felt some regret, and some indescribable fancies spread in his heart. He suddenly spoke up, "Eldest Sister is well-read in history. In the future, Brother-in-law can consult her more; you certainly won't go wrong."

Qin Jijiu glanced at him and said with a smile, "Ziqi, you don't understand. Yuan'er and the Marquis, as a young couple, were just playing around. She gave him this question to challenge him."

Lin Ziqi took a sip of wine and sighed, "Eldest Sister is truly unexpected."

Qin Heng said, "Eldest Sister is the best reader among us. Cousin Si Yuan said if Eldest Sister were a man, she could probably even pass the provincial examination."

Seeing Lin Ziqi's eyes were somewhat red and his ears bright red, Qin Jijiu quickly said with a smile, "What do you, a child, know? Your cousin Si Yuan was joking with her. Is the provincial examination so easy to pass? There aren't that many in the entire country. Yuan'er just had the advantage of 'the water-front tower gets the moonlight first' (meaning: enjoying the benefits of a favorable position); she read a few more books. She has a good memory; you really can't compare to her in this."

Lin Ziqi took another sip of wine and said no more.

Gu Jinghui nodded proudly, "Yuan'er is exceptionally intelligent and deeply reasonable. Father-in-law taught her well. My mother praises her every day, saying that being able to marry her is truly my good fortune."

This sentence shocked Lin Ziqi so much that his wine cup fell to the ground and shattered.

"Silly boy, quickly help your second brother-in-law out to sober up. He has a low alcohol tolerance and shouldn't drink more," Qin Jijiu hastily instructed.

Qin Heng still wanted to listen to his eldest brother-in-law and father talk, but could only pout and help Lin Ziqi out.

Gu Jinghui looked at Lin Ziqi's retreating figure, his eyes full of deep meaning.

Main House, Marquis Residence.

Old Madame Gu was also quite shocked by this story. After Qin Yuan left, she said to Rong Mama, "The ancients have already made such mistakes; we must not follow foolishly. The daughter of a scholarly family is indeed different; she can think deeply about even small matters. Since ancient times, wealth tempts the heart (meaning: money and property sway people's loyalties), let alone the wealth of the Marquis household. Quickly persuade Zi He to return and drive Bai Que out. In such matters, there can be no room for sentiment."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

They also needed to quickly find a way to send Zhao Niangzi and the twins away.

If they waited any longer, she wouldn't be able to sleep.

(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＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

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