MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 61

 Glossary

·Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, Marquise of the Dingbei Marquis Household.

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

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

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

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

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

·Bai Que (白雀): A maidservant formerly of the Main House, now serving Zhao Niangzi.

·Xiao Hong (小红): A young maid from the Main House.

·Cheng Ge'er (程哥儿): The twin boy.

·Yu Jie'er (玉姐儿): The twin girl.

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Chapter 61: Don't Be So Cruel to Me

By the time Qin Yuan left the Main House, night had fallen and lanterns glowed throughout the estate.

Having never properly admired the Marquis estate after dark, she decided to take a leisurely stroll with Hongye and Cuiming to aid their digestion.

"Madam," Hongye began, "I thought you intended to review the needlework room's accounts today. How did you end up spending so long with the Old Madame instead?"

Qin Yuan chuckled. "It seems a loose tongue leads to a slow mind. Cuiming, why don't you explain my reasoning?"

Cuiming smiled. "This servant cannot read fortunes, but since you ask, Madam, there must be a purpose. I suspect it concerns Hongye."

"Me?" Hongye looked bewildered.

"You silly girl," Qin Yuan said affectionately. "If not for you, I could have visited the Main House tomorrow morning. There was no need for such haste today."

As Hongye remained confused, Cuiming elaborated, "Bai Que was originally from the Old Madame's household before being assigned to Fengxuan Pavilion. This shows how much the Old Madame valued that household and trusted Bai Que specifically."

Understanding dawned on Hongye's face. "So you were worried Bai Que would seek the Old Madame's protection? But what does that have to do with me?"

Qin Yuan tapped her playfully. "The servants here are all family-born retainers with deep connections. Bai Que enjoyed high standing and even dared to put on airs at Wutong Yuan's gate, prompting Sixth Madame to question me publicly. This indicates her parents must hold significant favor with the Old Madame."

"Oh!" Hongye exclaimed. "No wonder the Old Madame seemed so troubled when we arrived. Were you concerned Bai Que might try to blame me for what happened?"

Qin Yuan shook her head. "The Marquis gave the order. What would blaming you accomplish? Even favored servants cannot openly defy the Marquis. They can only plead with the Old Madame or the Marquis himself."

"Everyone sent from Fengxuan Pavilion to summon the Marquis acted self-righteous, showing no respect for Wutong Yuan. From what I've observed, they already treat Zhao Niangzi as the future mistress of this household, ranking her above us. I don't know what rewards she promised them, but after today's incident, not only are those benefits gone—they're being expelled from the estate. How could they possibly accept this quietly?"

"Since they cannot touch me, they'll naturally target you instead. That's why Bai Que must be removed from the estate completely."

Hongye was her closest maid. Having relied on her heavily in her previous life, Qin Yuan couldn't risk any harm coming to her in this one.

She would only rest easy after thoroughly plucking out all of Zhao Niangzi's claws.

"Young Lady is truly prudent," Hongye acknowledged. "This servant will be more careful from now on."

"There's no need to become overly cautious and change your nature," Qin Yuan reassured her. "As long as I can protect you, you needn't worry."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

If someone was determined to scheme against them, excessive caution would prove futile anyway. It was better to sharpen their wits and handle matters thoroughly.

Hongye sighed. "You have too few capable people around you, Young Lady. When will we promote those younger maids?"

"There's no need to rush," Qin Yuan countered.

"Xiao Hong seems clever and memorizes things quickly," Hongye observed. "Why not request her transfer to Wutong Yuan? The Marquis has already agreed, and she seems willing."

"Precisely because she's so clever that I want to observe her longer," Qin Yuan explained. "If her convictions aren't firm, she might easily change temperament midway. I'd rather have someone less brilliant but more steadfast. Don't you know—the smarter they are, the greater the potential harm? Compared to intelligence, I value loyalty more."

These two maids possessed that loyalty. She could trust them with her life, knowing they would never betray her, never stab her in the back during crisis.

Hongye grinned. "I'll take that as praise, Young Lady."

Cuiming laughed along.

"You two have grown up with me," Qin Yuan said warmly. "Though we're master and servants, we share a sisterly bond. No one else could compare."

Her words brought tears to the maids' eyes.

Qin Yuan quickly changed the subject. "If Xiao Hong proves trustworthy, she may become another asset. You'd be Big Hong, she'd be Little Hong—let her learn from you."

Wiping her eyes, Hongye pretended to complain, "After all those books you've read, Young Lady, you choose such common names? If she becomes Xiao Hong, will you call me Da Hong instead?"

"Why not?" Qin Yuan teased. "Extreme commonness becomes elegance itself. What's wrong with being 'big and red'?" She recalled how carefully she'd chosen their names while hiding her brilliance in the Qin household.

Cuiming joined the fun. "I'm not fussy—whoever follows me can be called Xiao Lü."

Their laughter accompanied them toward Wutong Yuan until they spotted figures at the courtyard gate and heard faint sobbing.

"Not again," Hongye muttered. "Why do they always bring their dramas to our doorstep?"

Cuiming nudged her to silence. Hongye turned to find Qin Yuan had stopped walking, her expression peculiar.

"What's wrong?" Hongye whispered.

"Let's stay in the shadows for now," Qin Yuan murmured. "Unless I'm mistaken, that's Zhao Niangzi with the children."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She had no desire to encounter the woman and her offspring. The trouble Gu Jinghui brought home should be handled by himself—or by the Old Madame if he proved incompetent.

Just as Qin Yuan turned to leave, Gu Jinghui's voice boomed through the night: "Yu'an'er! Where have you been? I'm drunk!"

Qin Yuan froze. The man had eagle eyes.

The sobbing ceased immediately as all heads turned toward them. With no escape, Qin Yuan approached with her maids.

"Husband, have you been drinking?" Her voice softened naturally, making the simple question sound like gentle concern.

"Indeed," Gu Jinghui's tone softened in response. "Why did you stay at mother's so long?" The intimacy in his voice was unmistakable.

"Mother wanted to chat," Qin Yuan explained while surveying the scene.

Zhao Niangzi stood draped in plain white garments, a small mourning flower pinned in her hair. Her face, flushed with fever or emotion, gleamed with tear tracks. She swayed precariously between two children of similar height—the twins.

Both children wore plain silk robes. The boy looked stout and brave, the girl more delicate. They appeared older than their five years, closer to six or seven in height. Given Zhao Niangzi's average stature, their father must have been tall and robust—though they bore no resemblance to Gu Jinghui.

The children hadn't learned to mask their emotions yet, and they stared at Qin Yuan with open hostility. Clearly, they saw her as the villain who stole their "father" and made their mother cry.

Before Qin Yuan could address Zhao Niangzi, Gu Jinghui pulled her close. "My father-in-law served me wine and gave me books. I've missed you terribly all this time."

Zhao Niangzi swayed violently as if about to collapse.

Qin Yuan realized—the Marquis was using her to make Zhao Niangzi relinquish her hopes.

"The Marquis is clearly drunk and talking nonsense," she told Zhao Niangzi with a polite smile.

Tears streamed anew down Zhao Niangzi's face. "Madam, I... I beg you. Please forget our past disagreements and speak to the Marquis on my behalf. If only for the children's sake, ask him not to be so cruel to me."

(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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