MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 63

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

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

·Lu Mama (卢妈妈): The stewardess in charge of the needlework room.

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Chapter 63: This Is No Way to Treat a Man

Gu Jinghui's eyes darkened. After a long moment, he finally said, "I understand."

They crossed the corridor bridge in silence. A young maid waiting outside hurriedly lifted the door curtain upon seeing them. Gu Jinghui carried her into the inner chamber. Qin Yuan instructed him to set her down on the daybed and then urged, "Zhao Niangzi seems to still be running a fever, even to the point of speaking deliriously. I won't hold it against her, but you need to quickly find a way for her to return to Fengxuan Pavilion before her condition worsens."

Gu Jinghui paused at her words, then said, "Yu'an'er, you are very considerate."

Qin Yuan thought for another moment and added, "It would be best if Zhao Niangzi returns by sedan chair or litter. Those children are still young, and the night path is treacherous; it would be easy for them to trip and fall."

Hearing this, the expression on Gu Jinghui's face shifted several times before he finally said, "My good Yu'an'er, you are truly kind."

Qin Yuan didn't know what he was thinking now, nor did she wish to know, so she urged him again, "Alright, you should go now. Don't let them stand there weeping outside Wutong Yuan's main gate. Who knows what gossip might spread if others see? Don't you already have enough of that?" As she spoke, she shot him a reproachful glance.

That spirited look seemed to埋怨 (blame) Gu Jinghui for causing all this trouble, yet also to urge him to quickly settle Zhao Niangzi and her children, and even to convey concern for Gu Jinghui's reputation… It held a multitude of unspoken words.

The charm in that one reproachful look made Gu Jinghui's soul feel inexplicably unmoored.

Since ancient times, heroes have struggled to pass the beauty barrier. He felt, deep down, that he was destined to never pass this particular barrier named Yu'an'er in this lifetime.

Gu Jinghui found it hard to pull his feet away, wanting only to stay by his young wife's side. Gazing at Qin Yuan's delicate foot, he asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"

Hongye and Cuiming had also returned by now and, seeing the situation, remained stationed outside the door.

Blushing, Qin Yuan shooed him away again. "Alright, they're back now. You don't need to worry about me. It was just a slight twist; it's fine already. You should go and comfort that mother and her children; that's what's important."

Gu Jinghui took a deep look at his young wife sitting gracefully on the daybed, her lovely smile enchanting, and said in a low voice, "I'm going."

"Mm," Qin Yuan nodded.

Only then did Gu Jinghui stride out of the room. He paused briefly at the doorway and sternly instructed the two maids, "Take good care of your mistress."

"Yes, Marquis," they replied in unison.

The moment Gu Jinghui left, the smile on Hongye's face could no longer be contained. She rushed to Qin Yuan's side, exclaiming, "Young Lady, when the Marquis rushed over and scooped you up, he gave me such a fright!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cuiming added, "Before I could even gather my wits, the Marquis had already carried you far away."

Qin Yuan lowered her eyes, her face flushed. "He'd had some wine. It's only natural he wasn't quite his usual self."

Hongye stared at her face, giggling. "This servant thinks the Marquis seemed to descend from heaven itself. He looked so mighty and handsome, no wonder that Zhao woman has set her sights on him. The wealth of the Marquis household goes without saying, the Marquis is in his prime, handsome, and has been good to them… It's no surprise she developed feelings."

Cuiming sighed helplessly. "A moment ago, Hongye was resenting the Marquis, and now she's praising him like he's a blooming flower."

Qin Yuan pursed her lips in a slight smile.

Hongye said, "Seeing that the Marquis ignored them and focused on bringing you back, I forgive him. Young Lady, you didn't see the look on Zhao Niangzi's face—it was truly something. Her dream should be shattered now."

Qin Yuan said, "I think it will be difficult for her to wake from it." As long as she remained in the estate, Zhao Niangzi would try every means to achieve her goal. After investing so many years of effort, how could she give up easily? It was merely that, being in mourning, many of her methods were currently constrained.

Hearing this, Hongye was silent for a while before saying, "Young Lady, you shouldn't have let the Marquis see them back. What if Zhao Niangzi takes advantage of being ill to…"

Qin Yuan interjected, "Go instruct the others to draw some scented bath water. I wish to bathe and retire early tonight. If the Marquis returns, please ask him to rest in the side chamber."

Hongye was shocked. "Does the Young Lady still not wish to consummate the marriage?" Even though saying the word "consummate" made her blush slightly, this was a major matter she couldn't ignore.

Qin Yuan shook her head. "The Marquis's injuries aren't fully healed yet. He's been running around under the hot sun, drank wine, and in a couple of days, he has to take his rotation at the camp. There's no rush right now."

Only then did Hongye turn and leave.

Qin Yuan whispered to Cuiming, "With Hongye's temperament, it's only because the Marquis is tolerant and doesn't take offense that she gets away with it. Otherwise, I fear she might suffer for it."

Cuiming smiled. "Young Lady, don't worry about her. She's not foolish. It's precisely because she sees the Marquis doesn't mind that she acts this way."

Qin Yuan thought it over and laughed at herself. "You're right. I was overthinking it." The Marquis tolerated Hongye for her sake, and Hongye, in turn, became increasingly bold. As long as she herself didn't offend the Marquis, he wouldn't do anything to Hongye.

By the time Hongye returned, Qin Yuan had already taken the needlework room account books and reviewed half of them by the lamplight, circling several errors. "These places are clearly mistaken. Tomorrow, Cuiming, confront Lu Mama directly and have her explain publicly exactly what happened."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cuiming assented.

After giving a few more instructions, Qin Yuan entered the bathing room to wash and cleanse herself, then went to bed for a sound sleep.

Outside, Hongye whispered to Cuiming, "The Marquis hasn't returned yet. Has he been detained by Zhao Niangzi?"

Cuiming chided her, "The Young Lady has her own plans. If she isn't worried, why are you? Truly, 'the emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuch is desperately worried.' Are you going to tie the Marquis to the Young Lady's waistband?"

Hongye couldn't help but laugh. "What you say is true. The Young Lady isn't anxious at all, but I'm anxious on her behalf."

Cuiming whispered, "Tell me, when has the Young Lady ever suffered a major loss?"

Hongye's heart settled again. "You're right. I'll be able to sleep tonight."

Cuiming: "…"

She had followed the Young Lady's instructions and drugged the Marquis's wedding wine. Judging by the Young Lady's confident demeanor, it was clearly related to that medicine. It was fortunate she hadn't tasked Hongye with that.

When Gu Jinghui returned, the young maid on night watch hurried forward. "You've returned, Marquis. The Madame instructed this servant to wait here to remind you."

"What is it?" Gu Jinghui's gaze drifted towards the main chamber.

The maid said, "The Madame said you must not forget to apply the medicine properly, Marquis, and not let sweat and dust dirty your wounds again."

Gu Jinghui's eyebrows lifted. "The Madame has retired?"

"Yes, the Madame retired after her bath. She said she was exhausted these past couple of days."

Gu Jinghui gently rubbed his fingers together and had to say, "Fine, I understand. You may go."

He entered the side chamber feeling somewhat dejected. It had been easy to move out of the main chamber, but moving back in seemed difficult. However, getting intimate with his young wife while still covered in wounds wasn't proper either.

Gu Jinghui thought with annoyance, his own mother really… He was married, yet it was as if he weren't. It was even more agonizing than being unmarried. To see his delectable young wife flitting before his eyes every day, yet be unable to taste her… This was no way to treat a man.

The next day, when Qin Yuan woke, she heard bursts of cheers and applause from the courtyard. She called for Hongye several times, then for Cuiming, but received no response. She had no choice but to get up and randomly pick up an outer robe to drape over her shoulders.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Before she had even fastened the sash properly, Gu Jinghui walked in wearing only an underrobe, his bare, muscular arms exposed.

(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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