MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 66

Glossary

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

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

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

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

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

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

·Qian Da (钱大): Bai Que's father, manages the family treasury.

·Qian Da's wife (钱大家的): Bai Que's mother.

·Gu Baozhu (顾宝珠): Gu Jinghui's younger sister.

·Cheng Ge'er (程哥儿): The twin boy.

·Yu Jie'er (玉姐儿): The twin girl.

---

Chapter 66: No Peace at All

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "It was only yesterday, after hearing Sixth Madame Gu mention it, that I learned Bai Que had been standing outside Wutong Yuan under the sun. Sixth Madame said Bai Que had served the Old Madame and held considerable face. I didn't know if this matter would upset the Old Madame, so I sent Hongye to inquire with the Marquis. In short, Hongye understands this matter best. Why not clarify it publicly to avoid misunderstandings?"

Qian Da remained silent, his face dark.

Qian Da's wife offered an ingratiating smile. "The Madame is magnanimous. Then we must trouble Miss Hongye to explain, so this old slave can understand clearly."

Hongye, who had been barely containing herself, stepped forward and laid out the entire story succinctly. She concluded, "This servant didn't know the person coming to request the Marquis was Miss Bai Que, who had formerly served the Old Madame. I assumed she was just another maid from Fengxuan Pavilion. This servant relayed the Marquis's words, but she refused to believe them, threatened to make me regret it, said she would complain to the Marquis and make me pay dearly. She even tried to force her way into Wutong Yuan. The Madame had already established the rule: no maids or matrons from other courtyards may enter Wutong Yuan without being announced first. Violators receive twenty lashes."

Qian Da's wife looked somewhat uncomfortable.

Qian Da's expression darkened further, and he shot a glare at Hongye.

Unfazed, Hongye continued, "This servant had the two matrons guard the gate, thinking Miss Bai Que would stand for a while and then leave. Who knew she would stand there until she fainted, and precisely when Sixth Madame came to see the Madame? When Sixth Madame brought it up before the Madame, the Madame only then learned of the incident and sent this servant to ask the Marquis if it was serious."

Gu Jinghui picked up the teacup from the table, took a sip, and asked, "Is there anything still unclear now?"

What could possibly be unclear?

Qian Da and his wife were family-born servants of the estate; they knew the household's affairs inside out. It was clear the Marquis had, for some reason, grown weary of Zhao Niangzi's clinging attentions. Their own daughter, failing to recognize the situation, had caused a scene at the courtyard gate. Had Sixth Madame not encountered her, it might have been overlooked. But meeting Sixth Madame provided a pretext to make the Madame lose face, angering the Marquis and resulting in her expulsion.

Truly, when gods fight, little ghosts suffer.

With complex feelings, Qian Da stole a glance at the beautiful Madame sitting beside the Marquis. He thought to himself, Zhao Niangzi's modest looks are utterly eclipsed by this Marquise, insignificant as a firefly's glow. Our daughter's foolish infatuation can only come to nothing.

Qian Da's wife sighed, still wanting to plead for Bai Que. "It was indeed that girl's fault for not understanding matters and incurring the Marquis's displeasure. It's just that she..."

Qian Da cut off his wife. "Marquis, Madame, it was entirely Bai Que's fault for not understanding the situation. This old slave has no face left to beg for your mercy. Bearing and raising children is nothing but debt. This old slave will now apologize to the Marquis and Madame on her behalf." Having said this, he pulled his wife down to kneel and prepared to kowtow to Gu Jinghui and Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan immediately tugged on Gu Jinghui's sleeve.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Marquis stood and stepped forward to help Qian Da up. "How could I accept such a gesture from you? Please, don't be like this."

Qin Yuan also approached. "Please, both of you, sit and speak slowly. The Marquis didn't actually mean to expel Bai Que. It was just misinterpreted by others. Your parental concern for your daughter led to this misunderstanding."

Hearing this, Qian Da and his wife didn't dare take the proper chairs, instead hastily finding two small stools to sit on humbly.

Once everyone was seated again, Qian Da's wife hurriedly asked, "Might the Madame explain her meaning?"

The Marquis also looked at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan smiled. "The Marquis meant that since Bai Que fell ill from standing outside in the sun, it would be better for her to return home to recuperate properly. Furthermore, Bai Que has reached the age for marriage. The Old Madame originally intended to release her from service. Why don't you both find a good match for Bai Que properly, then seek a favor from the Marquis and the Old Madame for some rewards? That would bring even greater face."

These two commanded such respect that even the Marquis had to give them face. If Bai Que married, the Old Madame would certainly bestow generous gifts, and she and the Marquis would add their own rewards. When word spread later, everything would be smoothed over.

Qian Da's wife immediately exclaimed, "Aiya! So that was the Marquis's meaning all along! This old slave was truly confused, my heart clouded by lard!"

Qian Da looked eagerly at the Marquis, waiting for his confirmation.

Gu Jinghui looked at Qin Yuan with a hint of a teasing smile. "The Madame's words are most apt."

Qian Da immediately stood and bowed to Gu Jinghui and Qin Yuan. "Thank you, Marquis and Madame, for your consideration. This old slave will take Bai Que away immediately and not trouble you further."

Qian Da's wife also said cheerfully, "The Madame is generous and tolerant. In the future, if there is any place this old slave can be of use, we two will spare no effort, even at the cost of our lives."

The couple prepared to leave happily.

"Come back," Gu Jinghui said.

Qian Da hurriedly asked, "Does the Marquis have further instructions?"

Gu Jinghui said, "There are rumors outside, I don't know who spread them, claiming this Marquis intends to take Zhao Niangzi as a concubine. It's utter nonsense, deliberately damaging this Marquis's reputation and sullying the face of the Marquis estate. After Bai Que leaves the estate, remember to help clear this Marquis's name. This Marquis keeps Zhao Niangzi and the children in the estate solely to repay a debt of gratitude, with no other intentions. Zhao Niangzi is still in the bloom of youth. If she chooses not to remain in widowhood, this Marquis is willing to provide her with a dowry."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Good heavens! This statement stunned even Qin Yuan.

She truly hadn't expected Gu Jinghui to speak so directly.

Qian Da was also stunned for a moment before saying, "After this old slave returns, he will have Bai Que atone for her mistake through good service. Anyone who slanders the Marquis or the Marquis estate makes an enemy of this old slave's entire family."

Gu Jinghui nodded. "I'll trouble you both. You may go; I won't see you out."

Qian Da said with a smile, "We only beg the Madame not to blame this old slave for his recklessness in charging into Wutong Yuan and to punish the gatekeeping matrons lightly."

That Qian Da could still remember to plead for the matrons at this point, not asking for no punishment but only a light one, was indeed impressive.

Qin Yuan also smiled. "It's of no consequence. I also ask that you not hold a grudge against this maid of mine. She is new to the estate and hasn't even familiarized herself with all the faces yet. If she has given offense in any way, please let it go for my sake."

Qian Da and his wife quickly said, "We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare! It was all a misunderstanding."

Hongye also stepped forward and said a few pleasant words.

Thus, the matter was considered closed.

As the couple prepared to leave, Gu Jinghui said again, "Wait."

Qin Yuan looked at him, wondering what else he intended.

Qian Da asked, "What other instructions does the Marquis have? Please state them all at once, lest this old slave never manages to leave this room."

Gu Jinghui laughed. "Take your thorned branches with you."

Qian Da looked at the Marquis, stamped his foot, and said, "The Marquis is still just like when he was a boy." Grumbling, he still took the thorned branches away.

Gu Jinghui took Qin Yuan's hand and complained, "They caused a scene first thing in the morning. I'm starving. Let's have breakfast served quickly."

Qin Yuan smiled. "Alright."

Gu Jinghui added, "Those two have been standing for half the morning too; they must be hungry as well. Let's eat by ourselves; we don't need them to serve us."

Qin Yuan agreed. The Marquis had given her face before the old Qian couple, letting her take the lead. She would acquiesce to whatever he said now.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cuiming pressed her lips together and meticulously laid out the breakfast. Fortunately, it was summer, and despite the delay, the food hadn't gone completely cold.

Gu Jinghui sighed. "I'm truly famished."

Qin Yuan was actually quite hungry too.

They ate their breakfast quietly without conversation. After rinsing their mouths, Gu Jinghui said, "Today, I..." Before he could finish his sentence, another commotion erupted outside the courtyard.

Frowning in annoyance, Gu Jinghui grumbled, "Day after day, will there never be any peace?"

This time, he recognized the voices: it was Gu Baozhu, who was supposed to be confined to her quarters, bringing Cheng Ge'er and Yu Jie'er with her.

(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 →