MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 68

Glossary

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

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

·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.

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

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

·Xiao Hong (小红): A young maid from the main house.

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

·Qiuju (秋菊): A maidservant of Old Madame Gu.

·Gu Shiliu (顾十六): Gu Jinghui's personal attendant.

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Chapter 68: I Can't Take It Anymore Either

Gu Jinghui was scolding Gu Baozhu, but Gu Baozhu looked at Qin Yuan with displeasure.

Qin Yuan found it somewhat amusing.

Clearly, Gu Baozhu believed it was entirely because of Qin Yuan that her third brother was reprimanding her. It seemed she had been secretly cursing Qin Yuan in her heart quite a bit these past days.

Gu Jinghui then said to the two children standing dumbly to the side, "Quickly greet your honorary mother."

Neither Cheng Ge'er nor Yu Jie'er made a sound.

Qin Yuan said, "Never mind, don't force the children. Let's discuss the matter at hand."

Gu Jinghui glanced at them disappointedly and asked Gu Baozhu displeased, "What exactly is going on?"

Gu Baozhu said loudly, "It's just as I said! Zhao Niangzi went to Mother and said she wants to return to her hometown in Jizhou. Mother said how could a widow leave like this with two young children and is trying to persuade her. These two took advantage of nobody watching and ran out to find me. They only dared come to Wutong Yuan to find you because I brought them."

Upon hearing this, Hongye secretly rolled her eyes.

Cheng Ge'er pleaded, "Father, Mother wants to return to our hometown. We've never even met the people back there. Neither Yu Jie'er nor I want to leave you. Please persuade Mother. She listens to you the most."

Hearing this, Yu Jie'er rubbed her eyes and started crying again.

Gu Jinghui stole a glance at Qin Yuan. Seeing she remained silent, he said, "Good children, stop crying. You can't bear to leave your honorary father, and I can't bear to let you go either. I've already sent Gu Shiliu to invite people from your father's clan. Why is your mother making a fuss about going back now?"

Only then did Qin Yuan understand why Gu Shiliu had been absent these past two days.

Gu Baozhu was stunned.

The two children were also dumbfounded.Having grown up this way, they had always considered Gu Jinghui their real father. Although others gossiped privately, no one said it to their faces. This was the first time their father was being seriously discussed, and by Gu Jinghui himself.

So they truly weren't Marquis Gu's biological children after all.

Cheng Ge'er hung his head.

Gu Jinghui continued, "You'll understand when you're older. Your mother, raising you alone, needs the protection of her husband's family by her side. Otherwise, gossip is hard to bear; the weight of public opinion is formidable."

"I also plan to send Cheng Ge'er to the Imperial College in a few days, and Yu Jie'er should start receiving instruction from a governess. Once Gu Shiliu brings the people here, your mother can do as she pleases. What is she making a fuss about now?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Everyone: "..."

Qin Yuan also didn't want to speak.

Gu Jinghui had everything arranged for them, but they didn't want to follow the path he laid out. When he eventually realized this, he would understand naturally.

It wasn't her place to dampen his enthusiasm.

But it had to be said, Gu Jinghui was truly good to these two children.

It was just a pity that this thorough consideration was destined to become tainted because of Zhao Niangzi's intentions.

After a long moment, Gu Baozhu finally asked, "So what is Third Brother's meaning?"

"My meaning is that you should go back and stay put immediately. This isn't something you can meddle in. Didn't Mother punish you to three months of confinement? How did you get out? Don't think I don't know—you've been spreading rumors about your third brother everywhere at social gatherings. What have you been saying about Zhao Niangzi and the two children living in the estate? You share some credit for why they can't stay here peacefully."

Cheng Ge'er looked suspiciously at Gu Baozhu.

Gu Baozhu muttered, "I already know I was wrong. It's not really my fault. Zhao Niangzi herself, talking with my sixth sister-in-law, gave that very impression. And you treat Cheng Ge'er and the others so well, who wouldn't think wrongly?"

Gu Jinghui's anger suddenly dissipated by half; it was pointless to argue with her.

"I see you truly need proper instruction. With a mouth like that, will you have to marry someone with no parents, no brothers, and no sisters-in-law in the future?"

Gu Jinghui said to Qin Yuan, "Yu'an'er, have some matrons and maids escort our Seventh Young Lady back."

Gu Baozhu stamped her foot angrily. "I can leave by myself!"

Gu Jinghui threatened coldly, "If I catch you out one more time, you truly won't be allowed out even for the Lantern Festival in the future."

Hearing this, Gu Baozhu couldn't care less about Zhao Niangzi anymore. Ignoring the two children, she snorted angrily, lifted the curtain, and ran off.

Only then did Gu Jinghui say to the two children, "Do you want to stay here and play for a while, or should I have someone take you back to the Main House? When the Old Madame realizes you're missing, she'll probably search for you everywhere. If you want to stay here, I'll send someone to inform Rong Mama or Qiuju."

He hadn't noticed it before, but now he increasingly felt these two children were lacking in manners.

They truly learned by example.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

They had been spoiled by following Zhao Niangzi and Gu Baozhu.

But they also showed no respect toward Yu'an'er, and Yu'an'er wouldn't instruct them either.

They needed to start school quickly, not stay cooped up at home all the time, mixing with ignorant old women.

Before the children could speak, Gu Jinghui added, "Don't play with your Aunt Baozhu in the future. She's flighty and scatterbrained and will only lead you astray. You are different from her."

He didn't explain exactly how they were different.

Qin Yuan knew he meant that Gu Baozhu was the only young lady of the Dingbei Marquis household. No matter how unruly she was, she could always marry into a decent family.

But they were different, especially Yu Jie'er. If her character was spoiled, it would be hard for her to marry well.

But seeing that the two children clearly didn't understand his meaning, Qin Yuan felt weary on his behalf.

Yu Jie'er sobbed, "Can't Father hold Yu Jie'er and go find Mother? Ask her not to go back? Father always used to do that." As she spoke, she glanced tearfully at Qin Yuan sitting beside Gu Jinghui.

Cheng Ge'er also looked at Gu Jinghui with anticipation.

The pleading look in his eyes was hard to refuse.

Gu Jinghui sighed and said, "Your honorary father cannot go. There must be boundaries between men and women. You're growing up; I can't always hold you anymore. You don't understand now, but you will later. I'm doing this for your own good. In a couple of years, you and Cheng Ge'er won't be able to be as intimate as you are now. When you marry, I might only see you once every few years. If your mother wants to leave, I cannot stop her. If she wants to take you with her, I have even less right to stop her."

"Waaah—!" Yu Jie'er cried as if her heart were breaking.

Gu Jinghui found it difficult to watch but still did not hold her.

Qin Yuan: "..."

So this was how the Marquis soothed children.

But she couldn't say much. She could only instruct Hongye to go to the Main House to inform Rong Mama and then summon Xiao Hong. Cuiming helped comfort the children, but the more she tried, the more they cried incessantly.

Fortunately, Xiao Hong and Qiuju arrived shortly after. With a few words, they managed to coax the two children away.

Only then did Hongye say, "Rong Mama instructed this servant to relay a message to the Marquis and Madame: don't concern yourselves with the affairs of the Main House. The Old Madame will decide the matter of Zhao Niangzi's stay or departure."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan looked at Gu Jinghui and said, "Since Rong Mama put it that way, it's best we don't go. However, you should also inform Rong Mama and Mother about your plans."

Gu Jinghui nodded. "Mother knows what's important. She won't let Zhao Niangzi leave. She's just trying to salvage some face."

Qin Yuan pursed her lips. So he had figured it out now.

Suddenly, Gu Jinghui said, "I recall there's an empty street-facing property in the estate. When Gu Shiliu brings the people, we can partition that courtyard for them to live in separately, with a door opened to the street for access. If they need to enter the estate, they can use the side gate. They'll live close by but as separate households. If this commotion continues any longer, I can't take it anymore either."

(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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