MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 7

 Glossary

· Qin Yuan: The female protagonist, reborn. Former wife of Lin Ziqi.

· Qin Wan: Qin Yuan's Di Mei, also reborn.

· Marquis of Dingbei: A military lord, Qin Yuan's husband.

· Lin Ziqi: A poor Juren scholar, Qin Wan's husband.

· Hongye: Qin Yuan's maidservant.

· Cuiming: Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

· Cui Shi: The primary wife (Madame Cui), mother of Qin Wan and Qin Heng.

· Qin Heng: The younger brother.

· Chancellor Qin: Qin Yuan's father, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

· Di: Legitimate, referring to children born to the primary wife.

· Shu: Referring to children born to concubines.

· Sixth Madame Gu: The wife of the sixth son of the Gu family, currently managing the household.

· Zhao Niangzi: The woman brought back by the Marquis from the battlefield.

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Chapter 7: I've Kept My Wife Waiting

Sixth Madame Gu stepped forward to negotiate with Zhao Niangzi, and the two began to argue, pulling at each other.

Zhao Niangzi kept saying, "The bride might not understand, but surely you do, Sixth Madame? I am the mother of the Marquis's children. If I'm thrown out, the Marquis will also lose face."

The more they argued, the more inappropriate things she said.

Qin Yuan lowered her eyelids, her long, curled lashes firmly masking the cold mockery in her eyes, letting none of it show.

Currently, Sixth Madame Gu was managing the household affairs of the Dingbei Marquis residence. The wedding between her and Gu Jinghui had been handled entirely by this good sister-in-law. For Zhao Niangzi to show up dressed like this to spoil her day, and for Sixth Madame Gu to have seemingly been unaware initially and now helpless—ha!

They clearly thought she was a soft persimmon, easy to bully and insult.

After all, she was a mere sixteen-year-old girl from the inner chambers who had climbed socially by exchanging marriages to marry into the Dingyuan Marquis residence. The maids and retainers she brought were completely in the dark, knowing nothing about Gu Jinghui's preferences or taboos, and were likely feeling very insecure. Wouldn't they be easy to bully and manipulate?

A fine plan indeed.

Qin Yuan stopped looking at the two and instead observed the expressions of the female relatives around her, silently noting their reactions.

Barring accidents, she would have dealings with these people in the future.

Watching their expressions and attitudes revealed their stances and allegiances, which would aid her judgment later.

The thing a managing matron feared most was being deaf and blind.

Hongye was both angry and annoyed, wanting to speak up, but Cuiming shot her a warning glance. Hongye came to her senses and focused on carefully guarding her young lady, preventing anyone from bumping into her.

Qin Yuan did not engage, letting the two women tear into each other. Slowly, the atmosphere grew increasingly strange.

The other madames began to feel restless.

Zhao Niangzi was secretly anxious.

Qin Yuan hadn't cried or made a scene. If she started weeping now, it would be too obvious that she was here to disrupt the Marquis's wedding.

Making a furious scene was even less acceptable.

After all, they were only saying her presence was offensive.

She could initially claim ignorance, but now it had been stated to her face. Even if she didn't understand before, she should now.

She didn't want to risk displeasing the Marquis or the Old Madame Gu over this.

Sixth Madame Gu, who was confronting her, was also anxious.

This new sister-in-law neither swallowed her anger nor quarreled with Zhao Niangzi, nor did she weep. It seemed she had handed Zhao Niangzi over to her and washed her hands of the matter.

Sixth Madame Gu glanced at Qin Yuan and saw her turned away, calmly chatting with a madame beside her as if she had all the time in the world.

She wasn't paying them any mind at all.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Sixth Madame Gu sighed inwardly. "Miscalculated."

She couldn't help but feel a new sense of wariness towards this new bride.

Finally, she managed to usher Zhao Niangzi out. Only then did Qin Yuan slightly lift her chin and say softly, "Thank you for your support, Sixth Sister-in-Law."

Meeting the other's clear, penetrating gaze that seemed to see right through her, Sixth Madame Gu's face grew warm. She hastily apologized, "You flatter me, Third Sister-in-Law. This was my oversight, allowing someone to offend on your special day."

Someone nearby tried to explain it away for her. "It's all that Zhao Niangzi who doesn't know any better. Because her husband saved the Marquis, she inevitably…"

Sixth Madame Gu quickly cut in, "The Marquis is someone who remembers kindness. He said everyone in the residence should respect her and her children properly."

"Oh?" Qin Yuan casually asked, "How old are Zhao Niangzi's children?"

"A boy and a girl, twins, five years old," Sixth Madame Gu began explaining readily. "The Old Madame says twins are auspicious and often has them keep her company. The Marquis has acknowledged them as his adopted son and daughter, cherishing them greatly. He says to treat them as his own birth children."

Having said that, she glanced at Qin Yuan's expression and added vaguely, "...This is also because the Marquis has no children of his own."

Qin Yuan praised, "The Marquis is a man who values loyalty and righteousness. Having led troops for years, his comrades followed him into battle; their bonds must be life-and-death ones."

Qin Yuan steered the conversation away from this Zhao Niangzi and the twins.

Once again, Sixth Madame Gu, who had hoped to see her lose composure, was disappointed.

She could only watch helplessly as the wives of several commanders grew friendlier towards Qin Yuan.

Before long, Qin Yuan had subtly extracted quite a bit of information.

So, this Zhao Niangzi's husband had taken a blow for Gu Jinghui on the battlefield. The twins were not yet two years old at the time. Gu Jinghui took care of the widow and orphans, acknowledging the twins as his adopted children and bringing them back to the Marquis's residence upon returning triumphant to the capital.

Her fingers lightly twisted within her sleeves.

It seemed that, for now, Gu Jinghui hadn't reached the point of wanting to marry this Zhao Niangzi and bring her home properly.

But Zhao Niangzi's actions today indicated she had plans.

She seemed impatient to create a rift between her and Gu Jinghui.

And Sixth Madame Gu was happy to see it happen.

In her previous life, Qin Yuan had experienced, witnessed, and heard plenty of stories from the inner quarters.

If the battlefield for men was the imperial court, the battlefield for women was the inner quarters.

The ferocity and cruelty of the storms within the inner quarters were no less than those at court.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind; not one involved dealing kindly with this Zhao Niangzi.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The madames sat for about an hour. Seeing that the banquet outside was probably winding down, they gradually took their leave.

Once everyone had dispersed, Hongye hesitantly said, "Miss, that Zhao Niangzi isn't quite right…"

Qin Yuan nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, she'll try some other trick tonight."

"What?"

Hongye fumed. "This is your wedding night! How dare she?"

Cuiming thought and asked, "Using the twins as an excuse?"

Qin Yuan nodded. "What concubine doesn't use such tactics? The Marquis has watched these children grow up. He has no children of his own, so he naturally holds them dear."

"Concubine?" Cuiming's voice changed pitch. "Miss, are you saying that Zhao Niangzi intends to enter the residence as a concubine?"

Qin Yuan hummed in agreement.

Hongye grew even angrier. "I should have torn her mouth apart today!"

Cuiming said, "It was best that you didn't confront her today. How could a new bride argue and make a scene with someone like her? She would have loved for a scene to happen, to make you lose face in the Marquis's residence."

Hongye understood the reasoning now and stamped her foot, cursing, "That vile woman! Our Miss is still the daughter of a Chancellor! What is she, to dare have such ambitions? If she comes again, I'll tear her mouth and scratch her face apart!"

Qin Yuan frowned, massaging her forehead. "I told you to be careful not to fall for others' tricks. And here you are, like a firecracker."

Hongye, in both lifetimes, had a nature that refused to suffer losses. Having entered the Marquis's residence, her timidity didn't last long before her old self reemerged.

Qin Yuan only gave a few brief instructions and said no more.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn later, chaotic footsteps and laughter sounded outside the window.

Qin Yuan straightened her posture. Cuiming and Hongye stood guard on either side with utmost vigilance.

Men's jovial farewells and banter sounded outside the door. The Marquis's voice carried a drunken note. Then the door was pushed open heavily, and a tall, imposing man strode in within two or three steps.

Qin Yuan looked up and met a pair of burning eyes, as if flames flickered within them.

She shyly lowered her head.

The Marquis approached and sat down close beside her. His robe sleeve pressed over hers, their red wedding garments layering and piling together, creating an intimate tangle.

Perhaps because he had drunk too much, his voice was low and slightly drawn out, like a hook that made one's heart itch.

"I've kept my wife waiting."

Qin Yuan's face couldn't help but redden.

This fine appearance of his really should be covered up with a beard.

Otherwise, he might bring back more than just one Zhao Niangzi.

(End of Chapter)

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