MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 100

 Glossary

· Qin Siyuan (秦思远): Qin Yuan's cousin.

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

·Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

·Shen Changle (沈长乐): A clever servant from Qin Yuan's dowry entourage.

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

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

·Qin Heng (秦恒): Qin Yuan's brother.

·Gu Jingjun (顾靖钧): The sixth son, Gu Jinghui's brother.

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

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

·Li Mama (李妈妈): The new deputy stewardess for the needlework room.

·Six-Eared Macaque (六耳猕猴): A mythical creature from Journey to the West known for its powerful hearing.

·Qi Tian Dasheng / Great Sage (齐天大圣): The title of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Journey to the West.

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Chapter 100: The Six-Eared Macaque

It was as if a veil had been lifted from Qin Siyuan’s eyes. He suddenly understood why his poetry always lacked that final spark of inspiration.

Overjoyed, he scratched his head and ears, itching to burst through the door, leap for joy, and tell everyone he met, "I've attained enlightenment! So this is how it's done!"

But Qin Yuan's earlier message made him realize this matter must not leak a single whisper.

He absolutely could not share these notes with Lin Ziqi.

Qin Yuan's guidance was worth a fortune. He had chosen the right teacher—it felt like a rebirth.

Qin Siyuan's heart was filled to the brim with gratitude.

Hearing noise outside the door, he hurriedly composed himself, stuffed the papers into the book chest by his bed to study thoroughly later when alone, and closed the lid.

Years of study had ingrained the key points Qin Yuan mentioned into his memory, but he still couldn't bear to destroy the physical notes, wanting to savor them in private later.

Just as he shut the chest, Lin Ziqi pushed the door open and walked in.

Lin Ziqi was now dressed more respectably than before his marriage, and his complexion had improved. As soon as he entered, he asked, "Did you get any studying done at home these past few days?"

Having to conceal the matter of Qin Yuan, Qin Siyuan felt somewhat guilty. He forced a smile. "Not much. Eldest Cousin needed me for something, so I've been busy with that."

"Are you joining the poetry society at Jade Abyss Lake?"

Without waiting for an answer, Lin Ziqi added, "I plan to invite the Sixth Master Gu as well. You should meet him; we're all relatives."

Qin Siyuan was stunned.

"The Sixth Master Gu?"

Who didn't know of Gu Jingjun's reputation for pretentious refinement? Was Lin Ziqi doing this on purpose or not?

"Yes. Didn't you meet the Sixth Master when you visited the Marquis's household?"

Lin Ziqi asked curiously.

Qin Siyuan shook his head. "I only spoke with my elder cousin for a few moments. I didn't have time to meet any elders of the household."

Lin Ziqi said, as if casually, "Young Master Heng was introduced to the Old Madame by Eldest Sister and received many gifts. I thought you might have received the same when you visited. The Old Madame is truly generous. The gifts must have been worth two or three hundred taels of silver."

Qin Siyuan smiled.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Lin Ziqi pressed, "What did Eldest Sister need your help with? I heard from Heng that she gave him several urgent messages telling you to go quickly."

Qin Siyuan smiled and said, "It was nothing major. Eldest Cousin was just worried Heng might forget, so she made it sound serious."

But he wouldn't say what Qin Yuan had asked of him.

Lin Ziqi tried repeatedly to probe with clever words but learned nothing. Seeing his persistence, Qin Siyuan finally said, "I still have texts to memorize. I should start reviewing. Regarding the poetry society, I'll follow your arrangements."

Only then did Lin Ziqi stop.

…

When Shen Changle returned to the Marquis's household to report, Qin Yuan had already finished her evening meal. She had specially set aside a dish for him as a reward.

"Thank you for your generous reward, Madame."

Shen Changle took the dish, beaming with happiness as he left.

Being rewarded with food twice in one day—he was the first among the dowry servants to receive such honor. It showed the Madame was very satisfied with his work and would rely on him more in the future.

Cuiming said, "Shen Changle is truly cautious."

Hongye also said, "Exceedingly cautious."

Actually, she thought he was a bit too cautious.

Qin Yuan set down her teacup, gazed at the still-swaying beaded curtain, and sighed softly. "You both still have much to learn. You think he's overly cautious, but you don't realize that without understanding the full situation, merely from the story I told, he grasped that this matter concerns my cousin's future and livelihood, and thus took all those precautions. With someone like him handling affairs, how could I not feel at ease?"

Hongye's face flushed instantly. She bit her lower lip and remained silent.

Cuiming asked, "He is careful and thorough, truly rare. But no one is perfect. What might his shortcomings be?"

Qin Yuan smiled. "Observe more, test more, and you'll discover his shortcomings. In the future, you can test Li Mama in the same way—see what responsibilities she can handle, what matters are beyond her ability. Remember it all and guide her carefully."

Cuiming nodded, committing this to heart.

Hongye sighed. "I haven't found a single truly capable woman among the tea-water room servants. But when it comes to gathering information, they're all remarkably well-informed."

Qin Yuan said, "That's precisely why I put you in charge of supervising the tea-water room. Knowing more about the household's affairs prevents us from being blind. I can't rely solely on Rong Mama for guidance. Firstly, there are things even she doesn't know. Secondly, there are things she may be obliged not to say. With you, I won't become deaf or blind. See how important you are?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Hongye immediately regained her drive, no longer comparing herself to Cuiming. She said, "Then I really am quite important."

Cuiming just stared at her and laughed.

Hongye asked, puzzled, "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing because you're the Six-Eared Macaque."

Qin Yuan also laughed.

The Six-Eared Macaque impersonated Sun Wukong; it was a counterfeit. But it had one formidable ability: it could know what happened a thousand miles away without moving. No mortal's words could escape its hearing, so nothing could be hidden from it.

Cuiming had gone to quite some length to come up with this comparison.

Hongye was both amused and annoyed. She pounced on Cuiming to pinch her, saying, "Why didn't you say I'm the Great Sage, Equal of Heaven?"

Cuiming dodged, laughing and struggling. "The Great Sage isn't as talkative as you. In that regard, you're more like the Second Marshal."

"Ha ha ha!"

Qin Yuan couldn't help laughing out loud.

Hongye was miffed. "Now the Young Lady is happy too, joining in to laugh at me."

Qin Yuan acted innocent. "How am I happy?"

Hongye said sourly, "Naturally, because with the Marquis handling things, Prince Qi won't interfere with the pepper business anymore. With no worries on her mind, the Young Lady is happy to watch me become the butt of the joke."

Qin Yuan retorted, "Listen to yourself. I think Cuiming is quite right—the Great Sage would never speak like that."

Hongye: "…"

Qin Yuan laughed. "You have reminded me, though. If Prince Qi's mansion isn't going to touch the pepper business, why did they order people to drive up the price everywhere and tell others not to sell hastily? Could there be another reason behind it? If you can find out even this, I'll crown you as the Great Sage."

Cuiming suggested, "Perhaps the Marquis did something to make Prince Qi change his mind?"

Qin Yuan traced the edge of her round fan, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't think so."

As for why not, she couldn't explain.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

In her past life, Gu Jinghui had openly stated that if the court wouldn't let him fight in the north again, he had no other desires; he'd just live on his salary.

He had kept his word, not participating in the princes' struggle for the heir apparent. Even when the Ministry of War assigned him a post he couldn't refuse, he only held the title nominally.

Others said the Marquis shut his doors and lived a quiet life with his beloved concubine, paying no heed to the outside world.

Now, thinking back, retreating into seclusion for a concubine seemed quite like a smokescreen, completely insulating the Dingbei Marquis's household from the succession struggle.

So, how could Gu Jinghui possibly get involved with Prince Qi for the sake of her pepper business?

Hongye knew that if Qin Yuan said it wouldn't happen, it wouldn't. She said disappointedly, "I thought the Marquis had gone to Prince Qi's mansion specifically to please you, Young Lady."

(End of Chapter)

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