MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 101

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

·Princesses (公主): The Seventh and Ninth Princesses.

·Dazhao Temple (大昭寺): A temple for prayers and blessings.

·Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

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

---

Chapter 101: Why Were They All Burned?

Hongye had just finished speaking when she felt an inexplicable chill.

Cuiming smiled dismissively. "The Marquis probably doesn't even know about Prince Qi's mansion driving up prices. Wasn't it said that Gu Shiqi was out gathering information? But we haven't seen him return to report yet. Who knows where he went to ask."

Qin Yuan nodded, waving her round fan gently. She looked at Hongye and laughed. "The Marquis likely has no time to bother with such minor matters. You're probably overthinking it. I suspect Shiqi has gone to investigate in nearby prefectures."

Hongye mumbled an agreement and stopped arguing.

Qin Yuan lowered her head and drank her tea silently for a while. "Since Prince Qi's mansion won't intervene in the pepper business yet drove up the price, we might be able to use this situation. Perhaps we can buy some at a lower cost."

Hongye quickly asked, "Does the Young Lady have another clever plan?"

Qin Yuan said, "Those holding large amounts of pepper, hearing that major merchants have gone overseas to search, naturally expect prices to fall. Prince Qi's mansion throwing a wrench in the works makes them hold back on selling, but inwardly, they're still anxious."

"Right."

"If they later learn Prince Qi's mansion doesn't want the pepper after all, and the major merchants have found pepper supplies, they…"

"Then they'll definitely start selling frantically!"

Hongye cried out excitedly at first, then asked with panic, "But Young Lady, if we buy a lot of pepper at that time, won't… won't we also lose money?"

Qin Yuan smiled without answering.

Cuiming also remained silent.

Hongye was stunned for a moment, then mumbled, "I'll listen to whatever the Young Lady says."

Just then, a commotion arose outside. As Hongye was about to shout and ask, a young maid rushed in. "The Marquis is back!"

Before she finished speaking, the maid stationed outside had already lifted the curtain and announced, "Greetings to the Marquis. Madame, the Marquis has returned to the household."

For some reason, Hongye shrank her neck back slightly.

Qin Yuan glanced at her, pressed her lips together, stood up, and went forward to greet him.

The Marquis had already strode in, his handsome face unreadable. His narrow, sharp eyes swept toward Hongye, then swiftly returned to Qin Yuan. "Is my wife well?"

Qin Yuan gave a slight curtsey, then rose with a smile. "I'm perfectly fine at home, with Mother looking after everything. You've stolen my line—Yuan'er was just about to ask if her husband is well. Has something happened? Why have you rushed back?"

As she spoke, she stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and gently straightened Gu Jinghui's collar.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Gu Jinghui's expression instantly softened considerably. He took Qin Yuan's hand. "The Seventh and Ninth Princesses are going to Dazhao Temple to pray for blessings. His Majesty suddenly ordered me to lead the Imperial Guards in escorting and protecting them tomorrow morning. I brought a few personal guards back with me. Setting out from here for the palace tomorrow morning will be more convenient."

Qin Yuan asked softly, "Has my husband eaten?"

A hint of a smile appeared in Gu Jinghui's eyes. "I had a little something. I am actually a bit hungry now."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment. "The small kitchen can only manage noodles at this hour. We could trouble the main kitchen to cook, but that would require some explanation. You've had a long journey and must rise early tomorrow. Wouldn't it be better to eat and rest soon?"

Gu Jinghui said, "I'll follow my wife's arrangements."

Qin Yuan said, "Then I'll go check the small kitchen. They'll bring hot water shortly. You can bathe and change first. By the time you're done, the meal should be ready."

Gu Jinghui asked in surprise, "Is my wife going to cook personally?"

Qin Yuan said, "Culinary arts are not my forte, but I did learn a little at home. Husband, please taste my humble skills."

Gu Jinghui agreed with a smile.

Hongye, flustered by the Marquis's glance when he entered, didn't dare stay inside to serve closely. She quickly sidled along the wall to the door and followed Qin Yuan to the small kitchen.

Gu Jinghui glanced at her once more.

Cuiming hurried out to call the young maids to fetch hot water and went to get a change of clothes for the Marquis.

The Marquis asked, "Has my wife moved all my clothes over already?"

Cuiming promptly replied, "Replying to the Marquis, the Madame moved everything over as soon as you mentioned it. She reorganized everything, inventoried your clothes and accessories, and made a register. The Madame says you'll likely need more clothes this year and will take your measurements and choose fabrics when you're on leave."

As Cuiming spoke, the Marquis listened and nodded.

The Marquis sighed lightly. "My wife is truly thorough."

Cuiming quickly said, "The Madame has your best interests at heart, so naturally she's thorough."

The Marquis said with satisfaction, "You know how to speak well."

Cuiming was silent.

The Marquis asked again, "Where does your Young Lady usually keep the poems she writes?"

Cuiming was startled.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She thought that matter was over.Why was the Marquis asking again?

"The Young Lady… the Madame… usually burns most of the drafts she writes."

Qin Yuan had always been cautious and discreet, not keen on showing off or competing for a reputation as a talented woman.

The Marquis pondered for a moment. "Why were they all burned?"

Cuiming hesitated.

Why did he have to press her on this?

"The Madame doesn't like to show off…"

The Marquis said somewhat regretfully, "I heard from my sixth brother that he's heard outside that my wife is multi-talented, especially skilled at poetry, with remarkable brilliance."

Cuiming was shocked.

Her cousin had always been steady and would never mention his own sister outside.

Her younger brother,conscious of being the legitimate son, wouldn't boast about his sister either, to avoid outshining the Second Young Lady.

The only one who could have spread it to the Sixth Master Gu's ears was Lin Ziqi.

Cuiming secretly resented this. No wonder the Marquis kept asking. She weighed her words carefully. "This servant doesn't understand much. The Madame rarely displays her skills in public. I've heard the young master praise her before, saying the Madame is highly intelligent and has a quick wit for poetry. The young master is still young and rarely composes poetry, so he seldom discusses it with the Madame."

The Marquis made a soft sound of acknowledgment.

Fortunately, the young maids soon brought the hot water, and the Marquis stopped questioning and went to the bathing room.

Cuiming hurried to the small kitchen. Qin Yuan was there, sleeves rolled up, directing the cook to pull noodles. Hongye was slicing the beef that had been marinated during the day, holding a bunch of cilantro, unsure whether to add it.

"Young Lady, the Marquis is asking again…"

Hearing Cuiming's words, Qin Yuan wasn't anxious at all. She even smiled and said, "Is that all? It's just some people making exaggerated claims. The poems I write are truly ordinary, not worthy of such praise."

Inwardly, she resolved to make Lin Ziqi take a good tumble.

Cuiming now also felt she had overreacted. To cover up, she said to the cook, "I think the Marquis looks travel-worn. He might get hungry again later. Perhaps use more oil and sauce."

Hongye said, "Then add more beef too."

Soon, a large bowl of beef noodles piled high was prepared, placed on a tray with small side dishes of various condiments.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Gu Jinghui, changed and refreshed, came out. Seeing such a huge bowl of beef noodles, he exclaimed, "How can I possibly eat all this?"

Qin Yuan said, "Just eat what you can. Cuiming was worried you'd be hungry after rushing from camp, and Hongye sliced extra marinated beef. I didn't know if I should add cilantro, scallions, or garlic, so I put them in separate dishes. You're escorting the Princesses to Dazhao Temple to pray tomorrow. Do you need to observe a fast?"

If he needed to observe a fast, he shouldn't eat these flavorful additions.

(End of Chapter)

---

read @https://ko-fi.com/cherrybombber for ADVANCE CHAPTERS!!

(dropping 5 CHAPTERS DAILY for 7 days in my kofi <33 pls support me guys luv y'all)

← prev next →