MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 77

 Glossary

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

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

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

·Qin Heng (秦恒): Qin Yuan's brother.

·Prince Qi (齐王): A royal prince.

·Zhao Niangzi (赵娘子): The widow the Marquis brought back.

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Chapter 77: So This Is the Root of the Matter

After taking a few steps, Qin Yuan paused and asked, "Go and find out first, who did the Marquis drink with today?"

If it was a proper engagement, the timing—neither early nor late—was somewhat strange.

Cuiming acknowledged the order and went off.

Qin Yuan stood outside the door, ostensibly admiring the flowers. After a short while, Cuiming returned and reported, "The Marquis went to Sang Family Entertainment Quarters to listen to storytelling. Later, he encountered His Highness Prince Qi, and the two drank a few cups together."

He went to the entertainment quarters to listen to storytelling?

Qin Yuan pursed her lips into a smile, understanding now why Marquis Gu was seeking her.

Her husband was rather concerned with face. He would never admit ignorance in front of her, always preferring to inquire and investigate privately. Yet, he was never very good at covering his tracks.

Seeing her suppressed smile, Cuiming asked, "What is Madam smiling about?"

"It's nothing," Qin Yuan said, shaking her head slowly. "Let's go. Let's see what the Marquis has to say."

The two made their way through the flowers and willow trees to the main room. A young maid guarding the outside whispered, "Madam, the Marquis returned saying he had a headache and insisted on seeing you. He's already lain down now."

Qin Yuan's heart gave a little jump.

It seemed the Marquis was determined to rest in the main room.

Qin Yuan nodded. "You wait outside and attend properly. I'll go in and see. Have someone bring the hangover soup later."

The young maid lifted the door curtain, and Qin Yuan entered. Upon stepping into the inner chamber, she was met with the smell of alcohol. Cuiming immediately moved to light some incense.

"Not now," Qin Yuan said.

She took a few more steps and saw the Marquis lying sprawled in the red gauze bed curtains, still wearing his outer robe and boots. His jade crown was removed, and his jet-black hair was spread out like a cloud, setting off his handsome, jade-like profile as if it were carved from stone. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, 'What a fine appearance.'

And this man was actually a military commander who had spent years fighting bloody battles and enduring sandstorms at the border.

Qin Yuan softened her voice and called to him, "Marquis? Marquis?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The figure in the bed didn't move.

Qin Yuan stepped closer and said quietly, "Why are you sleeping without taking off your outer clothes?"

She sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to help Gu Jinghui remove his boots. She had just lifted one foot when she was pulled into the bed curtains by a pair of arms.

Qin Yuan couldn't suppress a small cry of surprise.

She felt Gu Jinghui's breath by her ear as he said, "What were you doing at home today? Were you secretly cursing me?"

Cuiming covered her mouth and quietly retreated, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

His hot breath brushed against her ear, accompanied by the strong scent of wine.

She let out a soft hum. "Why would I secretly curse you when you haven't done anything wrong?"

"Hmph. Your words say one thing, your heart another," Gu Jinghui said, tightening his arm around her waist. The heat from his chest and arms seeped into her.

Qin Yuan felt a little uneasy and was thinking of an excuse to extricate herself when Gu Jinghui spoke again.

"Why have you stopped calling me 'husband'? With a mistress like you, is it any wonder I have a servant like Hongye? I told her to address you as 'Madam,' but she disobeys in practice. And you?"

Qin Yuan detected a note of dissatisfaction. She smiled and said, "Husband, where did you have this wine? Hongye has only just entered the household and isn't used to it yet. She'll get it right with more practice."

"Is that so?" Gu Jinghui asked, lifting Qin Yuan's body slightly so they were face to face.

Qin Yuan found herself looking directly into his inscrutable, shadowed eyes. She was momentarily stunned, then said softly, "Would I lie to you over such a small matter?"

Gu Jinghui sighed. "Hard to say."

"?" Qin Yuan watched his Adam's apple bob and couldn't help laughing. "Husband, what is this about? Did you hear something outside and come back to find fault with me?"

Gu Jinghui released her, lay flat on his back, and said, "You cultured, scholarly types always curse rough military men like me in roundabout ways. You never say what you mean directly, just bury it in your hearts. If you can't hold it in anymore, you drop hints. If I still can't guess your thoughts, you probably curse me in your hearts as a fool."

Qin Yuan burst out laughing.

She actually heard a tone of grievance in his words.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

How truly strange.

Gu Jinghui said displeasedly, "You're still laughing? Is it that funny?"

Qin Yuan smiled. "It's true you are a military man, husband, but your actions aren't always like one. Otherwise, why didn't you just ask me directly instead of hinting around?"

Gu Jinghui: "…"

He closed his eyes and said nothing more.

Clearly, he wanted Qin Yuan to treat this as drunken ramblings and never mention it again.

But Qin Yuan wouldn't let it go. "Is husband upset because of the 'Lord Guan reading the Spring and Autumn Annals' allusion? That was just my father hearing some idle gossip and worrying about me. I spoke of it openly to avoid any hidden resentment you might develop later. After all, it wasn't appropriate for my father to speak of such things with you directly, so he had to resort to that. Please try to understand him."

"Lord Guan kept watch for his sister-in-law, reading all night to demonstrate his integrity. I… I… I also have no improper connection with Zhao Niangzi," Gu Jinghui said, his voice full of grievance.

Qin Yuan gently soothed him. "I know."

"What do you know? How do you know?" Gu Jinghui asked, agitated, turning to face Qin Yuan again.

Qin Yuan lowered her eyelids, her long, curled lashes hiding the shrewdness in her eyes.

She had administered the medicine herself. How could things between them not be 'clean'?

The ambiguous words Zhao Niangzi had spoken might have driven a new bride, wholeheartedly devoted to Gu Jinghui, to despair and panic, leading her to do something foolish.

But Qin Yuan had never taken those words to heart.

Even if something had happened, she had ways to handle it.

It all depended on whether it was worth it.

And currently, the Marquis Gu in her eyes was still very much worth it.

"Even my mother almost didn't believe me. Why do you trust me?" Gu Jinghui persisted, wanting an answer.

Qin Yuan smiled. "I observe that my husband is merely inexperienced in the affairs of the inner household, always preoccupied with military campaigns and strategy. You are not the type to dally with women. When I explained my father's hidden meaning, I was actually trying to advise you, husband."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Advise me about what?" Gu Jinghui asked.

Qin Yuan adopted a serious expression. "Lord Guan conducted himself with perfect propriety and clarity, earning the praise of later generations. Cao Cao tested him precisely because Cao Cao didn't believe he could resist temptation—probably because Cao Cao himself couldn't have done it. But Lord Guan not only succeeded, he left no room for others to gossip. As the saying goes, 'Avoid suspicious situations' and 'Public clamor can confound right and wrong.' Husband, why not take Lord Guan as your model in conduct? Then you would face less criticism in court. The Censors aren't idle, you know."

Military men traditionally revered Lord Guan. Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghui seemed lost in thought for a long moment before finally saying, "Yuan'er, your talent is truly exceptional. Your brother wasn't wrong."

"Oh?" Qin Yuan was surprised.

That rascal Qin Heng had actually praised her behind her back?

Gu Jinghui said, "Just yesterday, when I was drinking with your father, your brother-in-law, and your younger brother, they mentioned it. They said your literary talent is excellent, that you have the makings of a juren scholar."

Qin Yuan glanced at his expression. Seeing him staring fixedly at her, she smiled and said, "That's just playful talk. My father is the Chancellor of the Imperial College. I had the advantage of 'getting the moon first by the waterside pavilion' (meaning: benefiting from a favorable position), and read a few more books than daughters from ordinary families."

Gu Jinghui sighed. "My brother-in-law also told me that if I had questions, I should just ask you directly, since you've read so many books."

Qin Yuan finally understood. All of Gu Jinghui's unsettled emotions, his probing and testing—so this was the root of the matter.

(End of Chapter)

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