MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 79

 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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Chapter 79: Marquis Gu Invites Her to the Bamboo Grove

Qin Yuan asked, "Husband, how do you find the taste of these cold noodles?"

Gu Jinghui said, "Not bad."

Qin Yuan said, "This was our favorite summer dish back at my maiden home. Husband, what do you think about sending some to the Upper House?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghui felt a pang of remorse. "I forgot Mother also likes to try new things. Yuan'er, you are considerate indeed."

With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?

Ah!

All that's missing now are a few children playing at their feet.

Marquis Gu's gaze towards his young wife grew increasingly direct and ardent.

Qin Yuan instructed Cuiming, "Have a young maid deliver some cold noodles to the Upper House. Let the Old Madame and Rong Mama have a taste. Say it was on the Marquis's orders."

Hearing this, Cuiming felt somewhat apprehensive. "Will the Old Madame think it worthy?"

Marquis Gu said, "My mother has always enjoyed trying new foods. Just send it. There are many people in the Upper House. Even if Mother is cautious about eating too much at night, she'll share it with others. It won't go to waste."

Only then did Cuiming feel reassured. "Perhaps this servant should go instead. I've already finished eating."

Qin Yuan said, "Good. I'd feel more at ease if you went."

Although Cuiming wasn't as talkative as Hongye, she was always prudent in speech and action and was unlikely to make a mistake.

After a moment's thought, Qin Yuan added, "Send a generous portion. Also, the lemonade you made last time was delicious. It's appetizing. The two children might eat more because of it."

Gu Jinghui was even more satisfied, thinking to himself, Yuan'er's heart is indeed full of me. Even though those two children are ignorant, she disregards it for my sake and even sends them food and drink.

Could General Jin possibly have such a good wife?

If things go well tonight, perhaps in ten months, we could have a child.

A child that looks like both him and Qin Yuan.

Gu Jinghui's eyes sparkled, brimming with anticipation.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

After giving her instructions, Qin Yuan turned back to find Marquis Gu staring at the soup bowl before him with a beaming smile, his eyes dark and bright like gemstones, lost in who-knows-what thoughts.

Qin Yuan paid him no mind, focusing quietly on her meal.

All matters were secondary; eating was paramount.

Having finished her meal with relish, Qin Yuan contentedly held a cup of fragrant tea, sipping slowly by the window, listening carefully to the insects chirping outside. Hongye entered to attend to them and saw the Marquis gazing at her mistress, while her mistress gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Hongye: "…"

Seeing her enter, Qin Yuan smiled. "The sound of the insects is pleasant."

The Marquis's estate was vast, and even the insects seemed more numerous.

Gu Jinghui pricked up his ears to listen.

Hongye said, "Has Madam recalled a certain line of poetry?"

Qin Yuan nodded. "Yang Wanli's line, 'Where bamboo is deep, trees dense, and insects chirp, a slight coolness comes now and then—yet it is not the wind,' fits the scene perfectly. I imagine the insect chorus in the estate's bamboo grove must sound even lovelier than here."

If the couple hadn't had their frank conversation earlier, Gu Jinghui might have felt secretly inferior and dared not join in. But today was different. He couldn't help interjecting, "Sixth Brother also keeps many crickets to listen to. He's loved playing with crickets since childhood, often arranging cricket fights with others. He usually loses, and if Father found out, he'd get a sound thrashing."

Qin Yuan: "…"

After a moment's thought, she said, "The Sixth Master shares similar hobbies with a few of my younger brothers. Brother Heng loved betting on cricket fights behind the adults' backs. Once, he was caught gambling, and Father administered family discipline. He was bedridden for several days before he finally mended his ways."

Gu Jinghui was pleased and immediately racked his brains for other amusing anecdotes.

But Qin Yuan changed the subject, asking him, "What time must you report to the camp tomorrow, Marquis?"

Marquis Gu couldn't help sighing. "First thing in the morning."

His narrow eyes glanced seemingly casually at Qin Yuan, wanting to see if she was reluctant to see him go.

Qin Yuan said, "Does husband have anything to say to Mother and Rong Mama? And those two children will likely need a few words of comfort. I heard from Rong Mama that Mother has taken the two children to raise in the Upper House so Zhao Niangzi can recuperate in peace."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Marquis Gu looked at Qin Yuan. "Would you like to come with me? You could visit the bamboo grove afterward to listen to the insects."

Qin Yuan was taken aback by his offer.

Her poetic mood had been disturbed by the Marquis, so she wanted to send him off to the Old Madame to clarify all necessary matters. He would be gone for about ten days, and with Gu Shiliu's return uncertain, if Zhao Niangzi and her children stirred up trouble again, she wouldn't have to handle it alone.

She hadn't expected Marquis Gu to remember her mention of the insects in the bamboo grove.

He was someone who took her words to heart.

A gentle smile blossomed on Qin Yuan's lips. "Husband, the managers from several shops just delivered the account books this afternoon—several thick volumes. You also need to have a proper talk with those two children. It's better if I don't go."

Marquis Gu felt it was a pity.

He couldn't quite articulate what he found regrettable. He just didn't like going alone, leaving his young wife here to calculate account books.

"Should I assign the estate's accountant to you?"

The smile on Qin Yuan's lips grew a little wider. "That won't be necessary. Husband, you should go now. When you return, I have matters I wish to discuss with you."

Marquis Gu couldn't help reaching out to gently stroke Qin Yuan's cheek, his expression softening further. "Alright. Wait for me."

After he left, Hongye watched Qin Yuan, merely smiling.

Qin Yuan said, "Do you have anything urgent? If not, bring today's account books. You need to learn how to review them. The account books for the tea-water room will be even more tedious than those for the needlework room."

Hongye let out a mournful cry, her shoulders slumping as she went to the outer room to fetch the account books from Cuiming.

Cuiming had just returned from delivering the cold noodles, her face wreathed in smiles.

Seeing this, Hongye asked, "Did you receive some reward?"

Cuiming nodded, extending her hand to show Hongye a bracelet—a plain jade piece with ordinary patterning, but still worth several dozen taels of silver.

Hongye said enviously, "You just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Cuiming brought the account books into the inner chamber, placed them on the desk, and showed the bracelet to Qin Yuan.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan asked with a smile, "Why did the Old Madame reward you with this?"

Hongye was also very curious, staring eagerly at Cuiming.

Cuiming said, "When this servant arrived at the Upper House, the Old Madame happened to be coaxing the two children to eat. They are young and rather fussy, especially Yu Jie'er. One moment she wanted to see Zhao Niangzi, the next she wanted to find the Marquis—she just wouldn't eat properly. This servant coincidentally delivered the cold noodles and the drink. The children hadn't eaten them before and found them delicious. The Old Madame was delighted to hear the Marquis had specially thought of her and sent them, so in her happiness, she bestowed this reward."

Hongye sighed with envy. "Why don't I have such luck?"

Qin Yuan glanced at her and smiled. "If you saw those two children, who knows what inappropriate remarks you might make? Even if you didn't speak, your face wouldn't be able to hide your thoughts. That's precisely why I didn't send you."

Cuiming pursed her lips in a smile.

Hongye knew Qin Yuan was right, but she couldn't help muttering, "Not only do I get no silver, but I also get mocked by you, Miss. It really doesn't feel good at all."

Qin Yuan chided, "Hurry up and learn to review accounts with me. Once you've sorted out the tea-water room's books clearly, I'll reward you with something nice."

In her previous life, Hongye had shown a natural talent for managing accounts. With a little guidance, she could get the hang of it. This presented the perfect opportunity. Qin Yuan's words immediately spurred Hongye into action, and she began studying the account books under the lamplight with serious focus.

Cuiming also studied along but didn't pick it up as quickly as Hongye. She could only hug the account books and ponder them slowly.

Gu Jinghui had been gone for over an hour without returning. Hongye grew subtly anxious and asked, "Is Miss waiting for the young master to retire for the night?"

(End of Chapter)

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