MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 81

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

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Chapter 81: A Sleepless Night

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives.

Cuiming's throat felt dry. She glanced nervously at Hongye, who stood beside her.

Discussing one's masters behind their backs was always a major taboo.

Especially discussing such private matters.

Always cautious and steady, Cuiming was at a loss for what to do.

Marquis Gu was getting closer and closer. He seemed casual, but in just a few strides, he had ambled right up to the two of them. His voice was cool as he asked, "Does the Madam have something else to say?"

Cuiming: "…"

Hongye was the first to perform a curtsy.

Cuiming hurriedly followed suit.

Then, they heard Hongye say, "Marquis, the Madam has been busy from morning till night today and was rather tired, so she retired first. Originally, the Madam had matters to discuss while waiting for you, but she thought since it wasn't anything major, it could wait until you return from the camp. The Madam also said…"

"Said what?"

Marquis Gu was tall. Standing before the two of them, he blocked half the light from the goat-horn lantern under the eaves, his handsome, resolute face shrouded in a halo, making his expression unclear.

But Cuiming simply felt afraid.

Hongye said, "The Madam said it's always good that you, Marquis, are dedicated to studying. But you shouldn't study too late into the night either. 'Three feet of ice is not formed in one day' (meaning: great things take time), and books can't be finished in a single night. You might as well take them to the camp to read slowly."

Marquis Gu's figure stiffened slightly.

After a long pause, he finally said, "Anything else?"

Hongye said, "No. Does the Marquis wish this servant to have hot water sent to the side room from the small kitchen?"

Marquis Gu said, "Fine."

Cuiming felt the Marquis's handsome face seemed even sterner, but thankfully, he didn't pursue their gossip about their masters. Thank heavens, is this over then?

Did the Marquis simply not hear it?

Gu Jinghui gave a faint, sweeping glance at the two trembling maidservants, let out a soft humph, then turned and walked towards the side room.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

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Hongye whispered, "The Marquis loves the house and its crows (meaning: love for a person extends even to the people or things related to them). He's not blaming us for speaking out of turn."

This sentence crushed Cuiming's wishful thinking.

"You mean the Marquis heard?"

Hongye said, "Naturally. Shiliu told me to avoid talking about the Marquis behind his back. I didn't understand at the time, but later, I was reprimanded by the Marquis a few times. The Miss also said the Marquis is heroic and agile and must have exceptional hearing. The Miss is never wrong. If she says the Marquis can hear, then the Marquis can definitely hear."

Cuiming: "…"

---

Entering the side room, Gu Jinghui's expression softened somewhat. Today, he had thought he could finally enter the main chamber, but he ended up being implicated by his sixth brother again, forced to stay in the side room.

On the desk lay the Spring and Autumn Annals, which had been 'invited' out of the main room along with him.

Does he also have to study the Spring and Autumn Annals all night like Lord Guan? But Lord Guan was guarding his sister-in-law. What about him?

He has a properly wedded wife.

Annoyed, Gu Jinghui picked up the book and opened a page, thinking to himself, "A true man of stature, can he really be stumped by such a trivial matter?"

A young maid knocked on the door outside and asked, "Marquis, should we bring the hot water in?"

Gu Jinghui put down the book after reading just one line. "Come in."

The door opened. Four young maids carried in the water, swaying unsteadily, clearly straining with the effort.

After they set it down and prepared to leave, Gu Jinghui asked, "Where is Cuiming?"

Soon, a thoroughly puzzled Cuiming was summoned inside. Seeing the large bucket of hot water placed in the center of the side room, she was at a loss.

Gu Jinghui narrowed his narrow eyes. His sharp gaze seemed capable of piercing through a person's heart. His voice was low and stern as he asked, "Did the Madam often recite poetry or paint before her marriage?"

Cuiming answered tremulously, "Reporting to the Marquis, yes."

"Did any of the Madam's poetic works circulate outside the inner chambers?"

Cuiming looked up in shock. Through the steam, the Marquis's face was somewhat blurred, hard to make out.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Yes or no?" the Marquis pressed again.

Cuiming weighed her words. "The Madam rarely displayed her poetic talent in public. Only the young masters from the main family, the young master, and a few young ladies who enjoy poetry knew the Madam liked composing poems."

The Marquis nodded. "You may go."

---

After leaving the side room, Cuiming went to ask Hongye. Hongye had just finished washing up, yawning as she shook out a cooling mat, preparing to sleep. Hearing this, her sleepiness vanished. "The Marquis went to the Upper House once. Why is he asking about these things upon his return?"

"Could someone be spreading rumors about the Miss outside? Or has someone circulated the Miss's poems?"

The two sat facing each other, worried, unsure whether to wake Qin Yuan and inform her right now.

"How did the Marquis's expression look to you?"

"Couldn't tell."

They both sighed simultaneously.

Hongye collapsed onto the mat and said helplessly, "Sleep, sleep. The Miss has always had a good sense of proportion. Nowadays, many young women can compose poetry. I heard the Miss say several daughters of high officials have printed poetry collections that are sold and circulated. Our Miss just doesn't like that kind of attention; otherwise, I don't think she'd be inferior to anyone else."

Cuiming was prone to overthinking.

But waking Qin Yuan over this wasn't right either. Who knew how the Marquis would view it if he found out?

The Marquis had asked her directly and hadn't instructed her to hide it from the Miss.

Clearly, he wasn't worried at all about her telling the Miss.

But why did Marquis Gu ask such a thing?

Cuiming tossed and turned, unable to sleep. After a while, she heard Hongye's deep, even breathing, occasionally accompanied by the sound of teeth grinding.

She really wanted to shake Hongye awake.

But in the end, she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

---

The next day, Cuiming got up early. Seeing that Marquis Gu had left Wutong Yuan, she immediately waited outside the main room, ready to attend to Qin Yuan's washing and dressing.

She waited for quite some time before Qin Yuan finally got up and called for someone.

Cuiming hurried in with hot water.

Seeing the two large dark circles under Cuiming's eyes, Qin Yuan asked curiously, "What happened last night?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cuiming sighed. "After returning from the Upper House, the Marquis asked me if any of your poetic works had been circulated outside. Hongye and I speculated half the night, not knowing what the Marquis intended by this."

Cuiming, in her anxiety, also slipped into using 'I' instead of 'this servant,' forsaking formality.

Qin Yuan lowered her eyes, thinking carefully.

As Cuiming helped her dress, she recounted the events of the previous night, concluding, "This servant doesn't know if the Marquis said this because he heard some rumor…"

A thought occurred to Qin Yuan, and she had a guess. Smiling, she said, "Hurry up and do my hair. Today, the Marquis has gone to the camp. We'll go have breakfast at Mother's small kitchen."

Cuiming: "…"

Seeing Qin Yuan seemed completely unconcerned, Cuiming also settled her mind. She attended to Qin Yuan's washing as usual, then picked up the comb to carefully style her hair.

Before she finished, the door curtain suddenly rustled heavily, followed by the sound of heavy boots.

Cuiming turned her head in surprise and saw Marquis Gu walk in. He was bare-armed, wearing only a soaked inner garment. A black sweatband tied around his forehead was also completely drenched.

The entire room suddenly felt cramped.

"Marquis…"

Cuiming quickly curtsied.

Gu Jinghui responded with a faint hum. "Where's Hongye? Tell someone to fetch water quickly. I need to bathe and change clothes to have breakfast with the Madam."

(End of Chapter)

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