MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 82

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

·Manager Lin (林掌柜): Manager of one of Qin Yuan's dowry shops.

·Manager Wu (吴掌柜): Manager of one of Qin Yuan's dowry shops.

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Chapter 82: Do You Think I'm a Fool?

Qin Yuan glanced at Gu Jinghui and asked, "Husband, have you been to the training grounds to practice martial arts?"

"Mm."

Qin Yuan said no more, leisurely selecting jewelry from her dressing case, paying no mind to the Marquis standing in the room radiating heat.

Cuiming dared not speak, silently combing her hair.

Hongye was summoned in and hurried out to instruct the young maids to carry hot water to the bathing chamber, then went to the side room herself to fetch Gu Jinghui's change of clothes and accessories.

Gu Jinghui sat imposingly on a bench, watching Qin Yuan have her hair styled. "I won't be home for the next few days. Have someone tidy up my trunks and cases so I won't always need maids to choose my clothes for me."

He wanted Qin Yuan to personally select and coordinate his outfits.

Cuiming lowered her head, silently combing.

Qin Yuan asked, "Does husband dislike how Hongye coordinates them? My clothes and accessories are also managed by her."

Gu Jinghui said stiffly, "General Jin's clothes are all managed by his wife."

Qin Yuan: "…"

This General Jin is so very annoying.

Qin Yuan said softly, "If husband doesn't mind, I'll take charge of it for you. Since you're going to the camp this time, do you need to bring a change of clothes? Have your attendants prepared everything properly for you at the camp?"

Gu Jinghui's voice softened considerably. "The attendants don't put their hearts into it. How could they be as meticulous as my wife? I'd rather trouble you to make the arrangements."

Qin Yuan had no choice but to agree. "Husband, shouldn't you set off earlier? Once I've sorted everything, I'll have a household servant deliver it to the camp so as not to delay your reporting in."

Gu Jinghui shook his head. "It's fine. Last night, you said you had matters to discuss. I wanted to return early, but Sixth Brother was at Mother's place pouring out his grievances, which delayed me for a long time. By the time I returned, you were already asleep. Tell me, what exactly is the matter? I'll only feel at ease going to the camp to work once the household affairs are settled."

The camp was his territory; what he said went.

Although Marquis Gu had never missed a reporting since he began leading troops, now… things were different after all… he had his own small family now…

Gu Jinghui thought, Mother was absolutely right. No matter how much a woman says she doesn't mind, deep down she still cares.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He was just a little late returning, and he couldn't even enter the main room.

Both maidservants said his young wife had suffered great grievances, showing she did indeed care.

Qin Yuan looked at Cuiming in the mirror. Cuiming immediately signaled frantically with her eyes.

"When did you return last night, husband? I was somewhat tired from doing accounts yesterday and retired early."

The young maids had already carried the water into the bathing chamber, and Hongye had also brought in the change of clothes on a tray.

Without answering Qin Yuan, Gu Jinghui went directly into the bathing chamber to wash.

Cuiming quickly whispered, "Miss, Hongye did tell the Marquis last night that this matter wasn't urgent and could be discussed when he returned. Why is the Marquis he…"

Qin Yuan had a rough guess about the Marquis's preoccupation and changed the subject. "Did the two of you offend the Marquis behind his back again?"

Cuiming fell silent, holding back for a moment before recounting the previous night's events.

Qin Yuan glanced at the two sleep-deprived maidservants. She considered comforting them but felt it was too early; letting them learn a lesson was also good. She said, "Since the Marquis wants to hear it, I'll discuss it with him again."

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When Gu Jinghui emerged from the bathing chamber, he saw Qin Yuan had already finished her hair. She wore a light green upper garment and a jade-white eight-paneled skirt. As she moved, pointed, upturned embroidered shoes adorned with pearls occasionally peeked out—graceful and delicate, unspeakably charming and lovely.

"Husband, I've already sorted out the clothes to wear for the next ten days with Hongye. Have your attendant fetch them for you in the order they are stacked. That way, it won't get messy."

"Mm."

Gu Jinghui's expression softened considerably.

"Come over and change, husband."

Without waiting for him to speak, Qin Yuan consciously stood on the wide, low stool by the bed, calling him to get dressed.

Gu Jinghui's eyes flickered. "What is this?"

Qin Yuan smiled. "Cai Mama had this made for me. I stand on it to help you change clothes; it's much more convenient."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Not bad."

Qin Yuan turned him this way and that, finally smoothing his lapel with her small hand. "All done."

Gu Jinghui could only smell waves of an enticing fragrance emanating from her sleeves, her hair, her breath. His heart grew restless. In the end, he couldn't restrain himself. He took her small hand, gently stroking it, and said quietly, "I was just a little late coming back, and you sent me to the side room to read."

Qin Yuan lowered her eyelids.

She knew this was why the Marquis was making a fuss, but she pretended not to know. "Isn't husband aiming to be a scholarly general like Lu Xun? Lu Meng fought by day and studied by candlelight late into the night—only then could he make others view him in a new light. Doesn't husband want my father to view you in a new light?"

Gu Jinghui's other hand gently touched the small mole on the tip of her charming nose. He hummed lightly, "Do you think I'm a fool?"

As he spoke, he lifted Qin Yuan down from the low stool. "Let's have breakfast."

He couldn't stay any longer. If he stayed, he wouldn't want to leave.

Qin Yuan smiled. "Aren't we going to Mother's place?"

"No need," Gu Jinghui shook his head. "I have something to discuss with you alone."

---

The two sat side by side at the table. In the center was the old duck soup simmered by the small kitchen, with some noodles added, complemented by a table full of steamed buns, shrimp dumplings, and the like sent from the main kitchen.

Qin Yuan couldn't help but purse her lips into a light smile.

"What is it?" Gu Jinghui asked.

"Hongye was just saying yesterday that the Marquis went out and didn't get to eat the duck stewed by the small kitchen. Well, here it is this morning, isn't it?"

Gu Jinghui's expression improved even more.

Qin Yuan continued, "Yesterday, I heard from Rong Mama that Lu Mama's husband followed the Old Marquis onto the battlefield and lost a leg. Her son also works under you. I wanted to ask for your advice on how to handle this?"

Gu Jinghui asked, "How do you plan to handle it?"

"I was too tired last night and couldn't wait for you to return. I thought since it wasn't an urgent matter, I'd just set it aside for now. It could wait until you return from the camp. It would also serve as a lesson for Lu Mama, so she doesn't make mistakes next time. And it would prevent others from thinking they can act recklessly just because of their family's merits and start copying her."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Gu Jinghui couldn't help but laugh. His young wife was indeed skilled at handling people. He said, "Lu Mama's son is diligent and respectful in his work, quite different from her. I plan to have him handle some confidential matters for me in the future."

His implication was that Lu Mama's son would become a close attendant.

Qin Yuan said, "Then just scare her a bit and select a deputy to keep her in check. You can make things clear with her son on your end."

Gu Jinghui agreed.

Qin Yuan asked again, "What did you want to discuss, husband?"

Gu Jinghui said, "I stayed at the Upper House for quite a while yesterday. It wasn't because the two children were being fussy and misbehaving. It was because Sixth Brother was complaining about Sixth Sister-in-law and also said I shouldn't have restricted him from withdrawing silver from the household accounts."

Qin Yuan picked up a piece of pickled cucumber with her chopsticks and chewed slowly. The Marquis was explaining himself to her.

She listened carefully as Gu Jinghui continued, "Mother said Cheng Ge'er should start his studies. But although Brother Pang died for the country, his official rank was too low. Cheng Ge'er probably can't enter the Imperial College through nanyin (meaning: the privilege granted to descendants of officials who died in service). Do you have any ideas, Madam?"

(End of Chapter)

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