MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 85

 Glossary

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

·Qin Heng (秦恒): Qin Yuan's brother.

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

·Lu Mama (卢妈妈): The stewardess in charge of the needlework room.

·Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

·Qin Siyuan (秦思远): Qin Yuan's cousin.

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Chapter 85: Don't Blame Me for Ruining His Opportunity

Qin Yuan sat by the window, quietly watching the two people conversing in the courtyard through the lattice.

The dejected look on Lu Mama's face faded, and her whole demeanor regained some spirit as she obediently followed Cuiming away.

It seemed the news of her son being put in an important position had pulled Lu Mama out of her stubborn despair.

This was good.

She turned her face away, lowered her head, and began checking the new accounts in her hand.

The account books Manager Wu delivered this time were much more meticulous than the last. Although some traces of covert alterations could still be seen, they now genuinely reflected the shops' income and expenses.

Qin Yuan copied the questionable points onto separate sheets of paper and inserted them into the account books, demanding an explanation from Manager Wu and the others.

If their explanations didn't satisfy her, she would replace these managers with her own dowry servants.

After all, she already possessed foreknowledge. Loyalty was more important than experience and skill.

After a while, Qin Yuan finished reviewing one account book.

A young maid came in from outside and reported, "Madam, the matron from the second gate reports that a Young Master Qin requests an audience with the Marquis and Madam."

"Young Master Qin?"

Qin Yuan asked curiously, "Which Young Master Qin?"

The young maid said, "He is Young Master Qin from your maiden family, Madam. He claims to be your own younger brother. The Imperial College has a holiday today, so he specially came to visit you and the Marquis."

Qin Heng had actually come.

Qin Yuan was somewhat surprised. "Invite him to wait in the reception hall."

Due to Madame Cui, the relationship between the children of the legal wife and those of the concubines wasn't particularly close.

Qin Heng was young, always sided with Qin Wan in everything, and was somewhat tactless in speech and action. Qin Yuan found him rather annoying.

In her previous life, their sibling relationship grew closer only after Qin Heng repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. Having no other choice, he went to Zhejiang to seek refuge with Lin Ziqi and became a nominal private advisor in the prefectural yamen.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot

Out of consideration for the significant help Madame Cui and her father had provided her and Lin Ziqi, Qin Yuan occasionally gave him a few pointers.

By then, Qin Heng had suffered considerable hardships and was past the universally annoying and ungrateful stage of youth. The two siblings supported each other through many storms.

But now...

Qin Yuan didn't change her clothes and went to the reception hall.

It was indeed Qin Heng. A boy in his teens, in the middle of a growth spurt. After just a few days, he seemed to have grown taller.

Qin Heng resembled their father, with clear, handsome features and a high nose bridge. His face, however, took after Madame Cui's, slightly rounder. He wore a dark blue-green long gown, tied at the waist with a green belt, making his frame appear even more slender and youthful.

"Eldest Sister," Qin Heng hurriedly paid his respects.

He was much more polite and affectionate than when he was at home.

Qin Yuan returned a half-curtsy and had him sit. A young maid came in to replenish the tea. Qin Yuan said, "Go to the main kitchen and fetch some savory pastries. Crispy ones are best."

Qin Heng couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, Eldest Sister."

As he spoke, he glanced towards the hall entrance and asked expectantly, "Is Brother-in-law at home?"

The way he said "brother-in-law" was extremely intimate, as if he had known Gu Jinghui for years. Knowing Qin Heng's temperament, Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Do you have something to find your brother-in-law for?"

Qin Heng hemmed and hawed. "No, Eldest Sister. I just... the Imperial College has a holiday, and I thought I'd come to the Marquis's household to see how you're doing. Mother keeps worrying aloud at home every day. A while ago, Second Sister said she saw you alone at the Western Market, transferring your dowry shops, and Brother-in-law wasn't with you. She was worried you weren't doing well in the Marquis's household. Mother hasn't slept well for several nights, and Father has also been nagged incessantly."

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "Didn't your brother-in-law just drink and talk with you the other day? How do you think he treats me?"

Qin Heng widened his eyes. "I think he's very good! Brother-in-law is straightforward and magnanimous, not at all like Second Brother-in-law. Eldest Sister, being able to marry Brother-in-law is truly a stroke of immense good fortune. When I came in just now, the servants were also extremely proper and respectful towards me, not daring to be rude. Eldest Sister, don't you think I'm right?"

Qin Yuan smiled. "Now that you've seen for yourself, are you reassured?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Heng scratched the back of his head and gave a dry laugh. "Actually, I would have been reassured even without coming. Father said you have a good temperament, are clever and compliant. You would only live well in the Marquis's household, not poorly. It's just... Brother-in-law said he would teach me horseback riding and told me to come find him whenever I'm free. I had a holiday today, so I rushed over."

"Oh," Qin Yuan took a slow sip of tea.

Marquis Gu was quite skillful.

Just one visit to the Qin residence, and he had won Qin Heng over.

A young maid came in and set out a plate of pastries. Qin Yuan pushed the plate towards Qin Heng with her index finger. "I didn't know you were coming. The kitchen only had salted crispy cakes prepared. Make do with these for now. You came so early; you probably didn't eat properly. You're at an age where you're growing fast and get hungry quickly."

Qin Heng, both shy and happy, picked up a salted crispy cake and began eating.

The pastry chef from the Marquis's household made delicious pastries. Qin Heng ate two pieces, drank a cup of tea, and was persuaded to eat some preserved fruits before he heard Qin Yuan say, "Your brother-in-law isn't home. His marriage leave is over; he has to take his rotation at the camp. He won't be back for ten days. Plan your next visit according to that."

Qin Heng said dejectedly, "How could that be? The Imperial College won't have a holiday then. Who knows how long it will be before I can meet Brother-in-law again."

He wouldn't dare skip classes under his father's watchful eye.

All the Classics Teachers and Doctors had received his father's instructions to watch him extremely closely.

Qin Yuan smiled without saying a word.

Qin Heng didn't have much to say to Qin Yuan either, so he asked, "Mother and Father are both concerned about you. I heard there's a formidable woman in the Marquis's household with two children, surnamed Zhao? Causing trouble between you and the Marquis?"

"It's fine. She is the widow of the Marquis's benefactor. Those two children are the Marquis's godchildren. To repay the debt of gratitude, the Marquis brought the mother and children back from the northern frontier. They are temporarily settled in the Marquis's household. In a few days, the Zhao woman's in-laws will be invited here, and then we'll discuss further arrangements."

Qin Heng nodded in understanding. "That's what I thought! When Brother-in-law came to our house, he bought a lot of gifts and kept apologizing, saying he came in a hurry and had to buy things on the spot. Mother and Father both said this shows the Marquis respects and cherishes you. Only Second Sister was worried that since Brother-in-law was raised in a noble family, he might just be fond of superficial etiquette. Otherwise, why wouldn't he bring you along to visit? This made Mother and Father a bit uneasy again."

"Oh, was Sister and her husband there too?"

"Yes, they were. When Brother-in-law went to find Father to ask about some historical allusion, Father quickly invited him home and called both Second Brother-in-law and me to keep him company. I was the one who explained the allusion to Brother-in-law! Second Brother-in-law also praised you, saying you enjoy reading and that Brother-in-law could just ask you about such things. Brother-in-law also said you are excellent."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Qin Yuan inwardly sneered.

Lin Ziqi had once been engaged to her. He should have been avoiding any suggestion of familiarity at all costs. Yet he spoke like this in front of the Marquis. Clearly, he meant no good.

She pressed Qin Heng for a clear account of everything that happened that day.

Qin Heng talked until his mouth was dry, growing somewhat impatient and wanting to leave.

Qin Yuan said, "When you go back, tell our cousin I need his help with something and ask him to come quickly."

Since Lin Ziqi wanted to ruin her affairs, then he shouldn't blame her for ruining his opportunity.

Qin Heng didn't understand. "What is it that you can't even tell me? Aren't I closer to you than Siyuan?"

"You're still young."

"Tsk," Qin Heng clicked his tongue, displeased again.

Qin Yuan couldn't be bothered to coax him. She stood up and instructed, "Come with me to pay respects to the Old Madame. Since you're here, you must visit the elder. We are all relatives. Once you've met, you should maintain contact in the future."

(End of Chapter)

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