Chapter 71: Setting the Stage for the New Sister-in-Law

Qin Yuan pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "Yes, yes, you’re not worried, so how come all your books are upside down and you don’t even know?"

Gu Jinghui couldn’t believe it and glanced at the book in his hand.

The book was right side up.

He... he had been tricked.

He lifted his gaze and saw his young wife smiling mischievously at him.

Gu Jinghui coughed and decided to be honest: "The books given by my father-in-law, after reading a few sentences, made me a bit drowsy, so I was just watching you manage the household affairs."

"Oh?"

Qin Yuan neither said she believed it nor that she didn’t.

She glanced at the book in Gu Jinghui’s hand and asked, "What book did father give you?"

"Spring and Autumn Annals."

Qin Yuan smiled again and said, "Guan Yunchang read the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ overnight; does father want the Marquis to emulate him?"

Gu Jinghui was stunned.

He didn’t know about this; as a military general, there was no one who didn’t respect Guan Yunchang. They would always pay respects to Mr. Guan when they became sworn brothers.

Could there be some implication in Guan Yunchang reading ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ overnight?

Gu Jinghui felt a headache.

These scholars always hide their words and use various methods to imply and suggest enigmatically.

Qin Yuan continued, "As the saying goes, ’Wu Xia has Ah Meng, see with new eyes after three days’; Lü Meng didn’t start his intense studies until his thirties. If my husband becomes a Confucian General, my father will praise my husband in the same way."

Implied here, Gu Jinghui was not yet too late to study; becoming a Confucian General was not impossible.

Gu Jinghui met Qin Yuan’s gaze, mumbled a response, and changed the subject, saying, "Earlier, I watched you handle those nannies very aptly. To deter those who do not submit to you, that’s exactly how it should be, only you’re missing the aspect of showing kindness."

If a mistake is made, there should be punishment; if something is done right, there should be a reward. Yet, making the distinctions between rewards and punishments clear only establishes authority. If you want people to genuinely submit to you, you still need to show kindness.

Qin Yuan understood this truth too. She smiled and said, "What Marquis said is true. Yuan’er was just planning to let Cui Ming show kindness to Mrs. Lu, only I’m not sure how to proceed, so I invoked the Marquis’s name to invite Nanny Rong."

Gu Jinghui couldn’t help but laugh.

He stood up and said, "Since you already have an idea in mind, I will go take a look at Baoshu."

His wife was so intelligent and had such a good memory, it was better to quickly go and straighten out Gu Baoshu.

Qin Yuan acknowledged with a response and then asked, "Husband, will you be staying in the mansion for lunch?"

Gu Jinghui thought for a moment and said, "No."

He needed to find someone to ask what the meaning was behind Guan Yunchang reading the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ overnight.

If he stayed any longer, Qin Yuan might really think he was worried about her.

Once Marquis Gu left, Hong Ye said, "Seventh Miss indeed should be properly punished."

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Things others don’t want to do are all pushed onto Seventh Miss. Now while she’s confined, how did those two children sneak off there? And how did she manage to get out?"

Hong Ye said, "Could it be Sixth Madam again?"

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Whoever is best fitted for the task, must be the one."

Hong Ye said indignantly, "Why does she like to meddle so much?"

Since the day Miss married, Sixth Madam’s presence was evident everywhere.

Qin Yuan said, "Since she likes to meddle, let her meddle. Didn’t the housekeepers all joining in nicely this time happen because of her?"

Hearing this, Hong Ye was taken aback, then giggled.

"Indeed, the housekeepers in the family all attended, each with smiles on their faces, speaking pleasantly."

Just a few days ago, Steward Wang and that coachman’s perfunctory behavior was something Hong Ye hadn’t forgotten.

"Just after a day, these housekeepers have changed their expressions."

Cui Ming seemed a bit worried and said, "Now that the scene has become so grand, if profit is made it’s fine, but if money is lost, it will be a problem."

The whole family’s housekeepers entered the venture; Cui Ming hadn’t thought that far.

These people have boarded the Miss’s boat, and if something happens, and they cause a fuss, how would Miss manage?

Qin Yuan was calm and confident, "Losing is impossible, but there might be some twists. With Sixth Madam stirring the pot, we don’t need to make a move; we can just watch."

Sixth Madam was so eager to worry on her behalf, so better let Sixth Madam contribute some effort.

Seeing her so confident, Cui Ming no longer said anything, and obediently went out to the main room to invite Nanny Rong.

On the other side, when Sixth Lady Gu learned that the housekeepers had each contributed fifty taels, she laughed, "These women see a small profit and swarm like flies to blood. They’re so affectionate when they need something, but should the money be lost, who knows how they’ll scold her then."

Nanny Zhao also laughed, "It wasn’t in vain that we worked so hard to tie them all together."

"Initially, from the way she looked, I was worried the housekeepers wouldn’t get on board," Sixth Lady Gu was overjoyed, "Now it’s just the pepper supply we’re missing. Our Sixth Master tried to show diligence, but she was cautious and didn’t dare accept it. Otherwise, the stage would have been set already."

Nanny Zhao mocked, "Still a small family girl with no experience, suddenly rich, can’t hold onto dowry silver, thinks she can make a quick big profit. Money isn’t so easy to earn, it needs to be accumulated slowly."

Sixth Lady Gu nodded with amusement, "She even said she had an auspicious dream, and for a dream, she wouldn’t even listen to Manager Leng all because Old Madam dotes on the Marquis and doesn’t want to embarrass her, that’s why she’s following this venture."

What’s with such an auspicious dream, haha, it’s ludicrous.

Nanny Zhao smacked her lips, "If she really makes money, wouldn’t that mean she has luck and divine blessing? No wonder she’s so daring."

Sixth Lady Gu snorted coldly and said, "She wants to take over my household management; she has to wait another ten years or so at least."

In ten years, savings would be more or less accumulated. Once the Old Madam passes, it would be time to split and live separately, giving up management would earn a good reputation, and Marquis Gu would still owe her a favor.

Sixth Lady Gu said, "Lady Zhao is becoming increasingly useless, so we’ll avoid sticking with her in the future. Bai Que’s parents caused a scene at Wutong Garden and were subdued, spreading rumors that the Marquis was preparing a dowry for Lady Zhao. The more it drags on, the uglier it becomes, and we shouldn’t get ourselves dirty."

Lady Zhao and Bai Que have also broken off relations.

A lone hand cannot clap, it seems nothing will come of it.

Nanny Zhao said, "I was just about to say, Lady Zhao was sent back to Fengxuan Pavilion by the Marquis yesterday. Today Bai Que was taken home by her parents, leaving with harsh words, and though Lady Zhao is indignant, there’s nothing she can stir up now that she’s left to be placated in the main room. The Old Madam is already displeased but can’t show it due to past favors; we should stay away lest we offend the Marquis and the Marchioness."

Sixth Lady Gu sighed and said, "I underestimated this new sister-in-law’s depth; she’s really able to endure. At such a young age, she’s very capable; even the Marquis has been conquered by her. What she pulled off at Wutong Garden today was remarkable; the housekeepers under her now both respect and fear her, and compared to her, just see how foolish our Seventh Miss is."

"We need to hurry up, help the new sister-in-law set up this stage."

Just then, a small maid hurriedly lifted the curtain and came in saying, "It’s not good, the Marquis has brought someone in."