Chapter 290: Seeking Advice and Complaining

Marquis Gu: "..."

Just now, Qin Jijiu wasn’t this drunk.

Qin Siyuan chuckled softly.

Qin Heng said, "Yes, sister, brother-in-law is worried. He probably won’t even feel like going horseback riding with me later."

"Thinking about riding all day long, don’t you see your brother-in-law is troubled?"

Qin Jijiu began to reprimand his younger son.

Qin Siyuan said, "Cousin, why not come up with an idea? Otherwise, Uncle will end up scolding our little cousin to tears."

"Big sister, save me," Qin Heng feigned whining.

Marquis Gu: "..."

Qin Yuan laughed and said, "What idea could I have? I was just thinking, does the Emperor want to use our Marquis as leverage against the people he dislikes? It’s all about the selection of the Crown Princess Consort. Where there’s a heavy reward, there are brave men willing. As long as the Emperor is sincere enough, there will be plenty willing to be the Crown Princess Consort. Our Marquis is essentially a military general; no matter what he does, someone will complain. So he might as well just ask a few from the Ministry of Personnel and the Imperial Censorate, mix them together, and let them quarrel it out."

With these words, Qin Jijiu immediately sobered up.

"A brilliant plan, my child is even as wise as Zhuge, my good son-in-law, marrying my daughter was truly your good fortune."

Gu Jinghui promptly said, "Lord Father-in-law is quite right; marrying Yuan’er is indeed my good fortune."

Qin Jijiu was quite excited, even left his seat to take a few steps, then turned his body, "My virtuous son-in-law is already the War God, there’s no need to advance any further."

Qin Yuan smiled and poured a cup of wine, offering it to Qin Jijiu, "Father, your daughter toasts you."

Qin Jijiu took it and drank it, continuing to lavish praise.

"Truly my daughter."

Qin Yuan smiled and advised, "I’ll head back over there. You all shouldn’t eat too much either, later the Marquis still needs to go to the palace to deliver thanks for the decree."

Qin Heng sighed, "It’s so hard just wanting to spend time with brother-in-law."

Sixth Master Gu hastily said, "I can ride too, but my third brother’s fine horse only permits others to ride when he’s around. If you don’t mind, how about riding with me later?"

Qin Heng immediately brightened up.

Remembering that Marquis Gu still had to enter the palace to give thanks, everyone hastily drank a few cups before dispersing.

After bidding farewell to Old Madam Gu, Qin Yuan sent Mrs. Cui off from the mansion. Mrs. Cui said, "Your mother-in-law treats you well, so you must serve her carefully. Once you have a child or two, I’ll be at ease. Your younger sister and Lin Ziqi, with that weepy old mother, are causing chaos every day; I’m getting a few gray hairs from the exasperation."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps once Lin Junren passes the Advanced Scholar exam, things will get better."

Mrs. Cui sighed, "Hopefully, though I’m afraid Lin Junren’s mother’s spine will be even stiffer and more troublesome. Your sister is a bit dim-witted, only wreaking havoc at home. At the Lin Family, she’s being coaxed into confusion, leaving me even more breathless each time I think about it."

Qin Yuan didn’t know what else to say to console her.

Mrs. Cui continued, "You wouldn’t know, Lin Junren’s mother spends her dowry and still complains about her visiting home too often. She’s even fussing about bringing a cousin from the old home. Your sister agreed without a second thought, not knowing if that cousin is human or ghost. If they come, they’ll most likely side with Mrs. Lin."

Qin Yuan thought silently, Qin Wan’s days are certainly more comfortable than mine were in a past life. Mrs. Lin in my past had tormented me no less, spending my money and stirring up trouble every day.

Qin Wan has a larger dowry, and being a legitimate daughter of the Qin Family, Mrs. Lin dares not go too far.

But over time, it’s hard not to get caught in some way.

Qin Yuan comforted, "Mother, being angry here doesn’t help. It’s better to keep a close watch on sister; that way, you can lend a hand if needed."

Mrs. Cui stomped her foot, "I’m so angry. Having her is like a debt owed. Why is she always such a worry?"

Looking at Qin Jijiu and the others talking not far off, Mrs. Cui changed the subject, talking about the sights at the Marquis Mansion. Qin Yuan added that there were several good fruits at the banquet, packing some for her, along with some pastries, tea leaves, and good ink, all instructed to be placed on the carriage.

Mrs. Cui thanked her and got into the carriage.

Qin Jijiu kept Qin Siyuan and Qin Heng at the Marquis Mansion, using the wine’s influence at parting to admonish Gu Jinghui, "Virtuous son-in-law must read more."

Marquis Gu respectfully replied, "Yes."

Qin Jijiu grew even prouder, standing with his hands behind his back at the carriage door, wanting to say more, until Mrs. Cui tugged him, silencing him, half-coaxed, half-pulled into the carriage.

As the carriage moved away, Marquis Gu could still hear Mrs. Cui inside, saying, "It’s fine at the Imperial College, but even in front of your son-in-law you put on airs, thinking he’s one of your students?"

"Ugh, what do you know..."

Watching the Qin Family’s carriage go into the distance, Qin Yuan turned to the others with a smile and said, "Now that the elders are resting, let’s each go about our own tasks."

Sixth Master Gu took the two young masters of the Qin Family boating, bringing his two younger sons along to relish the scholarly atmosphere.

Qin Yuan was pleased with Sixth Master Gu helping with the hosting.

Especially reminding, "Si Yuan cousin, come find me at Wutong Garden before you head back for a chat."

Qin Siyuan had things to discuss with her too, agreeing, "Alright."

Qin Heng asked a bit jealously, "No words for me?"

Qin Yuan gave him a look, "Would Si Yuan cousin come without bringing you along?"

Qin Heng was satisfied.

After a half-day of activity and some wine, Qin Yuan felt a bit tired and took a nap.

When she awoke, she found out that Marquis Gu had already bathed, changed, and used incense in the outer study room before heading to the palace to give thanks for the decree.

Cui Ming said, "Marquis saw you were tired, so he went to the outer study, having Sixteen serve him."

Qin Yuan responded, "Marquis often meets the Emperor, Sixteen is used to serving him; he might even do so more efficiently."

Hong Ye came in with a list and asked, "Miss, would you like to see the list we prepared with the housekeeper mothers?"

Qin Yuan replied, "Of course I need to see it, this is the main event for these past two days; everything else can wait."

The three of them huddled together to look at the guest list, which recorded invited guests, the banquet procedures, the number of seats, costs, arrangements, categories of dishes and wares, reserves and management... and the accommodations for the comings and goings of guests, among other things.

It was quite complex.

Hong Ye sighed, "A wealthy family certainly is one. The stopping of carriages and horses, supervision, and all these aspects have dedicated staff, not a single mistake allowed."

Cui Ming added, "More than that, the curtains and drapery needed for the day should also be prepared by the sewing room. Some frequently used ones are stored well, while others that suit the season and occasion need to be newly made."

Qin Yuan said, "To avoid mistakes, we need to rehearse beforehand, lest we’re understaffed, out of tea, or the plates and dishes are broken with nothing or no one to use, that would be embarrassing."

Whose banquet can go entirely without a hitch or mistake?

Hong Ye sighed again.

Qin Yuan said, "That’s why I told you to consider having a few more people to share the burden. Combined with the steward, housekeeper mothers overseeing, it’s lighter work. Otherwise, what, are we to tire ourselves and those around us to death dealing with these things?"

When Sixth Lady Gu heard her two children mention that Third Aunt was organizing an event to ward off bad luck, she sneered privately and mocked with Nanny Zhao.

"She’s hardly been in the house long and dares to take on such tasks, truly not knowing the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth."