Chapter 468: Precaution

Qin Yuan hesitated a little, "Why not let the nephews stay by my side as well?"

Treasure Bead said, "Mother, Sister-in-law, don’t I still exist? Why not let them follow me?"

Old Madam Gu glared at her, "You’re still just a half-grown child yourself. I was just about to remind you, don’t cause trouble for your sister-in-law here. This place and everything outside is all her responsibility. If you’re not careful and make trouble, you’ll tire her out. She’s not much older than you, and she has to manage so many things, it isn’t easy. You must help her and not act on your own whim, whatever comes to mind."

Treasure Bead felt sullen, but dared not retort, and couldn’t help sticking her tongue out in anxiety.

Coincidentally, Marquis Gu, who was walking by, saw this and scolded, "What sort of behavior is this, what would others think if they saw?"

Treasure Bead could only put on a stoic face, standing aside blankly.

Qin Yuan said with a smile, "It’s fine, I am also worried about Treasure Bead. Why don’t the aunts, brothers, and sisters all stay together? That would put mother’s mind at ease."

In the end, Old Madam Gu left Nanny Rong behind and then boarded the carriage to return.

Marquis Gu originally intended to stay here, but Qin Yuan persuaded him with kind words, "Mother is alone in the mansion, you should go back to accompany her. Besides, you have work to deal with tomorrow. Starting from here, you would have to rise before dawn, it’s too tiring. I don’t want you to work so hard."

Hearing this, Marquis Gu felt very touched and said, "Very well, Sister-in-law Cheng is also here with you, I can take care of things back at the mansion."

Marquis Gu left Gu Shiliu, Gu Shiba, and most of the guards at the family temple, commanding them to guard carefully, then mounted his horse to catch up with Old Madam Gu’s carriage, and they returned to the city together.

Qin Yuan instructed Hong Ye, "Take some people to tidy up the rooms. At night, I will sleep with Sister Treasure Bead, Sister Lan will sleep in the inner room with us, and Brother Kang and Fuguo’er will sleep in the outer room. Ask Nanny Rong how to arrange things."

Nanny Rong laughed, "The servant can sleep with the young masters in the outer room. This place is not like the estate, as long as we can sleep, it’s fine. If the mistress gets light sleep, the servant can also sleep with the young missy."

Qin Yuan immediately said, "Nanny Rong sleeping with the two brothers is bothersome enough. Besides, I still have Hong Ye and Cui Ming here, which is plenty."

Hong Ye followed Nanny Rong to tidy up the room.

Qin Yuan frowned, pondering carefully, and sent Cui Ming to ask around to see what kind of incense or items were in everyone’s incense bags or pockets, and then requested sandalwood and other materials from the temple’s host to sit quietly in a meditation room.

Before long, Cui Ming carried a nanmu tray over, which was covered with a piece of brocade embroidered with scriptures, and on it were several varied incense bags and pockets.

"They say if Miss asks, they have taken them off and put them here, as today is special, not many brought incense."

Qin Yuan nodded, reached out to pick and look through, took out the usable ones, and paired them with the sandalwood sent by a young monk, then used a wooden mortar and pestle to grind them finely.

Cui Ming asked, "Why do you suddenly think of making incense now?"

Qin Yuan didn’t reply, instead asked her, "What do you think of Sixteen and Hong Ye these days?"

Cui Ming smiled, "Looks like Hong Ye is planning to give us a scare one day, keeping it tight, but the business between the two is clear to us, though they don’t realize it, thinking they’ve avoided suspicion well."

Qin Yuan asked again, "What about Hong Mian?"

"She can still hold steady."

Qin Yuan nodded, "Speaking of cleverness and spice, Hong Mian and Hong Ye are similar, but in terms of depth and craft, Hong Ye doesn’t match Hong Mian. Remind them subtly for me, keep an eye on things. If Hong Mian can let this pass quickly, so be it. If not, we may have to find a way to separate them."

Cui Ming nodded in agreement, and as they talked, Qin Yuan’s hands remained busy, saying, "When it’s time to rest tonight, have them sprinkle this outside the room doors. Its unique aroma lingers long, serving better than nothing for caution."

"Miss indeed is thorough in her considerations."

Qin Yuan sighed, "The family temple is not like the estate, better to be cautious. You be alert at night as well."

Cui Ming’s expression turned serious too, nodding, "I will instruct them properly, be extra careful outside, can’t let loose the reins."

Qin Yuan came out to find Sixth Master, saying, "Sixth Brother, don’t work too hard at night, family temple isn’t like the estate, best to rest in the meditation room, don’t wander around."

Gu Shiliu also came over, saying, "I was just about to tell the Masters and Mistresses, outside is not like home, recently thieves have been around, be especially careful at night."

Sixth Master knew Gu Shiliu was well-informed now and didn’t ask much, saying immediately, "Third Sister-in-law, rest assured, I will not step out of the meditation room."

Qin Yuan then went to find Mrs. Dai and others to speak, and now all the women respected her quite a lot and agreed.

Mrs. Dai said, "We’re here to perform rituals, naturally, we’ll stay quietly in our rooms at night. The family temple is far from the city, better to be careful."

The others chimed in agreement.

Only Mrs. Xu showed some disdain, but outwardly she still went along, saying, "We’re here conducting rituals for my aunt, naturally will abide by the rules, rest assured, Madam. However, the Seventh Miss has a lively nature, may not stay put, Madam should keep a close watch."

Qin Yuan nodded, "Treasure Bead is resting with me, attentively helps take care of the nieces and nephews. She’s older now, much more sensible, surely won’t run around causing family worry."

Mrs. Xu’s face turned pale.

Mrs. Dai and the others said, "To speak of Old Madam’s strict teaching of Miss Treasure Bead, she spares no effort, spoiling her truly too, unlike the pampering of small households, this way is good, for children of a military general’s family should be raised this way to bear the wealth."

Someone said, "We all heard that the other day, to defend the dignity of Marquis Mansion, Treasure Bead played polo against the Yelv family, almost fell under the horse’s hooves yet didn’t drop the polo stick, and even received the Emperor’s praise, truly brought honor to our Gu Family."

The more Mrs. Xu heard, the angrier she felt inside.

Thinking that people in this world are flatterers and detractors, their words lifting Qin Yuan, such a little wife, to her discomfort.

Qin Yuan laughed, "I shall go back and tell Treasure Bead well, with the aunts and sisters-in-law in the clan praising her so, she will surely be better behaved in the future, how could she let everyone down."

After chatting and laughing for a while, Qin Yuan finally walked away.

Mrs. Xu took the Xu family’s few children, slowly walked to the front to find Sixth Master, seeing Sixth Master standing under a pine tree in a corner of the courtyard, lost in thought, she pushed them, "Call uncle quickly."

"Uncle!"

The children called out in unison.

Sixth Master casually responded a few words, then let the servant take them inside to play.

Mrs. Xu said, "Brother-in-law, you also console yourself. Our old lady at home is crying for her daughter who left too soon, leaving behind three children, how pitiful, crying so much that her eyes are almost blind. We’ll need to visit more frequently in the future, lest the younger generation grow distant."

Before she finished speaking, the heart-wrenching cry of Sister Lan rang out.