Chapter 650: Fired Up

At dawn, Qin Yuan was awoken by Gu Baoshu: "Third sister-in-law, wake up quickly, we still need to return to the mansion."

Qin Yuan opened her eyes reluctantly despite her headache and asked, "Why so early?"

Gu Baoshu’s eyes were bright: "Have you forgotten? We need to get ready and head to the palace. There won’t be a moment of rest today."

Today is Mid-Autumn Festival and also the Empress Dowager’s birthday. There will be a grand celebration with lanterns and a parade... so much is going on.

Qin Yuan sighed and accepted her fate, getting up: "I couldn’t handle the alcohol last night, so inevitably got up late. You go to mother first, I’ll be there shortly."

Gu Baoshu responded and headed to Old Madam Gu’s room.

Xiao Hong came in with clothes, asking, "Madam, do you have a hangover?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Xiao Hong smiled: "I learned a method from Nanny Rong, I’ll tend to you later, otherwise the carriage ride will be dizzying."

Hong Ye laughed: "You’re quite thoughtful, always finding ways to please. You’re the most attentive one here; Madam wouldn’t need any of us with you around."

Xiao Hong hurriedly said: "No, no, I just learned from Sister Hong Ye. I only get the chance to please when she’s not here."

Everyone laughed.

Qin Yuan quickly finished getting ready, the family hastily had breakfast, and outside the carriages and horses were prepared. The maids and nannies had packed everything, just waiting to board.

The clan leader came with his wife to greet them, and Old Madam Gu quickly said: "We’re all family, no need for formalities. Have you had breakfast?"

The clan leader smiled: "Of course we have. Marquis said the Capital City might not be peaceful these days, so I gathered the clan’s young men trained in martial arts into two teams to follow you to the mansion for further instructions. Let them join you when you leave."

Old Madam Gu glanced at Qin Yuan, who nodded, and agreed.

The clan leader and his wife respected Qin Yuan even more, smiling: "This is an opportunity given by the Marquis, please trouble Madam to arrange them."

Qin Yuan quickly said: "It’s all arranged by the Marquis, it’s no trouble at all."

The couple stayed aside, watching them board the carriages, and then the clan’s young men divided into two teams, mounted their horses, and followed the carriages into the city.

The clan members were increasingly in awe of Qin Yuan.

The carriages and horses glided away, already at a distance from the family temple, Qin Yuan opened the curtain to look outside, surrounded by the Gu Family’s carriages and horses.

This time, the entire Gu Family almost turned out, much grander than the last visit to the family temple.

Old Madam Gu was somewhat tired, leaning her head against her hand, closing her eyes to rest. Gu Baoshu, restless, asked Qin Yuan: "Third sister-in-law, which headpiece will you wear to the palace?"

Qin Yuan smiled.

Before Marquis Gu left last night, he repeatedly insisted on using the headpiece he picked out, although it’s old-fashioned and somewhat unattractive, its sole benefit being its value.

"I’ll wear that red gold headpiece."

Gu Baoshu exclaimed, and then started to frequently glance and secretly laugh at Qin Yuan.

Her laughter made Qin Yuan uneasy, just as she was about to say something, Gu Baoshu added: "That must be carefully chosen by my third brother, no matter what you wear, you look beautiful."

Qin Yuan teased: "It’s too late for flattery now, I’m going to tell mother that you’re laughing at me and your third brother."

"Third sister-in-law, how can you be heartless? Am I not your world’s best little sister-in-law? The tea hasn’t even cooled yet, who can I turn to for justice?"

Xiao Hong couldn’t help laughing out loud, Gu Baoshu pretended to glare and threatened her: "You, laughing while I’m about to cry, see how I’ll punish you."

Qin Yuan said: "Alright, alright, stop clowning around. Better take a good rest, otherwise you’ll have no energy for the ball game."

Gu Baoshu finally quieted down, but soon couldn’t help saying: "Third sister-in-law, I’m too excited to sleep, thinking about tonight."

Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but speak: "What are you so excited about?"

Gu Baoshu stuck her tongue out and said playfully: "I’m going to lead the team to victory, how can I not be excited? Yesterday, half of the Capital City’s maidens came to watch me play, didn’t they all call me a handsome gentleman? Today, the whole city will be watching."

"And Xu Tang?" Old Madam Gu asked.

Gu Baoshu coughed, dismissively said: "Ever since he tried to harm me and broke a leg, he hasn’t been on the field. Not to boast, but his skills are only worth something in the Imperial Palace, can’t compare to us playful ones."

"Blowing your horn," Old Madam Gu laughed: "Tonight, don’t embarrass yourself, the Gu Family can handle winning and losing, but don’t play tricks."

"Got it, keep an eye on me," Gu Baoshu responded confidently.

Whether she wins or not doesn’t matter to her.

The important thing is, tonight she’ll be involved in a major event.

Before noon, the carriages arrived at the Marquis Mansion, Housekeeper Han already had the threshold removed, the carriage drove straight in, followed by the teams of young men into the mansion.

As Qin Yuan got off the carriage, Housekeeper Han asked: "Old Madam, Madam, who are these people..."

Old Madam Gu laughed: "I trouble Housekeeper Han, an old lady shaking all the way, I’ll go rest first, follow Madam’s arrangements."

Gu Baoshu supported Old Madam Gu directly into the main room.

Qin Yuan said to Housekeeper Han: "These are the young men of the Gu Family, the clan leader arranged them here to assist the Marquis, please arrange them well."

Housekeeper Han was surprised.

These young men had martial skills, destined for the battlefield to seek a future.

The clan had never sent so many to the Marquis Mansion before.

Qin Yuan turned to them and said: "Rest for now, I and the Old Madam need to go to the palace, if anything is missing, just find Housekeeper Han. We’re all from the Gu Family, no need to be formal."

The young men dismounted, loudly saying: "Thank you, Madam."

Qin Yuan smiled slightly, then turned to leave.

Once at Wutong Garden, she instructed someone to quickly invite Mr. Songshan to speak.

Soon, Mr. Songshan hurriedly arrived, and upon meeting said: "Yesterday at dusk, several men entered the city, among them one appeared to be their leader. Pale with a small mustache, not tall, dressed as a scholar, around forty, with a large red mole on his left cheek, should be at Book Sea Pavilion now."

"Oh?" Qin Yuan raised her brow.

Mr. Songshan continued: "Among them, a few are short and thin, light-footed, looks like Shi Qian’s people, they’ve been to Duke Chengen’s Mansion and King Jin’s Mansion, but not the Crown Prince’s place. Also," he glanced at Qin Yuan’s expression, lowering his voice: "they’ve scoped out the Marquis Mansion."

Qin Yuan nodded: "Since there are thieves, we must be careful."