Chapter 19: From Now On, She Will Be Beneath My Feet

The fat steward was intimidated but still held his ground, saying, "Madam may not know, the Sixth Madam has been managing the household for years, and even the Old Madam has praised her management skills. You say the Sixth Madam is ineffective in managing, but we servants dare not say much. The truth will speak for itself. Today’s events have their reasons, so please be generous, Marchioness."

Cui Ming was so angry that she laughed.

"Your words are amusing. If you know your own incompetence can’t be blamed on the Sixth Madam, then you must not regard the Marchioness in your eyes, acting on your own and obeying in appearance only."

The fat steward stammered, "We are just servants; how dare we not regard the Marchioness? Surely no one wishes to die prematurely."

He turned his head, thinking to push the driver forward for punishment to soothe Qin Yuan’s anger.

The driver whispered, "The maid beside her said she went to the Old Madam’s courtyard to invite Nanny Rong, but so much time has passed without any news, indicating the Old Madam does not take her seriously, not to mention the Marquis..."

Perhaps the Marchioness never sent a maid, just to intimidate them.

The fat steward, knowing he couldn’t offend the uncle of a first-class maid beside the Sixth Madam, hesitated for a moment and then sincerely said, "Marchioness, if we delay any longer, your return trip will indeed be late; shall we arrange a carriage for you to return first? We guarantee no more mistakes this time."

Qin Yuan did not respond.

Cui Ming said, "Hong Ye has gone to fetch Nanny Rong, so please be patient, steward."

The fat steward laughed, saying, "Who knows how long this coming and going will delay, and the Marquis Mansion’s carriages are all specially assigned. If we delay, other masters might use one for a trip, and there might not be a carriage available for the Marchioness’s return. Then the Marchioness shall have to wait for the Seventh Miss or the Marquis to return together with her."

Faced with both threats and insinuations, even Cui Ming couldn’t help but retort, "Who gives you the audacity to speak such words? Even if this matter escalates to the heavens, it must be properly addressed."

Qin Yuan sat upright, covering her face with a round fan, watching them with eyes full of amusement, like she was watching a play.

The fat steward, irritated, said, "We are wracking our brains to find a solution for the Marchioness, yet you, girl, rely on your backers to speak such words. Let me put it out there, once this opportunity is missed, there won’t be another, and if the Marchioness is late in returning, please do not blame us for inefficiency or say the Marquis Mansion is poorly managed."

The fat steward turned to leave, and Hong Ye was already bringing Nanny Rong and others around the corner.

After greeting Qin Yuan, Nanny Rong asked, "Steward Wang, what’s going on here?"

Steward Wang began complaining.

Nanny Rong interrupted after a few words, "Why was the carriage arranged for the Marchioness taken by the Seventh Miss? Why couldn’t the Seventh Miss use her own carriage?"

The driver mumbled, "The Seventh Miss said she wanted to go out for fun and feared her carriage was not spacious enough, so she took the Marchioness’s carriage."

Cui Ming interjected, "Weren’t you previously saying that the Seventh Miss assumed, since the Marquis was not accompanying the Marchioness back home, she didn’t need a carriage anyway?"

The driver immediately shook his head, "I never said that."

Nanny Rong further inquired, "Is there really no other carriage available?"

Cui Ming said, "The driver just said, he was at a loss, with the mansion’s strict rules, and the masters’ carriages are reserved. The Sixth Madam and Old Madam’s carriages are beyond Marchioness’s usage. Steward Wang said he would try to arrange a carriage for the Marchioness but insisted that if the Marchioness didn’t set off promptly, she would have to wait for the Seventh Miss or the Marquis for a ride."

Hearing this, Nanny Rong was furious, "Is this how you handle the Marchioness?"

Steward Wang and the others, ashamed, did not dare to breathe.

Only then did Qin Yuan rise and step forward, smiling, "Nanny, don’t be angry, who can I blame but myself for not managing the household? That’s why they brush me off. Now that it’s late for the return, I ask Nanny to arrange something for me. I dare not trouble the steward and this driver any further. Cui Ming, who followed me earlier, can stay, and Nanny, if you have any questions, may ask her."

Nanny Rong quickly said, "The Old Madam is equally furious. If such useless, free-eating creatures upset the relatives, just flaying them is lenient. Madam proceed first; the Marquis is delayed but will follow shortly. I’ll deal with these scoundrels and not spoil Madam’s mood."

Qin Yuan nodded with a smile, and already, someone had the Old Madam’s carriage brought around, inviting her to board, with a few small carriages carrying return gifts swiftly heading to the Qin Mansion.

Steward Wang, finding himself caught, was sweating profusely and stammered, "Please, Nanny Rong, help me."

Seeing his state, Cui Ming felt immensely satisfied.

Nanny Rong glared at him, "Knowing this would happen today, why act that way in the first place? Who prompted you to dare treat the Marchioness this way?"

"I cannot help you because the Old Madam just learned of this, was furious beyond measure, and wishes to flay you. If not for pressing matters, the Marquis would surely have intervened by now.

"Consider how you’ll explain to the Marquis later; perhaps you can mitigate some of the impending punishment."

Steward Wang slumped to the ground in despair and confusion.

Inside the carriage.

Qin Yuan asked, "Why did it take so long?"

Hong Ye replied, "Miss, if not for the Marquis, I would have come with Nanny Rong earlier."

"What’s the reason?"

Hong Ye was overjoyed, "When I went, the Marquis was laid across a bench, getting his backside paddled by the Old Madam."

Qin Yuan, inexplicably wanting to laugh, held back and asked, "Why was he being punished?"

"The Old Madam called him a fool, a scoundrel, but I couldn’t understand how he offended the Old Madam."

Qin Yuan, however, understood a bit.

Hong Ye sighed, "I never thought the Marquis Mansion was as chaotic as the Qin Mansion; all ravens under heaven are equally black."

Qin Yuan said, "I actually think it’s much better than the Qin Mansion and will likely get even better in time."

Hong Ye changed the topic, "Today, the Miss returns alone and has been delayed. Second Miss must be very pleased."

Qin Wan was indeed pleased.

She had been waiting to hold her head high on this day.

Since Qin Yuan’s engagement to the Marquis Mansion, Qin Yuan had overshadowed her in every aspect, but today, Qin Yuan was set to lose face.

To see Qin Yuan’s miserable state earlier, Qin Wan had returned to her maiden home with Lin Ziqi early.

The women in the house sat around, chatting about trivial matters, asking how her new marriage life was at the Lin Family, how Lin Ziqi treated her, and how Mrs. Lin got along with her.

Qin Wan, in good humor, answered each question with a smile.

The loving couple she never attained in her past life was finally hers in this life, so she had to show it off.

Though during the days at the Lin Family, while Mrs. Lin could be somewhat trying, Lin Ziqi was harmonious with her, discussing and cooperating in everything.

The only downside was that the Lin Family was too poor, depending on her dowry for daily living.

But this was temporary; once Lin Ziqi passed the Advanced Scholar exams and obtained a government position, their days would improve.

Now, while the Lin Family spends her money, Lin Ziqi would repay her by making her the Prime Minister’s wife in time, and cherish and prioritize her in everything.

Just like how he once was with Qin Yuan.