Chapter 53: Talking at Cross Purposes

Hong Ye rolled her eyes and said irritably, "I conveyed everything the Marquis said, believe it or not."

Bai Que: "...Hey... don’t go."

Hong Ye shrugged her off and walked briskly into Wutong Garden, saying to the two nannies guarding the gate, "Keep the garden gate closed, don’t let any cats or dogs from outside come in."

Bai Que, never having been treated like this, shouted angrily, "Stop right there."

As she spoke, she was about to charge in.

The two nannies quickly hugged her and pushed her back, repeatedly saying, "Miss Bai Que, please don’t make things difficult for us. Wutong Garden is not like it used to be, where anyone could barge in and shout."

Bai Que, her face flushed, shrieked, "Let go of me. You’ll regret stopping me now; I’m definitely going to report y’all to the Marquis. You’ll be in deep trouble then."

Upon hearing this, the nannies felt a bit fearful, they stopped pushing her but still guarded the door, not letting her in.

Bai Que was helpless and could only stand under the sun, waiting for Marquis Gu to come out.

When the time comes, she will make the servile lot in Wutong Garden understand what it means to regret endlessly.

Gu Jinghui, sharp of ear and keen of eye, heard everything clearly even though Qin Yuan seemed unaware, prompting a frown to cloud his face.

Qin Yuan didn’t know why his expression soured again, but couldn’t be bothered to ask, she went on enjoying her meal happily.

Anyway, after a while, Marquis Gu would return to his normal self.

Indeed, Gu Jinghui suddenly said, "Mother said she’d like to hear you talk about that story you recounted this morning."

Qin Yuan: "?"

What story?

Gu Jinghui didn’t look at her, saying, "It’s the story about the Qin family extinguishing the Cui family."

Qin Yuan: "..."

She caught his meaning, looked at Gu Jinghui doubtfully, and said, "Why don’t you tell her?"

"Mother wants to hear it from you."

Gu Jinghui wouldn’t admit that he couldn’t recount it.

"Alright,"

Qin Yuan guessed some of it.

She had given him a hint with some anecdote, but he hadn’t understood it at all.

The words fell on deaf ears.

With dealings among military generals, one shouldn’t be too scholarly.

It was a lesson learned.

Outside, the curtain rustled heavily, indicating Hong Ye’s return, yet she didn’t enter the inner room to report but sat next to the small table, eating while quietly complaining to Cui Ming, "Really annoying, can’t even eat properly."

Cui Ming asked, "What happened?"

"The maid from Fengxuan Pavilion kept insisting I misrepresented the Marquis’ orders and tried to barge in to make a scene, so I made the nannies stop her outside. Really, no manners, what does she think Wutong Garden is."

Cui Ming frowned, "What urgent matter could they have to come at mealtime?"

Each time they come for someone, it’s either during mealtime or when it’s time to rest.

It’s truly irritating.

Hong Ye put down her bowl heavily, saying, "I don’t know, it didn’t seem urgent to me. If it was, even if she doesn’t believe me, she should have gone to the Old Madam first, then the Marquis to lodge a complaint. But instead, she’s stubbornly waiting outside for the Marquis."

Cui Ming, cautious in her actions, still sent a little maid out to check.

The little maid returned smiling, "Sister Bai Que is still waiting outside, standing right under the sun, not afraid of getting heat stroke."

Hong Ye sneered, "See that, can it be urgent? Not standing under the shade but rather under the sun is just to annoy us."

Inside, Gu Jinghui’s face was dark red.

Qin Yuan heard it too, but pretended not to listen.

Hong Ye was explosive by nature, having endured till now and needing an outlet to vent.

This trouble was created by Marquis Gu himself; if he doesn’t speak, she’d accompany him to remain deaf and mute forever.

Gu Jinghui couldn’t eat anymore, since Qin Yuan was still eating, he picked at his food absentmindedly.

Qin Yuan chewed slowly and deliberately for a moment before putting down her chopsticks, then leisurely rinsed her mouth, washed her hands, and brewed a cup of white tea.

Gu Jinghui watched her do all this, his anger subsiding, and he began leisurely enjoying tea too.

After drinking tea and looking at the fierce sun outside, Qin Yuan stretched lazily, glanced at Gu Jinghui as if she had something to say but swallowed the words.

Seeing her languid eyebrows, her slender, white, smooth arms stretching gracefully, Gu Jinghui seemed to see again the Persian cat his mother had raised, softly asking, "Do you want to rest a bit more?"

Qin Yuan shook her head, asking, "What kind of books are in the Marquis’ study?"

Gu Jinghui thought she wanted to go to the study to find books to read, he said, "They’re mainly military books and miscellaneous notes."

His study held mostly military dispatches, some military books, miscellaneous curiosities, and novels about heroes, probably not what Qin Yuan wanted.

Gu Jinghui secretly wondered if he should buy some poetry and song anthologies for his youthful wife to stock in the study, enabling them both to occasionally read and write together, which seemed nice.

Qin Yuan said, "I plan to set up a study within Wutong Garden, if the Marquis wishes, you can also share it with me."

She mentioned it offhandedly.

Most men preferred handling affairs in the outer yard’s study rather than sharing space with the inner chamber women.

Gu Jinghui, holding multiple posts, surely had many documents unsuitable for outsiders to peruse.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jinghui hesitated for a moment before saying, "Alright, Yuan’er can be in charge. But soon I’ll be on duty in the Great Camp, for half a month out of a whole month I won’t be home to accompany you."

Qin Yuan knew he misunderstood again, unable to explain, she simply said, "My husband works hard."

"What’s hard about it, it’s far better than blowing sand at the Northern Border," Gu Jinghui said, "It’s just that the Great Camp is far from the city, can’t always come back. If you have matters, seek mother and Nanny Rong, I’ll leave Sixteen with you. If it’s urgent, just have Sixteen come find me."

He paused, then added, "But not too frequently."

Too often may provoke jokes from the Assistant Generals about him being overly attached to his wife.

Qin Yuan smiled, "Alright, my husband plans very thoroughly."

After speaking, the couple fell silent again.

Gu Jinghui originally wanted to go out to visit his teacher for advice, but Bai Que lingering outside made it seem like he had doubts about Fengxuan Pavilion, so he picked up the unread book he left here last time, planning to sit with Qin Yuan awhile.

Qin Yuan, however, urged him, "My husband’s injury doesn’t seem fully healed, better rest more to avoid lengthened recovery impacting official duties."

Gu Jinghui couldn’t resist his young wife’s caring words, appreciatively retreating to the side room to rest.

Only then did Qin Yuan call over Hong Ye and Cui Ming for a chat.

The two recounted roughly what they had seen and heard today.

Cui Ming said, "Mrs. Lu reports that accounts balanced with Sixth Madam, but now what’s in the sewing room doesn’t match the ledger again. Don’t know if she made an error or embezzled."

As the saying goes, living by the mountain means eating from the mountain, living by the sea means eating from the sea.

These housekeepers’ affairs may not seem profitable, yet there are ways to make money, be it more or less.

Masters’ confidant positions naturally offer rich gains, plenty of perks.

Those with some seniority, some backing but not strong support assume lean roles.

Relying on Marquis Mansion scooping a bit here, searching a bit there, over time one can accumulate a lot.

Cui Ming eyed Qin Yuan, curious how she’d handle the matter.

In the side room, Gu Jinghui also strained to listen.