Chapter 75: The Qin Family Seems Dissatisfied with You

Prince Qi smiled warmly, seemingly unaffected by the cold gaze from Marquis Gu.

"I overheard you asking about the storytelling earlier. Is this difficult to guess?"

Gu Jinghui was skeptical.

"I just had him recite the part where Guan Yunchang reads the Spring and Autumn Annals at night, and you figured it out?"

Prince Qi raised his chin and smiled, "There’s a reason behind it. Do you want to know? If you want to know, why not treat me to a couple of drinks, and I’ll explain it to you slowly."

Marquis Gu cast a wary glance at Prince Qi and said coldly, "What scheme are you plotting again?"

Prince Qi’s mansion’s Chief Historian, displeased, said, "How can Marquis Gu speak of our prince like this? Our prince has good intentions."

Marquis Gu chuckled lightly, ignoring him.

The Chief Historian’s face darkened.

Prince Qi pretended not to notice the Chief Historian’s embarrassment and chuckled, "Gu Jinghui, what’s the matter? We haven’t seen each other for years, and now you don’t even dare speak to me?"

"Afraid of you? Never!" retorted Gu Jinghui, "You may be a black-hearted sesame dumpling, even with a million tricks up your sleeve I wouldn’t flinch. I’m not who I was before."

Prince Qi responded, "That’s good to hear, because I stepped out without silver today, so the cost of this meal and drinks has found itself a sponsor."

He waved his hand, and the Chief Historian hurriedly called over the waiter.

"A pot of sparrow tongue tea, lotus leaf steamed bun, eight treasure duck..."

In the blink of an eye, he ordered over a dozen dishes.

Gu Jinghui was displeased, "Why do you eat so much?"

If you’re putting on airs, do it in Prince Qi Mansion, not at a teahouse; what are you thinking?

"You’re too extravagant. At the Northern Border, I only have two dishes per meal, and when I return to the Capital City, whatever’s left over I give to the young maidservants and servants."

What the little wife rewards is equivalent to his reward, no dispute there.

"If I can’t finish, I send the leftovers to beggars outside. See, that one standing outside the door peering in."

As he spoke, Prince Qi gestured vaguely towards the street below.

Gu Jinghui’s face darkened, and he remained silent.

Prince Qi casually said, "Does spending a bit of your money cause you distress? The relationship between us shouldn’t deteriorate like this. You know the matter with Qingyun back then wasn’t my fault either..."

Before he finished speaking, Gu Jinghui tossed a silver ingot onto the table and got up to leave.

Prince Qi wasn’t in a rush. He played with the jade pendant at his waist and said, "Guan Yunchang reading the Spring and Autumn Annals at night was Cao Cao’s way of testing Guan Yunchang’s loyalty to Liu Bei. You had to know why?"

Gu Jinghui paused.

Prince Qi nodded downwards and said, "That storyteller may not be as skilled as I am at discerning people’s thoughts. Let me guess, you came to the teahouse to hear someone tell stories instead of staying at home with your newly wedded wife because someone hinted something to you? Qin Jijiu is the Sacrificial Officer of the Imperial College; no need to investigate his true scholarly talents, but he does have a pillar of the scholar reputation. You met such a Yue Family, how would you discern the deeper meaning behind their words?"

Gu Jinghui sat down, muttering, "The Qin Family is excellent, don’t talk like that."

Prince Qi’s eyes flickered, a smile appearing, "You don’t mind that the Qin Family exchanged the legitimate for the illegitimate?"

Gu Jinghui stood up again, "If you’re going to talk about your sister-in-law like that then don’t. Don’t bring this irrelevant talk to me again—I have no appetite for it."

Prince Qi hurriedly stood up and grabbed his arm, "Since you still recognize me as a brother, why not speak clearly?"

"What is left for us to discuss?"

Prince Qi stared straight at him, seeing the sharp and handsome face tainted with impatience, he maintained his composure, "Third Brother, didn’t I call you that since we were young? I said those things purely for your sake. What the Qin Family did annoyed me."

Gu Jinghui sighed, "Times have changed. Don’t meddle in my affairs; my wife..."

He paused and withdrew his hand, "I’m quite content. If it were the way it was, I wouldn’t be."

Prince Qi was momentarily stunned, seeing him about to leave, he immediately said, "But I wasn’t just throwing empty words before, Third Brother. The Qin Family seems to be dissatisfied with you—otherwise, why tell this particular story?"

Gu Jinghui was frozen.

Prince Qi triumphantly pressed his lips into a secretive smile, "Third Brother, sit down and let your little brother explain things well."

...

Wutong Garden.

Hong Ye said, "Didn’t Miss ask me to oversee the tea room? These nannies in the tea room know plenty. It seems nothing in this mansion could be kept from them. The other day when I tried speaking with them, they were still holding back. After witnessing Miss’s strength, I went out for a stroll, and when I ran into a nanny there was information to hear."

Cui Ming couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Qin Yuan also laughed.

Hong Ye confusedly asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Cui Ming, still smiling, said, "The way you just acted was a bit like a petty person who suddenly sees success."

Hong Ye, both amused and annoyed, went to tug at Cui Ming’s mouth.

Qin Yuan stifled a laugh and changed the subject, casually saying, "Not to mention, Sixth Master is quite passionate. Even with Aunt Zheng only bought a few months ago, he’s already eyeing someone else. Aunt Zheng’s worth must be considerable, and Sixth Master wouldn’t afford it on just the monthly stipend."

With no official duties, Sixth Master Gu relied solely on Marquis Mansion’s monthly stipend, which was barely sufficient for poetry and alcohol.

In a previous life, Lin Ziqi sought companionship through poetry but could only occasionally engage due to the high costs until they were married, and he could regularly form societies with others.

In the literary societies, scholars were a mixed bunch, ranging from those who shared Gu Six Master’s fondness for romance and aesthetics to those who truly were talented and produced impressive works, as well as those who acted as intermediaries.

Indeed, there were those whose talents caught the eye of nobles, easing their path to official praise remarkably.

Calculating the days, Lin Ziqi might encounter the noble who helped him in the previous life soon.

In this life, absent her penmanship, it is uncertain what will occur.

Qin Yuan idly twirled the round fan in her hand, glancing at the fan’s surface showcasing golden silk cicadas, with varying shades woven together, subtly capturing the faint translucence of cicada wings.

As thin as a cicada’s wing, an image triggered for Qin Yuan.

In the past life, with what she did for Lin Ziqi, it was likely seen as frivolous and insignificant by him, or maybe taken for granted.

Now...

Qin Yuan smiled subtly, returning her focus, listening to Hong Ye attentively.

"With Sixth Madam gathering funds, isn’t Sixth Master free from worrying about money?" Hong Ye claimed smugly, "Those nannies said each time Sixth Master wanted a concubine, there’d be arguments with Sixth Madam who would ultimately compromise. Sixth Madam wouldn’t use her dowry for Sixth Master to buy a concubine, right?"

Cui Ming was aghast.

Qin Yuan said, "Even in the profit-scarce needlework room misdeeds were committed, which can be imagined."

Sixth Madam had no old grievances with her, these repeated tricks were simply for the management of household resources.

If unable to gain from household management, Sixth Madam has no reason to act that way.

High-ranking positions are pursued for wealth alone.

Sixth Madam’s relentless pursuit seems driven solely by finances.

"Sixth Madam focused on acquiring money, allowing Sixth Master to indulge extravagantly outside. What a couple they make..." Cui Ming trailed off.

As a servant, it’s taboo to judge the masters.

Hong Ye wasn’t burdened by such constraints and continued, "This time Sixth Master is determined to argue with Sixth Madam, no idea what sparked it, but Sixth Madam scratched his face all over with blood marks."