Chapter 307: Thanksgiving

Gu Jinghui was startled by his own thoughts and dared not look at Qin Yuan any longer. He hastily finished his meal, stood up in a hurry before she could speak, and said, "I am going to the outer courtyard to find Mr. Songshan to tell a story."

Qin Yuan replied, "Alright, take care, husband."

Gu Jinghui then lifted the curtain himself and strode out.

Cui Ming and Hong Ye came in. Hong Ye asked, "Miss, what’s going on with the Marquis? He looks like he’s sitting on a hotplate."

Qin Yuan glanced at her, shook her head, and said nothing.

Cui Ming said, "You always know the news. Haven’t you heard anything?"

Hong Ye thought for a moment and said, "I did hear something, but they say the Marquis now..." Before she could finish, a young maid outside said that Mr. and Mrs. Qian had come to express their gratitude with Bai Que.

Hong Ye laughed, "I just heard that Bai Que entered the mansion today, saw the Old Madam, went to chat with Zihe, and happily mentioned how fortunate her parents were to act quickly, otherwise she might have been trapped by the Zhao family. Now she’s here, hasn’t she met the Marquis yet?"

Qin Yuan glanced at Hong Ye and said, "Since they are here, mind your words. Mr. and Mrs. Qian are reputable elders, even the Marquis has to show some respect."

Hong Ye hurriedly cleared her throat, composed herself, and they were led inside.

Qin Yuan invited them to sit. Mr. and Mrs. Qian, not daring to act superior, after some polite refusals, finally sat on a small stool. Bai Que barely sat, poised awkwardly with a smile on her face towards Qin Yuan.

After some casual conversation, Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I heard Bai Que’s marriage is settled. I’ve prepared a gift, and it’s perfect to give it today."

Mr. Qian laughed, "We came to express our gratitude, the Marquis already rewarded us, and now another from the Madam, truly Bai Que is fortunate."

Qin Yuan said, "The Marquis’s reward is his, mine is mine. We agreed initially, and refusing now would be disrespectful to me. I heard Bai Que arranged to marry the son of the Zhao family’s buyer, known since childhood, and he is very sincere. It’s a marriage that’s hard to come by even with a lantern."

Mrs. Qian beamed with joy and said, "Well, it’s indeed the fate of two children. Bai Que used to serve by the Old Madam’s side. The Old Madam said she would release Bai Que’s contract upon marriage, so even when the Zhao family’s child proposed, she didn’t agree. Unexpectedly, the Marquis also released that child’s contract some time ago. Having known each other for years, and with that child still devoted, the marriage happened."

Qin Yuan nodded and looked at Bai Que.

Bai Que quickly lowered her gaze, dared not look further, her expression timid, gradually lowering her head.

Hong Ye had brought out the prepared gift and placed it before Bai Que. Bai Que quickly rose to accept it, placed it aside, and prostrated respectfully to Qin Yuan in gratitude.

Qin Yuan said, "Hong Ye, quickly help her up."

Hong Ye hurriedly helped Bai Que up.

Bai Que, head lowered, nervously twisted her sash, appearing all the more delicate and helpless.

Qin Yuan softly said, "Since you are now freed, live well outside. If you face any troubles, your parents are respected elders in the mansion, and for their sake, the mansion will surely help you."

Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Qian expressed their gratitude profusely.

Bai Que timidly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. Bai Que will always remember the Marquis Mansion’s kindness and will never forget it."

After the three left, Hong Ye sighed, "Bai Que seems like a different person, unlike her previous arrogant self when she confronted me."

Qin Yuan smiled without comment.

Hong Ye continued, "The Marquis actually set them free. That’s really generous of him."

Qin Yuan said, "They were born and raised in the mansion, have worked for many years, and gained significant trust. They have accumulated some wealth; being freed isn’t something to fear about being bullied or starved. The Marquis not taking her as a concubine naturally made it an easy favor, and the Zhao family boy still works for the Marquis, just under a different name elsewhere."

Hong Ye agreed, "Exactly, I heard from some nannies, those who used to be wet nurses for the Marquis lived in large courtyard houses and even had servants, not worse than a small official’s life."

Cui Ming, surprised, said, "The capital is such an expensive place, the Marquis Mansion’s servants can be this well-off?"

Hong Ye nodded emphatically.

"Previously, we knew little. I heard those housekeepers and accountants accumulated wealth, got rewards from going to war, had lucrative positions in the mansion, and gathered considerable money over time. They may appear as servants before the masters but turn around to be masters themselves."

Cui Ming hesitated, "But I see Brother Qi’s family can’t even afford medicine."

Hong Ye couldn’t respond.

Qin Yuan took a sip of tea, savoring it, and then said, "Hong Ye speaks of those well-used; others neither utilized nor lucky, with many household-born servants, can a master truly see them all? Even among family clans, some live worse than mansion servants. You lack insight; such matters in noble and marquis families are common."

"During the last garden tour, I heard some Li family members asked influential servants in the mansion to speak favorably before the Duke. As the saying goes, the doorman of a prime minister is a seventh-rank official, and visiting officials gift the doorman many tributes, asking them to pass messages to the prime minister."

"My goodness," Hong Ye and Cui Ming seemed to hear a celestial lecture.

Qin Yuan added, "Mansion rules are strict. Even among maids, there are ranks. The big maids around Seventh Miss command several little maids, comparable to a deputy mistress. You’ve been here for months and should get used to it. Otherwise, how could you manage those stewards and housekeeper moms?"

Hong Ye and Cui Ming exchanged glances, understanding inwardly. Though they had assisted Qin Yuan in managing affairs and learned much about daily mansion matters, they still had a way to go to meet Qin Yuan’s expectations.

In private, Hong Ye told Cui Ming, "We were happy thinking it’s more comfortable than in the Qin family, and thought we did well with some tasks, not realizing we were still just outside, barely inside. If not for Miss’s wit and capability, who knows how tough life might’ve been?"

Cui Ming agreed, "True, it really is Miss’s good fortune, the Old Madam, Marquis treat her well, even Sixth Master is easy to get along with, and even Sixth Madam..."

Both felt secretly relieved.

Mo Zhu came to relay a message, "The Madam wants to call Gu Shiliu for questions."

Hong Ye stomped her foot, "Why find Sixteen and come looking for me?"

Mo Zhu widened his eyes, "Naturally because Gu Shiliu is familiar with Sister Hong Ye; others might not find her easily."

Cui Ming laughed.

Hong Ye, annoyed, said, "Got it."

Bai Que, after seeing Qin Yuan, silently followed behind Mr. and Mrs. Qian, visiting other courtyards to pay respects.

Having not been in the mansion for several months, Bai Que felt somewhat as if another world had passed. Thinking it’s hard to re-enter the mansion after marriage, Bai Que hesitated repeatedly yet still said, "Mother, should we go to the outer courtyard to thank the Marquis?"