Chapter 394: Exposed

Mrs. Lin muttered softly again, just loud enough for everyone seated at the table to hear.

"Truly a pampered young lady from a noble family, her husband is coughing like this, yet she shows no concern. If you ask me, she still has much to learn from Xiao Lian."

Lady Yu remained silent, but her eyes and mouth were filled with a cold sneer and smugness that Qin Wan could see clearly.

Lin Ziqi naturally wouldn’t speak up.

Qin Wan, holding back a burst of frustration, immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks, saying, "Enjoy your meal, everyone."

She got up and walked away.

Seeing this, Mrs. Lin raised her eyebrows, about to scold Qin Wan for her lack of manners, when she heard Qin Wan loudly instruct the young maid, "Go to Jiujie Mansion and find my mother. Tell her I’ve been helping at the Marquis Mansion recently and the incense has made me lose my appetite. Ask if there’s any pickled goose left at home; if so, bring me a bowl. And if there’s any fermented rice, even better, bring it back so I can cook it for a midnight snack. Today’s meal... not a single dish I like, even though it cost one tael of silver."

When it came to money, Mrs. Lin felt uneasy. She didn’t dare confront Qin Wan directly, so she complained to her son.

"Look at your wife, how long has she been married into this family, yet still behaves this way... It’s beyond adjustment. I said we shouldn’t let her go around, and in just a few days, she’s gotten wild ideas and disobedient."

Lin Ziqi didn’t lift his head, "Mother, don’t concern yourself with Wan’er’s visits to her mother’s house or the Marquis Mansion. Xiao Lian may be good in your eyes, but when she goes out, no one acknowledges her. I married Qin Wan for who she is; no matter how good others are, she’s not the daughter’s of the Sacrificial Officer nor a sister-in-law from Dingbei Marquis Mansion."

His words were straightforward.

Lady Yu and Mrs. Lin were left speechless with hatred.

Back in her quarters, Qin Wan finally felt comfortable, lying heavily on the bed and staring at the canopy.

"Without having to look at that old hag and seductive fox, I can breathe easier."

Yanhong comforted her, "Just endure it for the sake of your husband. Once he’s successful next year, good days will come."

Qin Wan furrowed her brows tightly and sighed, "What else can I think about?"

After a pause, she added quietly, "If she can get through it, so can I."

Yanhong looked at Qin Wan in surprise, unable to discern who she was referring to.

Soon, Lin Ziqi came looking for her. Before Yanhong could leave, he hurriedly asked, "Is what Xiao Lian said true?"

Qin Wan sat up, annoyed, "Why don’t you ask her instead of me?"

"You’ve been helping at the Marquis Mansion these days, haven’t you heard any rumors?"

Qin Wan thought for a moment, "The Seventh Miss of the Marquis Mansion is quite a fiery one. I know she started something with Madam Chang; they were so fierce that I stood outside to avoid it. As for what they actually said, how would I know? My sister has a gentle nature and coaxed the Seventh Miss away. Otherwise, hitting Chang with a club would have been letting her off easily. As for what that Madam Chang said, whether it’s true or not, how would I know?"

Meanwhile, she wondered to herself, could it be that Marquis Gu is actually incapable?

No wonder he didn’t consummate the marriage in the previous life.

But if he’s truly incapable, was Mrs. Zhao’s sole favor in the previous life fake?

Qin Wan couldn’t differentiate her own wishes, whether she wanted Marquis Gu to be capable or not.

However, she had to defend Marquis Gu on the surface, especially since this gossip was spread by Lady Yu, causing Mrs. Lin to give her a hard time, so she had to refute it.

Listening to this entire segment, Lin Ziqi was annoyed, "I just wanted to ask one question, but you said a whole bunch. You’re quite irritable today; my mother mutters a sentence, and you respond with a long rebuttal, are you gunpowder-fed?"

Qin Wan snorted, and stood up with her hands on her hips, "Your cousin runs around everywhere, taking advantage of the Marquis Mansion being too busy to visit places where men gather. She hears some rumors and comes to blame me. If you trust her so much, then let her wander all you want in the future, what do you need me for?"

Lin Ziqi could only patiently coax her.

"There’s no comparison between you two; she’s just an ignorant country maiden. It’s only because my mother thinks fondly of her family, considering I’ve settled in the Capital City and next year I’ll be taking the Advanced Scholar exam. If I happen to pass, I can also help her find a good marriage, supporting each other a bit. How does having her replace you to wander around look?"

His words were earnest and distanced them completely.

If she hadn’t caught their secret meeting, she wouldn’t have doubted.

It’s not her fault for being too foolish, just that they are too adept at pretending.

Qin Wan sneered inwardly, but outwardly said, "What’s difficult about finding her a match? If you ask me, settle her marriage soon; it’s proper. There are so many scholars and Advanced Scholars at the Imperial College, out of consideration for my father, they might be willing to marry her. It’s certainly better than letting her wander around causing a scandal, wouldn’t you agree? With her roaming around, I’m worried she’ll stir up something and tarnish my reputation."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziqi’s expression changed several times before he finally spoke, "Then keep an eye on her, take care when you bring her out, lest she actually causes a scandal and damages the Lin Family’s reputation."

Ultimately, he couldn’t bear to say not to take Lady Yu with her.

Qin Wan nodded in agreement.

Lin Ziqi cleared his throat and gently said, "When talking to your sister, tell her what’s in your heart; after all, we are together. If the Marquis is truly unwell, how can we be at ease?"

This was cleverly spoken, but Qin Wan trusted it even less.

If he were really uneasy, he wouldn’t have gotten entangled with her, disregarding Qin Yuan’s well-being at the time, and now talking about peace of mind.

Qin Wan sneered, "I will talk to her, tell me the truth, do you still yearn for her? I’m telling you, whether the Marquis is capable, it’s not your concern. She married into the Marquis Mansion; her mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law all support her. Matters inside and outside the mansion are entrusted to her, living much more comfortably than me. Am I not sufficiently tormented by your mother and cousin that I require to be deprived of a husband as well to feel it’s fair?"

Stunned by her words, Lin Ziqi, after a long while, pointed at her, his mouth opening and closing several times, before tremblingly managing to utter a sentence.

"Bull... Bullshit, you’re... You’re making things up..."

Qin Wan stood up to leave, turned to coldly say, "I better be talking nonsense. If you can’t let her go now, you can only endure it. When I married you, I forwent Dingbei Marquis. My father was unhappy already; luckily Qin Yuan was settled with the Marquis Mansion, otherwise, we’d lose a Marquis son-in-law. If you, having married his legitimate daughter, are still fixated on another daughter married into the Marquis Mansion, let’s see if he still wants to associate with you."

After speaking, she lifted the curtain and walked out, only to bump into Lady Yu eavesdropping by the door.

Seeing her exit, Lady Yu’s face flushed, stammering, "Cousin-in-law, I was about to talk to you, but cousin went back in, so I waited here."

"Hah!"

Qin Wan sneered and left.

Inside, Lin Ziqi gritted his teeth in anger, suddenly struck by a headache. He couldn’t help but hold his head and collapsed to the ground, curling up and uttering weak groans.

Outside, Lady Yu, dazed, heard the commotion and couldn’t care about anything else, rushing into Qin Wan’s room.