Chapter 27 Were you with the Marquis the night before yesterday?
Qin Yuan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she looked at Madam Gu in shock.

In her previous life, Qin Wan and Lord Gu had such a big quarrel that within less than half a year, they became a pair of resentful lovers.

After Lady Zhao showed signs of filial piety, Lord Gu took her in as his concubine. It is said that the reason why Old Lady Gu finally agreed was that Lady Zhao was fertile and might even give birth to twins, a boy and a girl.

In the past few days, she did not argue or make a fuss, and avoided the provocations of Madam Zhao and others. Instead, the old lady changed to this point, which was really beyond her expectations.

Qin Yuan called out softly, “Mom.”

This word “mother” is very sincere and heartfelt.

Madam Gu smiled and said, “You kid, go back and see Hui-ge’er soon. You two getting along well will make me happier than anything else.”

The old lady was pleased that her daughter-in-law had suffered so much but still protected her son, and felt that this marriage was a good one.

After Qin Yuan left, Rong Ma said, “The old lady said before that she would let the Marquis learn to manage the household after a while. Why did she change her mind so quickly?”

Madam Gu sighed and said, “I underestimated her temper and character before. Fengxuan Pavilion has been asking the Marquis to come over these past two days, but she didn’t make any noise or fuss. It makes people feel distressed, but it also makes people worry that she is too soft-hearted and can’t handle the situation.”

“But look at what she said today. She was bold and knowledgeable, and she even protected that bastard. It’s obvious that she has a plan in mind, but she just married into the Marquis’s mansion, so she can’t act out.”

“I just went along with her wishes. Baozhu is young and ignorant. The Sixth Old Wife has been the housekeeper for so many years, so of course she knows a lot. It’s just that she doesn’t have the Marquis in her heart. The Marquis suffers outside, and they live a peaceful life, but who cares about this bastard like him? With Yuan’er caring for him, he can have a few good days.”

Rong Ma nodded and said, “Nothing can be hidden from the old lady’s eyes. Madam is the daughter of the Qingliu family. She has been studying since she was young. The words that she is rotten from the inside are not simple. With her protecting the Marquis in the future, the Marquis’s Mansion will be further developed.”

Madam Gu thought for a moment and suddenly said, “Go see the Marquis when you have time later and tell him what I said today so that he will feel ashamed.”

Aunt Rong: “…”

Qin Yuan went to the side room as soon as she returned to Wutong Garden. She pushed open the door and saw Gu Jinghui lying on the bed still sleeping. She couldn’t help but smile but didn’t say anything. After coming out, she asked and instructed the maids guarding the door as usual, and then turned to go to the main room.

Hongye asked, “Miss, what are you laughing at?”

“Some people feel ashamed to face others and avoid meeting me.”

Hongye: “?”

Qin Yuan said, “Wait until Gu Shiliu comes back, bring him some food and try to get close to him. Ask him where the Marquis rested the night before yesterday? Why did he come back late that day? What did the Marquis do to deserve being beaten like this by the old lady?”

Hongye nodded in response.

Gu Shiliu came back from outside and wanted to go to the side room to report to the Marquis, but was stopped by Hongye under the porch.

“Miss Hongye, what are you doing?”

Hongye smiled and said, “Madam said that the Marquis has been sleeping all the time, so she asked me to stay here to avoid being disturbed.”

Gu Shiliu: “…”

The Marquis is still waiting for news from him.

Hongye asked: “You were not here last night, what did you do?”

Gu Shiliu hesitated for a few words, and Hongye asked again: “Have you eaten?”

“No.”

Gu Shiliu licked his chapped lips.

Hongye said, “It’s past dinner time. I have a few cakes here. Do you want some?”

Gu Shiliu said: “Eat.”

Hongye was guarding here, so it was not convenient for him to go to find the Marquis, and he was just hungry.

Hongye lowered her head, opened the pink-green purse tied around her waist, took out a few pieces of mung bean cake, handed them to him, and said, “Eat slowly. I’ll ask the little girl to pour you some water.”

Gu Shiliu said “hmm”.

Hongye is so attentive, there must be something to say.

Sure enough, after eating only half a piece, Hongye asked, “Did you follow the Marquis to Fengxuan Pavilion the night before yesterday?” Gu Shiliu shuddered and lowered his head: “Yes.”

“Where did the Marquis rest that night?”

Gu Shiliu choked.

“How come he choked while eating a mung bean cake?” Hongye was really puzzled. She turned around and called the little girl, “Why haven’t you poured tea for Sixteenth Brother yet?”

Gu Shiliu stretched his neck and choked again and again. He finally waited for the tea to come and gulped it all down. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse from choking: “Is this what Madam wants to ask?”

Hongye was puzzled: “Should I still ask?”

Gu Shiliu asked hurriedly, “What else does Madam want to know?”

Hongye asked, “What else can I ask? What was the matter that held the Marquis back that day? Didn’t they say that we would go back together? What did the Marquis do to deserve being beaten by the old lady?”

Questions came one after another, and Gu Shiliu’s legs felt weak.

“Oh…” Gu Shiliu said, “I suddenly feel a little urgent. I will come to you after I’m done.”

Hongye: “…”

Gu Shiliu ran away in a hurry and came back after a while. When he looked out, Hongye was still waiting for him outside.

Gu Shiliu hurriedly turned to the window of the side room and coughed a few times, as if talking to himself: “Why hasn’t the Marquis woken up yet? If he doesn’t wake up, Hongye is blocking the door. If he asks me, should I tell him or not?”

After a while, the Marquis’s voice was heard from inside the house, “Where is Sixteen? Where is Sixteen?”

Gu Shiliu hurriedly came out from the corner and responded eagerly: “Coming, coming.”

He took two steps at a time and said apologetically as he passed by the red leaves, “I didn’t expect that the Marquis would wake up and call me. I’ll talk to you next time.”

Hongye returned helplessly and could not help complaining to Qin Yuan: “It’s really hard to get any talk from him. After we said only three sentences, Gu Shiliu had to go to the bathroom, and when he came back, the Marquis woke up and called him.”

Everyone has been called away by the Marquis, what are you still asking?

Qin Yuan was looking at the account book with great interest. This was the book that Madam Gu Liu had asked her maid to bring to her so that she could familiarize herself with the affairs she was in charge of first.

From these books, one can calculate the expenses and interpersonal relationships of the Marquis’ Mansion in a year.

She knew that she had just arrived and was not familiar with the mansion. She could only slowly grasp the background of the mansion from these subtle details.

Qin Yuan was confident that as long as he could see the account books of the Marquis’ Mansion, no matter which part it was, he would be able to follow the clues and get a clear picture of the Marquis’ Mansion.

After listening to Hongye’s complaints, Qin Yuan didn’t even raise his head and said, “There will always be times when he is alone. If you ask him every day, he will always tell you.”

Cui Ming said, “Weren’t you a gossip-monger in the Qin Mansion before? How come you can’t show your abilities in this new place?”

Hongye was aroused by the desire to win, and said, “I just arrived, so I’m not familiar with it yet. I just found out how many courtyards and masters there are in the mansion. You wait, I guarantee that I can find out everything in less than ten days or half a month.”

Qin Yuan said, “You help me supervise the tea room and get along well with them, so you will naturally know everything. How big is the Qin Mansion? How big is the Hou Mansion? How long will it take you to find out everything?”

“Let me supervise the tea room?” Hongye couldn’t believe it.

“Of course.” Qin Yuan said calmly.

In her previous life, Hongye was a capable general by her side.

“What about me?” Cui Ming came over and asked.

“You’ll be in charge of the sewing room.”

Qin Yuan stretched lazily, squinted his eyes in satisfaction, and said, “Get familiar with it first, there will be a lot to take care of in the future. Teach those little maids who were reported yesterday first, and pick out a few good ones from them.”

Before Hongye and Cuiming could be happy, the sound of porcelain slamming heavily on the blue brick floor suddenly came from the side room, followed by the shocked and angry voice of Lord Gu: “How could such a thing happen!”

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(End of this chapter)