My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Don’t Be Kept in the Dark

Qin Yuan hadn’t spoken yet.

Mrs. Cui first nudged Qin Wan with her finger.

The women heard the sound and each had their own thoughts, looking towards Qin Yuan’s expression. Qin Wan, covering her head adorned with golden hairpins and silver ornaments, looked puzzled and called out, ”Mother, why did you poke me? I’m just concerned about my sister. We’re all family here; what’s there that can’t be said? If my sister is really unhappy, she can speak it out and we can all help with advice. That’s better than her brooding alone.”

Mrs. Cui: ”...”

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed lightly a few times, ”Mother poked you for your own good, dear sister. The Marquis Mansion isn’t a small household; how could a new bride be allowed to manage the household immediately? Before the Marquis married, wasn’t it natural for the Sixth Madam to assist the Old Madam with the household? You’re married now; it’s not like being at home.”

Qin Wan, married into a small household: ”...”

Qin Yuan again inquired, ”But has the Lin Family allowed you to manage household duties these days?”

Qin Wan’s expression changed, ”Certainly not.”

”Oh?” Qin Yuan didn’t believe it and replied in a meaningful tone.

Both Mrs. Cui and Qin Wan blushed.

Before everyone arrived, Qin Wan had already bragged to Mrs. Cui about how at home, everyone obeyed her commands about what to eat or use; she found it quite satisfying.

Qin Yuan then said, ”Sister may not know where these rumors came from, but they aren’t wrong. The Marquis brought back a woman from the battlefield, along with a pair of dragon-phoenix twins.” 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Qin Wan grew lively again, her face concerned yet secretly pleased, asking, ”Sister, what do you plan to do about it?”

”What to do? Just let them live in the Marquis Mansion. Her husband is the Marquis’s benefactor.”

One sentence drew praise and admiration from the crowd.

Qin Wan: ”Heh.”

She had a look of being the only sober one while others were drunk, which greatly irritated Mrs. Cui. She quietly threatened, ”Stop talking nonsense. If you cause trouble at this return banquet, not only will I not forgive you, but your father won’t either.”

Qin Wan immediately quieted down.

After all, Lin Ziqi hadn’t yet passed the advanced scholar exam and still needed her father’s guidance.

There was no rush to ridicule Qin Yuan at the moment.

Time reveals all, and the truth will come out in the end.

Qin Yuan didn’t let it go and took on the air of an elder sister, saying, ”It’s not that I’m criticizing you. The Lin Family may have few people, but there’s still your mother-in-law above you. As a new bride, why aren’t you properly serving your mother-in-law and husband, instead of prying into these matters?”

Qin Wan was at a loss for words.

Mrs. Cui chuckled along, ”She overheard it on the way and mentioned it out of concern for you. Your sister has been pampered since she was little; you, as her elder sister, should guide her more.”

Seeing the glance from her mother, Qin Wan had no choice but to whisper, ”Mother is right.”

Only then did Qin Yuan let her go. Amid the envious gazes of the crowd, she handed the return gift list from the Marquis Mansion to Mrs. Cui.

”The Marquis Mansion sure does things in style; even the return gift list is this thick.”

”This marriage of the grand-niece is indeed excellent. The Dingbei Marquis title is hereditary, truly a wealth beyond measure.”

The crowd was envious, showering compliments as if they cost nothing, one after another.

Mrs. Cui looked at the gift list, secretly astonished, and asked, ”Why are the gifts so elaborate?”

Qin Yuan smiled and said, ”Mother, this gift list was personally prepared by the Old Madam, and she even asked if the Marquis and I wanted to add more. Perhaps it’s due to the high regard for the Qin Family.”

Mrs. Cui laughed, her eyes somewhat complex.

To receive a return gift arranged by the Old Madam personally showed that Qin Yuan was deeply favored by her mother-in-law.

The women of this world, even without their husband’s love, having the approval of their in-laws, their status is secure.

”Give birth to a Princely Heir early, and life will be stable afterward.”

Mrs. Cui advised Qin Yuan.

Qin Wan watched with a sour heart.

In her past life, her mother-in-law disliked her, and she quarreled with her husband. Just days into the marriage, she couldn’t see him, was constantly made difficult by people, and mocked for being petty and insignificant.

Even the servants of the Marquis Mansion fawned on the powerful and bullied her in secret.

Qin Yuan made her seem like a joke.

This life, although husband and wife were harmonious, the return gift was managed by her personally using her dowry. Mrs. Lin said nothing but showed her displeasure clearly on her face.

Qin Wan suddenly felt like crying.

At this moment, maids and nannies entered in a line, setting up the banquet. Everyone took their seats, clinking glasses amidst laughter and joy.

Qin Yuan, esteemed as the Marchioness, naturally was the center of attention, while Qin Wan, usually regarded as the Qin Family’s phoenix, sat gloomily to the side, disheartened by the flattery and compliments filling the air.

Even Mrs. Cui, though lifted by the praise, sighed secretly.

If she hadn’t been confused back then, the one being praised and adored would have been her daughter.

But what use is it talking about this now?

After the banquet, everyone felt a bit stifled indoors and got up to stroll and digest in the courtyard of the Qin Family.

The Qin Mansion was small, and the front yard now had male guests, making it inconvenient to visit, so they gathered in small groups in the back courtyard to chat.

Qin Yuan was chatting with her second aunt when Qin Wan approached again, saying, ”Sister, I heard outside rumors say...”

The second aunt was talking about her son, Si Yuan’s studies, but was interrupted and had to stop awkwardly.

Qin Yuan glanced sideways at Qin Wan.

Qin Wan, not regarding this relative staying as a guest, continued on her own, ”That woman the Marquis brought back is surnamed Zhao, they call her Lady Zhao. Ostensibly mourning her husband, she is actually greatly favored by the Marquis. The Marquis plans to give her a status after marriage. That pair of twins might even be the Marquis’s children.”

The second aunt’s face turned red and green, feeling embarrassed for Qin Yuan and angry at Qin Wan’s lack of manners, putting herself in a position to hear such nonsense, sullying her ears.

Qin Yuan sneered coldly, ”Today is a good day for the return banquet, I don’t want to upset the harmony with you, causing discontent for mother and father. If you had any sense, you wouldn’t speak such nonsense.”

Qin Wan retorted in anger, ”I’m just looking out for you. Why pretend that both the Old Madam and the Marquis hold you in high regard? Lady Zhao and those twins are no good. I’m kindly warning you, lest the Marquis takes her as a concubine and you stay in the dark.”

She had drunk a bit, and with the wind outside and being provoked by Qin Yuan, she was quite headstrong.

The Qin Family’s back courtyard was small; although the women hadn’t approached, they were all looking in this direction, listening closely.

Qin Yuan secured such a good marriage; they were happy for her, and it gave them face to talk about it outside, but deep down they secretly hoped that Qin Yuan wasn’t as glamorous as she seemed outside.

The second grandmother was caught in between, at a loss.

Qin Yuan glanced around and said sternly, ”The Marquis told me personally that Lady Zhao’s husband shielded him from harm at the Northern Border. The Marquis looks after them to repay the favor. The Marquis is a man of feelings and integrity; how could he do such sordid things? Those twins are children of the Marquis’s benefactor and are treated as his own. Lady Zhao is still in mourning; whoever spreads such rumors outside tarnishes the name of the Marquis Mansion and has ulterior motives.”

Qin Wan’s face flushed red, unable to reply.

Qin Yuan added, ”Next time, if you hear such gossip again, send them to the Marquis Mansion, and I’ll be sure to thank you properly.”

Hardly had the words fallen when a male voice came from the second gate, ”Yuan’er is right. We, husband and wife, share the same mind.”