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

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Need to Find a Way to Make Her Change

Marquis Gu quickly laughed and said, ”Nanny, what kind of joke are you making? Yuan’er is gentle by nature, how could she have a dispute with Seventh Sister or Sixth Sister-in-law?”

Upon hearing this, Nanny Rong couldn’t help but laugh and quickly said, ”Marquis, listen to the little girl imitate it once, and you’ll understand. I’m not here to complain.”

Only then did Marquis Gu feel halfway relieved. He placed the food box on the table and opened it to find a bowl of lotus seed soup. It seemed Nanny Rong’s real intention wasn’t to deliver things but to let him hear what Qin Yuan had to say.

He turned his face and nodded his chin at the little maidservant, his long narrow eyes slightly squinted, ”Go ahead.”

Because of her good memory, the little maidservant today showed her face well in front of the master. Hearing the marquis’s order, she was even more cautious, repeating word by word and even mimicking everyone’s tone.

After listening, Marquis Gu’s face cleared up, and he happily praised, ”There is such a clever little girl in the main house.”

Nanny Rong laughed and said, ”If the marquis likes her, just ask the Old Madam for her. Wutong Garden still has many unfilled positions; this girl has a good memory and is clever, sure to be useful in the future.”

The little maidservant blinked her eyes, looking at Marquis Gu with a face full of expectation.

Gu Jinghui refused, ”I’ve never had a maidservant serve me. This requires my wife to take a look. If she likes her, let her keep her by her side.”

Nanny Rong was somewhat surprised.

Gu Jinghui explained, ”Matters of the inner household are controlled by my wife; it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to intervene.”

Do not suspect people, and trust those you employ.

Qin Yuan hasn’t made any errors managing Wutong Garden, so he shouldn’t meddle.

Nanny Rong then said, ”Well, the marquis should ask your wife when convenient.”

Gu Jinghui asked, ”Who is this little maidservant to Nanny?”

”She’s the daughter of the Old Sun Family, just chosen from the estate.”

Gu Jinghui nodded, ”Old Sun, I know, the most honest. Yet, he managed to raise such a clever child.”

He then asked the little maidservant, ”What is your name? How old are you? Have you studied? Can you read?”

The little maidservant promptly responded, ”Responding to the marquis, my name is Xiao Hong, eight years old, have not studied, grandfather taught me to recognize about a hundred characters.”

The maidservant knowing this many characters is sufficient.

Gu Jinghui instructed, ”When my wife goes to the main house, be alert, understand?”

”Understood.”

Gu Jinghui glanced at Gu Shiliu.

Gu Shiliu quickly took out a piece of broken silver and handed it to the little maidservant, ”The marquis rewards you.”

The little maidservant didn’t take it, first looking at Nanny Rong, and only took it after seeing her nod, then skillfully knelt and lowered her head to Gu Jinghui, ”Thank you for the reward, marquis.”

”This manner was done well,” Gu Jinghui praised the little girl again before saying to Nanny Rong, ”I understand Mother’s intentions. Yuan’er is still young; in the future, I’ll have to trouble Mother to take care of her and protect her more.”

Nanny Rong showed a look of comfort.

With Marquis Gu saying this, her visit was not in vain.

Marquis Gu continued, ”In the future, I’ll often go to the Great Camp outside the city; matters at home will require Mother to pay more attention. Nothing more needs to be done, just watch her closely. If disobedient servants in the mansion step out of line, with Mother’s influence, they’re more likely to be considerate.”

Nanny Rong agreed, then took Xiao Hong to kowtow to Qin Yuan. Unfortunately, Qin Yuan had gone to Songtao Pavilion to discuss matters with Sixth Madam, so they didn’t meet her.

Marquis Gu let go of his relaxed expression, darkened his face, and asked Gu Shiliu, ”Did you previously say that the rumors all originated from the mansion?”

Gu Shiliu nodded.

Gu Jinghui angrily said, ”I said it was peaceful at the Northern Border, so why did this spread as soon as I returned? Lady Zhao even remarked that the Northern Border’s customs are open, with fewer taboos between men and women, whereas the Capital City is overly concerned, causing this. It now seems that this is clearly someone’s deliberate plan. Investigate; I want you to look deeper and find out whose people are spreading it.”

If not for Qin Yuan’s reminder, he wouldn’t know that his own garden fence had already slackened.

Gu Shiliu hesitated to speak.

Gu Jinghui’s sharp gaze swept over, ”What haven’t you said?”

”Have you forgotten, Master? Previously, didn’t you instruct me to find out what Lady Zhao and the wife said on the wedding day.”

Gu Jinghui paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, ”I remember this matter, then things kept coming up, so I didn’t ask you again.”

Gu Shiliu repeated what he had heard.

Gu Jinghui’s face grew darker and darker.

”No wonder, no wonder...”

Gu Jinghui muttered to himself and finally sighed, ”But I always have to consider Brother Cheng and Sister Yu...”

”Don’t look at the monk, look at the Buddha.”

For the sake of the deceased benefactor, the two children as dear to him as his own, he has to let Lady Zhao have her way.

It involves the master’s family affairs, so Gu Shiliu dared not speak much, only standing quietly waiting for the marquis’s instructions.

After a long while, Gu Jinghui finally said with difficulty, ”The matter of the other night, keep it tightly under wraps, do not let my wife hear about it, so that she doesn’t harbor resentment.”

Gu Shiliu got a jolt.

If the marquis hadn’t instructed him, he wouldn’t dare speak of it; now with another reminder, he wouldn’t even dare talk in his sleep.

Indeed...

The Old Madam was furious upon hearing of it.

Not to mention the wife.

Gu Shiliu also felt sorry for the marquis.

”What if Lady Zhao sends someone to find the marquis again?”

Gu Jinghui paused, incredulous, ”She could still send someone?”

Gu Shiliu replied, ”With bones broken but tendons still attached, if Brother Cheng and Sister Yu want to see the marquis, will the marquis go or not?”

The two children are so small, and their mother will always be with them. If the marquis goes, how could he not encounter Lady Zhao.

Gu Jinghui frowned in disgust.

”Why are women’s matters more difficult than fighting a war?”

Gu Shiliu said, ”My old mother says that women’s affairs should be handled by women; men don’t understand, better to leave it to the wife.”

”Absolutely not.”

Gu Jinghui shook his head.

”When I go to the Great Camp, I’ll consult a few think tanks.”

He doesn’t understand, but he can ask.

Those Assistant Generals around him have been married for many years, knowledgeable about the art of managing wives, some having married seven or eight concubines, yet the family is harmonious.

Now is the time for them to show their skills.

Gu Shiliu only felt it was unreliable.

But Gu Jinghui had already put the matter aside, saying, ”Sixteen, you also heard how my wife defended me in front of others.”

Gu Shiliu nodded, ”The wife is supportive of the marquis, not allowing anyone to talk recklessly.”

”Yes, on the surface she’s indifferent about where I go, but actually she’s very concerned,” Gu Jinghui couldn’t help sharing with Gu Shiliu, ”Once you have a family, you’ll understand.”

Gu Shiliu: ”...”

Gu Jinghui went on, ”Mother is still too soft-hearted towards Seventh Sister, with her current behavior, how will she manage in the future? How can her in-laws and husband tolerate her? We must think of a way to help her change her attitude.”