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

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Then Let’s Come Up with a Plan for Her

Qin Yuan didn’t explain and simply smiled, saying, ”I have my own discretion. This item is valuable, but I’m afraid it will become even more valuable in the future, priceless.”

Cui Ming and Hong Ye had nothing to say and could only listen.

The next day, Qin Yuan went early to the main house to pay her respects. This time, Sixth Madam Gu arrived a bit late, her eyelids swollen, her complexion sallow, and her expression listless, as if she hadn’t slept well all night.

Checking accounts with the housekeeper shouldn’t be this exhausting.

They weren’t very familiar with each other, so there was no need to ask too much. Qin Yuan simply said, ”Sixth Sister-in-law must have had a hard time yesterday.”

Sixth Madam Gu gathered her spirits and replied, ”Last night I finished checking the accounts with the housekeepers. Seeing that it was getting late, I decided not to bother you further. This morning, they should all be heading to Wutong Garden to seek you out.”

To be fair, Sixth Madam Gu was thorough in her actions.

Qin Yuan praised her, saying, ”Sixth Sister-in-law, you’re truly meticulous. I still have much to learn from you in the future.”

”I don’t mind if Third Sister laughs at me,” Sixth Madam Gu said sincerely, ”I’ve learned all these things from Old Madam.”

”Before you arrived, Third Sister, it was just the mother-in-law and me in the household. Third Brother was at the Northern Border for years, and we didn’t know when he’d return to marry and have children. Old Madam taught me how to manage the household, and after stumbling through the years, I’ve only just managed to get the hang of it.”

The implication was that managing the household wasn’t easy, and Qin Yuan still had a lot to learn at her young age.

Sixth Madam Gu continued, ”Old Madam used to long for Third Uncle’s return to the capital, and after Third Brother’s triumphant return, she longed for him to marry. Now that Third Sister is here, Old Madam probably longs for a grandson.”

This was to tell her that having children was the priority, and managing the household could come later.

Qin Yuan just smiled silently with her head lowered.

For a new bride, this reaction was only natural.

Old Madam Gu, supported by Qiujie, walked out and smiled, ”You two came early today. What were you talking about?”

The two quickly paid their respects and then sat down in order.

Sixth Madam Gu said, ”I was just talking to Third Sister about the housekeeper ladies and remembering how I learned to manage the household from Mother, made many mistakes, and suffered a lot back then. Now, I’m just barely managing it.”

Old Madam Gu was moved and nodded, ”It’s thanks to you that this old woman could enjoy these few years of happiness.”

Sixth Madam Gu added, ”I was also saying how Mother used to long for the Marquis’s return and his marriage, and now she must be longing for him to have children soon.”

Qin Yuan’s eyelid twitched slightly.

This underhanded tactic was crude and direct yet very effective.

Sixth Master Gu was a year younger than Gu Jinghui, and the two eldest were already studying at the Imperial College.

How could Old Madam not be anxious?

If Old Madam urged her to have children, she wouldn’t support her in managing the household.

Qin Yuan was in no hurry to consummate the marriage or have children, but she couldn’t say that.

As expected, Old Madam Gu looked at Qin Yuan with a more eager gaze and said with a smile, ”I see that Yuan’er has a face suited for having sons, but children are a matter of fate, and we can’t rush it.”

The son hadn’t consummated the marriage with his bride; impatience wouldn’t help.

Old Madam could only silently curse her unruly son for being irresponsible. If they had consummated on their wedding night, there might already be a child on the way.

Qin Yuan kept her head lowered, feigning shyness, and fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand, saying, ”Mother and Sister-in-law, why discuss these things that only make one blush? The Marquis is healthy, and I had my pulse checked before marriage. If children are meant to be, they’ll come in time.”

She had made up her mind to secure control of the household management before considering anything else.

In her past life, Gu Jinghui hadn’t had children, and she didn’t know why. If she waited to have children with Gu Jinghui before taking control of the household, it might never happen.

Old Madam Gu laughed heartily, ”Alright, alright, you’re shy. We won’t talk about it.”

Sixth Madam Gu had strategized overnight but didn’t expect Old Madam to have this attitude.

She couldn’t quite grasp Old Madam’s intentions.

She forced a smile and said, ”Mother is right, there’s plenty of time.”

The three chatted for a while, and then Qin Yuan said, ”Yuan’er needs to go to the shop to check the accounts today. If Mother has any snacks or items she wants, just let Yuan’er know, and I’ll run errands for you to show my filial piety.”

Old Madam Gu laughed and said, ”It’s good for you to check the dowry shop’s accounts and practice. The shopkeepers are all older than you, so you’ll need to put in a lot of effort to gain their respect. Don’t worry about buying things for me.”

Hearing from Nanny Rong that her son was attentive to Qin Yuan and protected her in every way, Old Madam Gu grew fonder of her.

The young couple was affectionate, and children were a matter of time.

Sixth Madam Gu felt a twinge of jealousy.

Old Madam Gu added, ”When you return, have someone buy some Furong Cake from Meixiang House. The Marquis liked it as a child.”

Qin Yuan agreed.

The two sisters-in-law left the main house together, and Sixth Madam Gu asked with a smile, ”Why doesn’t Third Sister accompany the Marquis? The Marquis has been in Wutong Garden these days, and Third Sister is always out. I hear the Marquis will be staying at the Great Camp outside the city soon. Is it true?”

Qin Yuan replied, ”Men have their own matters; I can’t cling to him and risk him finding me bothersome.”

Sixth Madam Gu couldn’t help but laugh, ”With Sister-in-law’s beauty, if the Marquis finds you bothersome, he’d be unappreciative of his good fortune.”

The words had a teasing undertone, but Qin Yuan chose not to respond, merely blushing and lowering her head with a smile, ”I’m afraid the housekeeper mothers will soon be heading to Wutong Garden. I’ll head back first.”

Watching Qin Yuan’s graceful figure disappear amidst the lush green trees, Sixth Madam Gu withdrew her gaze and said to her close nanny, ”She’s truly elusive; I can’t get anything out of her.”

The close nanny nodded, ”At such a young age, her words are impermeable.”

Sixth Madam Gu paused for a moment, then remarked with a smile, ”From her figure, she seems like a maiden still. Although we can’t get information from Wutong Garden, Fengxuan Pavilion is like a sieve. I heard Lady Zhao has been anxious and ill these past two days. Isn’t that a coincidence?”

The close nanny sneered, ”That woman has been trying hard to latch onto the Marquis. After all this time, the new Marchioness cleverly hasn’t let her even touch an inch of her clothes. She must be out of ideas now.”

”Then let’s help her come up with ideas.”

The close nanny hesitated to speak.

Sixth Madam Gu asked, ”Are you thinking of persuading me again?”

”This old servant understands Madam’s difficulties, but I heard Gu Shiliu recently has been snooping around the estate, asking who’s been gossiping.”

”Then it’s all the more reason to let the woman named Zhao make a fuss.”

Sixth Madam Gu sneered, ”You can’t blame me for this. Instead of learning to serve her husband and mother-in-law properly, she only wants to compete with me for control of the household. I won’t hand it over easily.”

”Yesterday, Sixth Master returned from some pleasure house and ran into Gu Cheng. After being flattered a bit, he asked me to arrange a position for him. When I was slow to respond, he went to Aunt Zheng. If I were to relinquish power, what good days would I have left?”