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

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: All for Silver Rewards

Gu Shiliu hurriedly said, ”Master, how could Madam not have you in her heart?”

Gu Jinghui slowly put on his clothes, turned his head, and asked, ”Really?”

Gu Shiliu: ”...”

The Marquis always said Madam had him in her heart, so why was he asking now?

But he was clever, and immediately said earnestly, ”Really, I swear.”

”Then tell me, how does Madam have me in her heart?”

Gu Shiliu: ”...”

Too difficult.

Really.

Then, Gu Jinghui said, ”Speak well, and there will be a reward.”

Gu Shiliu immediately became spirited.

”Marquis, isn’t this obvious? Madam asks about your well-being every day. If that doesn’t mean she has you in her heart, what does?”

”Hmm, continue.”

”Madam also likes to visit Old Madam. My mother once said that being good to my grandmother is because she has my father in her heart. If Madam didn’t have you in her heart, how could she be so close to Old Madam? Whenever Old Madam sees Madam, she’s always happy.”

”Hmm, what else?”

Gu Jinghui thought it wasn’t enough.

”And... it’s just...” Gu Shiliu thought and then said, ”Didn’t Madam argue with Seventh Miss for your sake? Marquis, you must not let down Madam’s intentions. I think Madam and you are a perfect match, talented man and beautiful woman.”

Although he tried hard to suppress it, a smile still crept onto Gu Jinghui’s face and eyes, ”You’ve earned your reward.”

He casually took out a silver banknote and tossed it to Gu Shiliu.

Upon receiving it, Gu Shiliu’s face blossomed into a smile as well.

Qin Yuan woke from a nap to see Cui Ming and Hong Ye whispering together, both laughing heartily as if they had picked up a great deal.

”What’s going on?”

Hong Ye held a silver banknote and handed it to Qin Yuan, saying, ”Miss, this is Gu Shiliu’s banknote. He said he wants to buy pepper with us.”

Qin Yuan leaned lazily against the bolster, glanced at it through Hong Ye’s hand, and saw it was a fifty-tael banknote, enough to buy about a pound.

”Did Gu Shiliu give this to you?”

Hong Ye smiled, ”I just bumped into him staring intently at the banknote, nearly bumping into a pillar. So I asked a couple of questions. He received a reward from the Marquis and wants to save it for a marriage fund. I said Miss has a great eye and business acumen, never losing money in business. He then asked me to plead with Miss to include him.”

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle.

”Alright, you worked hard to bring me Sixteen’s reward money. I must let him earn enough for his marriage fund. The banknote wasn’t even warm in his hands before it reached yours; he’s not having it easy either.”

Cui Ming laughed and said, ”Miss, you should have seen how Hong Ye described Sixteen’s heartache.”

Hong Ye proudly said, ”Since ancient times, a glib tongue can defeat an army. Learning from Miss, I’ve acquired some skills too. Could Gu Shiliu resist? Sixteen isn’t foolish; once the money’s in his pocket, it could slip through his fingers. But when it comes to Miss, whether it’s a loss or gain, he’ll never lose.”

Qin Yuan said, ”You understand it well.”

Hong Ye asked, ”Miss, can I advance my monthly silver and join in?”

Qin Yuan said, ”Aren’t you afraid of losing?”

Hong Ye nonchalantly replied, ”Miss is planning to reward me several hundred taels of silver; why should I fear losing a few?”

Cui Ming hurriedly added, ”Miss, include me too.”

Qin Yuan nodded, ”Alright, Cui Ming, go get an account book solely for pepper transactions. We’ll record Old Madam, Nanny Rong, Gu Shiliu, you, and Hong Ye. Let’s set it up for dedicated funds and accounting. By year-end, you can decide whether to sell and split the silver or hold onto it, and then we’ll switch account books.”

Cui Ming happily nodded, fetching the account book, while Hong Ye ground the ink for her.

Hong Ye said, ”Why is your hand shaking?”

Cui Ming said, ”I’ve never made an account book for myself before.”

Hong Ye instructed, ”You should also write a receipt for me to give to Sixteen later.”

Cui Ming asked Qin Yuan, ”Should we seal the receipt?”

Qin Yuan nodded, ”Of course, even among close kin, accounts must be clear. I’ll do the same for Old Madam. Write everything down for me, I’ll stamp it, and you can seal it.”

The three of them chatted happily and soon finished with the account book. They agreed Cui Ming would keep and maintain the account book, Hong Ye would audit the accounts, and receipts would be kept with Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan gathered Old Madam and Nanny Rong’s receipts, placing them in her pocket, planning to hand them over during tomorrow’s greetings.

The curtain outside the corridor rustled, and a maid called softly from outside, ”Sister Hong Ye, Sixth Master has come to see the Marquis. The Marquis is still resting, what should we do?”

Hong Ye looked at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, ”Invite Sixth Master to have tea in the hall first. The Marquis has caught some heat in the main room today and is resting. If Sixth Master has no urgent matters, come tomorrow. If there’s something to discuss, please wait.”

She wasn’t sure if Gu Jinghui would see Sixth Master Gu.

The time they took a beating was kept tightly under wraps, but today Marquis Gu went to dine in the main room, so he was somewhat presentable.

The maid went to relay the message.

Soon, the maid returned, ”Sixth Master Gu is already seated in the hall. He says he has urgent news for the Marquis. I’ve also informed Gu Shiliu.”

Qin Yuan had met this younger uncle during the tea greeting, scholarly-looking, not as tall as Gu Jinghui, dressed in a scholar’s robe like those of the current era, with a thin belt around his waist, making him appear slim.

In her past life, Sixth Master Gu was not well-known, and Qin Yuan hadn’t noticed him, though Marquis Gu was childless, so the title should have been passed to Sixth Master Gu’s son.

Hong Ye had gathered quite a bit of gossip in the past two days and mentioned that Sixth Master Gu had five or six concubines, half of whom had given birth. The most favored one now was Aunt Zheng, a famous performer bought from a brothel, known for her charming eyes and dancing, spending quite a bit of silver.

”What could be so urgent that he needs to see the Marquis?”

Hong Ye murmured softly.

Soon, there was the sound of boots, followed by voices greeting each other.

Gu Jinghui was going to see Sixth Master Gu.

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, ”Help me change clothes. If the Marquis asks me to see Sixth Master, I should be prepared.”

Indeed, just as she finished freshening up and changing into guest attire, the maid outside said, ”Madam, the Marquis requests you to go to the hall to meet Sixth Master, as there’s something important to discuss.”

Hong Ye said, ”Miss, you’re as accurate as a fortune-teller.”

Qin Yuan said, ”It’s not hard. We haven’t been married long. Sixth Master coming to see the Marquis would naturally want to meet me.”

Sixth Master Gu was frail, enjoyed mingling with scholars, perhaps to feign sophistication, or maybe he still had aspirations for achieving fame. His two sons attended elementary at the Imperial College. Whether for himself or for his children’s futures, Sixth Master Gu would want to get close to her.

Old Madam Gu chose a Qin Family’s daughter as a daughter-in-law, also hoping to transform the family image, aiming for Gu Family descendants to pursue literary paths in the future.

Hong Ye asked, ”Can Miss guess what Sixth Master is here for?”