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

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: What Exactly Is the Plan

Qin Yuan’s clever eyes observed Doctor Li’s expression, not missing a single change on his face.

In her past life, she learned that the Chen family had descendants almost ten years later.

This time, she hopes to learn about it earlier from Doctor Li.

In her past life, when the old man told her, he was already at his last breath, he only managed to tell her that the Chen family had descendants, but not where they were, and then he was gone.

Doctor Li’s eyes crinkled into chrysanthemums, he squinted with a smile and sighed, ”Ah... now that you have a solid backing, your heart has grown bigger too. You’re still a newlywed...”

The implication was that she should first establish herself in the Marquis Mansion before considering other matters.

Qin Yuan wanted to say more, but the little medicine boy walked in to pour tea, smiled, and bowed, ”The Marchioness has arrived.”

The little medicine boy had been following Doctor Li to learn medicine since he could walk, and had met Qin Yuan numerous times at Renhe Hall.

Doctor Li laughed and said, ”Didn’t you use to call her Sister Yuan? Why did you change how you address her now?”

The little medicine boy was taken aback and said in surprise, ”Wasn’t it you who said so? Sister Yuan’s situation is different now, she’s become a noble, I must change how I address her.”

”Pfft,” Qin Yuan laughed out loud, and said, ”Xiao Dong, Uncle Li is teasing me. You should call me Madam in front of others, but still call me Sister Yuan in private.”

In her previous life, after just returning to the Capital City with Lin Ziqi, Doctor Li left abruptly. This child wasn’t by her side, and she hastily arranged the funeral, only to learn later that Xiao Dong was ambitious and got into the Imperial Hospital to become an Imperial Physician. But unfortunately, he was sent to Yu Hang County, where an epidemic was rampant and died there.

Qin Yuan, having lived another lifetime, realized that the many kindnesses Doctor Li showed her in the past life were not without reason.

All because Doctor Li had deep ties with the Chen family.

In her past life, when she followed Lin Ziqi outside the Capital, she was busy squeezing her brain to make money and scheming against Mrs. Lin; she also had to offer advice and solve problems for Lin Ziqi, leaving no energy to think about them.

Now, as Doctor Li said, she is already a noble, backed by the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, and everything she wants to do is simple.

Xiao Dong had a clean and likable appearance, with a small dimple at the corner of his mouth. Upon hearing this, he promptly called out, ”Sister Yuan.”

Qin Yuan took out a heavy pocket and handed it to him, ”Take it and buy some sweets.”

Xiao Dong glanced at Doctor Li.

Doctor Li’s eyes were full of emotion, with a flash of brightness passing through, he nodded and said, ”Take it, your sister is giving it to you, how can you not take it.”

Only then did Xiao Dong take it and obediently retreated to the door to speak with Cui Ming and Hong Ye.

Doctor Li asked her, ”Has the Marquis recovered?”

”Of course, the herbal plaster recipe passed down in the Chen family, and he only had a superficial wound. He was up and about within a couple of days, and recently went with two Princesses to Dazao Temple to pray for blessings.”

Doctor Li frowned, ”Why do I get the feeling that you are unhappy about his quick recovery? What’s worrying you? Why not wait until you’re not worried anymore, then think bigger.”

Qin Yuan rolled her eyes with a smile, ”Did you hear something outside?”

”Aren’t the rumors outside saying that the Marquis and that woman surnamed Zhao... hmph!”

Doctor Li swallowed the remainder of his words, taking a heavy sip of tea.

Renhe Hall wasn’t notable, and he was just a doctor, Qin Yuan was the daughter of the National Academy Sacrificial Officer, his care for her was already somewhat inappropriate.

Now that Qin Yuan has become the Dingbei Marquis’s wife, some words were even harder to say.

Qin Yuan was not offended, speaking nonchalantly, ”It seems it’s easy to spread rumors, but hard to dispel them. Spreading a rumor takes just a mouth, but dispelling it requires wearing out one’s legs. Lady Zhao is the widow of the Marquis’s benefactor, her two children have recognized the Marquis as a godfather and are living in the Marquis Mansion. The Marquis has been busy discussing rewards and accolades with the Ministry of Revenue since returning to the Capital City, and hasn’t had time to pay attention. Recently, he sent someone to Jizhou to look for Lady Zhao’s family to care for her and the children. The Marquis even said, that if Lady Zhao doesn’t want to keep vigil, he would prepare a generous dowry, and oversee the future of the two children.”

”However...” Qin Yuan thought for a moment and lowered her voice, ”some matters aren’t baseless, just flowers falling with intention, but water flowing without sentiment. Uncle Li, rest assured, I have a plan in mind.”

By her detailed recount, Doctor Li’s expression improved somewhat and he asked again, ”So, what are your plans?”

Qin Yuan said, ”Previously, I held onto those prescriptions tightly, not daring to expand much. My father’s reputation may be loud, but he is just a small fifth-rank official. Although we are under the Emperor’s nose, the powerful nobles roam freely. If someone wanted to seize forcefully, I could do nothing about it. Not to mention, if exposed, it couldn’t be easily explained to my father and stepmother.”

The implication being, now that she has the Dingbei Marquis Mansion as backing, and she’s already married, there’s nothing she’s afraid to do.

Doctor Li glanced at her and said, ”In the end, you’re still fortunate.”

Qin Yuan nodded heavily, ”Indeed I am.”

Marrying into the Marquis Mansion through unforeseen circumstances spared her the struggle of climbing from the bottom, with a benevolent and kind mother-in-law, and a Marquis who didn’t stop her from doing things, she truly is fortunate.

Doctor Li seemed to think of something, saying, ”Your grandfather accumulated virtues and benevolence, saving countless lives. This is what you deserve.”

Qin Yuan fell silent.

Doctor Li then asked, ”I’ve heard you’re looking for pepper everywhere?”

Qin Yuan was puzzled, ”How did you know?”

”What is there not to know? The word is out there, saying the Marquis Mansion can’t compete with Prince Qi Mansion, they’ve gone out of town to inquire.”

Doctor Li spoke lightly, but Qin Yuan understood, he was concerned for her, and who knows how much effort he secretly put in.

Qin Yuan said, ”Yes, if Uncle Li has money in hand, why not invest with me, I’ll help you make a big profit. Not just for your own sake, but for Xiao Dong, you should be more considerate. Living in the Capital City isn’t easy, Xiao Dong will have to get married and have children to care for Uncle Li one day.”

Doctor Li chuckled and said, ”Those selling pepper say they don’t know why, Prince Qi Mansion is raising the price but won’t collect them, nor allow them to sell to others. There are rumors that big merchants have gone out to sea to find pepper, when it arrives the price will drop significantly, what profit are you talking about?”

Qin Yuan just smiled, ”Uncle Li, trust me, I naturally have a way to make money. Let them find the pepper, it won’t be easy getting it in.”

Doctor Li squinted, his eyes like nails, firmly fixed on her, ”Really?”

”Of course,” Qin Yuan said seriously, ”I dreamt of it.”

Doctor Li: ”...”

Qin Yuan continued, ”The Marquis tried my herbal plaster, and praised it. I think, with the military training daily with real swords and spears, and playing polo and soccer, there will be plenty of opportunities to use this plaster. If the Marquis agrees, our Renhe Hall’s business will expand further.”

With such a tempting prospect ahead, Doctor Li gritted his teeth and agreed, ”Alright, I’ll invest with two hundred taels of silver, no more, I’m giving you my all.”

The money for a coffin and Xiao Dong’s dowry.

Qin Yuan smiled happily as she accepted the silver note worth two hundred taels from Doctor Li, saying, ”Uncle Li, regardless of how the pepper prices fluctuate in the Capital City, I can guarantee you’ll earn at least two hundred taels of silver.”

Doctor Li watched Qin Yuan’s pocket, where the silver note was stored, with heartbreak but made no sound.

After leaving Renhe Hall, Qin Yuan’s expression darkened.