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

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: So-Called Upright Gentleman

Qin Yuan was not surprised when she heard the news.

Hong Ye said, ”The Sixth Lady Gu, under the guise of gathering pepper for her natal family, wants them to contribute shares to win people over. It’s truly despicable.”

Clearly, this matter was initiated by our own lady, but now it’s been hijacked by the Sixth Lady Gu, how shameless.

Qin Yuan glanced at Hong Ye and said, ”Are you trying to stop others from making money?”

Hong Ye was at a loss for words.

Sixth Lady Gu’s nauseating nature is exactly like this.

”It’s outrageous.”

Hong Ye retorted angrily.

If this matter were taken to the Old Madam, there would be no resolution, and we might even be called petty and envious of others’ success.

Qin Yuan said, ”Calm down, tell them privately that if they want to withdraw their shares, they may. I’m not even sure if I can get the pepper.”

Hong Ye: ”...”

Cui Ming, upon hearing this, laughed, ”How can you not see through it, haven’t you forgotten the young lady’s backup plan? The more shares she distributes, the more she loses... The more people who withdraw their shares from our side, the more they’ll regret it in the future.”

Hong Ye was finally pleased, waiting to see the joke.

Main room.

Old Madam Gu complained to Nanny Rong, ”That Sixth Elder doesn’t even care that his own child is sick, yet insists on going to Yu Yuantang to form a club. This brat is a disaster; one day I won’t hold back from giving him a beating. The house is in chaos, and he’s still going out to play.”

Nanny Rong said, ”I heard it’s because Young Master Qin is going, and Sixth Master has been clamoring to go for a while. Just as their children fell ill, the Imperial Physician said they should be isolated and cared for separately. He usually dotes on the children, maybe he thought he couldn’t help much.”

And then said in a lower voice, ”Anyway, the common folks worship the Measles Goddess and separate husband and wife, so it’s good for Sixth Master to go out and form a club.”

Upon hearing that Sixth Master Gu was going out to form a club with Young Master Qin, Old Madam Gu’s expression improved slightly, ”Then it’s acceptable, I was worried he was hanging out with those scholars who’d cheat him of his happiness and money, ignoring his child’s illness. His brother is fretting over other matters now, he can’t manage right now, but if he finds out in the future, he’ll definitely settle old and new scores.”

Nanny Rong silently noted, wasn’t it just now you were threatening to beat him, wondering if it’s because you think that once you’ve beaten the Marquis, you’d stop? No, the Marquis would only beat him harder.

Gu Jingjun, however, had no idea his home was in turmoil. Early in the morning, he had already left as scheduled, first going to the Qin Family’s entrance to wait for Qin Siyuan.

When he saw Qin Siyuan coming out from the side door, he couldn’t help but praise, ”Worthy brother, you are indeed a man of talent and appearance.”

A man dresses his best like a horse wears its best saddle, Qin Siyuan was dressed newly today in top-quality fabric, looking even more dazzling.

Qin Siyuan laughed, ”You look good too.”

Gu Jingjun was somewhat smug, ”As I was to accompany you, I even had someone rush to make a suit for me, luckily, otherwise, standing next to you, I’d be overshadowed.”

Qin Siyuan couldn’t help but laugh.

How to describe Sixth Master Gu’s character, call him a playboy but he doesn’t indulge in cockfights or dog races, he associates mostly with scholars. Call him ambitious, yet he enjoys lake tours and consorting with prostitutes, without a slight bit of academic success despite his age.

Therefore, most serious scholars detest him for being unlearned and unskilled.

Yet Qin Siyuan found this person straightforward and interesting.

”You truly enjoy my company.”

”Of course, I liked you from the first time we met, unlike those scholars around me, you’re truly talented.”

”What about Brother Ziqi?”

”Ziqi and I met by chance, and when we started chatting, we realized he is my third sister-in-law’s brother-in-law. Although I interact with him a lot, our rapport wasn’t as immediate as with you.”

Qin Siyuan smiled.

Sixth Master Gu clearly judges by appearance; both he and Lin Ziqi were related to Qin Yuan, comparable in talent, but in terms of looks, Lin Ziqi does not match up to him.

In this, Sixth Master Gu and Old Madam Gu were quite similar.

The two sat in the Gu Family’s carriage and headed to the agreed location, checking the hour, it was nearly time.

After waiting a while, Lin Ziqi also arrived.

Seeing Lin Ziqi also dressed anew, Qin Siyuan smiled slightly.

No wall is impenetrable by wind, just as the little sister knows, so does Lin Ziqi.

Lin Ziqi, seeing Qin Siyuan also wearing new attire of superior fabric, was momentarily stunned before smiling, ”Siyuan, you both came early.”

Sixth Master Gu laughed, ”Ziqi, I went to pick up Siyuan.”

Lin Ziqi: ”...”

Why favored him over me?

These two hadn’t thought to pick him up as well.

Seeing his reaction, Qin Siyuan smiled, ”I went to the Marquis Mansion to see the little sister and ran into Sixth Master, who casually mentioned it, so we agreed to come together.”

”Oh,” the expression on Lin Ziqi’s face improved slightly.

Gu Jingjun also realized something and said, ”Right, right, it was an instant connection with Siyuan, I never expected that my third sister-in-law’s family members are all such talented individuals.”

Lin Ziqi gave Gu Jingjun a complex glance and smiled, ”Your third sister-in-law is also a talented woman, she once...”

Qin Siyuan immediately said solemnly, ”Ziqi, it is inappropriate to discuss household matters about womenfolk in public, best to avoid it.”

Lin Ziqi felt slightly embarrassed.

Gu Jingjun was also stunned, and after a while, sincerely said to Qin Siyuan, ”Your advice is correct, I won’t ask Ziqi about his third sister-in-law anymore.”

He liked hearing Lin Ziqi talk about Qin Yuan, which was the reason for his growing closeness to Lin Ziqi.

In time, it seemed talking about the third sister-in-law became a usual topic between them.

If Qin Siyuan hadn’t pointed it out, he wouldn’t have realized he made such a mistake.

Lin Ziqi was related by an engagement to the third sister-in-law, and he was the brother-in-law, situations involving forbidden boundaries should be avoided.

Glancing at Lin Ziqi’s displeased expression, Qin Siyuan said to Gu Jingjun, ”Recognizing and correcting mistakes is commendable, we are all family, it’s nothing really, I’m just worried about outsiders hearing and spreading it. The little sister is known for her knowledge and talent, I’m deeply impressed, if she were a man, she would surely make the golden list, but unlike other ladies, she dislikes flaunting her talents in front of others, so we best mention her less often.”

Gu Jingjun nodded and sighed.

Lin Ziqi knowingly asked, ”What’s the matter?”

Gu Jingjun lowered his eyes, suppressing the bitterness inside, ”I’m sighing that despite reading from a young age, I haven’t achieved any academic success, while the two of you are soon to take the advanced scholar exams, and once your names are on the golden list, the gap between us will only widen.”

Lin Ziqi said, ”As the saying goes, ’Acquire martial skills to sell to the imperial family,’ you were born as a son of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, already having what we aspire to, why envy us scholars who haven’t even gained a single official position?”

This did not cheer Gu Jingjun up.

Seeing his long eyelashes tremble slightly, Qin Siyuan couldn’t help feeling sympathetic, encouraging him, ”Brother Gu, if you’re so concerned, why not focus on studying hard and earn a degree?”

Lin Ziqi inwardly chuckled.

Gu Jingjun is known for being all show and no substance. Telling him to study diligently for a degree—isn’t that a joke?

If in this lifetime, he can even manage to become a scholar, it would be impressive.

Gu Jingjun asked hesitantly, ”Do you really think I can?”

Qin Siyuan nodded emphatically, ”Certainly.”

Gu Jingjun was delighted, growing even closer to Qin Siyuan, while Lin Ziqi’s eyes were filled with shadows, this Qin Siyuan seemed upright and gentlemanly but knew how to pander to others’ preferences.

Shameful, despicable!