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

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: You Are the Dingbei Marquis

But since his third brother had already spoken, he had no way to avoid it.

He couldn’t really let his third sister-in-law handle it for him.

That would truly be unmanly.

Sixth Master Gu responded quietly, and Marquis Gu didn’t mind, saying, ”I know you’re not good at handling these matters, but you can’t always avoid them. Housekeeper Han and Housekeeper Cao are both clever people; with their help, you don’t need to worry.”

”Mm, I’ll listen to Third Brother.”

Sixth Master Gu perked up again.

Marquis Gu saw this and couldn’t help but sigh slightly in his heart.

Lunch was quickly served, and Gu Jinghui picked up his chopsticks and said, ”Let’s eat.”

Sixth Master Gu looked surprised, ”Third Brother, is this what you usually eat?”

What was on the table was much less than what he usually had for himself. Today, with the two male masters dining together, the kitchen dared to serve so little. What a bold move.

Sixth Master Gu suspected that Sixth Lady Gu was causing trouble again.

Marquis Gu focused on picking up dishes and said, ”The dishes I eat with your sister-in-law are more varied than this. She enjoys eating and has prepared quite a few dishes in the little kitchen. But she is also frugal, sharing the leftovers with the maidservants and servants.”

Sixth Master Gu grasped his chopsticks, hesitatingly said, ”Third Brother, you’re the Marquis, why do you subject yourself to this? It’s not like the mansion is running out of money. Could it be that Mrs. Xu is stirring up trouble again? Did you invite me to dine together to tell me that Mrs. Xu is up to mischief again? By rights, your share...”

Before he could finish, Marquis Gu interrupted.

”Sixth Brother, I’m used to the Northern Border. Normally, as long as there’s meat and vegetables, it’s fine. During wartime, the soldiers all eat the same, and we don’t have time for cooking. Even dry rations and meat can be wolfed down. In the Northern Border, sometimes you can get a mouthful of sand when eating, and in winter, I’ve even gulped down dry rations with snow. Eating delicacies now, what’s the hardship?”

Sixth Master Gu slightly parted his lips, unable to speak for a long time.

Impatiently, Gu Jinghui glanced at him, thinking to himself, look at this silly boy, he’s never been wise since childhood. Though he comforted verbally, ”If you think the dishes are too few, next time let them serve more, but you have to finish them and not waste them.”

Coming to his senses, Sixth Master Gu quickly explained, ”Third Brother, it’s not that I think the dishes are too few, but I feel for you, after all, you are the Dingbei Marquis.”

Gu Jinghui said, ”No need for your concern, your sister-in-law cares for me.”

Sixth Master Gu: ”...”

Better to just focus on eating.

After finishing the meal, Housekeeper Cao and Housekeeper Han arrived, and Gu Jinghui said, ”The Xu Family heard that Xu Zhen is missing, and they are clamoring to come to the Marquis Mansion, demanding us to compensate them with a legitimate daughter. You and Sixth Master should come up with a plan; when the male guests arrive, you should accompany Sixth Master to receive them, don’t let him suffer.”

Housekeeper Cao was not surprised.

Housekeeper Han frowned, saying, ”Just now the magistrate brought people over to investigate, the nanny on night duty saw Miss Xu leave through the side gate with her maidservant.”

”During the shift change?”

Sixth Master Gu asked in astonishment.

”Yes.”

Sixth Master Gu said, ”When I left, the nannies had already changed shifts. Why did Xu Zhen leave so early?”

Housekeeper Han’s eyebrows furrowed even tighter, confusedly asking, ”What is the Xu Family causing a ruckus about? Shouldn’t they send someone to discuss with us how to find her? If word got out, wouldn’t it ruin Miss Xu’s reputation?”

Sixth Master Gu frowned in distress, fanning himself absentmindedly.

Gu Jinghui lowered his eyelids, his expression stern, lost in thoughts.

Housekeeper Cao coughed softly a few times, saying, ”The Xu Family probably wants some silver. I wonder what agreement Sixth Madam made with the Xu Family when inviting Miss Xu?”

Sixth Master Gu’s face turned red, bowed his head, muttering under his breath, and cursing Sixth Lady Gu and the Xu Family as a bunch of scoundrels.

Gu Jinghui heard it all, frowning, said, ”Then discuss with Sixth Master to figure out what to do.”

Around the time of the end of the afternoon, the Xu Family really came, bringing a large group of people.

Hong Ye received the message and ran towards Wutong Garden. When Hong Mian saw her sprinting back, she asked in surprise, ”Sister Hong Ye, what’s the matter with you?”

Hong Ye replied, ”Big matter.” 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Before Hong Mian could ask further, Hong Ye was already gone like a whirlwind.

Hong Ye rushed into the house, finding Qin Yuan flipping through the medical book she brought from her family, and exclaimed loudly, ”Miss, Miss, it’s bad, at least twenty or thirty Xu Family members came, clamoring to see the Old Madam and the Marquis, demanding justice.”

Qin Yuan put down the book in her hand, couldn’t help but frown, ”With the Xu Family causing such a scene, what about Zhenzhen?”

Hong Ye sighed, ”My dear Miss, at this time, you’re still worried about others. The Xu Family women all look tough; very sharp. I think Sixth Madam is the most amiable-looking among them.”

Cui Ming hurriedly said, ”You’re always talking nonsense. If this gets out, how can Sixth Madam spare you?”

Hong Ye snorted but stopped talking about the Xu Family.

Qin Yuan glared at Hong Ye and said, ”Worried about me? It’s just water to block the earth.”

Cui Ming wanted to say something but ultimately kept silent, showing a solemn expression, evidently also finding it troublesome.

Qin Yuan took two maidservants and hurried to the main room.

Since the Xu Family and the Gu Family are relatives by marriage, it’s only right to visit the main room. The earlier she gets there, the better she can help Old Madam Gu handle this.

Halfway there, Qin Yuan was stopped by Gu Shiliu, ”Madam, the Xu Family members are waiting in the outer courtyard, they haven’t gone to the main room.”

Qin Yuan asked in surprise, ”Are the women also in the outer courtyard?”

Gu Shiliu nodded, ”The Xu Family members don’t dare enter the inner courtyard. Marquis said that Sixth Master’s two children have gotten smallpox, and Sixth Madam is confined and can’t come out; Xu Family women didn’t demand to go to the main room to ask Old Madam for an explanation.”

Hong Ye sneered, saying, ”Making such a big fuss, turns out they are afraid of death.”

Qin Yuan hurried to the outer courtyard, from afar hearing a noisy clamor, with people shouting angrily, crying and cursing loudly, she couldn’t help but frown.

Cui Ming sighed, saying, ”Is it really necessary?”

Following behind Gu Shiliu, Qin Yuan entered the outer courtyard, heading straight to the front hall; upon entering, she saw the room crowded with people, even the chairs weren’t enough, and there was a nanny in dark clothing on the ground crying and rolling.

Sixth Master Gu and two housekeepers were surrounded in the center, debating with flushed faces.

Meanwhile, Marquis Gu was seated at the top with a cold and handsome face, staring off into space, as if it had nothing to do with him. When Qin Yuan came in, he gestured to her, saying, ”Madam, come over.”

The room quieted down instantly, everyone’s gaze fell on her.

Despite the hostility in their eyes, Qin Yuan stiffened her nerve, and escorted by Gu Shiliu, she squeezed to Marquis Gu’s side.

”Sit,” Gu Jinghui gestured to the empty seat beside him, a hint of a smile in his eyes, saying, ”Madam, the Xu Family has arrived.”