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

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Unable to Bear Such Wealth

”No.”

Qin Yuan turned her face away, ignoring him.

Soon, Marquis Gu understood the true meaning behind that smile.

After a few pleasantries, Qin Jijiu suddenly asked, ”My good son-in-law, have you taken advantage of the fine opportunities at Feng Mansion to read more books? How is your reading of the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ going?”

Qin Heng quickly cast a sympathetic glance at his good brother-in-law.

Qin Siyuan lowered his head, pretending not to see.

Sixth Master Gu gazed with envy.

Old Madam Gu seemed bewildered, while Mrs. Cui had a face full of ”speechless” written all over.

Marquis Gu clenched his hand tightly within his sleeve, thinking to himself, ”What luck, the story Mr. Songshan just told is still fresh, perfect for answering my father-in-law.”

He cleared his throat.

”Father-in-law, though affairs in the mansion are numerous, your son-in-law has heeded your encouragement and found time to read some books. As for the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ you gifted, there is something that your son-in-law does not understand.”

”Oh?” Qin Jijiu stroked the short beard at his lip, his eyes wide as he asked, ”What don’t you understand? Let’s hear it.”

Gu Jinghui said seriously, ”Qi Huan Gong united the world with ’benevolence and righteousness.’ Why then did Song Xianggong, who pursued ’benevolence and righteousness,’ fail and become a laughingstock?”

Qin Yuan turned her face to look at him.

Gu Jinghui looked back with pride.

Qin Heng’s eyes widened with excitement, wanting to answer but quickly closed his mouth.

Qin Jijiu said, ”This is a long story. We shall speak about it in detail with Siyuan later.”

Sixth Master Gu hurriedly said, ”I would like to listen too.”

Qin Siyuan suppressed laughter as he replied.

”Naturally, we’ll include you in the conversation.”

Seeing the Gu brothers so eager to learn, Qin Jijiu couldn’t resist giving the side table a thump, causing the teacups to shake.

”I never expected the Gu Family sons to be so eager to learn. It seems my daughter-in-law has taught her children well. As for me, a Sacrificial Officer, I’m ashamed of not properly educating my own sons.”

Qin Heng felt inexplicably aggrieved.

Old Madam Gu felt quite embarrassed and said, ”My dear in-law, your praise is too generous. I didn’t manage them either, but since Yuan’er has come, these two kids have become so studious.”

”Oh?”

Qin Jijiu was taken aback. At home, he never realized his eldest daughter had such abilities.

Qin Yuan smiled, ”Mother is praising me again. It’s one thing to praise me in front of others since they don’t know my reality, but to do so in front of my parents is asking to get caught.”

Everyone shared in the laughter for a while.

Old Madam Gu said, ”Dear in-law, what I speak is the truth. You might not know our Sixth Master, who usually enjoys mingling with scholars who fail the examinations, boating on the lake, composing poetry, and wagering answers as a frequent pastime. However, those he associates with don’t have deep knowledge, merely coaxing him to spend money. Considering Sixth Master is sweet-natured and weak in body, I haven’t demanded much from him, thinking such pursuits are preferable to wandering idly, causing trouble.”

Sixth Master Gu’s face turned a bit red.

”Ever since Yuan’er married into the mansion and invited the young master to visit, Sixth Master has been talking about how he wants to study diligently. With the mansion sealed recently, he’s busier by the day reading and painting, as if he has become a new person. Recently, he even published a collection of poetry; saying it was not easy to publish is an understatement...”

As Old Madam Gu recounted, Qin Jijiu’s face glowed with pride. Indeed, Qin Yuan was his most accomplished daughter, managing to enlighten the entire Gu Family.

Look at the gratitude flowing from Old Madam Gu, the progressive demeanor of Sixth Master Gu, and the eager look in Marquis Gu’s eyes. His daughter truly possesses the talent of Meng Mu.

Qin Jijiu couldn’t hold back, despite being in the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, and expressed his thoughts with a heartfelt tribute, praising Qin Yuan from beginning to end.

After all, Qin Yuan’s success represented the success of his teachings.

Marrying a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations.

He owed the descendants of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion a debt of gratitude too.

Qin Yuan listened, feeling uneasy.

Despite living across two lifetimes, being praised jointly by her father and mother-in-law, supplemented by her brother-in-law and cousin, with her husband smiling and applauding, was overwhelming.

When the praise finally concluded, Old Madam Gu said, ”It’s rare for you to visit, dear in-law. The mansion has prepared a family feast. Although the Marquis Mansion is modest, there are a few sights worth seeing. How about letting the third and sixth elder take you around, while we women engage in some idle conversation?”

Qin Yuan smiled on the surface, secretly pondering if the praise had made them hungry.

Gu Jinghui suggested, ”Why not let the two nephews join us as well? They should meet their elders.”

Sixth Master Gu hastily agreed, ”Yes, let them be close to some scholarly influence.”

The two discussed and decided to send someone to invite the two young masters.

The women went to the main hall to chat together, while Gu Jinghui and Sixth Master Gu took Qin Jijiu and his sons for a walk around the mansion.

Qin Yuan supported Old Madam Gu as Mrs. Cui walked beside them, with little maids holding umbrellas, escorting them through the front hall, past the screen wall, and through the second gate.

This path to the main hall had quite a few scenic spots. As they walked, the Taihu stone rockery, stone arch bridges, lotus ponds, bamboo groves, and waterside pavilions came into view.

Every time Mrs. Cui brought Qin Wan to visit Qin Yuan, the visits were always hurried.

This time, seeing it up close made her realize the vastness and refinement of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, with scenic beauty in every corner.

Mrs. Cui sighed inwardly, truly extravagant, worthy of the accumulated family wealth of several generations of the Dingbei Marquis.

The garden where the Family Head of the Qinghe Cui Family resides is no better than this.

Being in the heart of the Capital City, having such a mansion is an unparalleled glory, achieved through blood, starkly different from the centuries-old accumulated heritage of an aristocratic family.

While Mrs. Cui marveled, she also sighed.

Qin Wan, she couldn’t measure up to this wealth and grandeur.

Qin Yuan never expected that just one walk with Mrs. Cui would take away that bit of discomfort left within her heart.

Old Madam Gu, being a military family’s daughter, found conversation with Mrs. Cui slightly lacking, but as both sincerely wished to form good relations, they managed to chat along despite the initial awkwardness.

Old Madam Gu said, ”Dear in-law, my mischievous little daughter has been punished with confinement, otherwise, I would have requested her presence. The sixth daughter-in-law is unwell and cannot move, but there will be frequent opportunities to interact in the future.”

Mrs. Cui laughed, ”Every family has its difficulties.”

”That’s true,” Old Madam Gu said, feeling as if she had met a kindred spirit.

Qin Heng was just waiting to finish his meal and go horse riding with his brother-in-law.

Sixth Master Gu was waiting to go boating on the lake with his good brother.

So they urged to start the feast.

Mrs. Cui glared at her clueless young son.

Old Madam Gu laughed, ”He and the third master get along well, sharing a similar temperament, not very fond of reading.”

Mrs. Cui sighed, ”How can my child compare to his brother-in-law? It’s fine if the Marquis doesn’t like to read, his exceptional martial arts have inherited the mantle, as the Dingbei Marquis title is a hereditary peerage. My troublesome star, if his father is a scholar without official title, would remain an ordinary citizen.”

Mrs. Cui did not mention that if Qin Heng fails in his studies, he wouldn’t be on par with the children of other official families.

The children of other families failing in studies could still become wealthy merchants.

The Qin Family doesn’t have any valuable industries; if Qin Heng fails in his studies, he won’t have to worry about food and clothing, but marrying well would be out of reach.

The two children she bore, originally legitimate, might have to rely on the faces of the illegitimate ones in the future.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Cui felt saddened.

Old Madam Gu was about to offer a few words of comfort when outside, Gu Shiliu announced, ”Old Madam, Madam, Marquis requests you to come quickly to join him in receiving an edict.”