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

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Easy to Invite; Hard to Send Away

Gu Jinghui truly felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

In the past, upon hearing such words, he would immediately go to check on the two children, putting everything else aside.

Now, he felt as if Bai Que’s sweet words were weaving a large web, ready to entangle him tightly if he wasn’t careful.

Bai Que lowered her eyes, her slender and lean neck slightly bowed, waiting for the Marquis to speak.

In desperation, she used her trump card.

Whenever she used this trump card, it would immediately take effect.

The Marquis would promptly inquire about the twins.

She would not report Lady Zhao’s feigning illness, naturally letting this matter slide.

”Bai Que, you may leave, and pick up the package of newly arrived Longjing tea.”

The cold-eyed Old Madam Gu spoke.

Her heart was also chilling, fearing that this maid could not be kept in the future.

Nanny Rong, on behalf of Old Madam Gu, chided, ”Lady Zhao is a guest. The Old Madam assigned you to take care of Lady Zhao. If the guest has any mishap, it’s your negligence. Your parents are still in the Marquis Mansion.”

Bai Que stood up to give thanks, replying, ”I will certainly remember and dare not forget.”

Nanny Rong waited, noticing she still glanced at Gu Jinghui now and then, evidently hoping the Marquis would visit Fengxuan Pavilion.

Pleasant advice is hard to heed by the willing spirit.

Nanny Rong said no more, ”Come with me.”

Bai Que had no choice but to follow Nanny Rong to select tea leaves.

Old Madam Gu sneered, ”So, that’s how they control you.”

Gu Jinghui blushed, unable to speak.

He wasn’t foolish; if he couldn’t see it now, he would have lived in vain.

However, Old Madam Gu didn’t plan to let him off, saying, ”It’s easy to invite a spirit, but difficult to send it away. Now, trying to send Lady Zhao away, how hard that must be.”

Gu Jinghui spoke softly, ”I ask Mother to think of a way for me.”

Calling her ’Mother’ might be a bit embarrassing, but saying it more often made it smoother.

He was completely unaware that he was also pouting with his mother, just like his little wife.

Outer Residence.

Bai Que followed Nanny Rong to choose tea leaves, picking up one package, then putting it down, dawdling unwillingly to leave.

She extended her ears, trying to hear what was being said inside.

Nanny Rong frowned, loudly saying, ”After you return, don’t mention these matters, lest Lady Zhao feels more troubled; a doctor will be coming soon. If you continue this way, the Old Madam will certainly not have you serve any longer.”

Bai Que responded, yet her eyes still glanced towards the inner room.

”Have you finished choosing?”

Nanny Rong impatiently tapped the table.

”Chosen, chosen.”

”Then go, I have matters to attend to now, won’t keep you. You should know what should and shouldn’t be said beside Lady Zhao.”

Bai Que agreed, then hesitated a bit before leaving when she realized the Marquis wasn’t coming.

Nanny Rong muttered quietly, ”Big-hearted wanton hoof.”

Bai Que hurriedly headed to Fengxuan Pavilion, ignoring others she encountered, rushing straight into the inner room, telling the sickly Lady Zhao lying in bed, ”The Old Madam knows you’re ill and said to call a doctor for a check-up, reprimanding me thoroughly, stating if this happens again, I wouldn’t be allowed to attend to you.”

Lady Zhao with a pale face, hair disheveled over her shoulders, playfully asked, ”Is the Marquis coming?”

Bai Que shook her head, ”I don’t know.”

Seeing the anticipation dim in Lady Zhao’s eyes, she added, ”Just now, I mentioned you and the young master to the Marquis, and the Marquis seemed quite uneasy.”

Lady Zhao grasped her hand joyfully, ”The Marquis cherishes them the most, surely he’ll come soon.”

Bai Que sighed, ”Your illness may heal with a doctor’s prescription, the Marquis wouldn’t think otherwise...”

It’s extremely hard to make Lady Zhao’s illness endearing.

Previously, it was uncertain whether the Marquis would come.

Now...

Lady Zhao seemed to recall something, resolutely stating, ”The Marquis wouldn’t think that.”

Bai Que’s lips barely curved into a mocking smile, shifting the topic, ”The Old Madam still cares for you, saying I haven’t taken good care of you, and let me select a package of new tea, saying it’s newly acquired by the Marquis. I’ve chosen West Lake Longjing, let Lady Zhao taste it.”

Lady Zhao brightly responded, ”The Old Madam and the Marquis still think of me.”

Not half a word to comfort Bai Que.

Bai Que didn’t care, showing the tea leaves, exchanged a few more words, then left to attend to other matters.

Lady Zhao lay in bed for a while, slowly rising to wet her undergarment in the basin of cold water, and curled back into the quilt.

Upper Residence.

Old Madam Gu continued to reprimand her son, ”She’s still a guest, yet so difficult. If she becomes your concubine, with two children you care for, whose former husband has a debt of gratitude towards you, how will Yuan’er manage her? Holding an empty title? She’s not even out of mourning period, yet she disregards everything, in the future, how would she regard the main wife? Which household’s mistress likes an obstructive concubine in the courtyard?”

Gu Jinghui’s face grew hotter.

Old Madam Gu said, ”You should keep your distance from those two children, help Brother Cheng secure a promising future, help Sister Yu find a good marital match, ensure their safe upbringing without worry of sustenance, protected with the title of Dingbei Marquis’ son and daughter by honor. That would be repaying their father.”

Old Madam Gu herself was raised in a military family, witnessing Old Marquis struggle through blood and storms.

The families of nobles have history of internal members having followed their masters to battle, where they achieved great feats.

Gu Jinghui hesitated a bit.

”I’ve watched them grow...”

This reluctance was troublesome.

Old Madam Gu sighed, ”Think about yourself, you started martial arts at a young age, you were small, not even as tall as the table legs, your brother called you at cock’s crow to join for horse stance. At that time, I couldn’t bear it, cried two big bowls of tears, what did you say to me back then? You said a good man aims afar, can’t linger in the warm bed.”

Gu Jinghui lowered his head.

Children of the Gu Family started martial arts at four or five years old, at six they had to attend the Outer Residence of the Imperial College’s elementary school, starting earlier than the children pursuing literature through civil examination.

Calculating their age, Brother Cheng was about to reach the age for Imperial College.

”Did you spend much time with your father?”

Gu Jinghui could only be close with his father on rest days, later his father went to the Northern Border, they didn’t see each other for several years.

”Boys and girls above seven should not be seated together, regardless of foster father or real father, they must keep distance.”

After those words, Gu Jinghui was speechless.

Old Madam Gu added, ”Lady Zhao first used the children’s health as a raft, now even disregards her own life, she harbors feelings towards you, will these two children grow up without illness or pain?”

”I’m not saying Brother Cheng must learn martial arts, our Gu Family has suffered too much, my grandchildren can practice martial arts for fitness, but their achievements should come through civil examination. Whether Brother Cheng chooses his father’s path, let them decide, regardless of their choice, the Gu Family will support him.”

Listening to these words, Gu Jinghui felt restless, feeling particularly sore wherever his mother struck.

Old Madam Gu still asked him, ”Aren’t you going to say something?”