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

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: I Am Not an Unreasonable Lord

Hong Ye immediately said, ”I’ll go out and take a look.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she lifted the curtain and rushed out.

Gu Jinghui also listened intently. He had just been engrossed in conversation with Qin Yuan and had not noticed the commotion outside, not knowing what it was about.

Soon, he understood the reason.

His handsome brows furrowed tightly, and his face already showed anger.

Qin Yuan saw his expression, her slender brows also slightly furrowed, not knowing what she was thinking.

Hong Ye suddenly ran in and anxiously said, ”Marquis, Madam, Bai Que’s parents came in with thorns on their backs and are now kneeling in the corridor.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan relaxed her brows and looked at Gu Jinghui, saying, ”It seems yesterday they went to plead with Mother, but she didn’t relent. They are now relying on their age, pleading with the Marquis for dignity.”

Gu Jinghui subdued his anger and asked her, ”Yuan’er, what do you think should be done?”

Qin Yuan said, ”They made a scene at Wutong Garden because they think the Marquis won’t refuse them this dignity, and...”

She stretched her voice, looking at Hong Ye, ”They might also blame it on my maid.”

Hong Ye, having been advised by her last night, immediately understood the situation and resentfully said, ”Clearly Bai Que was in the wrong, and the Marquis punished her. Why would they blame us maids? They’re just picking on someone easy.”

Gu Jinghui looked at her, a trace of amusement flashed across his long eyes, and said displeased, ”So you mean they should blame me instead, you servant are really...”

Qin Yuan quickly interrupted him, ”Please, help this maid for once, Marquis.”

She raised her face, and in the morning light, the tiny hairs on her jade-white face were clearly visible, with a small mole on her charming nose making Gu Jinghui want to reach out and touch it.

He hid his hands behind his back, rubbing them, then said, ”Fine, it’s only because of you. This maid annoys me all day long, but you cherish her. If it were up to me, I’d give her ten strokes right away to keep her from speaking nonsense.”

Hong Ye: ”...”

The Marquis really isn’t a good person.

She even spoke well of him in front of the Miss.

Qin Yuan laughed softly and said, ”Hong Ye, you should thank the Marquis, otherwise Bai Que’s parents would hate you, which would be a headache.”

Realizing this, Hong Ye immediately bowed to the Marquis and said, ”Thank you, Marquis, I will serve diligently in future and dare not overstep.”

Gu Jinghui snorted with laughter and said, ”You’d better remember.”

Qin Yuan reminded, ”Marquis, Bai Que’s parents are still outside.”

Gu Jinghui looked through the window lattice and saw Bai Que’s parents dressed in coarse cloth, thorns on their backs, kneeling in the corridor, crying and begging the Marquis to grant them dignity and not expel Bai Que.

Gu Jinghui turned to Qin Yuan and said, ”I’m going out to meet them, can’t go out like this.”

He glanced at the tray of clothing and accessories, clearly implying he wanted Qin Yuan to help him dress.

Qin Yuan quickly said, ”Hong Ye, hurry and bring the Marquis’s clothes.”

Gu Jinghui’s mouth tilted slightly, spreading his arms for Qin Yuan to arrange him, saying nothing, only occasionally pinching Qin Yuan’s hands, his expression as serious as ever, as if he was casually toying.

Qin Yuan was speechless and had to follow his lead.

Soon, the Marquis was tidied up and looking dignified, even his hair was redone by Qin Yuan. Then, with hands behind his back, he stepped out, lightly coughing, and said, ”Qian Da, Mrs. Qian, you both watched me grow up. At your age, kneeling here puts me in a difficult position. Just say what you have to say, I am not unreasonable.”

Saying this, he instructed the little maids, ”Why are you standing there dazed? Hurry up and help your Grandpa Qian and Granny Qian inside.”

Without waiting for the couple to speak, the Marquis headed straight to the hall.

Qian Da and Mrs. Qian originally intended to stay kneeling, but seeing the Marquis heading into the hall, they had no choice but to get up and follow.

Qin Yuan and the two maids followed behind the Marquis, thinking, Bai Que’s parents are named Qian, and it happens that Mr. Qian manages the treasury, which is rather fitting.

The treasury was always entrusted to the most reliable in the household, indicating the Old Madam’s genuine intentions when assigning Bai Que to Lady Zhao, a sincere gesture towards the widow of the Marquis’s benefactor. Who knew it would turn out like this?

Inside the hall, the Qian couple still stood with thorns on their backs, faces sullen, as if holding anger with no place to vent.

Qin Yuan quickly instructed Hong Ye and Cui Ming to serve tea and said, ”Please, both of you, sit and talk.”

The Qian couple remained silent and motionless.

Gu Jinghui said, ”The Madam asked you to sit, why still standing?”

Qian Da replied coldly, ”We wouldn’t dare; if we upset the Marquis and Madam and get expelled, what then?”

Gu Jinghui’s face darkened.

Mrs. Qian quickly said, ”Our daughter Bai Que somehow offended the Marquis and Madam and is being expelled, losing generations of dignity. We only hope the Marquis won’t drive Bai Que away because of others’ words. How dare we sit here arrogantly, to drink tea and talk.”

Hong Ye couldn’t help wanting to speak up.

Cui Ming, standing afar, gently coughed.

Hong Ye glanced at Qin Yuan, pursed her lips, and held back.

Gu Jinghui said displeased, ”If you wish to keep standing, go ahead. I’m expelling Bai Que not without reason. She made things difficult for me and the Madam. She’s not young, and the Old Madam has spoken to me about finding her a match. Sending her away to wait for marriage seems fitting.”

Mrs. Qian smiled stiffly and said, ”Bai Que only has eyes for the Marquis, how could she do anything to trouble him? She was acting under Lady Zhao’s orders to invite the Marquis, didn’t even meet face-to-face, fainted under the sun, and upon waking learned she was being expelled. Bai Que cried bitterly, wanting to end it all. We old folks had no option but to come and plead, hoping the Marquis would let her stay. If she’s expelled, how could she survive?”

Qian Da added, ”If the Marquis expels her, as servants we can say nothing. She brought it upon herself for offending her master. But Bai Que has always cherished the Marquis more than her life. Since young, she’s been devoted, insisting on working at the Old Madam’s courtyard solely for this obsession. The Marquis’s actions... this single-minded child can’t bear it, refusing to eat or drink, it’s heartbreaking for us parents.”

At this point, Gu Jinghui glanced at Qin Yuan, indicating he wasn’t sure what to say.

Bai Que’s parents were indeed shrewd, subtly expressing Bai Que’s devotion, also leveraging their status.

If no major wrong was committed, how could any master not grant them some dignity and allow her to stay?