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

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: I Don’t Believe It

Qin Heng grew impatient: ”Elder Sister, this little thing needs so much reminder.”

Yuan’er glared at him, ”Then you hurry back, I am waiting for Cousin Siyuan.”

Qin Heng went home excitedly, headed straight to the main room to talk to his parents, and upon entering, saw Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law were also there.

”Second Sister, Second Brother-in-law, you’re here too,” greeted Qin Heng as he put down the package in his hand, saying: ”Father, Mother, I’m back. This is what Elder Sister asked to bring back.”

Qin Jijiu frowned and said: ”You went to Beihou Mansion to see the Marquis, yet brought something back? Aren’t you worried Elder Sister will be looked down upon?”

Mrs. Cui also chimed in with caution: ”You shouldn’t bring everything home. Being short-sighted will only bring ridicule.”

If the Marquis Mansion looks down on the Qin Mansion, how will that do? We must properly talk to Qin Yuan in the future.

Qin Wan and Lin Ziqi always come empty-handed and remained silent upon seeing this.

Qin Heng, with an aggrieved look, loudly said: ”I had refused it several times. Elder Sister just sent some tea leaves and a piece of ink, saying it’s for father. Besides, there are only two packets of snacks, made by the Marquis Mansion’s big kitchen. Elder Sister said the family hasn’t tasted such flavors and asked to bring them back to try. They aren’t valuable at all.”

As he spoke, he also took out the meeting gift given by the Old Madam Gu from his pocket and said: ”This is the meeting gift from the old madam that Elder Sister told me to accept.”

Upon hearing there were tea leaves and ink, Qin Jijiu immediately opened to look and exclaimed: ”Oh dear, has your Elder Sister struck it rich? She’s gifting me such fine tea and Huimo ink.”

Qin Heng said: ”This is the tea used for entertaining guests at the Marquis Mansion.”

Qin Jijiu glared at him and, holding the Huimo ink, sniffed it repeatedly, showing he couldn’t part with it.

Mrs. Cui, seeing the meeting gift Qin Heng received, couldn’t help but say: ”The Marquis Mansion is truly affluent; even a child’s meeting gift is so generous.”

Such a nice Mutton Fat Jade Pendant, carved with a carp jumping over the dragon gate, is truly auspicious.

The carving is fine, and the jade is crystal clear, worth at least a hundred taels of silver.

The Marquis Mansion is truly extravagant.

Every time, the gifts are generous.

Mrs. Cui just wanted to tell Qin Heng to hold onto it until he was older and learned to cherish things.

But Qin Heng took out another bulging pouch from his pocket.

”What is this?”

”Also a meeting gift, I haven’t looked at it yet.”

Qin Heng opened the pouch, and it was full of silver peanuts. As he opened it, a few rolled out.

Mrs. Cui was both joyful and sighed and couldn’t help but say: ”My child, does the Dingbei Marquis Mansion have piles of gold and silver, giving such a generous gift to someone as little as you?”

”I’m not little,” Qin Heng protested.

Qin Wan’s face changed repeatedly as she looked at these things.

In her previous life, Qin Heng went to see her in the Marquis Mansion but didn’t receive such courtesy.

It’s said to love someone for their loved ones, but does Qin Yuan earn such favor from the Old Madam Gu?!

Qin Wan’s hand tightly twisted the handkerchief, with unspeakable emotions in her heart.

Qin Heng, with pride, said: ”The old madam probably thought I looked elegant and handsome, so she gave more. Elder Sister said the old madam likes good-looking ones. I’ve seen them; the maids and nannies in the old madam’s room all look very nice, wearing gold and silver. The old madam is very fond of Elder Sister, reassured us again and again that she would not wrong Elder Sister.”

Then he turned to Qin Wan and said: ”Second Sister, don’t worry about Elder Sister anymore. Everyone in the Marquis Mansion treats Elder Sister very well. Everyone in her Wutong Garden is very respectful, not daring to make a mistake. The maids and nannies in the main room don’t dare to posture either, smiling at me. Elder Sister told me to tell everyone that she is doing well in the Marquis Mansion, so rest assured.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Wan said dryly: ”Is, is that so, then that’s good.”

Mrs. Cui glanced at her daughter with a sullen face and secretly sighed.

Such affluence should have been this foolish girl’s.

But who can be blamed?

It was she who insisted on pushing it onto Qin Yuan.

Mrs. Cui had been strong all her life but stumbled over Qin Wan’s marriage. In the past few months, she couldn’t figure out why. Even the incense money donated to the temple was twice as much as in previous years.

Qin Heng danced around gleefully and said: ”Second Brother-in-law, Elder Brother-in-law’s sixth brother, whom I should call Sixth Brother, the old madam said he’s very close to you, and they planned to start a poetry society together. The old madam asked him to come out to accompany me, but he was injured and felt embarrassed to meet people. But if we visit often, we’ll eventually meet.”

Qin Jijiu glanced at Lin Ziqi.

Lin Ziqi also laughed dryly and said: ”Gu Jingjun is an exception in the Dingbei Marquis Mansion; he likes reading and associating with scholars, different from Marquis Gu. I met him at a poetry gathering. Only when we talked did we realize we were distantly related. Such a coincidence.”

Qin Heng thought for a moment and said: ”The Dingbei Marquis Mansion is really big; just Elder Sister’s Wutong Garden is as large as our Qin Mansion’s backyard. I originally wanted to learn horse riding from my brother-in-law, but he went to the great camp... I have to go find my cousin. Elder Sister told me to deliver a message to him.”

After saying this, without waiting for others to speak, he had already run out of the main room, heading to the small side courtyard to find his Second Aunt and cousin.

”Come back,” Called Mrs. Cui quickly, handing a packet of snacks from the table to Qin Heng, saying: ”Take a packet of snacks to your Second Aunt, and say it’s from Yuan’er.”

Qin Heng answered and ran off.

Qin Jijiu, with a displeased expression, said to Lin Ziqi: ”Come, come, let’s go sit in the study and drink some of the Marquis Mansion’s good tea.”

The two in-laws left.

Qin Wan kept her head down, unable to hide her gloom. Mrs. Cui noticed and naturally knew what she was thinking, sighed, and said: ”It’s already like this, stop thinking about it, and live well with Mr. Lin.”

Qin Wan stubbornly said: ”I don’t believe Qin Yuan can have a good life in the Marquis Mansion; that woman named Zhao and the maid under her called Bai Que, and Sixth Lady Gu... How could these people let her live well? Does the Old Madam Gu really like her? I don’t believe it.”

The more Mrs. Cui listened, the more wrong it felt, so she reprimanded: ”What on earth are you thinking about all day long? You don’t worry about Mr. Lin; you don’t worry about the Lin family. Why are you concerned about the Marquis Mansion’s matters? Qin Yuan looks good, has a good temperament, pleases the old madam, and lives better. Isn’t that good? Her doing well in the Marquis Mansion is good for you and your brother. Heaven knows that I couldn’t sleep the other week worrying about whether she could hold her ground or not. The Dingbei Marquis Mansion is our best in-law. Your father has long said that Brother Heng has average talent in studies and will have to rely on his brother-in-law for support in the future.”

Qin Wan turned her face away disdainfully and said: ”Do you think the Dingbei Marquis Mansion can help Brother that much? The Dingbei Marquis is just a martial artist, knowing nothing but fighting. What use will he have once the court doesn’t wage war anymore? Just maintaining those family soldiers could cost an unknown amount of money. The several masters in the mansion only know how to enjoy themselves. As for that book-loving Sixth Master Gu, he couldn’t even pass the scholar’s exam, a mere failure, indulging in pleasures, keeping many concubines. How much can such a family help Brother?”

”People must think long-term. It would be better for me to treat my Ziqi well; he in the future...”