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

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: The Proper Attitude When Asking for Help

Sun Accountant rewrote the account and said to Gu Shiliu, ”I’ve heard that quite a few housekeepers have withdrawn their shares from the Marchioness and added them to the Sixth Madam’s shares.”

Gu Shiliu curiously said, ”Oh,” and asked, ”Why, does the Sixth Madam also buy pepper?”

Sun Accountant placed the Hu Bi on the pen stand, stretching his long neck with effort, as if to share some secret, ”The Sixth Madam’s family has found a way, bought quite a lot of pepper, and now the price of pepper in the Capital City is quite high. Prince Qi Mansion has agreed not to allow its sale for now, and the Marchioness still hasn’t managed to buy any pepper. We would say, if you want to become rich, follow the Sixth Madam.”

Housekeeper Cao helplessly glanced at Sun Accountant, picked up the small teapot from the table, sipping water while watching how Gu Shiliu would respond.

Gu Shiliu chuckled lightly and said, ”Seventeen is out looking, how could he not find some.”

Sun Accountant whispered, ”Who dares to provoke a Prince?” Then he pointed out a silver banknote and handed it to Gu Shiliu. Gu Shiliu took it and placed it in his chest, smiling as he said, ”I trust the Marchioness.”

Sun Accountant tightly shut his mouth.

Housekeeper Cao moved away from the spout, smiling as he said, ”Sixteen, help me inquire whether the Marchioness is still collecting shares. If she is, I’d like to add some shares as well.”

Sun Accountant hunched his neck, pretended not to care, and casually fiddled with the abacus beads.

Gu Shiliu glanced at Sun Accountant and then at Housekeeper Cao, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and said, ”Alright. Wait for my news.”

After Gu Shiliu left, Housekeeper Cao said to Sun Accountant, ”Why are you so stubborn? The Marquis has spoken; in this mansion, whose word will carry weight in the future? Isn’t it obvious?”

Sun Accountant silently fiddled with the abacus beads. Housekeeper Cao continued, ”There are too many affairs in the mansion now. Everyone should be ready to follow orders at any time. Don’t say I didn’t remind you. I’ve heard the Marchioness previously managed the household finances, reviewing the housekeepers’ accounts thoroughly. Now she is also managing the main courtyard; you should quickly sort out the accounts, or you will lose face.”

Sun Accountant completely didn’t believe it.

Just the accounts of the rear courtyard are enough to keep the Marchioness busy. Can she really bring the trouble to him directly?

Didn’t Gu Shiliu say that extraordinary times call for extraordinary actions?

Once the epidemic ends, everything will return to normal.

The Marchioness is young; whether she can manage the rear courtyard well is uncertain, and she wants to manage the main courtyard too—can she really do it?

Housekeeper Cao saw he didn’t take it to heart, frowned but didn’t say more.

Wutong Garden.

The message passed by Gu Shiliu shook everyone considerably. Qin Yuan was full of surprise and suspicion, ”Is the Marquis really instructing this?”

Gu Shiliu patted his chest and said, ”I have a good memory; the Marchioness can rest assured.”

Hong Ye interjected softly, ”It’s not the Marchioness who doubts you; it’s the Marquis she doesn’t trust.”

Cui Ming: ”...”

Gu Shiliu understood and glanced at Hong Ye. He actually thought the same before, but Gu Shiliu said, ”The Marquis is wise and farsighted, never making a mistake while guarding the Northern Border. What the Marquis says has his reasoning.”

”What reasoning? Tell us,”

Hong Ye insisted on lifting the bar.

Gu Shiliu cleared his throat and said, ”Naturally, the Marquis has discovered the Marchioness is intelligent and capable. Besides, if the Marquis doesn’t trust the Marchioness, who else can he trust?”

”Oh~” Hong Ye dragged out her voice, looking at this sycophant before her.

But, nonetheless, this flattery felt quite pleasant.

Gu Shiliu then took out a fifty taels silver note from his pocket, handed it to Hong Ye, but his eyes were on Qin Yuan, ”Marchioness, the little one received some silver for his errands; can he add another share?”

Hong Ye did not reach out to accept it, also looking at Qin Yuan, waiting for her to speak.

Seeing Gu Shiliu’s face full of smiles, Qin Yuan nodded and said, ”Alright, but let’s stick to the usual rules.”

Gu Shiliu hurriedly said, ”Naturally, the usual rules. Marchioness, Housekeeper Cao also wants to add shares; what do you think...”

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, ”I haven’t even gotten the pepper in hand yet, and you’re already gathering guests for me everywhere.”

Seeing her smile brightly, Gu Shiliu quickly lowered his head, blushing as he said, ”Marchioness, you don’t know; I just happened to run into them. Actually, Seventeen and Shi Ba have also had this idea privately.”

Upon hearing this, Hong Ye quickly tugged Qin Yuan’s sleeve, signaling with her eyes.

Qin Yuan put down the teacup in her hand and said with a laugh, ”Then why haven’t they mentioned it?”

Gu Shiliu coughed lightly and said, ”Isn’t it because their errands aren’t done yet?”

Qin Yuan’s slender fingers lightly tapped the tabletop, thinking to herself. Gu Shiliu was good at talking and handling affairs; no wonder he has a better face than others in front of Marquis Gu. She then said, ”Alright, seeing it is you.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Shiliu was so delighted he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet, and he grinned, saying, ”Thank you, Marchioness. I’ll go tell Housekeeper Cao now.”

Hong Ye received the silver note, Cui Ming took the account book, recorded it, filled out the receipt, stamped it, and handed it to Gu Shiliu.

Gu Shiliu carefully placed it into his pocket after receiving it.

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but smile, ”You are really cautious.”

”Marchioness, all my wife’s savings are inside; how can I not be careful.”

Gu Shiliu respectfully retreated.

Hong Ye sighed, ”Sixteen is really capable, already earned a hundred taels from the Marquis in such a short time.”

Cui Ming didn’t speak.

Qin Yuan said, ”Gu Shiliu really works hard to save for his wife. I wonder who will be lucky enough to enjoy this blessing in the future.”

Hong Ye also remained silent.

Qin Yuan also fell silent.

Having flipped through half the account book, Marquis Gu arrived. He sat on the Taishi Chair, not as at ease as usual, fidgeting from side to side. Although Qin Yuan was clever, she couldn’t figure out what was troubling him.

Only when Cui Ming brought tea did Marquis Gu say, ”Yuan’er, you and I are one body, cough, cough...”

Originally, Hong Ye wanted to avoid Marquis Gu, but upon hearing this, her eyes lit up, and she stood by the doorframe, not leaving.

Cui Ming also pretended to be busy, fiddling with the incense burner.

Both were curious about what Marquis Gu’s awkwardness meant to convey.

Qin Yuan said, ”Naturally, is there something you want to tell me, husband?”

Qin Yuan secretly guessed; was it because Marquis Gu was worried after having Gu Shiliu convey those words and wanted to offer additional instructions?

Marquis Gu glanced at the two maids, lifted the lid of his cup, and focused on watching the tea leaves rise and fall in the cup.

Qin Yuan then said, ”You two, attend to things outside; I have something to discuss with the Marquis.”

Hong Ye left disappointedly, drawing the curtain.

Cui Ming also put down the incense shovel, covered the burner lid, and softly withdrew, head lowered.

Then Qin Yuan asked, ”What’s the matter?”

Marquis Gu took a white note from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and softly said, ”Yuan’er, I want to submit a memorial to request Feng Mansion, but... an outbreak of the epidemic in Dingbei Marquis Mansion is a major issue. If it’s quickly resolved, it would be fine; if not, the disaster in the Capital City cannot avoid implicating the Marquis Mansion. This memorial... this memorial...”

Marquis Gu felt a bit embarrassed.

If he were in the Great Camp, he would have clerks handling documents, but now, the most educated person in the mansion is Qin Yuan. As for the unreliable Sixth Elder, there’s no hope to rely on him either.

Qin Yuan was stunned.

In her past life, she also drafted many memorials for Lin Ziqi. She didn’t expect that, after marrying Gu Jinghui, she’d still need to help draft memorials.

However, Marquis Gu’s attitude when asking for help is much better than Prime Minister Lin’s.