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

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Clever People

Qin Yuan smiled and said, ”Is that all the Marquis thought of?”

Gu Jinghui paused for a moment and then said, ”Of course not, but... I understand it all in my heart. If you don’t believe me, just watch.”

Qin Yuan said, ”I believe you.”

”Really?”

”Really.”

Qin Yuan thought that she had said everything she needed to say, and Mrs. Zhao’s actions had been exposed, so Marquis Gu should make his own decision.

Gu Jinghui tightly held Qin Yuan’s hand, feeling a sudden, indescribable softness in his heart, and solemnly said, ”I know, you said before that husband and wife are one. I will never value others more than the Marquis Mansion.”

The Marquis Mansion referred not only to the mansion itself but also to the brothers who fought alongside him, and the household soldiers and servants that had been intertwined with the Gu Family for generations.

Qin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, ”Yes, we are one as husband and wife. Many things are not just yours, but also mine, not just the Marquis Mansion’s, but also the Qin Family’s.”

The closest and the farthest things, the deepest and the shallowest clear streams.

The highest and the clearest sun and moon, the closest and the furthest married couple.

The two words ”husband and wife” contain so much. As long as Marquis Gu remembers that husband and wife are one and acts accordingly, that is enough.

Gu Jinghui said seriously, ”I have my own ideas, Yuan’er, trust me. I’ve taken it all in and will never forget.”

Since that was the case, there was no need to say more.

The two of them chatted for a while longer, and then Marquis Gu stood up and said, ”I must go to work now.”

At this time, the steward and the housekeepers should be arriving as well.

”Alright,” Qin Yuan stood up and respectfully saw Marquis Gu out the door.

After dealing with daily chores, Qin Yuan instructed them to report the situation of the servants over the recent period so that rewards and punishments could be administered according to previous agreements.

”The mansion is about to open, and I promised everyone before sealing the mansion that there will be rewards and punishments. Please diligently register and report everything, leaving no mistakes or omissions.”

”Yes,” everyone agreed.

Qin Yuan repeatedly instructed, ”This matter is important, do not show favoritism or commit fraud.”

After everyone dispersed, Hong Mian came up and said, ”Madam, Sister Hong Ye and Sister Cui Ming are both busy. Why not let me handle this task to ensure there are no mistakes.”

Hong Ye glanced at Hong Mian but said nothing.

Qin Yuan said, ”You want to share their burden.”

Hong Mian smiled and said, ”Sister Hong Ye has been busy settling accounts these days, and Sister Cui Ming is helping her. I don’t know how to manage accounts, but Madam said this matter is important, so I thought as a daughter of the house, if there really is any favoritism or fraud, I could help investigate a thing or two.”

It must be said, Hong Mian’s move was indeed clever and well-intentioned.

Qin Yuan glanced at Hong Ye, ”Hong Ye, what do you think?”

Hong Ye thought for a moment and said, ”These accounts are indeed difficult to check. Since Hong Mian wants to serve Madam, why not let her handle it.”

Qin Yuan nodded and said, ”Alright, Hong Mian, this task is yours. I hope you don’t make any mistakes.”

Hong Mian beamed with joy, glancing proudly at Hong Ye.

Qin Yuan continued, ”Since it’s your first time handling such a large matter, I can’t help but worry, so Hong Ye will supervise this task.”

In other words, Hong Mian still had to listen to Hong Ye.

Hong Ye said, ”Yes.”

Hong Mian said, ”Yes, I will follow Sister Hong Ye’s arrangements in all matters.”

After Hong Mian left, Cui Ming whispered, ”That Hong Mian really likes to make a name for herself.”

Hong Ye said, ”She’s clever. I didn’t teach her to manage accounts, but here she found an opportunity to show herself. The young lady lacks people, so it’s a good thing she wants to stand out. There are a few like her in this courtyard.”

Clever people always find opportunities to show themselves.

There’s no stopping them.

It’s just that Hong Mian’s actions made Hong Ye a bit uncomfortable.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, ”You two are the ones closest to me and whom I trust the most. Wutong Garden still has many gaps to fill, and those who come later will naturally be led by you step by step, but I can’t just listen to only the two of you.”

As the saying goes, listening to diverse opinions leads to clarity, but listening to one’s biases leads to obscurity.

Even though Hong Ye and Cui Ming are genuinely loyal, there are things they cannot achieve alone.

Hong Ye paused and said, ”The young lady is right; I understand now. Perhaps I should teach a few others how to manage accounts, so there will always be some who are useful.”

”Fine,” Qin Yuan nodded.

What Hong Ye was doing was only beneficial for her.

And people and things like Hong Mian, Hong Ye would always have to deal with.

Hong Ye indeed found a few maidservants to help transcribe and copy, learning to manage accounts.

Knowing this, Hong Mian put more effort into her own task.

...

While Marquis Gu was sitting in the mansion, he was unaware that on this day, everyone in the court was speculating about why the Emperor suddenly wanted to start the Capital Inspection and what it had to do with praising Marquis Gu.

After Qin Jijiu returned home from his duties, he discussed with Mrs. Cui, ”I don’t know what petition my nephew-in-law submitted that’s making everyone come and ask me.”

Mrs. Cui said, ”Receiving commendation from the Emperor is a good thing. Don’t they know the mansion is still sealed? Why do they come asking you?”

”The matter of the mansion’s smallpox has been settled, and opening the mansion is just a matter of days. Naturally, colleagues speculate that we might have dealings.”

Because of what Qin Wan had said, Mrs. Cui had been worried that the mansion’s smallpox would cause trouble. Upon hearing this, she said, ”As long as it opens safely, that’s a good thing. The Dingbei Marquis Mansion requested to seal the mansion for the stability of the Capital. This is exactly what should be commended by the Emperor.”

Qin Jijiu sighed, ”If it were just for this, why would others come to ask me?”

Mrs. Cui couldn’t figure out why either.

”Since my nephew-in-law received praise from the Emperor, wasn’t the petition copied down?”

Qin Jijiu shook his head.

The strange thing was that while the petition received praise, it was not copied down, so no one knew what Marquis Gu had said.

”Just hope it’s not related to the Capital Inspection.” Qin Jijiu stroked his short beard with a mysterious air, ”Relying on military merits to establish oneself is enough, matters of Capital Inspection offend too many people.”

Mrs. Cui found him a bit tedious and began to order someone to set the meal, casually responding, ”How is that possible? Even I, a mere woman, know that the Capital Inspection and major affairs concern the civil servants and are the responsibilities of the Ministry of Personnel. How could it relate to my nephew-in-law? If you’re curious, why not send someone to ask.”

Qin Jijiu said, ”Hah, what do you know? Rumor has it that this Capital Inspection targets all courtiers in the Capital. Previously, the Capital Inspection was for those below the third rank, those above were appraised by the Emperor. But this time, it’s hard to say.”

Mrs. Cui said, ”Even if you say it will break the sky, I don’t believe it. Nephew-in-law has been back in the Capital for less than a year. What’s there to inspect...”

As they were speaking, Qin Jijiu’s personal long-term follower had a maid come in to report.

”Someone from the Marquis Mansion sent something.”

”Quick, please bring them in.”

The delivery person was a servant who came and said, ”I was instructed by Madam Shen Peifang of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion to send this.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Jijiu was delighted and said, ”Present it and let’s see.”

The servant handed over the box in his hands, which contained several books.

When Qin Jijiu opened it, he realized it was the Poetry Collection of Traveling in Yuyuantan by Sixth Master Gu, and he exclaimed in surprise, ”Have they printed new copies so quickly?”