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

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Former Crown Prince

Qin Yuan just laughed.

Gu Jinghui didn’t know what she was laughing about, so he laughed along.

Qin Yuan said, ”The Marquis has been a companion for several years. It shouldn’t be too hard to meet my father’s expectations, so why is he still reading the ’Spring and Autumn Annals’ so slowly? Didn’t you study them in your childhood?”

Gu Jinghui sighed, ”I started learning martial arts at four and didn’t like studying. When I was chosen to enter the palace as the Former Crown Prince’s companion, I cried for a long time. After entering the palace, the Emperor told me not to be too restrained, saying that as a person from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, as long as I can read, write, and compose memorials, that’s enough. So, the tutors didn’t bother much about me. However, my father-in-law had high expectations for me. I didn’t expect that nearing my thirties, I would have to study again.”

What Gu Marquis said made everyone unable to hold back their laughter.

After a while, Qin Yuan asked, ”The Former Crown Prince? Was he born of the same mother as Prince Qi?”

Gu Marquis solemnly replied, ”Yes, after the Former Crown Prince, comes the current Crown Prince.”

Many things were better left unsaid.

Qin Yuan didn’t ask further and instructed the maids to quickly serve the meal. The evening meal was light and minimal, only two meat dishes were prepared for Gu Marquis.

After Hong Ye, Cui Ming, and others had withdrawn.

Gu Marquis then said, ”You are young and don’t know about the Former Crown Prince, and these matters are seldom discussed now, as even the Royal Family is somewhat sensitive about it.”

Qin Yuan then asked, ”What happened with the Former Crown Prince, and why wasn’t Prince Qi made the Crown Prince?”

Gu Marquis gloomily stuffed a piece of braised beef into his mouth. After a while, he said, ”Isn’t it all because of Empress Lin? If the late Empress hadn’t passed, how could the Former Crown Prince have ended up like that...”

Qin Yuan understood, with a stepmother comes a stepfather, and once the late Empress was gone, the position of the Former Crown Prince was unstable, and Prince Qi had even less hope.

Speaking of the Former Crown Prince, Gu Marquis was despondent and didn’t speak much afterward.

He didn’t stay much longer after the meal and said, ”I’m going to the front courtyard to listen to some storytelling.”

After saying that, he quickly walked away.

Qin Yuan called Hong Ye in to ask, ”What kind of person is Mr. Songshan?”

Hong Ye replied, ”He’s a middle-aged man, moderately built, quite thin, with little flesh on his face, somewhat resembling the crane by our pond at home. He speaks very politely, showing full etiquette, and his official speech carries a slight southern accent.”

Previously, Qin Yuan wasn’t sure.

Upon hearing the mention of a crane, Qin Yuan understood and exclaimed, ”I didn’t expect the Marquis to have such a keen eye to find a person like that, what luck, what can be said?”

Hong Ye asked, ”Why? Is he a greatly talented person?”

Qin Yuan nodded with a smile.

She secretly made a decision to get acquainted with Mr. Songshan and seek knowledge, hoping that Qin Siyuan and Sixth Master Gu could also become familiar faces.

Cui Ming, aware of the subtleties, understood a little and said, ”If Mr. Songshan has talent, he probably has similar tastes to our masters. Besides, everyone has some quirks. Some love food, some love painting, and some love drinking... Wealth, beauty, fame, there’s always something.”

Qin Yuan frowned, ”Let’s not act rashly yet, treat him as an honored guest, and privately pay attention to his preferences. After all, I am a woman and it’s not good to move around too much. It’s better to wait for cousin Si Yuan to come before discussing.”

Now that Mr. Songshan has entered the Marquis Mansion, he must not be allowed to leave easily.

The group chatted for a while, and Qin Yuan added, ”Let’s discuss how to arrange the upcoming banquet at the mansion.”

This was the first banquet hosted by Qin Yuan as the head of the house, and she couldn’t afford to lose face.

Qin Yuan first laid out a general plan, and both Hong Ye and Cui Ming agreed enthusiastically.

Hong Ye said, ”Miss, you don’t seem like a novice at all, but rather as if you’ve organized countless banquets.”

Cui Ming said, ”Indeed, Miss truly embodies that phrase—born noble, knowledgeable by nature. Miss is born to be a noble.”

”Isn’t that so? Otherwise, why would it be our miss who married the Marquis?”

Speaking of this, Hong Ye had much to say.

Qin Yuan quickly interrupted, saying, ”This is just a simple thing. It’s the same for every family hosting a party. After watching a few, you understand. Haven’t eaten pork? Haven’t you seen a pig run either? Specifically, at the Marquis Mansion, we need to plan carefully.”

Hong Ye said, ”Just check the old records of the Marquis Mansion, back then the accounts were thoroughly reviewed, and I’ve noted them all.”

Cui Ming nodded, looking at Hong Ye admiringly.

Qin Yuan said, ”You and Cui Ming organize it first, let the stewards and housekeepers supplement it tomorrow, and just follow it.”

Cui Ming felt quite sentimental.

”Sharpening the axe before chopping the wood, this is the truth behind it; having the accounts clear means no one can fool us.”

They were having a lively conversation inside.

Outside, the young maid announced, ”Xiao Hong is here.”

”Quickly let her in,” Qin Yuan promptly instructed.

As Xiao Hong stepped in, she said, ”Madam, Old Madam is asking you to come over to talk.”

Qin Yuan stood up and asked, ”It’s late, what’s the matter?”

Xiao Hong replied, ”Old Madam wants to find a proper person to foster Brother Cheng and Sister Yu and asked me to invite you over for a discussion since I’m serving nearby.”

Hong Ye laughed, ”I wondered why this rare guest has come.”

Xiao Hong pouted her lips.

”It’s obviously you who ignored me first, yet you blame me for not coming often. I heard you’re now teaching several young ladies about bookkeeping and didn’t think of me at all.”

Hong Ye laughed, ”It’s because you aren’t around. Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst; there are many affairs within the Wutong Garden that cannot all wait on you.”

Xiao Hong pouted, rolling her eyes at Hong Ye.

Hong Ye stomped her foot.

”You can’t pick on the soft ones. To come to Wutong Garden, our madam needs to nod.”

Xiao Hong’s eyes turned red.

Qin Yuan quickly comforted her, ”I have always wanted you to come, but Brother Cheng and Sister Yu temporarily cannot do without you. You and Zihe are both valued by me. I sincerely want both of you to come. Let’s wait until they are settled.”

Xiao Hong, eyes still reddish, already had a smile on her face.

”With your words, Madam, I’m willing to wait.”

Qin Yuan changed her clothes while Xiao Hong sat on a small stool, admiring Qin Yuan’s garments and accessories, and intermittently talking about Yang Pozi.

”They’ve met a few more times; Sister Yu doesn’t manage affairs much and listens to Brother Cheng.”

Qin Yuan asked, ”Has Brother Cheng understood the intention from the mansion?”

”He knows.”

”Has he thought it through, or still plans to make a fuss?”

”It seems he has thought it through.”

Qin Yuan then had an idea.

”You and Zihe follow along, keep an eye on Yang Pozi, she will likely be taken over, and if anything happens, come back and report.”

Hong Ye was slightly surprised but quickly hid it.

Xiao Hong blinked her eyes and obediently agreed.

Qin Yuan, after dressing, headed with them to the main house, Gu Marquis and Sixth Master Gu were already there, along with the dragon and phoenix twins.

Seeing her arrival, Old Madam Gu smiled, ”My child, you’ve come just in time, we are choosing someone for the brothers and sisters. There are several branches in the Gu Family, with childless couples, peers with Hui’er, who have excellent temperament and reputation, and are willing to move nearby to the mansion.”