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

Chapter 509: Chapter 509: Stirred Hearts

”...This, is this what the Marquis asked you to choose for the Madam?”

Hong Ye stared for a while, then looked up and asked Gu Shiliu.

Gu Shiliu, not understanding, scratched the back of his head and said, ”Yes, the Marquis said to find the most valuable headpieces and jewelry from the storeroom and give them to the Madam.”

The Marquis also repeatedly emphasized showcasing identity, needing to be precious, grand, with solid gold being the best.

He had put in a lot of effort to pick out these few sets, with no jade or mixed gems, all crafted by renowned artisans.

Hong Ye glared at him without speaking.

Gu Shiliu understood something was wrong but didn’t know what was wrong.

Shen Changle laughed and said, ”These ornaments are quite old, and not the most fashionable styles now, plus they look like they’re meant for older women.”

Gu Shiliu made a sound of surprise.

Qin Yuan laughed and said, ”Indeed, but I like them. Shen Changle, take them to get polished when you return. I’ll wear this at the Mid-Autumn banquet.”

Hong Ye widened her eyes in surprise.

Gu Shiliu hesitated and said, ”Perhaps I should go back to the storehouse to look again and ask for the Marquis’s opinion.”

Qin Yuan laughed and said, ”Didn’t you choose according to the Marquis’s wishes?”

Hong Ye also understood and laughed, ”Didn’t expect the Marquis to be so cunning.”

Cui Ming retorted, ”What cunning? The Marquis is...”

”Is what?” Hong Ye pressed the question.

”Is...is...”

Cui Ming thought for a moment and said, ”Is only fond of treasures.”

Seeing the pile of gold headpieces, Qin Yuan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Gu Shiliu laughed too.

Hong Ye sighed, ”When it comes to speaking, it’s still Cui Ming who has a way with words.”

Qin Yuan laughed, ”The one who speaks best has to be Shiliu.”

Hong Ye said nothing more.

As Shen Changle was leaving, he made a detour to Sixth Master Gu’s study to discuss the illustrations and other matters.

Learning that the Poetry Collection of Traveling in Yuyuantan was a big hit, and the Book Sea Pavilion’s failure in the competition actually made the poetry contest famous in the Capital, while many people pre-ordered the Firefly Collection, Sixth Master Gu was delighted and readily agreed to illustrate the poetry collection of the Jinling female poet, offering his latest works.

”There are a few newly obtained works here; take them and record them on the poetry wall for me.”

Shen Changle took a look and praised, ”Sixth Master’s poetry is indeed improving more and more.”

It was just casual praise, but unfortunately, Sixth Master Gu took it seriously and asked, ”What’s good about it?”

”Well, well,” Shen Changle was at a loss, ”Actually, I can’t quite say what’s good about it, it just feels better when read.”

Sixth Master Gu wasn’t disappointed, pondering for a while and said, ”So, it’s more harmonious in rhyme.”

”Exactly, exactly,” Shen Changle hurriedly laughed, ”Sixth Master, these days you seem busy and haven’t sent in any manuscripts for quite a while. The Marquis’s paintings...”

Sixth Master Gu said, ”Apart from dealing with the lawsuit against the Xu family, I’ve been contemplating writing poetry and painting every day.”

Shen Changle hadn’t spoken yet.

Gu Shiliu came over and said, ”Your servant is here to ease Sixth Master’s mind. The Madam has already arranged everything; in a couple of days, the Xu family will return everything, and Sixth Master, don’t forget to register with the Magistrate at the Capital Governor Mansion by then.”

Sixth Master Gu was surprised and said, ”How did my third sister-in-law arrange everything? Didn’t my third brother say I could handle it myself? I’ve been bothered by this, intending to seek his opinion, but these days he’s been drinking with that ugly fellow whenever he has free time.”

Sixth Master Gu liked beautiful things and got goosebumps at the sight of Yelv Xianyong.

He still hasn’t remembered the person’s name.

Gu Shiliu laughed, ”I should have mentioned it earlier, but the Xu family hadn’t reacted much in the past few days, fearing that speaking out might influence Sixth Master’s lawsuit. Now that Sixth Master has reissued the lawsuit against the Xu family, and things are nearly settled here, I dared to mention it and remind Sixth Master not to focus solely on private settlements with the Xu family and forget to register at the Capital Governor Mansion.”

Sixth Master Gu asked, ”Did you do something?”

Gu Shiliu smiled mysteriously.

”The other night at the ancestral hall, the Xu family was quite scared, so the Madam arranged for me to act as the situation demanded. I considered that Xu Tang was stuck inside the Imperial Palace kicking ball, while the Xu family’s sons were busy in the gambling den, and Mrs. Xu, being a woman, was most respectful of ghosts and gods. So, I played a small trick to scare them, luckily achieving some success.”

Shen Changle laughed, ”I really didn’t expect Brother Sixteen to be capable of this.”

Sixth Master Gu paused for a moment, then pounded the table and said, ”My third sister-in-law really is...”

Really what, he couldn’t quite say it.

Shen Changle continued, ”The Madam is wise and resourceful, beyond our anticipation. For instance, with this poetry collection by women, the Madam has organized it clearly. I heard she wrote to her old friends, her correspondence from her maiden days, asking her to start a women’s poetry society in Jinling, selecting many good poems, and additionally including a few new poems from Young Master Nantang. How could this poetry collection not sell well?”

Sixth Master Gu exclaimed, ”So, my third sister-in-law had arranged everything.”

Shen Changle laughed, ”Exactly, Sixth Master just needs to think of ways to make it look elegant. Women love elegant things that show their uniqueness, and now with the Liu Ying Society founded by women from Jinling, naturally, all literate people will want to buy a copy.”

Sixth Master Gu joyously said, ”I wonder if I could borrow these poems to have a look.”

Shen Changle took them out from his sleeve, handed them over, and said, ”I originally intended to find someone to make a copy and then bring it to you later to facilitate your illustrations, Sixth Master.”

Sixth Master Gu said, ”I know you handle matters reliably; I just wanted to see how these women’s poems compare to my third sister-in-law’s.”

Reading them one by one.

Sixth Master Gu sighed, ”These women’s works are rare, but compared to my third sister-in-law’s, they lack a certain liveliness and elegance. Some have exquisite wording, yet are too polished and crafted, appearing a bit trivial.”

Shen Changle laughed, ”After all, our Madam is the daughter of Lord Sacrificial Officer, with a deep-rooted family tradition.”

Sixth Master Gu picked up a sheet of paper, read it again and again, and praised, ”Although this person’s works don’t compare to my third sister-in-law’s, they are quite extraordinary.”

Shen Changle took a closer look and laughed, ”It turns out to be her, this Miss Dong is a friend of the Madam, they correspond regularly, and this Liu Ying Society was initiated by her. I heard she has quite a reputation for her talent around Gusu.”

Sixth Master Gu said, ”A friend of my third sister-in-law’s must be good as well. They say birds of a feather flock together. Do you know which family Miss Dong is engaged to?”

Shen Changle thought for a moment and said, ”I think she hasn’t been engaged yet.”

Gu Shiliu laughed and said, ”I know about this. I heard from Hong Ye that Miss Dong’s family isn’t well-off and is in the process of arranging a marriage. I heard her father intends to marry her to a wealthy merchant, but Miss Dong is not very willing; she wrote to the Madam to complain, and the Madam thought of this way, also wanting to pave her road to fame.”

Shen Changle sighed, ”The Madam truly has a Bodhisattva’s heart.”

Upon hearing this, Sixth Master Gu looked at that sheet of paper again with a complicated expression.

Gu Shiliu said, ”Exactly, the Madam said if Miss Dong earns a good reputation, it’s possible someone might disregard her family status and propose to the Dong family. Miss Dong could have more opportunities to choose a husband.”