She became more docile the more guilty she felt.

But these gentle words made Marquis Gu feel even more heroic, wishing to give his all for this charming little woman in front of him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around Qin Yuan’s slender waist and sighed, "Seeing Sixth Elder surrounded by children today made me think, we should have several of our own. The older ones should be talented both in literature and martial arts, the younger ones should be clever and sensible. The daughters should be as delicate and intelligent as you, and the sons should be as gentle and refined as my father-in-law. I also want to teach them martial arts."

Qin Yuan: "..."

In her past life, she didn’t recover well from a miscarriage, making it hard to have children later. When Lin Ziqi was promoted in Zhejiang, she was pregnant but couldn’t keep the child, and in the end, she had no offspring left.

Although she had regrets, there was also relief.

Lin Ziqi had many illegitimate children, and particularly favored the sons his cousin bore.

If she had given birth, but couldn’t stay to watch them grow, who knows how much the child would suffer.

Qin Yuan gently traced the golden embroidery on Marquis Gu’s chest with her finger, smiling, "Isn’t it too early to say these things?"

"Not too early," Marquis Gu took her fingers, earnestly saying, "The future of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion will rely on our children. As their father, I must make plans for them and consider what legacy to leave."

"Isn’t the Dingbei Marquis Mansion already sufficient? How much more burden do you want to place on the children?"

Qin Yuan widened her eyes, puzzled.

"No, that’s what the ancestors left, not me."

Marquis Gu insisted.

Qin Yuan couldn’t quite understand the man before her.

But regardless, now he was vigorous and open, wealthy, and heavily relied on and valued her.

That was enough.

Perhaps, years later, he too would tire of her like Lin Ziqi did in her past life.

But at this moment, the wealth and happiness he gave her were real, and her admiration for his bravery and handsomeness, and her enjoyment of his tenderness and reliance, was real too.

In the future, she would know how to handle him.

Qin Yuan laughed, "Very well, Marquis Gu, you should carefully consider how to build a grand estate for your children."

...

Qin Wan, wearing only a thin gauze dress, sat at the table by the window, looking defeatedly at the half-covered moon obscured by clouds.

On the desk, random characters were written on rice paper, then smeared over.

Yanhong came in and said, "Miss, it’s almost autumn, and it’s chilly at night. Why are you still dressed so lightly?"

Qin Wan came back to her senses, frowned, and said, "I’ve been sitting here in a daze for a while. How has it gotten so late?"

She had just finished speaking when she coughed lightly a few times.

Yanhong hurriedly fetched a garment for her, looking both anxious and worried, "Miss, be careful not to catch cold."

After stopping her cough, Qin Wan asked, "Is the young master asleep?"

Yanhong replied, "He is."

Qin Wan got up and took a few steps before sitting on the bed in a daze.

Yanhong asked, "Does Miss have something on her mind?"

Qin Wan sighed, "... Yanhong... Tell me, am I, am I wrong?"

Yanhong looked at Qin Wan curiously.

The young lady had always been decisive, never saying she was wrong. What had changed today?

Yanhong thought for a moment and asked, "Does Miss think she shouldn’t have displeased the young master by mentioning the cousin? But I feel that ever since the cousin came, the house has been more chaotic. When thinking about it, it isn’t Miss’s fault."

Qin Wan sighed.

Yanhong realized she hadn’t touched on the young lady’s concerns and then heard her say slowly, "I mean, did I marry the wrong person?"

Yanhong paused and then asked, "Why would Miss think that? Didn’t Miss say that the young master would certainly succeed? Though these times are hard, after weathering them, good days lie ahead! If Miss truly dislikes the cousin and finds it hard to speak about with the young master, perhaps you should consult Madam at home. If that doesn’t work, we could also seek help from the eldest young lady."

This burst of words made Qin Wan laugh.

Qin Wan sighed, "Ultimately, you truly care for me. Didn’t you previously advise me not to do anything foolish? You must still think that now, just that things are already as they are, so you comfort me this way."

Yanhong hurriedly said, "Miss, marrying a chicken follows the chicken, marrying a dog follows the dog. Since you initially admired the young master’s talents, believing he could leap the dragon gate, we must hold on tight. Whose household doesn’t have some troublesome matters? Actually, Miss is already fortunate. The Old Madam, respecting the gentleman, doesn’t dare to trouble you greatly. The cousin is just like a toad hopping on your foot, simply annoying."

Qin Wan sighed and said nothing.

At first, she admired Lin Ziqi’s talents, but was the talent of the previous life-famed Grand Secretary Lin of Daxing truly genuine?

Countless times, she tried to rationalize Lin Ziqi in her heart.

Perhaps it’s because of his headaches that he can’t write poetry as stunning as before.

Or maybe she shouldn’t have been so impatient and assumed the poem through a dream; Lin Ziqi, after pondering hard, might have naturally found it with the right time and place at Yu Yuantang.

But Lin Ziqi’s behavior today made it impossible for her to suppress her unease.

Lin Ziqi had hinted before that she should never mention the poetry collection again.

Yet today, he asked her to consider if she could think of a good poem again.

Qin Wan dared not ponder the implications hidden within this.

Moreover, what’s worse... she couldn’t create one.

Qin Wan murmured, "How did she do it actually?"

In her past life, how did Qin Yuan subdue Mrs. Lin and Lady Yu? How did she cure Lin Ziqi’s headaches?

Hearing her whisper, Yanhong perked her ears but couldn’t make out anything, noticing Qin Wan suddenly opened her eyes wide and asked, "Yanhong, is eldest sister good at composing poetry?"

Yanhong thought and said, "I’ve only heard the young master in the hall mention the eldest young lady’s great knowledge, but no one took it seriously. And, she has never composed a poem in public."

The young lady never liked the eldest young lady to surpass her, always wanting to be on top. Madam indulged, so it was natural for the elder young lady to hide her talents.

But Yanhong thought that if the eldest young lady were good at poetry, she would surely find ways to gain fame at gatherings and pave the way for a good marriage.

Thinking of this, Yanhong involuntarily considered that perhaps everything is destined, beyond anyone’s control.

The eldest young lady did nothing, yet got a fine marriage.

Yanhong pondered here and there.

Qin Wan, however, breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Right, yes, if eldest sister were good at composing poetry, why would she not do so? Father never mentioned it, so she probably doesn’t know how."

After speaking she felt a bit wrong, Lin Ziqi said Qin Yuan has a poetic talent, he must have seen Qin Yuan compose poetry.

Qin Wan was restless, struggling to sleep through the night.

Yanhong, keeping watch outside, heard her tossing and turning, sighing occasionally, unsure how to comfort her.

The next day, both got up late.

Qin Wan, sporting dark circles, listlessly listened to Mrs. Lin outside using veiled language to scold her, with Lady Yu responding like an opera actor backing a leading role.

Lin Ziqi acted as if he was deaf, remaining silent.

Yanhong was extremely annoyed, yet Qin Wan paid no mind, just contemplating visiting her family home.

Just then, there was a knock at the courtyard door.