"It’s so late, do you still want to try them all?"

Qin Yuan’s eyes were gentle and intimate, her tone soft.

Usually, Gu Jinghui wouldn’t bother to think about anything else and would naturally go along with her.

But today Marquis Gu was particularly insistent: "Yes, no need to redo your hair, just dress up like this, I’ll help you choose."

Qin Yuan sighed, "Alright."

Truly she didn’t know what madness this big lord was up to again.

Cui Ming and Hong Ye came up to help remove the headpieces and then adorned new ones.

Marquis Gu lay lazily on the Arhat Bed, chatting intermittently with Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan asked, "Why did I hear someone shouting outside just now?"

Marquis Gu replied, "A person from the Yelv Clan left."

Qin Yuan simply said "Oh" and did not ask further.

Marquis Gu watched as Cui Ming inserted the jadeite, agate, and emerald feather ornaments into her hair at the mirror, adding, "I sent Yelv Xianyong back too."

Qin Yuan gave a light smile.

Marquis Gu continued, "For sending him back, Sixteen got beaten up."

Hong Ye was shocked, quickly turned around without regard for rank, and asked Marquis Gu, "Marquis, was Sixteen badly hurt?"

Marquis Gu laughed mischievously, "Why ask such a thing? This is a military secret, unrelated persons should not inquire."

Hong Ye’s face turned red, ultimately said nothing more, but stood by Qin Yuan, clearly absent-minded.

Seeing this, Qin Yuan said, "Alright, just have Cui Ming stay here. You go and see if the hot water is ready in the small kitchen."

Hong Ye hurriedly left the room.

Without turning around, Qin Yuan asked at the mirror, "Okay, stop fooling around, did Sixteen really get beaten?"

"Just minor injuries," Marquis Gu replied, "Otherwise how does it seem like he was really punished?"

Qin Yuan said, "After days of performance, only Yelv Xianyong didn’t notice."

Marquis Gu couldn’t help but laugh.

"These past days, I’ve been accompanying him with drinking and eating lamb every day; I’m somewhat overwhelmed. He truly is honest and a bit capable; if Yelv Xianyong abandons him, I’ll certainly settle him well. Being amidst the scheme, who can truly see? Even Yelv Guza might not notice."

Qin Yuan laughed and said, "Congratulations, my husband."

Marquis Gu looked at her slender and graceful figure, smiling, "What is there to congratulate?"

Qin Yuan said, "Congratulations, my husband, for acquiring a good general in the future."

Marquis Gu sighed, "I see Yelv Xianyong as a loyal person, always upholding righteousness; even being misunderstood by Yelv Guza, he would not easily turn to me."

Qin Yuan said, "Yelv Guza is considered a cunning hero; Yelv Xianyong cherishes old friendships and won’t leave easily. But a cunning hero acts between right and wrong and is suspicious and deceitful. Now, with Yelv Guza being constrained everywhere, his actions will only get more sinister. Yelv Xianyong acts forthrightly; over time they will grow apart. You needn’t worry, this strategy to sow discord is already set. It won’t be long before Yelv Xianyong comes over."

Marquis Gu laughed and said, "What you see is the same as Mr. Songshan’s view. I will wait and see."

Qin Yuan added, "Congratulations to my husband for now being a black sesame dumpling. In the future against Prince Qi, victory or defeat might be fifty-fifty."

Marquis Gu was amused by these words, laughing heartily.

His inner gloom instantly disappeared completely.

"Since childhood, Prince Qi has been a black sesame dumpling. I don’t know how many of his schemes I’ve fallen for; if it could be fifty-fifty, it would be quite satisfying."

Qin Yuan laughed and said, "I don’t think my husband doesn’t know how to scheme; it’s just that you don’t want to. Now aren’t you using them quite well?"

Marquis Gu tried to stay calm and laughed, "Don’t praise me anymore; I’ll lose my way if you keep flattering me."

Qin Yuan said, "My husband has made rapid progress lately, it seems Mr. Songshan has put in a lot of effort. We have our family reunion during Mid-Autumn, leaving him alone, which is not good."

Marquis Gu sighed, "Mr. Songshan has no family left. If he spends the festival with us, he might feel uncomfortable."

The two chatted idly for a few more sentences.

Qin Yuan had already changed into a set of head accessories, this one was embedded with jadeite and gold; the water color was excellent, under the lamp, the green and gold intertwined magnificently, resplendent and dazzling, almost too beautiful to behold.

Marquis Gu sighed, "Why does mother have so many headpieces, each better looking than the last; it’s really hard to choose."

Qin Yuan thought he wanted to pick the best-looking one for her and said, "As I am going into the palace, it’s better not to dress too conspicuously. As a minister’s wife, one should adhere to one’s duties and not outshine the nobles."

Marquis Gu felt admiration in his heart.

What woman doesn’t want to dress up on this day to avoid being looked down upon?

Marquis Gu said, "This set looks good; let’s look at the next one."

Since Qin Yuan didn’t wish to stand out, Marquis Gu thought it would be logical to choose the least attractive set.

Qin Yuan sighed, "After finishing this set, I should go to sleep. Normally, this is the time I retire."

Marquis Gu replied, "Alright."

Cui Ming was there helping to remove the headpieces.

Without Hong Ye’s help, it indeed seemed a bit inconvenient.

Qin Yuan watched as Cui Ming placed the headpieces in the box and asked, "How does Old Aunt Wen spend Mid-Autumn Festival in the nunnery every year?"

Marquis Gu collected his amusement and said plainly, "Whatever. She chose to go to the nunnery herself, doesn’t see anyone, and naturally feels best there. When she used to be in the residence, she seemed like she didn’t belong to the mortal world, ignored worldly matters, and even barely cared for the Sixth Brother, who grew up with us not knowing that others might think Sixth Brother came from my mother’s womb. As for Treasure Bead, it was even worse; right after the confinement period she insisted on going to the nunnery. Poor Treasure Bead, already born without a father, and shortly afterward neglected by her mother; thankfully my mother was there, or else Treasure Bead would be so pitiful."

Marquis Gu was deeply emotional about family, hence felt great injustice for Sixth Master Gu and Gu Baoshu, with significant resentment towards the cold-hearted Old Aunt Wen.

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and asked, "Was Old Aunt Wen went to the nunnery for Old Marquis?"

Marquis Gu sneered, "Even when my father was alive, they met only a few times a year. Old Aunt Wen lived in the most secluded yard, which has long been sealed. She barely left that yard day by day, even Sixth Brother rarely saw her casually. But she liked listening to opera; the family’s opera troupe was maintained for her, and they even built a small stage for her. I saw it as nothing in her eyes."

Suddenly, Qin Yuan thought Sixth Master Gu seemed quite pitiful.

Weak in body, watching as his father taught his brothers martial arts, yet unable to be close to his own mother; perhaps that’s why he liked to take women from brothels.

Marquis Gu continued, "What’s most hateful is that when Old Sixth was to discuss marriage, my mother picked out several girls for him, yet she sent a message from the nunnery saying she had already set her eyes on the girl from the Xu family. And look at how Old Sixth and his wife are doing now. The Xu family has turned hostile towards us, and who knows how she’ll make a mess of Treasure Bead’s marriage!"