Gu Baoshu said curiously, "Could it be that only men are allowed to be unruly in this world, but we women can’t?"

Marquis Gu glared, "...So you didn’t listen to a word I just said."

Gu Baoshu immediately brought up Qin Yuan and said, "Aren’t I doing this for the sake of Third Sister-in-law’s bookshop business? Didn’t they say they wanted to draw the scene of that day’s ball kicking at the Imperial College? You Da said we looked too messy that day, not pretty enough. Besides, with so many people, Sixth Brother might not remember it all. So I thought I’d have Sixth Brother watch us play again. What’s wrong with that name? Should it be called the Ten Overlords Kicking Ball Painting instead?"

Marquis Gu was speechless.

Sixth Master Gu said from the side, "Oh! I remember now; that You Da didn’t even kick the ball that day. Should we include her this time?"

"Of course," said Gu Baoshu.

"I see."

Sixth Master Gu glanced at Gu Baoshu and said, "I have a great memory; the entire ball-kicking scene from that day is etched in my mind. You need not trouble yourselves further."

Gu Baoshu stomped and said, "I won’t talk to you anymore; I’m going to find Third Sister-in-law."

The two Gu brothers also found her immoveable like oil and salt.

Gu Baoshu stormed off to Wutong Garden to find Qin Yuan, only to come up empty, then went to the main house.

Qin Yuan was speaking with Old Madam Gu.

"Mother, Marquis is really something, insisting that the headpiece you sent is too beautiful to wear out and must be kept at home. The ones Sixteen brought today are all outdated, though expensive. He fears you might find me inferior when we’re together."

The Old Madam Gu’s face was full of teasing smiles: "You young couples don’t mind, what does this old lady care?"

Gu Baoshu spoke through the window, "Third Brother is so old-fashioned. Third Sister-in-law, if you always agree with him, he’ll get out of hand and keep you under strict control."

"What do you know, little one."

Old Madam Gu spat.

Gu Baoshu breezed in and, without greeting Old Madam Gu, took Qin Yuan’s hand, "Third Sister-in-law, you must judge for me."

She recounted the matter in one breath without a pause.

Qin Yuan said, "This is all Third Brother’s fault."

Gu Baoshu was finally pleased, turning to Old Madam Gu, "Mother, see, even Third Sister-in-law says it’s Third Brother’s fault."

Old Madam Gu said, "Now you finally see me."

Gu Baoshu apologized with a smile, "I’ve always seen you, but Third Brother and Sixth Brother made me so angry earlier; I rushed to find Third Sister-in-law to judge it."

Old Madam Gu said, "Your Sixth Brother can be left alone; if he doesn’t wish to draw, that’s his decision. But why is your Third Brother idling around and getting involved in your matters?"

Qin Yuan laughed, "Isn’t it all because of Baoshu? He’s worried that if this Ten Beauties Painting spreads out and someone presents it to the Crown Prince, should the Crown Prince choose someone from it to enter the Eastern Palace, everyone would blame Baoshu."

"That won’t do," Old Madam Gu turned to Gu Baoshu, "Your Third Brother is presently favored by the emperor, handling the major affairs of the Capital Inspection. You know how he got this role, because the daughters of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers didn’t want to enter the Crown Princess selection, right?"

Gu Baoshu was dumbfounded, finally saying after a while, "There are such winding connections within? No wonder Third Brother got angry at the mention of the Crown Prince selecting a beauty."

"Little Sister Baozhu, don’t ever mention this in the future. If your words get out and combined with this painting, they’ll say the Dingbei Marquis Mansion misunderstood the Crown Prince’s intentions, fearing the label of flattery won’t escape."

Gu Baoshu stomped, "This You Da is truly troublesome. Third Sister-in-law, didn’t you just say it was all Third Brother’s fault?"

Qin Yuan said solemnly, "Of course, it’s his fault. He clearly intended it for your good but hesitated due to his relations with you and You Da. Not making it explicit, that’s his fault."

Outside the window.

Sixth Master Gu quietly said to Marquis Gu, "So Third Brother considers things so thoroughly."

Marquis Gu gave a light cough, saying nothing.

The little wife said so, and he hadn’t thought this thoroughly.

But if the little wife said he thought of it, then he did.

Sixth Master Gu looked at Marquis Gu with admiration.

Just like as a child, when Marquis Gu took him tree climbing and egg stealing, only to be beaten by the eldest brother afterward.

Inside the room.

Gu Baoshu was deeply moved, "Third Sister-in-law, you favor me too much. I said we are the best duo in the world. Third Sister-in-law, please always include me in business, I’ve calculated all my capital. You do pepper, I do pepper; you do Sichuan pepper, I do Sichuan pepper. We’ll be the best sisters-in-law forever, never to part."

As she spoke, it seemed as if they were going through fire and water together.

Don’t know where she got that chivalrous spirit from.

Old Madam Gu held her forehead with her hand, worried, "Heavens, when will you wise up, is it so difficult? Look at you, being angry and causing a fuss. Without your Third Sister-in-law mediating, wouldn’t you be at odds with your Third Brother?"

Qin Yuan chuckled.

Gu Baoshu said, "How was I to know? Perhaps when my mother was pregnant with me, she ate too little pig heart, cow heart, or chicken heart, and that’s why I’m missing something."

Qin Yuan quickly glanced at Old Madam Gu. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Old Madam Gu’s eyes flashed with sadness and pity, forcing a smile, "Baoshu, come over to mother; from now on, I’ll have someone make more pig heart soup for you."

Marquis Gu lifted the curtain and entered; Sixth Master Gu followed closely behind.

"Mother, I think you’d better give her some boiled brains instead."

"How does one eat that?"

Before Gu Baoshu could respond, Old Madam Gu opposed.

Marquis Gu said, "I’ve seen people from Sichuan eating hot spicy pots to dispel dampness. They say the taste is quite good when boiled in it, and ordinary people can’t even get enough pig brains. It’s said that ancient emperors ate monkey heads; let Baoshu eat pig heads then."

Gu Baoshu, no matter how foolish, could tell Third Brother was taking a dig at her, but being in the wrong, she wisely kept quiet, just rolling her eyes in secret, making faces.

Old Madam Gu said, "Baoshu, Sister Lan has been asking for you since morning; she misses her aunt very much. Go see her quickly."

Gu Baoshu, wanting to leave, was overjoyed, "I know."

Having said that, she ran off.

Once Gu Baoshu left, Old Madam Gu dropped her smile and asked Marquis Gu, "Hui’er, what has been found out about the family temple? What about the Mo Family?"

Qin Yuan also looked toward Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu sighed, walked over to Qin Yuan, sat down, took her tea, drank half of it, then said, "Mother, please pity your son too; I’ve just returned, haven’t even had tea, and you’re already shooting questions at me like a cannon."

Old Madam Gu glanced at him and said, "How old are you, still acting coy in front of your wife and brother? Stop joking and tell us what you’ve found out; just speak up, I can handle it."

Sixth Master Gu sat opposite, also looking at Marquis Gu.

Marquis Gu cleared his throat and said, "Thanks to Madam’s vigilance, Monk Zhiguang and his master’s origins were unknown. Over the years, they buried many silver ingots under the Buddhist Hall. The Magistrate of the Capital Governor Mansion is investigating."