Hong Ye sneered, "Aren’t you the clever one? I must have been wrong to like you."

Qin Yuan also smiled, "Hehua and Yang’er may not be dumb either. Alright, let’s not talk about this. Have all the arrangements for the Mid-Autumn Festival been made?"

Hong Ye said, "Everything else is arranged, but the gifts for the two related families have not been decided yet."

Qin Yuan paused for a moment and said, "For the Xu family, just follow the old practice. As for Lin Junren’s family..."

Qin Wan is pregnant, so it should be appropriate to send some things to ensure her health.

But thinking of her petty nature, Qin Yuan was worried that the effort would be wasted and said, "Prepare one more serving of cakes, melon, and lotus root sent to Renhe Hall, and select a few pieces of fine brocade, a few volumes of poetry and travelogues."

Hong Ye asked, "Should we add some gold, silver, or jade items?"

Qin Yuan shook her head, "Forget it, sending them would only bring her more trouble."

Lady Yu is a troublesome sort. Now that she has openly served by Lin Ziqi’s side, without the advantage of bearing a child, she plans to manipulate Mrs. Lin, but sending too many items could just cause jealousy.

In her previous life, she had a miscarriage, and Qin Wan sent over many supplements for her recovery.

Mrs. Lin picked through and took many good things, claiming a miscarriage wasn’t a major illness, and there was no need for such fine items, which infuriated her.

Lin Ziqi even said that his mother was being frugal for their sake.

This life, Qin Wan had finally conceived her own child, so she wouldn’t add to the chaos. With Bai He and Bai He’s mother watching over, Mrs.Cui would take good care of everything.

Hong Ye said, "But this... won’t it seem too stingy?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Qin Yuan said, "It doesn’t matter. Choose popular, high-quality materials for the brocade, in colors suitable for young ladies. The rest can be sent after the child is born. If the gifts are too heavy, it’s hard for them to reciprocate."

She doesn’t like Qin Wan, and even less the other three members of the Lin family, not wanting to give them any advantage.

Hong Ye glanced at Qin Yuan, "Miss seems to care more for the Second Miss than before."

Qin Yuan smiled, "We are both daughters of the Qin family. Her habit of grabbing the best and her proud temper, staying away saves any trouble. Perhaps life in the Marquis Mansion is comfortable, and I don’t bother with such matters. If she’s well, mother won’t be angry, and father won’t be troubled. If there’s nothing else, I might enjoy watching her lively times. But with many tasks inside and outside the mansion, I only hope she creates less trouble for me."

The three finished dividing all the Mid-Autumn festival gifts and wrote them down. Qin Yuan said, "Tomorrow, ask the Old Madam and the Marquis to review it, and it will be finalized."

"Review what?"

Marquis Gu’s voice echoed from outside the door, and in the blink of an eye, he was inside the room.

Qin Yuan first checked Marquis Gu’s expression before rising gracefully to greet him, speaking softly, "We are discussing the Mid-Autumn Festival gift list, unsure about what to send to sister’s home and the Xu family."

Cui Ming brought the spare outfits, and Qin Yuan helped Marquis Gu change into regular clothing. Seeing a slight relaxation in his brows, she said, "I thought of sending some rare delicacies and a few pieces of good material to sister, with fabrics currently in vogue. Hong Ye thinks it’s too modest."

Marquis Gu laughed, "Their house is a real mess; give whatever you like."

Qin Yuan said, "I think the same. Lin Junren’s cousin and his mother are difficult; sending good things might cause trouble. Moreover, their family lacks wealth; expensive gifts may be hard to reciprocate. They might then eye the Second Sister’s dowry."

Marquis Gu was reminded of something, saying, "I heard from Sixteen that Xu Tang sneaked out of the palace and played ball with your brother, visiting Lin Junren’s house twice. He hasn’t even returned to the Xu family during this time."

Qin Yuan sighed.

"Brother Heng is worrisome. I’ve sent a message to father to restrain him from mingling with Xu Tang, but he insists you must enter the tiger’s den to catch a tiger cub, thinking closeness reveals intentions."

Marquis Gu laughed, "Tomorrow, if I’m free, I’ll have Shi Ba invite him to the Imperial College to come home for horseback riding, to have a chat with us."

Qin Yuan said, "Qin family has only one legitimate son, yet his cleverness doesn’t extend to academics. He is sure to manage affairs in the future, and knowing all kinds of people can be beneficial. The worry is merely his nature being led astray and unrecoverable. He admires you; your words might reach him, guiding him would be good."

Marquis Gu, having changed, walked a few steps towards the table, smiling, "I am his brother-in-law. If I don’t guide him, who will? Hopefully, seeing this, father-in-law won’t be too hard on me about my studies."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Perhaps my father feels it’s an advantage, and by urging you to progress, it becomes reciprocation. Congratulations, my lord, and to you, my husband; you won’t escape becoming a Confucian General."

After exchanging a few idle words, Marquis Gu’s mood slowly eased, and he asked Qin Yuan, "How’s the income from your dowry shops these days? I heard from Sixteen you plan to stockpile pepper, is there enough silver? If not, how much do you need, let Sixteen take it from my private treasury."

Qin Yuan smiled, "Manager Leng just brought the ledger over; incense pills are selling well, and several other dowry shops plan to rotate the stock for the Empress Dowager’s birthday, hoping to make substantial profits. Shen Changle and Manager Leng are helping with ideas, oh, and there’s Wan Accountant. Shen Changle is impressive; it hasn’t been long, yet he’s quite close to Wan Accountant again. The poetry collections sell well, but there’s no major profit, yet by year’s end, gathering silver from everywhere should result in quite a sum."

What she implied was temporary, there was no need for Marquis Gu’s private funds.

Marquis Gu asked again, "Wasn’t Treasure Bead clamoring to come to Wutong Garden to talk about the pepper stock, where is she?"

Qin Yuan said, "She left a long time ago, as if she had wings on her feet. By now, she even sent someone to the Duke Mansion with a message, likely to talk with Miss You."

Marquis Gu frowned slightly.

"What you mentioned... is You Da using us to send a painting to the Crown Prince?"

With a chuckle, Qin Yuan laughed out loud, "A good girl, but in your brother and sister’s mouths, she’s like a reckless man."

Marquis Gu tugged at the corners of his lips.

Qin Yuan said, "I’ve heard Treasure Bead mention a few times that Miss You is close to the Ninth Princess and acted as a mediator wanting to secure that Life and Death Document for the Ninth Princess. After Treasure Bead rejected, I thought they’d devise another plan, but after the fire incident at the Hostage Mansion, there’s been no movement."

Marquis Gu’s narrow eyes slightly squinted, "Are you surmising they’re switching tactics to trap us?"

Qin Yuan replied, "I’m just taking precautions. If this image spreads outside, with the Crown Prince using it as leverage to request a marriage decree from the Emperor, who knows what the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers would think. Regardless of her intentions, it’s best discussed after the Crown Princess Consort position is settled."