When Mrs.Cui was about to fall asleep in a daze, Qin Jijiu said softly, "In life, eight or nine out of ten things don’t go as one wishes."

Mrs.Cui understood in her heart that Qin Jijiu couldn’t bear to part with his elder daughter, nor his elder son-in-law.

This meant she had to act according to the situation.

...

By evening, Qin Yuan still hadn’t seen Marquis Gu return, so she went to bed feeling downhearted.

When she woke up in the morning and saw the tidy bedding beside her, she knew that Marquis Gu hadn’t returned the entire night, which made her somewhat worried.

When Hong Ye came in to serve her, she saw Qin Yuan sitting on the bed wrapped in a bright red gauze quilt, lost in thought. Her long black hair fell like a waterfall, revealing only half of her delicate porcelain face.

Like a just-awakened crabapple flower, the morning dew was on the half-open petals, about to drip but not quite.

Who wouldn’t be moved at such a sight?

Hong Ye momentarily forgot her worries from the night, silently gazing at her mistress.

It was Qin Yuan who raised her head and asked with a smile, "Why are you standing there foolishly without saying anything?"

Hong Ye then snapped out of it and said, "I saw that Miss was thinking about something and was afraid to disturb you."

Qin Yuan lazily stretched, threw off the gauze quilt, and began to dress.

Hong Ye cautiously said, "We don’t know how Sixteen and the Marquis are doing; they haven’t been home for a whole day and night."

Qin Yuan chuckled lightly, "Don’t overthink it. When soldiers come, the generals resist; when water comes, the earth covers. Marquis Gu and his men have returned from the battlefield; they don’t need us women in the inner chambers to worry."

Hong Ye felt relieved, "That’s right; I’ve been overthinking."

She immediately felt a lot lighter.

Qin Yuan tugged at the corner of her lips. Though she spoke lightly, she was actually very worried inside.

But what use is worry?

After Qin Gang finished washing up, Qiujie came in with two little maids carrying a food box, saying, "Madam, the Old Madam noticed several items in the small kitchen’s breakfast today that you love; she specifically sent me to bring them."

Hong Mian came forward to open the food box, and sure enough, it was filled with Qin Yuan’s favorite dishes whenever she dined in the main room.

Qin Yuan laughed, "Mother is so thoughtful, still remembering me during breakfast. I originally planned to go and eat a bit with her since the Marquis isn’t here, but I slept in, and she already sent it over."

Qiujie laughed, "The Old Madam only wishes you would come to the main room to eat more often. She said, since the Marquis has so many affairs to deal with and is managing the Capital Inspection, he can still return home daily to rest, but once things are settled, he’ll likely have to live in the Great Camp often. If you feel lonely, go to the main room more often for meals and chats."

This was a message from the Old Madam, and Qin Yuan quickly stood up, listening intently before saying, "I know what Mother said; the Marquis is busy with important matters and naturally won’t be like ordinary men. I wish I could go to the main room to eat every day, but I’m afraid Mother would find it bothersome."

Qiujie quickly said with a smile, "What are you saying, Madam? When you go to the main room, the Old Madam and Nanny Rong are happier than usual, and the Old Madam also eats more than usual."

Qin Yuan smiled, instructed Cui Ming to bring out some silver to reward the young maids, and then asked Qiujie, "Do you still want the incense pills from the last time?"

Qiujie shyly laughed, "Of course, they’re the best. I’ve been wanting to ask but couldn’t find an opportunity."

Last time, Manager Leng came to the main room to pay respects to the Old Madam and mentioned the business at Ranxiang Inn. He said Madam’s incense pills were in short supply and the price had been raised several times, yet people lined up daily to buy them. He also said that the ones Madam gifted to the Old Madam were unpurchasable outside.

Therefore, Qiujie found it even harder to ask.

Seeing Qin Yuan ask voluntarily, she was naturally overjoyed.

Cui Ming smirked, taking out a pack of incense pills from the inner room and handing them to Qiujie, "There’s not much left here either. Madam is busier now than before and makes fewer of them—take these first."

Qiujie accepted them with both hands, happily saying, "This is more than enough."

After sending Qiujie off, Cui Ming returned to find that the meal had already been served and said, "The Old Madam is worried Miss would overthink; that’s why she had Qiujie bring breakfast."

Hong Ye said, "It seems before Miss married into the mansion, the Marquis often handled affairs without returning."

Qin Yuan smiled, "Let’s not worry about that. The dishes Mother made in the small kitchen are quite delicious. Let’s think about sending some dishes for the evening meal as well."

They had only had a few bites when a young maid reported, "Madam, a servant boy from the second gate brought an invitation from Jiujie Mansion."

"An invitation?"

Qin Yuan wondered, "Since when did we become so distant?"

Hong Ye quickly said, "Hurry and bring the invitation in."

The young maid hurriedly brought in the invitation. Qin Yuan opened it and saw it was from Mrs.Cui, saying she wanted to visit at noon and discuss some matters.

Turning it over and over, Qin Yuan couldn’t understand why she suddenly needed to send an invitation.

Hong Ye was puzzled, "A simple verbal message would suffice; why send an invitation? It’s too..."

A mother wanting to see her daughter and having to send an invitation—this was indeed aloof.

Moreover, if it were truly formal, the invitation should not have been sent on the same day as the visit.

It all suggested something out of place, with an underlying sense of unspeakable peculiarity.

Cui Ming said, "Could it be that Madam wants to meet the Old Madam but didn’t want to bypass Miss and send an invitation directly?"

But what business could the Qin Family possibly have with Old Madam Gu?

If there were a serious matter, why not send an invitation directly to Old Madam Gu?

Qin Yuan frowned, saying, "First, have someone reply that the daughter will be sweeping the mat and waiting respectfully for Mother."

Only when she saw Mrs.Cui at noon did Qin Yuan finally relax.

Mrs.Cui’s face was somber, with heavy dark circles under her eyes, indicating she had a lot on her mind.

Qin Yuan welcomed her with a smile and asked, "Mother, would you like to sit in Wutong Garden first or visit Old Madam?"

Mrs.Cui, with a dark expression, said, "Of course, I want to see Old Madam, but there’s no rush; I have something to say to you."

Qin Yuan understood that what Mrs.Cui wanted to discuss was related to herself, so she led Mrs.Cui into the main room’s inner chamber, dismissed everyone, personally served tea, and offered rare fruits and snacks she had prepared in advance for Mrs.Cui to taste.

As Mrs.Cui surveyed the exceptional items around her, she became even more anxious, hesitating to speak several times before finally sipping her tea and speaking up after a long pause.

"Are you still my daughter?"

Qin Yuan was shocked and hurriedly put down her tea cup, kneeling on the ground, saying, "Why does Mother say this? Have I done something wrong?"

Mrs.Cui was both angry and unable to speak for a long time before saying, "Get up now; you’re grown now, married into the Marquis Mansion, and your wings have hardened. I can’t take this."

Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "Mother, please don’t say that; it truly humbles your daughter. Has someone said something about me to Mother, causing such anger? Please allow me to explain."

Mrs.Cui, upset, said, "Your sister did say a few things to me."

After a pause, she continued, "But it’s not that your sister deliberately criticised you; being sisters, she’s naturally worried about you. Let me ask you: though you’re married into the Marquis Mansion, you’re still a Qin Family’s daughter. Matters concerning your lifelong happiness; how could you hide them from your parents? Your father couldn’t sleep well all night after hearing it yesterday; he got up at the first crow of the rooster to dress in court attire and head to the morning court."