Looking at the swaying bead curtain, Qin Yuan: "..."

This time is better, at least he didn’t rush out through the window.

From outside came the latter half of Marquis Gu’s sentence: "... I’ll tell you the rest later ..."

Later.

Always later.

Qin Yuan fiddled with the round fan in her hand, unable to resist muttering softly: "It’s like a fire is burning under him, is it so urgent? I wonder what came to his mind again. Always startling me, can’t he sit and talk with me properly for once."

Hong Ye came in, leaned in, and whispered: "Why did the Marquis rush out again? Is there something important?"

"Who knows," Qin Yuan sighed: "He was talking, seemed to think of something and said he had to find Sixth Master. Let’s not worry about them. Old Madam mentioned the family should do ancestral worship together on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the clan leader’s wife wants me to help. Luckily, the Marquis refused, so I got out of it, but how should the mansion celebrate the festival?"

Hong Ye also found it a bit difficult and said: "Perhaps we should discuss it with Old Madam. The clan is handling it, but surely the mansion must celebrate; it’s a significant holiday. It’s our first Mid-Autumn here, better to be meticulous than give people reasons to gossip."

Qin Yuan nodded and added: "That’s the only way."

Then she remembered another matter: "We must pay extra attention to the lantern offerings during the festival, lest it offends and displeases the Empress Dowager. Send word to Shen Changle, asking him to discuss it thoroughly with Manager Leng."

Initially, I intended to pass through the Empress Dowager’s birthday without any mishaps, but now I must stay vigilant to prevent others from fabricating rumors to curry favor with Empress Lin and the Crown Prince, and disparaging the Marquis Mansion before the Empress Dowager.

Hong Ye agreed, yet hesitated to speak several times afterward.

Qin Yuan straightforwardly asked: "What’s wrong, are you uneasy because you haven’t seen Sixteen? Just say whatever you want to ask."

Ignoring her shyness, Hong Ye stammered: "I’m anxious about Sixteen’s family..."

This was concerning whether Gu Shiliu’s family could properly handle Hong Mian’s matter.

Qin Yuan laughed: "Sixteen is not someone without a plan. Don’t worry, Sixteen’s family won’t make arbitrary decisions that would displease the master. Let me be frank, Marquis and the Crown Prince are at odds. Inside and outside the mansion, issues might arise. Marquis is like Yu the Great controlling the floods, hasn’t been home three times now, so Sixteen might be spinning like a top, unable to manage everything. You just focus on your duties with peace of mind."

Hong Ye stubbornly responded: "Who cares, humph, I’m just wondering what will come of this, how Sixteen’s parents will deal with the aftermath."

Qin Yuan laid down the round fan, lazily yawned, and said: "You really fret over nothing, you’re not even married or living off them yet, and you’re overthinking. I knew it, girls grow up and can’t stay, might as well send you off early, leaving just Cui Ming and me here."

This remark made Hong Ye quite worked up, swearing and promising, busy for a good while before she helped her to bed realizing it was already late at night.

Qin Yuan wanted to wait for Marquis Gu to return so she could tell him about the dragon-phoenix twins in detail, but as soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.

Outer courtyard.

Marquis Gu and Sixth Master Gu sat side by side behind the small table, staring at the portrait hanging on the wall, lost in thought for quite a while.

"Very similar."

Marquis Gu exclaimed, breaking the indoor silence.

Sixth Master Gu shyly said: "I feel it’s not very similar, it’s just that my drawing skills are mediocre and couldn’t capture Fourth Brother more accurately."

But Marquis Gu replied: "It looks very much like him."

Sixth Master Gu happily picked up the teacup, about to bring it to his mouth, when his third brother said again: "Treasure Bead and Fourth Brother, the mouth, the eyebrows, the nose, look so alike. If not for your careful sketch, I’d have thought I was mistaken."

"What?"

Sixth Master Gu stared at the portrait intently, after a long time, listlessly said: "Indeed. Born of the same father after all, resemblance is no surprise."

His sister, born of the same parents as him, why did she not resemble him?

A sudden pang of sadness struck him.

Marquis Gu turned his head to him and asked: "Don’t you find it strange how Treasure Bead resembles Fourth Brother so much? Today, I saw her clad in male attire, and was reminded of Fourth Brother’s youthful style, and thought I remembered it wrong. Recalling you had Fourth Brother’s portrait, I specifically came to have a look."

Sixth Master Gu sighed: "What’s strange, Treasure Bead and Fourth Brother’s eyebrows took after Grandfather, the nose after Father, lips from Mother..."

Saying this, Sixth Master Gu paused.

He shook his head.

Just then, Marquis Gu instructed again: "Bring out Mo Xiaoni’s portrait too, let me see."

"How did you know I drew one?"

Sixth Master Gu asked, puzzled.

"I’ve known you since you were bare-bottomed, how could I not know what you might do."

Sixth Master Gu blushed and coldly spat out: "Crude."

Yet he instructed the servant to find the portrait and hang it up.

Scanning the two portraits hanging side by side on the wall, Marquis Gu finally sighed: "I see now, I was truly kept in the dark."

Sixth Master Gu couldn’t help but ask: "Third Brother, what do you know, tell me already, let’s not beat around the bush between brothers."

Marquis Gu stepped forward, took down Mo Xiaoni’s portrait, hurriedly rolled it up: "I’ll tell you once I’ve investigated, I’m taking this painting."

"Alright then, are you using it to trace her whereabouts?" Sixth Master Gu regretted: "After all these years, I don’t remember the finer details, she probably changed, searching by the portrait may not work."

"Noted," Marquis Gu said with his head down, about to walk out. He paused after a few steps and turned back: "I have matters to attend, you should rest, Mother said you’ve been flipping day and night for your paintings, take care of yourself. Your sister-in-law mentioned Doctor Li has advised you many times to adjust your health, take care of yourself. Early or late, what difference does finishing the painting make?"

"Got it, don’t worry," Sixth Master Gu felt very appreciated and casually asked: "So late, where’s Third Brother headed?"

"The ancestral hall," Marquis Gu concisely replied.

"What are you going there for?" Sixth Master Gu was taken aback.

Marquis Gu bore a faint, mysterious smile, which vanished as quickly as it came.

"I haven’t talked to the ancestors in a while, going to take a look."

He moved to leave, but Sixth Master Gu leapt to hug his leg, rascally insisted: "I want to go too, we’ve known each other since you were bare-bottomed, you must be up to something, can’t fool me."

The nearby servant had no choice but to zone out, counting the number of lotus petals carved on the opposite window frame.

"Let go," Marquis Gu stiffened, face flushing, scolded, "Let go now."

But Sixth Master Gu had made up his mind, refusing to let go.

Marquis Gu held back from shaking him off, took a deep breath, coaxingly persuaded: "Let go, I genuinely have business at the ancestral hall, your health is weak and you’re timid, why suffer with me."