My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead Chapter 307: Thanksgiving

Gu Jinghui was startled by his own thoughts and dared not look at Qin Yuan any longer. He hastily finished his al, stood up in a hurry before she could speak, and said, "I am going to the outer courtyard to find Mr. Songshan to tell a story."

Qin Yuan replied, "Alright, take care, husband."

Gu Jinghui then lifted the curtain himself and strode out.

Cui Ming and Hong Ye ca in. Hong Ye asked, "Miss, what’s going on with the Marquis? He looks like he’s sitting on a hotplate."

Qin Yuan glanced at her, shook her head, and said nothing.

Cui Ming said, "You always know the news. Haven’t you heard anything?"

Hong Ye thought for a mont and said, "I did hear sothing, but they say the Marquis now..." Before she could finish, a young maid outside said that Mr. and Mrs. Qian had co to express their gratitude with Bai Que.

Hong Ye laughed, "I just heard that Bai Que entered the mansion today, saw the Old Madam, went to chat with Zihe, and happily ntioned how fortunate her parents were to act quickly, otherwise she might have been trapped by the Zhao family. Now she’s here, hasn’t she t the Marquis yet?"

Qin Yuan glanced at Hong Ye and said, "Since they are here, mind your words. Mr. and Mrs. Qian are reputable elders, even the Marquis has to show so respect."

Hong Ye hurriedly cleared her throat, composed herself, and they were led inside.

Qin Yuan invited them to sit. Mr. and Mrs. Qian, not daring to act superior, after so polite refusals, finally sat on a small stool. Bai Que barely sat, poised awkwardly with a smile on her face towards Qin Yuan.

After so casual conversation, Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I heard Bai Que’s marriage is settled. I’ve prepared a gift, and it’s perfect to give it today."

Mr. Qian laughed, "We ca to express our gratitude, the Marquis already rewarded us, and now another from the Madam, truly Bai Que is fortunate."

Qin Yuan said, "The Marquis’s reward is his, mine is mine. We agreed initially, and refusing now would be disrespectful to . I heard Bai Que arranged to marry the son of the Zhao family’s buyer, known since childhood, and he is very sincere. It’s a marriage that’s hard to co by even with a lantern."

Mrs. Qian bead with joy and said, "Well, it’s indeed the fate of two children. Bai Que used to serve by the Old Madam’s side. The Old Madam said she would release Bai Que’s contract upon marriage, so even when the Zhao family’s child proposed, she didn’t agree. Unexpectedly, the Marquis also released that child’s contract so ti ago. Having known each other for years, and with that child still devoted, the marriage happened."

Qin Yuan nodded and looked at Bai Que.

Bai Que quickly lowered her gaze, dared not look further, her expression timid, gradually lowering her head.

Hong Ye had brought out the prepared gift and placed it before Bai Que. Bai Que quickly rose to accept it, placed it aside, and prostrated respectfully to Qin Yuan in gratitude.

Qin Yuan said, "Hong Ye, quickly help her up."

Hong Ye hurriedly helped Bai Que up.

Bai Que, head lowered, nervously twisted her sash, appearing all the more delicate and helpless.

Qin Yuan softly said, "Since you are now freed, live well outside. If you face any troubles, your parents are respected elders in the mansion, and for their sake, the mansion will surely help you."

Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Qian expressed their gratitude profusely.

Bai Que timidly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. Bai Que will always rember the Marquis Mansion’s kindness and will never forget it."

After the three left, Hong Ye sighed, "Bai Que seems like a different person, unlike her previous arrogant self when she confronted ."

Qin Yuan smiled without comnt.

Hong Ye continued, "The Marquis actually set them free. That’s really generous of him."

Qin Yuan said, "They were born and raised in the mansion, have worked for many years, and gained significant trust. They have accumulated so wealth; being freed isn’t sothing to fear about being bullied or starved. The Marquis not taking her as a concubine naturally made it an easy favor, and the Zhao family boy still works for the Marquis, just under a different na elsewhere."

Hong Ye agreed, "Exactly, I heard from so nannies, those who used to be wet nurses for the Marquis lived in large courtyard houses and even had servants, not worse than a small official’s life."

Cui Ming, surprised, said, "The capital is such an expensive place, the Marquis Mansion’s servants can be this well-off?"

Hong Ye nodded emphatically.

"Previously, we knew little. I heard those housekeepers and accountants accumulated wealth, got rewards from going to war, had lucrative positions in the mansion, and gathered considerable money over ti. They may appear as servants before the masters but turn around to be masters themselves."

Cui Ming hesitated, "But I see Brother Qi’s family can’t even afford dicine."

Hong Ye couldn’t respond.

Qin Yuan took a sip of tea, savoring it, and then said, "Hong Ye speaks of those well-used; others neither utilized nor lucky, with many household-born servants, can a master truly see them all? Even among family clans, so live worse than mansion servants. You lack insight; such matters in noble and marquis families are common."

"During the last garden tour, I heard so Li family mbers asked influential servants in the mansion to speak favorably before the Duke. As the saying goes, the doorman of a pri minister is a seventh-rank official, and visiting officials gift the doorman many tributes, asking them to pass ssages to the pri minister."

"My goodness," Hong Ye and Cui Ming seed to hear a celestial lecture.

Qin Yuan added, "Mansion rules are strict. Even among maids, there are ranks. The big maids around Seventh Miss command several little maids, comparable to a deputy mistress. You’ve been here for months and should get used to it. Otherwise, how could you manage those stewards and housekeeper moms?"

Hong Ye and Cui Ming exchanged glances, understanding inwardly. Though they had assisted Qin Yuan in managing affairs and learned much about daily mansion matters, they still had a way to go to et Qin Yuan’s expectations.

In private, Hong Ye told Cui Ming, "We were happy thinking it’s more comfortable than in the Qin family, and thought we did well with so tasks, not realizing we were still just outside, barely inside. If not for Miss’s wit and capability, who knows how tough life might’ve been?"

Cui Ming agreed, "True, it really is Miss’s good fortune, the Old Madam, Marquis treat her well, even Sixth Master is easy to get along with, and even Sixth Madam..."

Both felt secretly relieved.

Mo Zhu ca to relay a ssage, "The Madam wants to call Gu Shiliu for questions."

Hong Ye stomped her foot, "Why find Sixteen and co looking for ?"

Mo Zhu widened his eyes, "Naturally because Gu Shiliu is familiar with Sister Hong Ye; others might not find her easily."

Cui Ming laughed.

Hong Ye, annoyed, said, "Got it."

Bai Que, after seeing Qin Yuan, silently followed behind Mr. and Mrs. Qian, visiting other courtyards to pay respects.

Having not been in the mansion for several months, Bai Que felt sowhat as if another world had passed. Thinking it’s hard to re-enter the mansion after marriage, Bai Que hesitated repeatedly yet still said, "Mother, should we go to the outer courtyard to thank the Marquis?"