My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Qin Yuan had to change the subject, saying, "Doctor Liu..."

Her phoenix-like eyes were full of amusement, and when Gu Jinghui saw it, he immediately shut his mouth, gritting his teeth with a smile, "Yuan’er, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"

Qin Yuan: "...I..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she was pulled into Gu Jinghui’s embrace.

Marquis Gu ground his teeth and whispered, "You know there’s only you in my heart, yet you provoke me like this. It’s really..."

His hands started becoming restless.

Qin Yuan hurriedly resisted, saying, "Didn’t you just say you wanted to ask my opinion? Why don’t you want to listen now?"

Only then did Gu Jinghui pause, resting his chin on the top of Qin Yuan’s hair, and let out a sullen grunt, saying, "If you keep playing tricks on me, hmph hmph."

As he spoke, he heavily rubbed Qin Yuan’s waist.

Qin Yuan discreetly moved away, but was pulled back again, so she had no choice but to lean against his solid, hot chest, suppressing the increasing heat on her face, and carefully phrasing her words, "In my opinion, tomorrow, we naturally need to open the mansion gates for an imperial decree. Without seeing them firsthand, how could we know what the Emperor intends? Moreover, I still have a memorial to write."

Neither the Crown Prince nor Prince Qi will outlive the Emperor.

Gu Jinghui only needs to deal well with the Emperor.

As for the Seventh Princess and Ninth Princess... without the skin, what can the hair attach to?

Gu Jinghui has no schemes; what can these two princesses do to her?

Qin Yuan calculated without showing her emotions, her face soft and delicate, appearing to be a powerless little wife restrained by Marquis Gu, frail like a vine, clinging to the rough tree behind her.

Gu Jinghui hesitated, "But... there are still patients in the mansion..."

Qin Yuan advised, "Naturally, only the two of us need to receive the decree. The mansion is different from the past; it’s not convenient for Old Madam and others to come out to greet, considering the two princesses, the Emperor won’t blame us for being impolite."

Gu Jinghui thought for a moment and said, "That’s a good idea."

Qin Yuan continued, "Tomorrow, I’ll have Housekeepers Cao and Han arrange people to clean and sprinkle the incense everywhere. The mansion’s people should evade, leaving only a few outside to guard. Invite the princesses to talk in the outer courtyard pavilion. As for receiving the decree, it’ll suffice at the main gate; their procession need not enter the mansion."

This arrangement saves a lot of trouble.

Gu Jinghui said, "Let’s do that. Tomorrow, let’s discuss this with Mother."

After discussing, the two of them went hand in hand to rest.

Hong Ye and Cui Ming had already prepared the bed and set up the ice basin.

Qin Yuan slept on the inside, Gu Jinghui on the outside, talked for a while, and then fell asleep.

Considering tomorrow’s reception, Qin Yuan purposely kept some distance with Marquis Gu before sleeping, but unexpectedly still woke up in the middle of the night, feeling hot and embraced tightly, sweat accumulating in layers.

Qin Yuan: "..."

She pushed and nudged Marquis Gu awake, freeing herself, truly tired, soon falling asleep again, only to wake up from heat again.

Qin Yuan: "..."

Life was hard to sleep through.

Qin Yuan hoped to open the mansion quickly so Gu Jinghui would leave.

She woke and slept alternately throughout the night, finally getting some rest in the early morning, as Marquis Gu had gone to practice martial arts.

When Gu Jinghui finished grooming, he woke her up again, Qin Yuan frowned, teasing, "Why are you so impatient?"

Gu Jinghui leaned over shamelessly, "You woke me several times last night and still sleep so soundly."

Qin Yuan truly wanted to extend her long nails and scratch that face; it was really obnoxious.

Gu Jinghui didn’t use much force, yet pulled her up.

"Hurry, after breakfast, we need to prepare to receive the decree."

Qin Yuan then got up to wash, Marquis Gu reclined on the Arhat Bed, not doing anything, just staring at her incessantly.

Qin Yuan said, "Why do you keep watching me?"

Marquis Gu said, "I’m thinking of learning to paint like Sixth Brother. Sixth Brother paints horses; I think painting beauty portraits is better."

Qin Yuan teased, "How many ladies can you see painting a lady portrait? Turns out you have that thought."

Marquis Gu shivered.

"I was just mentioning it."

Qin Yuan said, "It better be just mentioning."

Marquis Gu said, "Really it’s just talk, I’ll still paint horses, you teach me."

Qin Yuan just remembered she promised Sixth Master Gu yesterday, then instructed Hong Ye, "Pick a few of the flower, insect, and bird paintings I usually do, roll them up, and send them to Sixth Master, telling him to appreciate them."

Hong Ye complied.

Marquis Gu said, "I haven’t even seen them yet."

Qin Yuan said, "Later Hong Ye will certainly bring them for me to see, you can take a look too."

Marquis Gu said no more, inexplicably losing a bit of interest.

Qin Yuan ignored him, consulting with Cui Ming about her hairstyle, since they needed to receive the decree today, she should wear a formal robe but also needed to change when going to the main house.

Changing clothes wasn’t the main issue; the hairstyle was troubling.

Qin Yuan had Cui Ming style a high bun, tightly secured internally with a hairband to prevent looseness, pressed with large flower golden hairpins and decorative broken flowers.

Cui Ming carefully completed the task.

Marquis Gu commented, "It’s too heavy; aren’t all these gold ornaments and jewels on your head weighing you down?"

Qin Yuan said, "After returning from Mother’s place, I need to change my robes to receive the decree, the hair will remain the same to save trouble. When meeting a princess, naturally, I need to dress brightly since women love comparing these things. I cannot let them speak ill and lose the reputation of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion."

Gu Jinghui said, "You don’t have to be overly cautious. You’re my wife; who dares to look down on you?"

Qin Yuan glanced around, chuckling, "What are you saying? I’m meeting a princess, of course, I must dress properly. If they look down on me, wouldn’t that be looking down on you? I’m a woman; we dress for the ones who appreciate us. How could I not tidy myself well for my husband? Hmph, I refuse to be underestimated by a princess."

Gu Jinghui was a bit troubled, hesitating to speak, and after a while couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

Qin Yuan, knowing he’s a bit peculiar, ignored him, changed her clothes, and had the kitchen prepare food, heading together to the main house.

Old Madam Gu was surprised upon learning the two princesses were visiting today.

"Why did the Emperor send two princesses here? Besides, the smallpox hasn’t completely cleared; if there’s an accident, how can our mansion take responsibility?"

Qin Yuan said, "It’s likely Princess Fuyun missed the Marquis, heard our mansion reopening, and took this task. I’ve heard Empress Lin and the Emperor cherish her much more than the Ninth Princess, so when she asks, it naturally gets granted. Last time, the Ninth Princess accompanied Princess Fuyun to Dazao Temple, and Marquis escorted them with the imperial guard. It’s understandable she comes along to check."

Just after speaking, Old Madam Gu looked at the impeccably dressed Marquis Gu with some displeasure.