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

If it weren’t for knowing that these two princesses were not on good terms in their past lives, she would have thought they were very close sisters.

Qin Yuan lowered her head and said nothing.

Gu Jinghui said coldly, "According to protocol, when a princess visits, the whole family of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion should receive her to comply with the courtly etiquette. However, given the urgency, we can only do so much. Marquis himself, with the wife by his side to pay respects, is only because of the male-female distinction, to maintain the princesses’ reputations. If there is any impropriety from the wife, please forgive us, Princess."

Princess Fuyun noticed his displeased expression and hurriedly said, "Third Brother, earlier I said that only because I was concerned the wife might not be accustomed to receiving visits and might get flustered."

Qin Yuan laughed coldly in her heart, thinking that this was implying her own lowly status.

Gu Jinghui’s voice was firm, "Princess, you must not call this marquis ’Third Brother.’ If the Emperor hears, this marquis could not bear the responsibility."

Princess Fuyun’s small face turned red, her eyes clear with tears welling up, even her eyelids were slightly red.

The Ninth Princess said, "Marquis Gu, when my Seventh Sister was young, you saved her, and she has always kept that in her heart. When she heard that the Marquis had once been a companion reader in the Imperial Palace, calling you ’Third Brother’ was meant endearingly."

Gu Jinghui immediately said, "Such matters do not conform with etiquette, this marquis dares not accept."

Princess Fuyun’s nose was already red, looking mournfully at Marquis Gu.

But Marquis Gu did not look at her, only focused on protecting Qin Yuan.

The Ninth Princess had nothing more to say.

At this moment, Qin Yuan naturally would not court trouble, she merely sat quietly as a backdrop.

For a moment, the pavilion was filled with awkward silence.

After a good long while, Princess Fuyun, her voice trembling, asked, "Marquis Gu, are you well these days?"

Gu Jinghui immediately stood up, pulling Qin Yuan up as well, and performed a ceremonial bow to the two princesses, saying, "I am well, thank you for the Emperor’s concern. The Marquis Mansion can open soon, and then I will report back about the matter of smallpox."

Princess Fuyun’s face looked even worse, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face.

The Ninth Princess glanced at Princess Fuyun, her eye and mouth corners unable to hide the mocking, with a bit of sigh and helplessness: "Marquis Gu, please rise and talk, my Seventh Sister is worried about your safety, not speaking on my father’s behalf."

Gu Jinghui pulled Qin Yuan up, and after they were seated again, he said, "Thank you both princesses for your concern, everything has been well for me lately. Although there have been some troubles with the smallpox issue in the mansion, thanks to the wife’s help, things are now gradually getting better."

Princess Fuyun dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, lowering her head, no longer speaking.

And then there was another difficult silence.

The two princesses sat for a cup of tea’s time before taking their leave.

Marquis Gu and Qin Yuan accompanied them to the mansion’s gate and halted their steps.

The princesses’ entourage was waiting outside the gate, making it convenient for them; they boarded their ceremonial carriage, and then music played as they departed.

Marquis Gu and Qin Yuan stood for a moment, watching the princesses’ carriage leave, before returning inside the mansion.

Housekeeper Han had just ordered the gates resealed, when Marquis Gu asked, "Yuan’er, did you notice anything?"

Qin Yuan replied, "Hmm?"

Marquis Gu, unabashed in front of others, took her hand and walked inside, saying, "Didn’t you say you need to gauge the Emperor’s intentions before drafting a memorial? I feel the Emperor seems a bit anxious; should we draft it before opening the mansion?"

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I feel the Emperor is quite satisfied with the fact that the smallpox issue didn’t spread after the mansion was sealed. I have a preliminary draft of this memorial in mind, but..."

"But what?"

Qin Yuan said, "But it seems to me that the two princesses do not like me. When I eventually follow you and mother into the palace, might I be troubled?"

Receiving Marquis Gu’s support today, she was naturally happy, but still couldn’t help but worry a little.

These two princesses, being in the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, couldn’t act out.

But in the palace, she would be at a disadvantage.

Empress Lin is not a kind person, and the Empress Dowager is no benevolent sort either.

If these two princesses were to speak ill of her before them, it’s likely...

Qin Yuan’s words caused Gu Jinghui to frown, he said, "From now on, you just go to the palace with mother, with her there, they won’t dare make trouble for you."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Gu Jinghui added, "The brothers of these two princesses will also restrain them on my account, they won’t dare embarrass you publicly, though privately you should be cautious and stay close to mother, let her protect you."

Qin Yuan nodded in agreement.

Gu Jinghui put his arm around Qin Yuan’s fragrant shoulder, troubled, "These two princesses really are perplexing, in every way Yuan’er is well-behaved, why don’t they like you?"

Qin Yuan just smiled, saying nothing.

Marquis Gu also pondered inwardly, after opening the mansion, he must have a proper conversation with the Crown Prince and Prince Qi.

The husband and wife walked in silence for a while, until they saw Housekeeper Cao, drenched in sweat, coming to meet them, "Marquis, Madam, just now the servants stopped someone at the second gate."

Marquis Gu asked angrily, "Who was it?"

Running around at such a time is against all rules, a severe punishment is warranted.

Qin Yuan remained silent, as though not surprised, only looked at Housekeeper Cao indifferently.

Housekeeper Cao stammered, "It was the Marquis’s adopted son and daughter."

Marquis Gu: "..."

He looked at Qin Yuan in surprise and guilt before asking, "Why were they not in the main room, but trying to run out when the princesses arrived?"

Housekeeper Cao sweated even more, hurriedly wiping it with his sleeve.

"This old servant is not sure, maybe it was childish curiosity wanting to sneak a look at the princesses?"

Marquis Gu’s eyebrows knit tightly.

Qin Yuan asked, "Where are Brother Cheng and Sister Yu?"

Housekeeper Cao said, "I’d previously instructed that if anyone forcibly tries to leave, they should be restrained, definitely not allowed past the second gate to disrupt the princesses. The servants dared not go too far, only blocking the way, Miss Yu was fine, but Young Master Cheng was a bit... aggressive..."

Qin Yuan asked helplessly, "So what happened exactly?"

Housekeeper Cao said, "The servants dare not tie him up or make it difficult for him, but Young Master Cheng injured a servant, they couldn’t stop him."

Gu Jinghui: "..."

Gu Jinghui and Qin Yuan hurriedly went towards the second gate.

Sixth Master Gu and the servants had stepped out for air after exiting the room, and seeing them rushing over to the second gate, asked, "What’s happened?"

A servant ran to find out and returned a while later, excitedly saying, "Young Master Cheng and Miss Yu wanted to see the princesses, they were stopped at the second gate, Young Master Cheng went crazy and injured someone, Marquis and Madam have gone to see."

Sixth Master Gu snorted, saying, "Third Brother’s children really are crude and uncouth, I don’t know how Mrs. Zhao raises them, only Third Brother treasures them like the apple of his eye, thinking they are good in every way."

The servant said, "That Northern Border place, I hear the women there are very fierce, when the men are gone, they even go to war. Didn’t the Marquis say he’d give Mrs. Zhao a heavy dowry if she wants to remarry? It’s common for widows to remarry up north."

Sixth Master Gu sighed, saying, "It’s also my third brother’s misfortune to encounter such a woman, yet I’m grateful to my brother’s benefactor, if it weren’t for him, my brother probably would not have made it back from the Northern Border. These two children, how should they even be taught?"

The servant said mysteriously, "Everyone in the mansion knows it was their mother who caused the smallpox, the Marquis probably won’t be able to keep them even if he wants to. It’s the wife who’s amazing, managing to get rid of them without shedding blood."