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

Chapter 278: Maybe They’ll Be Found

Although Marquis Gu’s face was handsomely unruly, that smile appeared quite annoying in Qin Yuan’s eyes.

"The water is ready, hurry and go bathe."

Qin Yuan urged him coldly.

She didn’t want to tell him that the Measles Goddess hadn’t been sent off yet.

There was still a wait ahead.

Gu Jinghui complacently walked into the bathing room.

His little wife was acting just like the treasure book of General Jin described, with a woman’s coyness of wanting to approach and yet hesitating.

The treasure book said that if a woman is shy, her heart has been moved.

He must have already deeply planted himself in Qin Yuan’s heart.

Marquis Gu swiftly and leisurely finished bathing, and when he came out, Cui Ming and Hong Ye were there, with a tray of clothes and accessories laid out on the table, so he began dressing himself.

Nearby, Qin Yuan was chatting with the two maids.

"I wonder what Sixth Lady Gu and Mr. Xu talked about? The Xu family has stopped causing trouble."

Qin Yuan said: "What else could it be? Sixth Lady Gu is also from the Xu family, so it’s impossible to hurt that side for this. Speaking of which, it’s thanks to the accounts Hong Ye found, otherwise, it wouldn’t have ended so easily."

Gu Jinghui, tying his pocket, heard this and laughed: "Hong Ye is your capable lieutenant and has accomplished another great feat. I said she was competent and clever. With Hong Ye and Cui Ming helping you, I have no worries about the mansion’s affairs."

Hong Ye pursed her lips and smiled.

Cui Ming’s lips curled slightly, clearly pleased as well.

Qin Yuan said: "Speaking of which, I remembered something. Today, I heard from Sixth Brother’s wife that Zhenzhen disappeared with her maid, and no one saw them on the way. Perhaps they weren’t kidnapped."

Gu Jinghui nodded and said: "Indeed, I’ve always suspected they were taken by someone related to Mrs. Zhao, but there’s no evidence."

Qin Yuan said: "Perhaps we can still find them."

Gu Jinghui glanced at Qin Yuan and said: "You don’t know, Shi Ba has already asked around all the stalls, vendors, and beggars at the mansion’s entrance, but no one saw them."

Qin Yuan said: "Maybe there’s someone we’ve missed."

Gu Jinghui thought for a moment, then nodded: "That’s right."

Some of them might be spies sent by the Princes, and they might not be telling the truth.

Sixteen once mentioned that there seemed to be something odd about the spies from Prince Qi Mansion, which was also acting unusually.

Because of the measles, it hadn’t been thoroughly investigated.

Outside, Gu Shiliu was urging repeatedly, and a little maid under the corridor said: "Madam, Shen Changle is here to see you."

Qin Yuan said with a smile: "Marquis, you should go. We can’t finish this talk quickly, and I have to get busy now."

Gu Jinghui walked out of the room and saw the rotund and prosperous-looking Shen Changle standing under the corridor, talking animatedly with Gu Shiliu.

"Brother Sixteen, it’s not that I’m boasting, Shen Changle, but once this poetry collection is placed in the Book Sea Pavilion, they will only regret it. If the owner of Book Sea Pavilion had honestly taken Brother Sixteen’s business back then, they would have been the ones basking in glory now."

Gu Shiliu proudly said: "At that time, they stopped others from printing and said the Marquis Mansion was tarnishing literary elegance, with Sixth Master being a shallow follower of culture. Well, this time we’ve decided, we won’t place a single copy in Book Sea Pavilion, let them regret it till they’re blue in the face."

Marquis Gu suppressed a chuckle and spoke out: "Sixteen, let’s go."

Shen Changle turned his face, full of joy, and respectfully bowed without losing any warmth: "Greetings, Marquis."

Marquis Gu gently said: "Rise, Shen Changle, you have done a fine job in this matter."

Shen Changle’s smile deepened.

Gu Shiliu couldn’t help but interject: "Our Marquis always duly rewards accomplishments. Once Sixth Master gains fame in the Capital City, the Marquis will surely reward you generously."

Shen Changle laughed: "They say we wouldn’t be a family if we didn’t share the same goals. The lady also said that if the printing business takes off, there’ll be a handsome reward. So I’ve been thinking, I’ve got to give it my all to live up to the master’s trust."

Seeing he was sensible and insightful, Marquis Gu sized him up for a moment and asked: "Aren’t you worried the master might be making empty promises?"

Shen Changle said: "How could that be? The Marquis Mansion treats its people well. I heard even a blind nanny got help from the Marquis to have her eyesight restored."

Gu Shiliu got more excited.

"Isn’t that so? The Marquis is magnanimous and kind, and it’s been the rule in the Dingbei Marquis Mansion for years. Otherwise, why would so many be willing to serve?"

Marquis Gu stomped his foot and left a parting remark.

"Do your work diligently; you won’t be wronged."

With that, he strode toward the courtyard exit, and Gu Shiliu did not bother with pleasantries, hurrying to follow.

Immediately, Shen Changle was also led outside by Hong Ye, answering through the beaded curtain.

Qin Yuan also heard their exchange and asked: "So, are the poetry collections selling well?"

Shen Changle smiled: "Indeed quite well, and it’s not without the help of the two masters. The reviews among scholars are decent. I sent some to the Imperial College for two scholars to give to their friends, and quite a number were sent to the two masters as well. Five hundred copies seem insufficient; I’m wondering whether to print more."

Qin Yuan understood that just to see the two masters’ poetry, scholars would buy a copy.

Moreover, Qin Siyuan and Lin Ziqi’s poems were quite worth reading.

Sixth Master Gu might just be an add-on, but with those paintings, it was passable, not embarrassing.

"Then go ahead and print more. Sixth Master also needs quite a few for distribution. The Old Madam mentioned hosting a banquet soon to drive away bad luck, and by then, Sixth Master Gu would need to gift some to relatives and friends."

Shen Changle squinted and laughed: "Selling at this price only covers the cost."

Qin Yuan laughed: "Do you have any ideas? For a first attempt, not losing money is good enough."

Shen Changle lowered his voice, saying: "I was thinking, printing poetry collections can help Young Master Qin and Sixth Master make a name, and also give the business a path. Why not ride this wave, invite scholars from the Imperial College to hold a poetry gathering, then print it, and after several rounds, the business grows bigger and our reputation spreads, with all provinces looking to the Capital City, ensuring no unsold copies anywhere."

This idea would take the business nationwide.

Qin Yuan nodded privately, indeed she hadn’t misjudged Shen Changle, but still said: "This method isn’t bad, but we must start by working on this collection. If there’s interest, the rest will naturally follow."

Her words implied advising Shen Changle to be steady and not aim too far.

Shen Changle laughed: "Naturally."

Then he spoke about the business conditions of other shops in recent days.

Shen Changle said: "The shop in the West Market is narrow and remote, but selling literary compilations isn’t a problem. Owing to Sixth Master Gu’s paintings this time, I thought the shop could also sell paintings, pigments, and fan faces, along with stationery like brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Though the income isn’t much, it looks as if catering to scholars, and doesn’t take up much space."

Qin Yuan said: "You can decide on these yourself."

Shen Changle got more enthusiastic and added: "I’ve already spread the news about pepper; there are some people in the market, whose origins are unknown, also saying pepper prices will drop significantly. They claim that since the ’Kunyu Map of All Countries’ is out, overseas lands and customs are well-documented, making seafaring much easier, so pepper will only continue to get cheaper, causing a panic."