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

Chapter 297: News

Gu Shiliu said, "Then I will immediately send someone to capture both Sun Accountant and Housekeeper Zhang."

Qin Yuan added, "We also need to search their residences; there should be records or receipts of the money transactions."

Gu Shiliu said, "Yes, I will attend to it right away."

Hong Mian was listening on the side, beaming with joy.

Qin Yuan ignored her and said to Gu Shiliu, "Do you think we need a strategy to obtain the promissory notes for Xu family’s money lending? If the Xu family continues like this, it might eventually affect the Marquis Mansion."

Gu Shiliu nodded, "Madam, Shi Ba indeed has such plans; the Xu family hides well, and without the master’s word, Shi Ba dares not act recklessly."

Qin Yuan understood that they were worried since the Xu family was in-law to the Marquis Mansion, and the Sixth Madam was currently seriously ill; if they broke the jade vase while catching the mice, they could not afford to bear the consequences.

Qin Yuan said, "Have them be vigilant, and if necessary, act swiftly to seize it."

Gu Shiliu took the order and left.

Qin Yuan drank some tea and then opened the poetry letters sent by Mr. Songshan.

"What beautiful calligraphy, Mr. Songshan’s writing is vigorous and powerful, with a graceful arrangement."

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but praise.

But what she didn’t say aloud was that the handwriting didn’t quite match Mr. Songshan’s outward appearance.

Qin Yuan read the poems one by one.

Most were about the sights he encountered during his travels, occasionally criticizing current issues, and some expressed his emotions.

The more Qin Yuan read, the more she understood Mr. Songshan’s character and aspirations.

She sighed and said, "This person is indeed very talented, but..."

Hong Mian perked up her ears to catch the latter half of the sentence, but she couldn’t hear anything more.

Qin Yuan sat by the window for a while, watching the sun slowly decline in the west, and when it was no longer so hot, she ordered someone to move a reclining chair under the porch and set up a large umbrella to shade her completely.

Enjoying the warm breeze, eating fruits soaked in well water, and having a maid fan her,

Qin Yuan was quite content.

As she read, she unexpectedly dozed off after a while.

"Miss, Miss," in her drowsiness, she heard Hong Ye softly calling by her ear.

"Oh?"

Qin Yuan struggled to respond.

Hong Ye said, "Miss, don’t sleep here; go back into the room."

Qin Yuan knew that sleeping too much during the day would make it hard to sleep at night, so she forced herself to open her eyes and asked, "Why have you just returned now? Is there something you’ve learned that you need to tell me?"

Hong Ye, with a self-satisfied look, said, "There’s so much happening in this mansion daily, can it go on without me?"

Qin Yuan just laughed.

The drowsiness disappeared with her laughter.

Hong Ye leaned closer, "Miss doesn’t believe me. Let me tell you something you don’t know."

"Go ahead."

Hong Ye said, "Bai Que is getting married."

"Bai Que?"

Qin Yuan thought for a moment; there’d been so much happening lately that this person had slipped her mind.

"Yes, Bai Que is engaged to marry the son of Old Wu’s family, who does purchasing."

Hong Mian also came over and said, "Madam, Sister Hong Ye, I know who Sister Bai Que is going to marry."

Qin Yuan looked over, and Hong Ye immediately said, "Tell us about him."

Hong Mian said, "Old Wu’s son is decent-looking, he’s had an eye on Sister Bai Que for a long time, and has been pursuing her for years. But Mr. and Mrs. Qian have been managing the treasury for ages and look down on Old Wu’s son. Sister Bai Que also had high standards and didn’t pay attention to Old Wu’s, but unexpectedly, as soon as she left the mansion, the marriage was arranged."

Speaking of purchasing agents in the mansion, though there are few masters, there are at least five or six needed to handle everything, dealing with money daily, being familiar with vendors, having a lot of benefits, and often leaving the mansion.

Hong Ye said, "Being a purchasing agent is quite a good position."

Hong Mian said, "Isn’t it? Who would have thought he’d wait so long; many tried to arrange marriages for Old Wu’s son in past years, but he held out for Sister Bai Que."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment, "I remember I promised Mr. and Mrs. Qian that they could find Bai Que a good family and then come to request a reward from the Marquis and Old Madam. We must prepare a gift then."

Hong Ye said, "Indeed, that is true."

Qin Yuan said, "I’ll leave this matter to you. We absolutely cannot be stingy."

Mr. and Mrs. Qian were deeply trusted by the Old Madam. Bai Que is their daughter, and previously it was quite ugly when she was said to be expelled by the Marquis, rewarding them well would help restore their honor.

Hong Ye said, "Understood, I’ll refer to past examples and add some to it."

Qin Yuan said, "Okay."

She then got up and walked inside the house.

Hong Ye followed behind and added, "The housekeepers are pressing Nanny Zhao. Nanny Zhao was out of the mansion for half the day today; she might have been looking for someone from the Xu family, came back with wrinkled clothes, and her sleeve seemed torn, looking quite upset."

Qin Yuan listened and frowned, "Didn’t Nanny Zhao speak to the Sixth Master about this?"

Hong Ye said, "It seems she hasn’t yet. Sixth Master spent the whole afternoon with the young masters and Xiao Dong, riding horses and talking."

Qin Yuan asked, "Did Brother Kang and Fuguo’er go horseback riding too?"

Hong Ye nodded.

Qin Yuan said, "No matter what, Sixth Master still cares about the children."

Hong Ye said, "We don’t know what happened afterward."

Qin Yuan said, "Regardless of what happened, the Xu family’s matter must be resolved; otherwise, it might implicate the Marquis Mansion. Sun Accountant might just fulfill your wish and get unlucky."

Hong Ye laughed, "I already know about this. I ran into Sixteen on the way; he told me, the people have been tied up and are being interrogated. If proven true, the mansion will have two more vacancies."

A housekeeper and an accountant, both are key positions.

Many are surely envious.

Hong Ye asked, "If the Marquis were to let you select and appoint people, do you have any candidates in mind?"

Qin Yuan shook her head.

Looking at the hourglass, Qin Yuan asked, "Has Xiao Dong gone back?"

Hong Ye nodded.

Hong Mian said, "Earlier when Madam was asleep, Xiao Dong came to pay respects; knowing that Madam was resting, he didn’t come in. Two young masters of the Qin family also sent a message, saying they wouldn’t come to see you, as they have to hurry back to the Imperial College later."

Qin Yuan nodded, indicating she knew.

"Xiao Dong said Brother Qi is almost well and will be able to move freely in a couple of days, though he’ll still need some recuperation. His mother’s eyes... also have hope of being cured..."

Hong Ye thought for a moment and then asked, "Are Brother Qi and his family still staying in the mansion?"

Originally, they were allowed to stay in a small courtyard to facilitate Brother Qi’s care, but it was not appropriate, and now that the mansion is open and Brother Qi’s illness is nearly healed, Hong Ye was unsure of how to arrange things.

Qin Yuan said, "Just let them continue living there peacefully."

To show mercy is to show it all the way.

They would spend a thousand taels of silver to get the mother’s eyes treated, so why be concerned about this courtyard?

Hong Ye said, "That’s what I was thinking too, but their courtyard is in the inner courtyard... Brother Qi is neither too young nor too old, and it seems a bit awkward, also to prevent people from gossiping."

Qin Yuan paused for a moment and then asked, "Tell me honestly, did you hear something?"

Hong Ye said, "Doesn’t Sixth Master have quite a few concubines? When the Sixth Master opened the mansion, he stayed in the outer courtyard; even now that the mansion is open, he still stays in the outer courtyard and hasn’t visited any of the concubines’ rooms. Those with children are alright, but those without children are growing restless, wandering around the inner courtyard. Moreover, Seventh Miss will soon leave the courtyard..."