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

Chapter 299: Selection

Gu Jingcheng also nodded with a smile and said, "I’m just saying, I’ve never seen Marquis like that. Usually, his face is stern and he’s cold as ice. Back when Old Marquis hadn’t had any incidents, Marquis was still young and quite good-looking. Although not as cold and hard, he didn’t really interact with others, always had a ’strangers keep away’ aura. His older brother used to say that he was like a wooden man, only with a stern face, but good-looking in vain."

Mrs. Dai said, "Getting married, having a woman to take care of him, it’s naturally different. His younger brother has been married for so many years and has several children already."

Gu Jingcheng said, "Isn’t it so? He just keeps boasting about how wonderful his wife is, and I can’t get away and just have to listen. And, I even heard him calling ’Aunt’ and ’Mother’, imagine that."

"The Marchioness is really capable," Mrs. Dai exclaimed, "That day when they had their wedding night, I was there to accompany the bride for a while. Not to mention, that Lady Zhao was indeed quite inappropriate, and later stirred up so much trouble. The Marquis Mansion has really been very benevolent. The Marchioness is like a celestial being, and I heard she’s a delicate daughter from a civil servant’s family, adored almost like a pearl by Old Madam. Marquis was almost thirty when he got married, how could he not succeed? That Lady Zhao had lofty ambitions, even tried to leverage her late husband’s saving grace to latch onto Marquis, truly..."

Gu Jingcheng said, "Mrs. Zhao isn’t good, but I see the twins are quite fine. Now that they’ve been taught the rules, they’re not as unruly and rude as people say. They’re tall and robust, quite like northerners. Moreover, Brother Cheng is seriously studying, a very motivated child."

Mrs. Dai sighed, "The arrangements in the Marquis Mansion show they haven’t treated them poorly, it’d be great if this succeeds."

Gu Jingcheng said, "We’re not the only ones hoping for success."

Soon after, Gu Jinghui sent word that the matter was settled, they should choose an auspicious day for a banquet and have the twins honor Gu Jingcheng as their father.

Gu Jingcheng and Mrs. Dai were very pleased, and they took the calendar to check the dates.

Gu Jinghui, having completed a major task, treated the twins more affectionately than before. Brother Cheng took the opportunity to plead, "Godfather, when Sister Yu and I went to the adoptive family’s home, the people who served us were changed, and I’m afraid I won’t get used to it."

Nanny Rong had long been instructed by Qin Yuan to chime in, "Indeed, since Brother Cheng and the others have moved there, though nearby, we can’t remain uninformed about everything. What if they’re wronged? Better let them take some familiar people for service."

Gu Jinghui hesitated for a moment.

Old Madam Gu said, "Just make it clear over there. If they were teenagers, it’d be fine. But at five years old, just after their mother left them; we can’t treat them like this."

Gu Jinghui then asked Brother Cheng, "Who do you want to take along?"

Brother Cheng confidently replied, "I and my sister want to hire a tutor, and my sister wants to follow the female tutor to study. We can invite the tutor to live at the residence, and why not have the female tutor shared with Seventh Aunt?"

Marquis Gu nodded, "You have planned it well, very good."

Brother Cheng said, "Zihe and Xiao Hong have been with us always; I want to take them along. Also, there’s a night-watch Yang Pozi in the courtyard whom I get along well with, let her come along for some chores. For the rest, just let the elders arrange. If there’s too many people, the adoptive family might not be able to accommodate."

Initially listening to Brother Cheng seriously talk about the arrangements, Gu Jinghui couldn’t help feeling wistful, as children grow up day by day. But upon hearing about Yang Pozi, that feeling of fondness dissipated.

Seeing his godfather’s silence, Brother Cheng hesitated and softly called, "Godfather?"

Marquis Gu then said, "Alright, just a few people, whatever arrangement you see fit. But why are you so fond of Yang Pozi?"

Brother Cheng replied, "She’s childless, single, and the nannies in the courtyard don’t really associate with her. She often keeps the night watch, and during the day has nothing much going on. Sometimes, when we hit up a conversation with her, I feel she’s quite pitiful, and she reminds me of my nurse."

Marquis Gu’s gaze turned cold, his features suddenly sharp.

"Since that’s the case, take her along. Their service contracts are with Old Madam, and once you settle next door, have her return, lest your adoptive parents feel uncomfortable."

Brother Cheng nodded in agreement.

Zihe and Xiao Hong were a bit reluctant, but didn’t voice their refusal.

It was Yang Pozi, when called to the corridor, upon hearing she was to serve the twins at the other household, who smiled broadly and said, "This old servant has no sons or daughters, no attachments either, thanks to Old Madam’s kindness, I’ve been assigned to guard the courtyard, accompanying the young masters there is good too. For one, Old Madam will have peace of mind, and two, this old servant can serve the young masters as they grow."

Old Madam Gu said, "Since that’s the case, go with them, it’s rare that Brother Cheng and Sister Yu find you agreeable."

Yang Pozi hastily kneeled and kowtowed to Old Madam Gu, "Thank you, Old Madam, for your kindness, this old servant now has a place. This old servant will be dedicated to serving the young masters as they grow up and repay Old Madam’s kindness."

Old Madam Gu said, "You’re childless, following Brother Cheng and Sister Yu is surely better than guarding the courtyard here. The siblings are fond of you; so take extra care, Zihe and Xiao Hong are young and may overlook things."

Yang Pozi quickly said, "This servant will not betray the trust of Old Madam."

Thus, the matter was settled.

Gu Jinghui then said to Brother Cheng, "Choose a lucky day, move after the recognition banquet, then it will all be proper. The Marquis Mansion is in the next courtyard, once organized, let your adoptive parents move over, you’ll move along too."

Brother Cheng pulled Sister Yu to bow, "Thank you, godfather, for your thoughtful arrangements."

Old Madam Gu, smoothening the situation, said, "Qiujie has arranged the meal already, let’s dine together. In a few days, you’ll be busy with affairs, probably won’t have the time to manage this, have a good meal with Brother Cheng and Sister Yu."

Gu Jinghui agreed, and led the twins to the table. Sister Yu sat next to him and curiously asked, "Why haven’t I seen godmother?"

Marquis Gu replied, "She’s busy with other matters."

Sister Yu sighed slightly, "Godmother is so beautiful, soon it’ll be hard to see her."

Marquis Gu found it quite amusing.

"You’ll live in the adjacent courtyard, it’s just a closed small door, treating it like two households, won’t you come to the mansion to see your grandmother and aunts?"

Sister Yu said, "Godfather, you know less logic than I do. We’re just kids, only led by adults, when at the adoptive parents’ house, we have to greet and pay respects daily; coming to grandmother’s house naturally won’t be as easy as before, and encountering godmother won’t be as convenient."

Marquis Gu was speechless.

"You don’t think about Treasure Bead Aunt, yet you miss your godmother?"

Sister Yu said, "Godfather, you’ve forgotten again, I’ll be following Treasure Bead Aunt’s female tutor to study and learn handicrafts later on, naturally will see her often."

Marquis Gu rubbed his forehead, "Indeed, I forgot again."

Throughout the meal, he seemed preoccupied.