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

Chapter 302: The Marquis Delivers Lanterns

"Why is that?"

Gu Jinghui was puzzled.

This was something he and she had caught together.

After working hard all night, they had only just started enjoying it, so why think of giving it away?

This room of softly glowing firefly light was so serene and beautiful; he couldn’t bear to part with it.

Qin Yuan softly said, "I was thinking that perhaps Sixth Brother and Seventh Sister might also like it. We should send one to Mother too."

Gu Jinghui grumbled reluctantly, "Let them catch their own, or have Sixteen take some people to catch more."

Qin Yuan coaxed, "If Six Brother and Mr. Songshan enjoy the lamps together, it might spark Mr. Songshan’s poetic inspiration. After all, there’s the saying about the ’Autumn Wind Firefly Garden’ and the ’Spring Grass Cockfighting Platform.’

Gu Jinghui sighed, playing with her fingers, "You worry too much. We’re enjoying this so much right now, and here you are thinking about others. I’ll have Sixteen handle it. Treasure Bead is wild by nature; she never even finished reading the Four Books for Women. Catching fireflies is just a fleeting interest for her; she doesn’t care for poetry or such things."

Qin Yuan retorted, "I’m just thinking that Treasure Bead has been confined for so long that she must be feeling some resentment. As her older brother, sending the lamp would make her happy. As for Sixth Brother and Mr. Songshan having another reason to meet, isn’t that a good thing?"

"It is a good thing."

Gu Jinghui sighed, pulling Qin Yuan closer, "You always consider everything thoroughly, planning for my sake, and I naturally appreciate your goodness. I’m just worried that you’re wearing yourself out with too much concern."

Qin Yuan felt a warmth in her heart, and they nestled closer together. Gu Jinghui’s lips brushed against her ear, whispering warmly, "Dear Yuan’er, when would you also worry about sending off the Measles Goddess?"

"...Alright..."

"So when exactly will that be?"

Qin Yuan, already dizzy from his kisses, trembled as she answered, "...Tomorrow...how’s that?"

"Good, as long as you remember."

In the shimmering firefly light within the room, Gu Jinghui gazed longingly at the delicately flushed beauty in his arms.

Her dark hair and fair skin, adorned with a layer of firefly glow, looked even more alluring.

He gently licked his lips, inhaling the intoxicating fragrance of his young wife’s hair, hoping for the Measles Goddess to depart soon.

Once Qin Yuan fell into a deep sleep, Marquis Gu quietly got out of bed and left the main room, instructing Gu Shiliu to distribute the palace lamps hanging under the corridor to different places.

Gu Shiliu looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky, "..."

Isn’t it time for everyone to be sleeping now?

Marquis Gu, hands clasped behind his back, stood barefoot under the palace lamp, its flickering glow illuminating his prominent nose and his long, thick lashes, accompanied by the distant symphony of frogs and nearby insects that could only be heard by the keen-eared Gu Shiliu. "Go cheer up Treasure Bead, tell her Sister-in-law, being playful, has come up with some fun things, worried she might be bored, and sent you to deliver them for her to play with."

The Marquis was becoming increasingly different from before, Gu Shiliu sighed slightly, his voice as faint as a mosquito hum, "Understood, sir."

The Marquis added, "Scare her a bit too, say I’m asking how her embroidery practice is coming along, since the Qiqiao Festival isn’t far off."

A rather inscrutable expression crossed Gu Shiliu’s face, and he acknowledged again.

The Marquis instructed further, "Also, catch some more, and send them to Brother Cheng and Sister Yu for them to play with."

Gu Shiliu responded, "Perhaps tomorrow, children who play late can’t sleep well."

"Alright, just remember," the Marquis seemed satisfied, waving a hand, "Also take a couple to Sixth Brother and Mr. Songshan so they can enjoy the lamps and compose poetry. Madam says these fireflies are called Poetry Worms, very poetic; scholars like them. Even in ancient times, emperors liked them so much they built palaces just to hold them. Scholars view the Firefly Garden like the foppish view the cockfighting platform."

Gu Shiliu was surprised, laughing, "These bugs were things to play with as children, girls and young ladies still like them, who knew there was such attention to them?"

The Marquis was quite proud, "Ah, but you don’t know, it’s all from Madam..."

Gu Shiliu’s feet instinctively moved towards the door, "Then I shall go, delay too long, and everyone might be asleep."

At this, the Marquis fell silent, stood for a good while admiring the firefly lamps beneath the gallery, before retiring back to nestle next to Qin Yuan.

Gu Baoshu had already intended to sleep when the noise outside made her rethink, and moments later her attendant entered smiling broadly, carrying a flickering palace lamp, saying, "Congratulations Miss, Gu Shiliu has brought a firefly lamp for you."

"Oh?" Gu Baoshu turned over and sat up, her eyebrows raised in delight, "Did Third Brother have Shiliu bring this? How nice of him to still remember to send me these, I always said Third Brother would never forget me just because he’s married."

The maid said, "Gu Shiliu mentioned that it was Madam who had it delivered, and also..."

"And what?"

Gu Baoshu felt a little less interested.

Yet slightly reluctant as well.

She had been confined for some days and was rather bored.

Firefly lamps were quite fascinating.

The maid said, "She mentioned that Madam, on a whim, caught a lot of fireflies, made some silk bags to hold them, crafted into lamps to send and cheer up the young lady. Marquis also asked how Miss’s embroidery was coming along, as the Qiqiao Festival is fast approaching."

Gu Baoshu: "..."

She clenched her fist in frustration, unable to suppress her anger, "Third Brother really goes too far..."

The maid sighed, "It’s good that Madam always thinks about the young lady. I’ve heard Marquis dotes on Madam greatly and relies on her highly, entrusting all things at the mansion to her management. Miss will marry someday, and her maternal home will always be a woman’s backing; if Miss were to fall out with Madam and suffer at her in-laws, what then?"

Gu Baoshu, used to being spoiled, responded angrily, "She’s only a few years older than me, yet she can manage the whole household? Just because Sixth Madam is unwell now, she’s temporarily allowed to manage things; even if she leans on Third Brother, who knows how long she’ll hold that position?"

The maid promptly covered her mouth, whispering, "Watch your words, it’s already widely known outside. Sixth Madam is frail and not handling matters now; everyone accepts Madam’s management. Miss might not know, but even the twin dragon-phoenix siblings, favored by the Marquis, are being driven out of the mansion. Should you marry, hoping your in-laws treat you accordingly, old slave wouldn’t worry for you."

Gu Baoshu bashfully switched the topic, asking, "Why are Brother Cheng and Sister Yu moving out of the house? Does Third Brother permit it?"

The maid nodded solemnly.

Gu Baoshu pursed her lips, snorting, "I knew it, that woman is not simple. Look at all the uproar she’s made since marrying into the family. Those twins are no match for her. I always thought my Third Brother would make Mrs. Zhao a concubine with the attention he paid to her and her children back then."

The maid, avoiding the subject, shook the palace lamp slightly, "Shall I place it in the room?"

Gu Baoshu, eyes cold, replied, "Since she’s showing goodwill, place it inside. Tell Gu Shiliu when you go out later that I quite like it and thank Sister-in-law for thinking of me. Once my confinement ends, I’ll speak with her properly."