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

Chapter 634: Many Diverging Paths

Qin Yuan smiled slightly and said, "This is just a guess of mine, I’m speaking casually, please listen with a grain of salt. But as it’s often said, the road is difficult, the road is difficult, with many divergent paths..."

In her previous life, she followed Lin Ziqi from a poor County Magistrate in Jiangxi and rose to the position of Magistrate in Zhejiang. She had encountered major incidents like bandits attacking cities once or twice, not to mention other matters.

These men gathering together surely weren’t here just to congratulate the Empress Dowager.

The more she spoke like this, the more worried Mr. Songshan became.

"I’ll have someone keep an eye on them, and if there’s any unusual movement..."

Qin Yuan cautioned, "Don’t watch too closely, it will be problematic if our surveillance is exposed. If these people are seasoned thieves, they are very alert. Just follow from a distance. There might be others following, we should see what they intend and discuss slowly."

Mr. Songshan agreed to everything, and after bidding farewell, he hurriedly sent people to keep watch. He also promised gold and silver to informants, instructing them to be careful and report immediately if there was any unusual activity.

After finishing the work, he sat at the desk, wrote a few words, and suddenly remembered: even though the lady is young, she is indeed seasoned. Within a few words, she pinpointed the key issues, things not easily encountered within the women’s quarters.

If it truly is the people of Black Wind Village... one wonders what the lady plans to do.

With this thought, Mr. Songshan couldn’t hold back his anticipation and wished today were already the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Voices came from outside, and after a long while, Brother Qi came in and said, "Sir, earlier the lady sent Xiao Hong to remind us not to forget the porter who could identify their background."

Porter, porter!

Mr. Songshan’s temple throbbed. If the porter were to identify them...

After visiting the Old Madam, Qin Yuan ordered the staff to pack Marquis Gu’s outer garments and bedding, placing them in the outer room.

Upon returning, Hong Ye saw this and asked, "What’s this about?"

Qin Yuan said, "We’re going to the ancestral temple for a ritual the day after tomorrow, it’s better to sleep separately. Remember to instruct everyone to start eating vegetarian dishes from tonight."

Hong Ye agreed.

Qin Yuan suddenly thought of Gu Baoshu and said, "Have someone remind Treasure Bead, lest she forgets."

Hong Ye also agreed.

Qin Yuan found it strange, "Treasure Bead has been unusually quiet these past two days. There’s a saying that one gains wisdom after a setback. After the incident at Duke Zhen’s Mansion, she’s become much more stable."

Hong Ye laughed, "Miss is busy with various affairs all day long; how would she know what Miss Baozhu has been up to these days?"

"Then tell me, what has she been doing?"

Hong Ye said, "Mr. Songshan is now busy with matters of the Feiyun Pavilion and can’t teach the young masters as diligently as before. These days, the festival is approaching, and they’re clamoring for a holiday. Mr. Songshan just agreed as he couldn’t keep up — Seventh Miss has been dressing up as a boy every day outside, playing kickball merrily."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "As long as she doesn’t get hurt, let her be."

Hong Ye concurred, "Anyway, it won’t last more than a couple of days; just let Seventh Miss relax."

On the field, the azure blue headband Gu Baoshu tied fluttered with her movements, buoyed by the cheers of the soccer club players, exuding even greater spirit.

Qin Heng was screaming incessantly on the field, not even caring that his voice was getting hoarse, drawing the attention of many like a cawing duck.

Black-skinned Brother Xiao Hong couldn’t help but curse, "Don’t just cheer for Qi Gu, can’t you see you’re surrounded by the opponents?"

Sycophantic household really is...

Kicking a ball you can’t score, even your positioning is overly showy.

If not for Qi Gu’s sake, how could this kid be allowed on the field? Xiao Hong glanced at Gu Baoshu’s headband, secretly thinking if he should tie one himself, as indeed it looked suave and free-spirited when running.

In the midst of distraction, a wave of jubilation surged inside and outside the field. The referee struck the gong, declaring Xiao Hong’s team the winner.

"Goodness, goodness," Black-skinned Brother Xiao Hong couldn’t help but roll twelve somersaults.

Another day of easy victories, if this continues, his club is sure to claim the ultimate victory.

The players from the soccer team also followed, flipping somersaults.

"These bastards think they’re the Great Sage Equalling Heaven!" the opposing team, watching in anger, couldn’t help but mock.

Qin Heng yelled to Gu Baoshu, "Brother Qi, do a hundred and twenty flips and show them what it means to be increasingly skilled!"

Gu Baoshu stood still, rolled her eyes disdainfully.

Laughter erupted outside the field.

The lingering idlers yelled, "Not only couldn’t you score a single goal, but you also talked excessively, the whole field heard your duck voice."

Qin Heng acted as if he hadn’t heard and turned away, joyfully stroking his azure blue headband.

After all, who wouldn’t serve as Gu Baoshu’s only lackey?

One person gains prominence, and even the chickens and dogs ascend. Do these clingy layabouts even understand?

At this moment, on the betting platform, a black-faced, short, and stout man, with a face like a sea bowl, shouted, "What’s going on, why did that Hong Team win again? They’re really something else. When I placed my bets, didn’t you say they were at the bottom last year and only got into the top hundred this year due to luck? So why did they win again?"

A robust man standing with crossed arms behind the counter glanced sideways and said, "Their luck’s always been this good, who can you blame? Blame your own bad luck."

Hong Team’s achievements this year are unstoppable.

All the sore losers in gambling matches come to find the bookie, but who does the bookie turn to?

"Exactly, once bets are placed, hands are off. Sir, it would be best to accept your losses graciously!"

The black-faced, short, stout man suddenly flared up in anger, overturned the heavy table carried by several men, and while everyone was still stunned, he grabbed a bundle of silver coins and ran swiftly.

The bookie was furious, "How dare you make trouble under Lord Ma’s nose, chase him down! Teach him a lesson so no one underestimates us, thinking we grew up eating vegetables."

A group of men pursued him.

The competition field was nestled between adjacent townships, and not far beyond lay a maze of alleys and streets.

Gu Baoshu watched the quarrel just now with interest, curious if the man eventually escaped.

Black-skinned Brother Xiao Hong, having finished his somersaults, approached joyfully yet cautiously, and from a distance, made a salute to him, "Brother Qi, we won again. Tomorrow we’ll compete for the top twenty, are you prepared?"

The soccer teammates gathered around, talking over each other, "We’ve achieved such results with Mr. Qi’s support, if we make it into the top three, countless lads will beg to join Hong Society. Not to mention today, the little maidens delivering sachets and fruits packed the field."

No wonder, with Mr. Qi’s exceptional skills and eye-catching attire, he’s continually praised by the young maidens.

The gap is too vast, they can only envy but not envy enough.

Before Gu Baoshu could reply, Qin Heng hurried over to usher people away, "You all back off, Brother Qi loves cleanliness, don’t bump into him."

Everyone eyed him, what a little lackey, truly detestable.

But there’s nothing they can do about him.

Black-skinned Xiao Hong laughed, "Brother Qin, we just want to get close to Brother Qi, so..."