Qin Yuan sat for a while before being urged to go back to rest.
Gu Jinghui walked slowly by her side, and the two of them did not speak along the way, and Hong Ye and Cui Ming did not dare to make a sound.
After a long while, Gu Jinghui said firmly, "What happened last night was my oversight, it will not happen again."
Qin Yuan, who had been admiring the Taihu Stone in the distance, withdrew her gaze at these words, looked at Marquis Gu, and said, "As long as the Marquis doesn't blame me for not waiting for your return last night. These two maids by my side grew up with me. Hong Ye has always been quick to speak. She spoke of the people around Lady Zhao last night for my sake. I hope the Marquis won't blame her."
Gu Jinghui was taken aback and said, "No, she, she is fine."
Then they fell silent again.
Hong Ye and Cui Ming exchanged glances, their eyes full of amusement.
They said those words yesterday because Mistress instructed them to; otherwise, how could they peel away Lady Zhao's facade?
Qin Yuan, in her haste this morning, only noticed the sign hanging at the entrance of the courtyard when she returned. It was inscribed in seal script with the words "Wutong Garden," implying the phoenix's residence in the parasol tree, perfectly suitable for the Marchioness to reside.
Qin Yuan asked Gu Jinghui: "Did you have any matters this morning, Marquis?"
Gu Jinghui replied, "To accompany you."
Qin Yuan nodded and said, "I need to arrange the dowry. Also, should the affairs within Wutong Garden be entrusted to me?"
Gu Jinghui was again surprised and said, "Naturally."
It dawned on him that his young wife handled matters with a certain methodical approach.
When establishing rules and demanding authority, she was frank and open, showing no hint of a new bride's bashfulness.
After everyone entered the room and began counting the dowry, Gu Jinghui left, summoned Gu Shiliu, spoke with him briefly, and soon returned with a book to sit beside them.
"Would our accounting here disturb the Marquis from reading?"
Qin Yuan had Hong Ye serve Gu Jinghui tea and snacks before speaking.
Gu Jinghui shook his head, "Not at all. Matters of the inner court are foreign to me; it's good to occasionally understand a bit. Once you have organized the dowry, I'll have my sixth sister-in-law and the housekeeper assign Wutong Garden's affairs to you."
Qin Yuan smiled contentedly.
Not to mention the Marquis Mansion's treasury, Wutong Garden had to first be under her control, lest everyone in the main courtyard forget who the true mistress is, making her uneasy.
"Cui Ming, light the incense tablets in the room so the Marquis can read with ease."
As a reciprocation, Qin Yuan improved Gu Jinghui's treatment by a few notches.
Cui Ming immediately fetched the incense tablets Qin Yuan prepared, placed them into a bronze incense burner with double-crane heads, lit the charcoal, gathered the ash, and covered it with the lid. In no time, the fragrance wafted with the curling blue smoke.
Gu Jinghui did not like these; the incense bag he carried was filled with invigorating incense pills. But seeing Cui Ming's elegant actions and the gentle fragrance, he couldn't help but inquire.
"Where did you get this incense?"
Cui Ming replied, "Marquis, our mistress prepared this herself."
Gu Jinghui said, "It's the madam."
Cui Ming immediately corrected, "Yes, yes, the madam prepared it while at her parents' home."
Gu Jinghui mumbled, "No wonder I haven't smelled it before."
Cui Ming did not hear clearly and asked hurriedly, "Did the Marquis instruct something just now?"
"Nothing special, if the madam requires incense in the future, just ask the sixth sister-in-law for ingredients; the family owns an incense shop."
Cui Ming responded with a beaming smile.
Turning around, she whispered to Qin Yuan, "The Marquis cares about you, Mistress."
Qin Yuan busily tapped on the abacus, while Hong Ye and several accompanying stewards tallied the dowry, preparing to register it and store it.
Hearing this, the steward mothers chuckled, "Our mistress is fortunate."
Gu Jinghui did not stay in the bridal chamber on the wedding night, making them anxious. Whether the attendants could settle in the Marquis Mansion and live well depended entirely on the madam's status.
Upon learning Gu Jinghui cared for Qin Yuan, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Yuan said indifferently, "Living well depends on oneself; you must be extra prudent, thoroughly accounting for the dowry shops and estates. My future well-being depends on them."
Depending on whether a man cares for you, how long can that last?
When he does not consider you, he won't negotiate with you.
Nothing is more reliable than money.
Thinking of the jewelry received from Old Madam Gu, Qin Yuan's mood genuinely brightened.
Hong Ye and others only thought Qin Yuan was merely stubborn and pleased inside.
Before lunch, the dowry counting finished, and Qin Yuan had a clear sense of her finances, much more affluent than her past life.
In the previous life, her dowry was sparse, and after repaying the money Lin Ziqi had borrowed for appearances, little remained.
Mrs. Lin considered it a great achievement to raise her son with difficulty.
Lin Ziqi merely focused on his studies.
The household depended on her dowry for all expenses, with Qin Yuan exhausting every effort and being forced into business acumen.
This skill supported Lin Ziqi's rise from a low-ranking County Magistrate in Jiangxi to Prime Minister.
Now, her dowry was much more substantial, and she brought back the entire bride price from the Marquis Mansion, amounting to a staggering seven hundred thousand taels in total.
No one attempted to lay claim to her dowry.
She benefited from living again, knowing many opportunities in advance.
Qin Yuan thought, even if Gu Jinghui still wanted to play the drama of eternal companionship with Lady Zhao in the future, she could comfortably enjoy her days as Marchioness on a mountain of wealth.
Gu Jinghui watched Qin Yuan's abacus clattering away, her fingers moving so fast they became a blur, and her face continually wore a smile, unlike when she smiled at him.
"Truly a financial enthusiast."
Gu Jinghui lowered his gaze, clutching his book tightly, muttering softly.
Lunch was taken in Wutong Garden, as they were newlyweds, eating for three days in their courtyard.
The kitchen sent a spread, the dishes still lavish, with generous portions, enough for both masters and maids without finishing.
Similar to Qin Mansion, everyone in Marquis Mansion had allocated portions, with any extras requiring personal expenditure.
Qin Yuan was not particular about food, but due to her maternal family's Southern roots, she preferred fresh fish and shrimp.
She was not well-acquainted with Gu Jinghui, and there was little to converse about; fortunately, conversation wasn't necessary during meals, just paying attention to Gu Jinghui's dietary preferences.
Hong Ye and Cui Ming stood behind the two, ready to serve, but Gu Jinghui said, "I'm accustomed to the barracks, not needing such service; let them serve the madam instead."
Qin Yuan laughed, "Just the two of us eating doesn't need such complexity; I don't like being served during meals either."
Gu Jinghui brightened up, "Then let them dine outside; we can eat by ourselves."
It seemed he was unaccustomed to having people waiting nearby.
Qin Yuan found it curious but asked no further questions.
In aristocratic families, decadence is not uncommon, yet looking at Gu Jinghui's lifestyle, he was an anomaly.
Qin Yuan picked out a few dishes and set up a small table outside for Hong Ye, Cui Ming, and the others to dine.
"What if the Marquis and madam need service later?"
Cui Ming thought of alternating with Hong Ye for meals.
"No need, I can take care of the Marquis here; if anything needs doing, I'll call you in," Qin Yuan decided.
Gu Jinghui became even more delighted.