The next day, Qin Yuan woke up, got dressed, and went on her own to the main house to see the Old Madam.
Upon hearing she was here, Old Madam Gu immediately asked Qiujie to invite her in, smiling as she asked, "Why so early, didn't sleep in a bit more?"
Qin Yuan replied with a smile, "Today is the homecoming day, so I came a little earlier."
"You woke up early, you probably haven't had time to eat, why not have breakfast here with me."
"I couldn't ask for more, the breakfast here with you is surely tastier."
After hearing this, Old Madam Gu said to Nanny Rong, "Look at that sweet talker, go arrange it, don't let her miss out; I eat plainly because of my age."
Qin Yuan quickly said, "I'll eat whatever you eat, I'm not picky, everything tastes good to me."
Watching her daughter-in-law eat sweetly, Old Madam Gu also ate another bowl of porridge.
Nanny Rong remarked with a smile, "If the Madam frequently comes for meals, the Old Madam might eat more."
Qin Yuan readily responded, "If you don't mind me eating up your share, I'll come."
Old Madam Gu looked at her tenderly and said, "Good, good, come sit with me more often, and share meals; I enjoy it greatly."
After Qin Yuan left, Old Madam Gu sighed, "My son is truly a rascal."
Nanny Rong said, "The Marquis has deep feelings for those twins, and without children, it's inevitable some people have other thoughts. Recently, I've heard that outside, there's talk that those twins are the Marquis's children, and Lady Zhao has won the Marquis's favoritism, just waiting for the title after the grand wedding."
"What?"
Old Madam Gu was taken aback and asked, "Could they really be the Marquis's children?"
Nanny Rong replied, "The Marquis shouldn't do such a ridiculous thing, right? Isn't Lady Zhao still wearing mourning for her husband?"
Old Madam Gu was so frightened she broke into a cold sweat, "Is that bastard still at Fengxuan Pavilion? Get him back this instant. How can he ignore such an important occasion as his wife's homecoming?"
Qin Yuan returned to Wutong Garden, seeing the time was about right, she changed into the crimson robe and Xiapei given by Old Madam Gu, and put on the jadeite pendant, which made her skin look more lustrous, as if covered with a soft glow.
"Hong Ye, go ask if the carriage for the homecoming is ready."
Hong Ye returned after a moment and replied, "It's ready."
"Then let's prepare to set out, the earlier we go the earlier we return."
"Not waiting for the Marquis?"
Qin Yuan smiled, "It's already almost past 7:45 AM."
Gu Jinghui not only hadn't returned, but hadn't sent any message, it seemed the homecoming today would have to be her alone.
In her past life, Qin Wan's homecoming was the same.
Qin Yuan didn't find it very surprising.
Seeing Gu Jinghui wanting to live the days well, she had hinted a few times that homecoming represents a woman's dignity, hoping he would give her this dignity.
Since it wasn't forthcoming, she wouldn't force it.
Once the homecoming day was over, she'd start managing her own dowry shop, and find a way to win over the Old Madam, in order to take over the household management from Sixth Lady Gu.
Seeing Qin Yuan's indifferent manner, Hong Ye was almost moved to tears, but Cui Ming told her, "Are you trying to have everyone at the Marquis Mansion see Miss make a fool of herself?"
Hong Ye put away her sorrow, and alongside Cui Ming attended to Qin Yuan heading to the side courtyard to board the carriage.
Upon reaching the side courtyard, the originally prepared carriage was gone.
"What's happening?"
Hong Ye exploded.
Her pent-up anger was too much and couldn't be contained.
The nearby coachman drawled, "The Madam's carriage was taken by Seventh Miss, she said since the Marquis hasn't arrived, it's unlikely the Madam would set off anytime soon, so she had urgent need and took it."
Hong Ye was infuriated, "You're just a coachman, how can you take independent decisions?"
The coachman said, "It's Seventh Miss's decision, I'm just a servant, how could I refuse?"
Hong Ye was struck speechless.
Qin Yuan coughed, and Cui Ming quickly came forward to pull Hong Ye back.
On the day of the tea ceremony, Qin Yuan had seen Seventh Miss Gu Baoshu, who had a bold and somewhat arrogant appearance, probably looking down on her status. Coupled with the fact that Gu Jinghui had been staying at Fengxuan Pavilion these days, she was stepped on.
Qin Yuan said, "Go prepare another carriage quickly."
The coachman hesitated and said, "The carriages used by the womenfolk are all gone, Madam perhaps..."
Qin Yuan asked, "How many carriages does the Marquis Mansion have in total, and which ones do the womenfolk commonly use?"
The coachman muttered, "The steward handles those things, how would I know so much, the carriages for womenfolk are fixed, the Old Madam's and Sixth Madam's carriages are present, but Madam, you can't use them."
Qin Yuan sneered twice, and said to Hong Ye, "Go ask Nanny Rong by the Old Madam for a solution, the return gifts prepared for me by the Old Madam, I can't send them to the Qin Family, it'll make them think the Marquis Mansion looks down on relatives. What should I do? I'll sit here waiting for you to come back with someone."
The coachman then began to panic, knelt down, and pleaded while kowtowing, "Madam, I'm just following orders, how can you trouble me?"
Qin Yuan ignored him, she and Cui Ming turned to a nearby pavilion to sit down and wait for Hong Ye's return.
Cui Ming asked her, "Why are you taking this matter to the Old Madam?"
Qin Yuan sneered, "Some people fear I won't make a fuss with the Marquis, the Old Madam feels guilty towards me, wants to placate me into getting along with the Marquis, how could she bear this."
Cui Ming understood.
"Are you referring to Sixth Madam?"
Qin Yuan snorted, "Who else, Seventh Miss and she are allies."
The words about not being able to use the carriages of the Old Madam and Sixth Madam while Seventh Miss can use hers, are just excuses, leaving her no recourse, stirring conflict with Gu Jinghui over this homecoming issue.
She indeed intended to dispute things with Gu Jinghui, but the timing to confront him must be decided by her.
Seeing her calmly resting, Cui Ming relaxed as well.
As they sat in the pavilion for a while, a round-headed stout steward brought several men searching for them, smilingly said, "Madam, this coachman is an idiot, doesn't know anything, Madam needs a carriage, let me arrange it for you."
Qin Yuan said, "No worries, my maid already went to ask Nanny Rong beside the Old Madam. The coachman said he was following orders, I won't make things difficult for you all."
The stout steward tried to persuade, "Madam isn't you in a hurry for the homecoming? Let me quickly arrange it for you, so you're not late and become a laughing stock."
Qin Yuan smiled lightly and said leisurely, "Since it's already late, being a bit later won't matter. If someone laughs, let them laugh at the Marquis Mansion's poor household management and lax control. There's no need to hide, cover, or indulge these issues; as the saying goes, 'nip problems in the bud', I'm doing this to prevent you from making bigger mistakes in the future."
Hearing that the Marchioness was a daughter of a minor official, without the Marquis's favor, and the Marquis had been staying at Fengxuan Pavilion these days only caring about Zhao's mother and son, unwilling to accompany even for homecoming, the stout steward couldn't help but feel disdain, thinking he could convince her with a few words. But now he was at a loss for words, cold sweat dripping down his back.