Outside the window, the voice of Hong Ye reprimanding could be heard.
"Today is the joyous day for the Marquis and Marchioness, who is making such a ruckus here?"
"Marquis, Marquis, something has happened to the young master, his high fever won't subside, please hurry and take a look."
A middle-aged woman shouted with a sharp voice, anxious and panicking, as if she were about to cry.
Gu Jinghui's expression tightened, hesitantly looking at Qin Yuan.
As if asking how she knew there would be trouble on Lady Zhao's side tonight.
Also as if asking whether she agreed to let him take a look.
Hong Ye scolded: "The Marquis is not a doctor; is there really no one in the Marquis Mansion to handle these things? You asked for the Marquis, so why are you shouting here? Did I block you, or did I hit you? Your master caused a scene here, and you come again at night. Why do you and your master love to add trouble on other people's joyous days so much?"
"Marquis, Marquis, the young master is really not well," the woman continued to plead sorrowfully, not responding to Hong Ye.
"Alright, let her in to speak," Qin Yuan spoke before Gu Jinghui could, "You are new to Marquis Mansion and don't know the weights. If you carelessly offend a noble, I can't protect you. Besides, on a joyous day, who has the patience for crying and noise?"
Gu Jinghui's initially relieved face darkened again after hearing the latter half of the sentence.
Qin Yuan pretended not to notice, stood up, and asked, "If the Marquis is going out at night, it might not be suitable to wear the wedding robes again. Why not have the servant fetch your usual attire?"
"Alright," Gu Jinghui also sat up, nodding in agreement.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "Tonight is our wedding night, and in the future, we will support and depend on each other as husband and wife. A couple is of one body, my dignity is linked to the Marquis."
As if he didn't expect her to say that, Gu Jinghui was stunned for a moment. Hong Ye had already brought the person into the outer room and reported from outside, while Qin Yuan told her to call in the servants outside to fetch the Marquis's regular coat.
She had already assumed the role of hostess, starting to attend to Gu Jinghui's daily living needs.
Gu Jinghui didn't know what he felt inside, striding out and asking coldly, "What is going on?"
Qin Yuan stood inside the room, hearing the woman say through the door: "The young boy suddenly became unwell, his high fever won't go down, Lady Zhao is so anxious she's crying, begging the servant to invite the Marquis to take a look."
After a moment of silence, Gu Jinghui said, "You go back first and have Housekeeper Han send someone with the Marquis Mansion's card to invite the Imperial Physician. I will come soon."
Hearing this, Qin Yuan turned back and sat on the bed, waiting for Gu Jinghui to leave, then called Hong Ye and Cui Ming inside to sleep.
Unexpectedly, Gu Jinghui came back in, walked to the bed, and solemnly promised.
"Madam, rest assured, I'll be back soon."
"Alright," Qin Yuan replied with a submissive smile, which instantly disappeared.
Gu Jinghui glanced at her, wanting to say something more, but the servant already brought the coat, so he could only hurriedly change in the outer room and leave.
"Hong Ye, Cui Ming, you both come in and stay in the room."
Qin Yuan instructed them to come in.
With the male host not in the room, they didn't have to be so diligent.
Hong Ye quietly asked, "Miss, didn't the Marquis say he would be back soon?"
"Heh," Qin Yuan sneered, "He said he'd be right back, and he will be right back? Would Lady Zhao so painstakingly create such a fuss only to let him leave so soon? She'd likely keep him there till midnight."
Cui Ming sighed.
This wedding night was indeed upsetting.
Hong Ye asked again, "Aren't you worried Miss, that the Marquis might get entangled with that wretch?"
Qin Yuan confidently smiled, saying, "Am I dead or something? The Marquis would not."
Cui Ming asked, "Miss, did you do something?"
Qin Yuan said, "Secrets of heaven mustn't be revealed."
Seeming to remember something, Cui Ming fell silent.
Hong Ye still worried about the matter of consummation, saying, "If the Marquis comes back early, would we sleeping on the ottoman delay the consummation for you and the Marquis?"
"Consummation?" Qin Yuan raised her long eyebrows, "Hong Ye, it's not going to happen tonight. I don't care about consummation."
The one surnamed Zhao doesn't want us to consummate.
Sixth Lady Gu doesn't want us to consummate.
I don't want to consummate either.
Gu Jinghui, close to thirty, is naturally eager for a legitimate heir, but I'm not in a hurry—I'm only sixteen, with a delicate body that can't withstand this hulking man's roughness.
I also don't wish to give birth early, lest it harms my body.
In a previous life, my body suffered, and seeking a cure was futile. Only after reading the medical books left by my aunt did I realize that bearing children before twenty could shorten one's lifespan. Old customs also required women to marry at twenty, but due to wars and disasters, the court forced early marriages to populate.
I became pregnant soon after marrying Lin Ziqi, but unfortunately, the child was lost, and my body was damaged.
This lifetime, I want to live well, live happily, live meaningfully.
Cui Ming was anxious: "Miss should give birth to a legitimate heir early to secure herself."
Hong Ye also said: "If that wretch wins over the Marquis first and bears a son, wouldn't you, Miss, be frustrated?"
"A son?"
Qin Yuan lightly laughed.
In the past life, Gu Jinghui and Lady Zhao stayed together and had no children.
Furthermore, I already had Cui Ming add something to the nuptial wine.
Even if they intend, there's no way.
If I can't have it, no one else can either.
"Lady Zhao is still in mourning; you don't need to worry so much. Sleep early, I've wobbled all day and have been busy for so long, I'm already tired."
Qin Yuan yawned, turned over, and faced the inside, ignoring them.
At the start of summer, the night was not too cold or too hot, perfect for sleeping.
Qin Yuan slept until daybreak.
Hearing the rustling sounds outside, she turned over and found that Cui Ming and Hong Ye had already left.
Not knowing what time it was, whether that Gu returned last night.
If not...
Qin Yuan privately calculated how she would speak to and present herself in front of Old Madam Gu when serving tea later.
Upon hearing the noise, Cui Ming and Hong Ye came in with a copper basin to assist her in getting up.
"Did the Marquis come back?"
Qin Yuan changed clothes, sitting at the dressing table, asking Cui Ming, who was brushing her hair from behind.
As calmly as asking "have you eaten?"
Originally aggrieved for her Miss, Cui Ming: "..."
Though unclear about Qin Yuan's plans, she understood that Qin Yuan would not suffer any loss.
The Miss indeed didn't care if the Marquis returned last night.
She complained quietly: "He hasn't returned yet; perhaps he's being held up by that Lady Zhao."
"I see," Qin Yuan asked, "What time is it?"
Cui Ming said, "It's already 5:45 AM."
Qin Yuan said, "Once my hair is done, set the table for breakfast quickly. If the Marquis doesn't return, we'll go directly to the main room to serve tea."
"Not waiting for the Marquis?" Hong Ye hurriedly asked.
"What for? This is the Marquis Mansion; he won't starve himself, will he? I'm the new bride, I cannot be negligent with my mother-in-law."
Just as Qin Yuan finished speaking, a voice replied from outside: "Neglecting your husband is fine?"