Mrs. Cui, seeing her speak like this, also found it difficult to leave, so she smiled and said, "This is my first time attending a banquet at the Marquis Mansion. I don’t know many people here, and both the Old Madam and the Madam are the hosts, busy greeting the guests. We just happened to meet and chat here."

Mrs. Dai then said, "I am from the ninth branch of the Gu Family, and my husband works at the Military Department. We usually don’t have many opportunities to visit the Marquis Mansion. Seeing so many unfamiliar faces today, if it weren’t for the Marquis’s understanding, we wouldn’t have had the chance to be neighbors with the Marquis Mansion."

With these words, she clearly explained her background and relationship. Qin Jijiu’s rank was not high, so Mrs. Cui found they had a lot in common, and after some small talk, the two got along well.

Qin Yuan knew that Mrs. Dai was concerned about the matter of the twins, so she mentioned it slightly.

Mrs. Dai smiled and said, "My husband has no children, and having a child would bring some liveliness. Speaking without shame, living next to the Marquis Mansion makes us a bit closer to the Marquis than other family members, which is a fortune that anyone would envy. As for the matter of the children... we naturally respect the Marquis Mansion in all things."

It was evident that Mrs. Dai had done her research and was here to express her loyalty.

Qin Yuan certainly wouldn’t disappoint Mrs. Dai’s good intentions and smiled, "Speaking of it, we are all relatives, and now, because of these two children, we have become even closer. Though their birth mother had some issues, the Marquis still remembered the kindness of the children’s biological father, and the current arrangement is due to the stable nature of Brother Cheng and his wife."

Gu Jinghui did not agree with her suggestion, and she had not given up on using the twins to provoke Mrs. Zhao, thus there were many implications in her words, making sure Mrs. Dai understood the Marquis Mansion’s attitude towards the two children.

Sure enough, Mrs. Dai’s expression relaxed, and she laughed, "The Marquis truly repays kindness. My husband always praises the Marquis at home, saying that he commands troops like a deity and loves them like his children, which is why he has achieved such feats. I only heard about it before, but now seeing how the Marquis treats the two children, I understand his character and no wonder my husband admires the Marquis so much."

Qin Yuan replied with a smile, "The Marquis also felt that Brother Cheng and his wife were sincere and reliable, which is why he entrusted the two children to them."

Mrs. Dai was delighted, "Oh my, oh my, I really don’t know what to say. When I get home, I’ll let my husband know, and he’ll be very happy."

After a bit more laughter and chatting among the group, Hong Mian ran over to pull Hong Ye aside for a whisper, then Hong Ye came over and said, "Madam, the Sixth Madam has something she’d like to speak with you about."

Qin Yuan glanced at Hong Ye, "..."

Under perfectly good circumstances, what could the Sixth Madam possibly have to discuss at this time?

Qin Yuan turned to Mrs. Cui and Mrs. Dai and said, "Mother, Sister-in-law Cheng, I still have some matters to attend to. After you’ve finished admiring the flowers, by the pavilion, there are refreshments where you can rest. If you wish to speak with someone, head to the center of the garden; the Old Madam is sitting there."

Mrs. Dai quickly replied, "Madam, please go attend to your matters. With Mrs. Qin keeping me company, you don’t need to worry."

Mrs. Cui added, "I’m engrossed in conversation with your Sister-in-law Cheng, so go ahead and do what you need to do."

Mrs. Cui initially intended to discuss Qin Wan’s matters, but now clearly wasn’t the right time, so she gave up the idea.

Once Qin Yuan walked a distance with Hong Ye and Hong Mian, she asked, "What’s going on?"

Hong Ye looked at Hong Mian, "You tell it in detail."

Only then did Hong Mian speak.

"Mrs. Xu went to the Sixth Madam’s place, and Nanny Zhao held her back and said something which upset Sixth Madam, causing her to vomit blood. Both Nanny Zhao and Mrs. Xu were crying."

Qin Yuan’s vision momentarily darkened.

Hong Ye was furious, complaining, "What could have been so serious as to disrupt today’s events like this? The Old Madam wanted to hold a feast to dispel bad luck, yet it caused someone to vomit blood. It seems no one could wait even a day. What an irresponsible display from someone as old as Nanny Zhao."

Qin Yuan responded softly, "What could have unsettled Nanny Zhao like this?"

Hong Mian leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "Isn’t it all about silver? Nanny Zhao has nearly been driven mad by the housekeeper mammas who’ve invested in this. I hear the pepper was bought by the Xu family, and Nanny Zhao might be seeking to get the silver back from them."

Qin Yuan said nothing.

Suppressing her anger, Hong Ye curiously questioned, "Can’t the Xu family just return the money made from selling the pepper? In business, there are losses and gains. If the housekeeper mammas can’t bear the loss, the Xu family should return whatever’s left, so why let things escalate to causing the Sixth Madam to vomit blood?"

Hong Mian, being of the household, knew more.

"Nanny Zhao goes out whenever she gets the chance, and she always comes back looking dejected, so clearly things aren’t going well with the Xu family. Otherwise, she wouldn’t grab Mrs. Xu so frantically."

Qin Yuan inquired, "What could the Xu family be planning?"

Hong Ye responded, "Only by going there will we know."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Hong Mian, go quickly and get Doctor Li from Renhe Hall. Have them come in through the side gate and go directly to the Sixth Madam’s courtyard, and make sure no one else sees them."

Hong Mian nodded.

Qin Yuan continued, "Once you’ve gone, quickly come back and find me."

Hong Mian nodded even more earnestly.

With Hong Ye, Qin Yuan hurried to the Sixth Madam’s courtyard. Along the way, Hong Ye couldn’t help but ask, "Doesn’t the Xu family trust Nanny Zhao, and they don’t want to sell the pepper at a loss?"

Qin Yuan replied, "It’s hard to say."

Hong Ye asked, "Could there be another reason?"

Qin Yuan said, "Think about why the Xu family would be willing to suppress the Xu Zhen matter and not fall out with the Marquis Mansion?"

"Isn’t it because of what we’ve given the Marquis? Over the years, the Sixth Madam has earned a lot of money, and the Xu family has benefitted greatly."

"Do you think the Xu family is unwilling to give up the Sixth Madam, or are they unwilling to give up the Marquis Mansion?"

Hong Ye was a little perplexed and couldn’t answer.

Qin Yuan sighed, "Let’s wait and see what happens."

Before long, Hong Mian also caught up with them. Rapidly, they reached the Sixth Madam’s courtyard, and before they even entered, they heard the sound of lamenting cries.

A few steps inside, and they saw Nanny Zhao sitting on the porch of the hall, slapping her legs and wailing without any decorum, shrilling, "Truly heartless, how much money did Sixth Madam give you, and you recognize only money, not people? You’ve lost your conscience. Is this how you treat your sister-in-law? Are you worthy of your parents-in-law’s spirits?"

Mrs. Xu was blocked in the hall, disheveled, her clothes rumpled from being tugged, her expression both angry and a bit ferocious. The female servants and nannies she brought were also trapped by the people from the Sixth Madam’s courtyard, unable to leave.

"What has happened here?"

Qin Yuan frowned, having some guesses in her heart.

Before Mrs. Xu could speak, Nanny Zhao had already crawled up from the ground and charged forward, saying, "Madam, please save the Sixth Madam! She was so upset that she vomited blood just now. If Sixth Madam is gone, I won’t live either."

Qin Yuan quickly said, "Get up and speak properly; I’ve already sent for the doctor on the way here."

Nanny Zhao widened her eyes and exclaimed, "Bring Doctor Li from Renhe Hall here, the Dean’s prescription is useless."