Mrs. Dai came over and asked, "What’s wrong with Madam Jin, are you choking? Quickly have a drink, this toast is from me to you."

Saying this, she handed a wine cup to Madam Jin.

Madam Jin: "..."

Madam Jin looked at Qin Yuan with some difficulty.

Qin Yuan’s lips slightly curved, still gazing steadily at her.

The bold Mrs. Dai had already downed her drink and was eagerly watching her.

Madam Jin had no choice but to raise her cup and drink, then she felt a fiery blaze scorching from her throat to her stomach, both choking and spicy. After struggling to regain her composure, she heard Mrs. Dai beside her laugh, "Good drinking skills, I knew Madam Jin was a straightforward person. We should spend more time together, and now that there are no battles, there will be plenty of opportunities to connect."

After these words, the ladies at the table were all the more diligent in chatting, laughing, and toasting each other.

Qin Yuan’s lips slightly curved, thinking Mrs. Dai is astute and speaks directly, having someone like her around is truly beneficial, saving a lot of trouble.

The wine Mrs. Dai offered had a strong aftereffect, leaving Madam Jin dazedly sitting aside to catch her breath, seemingly slightly tipsy.

After a while, she couldn’t help but grab Qin Yuan to complain, "I really didn’t expect Sister-in-law Cheng to be so enthusiastic. This drink... Madam, it doesn’t matter what outsiders say, our Old Jin has been with the Marquis for so many years, he tries to be involved in everything the Marquis does, and he never hides anything from me. When it comes to managing a husband, I’m right there..."

Madam Jin waggled her thumb, smiling cheekily, "No matter how many concubines he takes, he can’t escape my grasp. Concubines are just there to help me take care of the man and have children, no way can they surpass me. Marrying that big lug was simply because Old Jin’s ancestors accumulated virtues over eighteen generations."

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

Seeing Madam Jin in such a state, she ought to sober up. She instructed Mo Zhu and Cui Ming to help Madam Jin out of the floral hall to a pavilion to sit down.

"Go and bring tea and snacks to help Madam Jin sober up."

Mo Zhu quickly took the little servant girl serving beside Madam Jin with her.

Madam Jin, sitting next to Qin Yuan, happily continued speaking for her own amusement, "Old Jin said what he admires most is our Marquis. The Marquis was really something else; before marrying the madam, he was a virgin, never getting close to women.

Madam, you have such great fortune, don’t you? Just recently, Old Jin was scratching his head writing booklets for the Marquis to read, teaching him how to please women. Don’t be fooled by Old Jin’s boorish looks, he actually knows how to win a woman’s heart. All those little women in the house are utterly devoted to him, it’s a skill, isn’t it?

If it weren’t for following the Marquis in battle and earning military merits, being a live-in son-in-law making a living off women would’ve been just fine."

Cui Ming was sitting by, dumbfounded, thinking to herself that it’s often said soldier men are coarse, but their women aren’t much different. What lady would speak like this ordinarily?

But Qin Yuan was unusually amused, "It is indeed so, if Sister hadn’t mentioned it, I really wouldn’t have noticed."

Madam Jin leaned closer saying, "I instruct Old Jin to go east, he dares not go west. If you want to know anything about the Marquis, I can have Old Jin tell you everything. My family has passed down the art of husband management; if you want to learn, Sister can teach you."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Then we have a deal, Sister must teach me."

By the time Mo Zhu and the others brought tea, snacks, and a sobering soup, the two were already on such good terms that they wanted to become sworn sisters.

Finally, it was Mrs. Dai who came over to pull them inside, "Madam, you must go in quickly; Brother Cheng and Sister Yu are about to come over to greet the guests."

Qin Yuan, not feeling at ease, left someone to care for Madam Jin before following Mrs. Dai inside. Just as she sat down, she saw Mrs. Ma casting a sidelong glance, eyes dark and indistinct.

Qin Yuan was too lazy to bother with such a person, only chatting with those nearby. Hong Ye had received the news and ordered a place to be set at the head. Soon, Nanny Rong helped Old Madam Gu come over, accompanied by Brother Cheng and Sister Yu, all dressed anew.

The two children wore new clothes made of luxurious fabric, with embroidery that was exceedingly delicate. Around their necks were collars twisted from golden threads with longevity locks hanging from them, waistbands tied with Mutton Fat Jade Pendants, not to mention incense bags, pockets, and such, clearly indicating they were children raised within a prosperous household.

Qin Yuan had already gone up to greet, and with Mrs. Dai, accompanied Old Madam Gu to sit at the head while Brother Cheng and Sister Yu took their seats.

The bustling hall quieted down.

Old Madam Gu remarked, "Today is the recognition banquet for these two children. We’re a bit late with our speeches, so let’s have them toast everyone to express their apologies."

Qin Yuan thus remained seated beside Old Madam Gu, while Mrs. Dai took the two children around to meet everyone.

The cups they raised contained only plain water, and the ladies at the table did nothing more than touch their lips to their wine cups, fulfilling the formalities.

Mrs. Dai bringing the twins around to receive toasts was to tell everyone that henceforth, they are her children, and she hopes everyone would look after them for Gu Jingcheng’s sake.

The ladies gave them small meeting gifts based on their closeness of relations. The trays held by the little servant girls behind them were filled to the brim. Mrs. Dai noted it all down, to repay the kindness later.

When they finished a round and returned to the table, Mrs. Dai’s face was already flushed from drinking. From now on, she was also someone with a son under her knee.

Old Madam Gu asked, "Why did you drink so much? Didn’t everyone just touch their lips?"

Mrs. Dai replied, "Aunt, I’m happy now that I have children. How could I not drink? Were it not for Aunt and the Marquis thinking of us, how would such a good thing happen? My husband said he liked those two children as soon as he saw them and promised to treat them well in the future."

Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but sigh upon hearing this, looking at Brother Cheng and Sister Yu before advising, "This is also your karma and fortune. In the future, you must be filial to your parents and not grow distant from the Marquis Mansion. Keep in touch and visit us frequently."

Qin Yuan glanced at the two children.

Brother Cheng held Sister Yu’s hand as they stood up and said, "Grandmother, adoptive mother, and mother, we will certainly respect and honor you in the future, repaying the kindness of your upbringing."

With that, they kowtowed three times respectfully.

Qin Yuan quickly helped them up, smiling, "The Marquis said everything that needed saying this afternoon, so I have nothing to add. We’re neighbors, so let’s visit each other often in the future."

Now that they’re all family, saying anything about coming to seek help with any difficulties would equate to embarrassing Mrs. Dai, something Qin Yuan naturally wouldn’t say.

Brother Cheng said, "Adoptive mother, don’t worry. We understand fully the effort both father and you put in."

These words, Qin Yuan was merely listening to.

She didn’t like these two children from the start, and they didn’t like her either. If it weren’t for Mrs. Zhao stirring trouble, they would’ve just lived separately, not bothering each other for a lifetime.

The two children did not go to Wutong Garden to pay respects, clearly holding a grudge, making her remarks even more inappropriate.

Fortunately, Gu Shiliu arrived, informing Old Madam that he was to take them to the front hall to meet guests, sparing her the effort of coming up with topics.