Old Wang elongated his tone and said, "You come into this world with nothing and leave with nothing, whatever is rewarded in the end still remains in this palace."

The little eunuch wanted to speak again, but Old Wang said, "Later, go around to your godfather and have him urge Prince Qi, saying that the Emperor wants to relax in a few days and needs to select a few good players for a game of Cuju."

...

When Qin Yuan woke up, she realized Marquis Gu hadn’t returned last night either, and couldn’t help but sigh.

Upon hearing movement, Hong Ye entered to attend to her and asked, "Miss, you’ve woken up? Some of the anxious housekeepers have already sent people here to report matters. Should we let them wait or...?"

Qin Yuan said, "Let them in to talk after I finish washing up."

Hong Ye responded.

After washing in the cleanroom, Qin Yuan came out and sat at the dressing table to comb her hair, while the housekeepers came in one by one to report.

Just while combing her hair, several matters were already taken care of.

Hong Ye felt some heartache and said, "Later when it’s time for the meal, don’t let them come over, it’s not urgent for the time being, right?"

Qin Yuan nodded, "Correct, if one doesn’t eat well, how can they nurture their body? Even the Emperor doesn’t starve his soldiers. It’s my first time handling affairs, it’s good enough not to make mistakes, but there’s no need to risk life for any kind of achievement."

No one was competing with her either.

She wasn’t the type to handle everything meticulously that everyone would extend their thumb in approval.

Dingbei Marquis Mansion has had so many generations, is it possible that they haven’t dealt with the funeral of a concubine’s wife before?

Examples are everywhere to refer to, she simply handled it by comparison, and without needing to save money for anyone, she just followed the upper limit of expenses, overall exceeding only several hundred taels of silver.

Seeing Qin Yuan’s open-mindedness, Hong Ye went out to instruct the serving of the meal and then had people stop the housekeepers from coming again, telling them to wait in the discussion courtyard near the second gate.

Cui Ming took the opportunity and said, "The masters’ clothes have been rushed to completion, and Mrs. Li said that in previous years, slaves were issued clothes. If it really can’t be rushed, let them pull out the old ones as a temporary solution, except for those who entered the mansion only in the past two years, so with this calculation, it’s still doable."

Qin Yuan nodded and said, "Arrange it as you see fit, if it’s really unfeasible, find a few embroidery workshops to aid, there’s no need for you to toil too hard."

With that said, she sat by the table waiting for the maids to serve the meal.

Cui Ming responded, then asked quietly, "Miss, why didn’t the Marquis return home at all yesterday, could something have detained him? Or is there some disagreement between Miss and the Marquis?"

Qin Yuan shook her head.

Cui Ming furrowed her brows tightly, her expression somewhat bitter.

Qin Yuan pondered and said, "Why don’t you go to the front courtyard, and say... say..."

Say what?

Qin Yuan’s fingers tapped lightly on the table.

By the time Hong Ye and others laid out the breakfast on the table, she still hadn’t figured out what to say.

Qin Yuan simply said, "Let’s eat first."

The importance of food towers over everything.

Yet Cui Ming proposed, "Why don’t I deliver breakfast to the Marquis in the front courtyard later?"

Qin Yuan said, "Alright."

Hong Ye worriedly glanced at Cui Ming.

Qin Yuan motioned with her eyes, indicating for them both to sit down and eat well.

After breakfast, Qin Yuan rose and slowly walked over to the second gate, encountering a servant who usually attended to Sixth Master Gu. Upon seeing her, the servant stopped and saluted, saying, "Madam, Sixth Master asked me to convey to you, there’s been nearly a hundred poem submissions for the contest at the Imperial College, more people have come in recent days to view and appreciate the poems. Shen Changle plans to invite people for adjudication, not sure what Madam thinks."

Qin Yuan nodded and said softly, "Thank you for running this errand."

The servant smiled and said, "Sixth Master instructed me to check daily, reporting any matters to Madam, since it was late when I returned yesterday, I didn’t go to Wutong Garden to disturb you."

Qin Yuan had Hong Ye reward the servant, "We’ll trouble you for continued errands, take this for tea."

The servant didn’t refuse, thanked her, and accepted the money, tucking it into his robe.

Qin Yuan asked, "Where did Sixth Master rest yesterday? Were Brother Kang and his siblings with Sixth Master?"

The servant said, "Sixth Master rested in the outer courtyard yesterday, the Marquis was there too, and they talked for quite a while, Marquis drank and held Sixth Master crying, indeed, Marquis truly cares for Sixth Master."

Qin Yuan nodded and said, "If you go today, convey to Shen Changle my father’s name for discussions on who to invite for adjudication. Additionally..." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Qin Yuan paused for a moment and said, "Tell him not to fear trouble, seek some people to transcribe separately, and post them at the entrance of the Imperial College for passing scholars to participate in the selection."

The servant said, "I will certainly convey it."

The servant directly proceeded through the second gate to the front courtyard, Hong Ye happily said, "Miss, it seems Marquis was busy comforting Sixth Master last night."

Qin Yuan muttered, "He stayed in the study yesterday not coming out, without meals, and then drank holding Sixth Master crying? Just what major issue did he encounter?"

Hong Ye said, "If it’s a major issue, Marquis would certainly come to discuss with you. Perhaps Marquis felt empathetic towards Sixth Master’s plight, as he’s the only living brother left to him. Sixth Master’s determination to indict the Xu family also considered the Marquis’s well-being, indicating a division to prevent critiquing Marquis’s behavior. No doubt Marquis got emotional thinking through all this."

Qin Yuan felt somewhat convinced yet somewhat skeptical.

In the discussion courtyard, a lengthy queue formed again, Hong Ye said, "Miss is busy day in and day out, Marquis likely felt troubled for Sixth Master and didn’t want to bother you, to show his thoughtfulness."

Qin Yuan said, "Enough of that, once Cui Ming returns, we’ll understand the situation, first let’s muster the energy to get through today’s tasks."

Today’s workload surpasses yesterday’s, with people constantly coming and going in the courtyard.

Qin Yuan’s voice was a bit hoarse and lacked time for a proper cup of tea.

Hong Ye and the other three were even more chaotic with busyness.

"Let’s have lunch here, check the menu and let the kitchen prepare it."

Qin Yuan remembered the rush of the morning without ordering the kitchen to prepare meals, simply let the maid take several silvers, had the big kitchen sent to prepare.

Hong Mian said, "This is the most convenient, only Madam might miss her afternoon nap."

Qin Yuan smiled wryly, "Let’s get through this period first."

Mo Zhu said, "Later have someone move a couch into the side room, Madam can sneak a rest amid the busyness."

Hong Mian immediately said, "I’ll go instruct."

Hong Ye said, "Go quickly. When you return, the meal from the big kitchen should arrive, so we won’t miss having lunch."

Hong Mian hurried out.

Returned with Cui Ming’s words, "Sister Cui Ming said Marquis was still asleep from a hangover until noon, and she had the gate’s servant collect the food box, estimating lunch won’t be used either."

Qin Yuan nodded acknowledging, though her expression didn’t show much, internally she felt uneasy.

Because Hong Mian and Mo Zhu were present, she ate first, leaving the rest of the dishes for Hong Ye and the other three to finish. Along with the big kitchen’s delivery, it turned out to be quite sumptuous.

Qin Yuan rinsed her mouth and cleaned her hands, holding a cup of tea to drink, when a sound rang outside.

It was four chime sounds.