"Husband, this..."

Since she met Marquis Gu, Qin Yuan had never seen him like this.

"Quickly take your niece back; her body is weak. Sixth Brother and I will watch here. You can’t be of much help here."

Marquis Gu lowered his head, uncomfortably interrupting Qin Yuan’s words, his hands clenched tightly behind his back, barely suppressing his body’s trembling.

The more his young wife cared, the more upset he felt inside.

The secret he couldn’t speak of weighed on him more heavily, making it hard to breathe.

Facing her eyes as light as water, Gu Jinghui feared he might just break down and cry.

Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment and then said, "I will take Sister Lan back first. Don’t tire yourself too much, and don’t keep things bottled up inside."

Marquis Gu squeezed out a soft "Hmm" from his throat.

He stood in place for a while before turning his head, watching greedily at his young wife’s back.

Her slender figure swayed like a frail willow in the breeze, making Marquis Gu’s eyes gradually redden.

After struggling to carry Lan’er for a while, Qin Yuan began to feel tired. But all three of her maidservants were left to help Sixth Master Gu. The young maidservants were only capable of running errands; carrying Sister Lan would likely exhaust them quickly, waking the child if they switched around too often.

Just as she was in a dilemma, "Madam, Madam," several nannies came running with a soft palanquin, smiling, "Madam, Marquis ordered us to come over, saying that carrying Sister Lan to the main room might be too difficult for you."

The anger that had been bottled up inside Qin Yuan for the past few days dissipated, and she smiled, "Just in time, I was feeling a bit tired."

The nanny smiled, "It’s all thanks to the marquis being considerate of the madam."

Qin Yuan boarded the soft palanquin with Sister Lan, sighed in relief, and said, "To the main room."

The nannies quickly lifted it and headed straight for the main room. Qiujie, who stayed behind to tend the house, came forward and asked, "Is the Old Madam going to have the young miss stay in the main room?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Qiujie took over Sister Lan, seeing her pale, thin, and weak as a little kitten, and sighed, "Sister Lan’s health had just improved a bit, and she got thinner again from worrying about Sixth Madam’s illness. It’s truly pitiful."

Qin Yuan said, "She must be nursed properly. Last time I brought incense pills; burn half and let her sleep well."

Qiujie entered the inner room, placed Sister Lan on a small couch, and smiled at Qin Yuan who followed from the palanquin, "Madam, for now, I’ll settle her here; when the Old Madam returns, the arrangement can be confirmed. Probably resting with the Old Madam, since both young masters are now resting in the glass cupboard, close to the Old Madam, which makes it easier to look after them."

Qin Yuan smiled, "You arranged it well, just as you said."

Qiujie took a silk quilt and covered Sister Lan, then went to the side room to retrieve the incense pills Qin Yuan had brought, broke half, lit it in the incense burner, cleared out the previous ash, and covered it.

Gentle green smoke rose, making Sister Lan’s breathing become much more even and deep.

Only then did Qin Yuan leave the room with Qiujie.

Qin Yuan said, "I still need to go out to arrange some affairs; I’ll leave Sister Lan to you. I suppose Brother Kang and Fuguo’er might also sleep restlessly tonight, feel free to light them as well."

Qiujie agreed to it all, and Qin Yuan finally left the main room, instructing someone to send for Housekeeper Cao.

Soon a reply came, saying Housekeeper Cao was currently with the Magistrate in Sixth Madam’s courtyard.

Qin Yuan was taken aback.

"The Magistrate went to Sixth Madam’s courtyard?"

The young maid who inquired the news nodded, "Exactly, it’s said Sixth Master filed a lawsuit against the Xu family, accusing them of embezzling Sixth Madam’s silver, which aggravated her illness. Now she has been pushed to her death, so he invited the Magistrate to examine."

Qin Yuan sighed.

Despite Sixth Master Gu’s usually gentle and unassuming demeanor, he turns unforgiving when harsh, refusing to let go of the Xu family.

The Xu family likely won’t give up easily either.

Qin Yuan instructed the young maid, "Go find Steward Qian."

Steward Qian had previously always assisted Housekeeper Zhang. Qin Yuan had used him a few times and found him handy. Since Housekeeper Han also recommended him, Qin Yuan decided to appoint him to replace Housekeeper Zhang.

"I wonder what madam wishes to instruct?"

Steward Qian quickly came, sweat on his forehead, slightly panting.

Qin Yuan deliberated, "Steward Qian has assisted Housekeeper Zhang for many years in managing matters related to the inner courtyard. This time, you are appointed to temporarily take charge of the funeral affairs for Sixth Madam, handling her funeral appropriately; there will be ample rewards."

Steward Qian’s eyes gleamed, immediately pledged, "Rest assured, madam. The old servant followed Housekeeper Zhang in managing affairs for many years, certainly can handle them properly."

Though it’s temporary, as long as he manages well and makes no mistakes, the temporary nature would eventually be removed.

Qin Yuan said, "Since that’s the case, it’s for the best. I’m young and will inevitably have to trouble you often."

Steward Qian returned with high spirits, telling Housekeeper Han, "Madam indeed appointed me to temporarily take Housekeeper Zhang’s position; many thanks for recommending me in front of madam."

Housekeeper Han smiled, "Madam has just arrived at Marquis Mansion; except for Shen Changle, the other maids cannot be used effectively, naturally needing someone from among us. Besides, madam isn’t someone who seeks to enrich her own pockets by taking advantage of Marquis Mansion; as long as we perform our tasks properly and are competent, madam will naturally use us. This is your chance, don’t end up like Old Zhang, losing everything."

Steward Qian repeatedly agreed.

"Old Zhang was blinded by greed. If he had done his tasks faithfully alongside Marquis Mansion, even the honor of several generations would have earned him quite a lot. Now everything’s gone, it’s truly mixed emotions for all of us who worked together. Madam employs based on capability rather than personal ties, truly my good fortune, I’ll have to hope for guidance from you two elder brothers in the future." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

His words resonated with Housekeeper Han, who said, "Initially, I thought madam was too young, but as the saying goes, talent doesn’t depend on age; without talent, a hundred years are wasted. In just a few months, all the mansion’s affairs are being entrusted to madam, piece by piece, all this."

Saying this, Housekeeper Han gave a thumbs up.

"Previously, I thought Old Cao was crafty; now I see Old Cao identifies people well. Sun Accountant relied on his seniority, arrogantly thinking his accounts water-tight, but look, where’s he now? We’re with such a capable master, helping to secure the house’s stability; our good days are within steady, long-term reach."

Reaching this point, Steward Qian also gave a thumbs up to Housekeeper Han, "Well said, brother, let’s quickly gather everyone, on the Xu family’s side..."

Housekeeper Han said, "The Xu family certainly must be informed; otherwise, we’ll lose in terms of etiquette. Since madam hasn’t specifically mentioned Xu family, let’s not make blind conjectures."

"...Sure... Will the Xu family come to cause trouble?"

Housekeeper Han dismissively replied, "Didn’t they cause disturbances twice already for the young miss? This time, for the court case, they must disrupt things again. Otherwise, how can they throw mud at our Marquis Mansion?"