Qin Siyuan returned from Mr. Songshan’s place already with turbulent emotions. Seeing Lin Ziqi like this, he couldn’t help but think of Mr. Songshan’s evaluation of scholars, feeling even more ashamed in his heart.

He sighed, patiently explaining, "Mr. Songshan was invited into the mansion by the Marquis. He has met several times due to the Sixth Master. That day, the poetry was composed during a banquet held at the Marquis Mansion. I and my uncle’s family stayed overnight, and everyone spontaneously composed a few poems. The Sixth Master set up a platform at the Imperial College, wishing for more diverse poetry collections. If Brother Ziqi is interested, perhaps you should write a few more poems as well."

Seeing him dismiss everything so cleanly, Lin Ziqi suppressed his anger and asked, "Since you were present that day, do you know who Young Master Nantang is? I greatly admire the depth and liveliness of Young Master Nantang’s poetry. Could you help introduce me?"

Qin Siyuan was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "I also greatly admire Young Master Nantang’s poetry. However, she prefers not to be in the spotlight, so I can’t say much. I can only tell you that she is someone Mr. Songshan values, and when the time is right, Brother Ziqi will surely meet her."

Rejected several times, Lin Ziqi became furious, saying, "You and I share a kinship and are classmates. Why do you refuse to introduce me to such a noble? We all study the books of sages, so how can you be so narrow-minded? Despite knowing the two masters were going to Jade Spring Pond, I eagerly invited you to join us. Otherwise, how could you have gained fame? Now that you’ve gained some fame, do you look down on old friends from humble times?"

Qin Siyuan opened his mouth to argue, but Lin Ziqi had already stormed out in anger.

The hidden rift thus exposed in plain sight. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

In the evening, Qin Yuan sat alone at a table of food but really had no appetite.

Hong Ye and Cui Ming were so busy they didn’t have time to eat, so Qin Yuan set aside food for them, eating slowly herself for a while.

It’s best not to eat much for dinner, so after a quick meal, she ordered to clear the table. After rinsing her mouth, served by Mo Zhu, she picked up her tea cup only to see Gu Shiliu coming with a message: "The Marquis will be accompanying the Sixth Master these days and won’t be returning. If there are any difficult matters, just send someone to relay the message."

Suppressing her displeasure, Qin Yuan asked, "Is the Sixth Master overly distressed?"

These words had a certain implication.

Everyone knew that Sixth Master Gu was not particularly distressed.

There was really no reason for Marquis Gu to stay in the outer courtyard to accompany Sixth Master.

Gu Shiliu awkwardly smiled and said, "Not at all. I observed that the Marquis seemed preoccupied with disturbances of the mind, perhaps wishing to stay in the outer courtyard for casual conversation with the Sixth Master as a distraction."

Qin Yuan nodded and instructed Hong Mian to pack several sets of clothing and accessories to send back with Gu Shiliu.

"These were hurriedly made by Cui Ming and company. Wear them while receiving guests in these coming days, and we will prepare more later."

Gu Shiliu nodded repeatedly, thoughtfully suggesting, "Madam, don’t worry; if there isn’t enough time at the moment, there are quite a few old clothes stored in the Marquis’s past wardrobe that could be worn after ironing."

Qin Yuan said, "Indeed, I forgot; the Marquis’s old shirts still have lis... Perhaps they’re even better crafted."

Seeing her discontent, Gu Shiliu dared not speak, hastily took the rattan box of clothes from Hong Mian, and excused himself to retreat.

Returning to the brightly-lit outer courtyard, he saw Marquis Gu, hands behind his back, walking in wooden clogs along the corridor, pausing as he saw him approaching.

Gu Shiliu hurriedly approached, saying, "I’ve reported back to Madam. She acknowledged, and packed clothes for me to bring back, stating they should be worn while receiving guests, made by Cui Ming and the seamstresses."

Gu Jinghui acknowledged and asked, "What else did Madam say?"

Gu Shiliu frowned slightly and said, "Madam knows that the Marquis won’t be returning to Wutong Garden to rest these days; she inquired whether the Sixth Master is overly distressed."

Gu Jinghui’s brow twitched. "Hmm, how did you respond?"

Gu Shiliu simply followed Qin Yuan’s words and recounted them verbatim.

Gu Jinghui remained silent, standing for a long time, before hastily asking, "Is Madam angry again?"

Gu Shiliu kept his head lowered, unable to help but frown slightly.

The Marquis suddenly avoiding Madam, naturally would lead to displeasure; wasn’t he asking the obvious?

Hesitating about whether to speak, he heard Gu Jinghui hastily instruct, "Hold on for a moment."

And with that, he swiftly entered the study.

Gu Shiliu waited patiently in the corridor until Marquis Gu came out, carrying a rolled-up sheet, passing it to him, saying, "Take this to Madam and convey the matter will now rely on her."

Gu Shiliu: "..."

Though puzzled, he accepted it, then heard Marquis Gu sigh, "How can Madam be so good to me?"

Within the sigh lay profound melancholy, causing Gu Shiliu to shiver involuntarily.

Unsure of how to respond, he tightly clutched the paper, hurrying back to Wutong Garden, coincidentally running into the famished Hong Ye.

Hong Ye was so hungry that it sapped her strength to scold him; she weakly asked, "What are you rushing about for? Did you catch Mrs. Zhao?"

Gu Shiliu was surprised and asked, "Why do you ask?"

Hong Ye said, "Everything is prepared now, so what else could it be? Our side is occupied with funeral preparations, while the other side is bound to slack off, isn’t this the best time for them to act? Did you receive some news to inform the mistress?"

Gu Shiliu shook his head.

"You speak the truth, but I’m acting on the Marquis’s orders, delivering something to Madam."

Hong Ye perked up slightly, asking, "Did you find out why the Marquis is unsettled?"

Gu Shiliu defeatedly shook his head.

"Unknown, the Marquis seems deeply troubled. He appears more resigned than usual. Even during our time at the Northern Border, when the enemy attacked and the city gates were hard to defend, he wasn’t like this. But apart from the Sixth Madam’s matter, there hasn’t been anything major lately."

Hong Ye had nothing to add.

Gu Shiliu absorbed Hong Ye’s words, quickly retuning to Wutong Garden, reporting to Qin Yuan, then sped out to find Gu Shiba and others, determined to lay a trap and capture Mrs. Zhao.

If Mrs. Zhao escapes, the Marquis will surely worsen, a mistake that can’t be made.

By the time Cui Ming returned to Wutong Garden, it was already bedtime.

Exhausted, her eyes were sunken and her lips chapped. Seeing Qin Yuan, with her chin resting on a hand, staring at a sheet in a daze under the lamp, she softly asked, "Why hasn’t the mistress slept yet? Monks and Daoists will enter the mansion tomorrow, busy as it will be."

Qin Yuan came to her senses, saying, "Indeed, it’s time to sleep; tomorrow is another day."

She got up and ordered Mo Zhu to assist her in resting.

Hong Ye took the lampshade, trimming the wick, asking Cui Ming, "Why so late?"

Cui Ming said, "The Sixth Master resigned his post, and the banners and drapings outside need changing, causing some delay in time."

Saying this, she glanced at the paper thrown on the table by Qin Yuan, asking, "What’s this?"