My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Yang’er hastily glared at Hehua.

Hehua lowered her head.

The two of them were martial maids raised by the Jin Family, not born into the Gu Family. Today, dressed as men, their behavior inevitably became a bit more uninhibited.

Fortunately, Marquis Gu didn’t mind and simply said, "What are you laughing at? Once you’re married, you’ll naturally understand. There’s no use explaining it to you now."

Hehua and Yang’er hurriedly turned their faces to look at the growing crowd below the pavilion.

Qin Yuan, both amused and exasperated, glanced at the ever-so-perceptive Marquis Gu and complained, "I haven’t driven you away, Marquis, so why speak like that? The full moon on Mid-Autumn Night is particularly beautiful. As it is said, ’The bright moon rises over the sea, we share this moment far and near.’ Everyone is getting anxious; let’s do what needs to be done quickly so you can focus on preparing for the military review."

Marquis Gu furrowed his thick, dark eyebrows, staring at her suspiciously: "Don’t try to trick me! The bright moon rises from the sea? Standing here, can you see the sea? All I see are the city walls."

Only when Qin Yuan laughed so hard that the mustache on her lip nearly fell off did Marquis Gu say, "Alright, I get it. I’ll tell them to hurry up and ask whatever they need to, so we won’t delay Young Master Nantang’s important matters."

Qin Yuan finally managed to stop laughing and said, "Mr. Songshan is probably cursing me in his heart. Why don’t you bring him up quickly, and let Shen Changle handle the matters below."

Marquis Gu said, "You’re dressed as a gentleman now. As they say, once a gentleman gives his word, it’s hard to take it back. I won’t leave then."

Qin Yuan replied, "You can stay as long as you want to, but there’s one condition: don’t make faces or stare at me, lest someone discovers something..."

Before she could finish, Marquis Gu immediately promised, "Absolutely not, Young Master Nantang can rest assured."

Then he hurried and leaned over to give orders to Shen Changle: "With so many people down there, why don’t you quickly bring up Mr. Songshan? Weren’t we supposed to ask strategies? Have the questions organized and sent up here."

Stretching his short neck and looking up with his round face gleaming brightly, Shen Changle responded cheerily, much like a waiter in a tavern: "I’ll get right on it."

In no time, Mr. Songshan, complaining all the way, was brought in on light footsteps.

He came in still muttering, "I’ve spoken so long, it’s time for a break. These young lads and maids didn’t come for me, why not give me a break? Even the stingiest landlord from my hometown wouldn’t treat a long-term worker like this. Who would believe I haven’t rested all day today?"

Marquis Gu hurriedly moved a chair for him to sit, and Qin Yuan personally poured tea and handed it to him.

Leaving Yang’er and Hehua with nothing to do.

After Mr. Songshan sat down, he took a sip of tea, coughed a few times, and said, "Call Si Yuan up as well, someone needs to take notes. With so many questions, how could I remember them all? Where to find the records later when needed, right?"

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "What you said is true, sir."

Shen Changle hastily went downstairs to summon Qin Siyuan.

Mr. Songshan continued, "Now that there are no outsiders here, you’ve all seen that group. What do you plan to do about it?"

Qin Yuan asked, "What advice do you have, sir?"

Mr. Songshan heavily put down his teacup and said grumpily, "Madam is tossing the question back to me again."

Qin Yuan chuckled.

Marquis Gu was puzzled: "Didn’t madam already arrange everything?"

Mr. Songshan curiously asked, "How come I didn’t know?"

Qin Yuan shook her head with a smile: "Neither do I."

Marquis Gu was equally puzzled: "Didn’t you give orders to keep an eye on them? Is there more to be done?"

Qin Yuan and Mr. Songshan said in unison, "Just that?"

Marquis Gu nodded: "That’s enough. The guards sent from the mansion have seen blood; they know what to do. If the situation changes, they’ll act accordingly. I find madam’s arrangement excellent."

Mr. Songshan sighed: "No wonder they say that a scholar’s rebellion takes ten years to fail. The failure lies here. Zhao Kuo’s theories against Bai Qi’s real combat, how could he not lose?"

Qin Siyuan had just come up and caught the tail end of this, immediately asking, "How can it fail?"

Qin Yuan laughed, "My eldest brother is even less suited, being overly upright, straightforward and inflexible."

Mr. Songshan looked somewhat disdainfully at Qin Siyuan, saying, "He’s only fit to take notes, I can’t do it; he certainly can’t."

Qin Siyuan couldn’t figure it out and had to look at Qin Yuan, waiting for an explanation.

Marquis Gu said, "This makes no sense; if a scholar couldn’t rebel in ten years, can a scholar become a Champion Scholar? I saw the head of Black Wind Village dressed as a scholar, showing that becoming a bandit can still work."

Qin Siyuan then understood what they were talking about and silently opened the inkstone, starting to grind ink.

Mr. Songshan said, "Hahaha, just talking, no need to take it seriously. I noticed a large red mole on his face; it affects his appearance, not much for a military general, but for a civil servant... it would limit his career even if he became an Advanced Scholar."

"As they say, ’He who recognizes the times is a wise man.’ If this person can find an alternative path, he’s also a hero," Qin Yuan commented.

Mr. Songshan said, "But for him to come here today and make trouble for us... Marquis, even a hero can be made a fool."

Qin Yuan smiled: "I knew you had a plan, sir; please share it."

Mr. Songshan said, "Weren’t you planning to wait for them to act and then capture them? I don’t think it’s necessary. This guy is likely a scholar who repeatedly failed the examinations, feeling exceptionally talented but unable to realize his ambitions, hence his constant complaints. Earlier before Prince Qi, he was merely testing the waters with small tricks. It shows..."

Qin Yuan said, "He really intends to seek a loyal lord? Is he selecting his champion?"

Mr. Songshan stroked his beard and nodded approvingly: "Correct, Young Master Nantang is indeed astute."

Qin Yuan smiled: "Actually, I previously made a small test myself, having Treasure Bead arrange for Mr. Ximen and the Ninth Princess to meet, and this is how I saw some clues."

Mr. Songshan nodded.

"They didn’t just come for Monk Zhiguang this time; they also harbor intentions to switch allegiances, evidently not a united front. If they had already chosen Duke Chengen’s faction, they wouldn’t trouble themselves to showcase in front of Prince Qi."

"You’re right," Marquis Gu quickly glanced at Qin Yuan and said, "Earlier, I couldn’t see this coming, all because of Lin Ziqi meddling."

Mr. Songshan also disliked Lin Ziqi and immediately said, "Indeed, lacking any scholarly spirit, if he weren’t colluding with that bandit leader, it wouldn’t be such a mess."

Sensing his resentment, Qin Yuan chimed in: "Whether we succeed in this grand endeavor depends on you, sir. Many people disrupted your strategy sermon today, dampening your spirits. Why not deliver your insights here on the pavilion? The topics will be organized from the box, and there’s no chance of erring again."