Qin Yuan had no choice but to glance at Hong Ye and said, "Go and tell them to prepare the meal."
Hong Ye retreated.
Gu Jinghui had already stood up, showing a look that was not open to refusal.
Qin Yuan's stature only reached Gu Jinghui's chest, so she stepped onto the low couch by the window and invited Gu Jinghui to move: "Marquis, please come here."
Gu Jinghui was obedient and walked over in a few steps.
With Cui Ming's help, Qin Yuan busied herself for a while and finally managed to dress him. After descending from the couch, she bent over to fasten his belt, pocket, incense bag, and replaced the small seal and Jade Pendant he had just changed.
After all that bustling, a thin layer of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.
Dressing someone else was indeed more exhausting than dressing oneself.
Gu Jinghui leisurely squinted his eyes throughout, allowing her to help him dress with no impatience, calmly following her instructions to raise an arm or turn around.
When everything seemed ready, Hong Ye came over and said, "Marquis, Madam, breakfast is already set."
The two moved to the outer room to dine.
Compared to the Qin Family's breakfast, the Marquis Mansion offered much more variety: bird's nest, red date and sticky rice porridge, shrimp dumplings, assorted sauces, small steamed buns, duck meat paste, fish and vermicelli, stuffed tofu… a table full.
Qin Yuan was very pleased to see this.
She had been quite dissatisfied with the meals at the Qin Mansion these past two months.
The hereditary Dingbei Marquis Mansion was unmistakably opulent, a family of officials, with splendor comparable to the Prime Minister's Mansion, even surpassing it in some respects.
Qin Yuan gestured to Gu Jinghui and then hurriedly began eating; she hadn't eaten much the day before and was already quite hungry.
She ate quickly yet maintained perfect etiquette, leaving no room for criticism.
When Gu Jinghui set down his chopsticks, she had also finished eating.
Both rinsed their mouths and then headed to the main room to offer tea.
The Marquis Mansion was large, with various gardens crafted between courtyards; they passed through many flower gates and small doors before reaching the main room.
Seeing the sun, Qin Yuan estimated it must be nearing 7:30 AM.
She couldn't help but glare at Gu Jinghui covertly.
If not for his dawdling, they would have arrived sooner.
Qin Yuan quickened her pace, while Gu Jinghui maintained a leisurely stride, keeping a one-step distance from her.
Before entering the main hall, they heard lively noises from within.
Gu Jinghui quietly remarked, "There are many children at home; my sixth brother alone has four or five kids, and Lady Zhao's two children often accompany our mother—they are my adopted sons and should be here today, but one just fell ill, so Lady Zhao's status makes her presence inconvenient. Mother enjoys lively company. My sister, who's a few years younger than you, is used to being spoiled. Just indulge her a bit for my sake on regular days."
Qin Yuan acknowledged this; what Gu Jinghui said matched the information she had gathered earlier, and Cui Ming had prepared the gifts based on this.
If she were only hearing this now, the opportunity would have been missed.
Still, she smiled and said, "Thank you, husband, for the advice. I'll be mindful when speaking later."
Gu Jinghui stopped, took her hand, and said, "It's best if you and I are closer; Mother will be pleased."
Qin Yuan lowered her head, playing the role of a bashful new bride, letting him lead her into the hall, where the children instantly quieted.
Then, Sixth Madam Gu approached with a smile, saying, "Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are here; I'll send someone to invite Mother over."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over them, ultimately settling on their clasped hands.
Gu Jinghui replied, "Thank you, Sixth Sister-in-law."
Soon, Old Madam Gu was invited out, seated at the head position. The nanny hurriedly placed a kneeling pad before her, allowing the couple to kneel for the tea ceremony.
Qin Yuan discreetly glanced up, seeing Old Madam Gu in a lilac long-sleeved robe, her hair in an intricate bun with a three-winged golden phoenix hairpin symbolizing a Marquis's wife, shoulders draped in a gold-embroidered Xiapei with clouds and mandarin duck patterns—she realized the madam valued etiquette and the marriage highly, easing half her concerns.
Indeed, Old Madam Gu didn't make things difficult; she accepted her daughter-in-law's tea and then instructed the nanny beside her to hand Qin Yuan a set of jewelry. This was a set of exquisite gold phoenix hairpieces inlaid with emeralds and rubies, of impeccable craftsmanship and high value.
Qin Yuan thanked her repeatedly.
The gift she prepared was a hand-embroidered headband for Old Madam, pockets, incense bags for other ladies, and inkstone sets for the men.
It suited her status as the daughter of a civil servant.
Other people's return gifts were not extravagant either.
After the tea ceremony, Old Madam Gu wished to keep them for a conversation, prompting Qin Yuan to focus, guessing what Old Madam Gu might say.
In her past life, after Lin Ziqi's mother received the daughter-in-law's tea, she first lamented her struggles as a widow, then instructed her to attentively care for her husband's daily living and avoid distracting Lin Ziqi from his studies with women's charms, ultimately reminding her to uphold Lin family rules.
She stood for two hours.
After a sleepless night due to Lin Ziqi's antics, she was expected to cook for both mother-in-law and husband, enduring body aches.
Being a Lin family daughter-in-law was indeed hard.
To Qin Yuan's surprise, Old Madam Gu first addressed the son: "I heard you went to the Fengxuan Pavilion last night?"
Gu Jinghui nodded: "Yes, Brother Cheng developed a fever last night, causing quite a commotion. Lady Zhao, being a woman, was uncertain what to do and called me over for help."
Old Madam Gu sighed, "You left the newlywed aside; how is she supposed to establish herself in the household? A woman's dignity rests entirely on her husband; how you treat Yuan'er is seen by everyone."
Gu Jinghui looked at Qin Yuan, seemingly apologetic.
Qin Yuan promptly said, "Mother-in-law, I don't blame the Marquis. I understand he's a man who values loyalty and righteousness. Lady Zhao's husband saved his life, and it's natural for him to care for his adopted sons. The Marquis and I are husband and wife, sharing honor and disgrace; should the Marquis grant me dignity in the future, I'll naturally have dignity beyond this moment."
Old Madam Gu was delighted to hear this, gently stroking Qin Yuan's hand, her smile deepening.
There's no parent who doesn't favor their own child; she lightly reprimanded her son first, largely to reassure Qin Yuan.
Little did she expect Qin Yuan to respond so sensibly.
Old Madam Gu instructed Nanny Rong beside her: "Quickly bring the jade jadeite from my treasure chest; it's perfect for the new daughter-in-law, she's petite and quite lovely, displaying that will make her look even better."
Nanny Rong left, beaming.
Qin Yuan shyly declined, "The jewelry set just now was already quite valuable."
"Silly child," Old Madam Gu said fondly, smiling, "If you don't accept good things given to you, we have an abundance due to generations of military exploits. As long as you and Hui'er live well and have many children, all the old lady's possessions will be yours."
Fearful that Qin Yuan might still refuse, she continued, "I gave the same to your Sixth Sister-in-law upon her marriage. She also received good things from Aunt Wen; Aunt Wen has many valuable items."
Qin Yuan then stopped declining, straightforwardly expressing gratitude, and accepting the jade jadeite with a cheerful smile.
Engraved with peonies using micro-carving techniques, the crystal-clear jade pendant had details so precise that examining through a magnifying glass revealed neat and organized strokes, with incredible clarity.
Truly a rare treasure.
The tea ceremony has yielded goods worth at least six hundred gold today.
She would need to visit often in the future.