Gu Baoshu found it amusing and giggled.

"Yeah, I’m sure Sister-in-law never expected to have the world’s best sister-in-law waiting here just for you."

Seeing her so innocent and mischievous, even Hong Ye couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Qin Yuan smiled and added, "Why are we talking about marriage all of a sudden? I’m not very old and don’t know much, but when it comes to marriage... this is one of the great proprieties of society. Except for nuns and women who choose to stay single, what family’s daughter doesn’t get married? Even the palace maids are released to marry when they reach a certain age. Do you know why? Because the founding emperor was worried about the imbalance between yin and yang causing resentment, disturbing the harmony of heaven, so he established palace rules early on. In civilian life, if a daughter reaches marriageable age and isn’t married, the government imposes fines. I’m telling you, that’s the better situation. After the chaos of war, population dwindled, girls had to marry at thirteen, and for every year after that without marrying, taxes increased significantly. If you weren’t married by twenty, the family would get punished by the government. It’s through several generations of effort that our dynasty has become populous and prosperous, so those rules are no longer enforced."

Gu Baoshu shivered.

"Thirteen years old..." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She calculated, realizing she was almost there.

Hong Ye said, "The Seventh Miss doesn’t want to marry now, but when you grow up, you will. Otherwise, when everyone else is married and you’re not, how dull would that be? And when everyone has children and grandchildren and you don’t, it would be even duller."

Gu Baoshu lowered her head, contemplating, and said, "Then I’d really have to sit and wait for a husband, better find a man to marry into our family."

Hong Ye gasped, her mouth wide open, ready to speak, but Qin Yuan shook her head at her, so she quickly closed her mouth.

Qin Yuan chuckled, "Haven’t you heard? There’s a saying that the boat will go straight when it reaches the bridge. Why think about this now? When the time comes, you will know. If the Matchmaker binds the red string, it will happen. If not, it won’t."

Gu Baoshu laughed, "Sister-in-law speaks sense. Better to eat something delicious than think about all this."

Qin Yuan said, "Are you here for a meal at my place again?"

The words weren’t even finished.

Marquis Gu’s voice sounded from outside, "Gu Baoshu, why aren’t you keeping Mother company? You’ll leave after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and if you don’t spend more time with Mother before leaving, coming here all the time doesn’t count for much, does it?"

Clearly, he couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Gu Baoshu stood up and headed out, annoyed, "Are you tired of me already? So petty, won’t even let your sister eat! What kind of brother is this? A dog wouldn’t want one like you! I won’t miss you once I’m at the White Crane Academy."

Marquis Gu retorted without yielding, "Best if you don’t miss me. Remember what you said and don’t come back crying, or you’ll lose face."

Gu Baoshu got angrier, shouting as she walked, "Sixteen? Sixteen? This is infuriating! I need to have a good talk with Sixteen and set off early. If I stay any longer, I’ll be so unwanted it’s unbearable."

Qin Yuan was both amused and bemused, chiding Marquis Gu who walked in with big strides, "Why do you provoke her so?"

Marquis Gu kept a stern face, "What else can I do? She keeps coming over here, I can’t even speak with you alone."

His words made Qin Yuan blush, and she whispered, "We have plenty of time to talk. Baoshu will be gone for two years and she’s still young. Let her be."

Marquis Gu snorted proudly and said nothing more.

Hong Ye quickly brought over tea, and Marquis Gu took it and drank it in one go, then Qin Yuan softly asked, "Would you like to change clothes?"

Marquis Gu finally smiled, "No need, I’m heading out after the meal."

Qin Yuan laughed, "So you came back just to have a meal with me. It was my fault for not realizing your intentions."

Marquis Gu’s face turned slightly red and awkwardly said, "Not really, just that I thought the food at home is delicious, and with my quick walking, it didn’t take much effort."

Hong Ye couldn’t hold back her laughter and went out.

Marquis Gu curiously asked, "Why isn’t she avoiding me today? She used to act like a mouse seeing a cat."

Qin Yuan laughed, "Isn’t it because of Sixteen?"

Marquis Gu glanced at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan asked, "What’s up with Sixteen? He seems to be avoiding Hong Ye."

Marquis Gu hesitated.

Qin Yuan frowned, and Marquis Gu quickly said, "It’s nothing serious. I have some matters here, so I sent him away on a trip."

Lowering his voice, he continued, "The one here isn’t Sixteen, so they have to avoid Hong Ye."

Qin Yuan gasped in shock.

Marquis Gu said, "You mustn’t speak of this. Only Prince Qi and I know."

Well, now she knew as well.

Qin Yuan then asked, "And this person is...?"

Marquis Gu replied, "He shaved a part of his eyebrow to disguise himself. You’ve met him; he’s one of Prince Qi’s men."

"Oh," Qin Yuan was stunned for a moment, unable to recall seeing anyone beside Prince Qi who looked like Gu Shiliu, and helplessly said, "Sixteen will go with Treasure Bead to the White Crane Academy after the festival, so Hong Ye has even less chance to speak with Sixteen properly."

Marquis Gu laughed, "Treasure Bead wants this man, not Sixteen. Sixteen will return once his task is done."

Qin Yuan was stunned again and couldn’t help but smile, "You’re being so mysterious. Won’t Treasure Bead be mad if she finds out?"

"She didn’t recognize him herself, who’s to blame? This man’s martial skills rival Sixteen’s and he knows techniques that Sixteen doesn’t. He also has a bit of history with Treasure Bead, so it’s no problem."

Only then did Qin Yuan feel reassured.

Marquis Gu said, "Don’t tell Hong Ye about this. She has a big mouth, and everything shows on her face."

Qin Yuan thought for a bit and understood. Marquis Gu certainly had other reasons for going to such lengths, but also wanted to guard against any spies in the house, so she said, "Alright. I won’t tell her."

Just then, Hong Ye came in, followed by a line of young maids holding food boxes. Marquis Gu squeezed Qin Yuan’s fingers, and they shared a smile.

Seeing this, Hong Ye pursed her lips and set the food in place before leading everyone out.

Outside.

Hong Ye sourly said to Cui Ming, "Who knows what the Miss and Marquis were whispering about? When I went in, they were making little gestures and laughing secretly."

Cui Ming laughed, "Now you talk about them; who knows what it’ll be like when you and Sixteen get married?"

"Sigh..." Hong Ye sighed heavily, her mind full of worries.

The young maid eating beside them hesitated, her face turning red before finally putting down her chopsticks. Confused, she asked, "Is Sister Hong Ye talking about marrying Gu Shiliu? I heard that Hong Mian’s family plans to arrange a marriage with Gu Shiliu’s family?"

The young maid’s words hit Hong Ye like a thunderbolt, leaving her stunned.

"Who did you hear that from?"

Hong Ye’s voice suddenly sharpened, her tone raising several notches.

The young maid was so frightened she trembled, speaking with a quavering voice, "Sister Hong Ye, my godmother’s family lives next door to Gu Shiliu’s family. I heard about it today, and when we met briefly at the side door, she mentioned it."

Cui Ming hurriedly embraced the young maid’s shoulder, comforting her, "Sister Hong Ye isn’t scolding you; she was just startled to hear it so suddenly."

The young maid’s eyes reddened, and she spoke with a heavy nasal tone, "Sister Cui Ming, I understand. Sister Hong Ye has always been very earnest in teaching us, which is why I mentioned it."