Old Madam Gu also noticed it, but didn’t show it on her face. She casually complained, "It’s almost the festival, and what on earth is Sixth Master Gu busy with? Lately, he’s been scruffy when he comes to pay his respects, and he doesn’t dress properly. It’s very annoying. Before we say a few words, he’s in a hurry to leave and doesn’t even care about the kids, just obsessed with his poetry and paintings. If he comes, I’ll have to ask Xiuxiang to specially prepare a table of vegetarian dishes for him.

Sixth Master Gu has to observe mourning, he can’t eat meat or drink alcohol, which Old Madam Gu finds quite troublesome.

Qin Yuan then suggested, "Why not let Nanny Rong take the children to eat first?"

Old Madam Gu hesitated a bit, "I’m afraid they might miss their father."

"Then how about giving each of them a small table with their favorite dishes and snacks? What do you think, Mother?" Qin Yuan proposed an idea.

Although it’s not as lively as eating at the same table, it’s better than having the children follow along with the vegetarian meals. Old Madam Gu said, "Then let’s do it that way. I can’t eat what he eats. Eating vegetarian for three years without properly nourishing the body, I’m really worried he’ll become weak."

She then turned to Marquis Gu and said, "Look at your wife, she’s so considerate and thoughtful. How can I not like her?"

Marquis Gu immediately straightened his back with a proud expression: "Being able to find a wife that Mother likes is also the son’s ability, isn’t it?"

"A man who’s married is different. He used to be so quiet you couldn’t get a word out of him, and now he’s smooth-talking. Today, the old lady from the clan head’s house came and even mentioned your past, calling you a block of wood, and asked your wife if you were caring and if you always had a forbidding look on your face. It’s a pity she hasn’t seen you now; her jaw would probably drop."

Old Madam Gu teased her son, but didn’t notice he had secretly squeezed his wife’s soft little hand. Although he didn’t say a word, they exchanged several looks with each other.

Qin Yuan said, "These days Treasure Bead has been running outside a lot, someone should go find her so she can come back early for the meal."

Old Madam Gu shook her head and smiled, "She’s eager to study, rushing to find her rowdy friends for fun. But unfortunately, it won’t last long. This year for Mid-Autumn Festival, the clan wants to celebrate together. The clan head’s old mother mentioned several times that both the sisters-in-law should help, and she also said you’ve got skills, wanting you to take charge a bit."

This left Qin Yuan surprised: "Weren’t we each spending it in our own houses in the past? The orchestras and entertainment troupes have all been invited, so..."

Old Madam Gu reassured her, "It’s alright, it’s just that this year your third brother has returned. Before, everyone kept to themselves, so I didn’t care. Today the clan leader sent his mother to say that you, the new wife, went to the family temple and managed to ’remove the nail’ of Monk Zhiguang. This must be the ancestors’ blessing, so they want to worship the ancestors together during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Before Qin Yuan could say anything, Marquis Gu said, "Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Every household in the Capital City will hang lanterns, and everyone will celebrate together. We’ll all have to go to the palace for the feast. If the clan wants to host a worship banquet, it’ll have to be another day. Besides, Yuan’er just got married; she can’t handle such a big event. Let the clan leader’s wife arrange it, and we’ll follow orders."

What he meant was that if money was needed, they could give it, but he didn’t want his young wife to be busy with both household and external matters.

Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but laugh, "You’re really considerate now."

Qin Yuan lowered her head, her face flushed with crimson, which made Marquis Gu feel even more smug. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Seeing the young couple so affectionate made Old Madam Gu beam with joy.

After exchanging some gossip, Sixth Master Gu hurried over. Noticing his clothes were still creased, his hair hastily pinned with a hairpin, and traces of paint on his face, Old Madam Gu sighed, "Sixth son, although you don’t have a legal wife to take care of you, you still have a few concubines. Isn’t Aunt Huang still living in Mrs. Xu’s former courtyard? Why not move back and let Aunt Huang take good care of you?"

Brother Kang and a few others rushed over from the inner room and pounced on their father as soon as they saw him. Sixth Master Gu hurriedly opened his arms, embracing one on the left and one on the right, not even looking up, "There’s nothing to talk about with them. Having servants take care of things is enough. Third brother used to live at the Northern Border, and his life was much harder than mine."

Qin Yuan chimed in, "Sixth brother should still take care of his health, lest Doctor Li keeps complaining, saying everyone treats him like a godsend. Servants can be careless. Why not get another clever maid or nanny?"

Old Madam Gu added, "Your third brother is as strong as an ox. Why would you compete with him?"

Marquis Gu, who originally wanted to show concern for his younger brother, couldn’t help but complain, "Mother cares for this one and that one but not for her son. You dote on the younger sister, care for the sixth, and like Yuan’er, but I’m the one who gets scolded and disliked."

Sixth Master Gu gave a sideways glance at Marquis Gu, who was still vying for affection at his age.

"Since getting married, third brother has become more jealous. There’s no trace of the War God’s prestige, and he’s not worried his sister-in-law might dislike him."

Marquis Gu said angrily, "What do you know? My wife and I are one, and she only has my best interests at heart. When you marry, make sure to find someone like that."

Enviously eyeing the affectionate couple, Sixth Master Gu said sourly, "Got it. If you care about this brother, help me find someone like that."

Marquis Gu looked helpless: "The fate of marriage is predestined; how can I help you find one?"

That statement...

Made it sound like his own miserable situation was fated.

Sixth Master Gu really didn’t want to engage with him anymore.

Old Madam Gu hurriedly mediated, "Your third brother just got lucky; who knew your third sister-in-law would turn out to be so exceptional in both talent and character? Even the sister of your third sister-in-law, who came from Jiujie Mansion, is different. Just thinking about it scares me. If she had married someone like your third brother, my goodness, I wouldn’t know how we’d get by."

Qin Yuan quietly observed them.

Sixth Master Gu felt deeply touched, "I also discussed this with Brother Si Yuan. We both think the word ’fate’ in marriage is truly wonderful..."

Before he could finish, Gu Baoshu burst in excitedly, shouting, "What’s going on today? Calling me back so early almost exposed my cover. Thankfully, I was clever enough to make up a story to get away."

Then she sighed regretfully, "If they had called me a bit later, Xu Tang would have called me father."

"What do you mean by that?" Qin Yuan couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Marquis Gu quickly glanced at Old Madam Gu.

This was not the sort of thing a young lady should say. Normally, Old Madam Gu would have scolded her, but at that moment, she was staring at Gu Baoshu with a dazed expression as if seeing someone else through her.

Gu Baoshu had rushed over from the soccer field without changing her clothes, still dressed as a boy, her face filled with a carefree and dashing expression, looking exactly like an unrestrained young gentleman.