My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead-Chapter 88: No Easy Person to Deal With

Looking at the overconfident and obstinate Qin Wan, Mrs. Cui felt a headache coming on. She didn’t want to listen any further, so she asked, "Before your father and Mr. Lin came, what did you say happened to your mother-in-law?"

Qin Wan immediately halted her endless description of Lin Ziqi’s promising future, her shoulders slumped abruptly, and she said dejectedly, "That day, we had our meal here and didn’t go back home to eat. My mother-in-law cried all night, saying no one cared whether she ate or not, and that she might as well starve to death."

Mrs. Cui: "..."

She restrained herself and asked, "What did Mr. Lin say?"

"He... he got drunk, went out to blow off some steam, vomited everywhere, and then went to sleep late. The next day, his mother cried again, throwing a tantrum, saying no one cared whether she lived or died, and she might as well stop eating altogether."

The veins on Mrs. Cui’s forehead bulged as she said, "Didn’t it occur to you to send someone back with a message that day? Does the Lin family have nothing to eat?"

While it wasn’t entirely her daughter’s fault, and not something that couldn’t be forgiven, making such a big fuss and dragging it out for so long was hard to say wasn’t meant to control the daughter-in-law. However, her daughter failed to put her heart into the right place, caring only about how Qin Yuan was doing at the Marquis Mansion.

Qin Wan said in a low voice, "I did forget to send someone back that day, and mother, you didn’t remind me. My mother-in-law was making a scene, and I tried to appease her, but she wasn’t comforted. Ziqi begged me to relent to his mother; he said that it would damage his reputation and affect his career prospects if people talked about it. So, I..."

Mrs. Cui almost choked on her breath.

So foolish.

Lin Ziqi’s career was probably of most concern to Mrs. Lin.

Qin Wan added, "My mother-in-law said that from now on, all meals and expenses must be arranged by her, and we can’t go out without her permission. Ziqi said, his mother doesn’t want to make things difficult for us; she just wants respect. I thought it wasn’t a big deal, so I said nothing. This time when Ziqi and I came, his mother didn’t say anything either."

What she dared not say was that the money for the meals and expenses was all handed over to Mrs. Lin.

Mrs. Cui, hearing this, said in a low voice, "Their whole family relies on your dowry to live, and you..."

Qin Wan, however, said confidently, "My husband is a man, I want to save face for him and my mother-in-law, besides, I spend a lot now, but in the future..."

Mrs. Cui’s headache worsened, and she said angrily, "Don’t speak anymore, my head aches. Look at your father; the Qin family used to be a big family, and even after falling into decline, they’re still much better off than Lin Ziqi’s family. He’s handsome and knowledgeable, and I’m from a side branch of the Cui family, even your father didn’t treat me like this."

Qin Wan shifted her body.

"How can it be the same? Father at most would retire as a Sacrificial Officer, but Ziqi is destined to enter the court as a prime minister."

Mrs. Cui: "..."

Fortunately, Qin Heng returned, smiling broadly, "Elder Brother has already gone to the Marquis Mansion to find our elder sister. Now, she won’t be nagging me anymore, right?"

Mrs. Cui pulled him over and asked, "Is your elder sister really doing well at the Marquis Mansion?"

"Really well," Qin Heng nodded, saying, "The Marquis Mansion is big and opulent. When elder sister took me to visit the Old Madam, I was worried I’d embarrass her. Elder sister gets along very well with Old Madam Gu; she even calls her ’mother.’ I found Old Madam’s nature to be very kind, and elder sister says she’s very magnanimous and generous."

Mrs. Cui nodded with a smile.

Since it was witnessed by her son, it couldn’t be false.

Old Madam Gu was indeed generous; the ceremonious gifts upon returning to her maiden home went without saying, and the gifts for Qin Heng were also so rich, showing that the Dingbei Marquis Mansion was highly satisfied with Qin Yuan.

Qin Wan rolled her eyes and asked, "What about the woman with the surname Zhao, and the two children brought back by the Marquis?"

Qin Heng interrupted her, saying, "Second sister, the Marquis is not that kind of person. I heard at the Marquis Mansion that Lady Zhao is really the widow of the Marquis’s savior. Those two children are recognized as his adopted son and daughter. Lady Zhao has been ill recently, and the two children are in the main room, looked after by the Old Madam. It was said we would meet them today, but they were too tired from playing and took a nap, so it was canceled. Second sister, I heard from a maid next to the Old Madam saying to big sister that it’ll be fine once people from Lady Zhao’s husband’s family arrive."

"Lady Zhao’s husband’s family?"

Qin Wan felt as if struck by lightning, her expression twisted.

Qin Heng, puzzled, said, "Yes, the Marquis sent people to fetch someone from Lady Zhao’s husband’s family to take care of them, saying that, after all, rumors are powerful, and it’s better to avoid suspicion."

Qin Wan was left disoriented.

In her past life, it wasn’t like this.

Why?!

Why is it so different?!

Seeing her in this state, Mrs. Cui sighed inwardly but said, "The Marquis should have done this long ago, it’s just that he was probably too busy recently to take care of it. Once people from Lady Zhao’s family arrive, there won’t be any more rumors."

"Yes," Qin Heng puffed up his chest and said, "If anyone talks behind my brother-in-law’s back, they’re against me."

At his age, he was very interested in the stories of the Three Heroes and Five Gallants. He had long heard that Marquis Gu was the War God of Daxing, guarding the Northern Border for many years, defeating the enemy completely each time, leaving no survivors, a victorious General.

The man he admired for many years had become his brother-in-law.

That strong build, handsome face, and the magnificent horse all made young Qin Heng admire him profoundly with every fiber of his being.

Moreover, his big brother-in-law understood him so well.

Qin Heng looked at Qin Wan regretfully and said, "Second sister, it would have been great if you had married the Marquis in the first place. But big sister and the Marquis are a perfect match."

Elder sister had become much more beautiful than before, and after living a few days of luxury in the Marquis Mansion, she was glowing and held an undescribable dignity in her manner. Even Qin Heng, who had always been close to Qin Wan, had to admit that elder sister was more suited to be a marchioness and was more compatible with his brother-in-law.

Qin Wan, already agitated, could no longer hold back hearing her brother’s words, "How is it possible, she..."

Mrs. Cui quickly stood up and said to Qin Heng, "You should go back to your books quickly. I’ll keep this gift for you; you’re too young to appreciate valuable things. When you’re a bit older..."

"Alright, mother, I understand," Qin Heng replied listlessly.

After Qin Heng left, Mrs. Cui said sternly, "Stop getting so caught up. The life Qin Yuan leads has nothing to do with you. Just live well with Mr. Lin, and from now on, be more cautious, lest you lose both ends. Listen to your mother’s advice; your mother-in-law is not an easy person."

Qin Wan hung her head, silent, and it was unknown if she took it to heart.

...

Inside the hall of Wutong Garden.

Qin Siyuan bowed his head, earnestly pondering over what his cousin had said.

Qin Yuan was in no hurry to wait for his reply, sitting to the side slowly sipping tea.

After a long while, Qin Siyuan said, "Little sister, is what you said true?"

Qin Yuan said, "Of course it’s true. I received information that a noble will be playing at Yu Yuantang in the coming days. As you participate in the poetry club and leave behind excellent verses by the bank of Yu Yuantang, you might catch the eye of the noble."

This cousin of hers, tall and possessing the good looks of the Qin family, had been praised by the Emperor in a previous life during the Imperial Exams. If it weren’t for his limited talent, narrowly ranking at the bottom of the second grade, he might have been selected as Tan Hua.

If in this life, he could establish rapport with a noble early on, his future career path would be brighter.

Qin Siyuan hesitated and said, "But little sister, you know I have no talent for poetry. The poems I make are meticulous but lack inspiration."

This opportunity was right in front of him, but he couldn’t seize it.