My younger sister insisted on marrying me and made me the Marquis' wife.

Chapter 283 Mr. Songshan
"Storyteller?"

Cui Ming and Hong Ye couldn't help but speak out.

Qin Yuan also asked in surprise: "Mr. Songshan?"

Mr. Songshan was a famous scholar. In his previous life, many people wanted to become his disciple, but they never had the chance. Later, Mr. Songshan lived in seclusion in Mount Lushan. The princes vied with each other to invite him to come out of seclusion and work, but he refused every time.

The emperor simply issued an edict, and he moved out of Mount Lu overnight, refusing to serve as an official in the court.

Qin Yuan knew him because Lin Ziqi was serving as a county magistrate near Mount Lushan at that time.

“Is this Mr. Songshan the same Mr. Songshan?”

Qin Yuan was a little skeptical.

The housekeeper smiled and replied, "Madam, his name is Mr. Songshan. The Marquis wanted to find a storyteller to come home and tell stories about the Three Kingdoms, and preferably also about the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. The servant spent half a day searching in the tile house before finding such a satisfactory one. When he was brought back, the Marquis asked a few questions and said that he had found a good one. He could understand everything he said and was willing to listen. So he stayed in the mansion and said that he must be treated well."

After hearing this, Qin Yuan had nothing else to understand. Lord Gu couldn't concentrate on reading and was planning to find a storyteller to tell him the story.

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is okay, most of the storytellers in Wazi can recite it.

It’s hard to talk about the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. You have to meet someone who has studied it seriously and passed the imperial examinations to be able to talk about it.

Qin Yuan suppressed his laughter and nodded, saying, "Okay, you go and tell the Marquis that I will treat him well. He will give you a lecture, so he can stay in the courtyard closest to the outer courtyard. This way, he can give you a lecture at any time."

The housekeeper agreed and said with a smile, "This storyteller is so lucky. If his story makes the marquis happy, wouldn't he make much more money than telling stories in the tile house?"

Qin Yuan said, "That reminds me. The mansion is going to hold a banquet in two days. We have to invite some people back home to liven things up. Do you have any good opera troupes or acrobatics to recommend?"

The housekeeper smiled and said, "You have to ask around. Housekeeper Cao is in charge of all this. But I heard that Wuqiao's acrobatics are very popular in Beijing recently. Several familiar families have invited them to banquets."

Qin Yuan nodded and said, "I understand. You go ahead. I'll let Hongye take care of Mr. Songshan's yard."

The housekeeper was a little surprised.

After all, storytellers have a humble status, and it is really strange that he is so valued by the Marquis and his wife today.

When she left, Hongye asked, "Miss, could it be that Mr. Songshan has some background?"

Qin Yuan said: "I don't know. I have heard of a hermit scholar named Mr. Songshan, but there are so many people with the same name in the world. This Mr. Songshan may not be that Mr. Songshan."

Hongye smiled and said, "That's right. Why would a great scholar go to a tile house to give lectures? Those are just things that the lower class use to entertain people."

Qin Yuan said sternly, "Not necessarily. You should be careful about what you say in the future. Some storytellers are officials who have resigned from their posts, and some have the honor of being a juren or a scholar. They can write and tell stories, so their business is better than others."

Hongye asked: "Why do some people still like to do this?"

Qin Yuan said: "Who knows? Just like some nobles like to sing opera, they will also perform in private. You accidentally bumped into someone, so the old people say that disaster comes from the mouth."

Hongye was surprised and said quickly, "I'll remember this and never speak nonsense again." Cuiming sighed, "No wonder there is a saying that great people hide in the city."

"That's exactly the truth." Qin Yuan nodded. "Those monks, Taoist priests, and nuns in those ancient temples may all have some backgrounds. The prisoners in the prison may also be talented people. After the general amnesty, they will be free from their shackles and can stir up trouble."

Qin Yuan talked to Hongye and then asked her to arrange accommodation for Mr. Songshan.

Hongye did not dare to take it lightly and was extremely careful. She took a few maids and old women with her to clean the yard and the house, arrange the furniture, and prepare bedding and other daily necessities.

Then they asked someone to go to the front yard and invite Mr. Songshan to come and see if there was anything else that was not satisfactory.

Hongye waited for a while, and then saw a servant leading a middle-aged man wearing a green straight-stitched long gown in. He was of medium build, thin and lean, with a bony face without much flesh, and his eyebrows and facial features looked very much like the skinny cranes kept at home.

Hongye thought to herself, "It would be more appropriate to call him Mr. Su He. Why call him Mr. Song Shan? Someone who doesn't know him would think he is a tall man."

"Excuse me, is this Mr. Songshan?" Hongye smiled and walked up to him.

The man nodded and said, "My dear lady, I am Mr. Songshan."

Hongye bowed and said, "My name is Hongye, and I serve Madam. Madam ordered me to clean the yard and prepare the room for Mr. Songshan. Please take a look at it, Mr. Songshan, and if there is anything wrong, I will replace it appropriately."

Mr. Songshan hurriedly returned the greeting, and after listening to her, he immediately said, "It's just a temporary stay, don't worry too much. Miss Hongye, please thank the lady for me when you go back."

Hongye said, "The Marquis ordered us to treat you well, how can we neglect him? If the Marquis likes to listen to you, he might stay for a few more days. If you don't eat well and live well in the Marquis's mansion, others will say that the Marquis's mansion is not sincere in treating you."

Mr. Songshan looked at her carefully and said, "Miss Hongye is very sensible and articulate. I will go in and take a look. If there is anything I want to add, I will tell you."

Hongye said, "Okay."

She was waiting outside.

After a while, Mr. Songshan came out and said seriously, "Thank you Madam and Miss Hongye for taking the trouble to prepare everything. It's just that I like to write, so I need some pens, ink, paper and inkstone. It would be great if you could have them."

Hongye said, "What's so difficult about this? Just ask someone to prepare it. If the master has used up all the stuff, just tell the servant to go get more from the steward."

Mr. Matsuyama nodded with satisfaction.

Hongye also hurried back excitedly to reply. When she entered the house, Lord Gu was already there, waiting for the meal to be served.

"Madam, I have cleaned the room for Mr. Songshan. He is very satisfied. He just wants some writing brushes, inkstones, and other things. He said he likes to write. I have sent a set to him. When he needs more, just ask the servant to ask the steward to get it."

Gu Jinghui immediately said: "That's great, Mr. Songshan is a great talent."

Qin Yuan was surprised: "How do you know?"

Gu Jinghui thought she doubted how a storyteller could be so talented, so he explained: "You know, I was a tutor in the palace. Although I was not very good at reading, I met many scholars. The retired tutor once taught me that the ability to explain things clearly without showing off or pretending to be knowledgeable is a skill. I have always kept this sentence in mind and used it to judge who can be used and who cannot be used, and I have never missed it."