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

Chapter 292: Agreement of Three
Cui Ming also laughed.

Because of the pepper incident, both of them had been unhappy for a long time.

Qin Yuan said: "Between the Xu family and the Sixth Madam... I don't know how to settle this account yet."

Hongye laughed cheerfully and said, "It's just dog biting dog. Miss, don't be too kind. I haven't forgotten how they looked when they were scrambling to buy pepper. They were so proud when they tried every means to win over those mothers in charge."

Qin Yuan ignored her.

Hongye said again: "Young Master Tang and Young Master are coming over, would you like to have some dinner with them?"

Looking at the sky, it’s still time for the small kitchen to start preparing.

Qin Yuan said, "No, they are going to follow the Sixth Master to go boating in the lotus pond and eat and drink, so they don't need to eat here. You can just prepare a few dishes that the Marquis likes."

The golden crow set in the west, and Qin Siyuan and Qin Heng came to Wutong Garden.

Qin Heng asked: "Sister, why hasn't my brother-in-law come back in such a long time?"

He came to the Marquis' Mansion today just for Gu Jinghui, wearing a short suit with cuffs rolled up, just to be able to ride a horse with Marquis Gu.

But there was never a chance.

Qin Yuan said, "Your brother-in-law went to the palace to meet the emperor. He can't just meet him whenever he wants. The emperor only has time to meet with his ministers after he leaves the court. Which official from the six ministries doesn't have something to ask the emperor? There are also many who seek benefits and flatter the emperor."

Qin Heng looked suspicious and asked, "Sister, you have never been to the palace, and you have never been an official, so how do you know all this? Are you bullying me because I am young?"

Qin Siyuan couldn't help but chuckle.

Qin Yuan said: "If you don't believe me, go back and ask Dad."

Qin Heng said: "Just ask."

Qin Yuan was too lazy to pay attention to him. She pushed two plates of snacks on the table over and said perfunctorily, "Eat slowly. My brother and I have something to say."

Qin Siyuan said: "I am your disciple, Master, do you have any instructions for me?"

Qin Heng's eyes kept rolling around.

Qin Yuan asked, "Did Shen Changle send the poetry collection to the Imperial College?"

Qin Siyuan said gratefully, "Yes, it was given to me and Ziqi. The collection is printed very well. Even the doctors who teach asked me to go and read it. They said they wanted to read the poems of the two adults. I just heard from Sixth Master that many of these were your ideas. I didn't expect that my cousin has such a talent. She can be my teacher in all aspects."

After this battle, Qin Siyuan became famous in the Imperial College.

Qin Heng said, "Sister, my cousin is now a famous person in the Imperial College. Dad walks with a breeze. People say that the nephew and son-in-law of the Imperial College's chief academic officer are very talented and will definitely pass the imperial examination."

Qin Yuan asked: "What did Lin Ziqi say?"

Before Qin Siyuan could speak, Qin Heng called out, "That's my second brother-in-law. Why are you asking him, sister? My brother-in-law is so nice. You can't think about others."

Qin Yuan was annoyed and turned to scold him: "You are also a primary school student, why are you so impetuous and absurd in your words and deeds? If you have time to ask me why I asked about my second brother-in-law, you might as well go back and ask Dad why your second brother-in-law wrote me some inexplicable letters when he was sealed up. His intentions are sinister."

Qin Heng dropped the snacks in his hand, jumped up and cursed: "What? I knew that Lin Ziqi was still a thief. He married my second sister and still coveted my eldest sister. He kept asking questions in the Imperial College, but I didn't bother to pay attention to him."

Qin Siyuan scolded, "Your nonsense was overheard by others, and spread gossip behind your sister's back, ruining her reputation. What will you do?"

Qin Heng sat down, straightened his body, glanced at Qin Yuan, and said in a weak voice: "I... I'm not afraid that my eldest sister will suffer. My eldest sister's husband is so good. Every time my mother and father talk about it, they say that my eldest sister's marriage is very good. My second sister and Lin Ziqi's mother had a big fight. My mother said that my second sister had a bad temper and a brain disease, but the Lin family is not good either, that's why it's like this."

Qin Yuan said, "Don't tell your second sister about what happened today, lest she start to have wild thoughts. Even father and mother can't do anything to her, and you can't control it. She might even hate me and think that I have feelings for Lin Ziqi."

Qin Heng agreed with grievance. Qin Siyuan said: "Lin Ziqi was a little unhappy, but he still said that we took advantage of the Sixth Master. The sale of this collection of poems will benefit our reputation. But his words and deeds are quite different from before."

Qin Yuan glanced at Qin Heng and said, "You must have gained a lot of attention now. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. You'd better be more careful."

The implication is that Qin Siyuan should be careful with Lin Ziqi.

Qin Siyuan nodded.

Qin Yuan said no more and changed the subject, saying, "The Marquis invited a storyteller from Wazi yesterday to tell him stories about the Three Kingdoms and the Spring and Autumn Annals..."

Qin Siyuan couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

Qin Yuan also smiled and continued, "This gentleman is extremely talented and can be considered a great scholar who lives in seclusion. If you can find a way to gain his favor..."

Qin Siyuan was shocked: "A great scholar telling a story?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Qin Siyuan asked: "But the Marquis knew his background and specially invited him back from the tile house?"

Qin Yuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"The Marquis got it by chance. He wanted to invite someone back to give lectures so that he wouldn't be unable to deal with my father. You also know my father's temper. Whenever he has time, he will ask the Marquis if he has studied hard."

Qin Siyuan smiled and said, "What kind of luck is this? I just don't know where my cousin got it from."

Qin Yuan said: "It was just a coincidence. I have heard of his name and appearance, but I didn't expect that we would match up."

Qin Siyuan said happily: "Then I will sort out the essays I have written recently when I go back, and find a reason to come to your house for advice."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about," Qin Yuan said. "He must have a reason to hide in the tile house and become a storyteller. What if I find out and he runs away out of shame? Besides, I don't know anything about his likes and dislikes, so I have no confidence in keeping him here."

This really stumped Qin Siyuan.

Qin Yuan spread his hands, unable to help.

"That's something you have to figure out on your own."

Qin Heng, who was stunned by what he heard, suddenly said, "Dad said you were as good as Zhuge Liang, but you can't even come up with such an idea."

"Then what's your idea?"

Qin Heng raised his chin and said, "These masters and Confucian scholars are just like my father. They like to instruct others. You can let him tell stories and give him some opinions to embarrass him. See how he argues. After a while, it will become logical. I have seen too many of my father's students and disciples' ways."

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "It's a good idea."

The three of them discussed it for a while and agreed to come to the Marquis' Mansion tomorrow to see what would happen next.

When he was about to say goodbye, Qin Siyuan suddenly remembered to ask, "Cousin, what is the name of that great scholar who is reclusive?"

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I actually never told you and you never asked."

Qin Siyuan was stunned for a moment, and said, "I have been following my cousin's instructions these days, and I am used to it. I just remembered it."

Qin Heng laughed like a duck, quacking.

Qin Yuan smiled and said, "It's Mr. Songshan. I wonder if my cousin has heard of him."

(End of this chapter)