My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead-Chapter 20: I Suppose Life Isn’t Easy for You

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: I Suppose Life Isn’t Easy for You

Mrs. Cui learned that her daughter was doing quite well, and she felt somewhat comforted, though there was a tinge of bitterness and unwillingness mixed in.

After all, today was also Qin Yuan’s return visit day.

When she married out, Qin Yuan overshadowed her daughter, and now, with the Marquis Mansion as her backing, wasn’t it even more of a suppression?

No matter what, Mrs. Cui still hoped Qin Yuan would gain favor in the Marquis Mansion and help elevate the Qin Family.

Everyone eagerly awaited for a long time, but Qin Yuan still did not arrive.

Someone then said, "Since the eldest young lady married into the Marquis Mansion, she’s grown quite pretentious."

Another person smoothed things over, "Perhaps matters at the Marquis Mansion delayed her."

Mrs. Cui remained silent.

Qin Wan sneered, "She surely isn’t coming today."

As soon as the words fell, Mrs. Cui angrily said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could she not come on such an important day as the return visit? The Marquis Mansion isn’t the type to be ignorant of etiquette, perhaps something has delayed her."

Someone immediately agreed, "Madam, don’t worry. The eldest young lady must have been delayed by something. No one skips visiting their maternal family on the return visit day."

Only then did Mrs. Cui’s expression improve somewhat.

Qin Wan pouted, muttering under her breath, "I said she wouldn’t come, yet you didn’t believe me. Just you wait and see."

Mrs. Cui glanced anxiously at her daughter, who was engrossed in eating cherries with her head bowed.

If Qin Yuan really didn’t return...

The Qin Family couldn’t bear such humiliation. Could it be that the Dingbei Marquis looked down on the Qin Family? Or had Qin Yuan done something disgraceful at the Marquis Mansion?

She forced a smile and sat for a while longer, yet Qin Yuan still didn’t appear, nor did she send any message.

Outside, Qin Jijiu was also restless.

He had planned to boast about his Marquis son-in-law, but now, though the people in the hall showed nothing in their expressions, their eyes seemed a bit peculiar.

"What on earth is going on? Madam, why don’t you have someone inquire?"

Feigning the need to relieve himself, Qin Jijiu slipped into the inner courtyard to ask Mrs. Cui.

Mrs. Cui sighed, "Wan’er said she definitely wouldn’t come and said..."

"What did she say?"

"She said the people at the Marquis Mansion don’t like that girl Qin Yuan; they probably haven’t even consummated the marriage."

This news immediately extinguished the ambitious spark in Qin Jijiu’s heart.

"How could that be, how could that be..."

Qin Jijiu didn’t believe it at all, "With Yuan’er’s looks, how could she be rejected to the point of not consummating the marriage?"

He looked at Mrs. Cui with a complex expression, "Is it possible that Wan’er is just being petty and spouting nonsense? She’s a newlywed after all; where would she hear news like that from?"

Mrs. Cui was plain-looking, yet he had consummated the marriage with her; there was no reason Marquis Gu would refrain from doing so with Yuan, who was beautiful enough to be a favored concubine in the palace.

Unless Marquis Gu was incapable.

Mrs. Cui also wasn’t entirely sure.

Qin Jijiu comforted himself, "Since ancient times, a marquis’s gate is as deep as the sea. Perhaps something is holding her up. Let’s wait a bit longer."

Mrs. Cui had no choice but to return and wait.

As she just entered the room, she heard Qin Wan mockingly say, "Qin Yuan won’t return for the visit. Why? She doesn’t dare come back. The Marquis doesn’t even like her."

Mrs. Cui frowned deeply, feeling her daughter was just a fool.

She picked up a piece of pastry and stuffed it into Qin Wan’s mouth, saying, "What nonsense are you spouting? A return visit isn’t necessarily three days after marriage."

"Yes, yes, yes," others agreed after a moment’s pause, "perhaps the eldest young lady will return after seven days. If the date’s been changed, someone will send word soon."

Qin Wan’s expression showed she didn’t care if others believed her or not, as she continued to eat.

"The eldest young lady is here, she’s here," the nanny guarding the second gate shouted as she rushed inside.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Qin Wan was so surprised she dropped half a pastry.

"Quick, go meet her," Mrs. Cui excitedly stood up, no longer caring to scold the nanny for her lack of decorum.

Immediately, they heard Hong Ye’s voice outside saying, "Gently, gently, these are the return gifts personally selected by the Old Madam of the Marquis Mansion. Don’t damage them."

Mrs. Cui’s face lit up with joy, quickly greeting her outside, while the young maids had already lifted the curtain for a radiant Qin Yuan, who entered supported by Hong Ye.

The hands of mother and daughter found each other.

Mrs. Cui’s voice was slightly choked, "Yuan’er, why have you only just come? Your father and I were anxious, thinking you’d return after seven days."

Qin Yuan sighed, "It’s all my fault, worrying mother and father. The Marquis was delayed by some matters and will arrive later."

Mrs. Cui quickly instructed the young maid outside, "Quickly, notify the master in the front hall that the eldest young master has been delayed and will come later..."

Qin Yuan chimed in, "It’s getting late; let them start the banquet. We shouldn’t keep guests waiting on an empty stomach."

Mrs. Cui asked, "Is that appropriate?"

Qin Yuan nodded, "It is."

The young maid ran to the front hall to deliver the message, while Mrs. Cui took Qin Yuan’s hand and led her to a seat.

Qin Wan, noticing Qin Yuan’s attire, asked in surprise, "Where did you get this outfit?"

Those unfamiliar only thought it looked nice; Qin Wan could tell how valuable it was.

"The Old Madam gave it, saying to wear it for the return visit," Hong Ye proudly declared, "She also gave a piece of jadeite to assure the master and madam that the Marquis Mansion would never wrong the young lady."

The women all exclaimed in admiration.

"The eldest young lady truly has good fortune! With the Old Madam so fond of her, she’ll enjoy unending blessings if she bears children."

Everyone praised Qin Yuan from head to toe, not sparing even a strand of hair.

Qin Yuan’s attire today was both luxurious and beautiful, making the women, who usually loved to gather and chat, feel a bit restrained, too intimidated to touch the fabric, only daring to gaze without blinking.

Mrs. Cui’s eyes shone brightly as she sighed, "My good daughter, the wealth of the Marquis Mansion is unmatched. The Old Madam’s stray hair is even thicker than my leg."

Qin Wan’s eyes burned with jealousy, wishing to strip off the outfit.

She remembered this was the Old Madam’s treasure, which she only allowed them, daughters-in-law, to look at, not even touch; the Old Madam sent this crimson coat to the palace when pleading for the Princely Heir in her previous life. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Even the stone blue Xiapei representing the status of Marchioness was out of her reach, as Nanny Rong said the Old Madam liked it and was buried with it.

Seeing Qin Yuan adorned in it, Qin Wan felt as if slap after slap landed on her face.

She suddenly sneered, "Sister still values appearance so much. Wearing such luxurious attire for the return visit, why didn’t brother-in-law come?"

Qin Yuan smiled, "The Marquis was delayed by matters and will come later. Sister, are you hungry? Mother, let’s start the banquet."

Mrs. Cui glared at Qin Wan, indicating that enough was enough.

Qin Wan stiffened her neck and huffed, "Sister, I waited for you so long, thinking you wouldn’t come. I heard the rules at the Marquis Mansion are strict, with Sixth Lady Gu managing things, and the Marquis bringing back a woman from the battlefield and a pair of twins. I guess your life isn’t easy either."