My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 743: Chapter 743: Not So Easy to Fool

On the surface of the pond, there was a thin, long rope, tied to the pavilion pillar of Qiuxiang Pavilion and a willow tree on the opposite bank, drifting with the wind.

This rope looked very familiar to her; it was used by the Wuqiao juggling troupe that entered the mansion recently, and the golden hairpin she lost nearly broke it.

Gu Baoshu stopped and looked around.

"Treasure Bead, why aren’t you coming in yet, what are you standing there foolishly for?"

The voice of Old Madam Gu came from the inner seat.

Gu Baoshu hurriedly stepped in quickly, saw the expression on Old Madam Gu’s face, then slowed her pace, and smiled gently with greetings: "Mother, Third Sister-in-law, you are so kind, knowing I like to watch tightrope walking, and invited a troupe here."

Qin Yuan laughed and said: "I dare not take credit, it was your Third Brother who invited them."

"Third Brother?"

Gu Baoshu could hardly believe her ears.

She suddenly felt pleasantly surprised.

Aside from punishing her to embroider and forcing her to practice dancing, her Third Brother also gallops to the rescue and invites a juggling troupe to perform tightrope walking for her.

Looking through the light curtains, a slender figure had at some point already appeared on the tightrope, leisurely as if strolling on flat ground.

Gu Baoshu smiled so widely that her teeth and gums were exposed.

Third Brother is so good to her, then tonight she will surely be able to get Gu Shiliu.

Since Third Brother promised, it doesn’t matter if Mother disagrees.

Gu Baoshu sat down next to her mother with excitement and filial piety, offering her mother a cup of tea and handing her a piece of Lotus Leaf Bowl Cake.

"Mother, please enjoy."

Old Madam Gu took a little and set it aside.

As people get older, they can’t eat much, and she can’t ignore the dishes when the feast starts later, not wanting to disappoint her children and grandchildren.

Sister Lan came over to lean on Gu Baoshu’s neck, whispering: "Aunt, you’ll be away from home for a long, long time, don’t you miss home? Don’t you miss Sister Lan?"

Gu Baoshu pretended to be melancholy: "I do miss."

Sister Lan acted spoiled: "Then take me with you, Little Aunt. I can do many things now; I can even do needlework now. If Little Aunt’s clothes are torn, I’ll mend them for you, and if you’re thirsty, I’ll pour tea for you."

Gu Baoshu burst out laughing, calling out toward outside: "Sixth Brother, your good daughter wants to follow me to study out of filial piety, if you don’t treat Sister Lan better, don’t envy me in the future."

Sixth Master Gu said: "Can’t be bothered with you."

Fuguo’er and Brother Kang, like little colts, rushed in, shouting: "Take us too, Aunt, take us."

Gu Baoshu laughed even louder: "Hahaha, Sixth Brother, your son and daughter are all mine now."

Old Madam Gu rolled her eyes at the unruly Gu Baoshu and said with a smile to Mrs. Dai: "This girl is just wild in company, hanging around the whole day without a care, it would be good for her to go study and perhaps learn some manners with no one indulging her outside."

"Oh dear, Marquis Mansion is so lively and such blessings can’t be envied by others," Mrs. Dai said: "I wish my place could be this lively."

At this, Old Madam Gu changed the topic and asked Mrs. Dai about the medicine prescribed by Doctor Li and such, making Gu Baoshu sigh in relief.

Outside, Sixth Master Gu said to Marquis Gu: "No idea why she’s so happy all day."

Marquis Gu replied: "Don’t talk about her. I also don’t know what you stupidly write all day."

Sixth Master Gu was displeased, puffing his cheeks like a goldfish: "Writing poems and painting."

"Oh."

Sixth Master Gu said: "That’s it?"

"What else," Marquis Gu said: "Anyway, with our family being what it is, no matter how much you squander, it won’t run out. I see the kids are all fine, they should be able to hold the fort."

Sixth Master Gu immediately lost half his spirits, slumped to one side with a pout.

Marquis Gu said: "See? I say this and you’re upset. Treasure Bead is much more resilient than you, no matter how I am with her, she doesn’t change."

Mr. Songshan laughed: "This is what is meant by ’a country’s landscape changes easily but one’s nature is hard to change,’ Miss Baozhu not changing her nature is her skill, but Sixth Master even changed his nature, he will certainly accomplish great things."

Sixth Master Gu was slightly encouraged.

Marquis Gu said: "Let’s see how long he can stick to it."

Sixth Master Gu immediately rose with fighting spirit: "Third Brother, don’t underestimate me. I can change for a lifetime."

Marquis Gu laughed: "You better keep your word. So many people here have heard it."

Gu Jingcheng joined in the fun: "Your brothers might as well make a vow with a handshake. We all know Third Brother is pushing you for your good, but if we didn’t, we’d think he looks down on you. We’d have to defend you."

Sixth Master Gu immediately stretched out his hand, staring at Marquis Gu: "Third Brother, let’s do it!"

The two of them made an oath with a handshake right there.

Gu Jingcheng laughed: "Now Sixth Brother can’t go back on your word. All these people witnessed it."

Marquis Gu also laughed.

Mr. Songshan clapped and laughed: "Sixth Master is no longer the Wu Xia Ameng of the past. In the future, whether facing scholars and poets, the Marquis Mansion will rely on Sixth Master. It’s safe to say Sixth Master might earn the Marquis a good reputation among the scholars."

Marquis Gu asked: "Really?"

"Naturally true," Mr. Songshan laughed: "Has the Marquis forgotten? Sixth Master is also the owner of the business at Zhegui Square.

The An Family in Wuxi, who make copper movable type, gets along very well with Sixth Master. The business is already decided. In the future, not only will our poetry books be sold across the country, but the small newspapers of Zhegui Square might just become famous nationwide."

"Good!" Marquis Gu knew that behind all this couldn’t lack Qin Yuan’s handiwork, but having Sixth Brother, who usually doesn’t manage affairs, become a helping hand made him deeply gratified.

As the saying goes, one tree does not make a forest.

From now on, he will have support behind him.

A warmth swept over Marquis Gu’s heart.

His gaze at Sixth Master Gu also became much gentler.

Gu Baoshu popped in to join the conversation: "You’ve all made vows with a handshake, now it’s my turn."

"What’s it got to do with you?"

Marquis Gu turned his head slightly and gave her a sidelong glance.

Gu Baoshu said: "Third Brother, you promised to give me Sixteen, I’m about to leave, you have to keep your word."

Hong Ye standing inside couldn’t help but clench her hands tightly.

Qin Yuan glanced at her with a smile.

Hong Ye blushed instantly.

Outside, Marquis Gu laughed: "What I promised to give you is naturally a promise, but..."

"But what?"

Gu Baoshu’s eyes widened like bells.

Marquis Gu said: "The person I promised to give you isn’t Sixteen, but someone else."

"You’re lying!"

Gu Baoshu stomped her feet in anger.

Marquis Gu pointed to the rope suspended not far away, "Look closely."

Gu Baoshu looked up, that agile figure was gracefully walking, occasionally doing extremely risky moves, seemingly about to fall into the pond yet again stabilizing, causing the servant girls to exclaim quietly, their service becoming less attentive.

"Don’t think that just because you invited someone to walk the tightrope, you can fool me."

Gu Baoshu stomped furiously.

"I’m not a child, I’m not so easily coaxed."

Sixth Master Gu laughed: "You claim not to be a child, yet you whine and pester persistently for something."

Gu Baoshu jumped up, wiped her nose, and shouted.

"I am not, it’s what Third Brother promised me, I don’t want something, I want Sixteen!"