The Cannon Fodder and Villain’s Happy Ending

Chapter 413

Madam Xiao stayed in Fengluan Palace until 1 to 3 in the afternoon before leaving and then went to the Marquis’s residence early the next morning to discuss the specific wedding date with Old Madam Qin.

Although the invitation would be given after nazheng*, there were still too many things to prepare for the wedding, so they discussed a rough date verbally first and prepared everything that needed to be prepared. In this way, they could prepare for the wedding without a hassle.

(*the man’s family needs to accept the dowry before they can get married)

Both sides cooperated and the negotiations proceeded smoothly. The two quickly reached an agreement, and as for the third-party present Qin Jiu, there was no room for intervention.

From time to time, she received an overly loving look from her two elders, making her feel like a kitten with both of them itching to rub a few handfuls on her head.

After seeing off Madam Xiao, Qin Jiu still had the inexplicable feeling of being stripped bare for no reason.

By contrast, Old Madam Qin was overjoyed and smiled so much that her eyes narrowed. The Marquis House had not had a happy event in over ten years!

She emotionally took Qin Jiu’s hand, a little bit sad that her granddaughter was to be married off just after she was retrieved last year, but, more than anything, she was happy.

Old Madam Qin talked endlessly, “Xiao Jiu, I heard that the Xiao family in Jiangan is a century-old scholar family, and this family with generations of influence is extraordinary. And you can see it in how Madam Xiao speaks politely and acts generously, you should follow her more to learn on to conduct yourself in society, manage your household, and skills of the imperial family.”

Qin Jiu nodded in deep understanding. Madam Xiao was indeed a heroine among women. In her era, she was a woman with determination, insight, and meaning. Without that scumbag, she could now live a better life!

Old Madam Qin was thinking in a completely different direction as she continued, “Madam Xiao cares about you, which is good. If your mother-in-law likes you, you’ll have a better life in your husband’s family in the future.”

“When you pass through the door, you should also be respectful to Madam Xiao …… It is better to give birth to a child earlier.”

Hearing Old Madam Qin started talking about having a child, Qin Jiu’s expression became odd and surreal.

She is only 15 years old!

In just three months, she’s actually getting married?

That’s too soon!

No matter how Qin Jiu felt it was too fast, both Old Madam Qin and Madam Xiao were in a hurry and worked together to prepare everything that should be prepared.

Meanwhile, her two brothers, Qin Zening and Qin Zeyu unanimously decided to give all the dowry left by their mother, Madam Wei, and Old Madam Qin also added some of her private properties to her granddaughter.

The truth was after Qin Jiu and Gu Zezhi got engaged, Qin Zening started preparing Qin Jiu’s dowry but a setback happen; they were in the middle of separating the family from the second house, then they moved, and after that, he went to Minzhou. Time was extremely pressing, so he did not have much time to prepare for the dowry.

After Old Madam Qin took the deeds from Qin Zening, she resumed organizing Madam Wei’s dowry and drew up a dowry list for Qin Jiu.

However, since she was already old, the siblings set a time for her in the morning and evening so she could prepare the things she needed to prepare without getting exhausted and count them to Qin Jiu, such as a complete set of furniture and screens to small things like needlework and jewelry, all of which made Qin Jiu dizzy.

Old Madam Qin put her mind on Qin Jiu’s dowry, and with the many things she needed to do, she did not have time to think about anything and soon forgot about Qin Xin and Qin Zhun.

However, although Old Madam Qin had forgotten about Qin Xin, the latter tried every means to see Old Madam Qin but was rejected by people in the marquis’s residence so she had to think of other ways.

She had been raised by Old Madam Qin since childhood, so she knew her habits very well. She knew that Old Madam Qin often went to Jingxin Temple to offer incense on the first and fifteenth days of the month, so she waited for opportunities. On the first day of the 10^th month, she finally met her.

“Grandma!”

Qin Xin shouted as she rushed to Old Madam Qin. Crystal-clear tears streamed down her beautiful face like “pit-pat-pit,” looking pitiful just like how a white pear blossom, blooming on the branch even after all the wind and rain.

Qin Jiu who was accompanying Old Madam Qin to offer incense, looked at Qin Xin coldly.

Concurrently, Old Madam Qin’s expression was very calm, as she looked at Qin Xin, but her eyes resembled the surface of a frozen lake.

Not long ago, Qin Zening visited Ancheng County in Jizhou and investigated the inn where the old marquis died. This happened ten years ago, so obviously, the head steward at the inn has changed; fortunately, two servants who still worked there remember the past. The late Marquis was also a big shot, but unfortunately, there was no useful information.

Qin Zening did not give up and checked several more inns along the way, unexpectedly, one of the people in those inns remembered something, saying that he remembered when the old marquis and his family stayed in the inn. There was a beautiful girl who ran to play under the oleander tree alone, who scared him very much, so after they left, he had someone cut off the oleander tree in the yard.

The distance between that inn and the inn in Ancheng County was only two days. If it was true that Qin Xin poisoned the old marquis, then her scheme would be too deep. To avoid others thinking of Oleander, she patiently waited for two more days to start.

On the day when the old marquis died, he ate the same food as everyone else, except for the sweet soup sent by the Old Madam Qin. No one thought he was poisoned and only that he had a sudden illness.

***