The husband who forced her to marry her couldn't keep her warm, and she didn't want him to

The winter afternoon sun shines through the wooden carvings on the window frames, bringing a touch of warmth to the room.

After waking up from his nap, Gu Jinchu looked out through the window and missed the transparent glass windows of Minghui Hall.

On the kang table was the account book sent by Manager Tao. New Year's Eve was approaching, and this was her first New Year in charge, so she planned to go to the shop in person to take a look.

Mother Cheng came over with a cup of hot tea and slowly told Gu Jinchu the story of the youngest daughter of the Wang family.

"…her maiden name is Wang Yuran. She was born when Madam Wang was thirty-three years old. She is twenty-two years old this year, fourteen years younger than the Crown Prince's wife. When Madam Wang married into the Jiang family, Wang Yuran was only as old as Chen Ge'er."

"After the coming-of-age ceremony, she married the youngest son of Lord Zhang... Three years ago, Lord Zhang fell off his horse after drinking and could not be saved. Wang Yuran, who had never had children, became a widow..."

"Two months ago, the Wang family forcibly took Wang Yuyan back to the Wang family on the grounds that Master Zhang had drunk and behaved immorally. The two families fell out."

After Madam Cheng finished speaking, she frowned slightly, considered her words, and then whispered, "I think that Madam Wang came here this time for other purposes besides apologizing to the old lady."

Even if Wang Yuran was favored in the Wang family, there was no reason for him to bring a widow to visit relatives.

As the wife of the Minister of Works, Madam Wang is in charge of the Wang family's finances. Doesn't she know these etiquettes?

Bai Zhi held the hand warmer to her master with both hands, curled her lips and said, "That's because you didn't see, Madam Cheng, how Miss Wang was dressed today. It makes sense to say that she is a young lady in her twenties, but she can also be seen as an old maid waiting to be married."

The Dingguo Mansion was many times larger than the Gu Family's. The masters' thoughts were as complicated as the nine-turn corridor in the courtyard.

Gu Jinchu continued to look down at the account book, regardless of whether she was an unmarried old maid or a young widow.

They wanted to take over the fifth room, but they couldn't get past Madam Jiang.

The account books for her dowry and Fifth Master’s shops must be sorted out in the next two days.

Taking advantage of the good weather, we distributed the dividends to the servants. Everyone had a happy New Year and wished for good luck in the coming year.

Mother Cheng thought that the Madam was too young to see through the hidden dangers, and whispered, “This…does Madam Wang not care about the feelings of the First Madam at all?

……

In the west wing of Chenxiang Pavilion.

When Wang Yuran heard her elder sister mention Master Jiang Wu, she was stunned for a moment, then a hint of undisguised surprise flashed in her eyes: "Master Jiang Wu doesn't even have a concubine?"

Wang's smile remained unchanged. She took a sip from the teacup, then put it down gracefully and said, "What's so strange about this?"

"The second and fourth rooms don't have concubines... Even the Duke, after the Duke's wife entered the mansion, all the concubines in the backyard were sent away. The Duke's wife has been the only favorite for so many years."

Her dimple deepened and she snorted softly, "The men in the Jiang family are very affectionate, but not all men are like that."

Old Madam Wang stretched the hem of her skirt and sat upright on the Luohan bed. Her face looked somewhat serious when she was not smiling.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "What's the use of a man's affection? It depends on whether he has the ability and how much honor he can give to a woman."

Wang Yuran's mother's words reminded him of the number one scholar who wore a red robe, a black hat, and sat upright on a tall horse, with an upright posture, a handsome face, and a gentle manner like jade.

At present, Mr. Jiang Wu is the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple and a close minister of the emperor. His future is limitless.

That Gu Jinchu, she is really lucky.

Wang felt very uncomfortable listening to her mother's words. Ever since she was old enough to understand, everything she said and did could never satisfy her mother.

It was simply that the mother's first child was a daughter, not the son she had been expecting, and she was unable to explain the situation to her grandmother and father.

Noticing that her younger sister has been paying attention to Jiang Nansheng, Wang turned her head and looked at her mother beside her, "Mother, do you know that Master Gao was dismissed from his post and his property was confiscated, and the entire Gao family was exiled. In addition, a large number of Zhou's businesses were closed down. Who is responsible for this?"

Wang Yuran was thinking about Jiang Nansheng, and blurted out, "Could it be Master Jiang Wu who did it? He is really amazing. He could have brought down a high official like Master Gao."

Wang nodded and said, "It is indeed as my younger sister said, but mother and younger sister, do you know why Fifth Master Jiang is so iron-fisted in dealing with the Gao and Zhou families?"

Madam Wang's face was as gloomy as water, and she frowned slightly, with an impatient tone: "If you want to, just say it, why keep it a secret!"

Wang paused and put the cup back on the table. "Granddaughter of Master Gao offended Gu Jinchu with her words, so she went to His Majesty to file a complaint... The Zhou family is the second prince's maternal family, and the second prince once plotted against the Gu family to take Gu Jinchu as his concubine."

"So, the Gao family and the Zhou family are both because of Gu Jinchu. It was Fifth Master Jiang who was so angry that he risked his life for his beloved."

"Mother..." Wang looked directly into the eyes of Madam Wang beside her and asked, "What do you think my younger sister has done to anger Gu Jinchu, the Princess of Anping County, and offended the Zheng family? What will the Wang family do to help my younger sister deal with the aftermath?"

How many people in official circles, especially those in high positions like my father, can withstand strict scrutiny!

Wang Yuran suddenly stood up from her chair, and with a red face she defended herself: "Sister, what are you talking about?

How could you see me plotting against Master Jiang Wu? We are sisters, and even if you are the wife of the prince, you cannot ruin my reputation like this!"

After saying that, she took Old Lady Wang's hand and called her mother unhappily.

Wang's smile remained unchanged. Her little sister was spoiled by her parents.

With such an identity and dressed like this, let alone reputation, her intentions are almost written on her face.

Wang then said slowly, "That's good. I'm Wang's daughter. If I can't be the Crown Prince's wife, I'll just consider it as repaying my parents' kindness."

Looking at his mother, he continued, "If it affects the relationship between the Jiang family and the Wang family, I'm sure that's not what father and mother want to see, right?"

Madam Wang's face was a little tense. This eldest daughter has grown powerful. She sighed, "Yu Rou is right, but she has misunderstood your younger sister. After all, she is the legitimate daughter of the Wang family. Why would she rush to become someone else's concubine?"

After saying this, he took his little daughter's hand, asked her to sit back next to him, and patted her hand to comfort her silently.

Wang showed a gentle smile, picked up a fruit and handed it to her mother, saying softly: "My daughter is also confused because of her concern."

Old Madam Wang sighed again, "Your father is old and will retire in a few years. Among your brothers, the most promising one has only become a fourth-rank official..."

Her attitude softened, and she took Wang's hand and said earnestly, "I saw today that the Duke's wife is in good health, and I don't know when the prince will be able to inherit the title.

You and Yu Ran are born from the same mother, and now she is the only one who can help you. Do you understand your mother's painstaking efforts?"

The smile on Wang's face could no longer be maintained, and the color quickly disappeared from her face. Her eyes were filled with fear, and her voice was trembling: "Mother, you...you want to get rid of the Duke's wife?"

She was looking forward to the prince inheriting the title day and night. She would be the wife of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, and this was also the purpose of her marrying into the Jiang family.

As she grew older, especially after Gu Jinchu came into the family, she dreamed about it.

But she never thought of hurting Madam Jiang!