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

Rest...go to Huguo Temple to pray?

The fourth wife, Mrs. Zhang, who was playing on the kang with a few children, raised her head and looked at the wife of the Crown Prince, Mrs. Wang, who was sitting on a chair.

The Crown Prince's wife looked a little depressed today, her face was pale, and her whole body exuded fatigue with a hint of sadness, which was consistent with her description of being unwell.

Mother Zhang, who was standing beside her, had red and swollen eyes, as if she had cried not long ago.

This Madam Zhang is the concubine of the Crown Prince's wife. She has been in the mansion for so many years, relying on her master to be in charge of the household affairs of Duke Dingguo's mansion. She acts domineeringly in front of the servants in the mansion and knows how to flatter the powerful and bully the weak.

The one who made her so submissive should be the old lady of the Wang family who just left. What did she say, or what did she do?

Looking at the atmosphere in the room, it was hard to tell what was going on with Madam Jiang and the fifth brother's wife's expressions.

Liu seemed to have thought of this as well and withdrew her gaze from Wang's master and servant.

Gu Jinchu smiled and looked at Wang. "I heard that Chengming will return to Beijing to report on his work soon. Don't you want the young master to see mother the first thing he sees when he returns home?"

Wang's lips moved, and a trace of expectation and longing flashed in her eyes. The eldest son Ming Ge'er served in Mingzhou for three years and only came back once during that time.

She had been looking forward to returning to Beijing to report on her work since her son left for Mingzhou to take up his new post.

The last time Mrs. Meng saw her husband was at the full moon banquet when she gave birth to Chen Ge'er. Now Chen Ge'er can already call him daddy, but he has no memory of what his father looks like.

Chen Ge'er seemed to sense his mother's mood change, tilting his head and looking at her in confusion. He put the half-eaten fruit in his hand to his mother's mouth.

Madam Jiang withdrew her eyes from the tiger-head hat, thought for a moment and said, "If Yurou is not feeling well, let Xiaoyan help you manage the household."

"It's New Year's Eve soon. There are so many chores at home. You should help her with the things she doesn't understand. Besides, after the New Year, Han Jie'er's wedding will also be arranged."

Wang's face froze when she heard this, but she forced a smile and replied, "Mother is thoughtful, and it's my daughter-in-law who is willful."

Madam Jiang's smile did not fade. "If you have Buddha in your heart, you can practice anywhere." She continued:

"There is a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva in my storeroom. I'll ask Mother Hu to find it and bring it to Songtao Garden. Clear out a room and it will become the Buddhist temple. Burn incense and make offerings every day. As long as you are sincere, the Buddha will bless everyone."

Wang stood up from her chair, bowed and said, "Mother, you have thought it through. I will listen to you."

Liu also bowed politely, looking very happy: "Mother, you are my real mother! Han Jie'er is my eldest daughter, and I have always wanted to be involved in everything she does."

Madam Jiang put away the tiger-head hat in her hand and teased her with a smile, "Oh, if you get the advantage, you are the real mother! You are almost a grandmother, and you are still so smooth-talking."

Gu Jinchu pinched the beef jerky, tore off a piece of meat, and fed it to the Ninth Young Master who was clinging to her side. She smiled and said, "It's because mother treats us well that the second sister-in-law dares to be so presumptuous."

Liu seemed unwilling to give in, and pouted her lips and said, "Mother, look at what my fifth brother's wife said, you can't be partial."

Madam Jiang felt good about how she looked at Jin Chu now, and smiled lovingly, "Jin Chu is pregnant with twins now, if I don't favor her, then how can I favor you?"

Liu was not annoyed, she smiled and nodded in agreement, "Fifth brother's wife is now the apple of your eye, and we daughters-in-law have all fallen out of favor."

Not only is she the old lady's golden nugget, but she is also the apple of Jiang Wuye's eye.

After all these years of marriage, I have never seen a master in the family who would keep watch in the next room while his wife was paying her respects to her mother-in-law and chatting with her sisters-in-law.

Supported by Mother Zhang, Wang walked out of the main room of Minghui Hall and into the courtyard. She could still hear laughter coming from the house.

Mother Zhang asked in a low voice: "Madam, are you going to hand over the housekeeping power?"

Wang sighed and said helplessly: "What else can I do if I don't show weakness? Didn't you see that the old lady accepted it happily? It's always better to be proactive than passive."

Going to Huguo Temple for meditation was just an excuse, and also an attempt to test Madam Jiang's intentions.

Mother and younger sister did such things, it is impossible for Old Madam Jiang to pretend that nothing happened. She must give an explanation to fifth brother and his wife.

It would be better if she had an attitude first.

The wife of the Duke is just the same as always, treating legitimate and illegitimate children equally. She even thought that Old Madam Jiang would take the opportunity to give the housekeeper power to the fifth brother's wife.

In the afterglow of sunset, the sky is orange and red.

Xuezhu stood by the door, opened the curtain, and said softly, "Fifth Madam, please be careful where you step."

Her pretty appearance made Gu Jinchu look at her twice more.

Xuezhu is in her twenties. After serving Madam Jiang for so many years, she has become more beautiful and elegant than ordinary girls.

After the New Year, a group of older maids will be released from the mansion. I wonder how Madam Jiang will arrange for Xuezhu.

Coming out of Minghui Hall, Jiang Nansheng held Gu Jinchu's hand and whispered, "In the future, when you go to inspect the store, let Jiang An follow you, and bring a few more guards from Zhuli Pavilion, otherwise I will be worried all day long."

She had planned to inspect the stores long ago, and was waiting until three months had passed and the fetus was more stable before taking action.

Gu Jinchu tilted his head and smiled, "I thought Master Wu would not allow me to go out."

The only rays of light from the setting sun seemed to be behind her, outlining an orange-red golden edge for her. Her fair and delicate face was hung with a bright and cunning smile, making it impossible to take your eyes off her face.

Jiang Nansheng put his arm around her shoulders and said softly, "You have your own plans, and you know your body best."

Jin Chu was not a caged bird trapped in the backyard. He knew this before the marriage. It was impossible for him to selfishly break her wings just because she married him.