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

After Wang entered the room, she bowed and greeted Madam Jiang, who was sitting at the top of the table, and then exchanged greetings with her two younger brothers and sisters.

He turned to look at Li and said to her with a smile: "Before I even entered the door, I heard you saying that the fifth brother's wife has a good appetite... She is now in a heavy body, and it is a blessing for her to be able to eat."

Li spat in her heart, "Sweet words, but a sharp knife in the heart."

The eldest sister-in-law's words confused both her and her fifth brother's wife.

She raised her chin slightly, motioning Wang to look at the small table on the Luohan bed. On the table, a few small purple-red fruits lay on a white porcelain plate.

Li smiled and said in a gentle voice: "No matter how much mother loves my fifth brother's wife, I, as her daughter-in-law, will never be jealous...

Knowing that my mother was ill, I specially brought this frontier specialty. It is still preserved so well in such bad weather, which shows that my fifth brother and sister-in-law put a lot of effort into it. "

Wang kept smiling as she sat in the chair opposite Li, her eyes sweeping across the white porcelain plate, but she didn't agree with what Li said.

Doctor Wu said that my mother-in-law's current condition needs to be treated slowly.

Can this little fruit solve the problem?

She would never believe it!

She had a smile on her face, "Fifth brother's wife is so thoughtful, we sisters-in-law can't compare to her."

Gu Jinchu smiled when he heard this, "Sister-in-law, you are too polite. These prunes were brought back from the border by a friend. Some of them were damaged by the bumps on the road, but these are the good ones and are given to my mother as a gift."

She looked at Madam Jiang and said, "My sisters-in-law at home understand me and don't bother with me about these things."

Madam Jiang bent down and took her daughter-in-law's hand, placed it in her palm, patted the back of her hand and said with a smile: "You are all good children."

Li burst out laughing, and when everyone looked at her, she covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and whispered, "If we talk about age, my eldest sister-in-law is 20 years older than my fifth brother's wife."

The eldest son of the Crown Prince's wife is older than the fifth brother's wife.

He is almost two years older, but he always makes innuendos like this, not afraid of being laughed at.

Wang sat there, smiling as she looked up at Madam Jiang, "Mother, I haven't seen my fifth brother and his wife for a few days. I was so busy chatting with them that I forgot about them. I came here to discuss the Lantern Festival with you."

Most of the people in Gu'an are from aristocratic families who attach great importance to the atmosphere. Therefore, the Lantern Festivals in previous years have been very lively.

Now is a period of national mourning, not only can the Lantern Festival not be held, but even family banquets are a headache.

However, Wang came here for another purpose and kept observing Gu Jinchu.

Seeing that she looked a little listless and seemed to be pretending to be calm, they felt relieved, thinking that their preparation and observation for so long were worth it.

I didn’t make it clear in the past because I was looking for the most appropriate time.

Madam Jiang said to Wang: "...everything must be kept simple. Discuss it with Xiaoyan and you two sisters-in-law. Although there are many taboos, after all, there are children at home, and some vegetarian meals can be cooked in a proper manner."

When Mrs. Jiang worshipped Buddha, she often went to the Huguo Temple.

Speaking of vegetarian meals, Liu accompanied Mrs. Jiang to the Huguo Temple.

Li didn't care who was the steward of the Duke Dingguo's Mansion.

She rested her elbows on the armrests of the chair and said to Gu Jinchu, "Has Fifth Brother's wife ever come to Gu'an to see the Lantern Festival? The scene is so spectacular that it's really spectacular just standing at the doorstep."

Gu Jinchu smiled and shook his head.

Of course she had seen it, and the Lantern Festival in the previous life was not affected by anything.

Uncle Jiang Wu made a lantern for her personally, and she carefully kept it for several years.

Wang had almost finished her discussion with Madam Jiang. She stood up, lowered her eyes, looked at Li and asked, "Why did my third sister-in-law come to see mother at this time today?"

Li was describing her hometown to Gu Jinchu, where they would parade the gods every Lantern Festival.

When she heard Wang's question, she didn't think about it carefully. She said with an annoyed look on her face, "I came here to ask for some squid from my mother's greenhouse!"

As she spoke, she looked at Old Madam Jiang, and the smile on her fair face was very gentle, with a hint of flattery in it: "I heard that many flowers have bloomed in mother's greenhouse, and your daughter-in-law wants to ask for some..."

Madam Jiang still understood the third son's wife, and whispered disapprovingly: "Don't let anyone see it..."

Hearing her mother-in-law say this, Li knew that she had agreed. She stood up from her chair and swore and promised:

"Don't worry, mother. Fourth brother's wife is not a talkative person... Third Master is not an official in the court, so my daughter-in-law will not have any contact with officials' wives, and will not bring any trouble to our Duke Dingguo's Mansion!"

The Fourth Master is the Censor-in-Chief, he can't submit a memorial to report on his own people!

Madam Jiang stood up, supported by the table, pointed at Li and scolded her with a smile: "No wonder our Chengbin, at such a young age, can make the teacher so stunned. The source of his feelings lies with you."

Li twisted her waist and walked over, holding out her hand to support Madam Jiang, "Mother, you can say whatever you want about your daughter-in-law in front of the sisters-in-law, but don't let the Third Master hear it.

Otherwise, next time Chengbin fails to recite the Thousand Character Classic, the Third Master will put the blame on his daughter-in-law."

Madam Jiang walked down the platform with her help, saying, "I think Chengbin is very smart, and he has his own plans for everything... The third son is strict, and he also wants his son to be successful."

Aren’t there enough outstanding men in the Jiang family?

Can he surpass Master Jiang Wu, or can he surpass the current eldest young master?

Li curled her lips without leaving any trace. It would be nice for her son to grow up happily and become a rich and idle person in the future!

He whispered to Madam Jiang, "Mother, you are right."

Madam Jiang turned around and waved to Gu Jinchu, "Are you tired, Jinchu?"

Gu Jinchu's waist was not so sore at this moment. She stroked her belly and said with a smile, "The flowers in mother's greenhouse are well taken care of. I will go with you to have a look."

Madam Jiang nodded and said, "It's good to move around more. It will also be beneficial for future childbirth." Still feeling uneasy, she added, "You can't be too strong at this time, especially you can't get too tired."

Gu Jinchu couldn't help but think of the Fifth Master not long ago. She was really tired at that time, and it was hard to bear that she scratched and bit him, which made him regain his sanity.

Fortunately, Madam Jiang and Mrs. Li, who were walking in front, did not notice her abnormality.

Wang, who was walking beside her, whispered, "Fifth brother's wife seemed to be worried today, but what happened?"

Gu Jinchu turned his head to look at her, smiled and asked, "I wonder what sister-in-law is referring to?"

The smile on Wang's face became a little strange. The person serving beside her glanced at her and said, "It seems that the fifth brother's wife brought this girl here for the first time."

Gu Jinchu said "hmm" lightly, and then heard Wang asked without any context, "What has your fifth brother's wife heard recently?"

Gu Jinchu couldn't help but look up at her, with the corners of his lips slightly raised, "Sister-in-law, just say what you want to say."

Wang turned her head and her eyes fell on her face: "Sometimes I really envy my fifth brother's wife... Not only does your husband treat you well, but even your mother-in-law wants to hold you in the palm of her hand."

When Gu Jinchu heard Wang's words, he smiled and asked her, "Why, is the prince not good to the prince's wife?"

Wang was stunned for a moment, the dimples on her cheeks became lighter, and her smile was almost unable to be maintained in the warm winter day. She whispered: "Fifth brother's wife, the prince is naturally good to me."

Gu Jinchu then asked, "Isn't mother-in-law kind to us sisters-in-law?"

Wang looked at Madam Jiang who was walking in front of her, and the smile on her face disappeared. She lowered her voice and rebuked her: "Fifth brother's wife, what are you talking about?"

If people knew that she was questioning the Duke's wife behind her back, wouldn't the noble ladies in Shengjing City break her spine?

Then I was too ashamed to see anyone.

Gu Jinchu heard her scolding words and laughed instead of getting angry, "Since the prince treats his wife very well, and the mother-in-law treats us daughters-in-law with kindness and love, then why do you envy me?"

Wang blinked. Did Gu Jinchu really not hear it, or was she just pretending to be stupid?

Gu Jinchu raised his eyebrows, his fair and bright face showing a smile that was very dazzling to Wang, "If the wife of the prince said that she envied my young age, I would not refute you like this."

Wang felt that she could no longer maintain her dignity, "You!" Then she calmed down and told herself that she, Gu Jinchu, would cry one day.

Then he continued calmly, "Fifth brother's wife, don't forget that you will live to be as old as your sister-in-law in the future."

"Sister-in-law, age should not become our shackles... It is the accumulation of experience that allows us to be calm in life."

Gu Jinchu looked at her calmly, as if the provocative smile just now was Wang's illusion.

At the door of the greenhouse, a woman in bulky clothes was cleaning the stone steps.

When they saw their masters coming, they put down the brooms in their hands, bowed respectfully and greeted them.

Then he looked up at his masters and moved aside to make way.

The fallen leaves on the ground are yellow, and looking up the stone steps towards the greenhouse, dots of green and bright purple are faintly visible.

Old Madam Jiang paused, turned around, and looked at her two daughters-in-law who were walking towards her.

Mrs. Li was very surprised, as if the eldest sister-in-law had been defeated by the fifth brother's wife again. She smiled and asked, "Sister-in-law, fifth brother's wife, what are you talking about? Let me and mother listen too."

After Wang arrived at the greenhouse, she looked around inside. She was unsure how the fifth brother's wife would explain her aggressive behavior just now.

Gu Jinchu walked to the side of Madam Jiang and smiled softly, "Mother, my sister-in-law just said..."

"Fifth brother's wife, you may have misunderstood what eldest sister-in-law just said!" Wang looked nervous and interrupted her.

Li became interested immediately after hearing this. She withdrew her gaze from the colorful flower buds and looked at Gu Jinchu with curiosity:

"Fifth brother's sister-in-law, my eldest sister-in-law seems gentle and dignified...but from what you said, it seems like you and my eldest sister-in-law had an argument!"

Wang frowned slightly, "Third brother and sister-in-law, please be careful with your words."

Li acted like a delicate lady holding her heart, and was about to cry, "Sister-in-law, what did I say that made you so angry with me?"

Gu Jinchu smiled and said, "Hasn't Third Sister-in-law figured it out yet? Eldest Sister-in-law is asking for flowers because you came to Mother's place... She also wants to dye her nails, but she's too embarrassed to say it in front of others."

Li looked disappointed, "I thought it was something else!" She turned around and looked Wang up and down, "Sister-in-law, you always look down on this kind of behavior... Could it be that you are too much older than my fifth brother's wife and want to dress younger?"

Wang was slightly relieved after hearing Gu Jinchu's nonsense, but Li's words almost made her die of anger.

He held the handkerchief to his lips and coughed violently a few times.

His face turned red, but he couldn't utter a word.

Mother Zhang, who was beside her, patted her on the back several times before Wang calmed down.

Madam Jiang tried to smooth things over, "Third daughter-in-law, do you think everyone is as relaxed as you? Your eldest sister-in-law is in charge of a large family, and I've never seen her paint her nails like you do."

Gu Jinchu held her mother-in-law's arm and looked at her two sisters-in-law and said, "We are all family, so please don't ruin the harmony."

Wang had just stopped coughing, but she almost blurted out the words again, and her back teeth were almost broken.

She gave a look to someone beside her, and Mother Zhang nodded when she saw it.

Madam Jiang called the maid who served in the greenhouse and said to Li: "Tell the servants what you want, but you are not allowed to touch my purple fairy plants."

The Zixiaxian that she mentioned was the peony that she had planted from her natal family when she married into the Duke Dingguo's Mansion.

The flower is single-petaled and as large as a plate. The petals are flesh-red when first opened, light purple when in full bloom, and pure purple in the late stage.

The fragrance is rich and is blooming not far behind them, under the rockery made of Taihu stones.

The greenhouse is like a small Su-style garden, which the Duke spent two years building for his wife.

Li nodded hurriedly. She must be crazy to want the petals of Zixia Fairy.

She was afraid that as soon as she left, the Duke would order her to be taken to Shaoxiu Hall. Not only would she be whipped, but she would also be ordered to keep the petals intact on the branches.

Thinking of that scene, Li shuddered and whispered, "Mother, your daughter-in-law can just pick up some fallen rose petals."

This was not the first time that Gu Jinchu had stepped into this greenhouse, but he vaguely felt that there seemed to be some changes.

However, for a moment, I had no idea where this change came from.

After hearing this, Madam Jiang smiled and said, "It's such a simple matter. Next time, just ask someone to come and tell this old woman... Now that you're here, go see if the white orchid has bloomed."

Gu Jinchu held Madam Jiang's hand and saw the roses under the camellia tree, then he suddenly realized.

These pots of roses used to be placed on both sides of the greenhouse corridor.

Now they have been moved by servants under the camellia tree, and are blooming in pairs, giving a feeling of competing for beauty.

Mother Zhang, who was following Wang, suddenly whispered, "There seems to be someone under the camellia tree..."

Old Madam Jiang frowned slightly. Why would the maid who was tending to the flowers and plants in the greenhouse hide there and whisper?

Then a clear sobbing voice was heard: "...I just feel it's not worth it for Guard Gao! Bai Zhi was clearly promised to Mr. He by the Fifth Madam, so why is she still having an unclear relationship with Guard Gao...They have been in the room for more than an hour, and I'm afraid everything that should have happened has happened..."