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

When Gu Jin first saw the worry on Madam Jiang's face, it seemed as if she had aged a lot in just a short period of time.

I couldn't help feeling a little guilty, wondering if I should have brought the children back earlier.

Master Wu Jiang is Madam Jiang's only legitimate youngest son. Right now, Master Wu is not in Shengjing City, and his two grandsons are not around either.

She felt lost and as if she had lost her hope.

Gu Jinchu smiled and comforted her, saying, "Fifth Master sent a letter by carrier pigeon, saying that everything went well with Yongle during his trip. I believe he will be back in Beijing soon..."

Madam Jiang raised her head when she heard this, and her eyes seemed to be re-filled with brilliance, "Really?"

Seeing her daughter-in-law nod, she clasped her hands together and said, "That's great. I pray to the Bodhisattva every day, hoping that Xiaowu and Yongle can return home safely..."

Although her husband had also told her the same thing, Jin Chu's words made her feel more relieved.

The Jiang family had carrier pigeons for delivering messages. It was not until Gu Jinchu returned to Yuanyuan Hall that she saw the short letter from the Fifth Master.

I told her about what I saw and heard on the road, and what new toys I bought for the two children...

The only thing in common is that the words "peace be with you" will be left at the end of each letter.

There wasn't even a hint of longing for her, but she could understand his concern for her.

Madam Jiang picked up Nuonuo and kissed her soft cheek. She smiled and said to Gu Jinchu beside her, "Let's have dinner in Minghui Hall, so you won't be bored if you go back alone."

There was no reason for Gu Jinchu to refuse, so he nodded and agreed softly.

After a while, several sisters-in-law came over one after another.

Liu took Zhu Jie'er by the hand and greeted Old Madam Jiang. She looked at Gu Jinchu with a smile on her face:

"I know that after my fifth brother's wife comes back, she will bring the children to mother's place first."

Gu Jinchu held Liu's hand and bowed to each other, "It's great that the second and fourth sisters-in-law are here. It saves me from having people send things to Chenxiangxie and Linfengju."

Zhang was in the third trimester of her pregnancy, and her belly was already very big. After entering the room, she was supported by the maids and servants beside her and sat on a chair on the side.

Seeing her daughter looking at her inquiringly, she nodded gently and said, "Go play with your cousin."

The room was now a little more lively and cheerful than the whispers just now.

"Oh, it's really good that you come at the right time..." Li opened the bamboo curtain and walked in, looking very happy.

After entering the room, he first paid his respects to Madam Jiang, then turned around and asked the maid behind him to hand the things in his hand to the maid who was serving beside him.

Old Madam Jiang smiled and said to Gu Jinchu, "During the time you took the children to Daxing, it was the third daughter-in-law who came to talk to me."

Li lowered her head and teased Nuonuo in Madam Jiang's arms, smiling widely.

"My second sister-in-law and Chengming's wife are the housekeepers, and my fourth brother's wife is pregnant and will give birth soon... I am the only one who has nothing to do among the daughters-in-law, so I must show my filial piety to my parents-in-law on behalf of everyone else."

Gu Jinchu smiled. In the past, Li always clung to Wang's thigh.

After all, at that time, Wang was not only her biological sister-in-law, but also the wife of the prince of Duke Dingguo's Mansion, and her status was noble.

And Li willingly served as Wang's pawn, becoming a sharp weapon in Wang's hands to suppress those sisters-in-law.

Later, because Wang's hands stretched too far, not only did it affect her status as the third wife, but it also damaged the interests of the third house.

Li decisively drew a line between herself and Wang and the first wife.

After Jiang Nanhuai divorced Wang, his heart was all on Aunt Xia and the child in her belly.

Even those who knew Jiang Nanhuai well were somewhat surprised.

Like a belated lover, he gave up the wealth and splendor of the Duke Dingguo's Mansion in Shengjing City and took his people to live on a farm.

Now that there are no elders around, the first house is more harmonious than before.

Whether for the sake of the third house's status or to pave the way for the eldest son's future, Li became more filial than ever before.

Just as she had just said, among the wives of various families, she neither took care of the household nor sent her only legitimate son to the clan school.

During the day, she had plenty of free time, so she would come to Minghui Hall to serve in the morning and evening, which happened to be the time when Madam Jiang had no spiritual sustenance.

As a result, the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law became much closer.

However, Li was not trying to compete with Gu Jinchu for favor.

She held the red-cheeked Tuanzi in her arms and said with a smile, "Mom has been looking forward to seeing Nuonuo and Tuanzi come back today..."

"I told mother that we might as well write a letter to my fifth brother's wife. After all, Madam Qin needs my fifth brother's wife to take care of her. Wouldn't it be the best of both worlds if we send the children back?"

Mrs. Li looked at Gu Jinchu and asked, "Guess what mother said?"

Gu Jinchu smiled and shook his head, looking curious and attentive.

Madam Jiang held the tender little hand in her arms, smiling lovingly.

"Mother said that Madam Qin had just given birth and needs the company of my fifth brother and his wife. The children also cannot leave their mother, and she couldn't bear to separate the mother and children..." Li explained with a smile.

Madam Jiang raised her hand and tapped her gently, "Don't listen to your third sister-in-law's exaggeration. It's not easy to go back to your mother's house, so you should get close to her."

It was the first time that Gu Jinchu discovered that Li was so good at making jokes.

Under Liu's eloquence and ability to read people's expressions, the West Room was filled with laughter and the giggles of children.

Although Meng was the wife of the prince, she was the younger of the women in the house. She smiled faintly as she watched Madam Jiang and the aunts talking.

Gu Jinchu had little contact with the Meng family, but he was able to remain calm under the suppression of the Wang family. He kept the Ninth Young Master Jiang Chengliang by his side, and prevented the Wang family from interfering in disciplining her eldest son.

Gu Jinchu didn't have much contact with the Meng family on weekdays, but even under the suppression of the Wang family, she was still able to remain calm.

Not only did she keep the Ninth Young Master Jiang Chengliang by her side and take good care of him, but she was also able to deal with the situation skillfully, making it impossible for Wang to intervene and discipline her eldest son.

This is enough to show that she is not a cowardly and naive person.

However, if this thought is used in the right way, it will be of great benefit to the family.

Seeing that the atmosphere was almost the same, Gu Jinchu smiled and said, "When I came back from Daxing, I went to the dowry shop..."

She told Mrs. Jiang and several of her sisters-in-law about the idea of ​​holding a charity sale over the next seven days.

They are a family, they prosper together and suffer together.

Although she is a woman in the harem, she cannot limit her vision to the harem and focus only on the trivial matters of jealousy in front of her.

"My sisters-in-law have discussed carefully with my brothers at home. The sales of the shop and the donations raised in a few days will be used to help the refugees in the flood-stricken areas."

Madam Jiang did not say anything, but nodded secretly.

Several sisters-in-law agreed with a smile, saying that they would go back and discuss it with their husbands.

Only Li was the first to speak out.

"Fifth brother's wife, your two children are still young... Third Master and I are both idle at home. If there is anything that is inconvenient for you to show up, you can come to Lanyuan and let me know before Fifth Brother comes back."

Gu Jinchu readily agreed, and the female relatives took their leave as it was getting late.

Gu Jinchu stayed in Minghui Hall, planning to have dinner with Madam Jiang. Before dinner started, the Duke arrived late.

Like Master Jiang Wu, he could hold both children in his arms, with an unusual look of relaxation and tenderness.

Nuonuo no longer remembered her grandfather. When the Duke held her in his arms, she pouted her lips, wrinkled her delicate features, and cried.

Seeing this, Mrs. Jiang hurriedly took Nuonuo in her arms, and coaxed her softly, as if she was her dearest.

Only after she walked to a place where she could no longer see the Duke did Nuonuo burst into laughter in her grandmother's arms.

The Duke's face was full of confusion, and he couldn't help but raise his hand to touch his chin. He had clearly made himself clean before coming, so how could he scare this little girl!

Tuanzi was not shy, sticking out his little butt and rubbing his head against his grandfather, making the Duke feel like he was holding a meat dumpling in his arms.

Soon, the old man and the young man burst into laughter.

After dinner, knowing that her daughter-in-law must be very tired that day, Mrs. Jiang did not try to keep her.

Gu Jinchu took the children and said goodbye, returning to Yuanyuan Hall.

Nuonuo and Tuanzi had just woken up and were in high spirits.

Gu Jinchu asked someone to fetch some warm water, wet a soft cloth, and washed the two children's hands and faces, doing a simple cleanup before bed.

Nuonuo lay on a brocade quilt embroidered with crabapple flowers, which made her look even more delicate and delicate. She looked at her mother with sparkling eyes, looking well-behaved and lovely.

When Gu Jinchu was washing his daughter's face, he was very gentle, fearing that he might accidentally hurt her delicate skin.

Every time her daughter's big watery eyes looked at her, she felt like her heart was melting.

Tuanzi lay on the side with his little butt sticking out, looking at his mother and sister with a smile.

When Gu Jinchu cleaned Tuanzi's face, the little guy would chuckle from time to time. I don't know what made him laugh, but he responded to everything.

She personally takes care of the daily chores of the two children.

When I have time on weekdays, I will take them with me to take care of them and speak to them in a soft voice.

Therefore, Nuonuo and Tuanzi are also very dependent on their mother.

The two children changed into clean underwear and were placed on the big kang by the window to play.

The Fifth Master is not at home, so Gu Jinchu plans to sleep here with the children and the wet nurse who is on night watch tonight.

She had just leaned back on the soft pillow when she heard a sound coming from the window.