Once the idea took root, Gu Nanjiao couldn't wait to go and see Qionghai.

In ancient times, there were no condoms made of natural rubber. If she could go to the local area to collect natural rubber and find a way to make the condoms she needed, it would not only solve her problem but also allow her to sell them. What a great business opportunity that would be!

Opportunity knocks but once.

Lu Yanzhao's face turned cold: "Qionghai is a long way away, I'm worried about it. Besides, the child is still young, let's go in a few years."

Recently, there has been a major reshuffle in the imperial court, and he has risen to the rank of a second-grade official, keeping him extremely busy. Naturally, he has no time to accompany Gu Nanjiao to Qionghai.

"Aren't there bodyguards?" Gu Nanjiao tugged at Lu Yanzhao's arm and said coquettishly, "Send two bodyguards to follow me. I feel at ease knowing that the child's mother is watching over him. Besides, I'll be careful on the way. Just let me go."

Unable to persuade her otherwise, Lu Yanzhao had no choice but to nod in agreement.

When the emperor heard that Gu Nanjiao was going to Qionghai to find a type of rubber that could benefit mankind, he generously bestowed eighteen secret guards upon her to protect her.

The emperor was generous in anything that benefited the country. After bestowing upon her secret guards, he also granted Gu Nanjiao an imperial edict, which ordered the local officials of Qionghai to fully cooperate with the princess in mining rubber.

Holding the imperial edict in one hand and the jade token for transferring the secret guards in the other, Gu Nanjiao sighed inwardly, realizing the importance of power!

Before setting off, Lu Yanzhao held her tightly for a long time, reluctant to let go.

"Alright, there are so many people watching." Gu Nanjiao gently pushed him, but Lu Yanzhao was holding her too tightly and she couldn't move him at all.

After a long while, Lu Yanzhao finally let go of her, his voice filled with reluctance: "Take care, and remember to write if you miss me."

"Um!"

Before leaving, Gu Nanjiao kissed the two little ones on the cheek. The thought of being separated for so long made her feel very sad.

But thinking about what she had to do, Gu Nanjiao hardened her heart, ignored the two little ones, and boarded the boat without looking back.

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye, from dusk till dawn.

The journey from the capital to Qionghai would take half a year. Gu Nanjiao missed her family and children so much that she spent only a year and a half making a contraceptive. Although it couldn't compare to modern ones, it was a hundred times better than the fish bladders of ancient times, and its contraceptive effect was excellent. It could also prevent various diseases.

For a time, brothels across the country rushed to buy the goods, and demand far exceeded supply.

This thing reduced women's suffering; they no longer needed to drink bitter abortion pills and contraceptive soup. Men who wore it didn't feel awkward at all; on the contrary, they found it strange and useful.

On this day, the sky was clear and cloudless.

Lu Yanzhao waited anxiously at the dock early in the morning, holding the hands of two adorable little girls.

They are twin sisters, Lu Qiongyu and Gu Enruo.

Lu's mother habitually called them Da Ya and Er Ya.

Daya blinked her bright, grape-like eyes and stood on tiptoe to look around: "Why hasn't Mother come yet? Father, you mustn't lie to a child."

Er Ya pouted and said, "That's right, that's right. Daddy knows how to coax people. He said Mommy would come tomorrow, but so many tomorrows have passed and I still haven't seen Mommy."

The two little girls are already two and a half years old, and their language development is superb; they keep talking non-stop.

During the two years of raising her child, Lu Yanzhao felt like she was hearing a thousand ducks quacking in her ears every day.

For some reason, the two little girls liked to cling to him, and he couldn't have a moment's peace after court. Every day, all he could hear were: "Daddy, I want to play with this," "I want to eat that," "Daddy, make this for me," "Daddy, my sister is taking my things," "Daddy, my sister is hitting me," and so on.

Lu Yanzhao was going crazy. He wanted to lose his temper every day, but when he saw his daughter's wet eyes, he forced himself to hold back.

At this moment, Gu Nanjiao, dressed in a flowing fairy dress that shimmered like floating brocade, with a sun hat on her head, was lying on the deck of the large ship with her legs crossed, swinging her leg leisurely like an immortal.

Lu Yanzhao led the two sisters to the shore, where a large ship slowly approached.

Two years later, the two met again. Lu Yanzhao's heart trembled slightly. He was about to hug Gu Nanjiao and express his longing when he saw that she didn't even glance at him. She rushed to Da Ya and Er Ya, her eyes filled with tears: "My two darling babies, I've missed you so much for two years, sob sob sob~"

Lu Yanzhao "..."

You didn't see him, a grown man?

Having not seen their mother for two years, the two girls were a little unfamiliar with her, and Gu Nanjiao's sudden enthusiasm left them somewhat at a loss.

Daya looked at Erya, and the two girls looked at Lu Yanzhao at the same time. After Lu Yanzhao nodded, they wrapped their arms around Gu Nanjiao's neck and sweetly called her "Mother".

Gu Nanjiao quickly handed the gifts she was carrying to her two daughters. As she stood up, she met Lu Yanzhao's resentful eyes: "Jiaojiao, you only have eyes for the children. You only noticed me now."

Gu Nanjiao then noticed the man with a slightly weathered face. She was somewhat incredulous: "It's been two years, Lu Yanzhao, how come you're living like a resentful woman?"

"You still dare to say that..." Lu Yanzhao scolded her irritably, "Try taking care of the child for two years!"

Heaven knows how tired he was. Every day, he went to court at 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM and left at 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. After court, there were still endless official duties to deal with. His two children kept chattering and pestering him, and he could only get them to sleep at 7:00 PM. After the children were taken away by their wet nurse, he still had to continue working. He didn't even have a confidant by his side to bring him tea, water, and sleep with him. No wonder he was so haggard.

"Oh, my dear husband, you've worked so hard!" Gu Nanjiao said coquettishly, shaking his arm. Then she leaned close to his ear mysteriously and said, "I brought you a gift. I'll show it to you tonight!"

Gu Nanjiao naturally knew that Lu Yanzhao had indeed had a tough time juggling "working" and taking care of the child during the two years she was away. However, he was easy to coax; a little coaxing and a few sweet words were all it took to make him beam with joy.

The two women, each carrying a child, walked towards the magnificent carriage opposite, followed by Gu Nanjiao's newly promoted manager, who was directing dockworkers to unload goods.

Inside the carriage, Daya and Erya were playing with the gifts Gu Nanjiao had brought them. Taking advantage of the sisters' inattention, Lu Yanzhao pulled Gu Nanjiao into his arms, gave her a big kiss, and asked in a low, husky voice, "Did you miss me?"

Gu Nanjiao pushed him away and scolded, "The child is right here, what are you doing!"

The two children are getting on in years, so why does Lu Yanzhao still kiss her regardless of the occasion? Gu Nanjiao didn't want to talk to him anymore. Really, can't he even wait until night?

Suddenly her stomach rumbled, and the two little girls looked up at the same time: "Mommy's stomach is singing!"

"Haha, Mother is hungry!" Gu Nanjiao explained dryly, then took out a box of pastries from her bundle, gave one to each person, ate one herself, and when she handed the last piece to Lu Yanzhao, he arrogantly turned his head to the side and snorted coldly.

After two years apart, he wouldn't even let her kiss him, using the child as an excuse. Clearly, Gu Nanjiao didn't want to be close to him.