Chen Jinheng's eyes darkened, and with a stiff expression, he sneered.
"Madam, what are you saying? Who in this manor would dare treat you as an outsider? Hmm?"
Upon hearing the sound, Ping'er's eyes lit up, and she ran towards the familiar figure outside the door.
"Stepmother, you've arrived? Quickly, I brought you some delicious pastries."
Lin Ruoyan's eyes flickered, and Ping'er had already led the girl into the house.
"Your stepmother dislikes greasy food, so it's best not to provoke her."
After saying that, Lin Ruoyan closed the basket containing the pastries.
"Miss Lin is too kind. I love fried food the most, Jinheng, don't you think?"
Startled by Gu Qianluo's sudden call, Chen Jinheng quickly took a pastry from the basket and handed it to her.
"If Luo'er likes it, I'll often make some and send it over to you to satisfy your craving."
"Thank you, my husband."
Taking the pastry, Chen Jinheng put his arm around her shoulder and walked towards the head of the table.
The two well-matched figures flashed past her eyes, and Lin Ruoyan's brow furrowed. She quickly spoke up.
"Jinheng, didn't you say before that you would send An'ge'er and Ping'er to be looked after by the two concubines? Why are you going back on your word now?"
Chen Jinheng picked up a teacup from the table, his gaze falling on a woman beside him who was eating "generously." A smile played on his lips as he said,
“Ping’er and An’er disliked Aunt Xu and Aunt Zhu, so they went to the old lady to plead for them, saying they would rather starve to death than go to her.”
Lin Ruoyan's eyes lit up, and she said with concern, "Then why don't I just not go to rest for now? It's the same as staying in the manor to recuperate anyway."
Chen Jinheng turned his gaze back and said calmly, "How can that be? You are frail. If you also have to take care of two naughty children, wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoyan's eyes darkened, and she anxiously retorted,
"No, Jinheng, there are still old nannies and maids in Lingyan Pavilion."
They can help me take care of them, so it won't be tiring."
"Ruoyan, I promised Brother Song that I would take good care of you. If you get tired because of taking care of Ange and Sister Ping, then I will take good care of you."
How can I face Brother Song in the afterlife?
As soon as Chen Jinheng finished speaking, Gu Qianluo had just finished eating a pastry when a maid handed her a basin of water to wash her hands.
She calmly picked up a handkerchief, wiped her hands, and said leisurely,
“Miss Lin, you don’t need to worry about An’er and Sister Ping. I’ve already promised Jinheng that I will take care of them during your recovery period.”
"Yes, it's an auspicious day in a few days. Uncle Yin will help register An'ge'er and Ping'er under Luo'er's name."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoyan's eyes narrowed, and cold sweat broke out on her hands, which were gripping the hem of her skirt.
“Jinheng, Luo’er has never had children, how can she take good care of two children?”
"Hehe, or is it that little sister Luo'er wants to take this opportunity to snatch away the child that Ruoyan has worked so hard to raise?"
Hearing this, Gu Qianluo's gaze darkened. She turned to look at Chen Jinheng beside her and calmly said,
“My lord, I am only concerned about Miss Lin’s health, but she seems to have misunderstood my good intentions.”
I helped her out of my duty as a mistress and because my husband values Miss Lin.
Since that's how she sees me, humph! My husband, you can decide for yourself.
Seeing the anger in Gu Qianluo's eyes, Chen Jinheng's gaze darkened, and he gripped her hand tightly, speaking softly.
"Luo'er, don't be angry. Ruoyan just misunderstood you."
Lin Ruoyan's brow twitched. She had thought that her words would enrage Gu Qianluo and make her show her true colors in front of Chen Jinheng, but she hadn't expected that Gu Qianluo would also pretend to be weak.
It seems Gu Qianluo's tricks are quite impressive!
"Ruoyan, my wife is a kind-hearted mother. Even though she has never had children, I believe she can take good care of Pingjie and Ange."
I assure you of this. Furthermore, Ping-jie and An-ge are my adopted son and daughter, and I treat them as my own children.
I believe my wife shares this view.
After saying that, he turned his gaze to Gu Qianluo, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "Madam, what do you think?"
Gu Qianlu raised her eyebrows, her gaze intense, and said,
"Of course, Ping'er and An'er are my husband's children, how could I mistreat them?"
Furthermore, Miss Lin, there's no need to worry. I am their nominal legal mother, but you are their mother in their eyes. No one can surpass you.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoyan felt that Gu Qianluo's scheming was slightly superior to her own. Her gaze fell on Chen Jinheng, and she said tactfully...
"Ruoyan misunderstood, please don't blame Ruoyan, Madam."
During my absence, I'm grateful to have you look after Ping-jie and An-ge.
"Quickly! Step forward and kowtow to the mistress. From now on, you must live according to her wishes!"
If you are sensible and obedient, the mistress will take better care of you.
After he finished speaking, the two children's expressions were completely different. An'ge'er reluctantly stepped forward and knelt down, saying,
"Thank you for your trouble, Madam!"
Ping'er's eyes lit up with joy.
"Ping'er thanks the mistress for taking care of me!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianluo's eyes lit up. She took out two ingots from her sleeve and placed one in each of the two children's hands.
"No need for formalities. The mistress hasn't prepared any gifts, so I'll give each of you a silver ingot! Keep it for now, and when you have some free time, the mistress will take you out of the manor to stroll through the market."
"Why don't you take it out and use it again?"
Although An'ge'er didn't like Gu Qianluo, this was the first time he had received such a large gold ingot from an adult. He immediately stood up and ran to Lin Ruoyan's side to show it off.
"Mom! Look! This is a gold ingot! When you get better, I'll buy you some delicious food!"
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