Chapter 10 I will live and die with the Gu family!
"It seems that what mother-in-law said is right. This Sixth Brother's wife is indeed not as the rumors say, otherwise our Sixth Brother would be the first one to be unwilling!"
Ran Qingxuan had never seen the person who was speaking. After everyone came in, his sister-in-law Zhou Furong introduced him to the side.
"Sixth brother's wife is here. This is your fourth sister-in-law Jiang Ruxue, and this is your fifth sister-in-law Fang Jin."
The one who just made the teasing remark was fourth sister-in-law Jiang Ruxue. Ran Qingxuan walked up and bowed to the two of them, which meant they were acquainted.
"Are you Sixth Aunt? Hello, Sixth Aunt, my name is Xuan'er!"
The daughter of fifth sister-in-law Fang Jin squeezed out from the back and greeted Ran Qingxuan with her hairy little head.
Ran Qingxuan was instantly attracted by this doll-like child and bent down to touch her fair little face.
"Xuan'er, you are so beautiful, I like you so much!"
Gu Jinxuan blushed and replied in a low voice while twisting her fingers.
"Sixth aunt is pretty too, and Xuan'er likes you too."
Looking at such lovely children and this harmonious family, Ran Qingxuan became even more determined to save them from suffering.
"Sixth brother's wife is really pretty, and the child she will have with Sixth brother in the future will definitely be good-looking!"
When Gu Yanchen heard his fourth sister-in-law's straightforward words, his face immediately turned red. When Old Madam Gu saw this, she immediately understood.
It seems like there’s hope for the couple!
"Mom, why haven't you rested yet so late?"
Seeing a large group of people coming, Ran Qingxuan became alert and ordered Dahei, who had returned, to guard outside Tingyu Pavilion.
Gu Yanchen agreed with Ran Qingxuan's caution, and the previous vigilance was no longer in his eyes when he looked at her.
While Mrs. Gu was satisfied, she couldn't help but feel worried about what was about to happen.
"I have been feeling uneasy since I learned that the Gu family will be exiled tomorrow. I never expected that the servant just came to report that the storehouse in the mansion was robbed."
Gu Yanchen was also shocked after hearing this. Somehow, he subconsciously looked at Ran Qingxuan who was standing beside him.
"I don't know who is so shameless as to steal most of the things in the warehouse during the chaos."
"If I really am exiled tomorrow, this would be like adding insult to injury!"
"Could it be that... the Emperor... sent someone to do this? Our whole family is going to be exiled, and they even cut off our escape route. It's really shameful."
Except for the timid third sister-in-law Chen Wan'er who kept silent, the rest of the sisters-in-law were filled with righteous indignation and began to accuse the thieves who had stolen from the Gu family's warehouse.
"If you ask me, just steal it. It's better than having it confiscated by the emperor."
The silent third sister-in-law Chen Wan'er responded with a word, and the scene suddenly became quiet.
"Alas, this is God's will. My Gu family is loyal to the country. Your father and five brothers all sacrificed their lives for the country. They never had a few days of peace. I never thought that the entire Gu family would end up like this!"
As Madam Gu spoke, her eyes became more and more sad.
"Your father was stubborn and always felt that he should serve the country with all his passion, but he completely forgot about our family. Northern Qi was protected by him, but in the end, he lost his life and made me lose five sons!"
"What fame, wealth and status, in the end it's just a huge joke... What a joke..."
The eldest sister-in-law Zhou Furong wiped her tears and comforted her softly. The remaining four sisters-in-law were equally angry.
"The Gu family has done nothing wrong. Why does the emperor want to confiscate their family property?"
"Mother-in-law, I will go back to my parents' home now and ask my father for advice. Maybe the emperor will give us a chance to explain!"
"My eldest brother is a general of cavalry, so he should be able to say something."
Gu Yanchen sighed and suppressed the desire of his sisters-in-law to help.
"Sisters-in-law, if the emperor believed in my Gu family, he would not have allowed anyone to forge evidence!"
"Are we going to follow the dog emperor's wishes and wait for our property to be confiscated and exiled tomorrow?"
Second sister-in-law Chang Yue'e asked indignantly.
Gu Yanchen did not answer, but just looked at the several young sisters-in-law in front of him.
"Sisters-in-law, the Gu family cannot escape this disaster, but you still have a chance. If you agree, I will let mother give each of you a letter of divorce, so that you don't have to be convicted along with the Gu family."
Madam Gu pondered for a moment and made a decision immediately.
"Yan Chen is right. You married into the Gu family and became widows at a young age. I feel guilty towards your parents. The Gu family is in trouble now, so you should not suffer with them. And Qing Xuan was granted marriage only to remind Yan Chen."
"I'm going to write a letter of divorce right now, you guys..."
"Mother-in-law, Sixth Brother, I, Chang Yue'e, do not want a divorce. When the Second Master married me into the mansion, he promised to marry only me. Even though I have been childless for many years, he still kept his promise. Before he left for the war, the Second Master asked me to take good care of you, mother-in-law. How can I be worthy of the Second Master if I leave? I will never leave!"
"I won't leave either. If it wasn't for the Fourth Master saving me from danger, I would have followed my family long ago. The Gu family is in trouble, how can I retreat at this time?"
"Xuan'er and I will not leave either. When Fifth Master was stationed at Yanwei Pass, he said that his greatest wish was to see my mother-in-law safe and sound. How could I let Fifth Master's wish go unfulfilled!"
“…”
The five daughters-in-law of the Gu family all had their own reasons for staying, and none of them was willing to accept the divorce letter and leave.
Even though they knew accepting the divorce letter was the only way to survive, they were unwilling to live alone.
Old Madam Gu, with red eyes, said several good things to them, and while being moved by their chastity, she turned to look at Ran Qingxuan who was standing beside them.
"Sixth wife, what about you?"
"I won't leave either. I will live and die with the Gu family!" Ran Qingxuan's attitude was very firm, and Gu Yanchen's heart became firm as a result.
"Okay, then I, Gu Yanchen, will definitely protect you. As long as we are together as a family, we can unite against the enemy and overcome all difficulties even if we are exiled!"
Old Madam Gu looked at the whole family with satisfaction, and she was no longer so worried about the danger that would come tomorrow.
"In that case, let's get through this difficult time first. If the emperor insists on confiscating our property and executing us, we can still be a family in the next life. If we are exiled, we have to consider the issue of food and drink on the way, and money is naturally the key."
"Mother-in-law, the Third Master gave me four hundred taels of private money before he went to the war. I've spent most of it over the past few years, and there are more than two hundred taels left, which should be enough." Third sister-in-law Chen Wan'er took out a handkerchief from her bosom. When she opened it, there were two hundred taels of silver notes and some small change inside.
"I have small change here from embroidering things, about only 70 or 80 taels, but on Xuan'er's birthday, Fifth Master gave her a lot of jewelry, so I guess I can exchange it for some money."
Fifth sister-in-law Fang Jin whispered while holding Xuan'er.
Second sister-in-law Chang Yue'e said a little embarrassedly when she heard this.
"Mother-in-law, you know me well. I like to study food when I have nothing to do. I spend most of my money on food. But I also have jewelry that can be exchanged for a lot of money."
Enthusiasm was stimulated, but when Gu Yanchen and Ran Qingxuan looked at each other, they both saw helplessness in each other's eyes.
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