"Your wife hasn't even reached the age of marriage yet, so I should give her some New Year's money. How dare you ask for it when you're already that old!"

After leaving the palace, Queen Mother Yin no longer called herself "Ai Jia", and Gu Jue and Chu Qianchen were happy with her.

After Queen Mother Yin finished speaking, she patted Gu Jue's palm lightly.

This was also an action that the mother and son had not done for many years, so Gu Jue put his hand down.

The mother and son looked at each other and smiled. An intimate atmosphere naturally spread. The estrangement between mother and son over the years of separation disappeared with this smile.

Nanny He looked at Empress Dowager Yin standing between Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue, her eyes reddened and she wiped her tears silently.

It is a very common thing for a son to support his mother and share the happiness of family life in an ordinary family. However, in heaven, it becomes so difficult, as hard as climbing to heaven.

But the prince did it!

Nanny He was happy for the Queen Mother and held back her tears. She told herself that this was a happy day and she couldn't cry. She should laugh. Yes, she should laugh!

At this time, Madam Cai came forward with a smile and asked if the meal could be served.

The meal had been prepared long ago and had been kept warm on the stove in the kitchen, waiting for the masters to return, but they did not expect to receive such a big surprise.

Ma Cai was thinking to herself: later she would go to the gate of the palace and set off two strings of firecrackers.

"Serve the food." Chu Qianchen said with a smile.

She and Gu Jue stayed in Yi'an Hall today and had a late lunch with Empress Dowager Yin.

It was a reunion dinner, even though there were only the three of them.

The first day of the New Year ended with the sound of firecrackers.

For many people, this night was another long sleepless night, each with their own reasons.

In the middle of the night, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers was heard from time to time. It gradually died down after midnight, and then started again at dawn.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, married women return to their parents' home, and many families set off firecrackers to welcome the distinguished guests back.

Originally, Gu Jue should have accompanied Chu Qianchen to the Yongding Marquis Mansion, but today Shen would take Chu Yunmu and others back to her mother's home, the Mu Duke Mansion. Chu Qianchen was too lazy to socialize with those people from the Chu family, so he simply went to the Mu Duke Mansion with Gu Jue.

Years ago, Chu Qianchen had asked Shen's opinion in advance, fearing that it would be "inconvenient" for them to go to the Duke's Mansion, so the Duke Mu's Mansion also knew that the couple would visit today.

The Duke's Mansion was very lively on this day. The magnificent gate of the Duke's Mansion was opened to welcome guests, and deafening firecrackers rang one after another. Not only Shen, but also Shen Wan, Gu Jin and his wife also came back with Gu Zhiyan.

People from all branches of Duke Mu's mansion, as well as several aunts and sons-in-law who came to pay New Year's greetings, all gathered in the main hall at the front of the inner courtyard of the mansion. The room was packed with people, and everyone had a smile on their face, looking very festive.

This scene has happened in the Duke's Mansion in previous years, but the atmosphere this time was a little weird.

Today, Shen's eldest son-in-law Chu Lingxiao was missing, but Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue were behind her.

Everyone couldn't help but glance at Gu Jue. Most of them couldn't be as calm and composed as Duke Mu and his wife and Shen, and felt somewhat uneasy.

After all, this man is the Prince of Chen, who even the emperor is afraid of! After Shen saluted her parents, Lady Mu took her eldest daughter's hand and patted it gently, and then began to give New Year's money to her grandsons and granddaughters. Chu Qianchen, Chu Yunmu, and the twins Chu Qianying and Chu Qianwu all got some.

The children received the red envelopes, thanked their grandparents, and said some festive words.

Lady Mu smiled lovingly and praised them: "Good children, all of you are good children."

Lady Mu looked around at the children and found that Chu Qianhuang was not there. She felt indescribable disappointment. When her eyes swept over the twins, she waved at them: "Sister Ying, Sister Wu, come here and let me see you."

Chu Qianying and Chu Qianwu were a little flattered. They smiled happily and hurried forward, calling her "Grandma".

The two little girls also knew that they had no blood relationship with the Duke Mu's Mansion, so they never dared to compete with Chu Qianhuang. Later, when Chu Qianchen was valued by the Shen family and the Duke Mu's Mansion, they were somewhat envious. At this moment, seeing that the wife of the Duke Mu was so kind and gave the New Year's money without favoritism, they felt very comfortable.

Lady Mu looked at the twins carefully and said with a smile, "They have grown up again. They look more and more alike. They are just like they were cast from the same mold."

She was not exaggerating. The twins of the Chu family were indeed exactly the same, except that they wore clothes of different colors, one in bright red and the other in duck yellow. They both had the same double spiral bun.

Shen covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled, "Yes. If they were both wearing the same clothes, even I would make a mistake at first glance. It's just that Yingjie has a red mole on her right ear."

Shen pointed at Chu Qianying's right ear.

Lady Mu was old and her eyesight was not very good. She squinted her eyes and took a closer look. She smiled and nodded, "Indeed."

At this time, the wife of the Prince of Mu State said in a playful way, "Mother, my daughter-in-law went to General Lu's mansion to attend a wedding banquet on the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month. His family also has a pair of twins, both boys, who look about ten years old. However, my daughter-in-law thinks that the twins don't look alike at all."

Shen said thoughtfully, "Sister-in-law, are you talking about the twins of Mr. Lu Wu's knee?"

"Yes, yes, the Lu family only has those twins, and the old lady of the Lu family loves them very much." The wife of the prince of Duke Mu said with a smile, and then she also remembered, "By the way, is there a lady from the Chu family who married Lulu?"

The person who married into General Lu’s mansion was Chu Lingxiao’s cousin.

Shen sighed and said, "I remember that the twins were almost ten years old. They really don't look alike. One looks like the mother, the other like the father. One is gentle, the other is rough. Speaking of which, every generation of the Chu family has had several pairs of twins, both near and far."

Chu Qianchen also looked at Chu Qianying and Chu Qianwu, his eyes repeatedly examining their faces, as if trying to find out the differences between them.

Chu Yunmu also imitated Chu Qianchen to look at the twins, and even leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Actually, Chu Qianwu is a little taller than Chu Qianying, and the younger sister is taller than the older sister."

Chu Qianchen felt that this kid's disrespectful behavior had come back again, so he stretched out his finger and tapped him on the forehead.

The younger generations all returned to their seats and sat down. Lady Mu, Duke of Mu, looked at the brother and sister playing affectionately together and couldn't help but think of Chu Qianhuang, her eyes flashed.

Lady Mu hesitated for a moment, but still took Shen's hand and asked, "Azhi, Sister Huang didn't come today?"

There was silence in the room.

Everyone who was originally chatting and laughing fell silent, with complicated expressions.

Shen said calmly: "She said she was sick."

Her expression and tone were calm, without any ups and downs, as if she was talking to a stranger.

As perceptive as Lady Mu, Duke Mu's wife could of course hear the implication of Shen's words. Chu Qianhuang was just pretending to be sick and didn't want to come.

Lady Mu: "..."

Lady Mu, the Duke's wife, pursed her lips and sighed silently. A look of helplessness and disappointment flashed across her eyes, and she felt a little empty in her heart.

Shen Wan said coquettishly, "It's just right that you don't come. I don't want to see her yet."

She pursed her plump lips. Although she was a mother, when she made this coquettish expression, there was still a hint of innocence and cuteness, as bright as a camellia blooming in winter.

Lady Mu asked Chu Yunyi again: "Where is Brother Yi?"

Ever since Chu Yunyi went to rescue the emperor in order to keep the title of Marquis Yongding and was seriously injured for it, the wife of Duke Mu has changed her opinion of Chu Yunyi and thinks that this is a good thing that comes out of an evil bamboo.

Of course, the more important reason is that Chu Qianchen treats Chu Yunyi as his younger brother.

Shen just smiled and said nothing.

Knowing women like Lady Duke Mu and Duke Mu, he stopped there and didn't ask any more questions.

Chu Yunmu couldn't sit still, so he ran to chat with his cousins ​​from the Shen family, so the seat next to Chu Qianchen became empty.

Shen Wan simply took Chu Yunmu's place, leaned close to Chu Qianchen's ear, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Before the New Year, Chu Qianhuang came to me and asked me for 20,000 taels of silver."

"..."Chu Qianchen raised his eyebrows slightly.

Of course Shen Wan would not be stupid enough to lend money to Chu Qianhuang. She smiled with a sly smile: "I used the excuse that we just separated and didn't have so much cash, so I perfunctorily told her that I would temporarily postpone it until after the New Year."

Chu Qianchen turned his head and whispered to Shen Wan: "I'll ask Amber to give you a 'silver note' later."

The aunt and nephew huddled together affectionately, talking and laughing happily.

Although Lady Mu, the Duke's wife, couldn't hear what the two of them were saying, she was happy to see the aunt and nephew being close. The corners of her lips curved up, and she immediately forgot about Chu Qianhuang completely.

Shen Wan stroked her niece's sleeve, revealed a hearty smile, and said with great pride: "No need, it's only 20,000 taels."

There was a hint of charm in Shen Wan's hearty smile.

Chu Qianchen pursed his lips and smiled, his smile was meaningful and quirky, and said: "Just listen to me, and give that one to her directly when the time comes."

Shen Wan could sense some deep meaning in Chu Qianchen's smile, and knew that she might have other intentions, so she stopped insisting and nodded with a smile: "Okay, I'll do as you say!"

She was a smart and sensible person, so she didn't ask any more questions.

Chu Qianchen waved at Amber and whispered an order, his eyes shining.

Chu Qianhuang wants 20,000 taels of silver notes. What a big tone!

Chu Qianchen, who had evil intentions, curled up his lips into a fox-like smile.

This smile naturally caught Gu Jue's eyes, and he raised his sword-like eyebrows. Who is the little girl trying to plot against again? ! Even though Gu Jue had not said a few words since he came to Duke Mu's mansion, he was always the focus of everyone's attention.

For example, Shen kept looking at him with the subtle feeling of a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law.

Even after her daughter got married, she often returned to the Marquis' Mansion, but she didn't see Gu Jue often. Therefore, every time Shen saw Gu Jue, she couldn't help but look at him a few more times, wanting to see what he felt towards her daughter.

It’s not that Shen hadn’t asked Chu Qianchen before. Every time she asked, she said that her son-in-law was good.

Shen also believed that her son-in-law was a really good person, but she always felt that her son-in-law could be better to her daughter.

When meeting Gu Jue this time, Shen felt that there was something different between the young couple.

Apart from drinking tea and chatting with others, Gu Jue's eyes were only on his daughter. The young couple would look at each other from time to time.

Like at this moment, after Chu Qianchen finished instructing Amber, she looked at Gu Jue. When she smiled at him, her eyes seemed to shine, and Gu Jue's eyes were also very bright, as if all the stars in the sky were reflected in his eyes.

Suddenly, Shen felt relieved and picked up the tea with a smile.

At the same time, Shen Wan, Gu Jin and Gu Zhiyan had already stood in front of the two elders.

Resigning from their titles and separating from their families gave the three of them a new lease of life.

In the past two months, Gu Zhiyan has recovered very well. In addition to asking Gu Zhiyan to take medicine regularly, Chu Qianchen also asked Shen Wan to take her out for walks more often.

Shen Wan also knew that her daughter was actually afraid to go out, but Chu Qianchen told her not to always let Gu Zhiyan stay in a space where she felt safe, because her illness could only be cured by having more contact with people.

Shen Wan is now completely convinced of her niece, so no matter what Chu Qianchen tells her to do, Shen Wan agrees to it one by one and does it all.

Shen Wan is most aware of the changes in her daughter during this period. Her daughter now looks no different from a normal child, except that she is a little timid.

At this moment, Gu Zhiyan was also bowing and wishing a happy new year to her grandparents in the gaze of everyone. She was not as good at saying flattering words as her other cousins, and she just called them "Grandpa and Grandma" softly.

But for Shen Wan and Gu Jin, their daughter's performance at this moment is already very good.

Gu Jin rubbed Gu Zhiyan's head and said with a smile: "Qiniang, keep the New Year's money that your grandmother gave you, and don't give it to your mother."

Gu Zhiyan nodded seriously and put the red envelope into his sleeve.

Shen Wan: “…”

Before Shen Wan could say anything, Gu Zhiyan was called by the party-loving Chu Yunmu to play together. The children gathered together, talking and laughing. Chu Yunmu boasted to everyone that he had a pony of his own, which was given to him by his brother-in-law.

So all the children surrounded him enviously and went to see the pony.

The Duke Mu's mansion was filled with the happy laughter of children. Today was the second day of the Chinese New Year. They didn't have to go to the clan school or do homework. They only had to eat, drink and have fun. For them, this was the best day of the year.

By the time Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue returned to Prince Chen's Mansion from Duke Mu's Mansion, it was already 3 p.m.

After returning, the two went to Yi'an Hall where Queen Mother Yin lived. They both had smiles on their faces and did not look tired at all.

Instead, Queen Mother Yin felt sorry for her daughter-in-law. She raised her hand to stroke her hair, then touched her cheek and said, "Why don't you rest in your room for a while before coming back? We don't follow these empty formalities here."

She is not the kind of mother-in-law who asks her daughter-in-law to set rules for her.

As she spoke, Queen Mother Yin glared at Gu Jue fiercely, meaning that your daughter-in-law is still young, and you are so old now, you should be more sensible!

Gu Jue personally poured tea for Empress Dowager Yin and Chu Qianchen with elegant movements, and he didn't need to say anything. In the eyes of Nanny He, Amber and others who were serving in the room at the moment, this was already a silent expulsion.

The maids and the servants all left quietly.

Queen Mother Yin took a sip of tea, but still felt that the matter was not over yet and she had to talk to her son in private.

Yes, she was too careless. No matter how smart this boy was, he was only good at studying, practicing martial arts, and leading troops. He had been in the army for so many years, and was surrounded by rough men with thick skin and strong flesh. He had no idea how to get along with girls.

Queen Mother Yin was just thinking about whether to send Chu Qianchen to rest first, when she saw Chu Qianchen glance in the direction of the door curtain and whispered, "Mother, we will not go out next. I want to take out the fragment of the arrowhead for the prince."

"..." Queen Mother Yin swallowed back the words she hadn't said yet, with a confused look on her face.

Arrows? Fragments of what arrows?

Before, Queen Mother Yin was poisoned by the Emperor and Empress in the palace. Fearing that she would worry too much, Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue discussed it and decided not to tell her about it.

Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue looked at each other, and the next words were left to Gu Jue himself.

Gu Jue briefly described how he had been wounded by an arrow in the north, leaving a fragment of the arrow in his chest, and he made it sound downplay.

Queen Mother Yin only knew that her son had returned alive from the battlefield in the north. She had also guessed that her son had an old injury and knew that it was her daughter-in-law who cured his injury, but she did not expect that the old injury was so "serious".

There was actually a piece of arrow fragment hidden in his son's body.

Queen Mother Yin's mind went blank for a moment, and there was a buzzing sound in her ears. The Buddhist beads in her hand fell down, and she didn't notice it at all. Both hands were trembling visibly, and her limbs were cold...

"Mother." Gu Jue grabbed one of Queen Mother Yin's hands and used the warmth of his palm to warm her cold hand.

Chu Qianchen, who was sitting next to Queen Mother Yin, reacted very quickly. He leaned over and caught the Buddhist beads bracelet steadily when it was half a foot off the ground.

"Mother, don't worry. The prince's old injury is not serious. I have been nursing him for more than half a year. It's time."

As Chu Qianchen spoke, he carefully put the Buddhist beads bracelet back on Empress Dowager Yin's left wrist. Empress Dowager Yin's wrist was fair and thin, forming a sharp contrast with the dark red sandalwood Buddhist beads.

When Chu Qianchen said "it's time", he not only meant that Gu Jue's body was almost recovered, but also referred to the timing.

If she only considered Gu Jue's health, she could have taken action last month, but she never dared to.

Because they were in the capital, everyone was under the emperor's eyes, and no one knew what sudden action the emperor would take.

The timing is right now.

The marriage between the emperor and the Hao Kingdom has been resolved. Now that the rift has arisen, the suspicion between the two sides will only grow deeper and deeper, and there is no possibility of cooperation between the emperor and Uhaduro.

This was the end of a big problem for Gu Jue.

Now it is the New Year again, and the emperor has put down his pen and seal. Even if the emperor suddenly wants to take action against Gu Jue, it cannot be done with just a few words. At least he needs to issue an imperial edict and use the imperial seal.

If the emperor wanted to start writing in advance, the first people to oppose it would be his ministers. The only exception in the history of Da Qi was the earthquake in Jizhou fifty years ago.

Moreover, even Empress Dowager Yin has been brought out of the palace, so Gu Jue has nothing to worry about now.

Chu Qianchen thought about it over and over again and decided that now was the best time.

After all, the fragment of the arrowhead remaining in Gu Jue's body is a hidden danger. If one day the fragment moves and cuts his heart, the consequences will be disastrous.

The art of medicine is like deploying troops on a march; it is the strategy that matters more than bravery.

She cannot be reckless, but she also cannot be hesitant or timid. She has to take action when it is time to do so.

"Mother," Chu Qianchen held Queen Mother Yin's still trembling hand, stared deeply into her eyes, and said in a slow and firm tone, "Don't worry, I will cure Jiuxia."

Her pair of distinct black and white eyes never blinked, so firm and steady, as if to say, believe her, she can do it.

If Chu Qianchen had told Empress Dowager Yin this when the Emperor's decree to grant marriage had just been issued, Empress Dowager Yin would not have believed it.

But in the past six months, Queen Mother Yin has built up enough confidence in Chu Qianchen. Chu Qianchen is probably the person the Queen Mother trusts the most besides Gu Jue.

Her daughter-in-law is a man of her word, and has some of the heroic spirit of a man.

She said she would cure Gu Jue, and Queen Dowager Yin believed her.

Even so, Queen Mother Yin was still a little panicked, her throat felt like it was burning with a bitter taste, and she couldn't make a sound.

Queen Mother Yin held Chu Qianchen's hand tightly and nodded vigorously.

She believes it! Queen Mother Yin's eyes were slightly red, holding Chu Qianchen in one hand and Gu Jue in the other.

Chu Qianchen wiped Queen Mother Yin's tears with a handkerchief and said with a smile, "The prince still wants the queen mother to take charge!"

Her words are more effective than a panacea. For the sake of her children, a mother can fight alone to support a family, or even the world.

That’s right, my son still needs her! Queen Mother Yin told herself in her heart.

She couldn't cause trouble for her son and daughter-in-law. Especially at this time, she had to be strong and become their pillar of support.

After a burst of intense emotions that made her feel dizzy, Queen Mother Yin's heart began to calm down and her eyes became as firm as a rock.

Gu Jue smiled, looking at the two most important women in his life. His usually cold face seemed to be sprinkled with warm sunshine, and he said jokingly, "You are here."

He believed his little girl could cure him!

"Yes, we are here." Queen Mother Yin's heart became calmer, and her eyes seemed to have calmed down after experiencing many changes in the world.

She actually knew that removing the arrow fragment from her son's chest was not as easy as her daughter-in-law said, but she believed that her daughter-in-law would succeed and her son would survive.

Her son had gone through countless trials and tribulations on the battlefield, and had overcome many obstacles to finally get to where he is today. He had finally married the woman he loved. How could he be willing to die like this?

The two of them left Yi'an Hall first, giving Queen Mother Yin some space and time to sort herself out.

Afterwards, one of the couple returned to the main courtyard, and the other went to the Shaohua Hall in the outer courtyard. There were already many people sitting in the hall. Su Mubai, Cheng Linhua, Xue Fengyan, Mo Chen and others were all called there.

Gu Jue never liked beating around the bush, and the first thing he said was, "For a period of time, Prince Chen's Mansion will need you guys to take charge."

Gu Jue slowly looked at everyone, and his sharp eyes finally fell on Su Mubai, as if warning or admonishing: "Su Mubai, don't let me down this time."

“…”

“…”

“…”

Everyone was shocked. Before others could react, Su Mubai, who had a very smart mind, was the first to guess something.

He said tentatively: "My Lord, the princess..."

Gu Jue confirmed Su Mubai's guess and nodded calmly.

Su Mubai stood up suddenly. The young man who usually exuded a sense of "everything is in my hands" now looked solemn and solemnly clasped his fists and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty!"

Gu Jue stared at Su Mubai for a moment and gave a second order: "If anything happens, you must obey the princess from now on."

What if?! The others' eyes widened, and they finally reacted, with complicated expressions.

In fact, many of them had wanted to ask the princess about the prince's injury for a long time, but they did not dare to ask. They felt anticipation, uneasiness, and fear.

When this moment really came, they were shocked. After the shock, they became determined. Everyone had a firm belief in their hearts, the same belief as Queen Dowager Yin.

Cheng Linhua, Xue Fengyan, Mo Chen and others also stood up and clasped their fists together, all with solemn expressions and bright eyes.

There won't be a "what if"!! (End of this chapter)