My daughter was sold, I want to divorce her and go back to my parents' home to escape the famin

On the dining table, the warm yellow candlelight flickered gently, illuminating everyone's smiling faces.

The twins, a boy and a girl, bit meatballs, their cheeks puffed up, and mumbled about the fun things they did playing in Dongyang Garden. Their tender voices made everyone laugh.

Gu Huaiyuan put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Gu Jinxuan, his eyes full of concern: "Father, I don't know how long you can stay at home after returning from the South City riot?"

Gu Jinxuan shook his head slightly, his eyes swept over Lin Qingxue beside him, and said gently: "If there are no accidents, I should stay at home all the time. The details will depend on what the current emperor wants."

"Then with Daddy at home, Mom won't have to work so hard," Gu Huaining said while eating. She felt her mother was too tired. She had to look at the account books every day and help her uncle with official business.

"Yes! Daddy, when my uncle went to send mother to you, mother went out early and came back late every day. She had to handle all the work at the Firearms Department, the Escort Agency, and the Granary."

Gu Xiaoya also said that at that time she followed her mother to look at the account books and learn various things every day, and she was also busy and dizzy.

"Dad, my eldest sister has been granted a marriage. My future brother-in-law is the eldest son of the crown prince. Do you know him? What is he like?"

Gu Xiaowan looked at Gu Xiaoya and then at Gu Jinxuan as she spoke. She didn't know whether her future brother-in-law, who was from Shenyang, would treat her well in the future.

"Bo Yu is a good kid, don't worry. Your eldest sister isn't bad either. Xiaoya, your mother and I have discussed this. Since you are willing to marry Boyu, you should know what you want. Daddy only has one thing to say to you: as long as you don't do anything to murder the royal heir, Daddy and the Gu family will naturally ensure that you will sleep soundly for the rest of your life."

After a pause, Gu Jinxuan looked at Gu Xiaoya seriously and said, "If someone attacks you, as long as you have evidence, just fight back. Even if you poke a hole in the sky, your mother and I can protect you."

"I understand, Daddy, don't worry," Gu Xiaoya nodded and responded with a smile, but she was very touched by what Gu Jinxuan said.

Gu Xiaoya is no longer a child. She knows that although she and her sister were named princesses, it is still not right for them. Many people look down on her, but because of the pressure from the Gu family, they dare not say anything openly.

If so, she would agree to this marriage. To her, men were just like that. All she wanted was wealth and glory, and a high position so that she could support her mother and the Lin family in the future.

As for other things, she had never thought about them, so naturally she would not have any expectations, nor would she do anything bad because of unnecessary desires in her heart.

To her, men are just tools for giving birth to children. Children are important to her, but not as important as her mother and sister.

Whether it is a man or a child, they are all tools for her to consolidate her position in the future. However, she will treat her future husband with respect and educate and love her children well.

Gu Jinxuan nodded and said nothing more. He could also see that his eldest daughter was a little worried, perhaps because of her past experiences.

However, these are all trivial matters to him. The child has not done anything bad to him or the Gu family, and it is not like he cannot take care of the child.

After dinner, Gu Huaiyuan and the others went back to their own yard, and the twins stayed behind.

Gu Jinxuan and Lin Qingxue chatted for a while, then went to wash up. The twins, a boy and a girl, were also taken down by the maid to wash up.

After washing up, the family of four lay down on the bed to rest. That night, the four of them slept especially sweetly in each other's arms.

New Year's Eve soon arrived. On this day, the lunch that the Duke of Huguo had at Dongyang Garden at noon was also their reunion dinner.

After lunch, the Duke of Huguo and Princess Anyang took their entire family to the palace to attend the dinner.

The carriage carrying the people from the Duke of Protector's Mansion drove towards the palace in a mighty procession. The wheels rolled over the thick snow, making a "crunching" sound.

In the car, Gu Jinxuan and Lin Qingxue sat side by side. The twins curiously leaned against the car window, looking at the brightly lit streets outside, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

Inside the palace, the lights were brilliant, and the carved beams and painted buildings were hung with red palace lanterns and golden tassels. Gu Jinxuan held Lin Qingxue's hand and led his family through the long corridor.

Along the way, he met many royal relatives and court ministers. Everyone came forward to pay their respects, and Gu Jinxuan responded with a smile.

The dinner was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, and the banquet tables on both sides were filled with delicacies.

Everyone in the Duke of Huguo's Mansion took their seats according to their order of attendance. Gu Xiaoya sat near the Crown Prince's eldest son Boyu, and the two of them greeted each other with polite smiles.

After three rounds of wine, there was singing and dancing. The dancers, dressed in gorgeous costumes, danced gracefully in the center of the hall, their long sleeves fluttering, like fairies descending to earth.

At this moment, the emperor raised his wine glass, stood up, and swept his gaze over the crowd. He slowly spoke, "Over the past year, the Protector of the Country, Gu Jinxuan, the Crown Prince, quelled the rebellion in Nancheng and made great military achievements for our dynasty. The people of the Protector of the Country's Mansion have also worked hard in many matters. This is truly a blessing for our dynasty. Today, on New Year's Eve, I have specially prepared a generous gift for the Protector of the Country's Mansion."

As soon as he finished speaking, a eunuch came forward holding an exquisite box.

Gu Jinxuan stood up, took the box respectfully, and opened it. He found a gold medal symbolizing supreme glory and a calligraphy piece bestowed by the emperor.

Gu Jinxuan quickly knelt down to express his gratitude: "I am deeply honored to serve Your Majesty."

Halfway through the dinner, the eldest son of the Crown Prince, Boyu, stood up, walked towards Gu Xiaoya, and said with a smile, "Princess Xiaoya, can we go for a walk in the garden?"

Gu Xiaoya stood up gracefully and nodded slightly. She knew that the eldest prince came to her either to develop a relationship with her or to break off the engagement.

But she estimated that breaking off the engagement was impossible, so she just had to cultivate their relationship. That was fine, as she also wanted to see how good the eldest prince was, to the point that both her grandmother and father praised him so much.

The twins, a boy and a girl, looked at the lively dance floor and couldn't contain their excitement. Little Seven took Little Eight's hand and ran to the edge of the dance floor, imitating the dance moves in real life, making people around them laugh.

After the dinner, everyone walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and suddenly colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky.

Gu Jinxuan and Lin Qingxue stood on the steps in front of the temple, watching the fireworks light up the night sky, while the twins, boy and girl, cheered beside them.

Gu Jinxuan gently put his arm around Lin Qingxue's waist and whispered in her ear: "In the new year, I will always be with you and protect this family."

When I returned to the Duke of Huguo's Mansion, it was already late at night. The lights were still on, and the housekeeper and a group of servants were already waiting at the door.

Gu Jinxuan asked everyone to disperse and rest, and instructed Wen Wen and Wen Su to send the young masters back to the courtyard to rest. He and Lin Qingxue took the twins back to Xuanxue Garden.

Xuanxueyuan was particularly cozy on New Year's Eve. The heater emitted warm air, which was just right for them to get rid of the cold when they came back from outside.

Outside the window, the sound of fireworks echoed one after another. The new year quietly arrived in this lively and peaceful atmosphere.

On the morning of New Year's Day, sunlight streamed through the window onto the bed. Gu Jinxuan and Lin Qingxue rose early, bringing their twins to pay their respects to the Duke of Huguo and Princess Anyang.

Afterwards, the family began to get busy again, welcoming relatives and friends who came to pay New Year's greetings. The Duke of Protectorate's Mansion was filled with laughter and the joy of the New Year was everywhere.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Qingxue and Gu Jinxuan returned to her parents' home. They took two horse-drawn carriages with their six children and returned to Linjia Village to pay New Year's greetings.

Naturally, the Lin family warmly entertained Lin Qingxue and her family. They sat at three tables and had a lively lunch.

It was almost evening when Lin Qingxue and the others returned to the Duke of Huguo's Mansion. After that, Gu Jinxuan took the children to visit the homes of people who were on good terms with the Gu family to wish them a happy new year.

Lin Qingxue stayed at home to entertain those who came to pay New Year's greetings. The Duke of Huguo's Mansion was a first-class family in the imperial city, not to mention the presence of Princess Anyang, whose status was even higher, not much worse than that of the royal family.

Lin Qingxue learned a lot from following Princess Anyang. She passed on everything she learned to her three daughters. As for the twins Gu Huaixi, they were still young and there was no need to rush.

Ever since they parted at the New Year's Eve banquet in the palace, Gu Xiaoya and the eldest prince had been exchanging letters. Their relationship had progressed a lot, and they were like childhood sweethearts.

After the Chinese New Year, Gu Jinxuan was determined to stay in the imperial city. The emperor put the safety of the imperial city in his charge, while Gu Jinyu continued to be in charge of the Firearms Department, the Escort Agency and the granary.

However, with the emperor's tacit approval and Lin Qingxuan's suggestion, Gu Jinyu slowly handed over the granary to the second prince, and he was just a figurehead.

On the other hand, at the Firearms Department's side, at Lin Qingxue's suggestion, Gu Jinyu asked the Crown Prince's eldest son to participate as well. Lin Qingxue would take Gu Xiaoya to the Firearms Department from time to time, whether she had something to do or not.

In this way, with Lin Qingxue's secret matchmaking, the relationship between Gu Xiaoya and the eldest prince's son progressed rapidly, and the ties between the royal family and the Gu and Lin families became deeper.

The escort agency was still firmly in the hands of Gu Jinyu and the Lin family, and the royal family was not allowed to get involved.

Lin Qingxue was well aware of the principle that too much is as bad as too little. After all, the Firearms Bureau and the granary were public property, and there was no way to get the royal family involved.

As the weather gradually warms up, the warm spring sun slowly opens the curtain of the season, and in the garden of the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion, various flowers compete for beauty.

Gu Xiaoya was strolling leisurely under the wisteria trellis, holding a book. On the stone table beside her were letters sent by Bo Yuxin.

In the letter, Boyu described in detail his daily life in the East Palace, and between the lines, there was no lack of deep longing for Gu Xiaoya.

"Sister, has Brother Boyu written to you again?"

Gu Xiaowan, like a lively little deer, skipped to Gu Xiaoya's side, staring at the letter on the table with sparkling eyes. "Tell me, how does it feel to exchange letters every day like this?"

Gu Xiaoya's cheeks flushed slightly. She gently folded the letter and put it into her sleeve: "We didn't say much, just talked about each other's daily lives."

"Sister, are you sure that your future brother-in-law is Brother Boyu?" Gu Xiaowan sat next to her, supporting her chin with her hands and looking at Gu Xiaoya, her eyes full of curiosity.

"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be him. Actually, this is also good, Xiaowan. Not all men are good, and not all men are bad. Just choose the one you like. I will support you in the future."

Gu Xiaoya touched Gu Xiaowan's head as she spoke. She understood what her sister meant, but even if the emperor had granted the marriage, and the Lin and Gu families were already deeply tied to the royal family, they wouldn't mind adding her.

"Okay, if your brother-in-law treats you badly in the future, my second sister and I will help teach him a lesson," Gu Xiaowan said seriously.

After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Gu Huaining and said seriously, "Second sister, we must practice martial arts seriously so that we can support our eldest sister in the future."

"Okay," Gu Huaining agreed without hesitation.

At the same time, in Xuanxue Garden, Gu Jinxuan was accompanying the twins, a boy and a girl, to practice riding and archery. Little Ba was riding on a wooden horse with an upright posture and a firm grip on the reins in his hands, looking very skilled.

Xiaoqi was eager to try it out, and from time to time he urged his father to let him get on the horse and try it too.

"Huaixi, you are still young. When you grow up a little, Daddy will teach you to ride a real horse. We are still young, so we can ride wooden horses first."

Gu Jinxuan smiled and patted Xiaoqi's head, then turned to Lin Qingxue beside him and said, "Now that the situation has stabilized, I want to spend more time with the children and teach them the basics of life."

Lin Qingxue looked at her husband and children tenderly and nodded in agreement, "That's great! The children are blessed to have you teaching them so carefully."

"Huaiyuan and Huaiyi are men. We will need them, Huairen, and Huaiyu to support the Duke of Huguo Mansion in the future. They must study harder."

Gu Jinxuan smiled and said that it was okay to pamper his daughter, but not his son, otherwise the Duke of Huguo’s Mansion would sooner or later fall into decline.

"Okay, just take care of it. Xiaoya and the other four sisters, you can train them some secret guards. We can feel more at ease when they get married in the future."

Lin Qingxue herself is not a weak woman, so naturally she would not raise her children to be weak women, even though the world is gradually becoming stable.

But no matter what year it is, weak women don't live long, and she doesn't want to run around to her daughters every day to seek justice for them.

"I'm already training them. There are nearly a hundred people around ten years old coming from the Dark Guard Battalion. I plan to pick ten for each of the four Xiaoya sisters, and six for each of the four Huaiyuan brothers."

Gu Jinxuan did not hide these things from Lin Qingxue, but he did not tell her unless she asked. If she asked, he would naturally tell her the truth.

"Okay, just take your pick of these," Lin Qingxue nodded. She had originally wanted to do the same, but she had been hesitant and had not made up her mind.

According to her, the base will be handed over to the Lin family in the future, and she will not be involved. As for what the Lin family means, Lin Qingmin and the others have their own ideas.

In fact, the Lin family has already made up their mind, and the situation for Lin Qingming's generation will remain unchanged.

The fourth generation, namely Lin Xiaoshan and his friends, planned to let Lin Xiaoshan be the head of the family directly, and the base would be jointly managed by him, Lin Xiaoqi and Lin Xiaotao.

After the weather warmed up, the eldest prince often asked Gu Xiaoya to go out for fun. Of course, it wasn't just the two of them, Gu Huaiyuan and a few others also went with them.

Lin Qingxue did not stop the children's actions. The marriage of the two children was already a foregone conclusion. They wanted to cultivate their relationship, not have any private contact.

Not only was there a clear path ahead, but they also had Gu Huaiyuan and the others to accompany them, so Lin Qingxue and Gu Jinxuan were naturally relieved and just went with them.

At the beginning, only Gu Huaiyuan and others accompanied them. Later, Lin Xiaoshan and others often went along. Seeing how the eldest prince took good care of Gu Xiaoya, everyone was very satisfied.