After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

As everyone looked over, they saw Crown Prince Yuwen Yi, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with dark patterns and a black jade belt around his waist, walking gracefully into the garden.

He was followed only by a eunuch and the three young masters of the Gu family.

"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion actually invited the Crown Prince," Ke Miaoran exclaimed in surprise.

All along the way, one could hear the greetings of young masters and ladies from various families.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"No need for formalities, everyone. It's a rare occasion for the Gu family to hold a flower viewing banquet, so I've come to join in the fun."

Rong Yingluo pouted. It turned out that the Gu family hadn't sent him an invitation; he had come on his own initiative.

Rong Yingluo didn't want to see Yuwen Yi, so she quietly slipped away with Ke Miaoran.

"Sister Ke, come sit in my courtyard, I'll take your pulse again," Rong Yingluo said.

She would secretly go to the Qi residence at night to treat her with acupuncture.

I've arrived at your residence today, so I can avoid going out at night.

"it is good."

The two arrived at the Silver Willow Courtyard and entered the inner room.

Ke Miaoran was entering Rong Yingluo's private territory for the first time, and she couldn't help but be curious, looking around here and there.

"Sister Rong, your room is decorated too stiffly, it lacks any feminine grace."

Rong Yingluo lived in this room for more than a month without making any changes to it; it remained exactly as it was.

It was just an extra dressing table, and her clothes took up a whole cabinet, that's all.

"I think it's fine." She has lived with her master, an old man, for many years and has become accustomed to simplicity.

"Yinghong, remember this: place a flower vase here, and then place a flowerpot in the vase. Seasonal flowers should be placed in it."

This place needs to be decorated with a few ornaments. If you like silver, put up a golden toad; if you like flowers and birds, put up a screen; if you like antiques, put up an antique.

"And on this wall, there are two paintings by famous artists. If you want to get pregnant and have a child sooner, hang a New Year's picture of a baby." Ke Miaoran went on and on about a series of things.

"Cough cough..." When Rong Yingluo heard the last one, she couldn't help but choke on her saliva.

She and Gu Ce were a couple by agreement; whatever she got pregnant with, whatever child she gave birth to, that was their arrangement.

"Young Madam Qi, I've got it. Thank you for your guidance." Yinghong said eagerly.

"Lie down first. Time is limited, so let's begin now. Yinghong, you stand guard outside the door and don't let anyone in." Rong Yingluo took out her medicine box and took out silver needles.

Ke Miaoran obediently lay down on the soft couch.

"Why is this couch bigger than the ones I usually see?" Ke Miaoran noticed the difference as she lay down.

"Yes, if it's hot, you can sleep on the soft couch at night, which is closer to the window and cooler." Rong Yingluo couldn't say that her original intention was to sleep in a separate bed from Gu Ce.

The two chatted as they completed an acupuncture session.

Rong Yingluo took her pulse again.

"Sister Ke, today is the last acupuncture session. You only need to drink the medicine I prescribed for you for another half month, and then you won't need to drink it anymore. You need to keep a peaceful mind. When the baby will come depends on fate. Forcing it too much will not be good for getting pregnant," Rong Yingluo gently advised.

"Thank you. I have hope now, and I feel great every day. I believe I will be pregnant soon." Since meeting Rong Yingluo and receiving her comfort and treatment, Ke Miaoran has long forgotten her previous depression.

"There's no need for thanks between us." Rong Yingluo liked Ke Miaoran very much.

Just then, Gu Ce returned, but Ying Hong stopped him at the door: "Your Highness, you cannot go in."

Gu Ce paused: "What's wrong?"

"Wait a moment," Rong Yingluo said, and immediately helped Ke Miaoran put on her clothes.

After tidying up, the two of them left the inner room.

"Greetings, Lord Gu." Ke Miaoran was a little shy. She had entered the most private room of the couple and encountered the male head of the household returning, which was actually very impolite.

"So it's Madam Qi here." Gu Ce bowed, thinking that Qi Zishuo had been greeting him with a smile and being particularly close to him every time they met recently, and he knew it was thanks to his wife.

"Sister Ke, please wait for me outside for a while. I need to say something to my husband before we go to the banquet." Rong Yingluo asked Yinghong to accompany her.

The couple went into the inner room, and Rong Yingluo helped him find a casual outfit to change out of his official robes.

"When you returned to the courtyard, did anyone see you?" Rong Yingluo asked.

"Yes," Gu Ce replied truthfully.

"How about this, you leave the manor now under the pretext of having something to do, and then secretly return. You stay in the shadows and protect me with Ling Feng and the others, how about that?" Rong Yingluo could basically guess how Su Jingyi was going to harm her.

Then don't blame her for causing a huge uproar.

After discussing it for a while, Gu Ce left.

When it was almost time, Rong Yingluo and Ke Miaoran arrived at the banquet area.

Guests from all over the Gu residence gathered in the courtyard outside the main hall.

Because there were too many people, Su Jingyi had the tables set up outside.

With its clear skies and mild temperatures, autumn is the perfect time to host a banquet in the courtyard.

You can still see the azure sky, a beautiful autumn day. Add a few drifting fallen leaves, and it's a truly delightful scene.

The Gu family also invited several entertainers to perform songs and dances at the banquet to add to the festivities.

"The banquet at the Gu residence today is truly wonderful," a young lady praised.

"Yes, the banquet I attended at Princess Jinhe's residence last time was far inferior to this. As expected of the Duke of Zhenguo's residence, it truly has a profound heritage."

Various praises for the banquet reached Rong Yingluo's ears.

She had never been in charge of the Gu family and didn't know how wealthy they were, but judging from the fact that even a flower would scheme against her, Rong Yingluo suspected that Madam Su was putting on a brave face.

However, this matter has nothing to do with her.

"Sister Ke, please take a seat." Rong Yingluo pointed to the seat where Madam Qi was.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law naturally had to sit together.

Madam Rong was sitting next to Madam Qi.

"Mother, sit with me." Rong Yingluo helped her mother up and led her to their seats.

To highlight her close relationship with her cousin, the Lady of Dingxi, Su Jingyi arranged for Su Jingyan and her daughter to sit next to her, in the main seat.

Even Rong Yingluo, the future matriarch, is not qualified.

Some people whispered among themselves, but after Su Jingyi glanced around, no one dared to say anything more.

The seating arrangement is arranged in four rows with the host as the central axis, with men sitting on the left and women on the right.

Rong Yingluo finally got to see all the guests who had arrived.

Second Uncle actually came back too. He sat at the same table with Yuwen Yi, while the three young masters of the Gu family accompanied their close friends.

What puzzled Rong Yingluo was that she didn't see her two half-sisters.

When welcoming guests, Gu Qingyin and she helped each other. Even the third sister, Gu Qingyu, whom she rarely saw, was seen welcoming guests together with the sisters of the third branch of the family.

She looked around before finally spotting them in the very back row.

Indeed, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was clearly evident in this setting. Some families simply refused to allow their illegitimate sons and daughters to attend.

"I am delighted that everyone has graced the Gu residence with their presence today. Since the Duke is stationed at the border and rarely in the capital, I rarely invite you all to my residence. I remember the last time the Gu residence hosted a banquet was last year when I invited a few relatives and friends to celebrate my birthday."

This time, thanks to the support of my in-laws, who sent a lot of flowers, I was able to come up with the idea of ​​hosting a banquet.

"Come, let us drink to the joy of today." Su Jingyi raised her wine glass with a smile, displaying the dignity of the mistress of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

Once the conversation started, everyone relaxed and became more casual.

After a few rounds of drinks, someone suggested that they could play some banquet games that the young masters and ladies would enjoy.

There were many different opinions. Some said that everyone should write a poem to suit the occasion. Others said that it was like playing a game of musical chairs, where whoever got the flower had to perform a short piece of their knowledge. Still others said that you should close your eyes and draw a flower, and whoever you drew would be the winner.

In the end, the game of passing a flower while drumming was used as the signal, as it was the most exciting and thrilling.

But no one expected that the money spent on the first stop would be in the hands of the Crown Prince.

Rong Yingluo glanced at the maid who was beating the drum, unsure whether she was doing it intentionally or unintentionally.

In Nanxia, ​​no one dared to ask His Highness the Crown Prince to perform.