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

This is no small matter.

With the Duke of Zhenguo behind Gu Ce, the imperial power was already greatly threatened. If the Prince of Liao's mansion were to join in, the imperial power would be in grave danger.

Whatever the matter is between him and his elder brother, it's a family matter. But if Gu Ce harbors ambitions, that's a different story.

"I know." Emperor Taikang was naturally well aware of everything that happened around Gu Ce.

"Your Majesty, since you knew all this, why did you still promote Gu Ce to Prime Minister? Do you know what the consequences will be? This is such a big matter, why didn't you discuss it with your younger brother?" Prince Xuan asked in a questioning tone, looking very annoyed.

Emperor Taikang was taken aback by Prince Xuan's reaction.

His younger brother had never spoken to him like that before.

"Ah Jin, I have made my decision, you need not worry." Emperor Taikang looked displeased.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Liao might recover from the poisoning someday. If he gets involved with Gu Ce and Gu Ce develops any improper thoughts, the Prince of Liao and the Duke of Zhenguo will definitely support him wholeheartedly. Moreover, Gu Ce has the talent of a top scholar and is the head of all officials. He will surely have a large following. Can our Yuwen family's empire still be preserved?" Prince Xuan said with great distress.

"Ah Jin, you're overthinking it," Emperor Taikang said quietly.

The younger brother didn't know that he wasn't the only emperor in Southern Xia. Since that person instructed him to treat Gu Ce well, he had to treat Gu Ce well.

Fortunately, Gu Ce was someone he had watched grow up and who had saved his life.

He arranged for five people to stay by Gu Ce's side, and he had no objections.

If Gu Ce truly harbors rebellious intentions, then the five of them will naturally deal with him.

He wasn't worried at all that Gu Ce would harbor rebellious intentions.

As for the Crown Prince of Liao, Rong Shi saved him many years ago, and now he also needs Rong Shi to cure the poison in his body. As long as Gu Ce has no intention of rebelling, the Crown Prince of Liao will not have any intention of rebelling.

"Your Majesty, I am truly worried," Prince Xuan said helplessly.

"I know what I'm doing. You should just focus on your own business and not worry about things that aren't your concern." Emperor Taikang didn't want to talk any further.

"Your Majesty..." Prince Xuan wanted to say something more, but Emperor Taikang waved his hand, dismissing him.

Xuan Wang left with an ambiguous look in his eyes.

Emperor Taikang sat motionless in his chair for a long time, and even when Eunuch Gao changed his tea, he couldn't be roused from his reverie.

A quarter of an hour later, Emperor Taikang suddenly spoke up: "Gao Mingde."

"Your servant is here." Eunuch Gao immediately stepped forward and bowed to receive the order.

"Don't you think Ah Jin went a bit too far today?"

Normally, his younger brother wouldn't speak to him like this.

The questioning tone made him realize that even if the two were brothers, it was still a matter of ruler and subject.

"Your Majesty, Prince Xuan may have been a bit too hasty. He was only thinking of the country and its people." Eunuch Gao had overheard their conversation and naturally sensed that Prince Xuan was acting differently than usual, being far too disrespectful.

"Arrange for someone to keep an eye on Prince Xuan's residence," Emperor Taikang ordered.

"Yes." Eunuch Gao immediately withdrew.

He had been serving the emperor since he was fifteen. He was not only the emperor's chief eunuch, but also the emperor's eyes and ears.

Before Gu Ce even returned to his residence, news of his promotion to Prime Minister reached him.

At this moment, Rong Yingluo was in the old lady's courtyard.

After the old lady resumed her daily morning and evening greetings, her three daughters-in-law and younger relatives would go to her Shousong Courtyard every day to pay their respects.

The man went in the evening when he had official business to attend to, and in the morning otherwise.

Since the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, the second wife, Madam Guo, has become more diligent, as she wants to supervise whether the Duchess's arrangements for household affairs are reasonable.

Supervise whether the use of silver is appropriate.

Although Guo Shi did not directly participate in the management of the household affairs, Su Jingyi felt very uncomfortable with such a pair of eyes watching her all the time.

But only a few days have passed, so we can only bear it for now.

Rong Yingluo knew that her sisters-in-law would take some time, so she postponed her visit to pay her respects. She estimated that she would go to the old lady's courtyard after they finished handling the household affairs, so that she wouldn't have to run back and forth between the two places.

Just as I finished greeting them and sat down, an old woman rushed in with a message.

"Madam, Madam, Young Madam, good news! The Crown Prince was appointed Prime Minister of our Southern Xia Kingdom by the Emperor at the morning court session today!" The old woman who brought the news was overjoyed.

"What? Are you serious?" The old lady was so shocked that she stood up, leaning on her cane.

"Of course it's true. The steward said that several important things happened at the morning court session this day."

The Crown Prince and the Imperial Concubine have been placed under house arrest by the Emperor. Minister Gao has resigned from his post and has also been placed under house arrest. The third son of the Gao family, who is serving outside the capital, has committed a serious offense, and the Emperor has ordered him to be escorted back to the capital. The old woman in the outer courtyard, unaware of the inner workings of her master's household, only knew that this was an exceptionally good thing.

When the old lady heard the news, she was only shocked, not pleased.

Upon hearing this, a flash of ferocity crossed Su's eyes.

Only Guo was truly happy: "Mother, this is a joyous occasion!"

"This is a joyous occasion." The old lady smiled after being reminded by Madam Guo. "I never expected that my Gu family would produce a prime minister. This is truly a cause for celebration."

"Sister-in-law, congratulations! From today onwards, you are the Prime Minister's wife. My brother will definitely get you an imperial edict of title, which is a first-rank official title, the same as Grandmother and Mother." Gu Qingyin held Rong Yingluo's hand, feeling proud.

"Congratulations! Now our Gu family is not only the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, but also the Prime Minister's mansion." Rong Yingluo was even happier.

Gu Ce really did it.

The Emperor was far too lenient with him. I wonder how he managed to bring down Minister Gao.

"Jingyi, prepare a banquet in three days to celebrate A-Ce's success and to entertain the guests who come to offer their congratulations," the old lady quickly calmed down and gave the order.

"Yes, Mother." Su Jingyi accepted the task with a forced smile, knowing it would cost money again.

"Let Liuli be your helper," the old lady said again.

"Thank you, Grandmother." Rong Yingluo knew that the old lady wanted her to have more contact with the noble people in the capital.

At the last chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, she performed a shamanistic dance, and then that incident happened, yet no bad jokes spread.

Those guests were really tight-lipped; despite having so many people, they didn't spread the word.

Therefore, Rong Yingluo's reputation was not damaged; in fact, she didn't care at all.

Gu Ce didn't return until noon.

There is no new Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel to fill the vacancy, so his duties cannot be handed over yet.

"My lord, congratulations on your wish coming true." Rong Yingluo congratulated Gu Ce as soon as she saw him.

"Congratulations, congratulations." Gu Ce rarely smiled. "By the way, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with. I wonder if Madam would be willing?"

"What is it?" Rong Yingluo was taken aback. They had been married for almost two months, and Gu Ce had never asked her for anything like this before.

"Prime Minister Luo once guided my studies. Although I did not become his student, his teachings are comparable to those of a mentor to me. The imperial physician says that his condition is now beyond medical help. I think your medical skills are quite good. Would you please accompany me to see him?" Gu Ce pleaded.

When he was fifteen, Prime Minister Luo was already sixty-seven and had long since stopped accepting students.

But the emperor specially asked the old prime minister for guidance, which enabled him to pass the imperial examination with top honors. He always remembered this kindness.

Now that he has become Prime Minister Luo's successor, he should do something for the old prime minister.

"But I don't want to reveal my medical skills yet. Things in the manor haven't been settled yet, and I want to continue playing dumb to deceive others." It's not that Rong Yingluo doesn't want to take action, but Prime Minister Luo is already seventy-five years old, so even if she went, it wouldn't be of much use.