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

"His Majesty is now forty-five years old. Based on his current physical condition, he should have no problem living for another five years or more."

The Crown Prince, however, could not wait any longer; his greed for power grew stronger, so the Emperor needed more power to curb the Crown Prince's ambition.

"Now that you have entered the court and are involved in government affairs, the Crown Prince will inevitably target you in every way. Last night was an example of this, so you need to secure a place in the court as soon as possible," Gu Ce analyzed.

"You're right. I wonder if the Prime Minister could put in a good word for me with the Emperor? I'd like to go to the Ministry of War for training." Yuwen Zhang didn't stand on ceremony with Gu Ce.

The Ministry of War is the most suitable for him.

Because he understood his soldiers.

"No problem," Gu Ce said without hesitation.

"Young Madam Gu, come, come, I, the young master, thank you for saving my life when I was young. I toast you." Li Xuanye raised his wine cup to Rong Yingluo.

During the meal, Rong Yingluo was forced to drink a lot of alcohol by Li Xuanye under various pretexts. In the end, she rolled her eyes and became so drunk that she lost consciousness.

Gu Ce didn't stop her. He wanted to see how his wife would react when she was drunk, and whether he could take the opportunity to get more benefits.

As a result, she had such a good tolerance for alcohol that she immediately passed out.

Gu Ce had no choice but to carry the person back.

After Gu Ce left, Yuwen Zhang gave Li Xuanye a strange look.

"Did you do this on purpose?"

"What do you mean, intentionally?" Li Xuanye didn't understand what he was talking about.

"I saw your feelings for your sworn sister in your eyes. That's why you were looking for every opportunity to talk to her at the dinner table." Yuwen Zhang bluntly exposed his little scheme.

"Don't tell me you're not interested." Li Xuanye downed another cup in one gulp.

"Feelings should be tempered with reason. She is now married, and since I have chosen to ally with Gu Ce, I will naturally put aside these feelings and wholeheartedly be her sworn brother and her support." Yuwen Zhang had already decided on his position; only in this way could their relationship last longer and he would not put her in a difficult position.

When they were in the north, they did not leave any message on the day they parted, indicating that they would continue to keep in touch.

She was a person outside the secular world, who had always wandered the world, and he hadn't even told her his true identity.

If they hadn't met by chance in the capital, they might never have met again in their lives.

To his surprise, when they met again, she had gotten married. This was something he never expected, which made him think that if he had known she would get married, he would have married her.

"But do you know that they've been married for so long, and they haven't consummated their marriage yet?" Li Xuanye leaned close to Yuwen Zhang and whispered mysteriously.

"How did you know?" Yuwen Zhang stared in shock.

"Of course I figured it out. So the young Taoist priest hasn't completely opened up to Gu Ce yet, and hasn't reached the point of no hope. As long as she's willing to leave Gu Ce, I'll take her away."

Of course, once she and Gu Ce become a real couple, I won't force her. So I need to make my presence felt in front of her more. I'm still waiting for her to save my life." Li Xuanye considered himself a man who could take things in stride.

"Aren't you afraid Gu Ce will make things difficult for you? If Gu Ce finds out you're eyeing his wife, he'll beat you to a pulp." Yuwen Zhang was truly impressed by Li Xuan Ye. He was working for his rival just to have more contact with his wife.

"Gu Ce is more magnanimous than you think. You think he doesn't know what I'm thinking? But he's very rational. He knows that I'm of great benefit to him in securing his position as Prime Minister. Moreover, by being on good terms with my Liao Prince's Mansion and with you, the three of us are the biggest threat to the Crown Prince." Li Xuan Ye gave him a knowing look.

Yuwen Zhang revealed a faint smile, his meaning unspoken.

If the Crown Prince really does ruin himself, now that his leg is almost healed, he will be the only one who can succeed to the throne, and Gu Ce and Li Xuan Ye will be his greatest support.

Thinking of this, the corners of his lips curled up even higher.

Gu Ce truly lived up to his reputation as a top scholar.

But the two looked at each other and smiled. They both shared a secret: they knew Rong Yingluo's true identity, while Gu Ce did not.

They were all wondering what Gu Ce's expression would be when he found out.

Back at Silver Willow Courtyard, Granny Zhu was startled to see that the young lady had been carried back by the young master: "What happened?"

"Granny, Miss is drunk," Yinghong quickly replied.

The group was drinking when she was led to another restaurant. They didn't keep an eye on her, and she got drunk. She kept blaming the young master in her heart the whole way.

Gu Ce rarely saw Rong Yingluo talking and joking so freely, and seeing her smile, he felt happy too.

"Young Master, carry her to the bathroom first. The hot water has been prepared long ago, just waiting for you to come back." Granny Zhu felt sorry for Rong Yingluo when she saw her flushed cheeks.

"Yinghong, go check the young lady's medicine box and get her a hangover pill," said Granny Zhu again.

Gu Ce carried Rong Yingluo into the bath room, intending to gently place her on the wooden couch.

As a result, Rong Yingluo clung tightly to his neck and refused to let go.

"Master, don't leave me behind," Rong Yingluo murmured in her sleep.

When she was a child, her master went on a long trip without taking her with him. She cried for a long time. She was only four years old at the time.

From then on, her master took her with him wherever he went. When she couldn't walk on the mountain path, her master would carry her on his back.

She remembered vividly the time her master abandoned her.

With no family around, her master was the only support for her young heart.

Gu Ce paused; she had come to regard him as her master.

"Miss, wake up." Granny Zhu came to help put the young lady down, but then she heard her talking in her sleep. She was afraid that the young lady would say something wrong and arouse the young master's suspicion about her identity.

The young lady isn't married yet, so it's best not to reveal anything now.

The marriage certificate from both families bears the eldest daughter's name, and the official registration also lists her name.

With the combined efforts of Granny Zhu and Gu Ce, they finally managed to put Rong Yingluo down.

"Master, wolves, wolves, so many wolves!" Rong Yingluo exclaimed again, startling everyone.

I dreamt about that wolf attack.

Gu Ce heard it clearly and was shocked. Didn't the lady rarely leave the capital? How could she have encountered a pack of wolves?

"Granny Zhu, who exactly is Liuli's master? How did she end up encountering a pack of wolves with her?" Gu Ce was increasingly confused.

How could a great painter like Lingyin Jushi take a little girl on a long trip?

What he found out was that Liuli had only left the capital with her father, but had not been away for long.

"Young Master, I am just a servant and do not know anything about this." Granny Zhu really did not know. She was the eldest young lady's wet nurse and had no way of knowing about the second young lady's affairs.

Yinghong brought over some hangover pills and fed them to Rong Yingluo.

The maids brought in water, and Granny Zhu and Yinghong helped Rong Yingluo bathe and change. Gu Ce then came in and carried her to bed.

Rong Yingluo still didn't wake up after all that commotion. Didn't she take some hangover medicine?

After washing up, Gu Ce also went to bed.

He hadn't slept all night and hadn't caught up on sleep during the day, so he was tired now.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, a thigh slammed into his stomach.

Gu Ce was startled and suddenly opened his eyes.

How could a wife who usually sleeps very quietly make such a move?

Immediately afterwards, Rong Yingluo's arm reached out, and she wrapped herself around Gu Ce like a vine.

The worst part was that a large expanse of her chest was exposed, and Gu Ce's eyes inadvertently caught a glimpse of what was underneath through her neckline.

The nightlight was still on, and his eyesight was excellent.

This shock left Gu Ce bewildered and itching with desire.