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

"Since Mother is ill, and I am a dutiful son in the manor, I must go and see her." Gu Ce put down the folding book, got up, and went to the inner courtyard.

He arrived at the main courtyard and saw that the servants were all working silently, and the atmosphere was oppressive.

"It's so cold, so cold."

The sound of Su Jingyi moaning came from the east side room.

Why did you suddenly become so sick?

Gu Ce took a few steps into the inner room.

The imperial physician is carefully taking the pulse.

"It's so hot, so hot."

Su Jingyi kept changing her mind, sometimes feeling cold, sometimes feeling hot.

"Mother, have you caught a cold?" Gu Ce asked with concern.

But Su Jingyi was too upset to answer him.

One moment it's hot, the next it's freezing cold, like being in an ice cave.

Physician Wu withdrew his hand and pondered for a few more breaths.

"Doctor Wu, what illness does Mother have?" Gu Ce asked anxiously, showing concern as if he were her own son.

"Your Highness, the Duchess's illness is very strange. She is afraid of both cold and heat. Usually, only people who catch a cold will have these symptoms, but the changes are not so fast. I have been practicing medicine for many years and have never encountered such a disease before."

"It's very likely that he was accidentally poisoned, but I don't know much about poisons. I would appreciate it if the Duke's mansion could invite Physician Wan to take a look; he is more knowledgeable about poisons than I am." Physician Wu bowed and packed his medicine box, preparing to take his leave.

"Thank you, Physician Wu. I will send someone to fetch Physician Wan right away."

Gu Ce wasted no time and instructed the steward to send a servant to fetch more people.

"Your Highness, is the Duchess really ill?" Zhong Sheng asked, puzzled.

What illness can cause fluctuating body temperature?

"Zhong Sheng, have someone stop Doctor Wan. It would be best if he couldn't leave the house for half a month." Gu Ce curled his lips, his previously agitated heart miraculously returning to joy.

"Okay." Zhong Sheng was happy to arrange this kind of thing.

The Duchess has maintained the image of a kind mother so well that she hasn't revealed any flaws over the years.

Outsiders say that the Duchess raised her stepson to be so outstanding that she neglected her own children, letting the second son become a playboy in the capital and the eldest daughter become a rare spoiled young lady in the capital.

These reputations forced the crown prince to constantly pretend to be a filial son.

As Gu Ce watched Zhong Sheng walk away, his heart stirred once again.

If Su was indeed poisoned, then it can only be attributed to Rong; there is no other explanation.

But how did she do it? She was not even in the manor, yet she managed to poison someone to the point of near death.

Such a woman, if recruited, would be a valuable subordinate.

With her skill in using poison, she could help him a lot.

At least she won't be killed by Madam Su in the inner quarters, which would clear his name of being a jinx to his wives.

She was skilled at pretending and acting, and could even cooperate with him to present themselves as a loving couple to the outside world.

It seems necessary to have a serious talk with her.

Gu Ce returned to the main courtyard and went into the inner room.

Su Jingyi was still suffering from alternating hot and cold.

"Ah... Ce, when will the imperial physician arrive?" She couldn't take it anymore.

It's even more torturous than the stomachache I had the night before.

Who poisoned her?

"Mother, I've already asked the steward to send someone to invite them again. They'll be here soon, please bear with it a little longer." Gu Ce sat down on the edge of the bed.

He then instructed Granny Zhao to prepare two basins of water and place them under the bed.

When Su Jingyi complained of being cold, he would put a hot towel on her forehead; when she complained of being hot, he would use a cold towel.

But half an hour passed and the imperial physician Wan still hadn't arrived. Granny Zhao went to the outer courtyard several times, but no one came.

The servant who went to fetch the help returned covered in injuries.

"Granny Zhao, Physician Wan's horse went mad on his way here, and he broke his arm. He can't make house calls. Please ask our Duke's Mansion to find someone more skilled." After the servant finished speaking, his legs went weak and he fell to the ground.

He was sitting on the frame of the cart, chatting and laughing with the driver.

Suddenly the horse went berserk and galloped wildly, but luckily he was thrown off the carriage halfway and escaped disaster.

"What?" Granny Zhao exclaimed upon hearing this, realizing that no one had been summoned. What should she do?

She quickly went into the room to report to the Crown Prince.

The second young master has disappeared, and now the only one in the manor who can help the madam is the heir.

Gu Ce was also "greatly surprised" after hearing this.

"Mother, I will immediately send someone to invite a doctor from the common people. There are so many medical clinics in the capital, surely there are some skilled doctors among them," Gu Ce assured her.

Next, doctors came and went in an endless stream at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

It wasn't until they finally managed to find an experienced doctor who used acupuncture to control the illness that they were able to detoxify. The only solution was to use acupuncture to seal the acupoints and alleviate the patient's pain.

Despite such a commotion, Gu Qingya didn't even come to check on things. Her excuse was that she was also sick.

It was obvious that she thought her mother had contracted a strange illness and was afraid of passing on the illness to her.

**

Rong Yingluo stayed at the Rong family home until dusk before reluctantly leaving.

The Rong family prepared many return gifts for her, which were placed on the carriage, including food and daily necessities.

The smile on Rong Yingluo's face never faded all day.

The horse-drawn carriage clattered as it set off.

One coachman and two guards.

"Miss, it's good that we don't need to go back to the Duke's mansion." Yinghong was very happy to see her parents today.

"Yes, I really want to stay at my parents' house for a few more days." Rong Yingluo felt the same way.

"Miss, the Mid-Autumn Festival is just a few days away. Then we can find an excuse to go back to our parents' home." Yinghong was already looking forward to the Mid-Autumn Festival in a few days.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to return to the manor for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Given the status of the Duke's manor, I'll definitely be going to the palace to celebrate with the emperor." Rong Yingluo had never been to the palace of the Southern Xia Kingdom before.

She had visited the palaces of other countries, on the other hand.

Her master was a Taoist master. One year, she traveled with her master to the Western Jin Dynasty. The monarch of Western Jin specially invited her master to the palace to predict the fate of the country. As the only disciple who accompanied her, she naturally served by his side.

"What a pity," Yinghong said, somewhat disappointed.

"But don't be too disappointed. If we come out early that day, we can also go back to the Rong family." Rong Yingluo thought of the poison she had given to Su Shi. It was very likely that neither she nor her daughter would be able to enter the palace. In that case, she would be the only woman from the main branch of the family who could enter the palace.

The master and servant chatted idly, unaware of where the carriage had reached.

Just then, the horse suddenly neighed and then started running like a madman.

The master and servant were thrown backward by the sudden turn of events.

"Miss, what's wrong?" Yinghong was terrified.

"Hold on tight." Rong Yingluo already knew that this was another attack on her.

I can't wait to let her live even one more day.

"Driver, what's going on?" Rong Yingluo asked loudly.

"Your Highness, the horse has been hit by a short arrow and is out of control," the coachman's anxious voice came through.

"Where are the guards?" Rong Yingluo asked again.

"The guards have been thrown off the vehicle."

Very well, what do you mean by being thrown off the carriage? The entire servants and guards of the Duke's mansion are under the control of Madam Su, so the coachman is probably not trustworthy either.

Rong Yingluo stopped talking and slowly stepped out of the carriage, supporting herself against the side of the carriage wall.

The coachman was focused on steering the horse in one direction and was unaware that Rong Yingluo had appeared.

It was already dark by then, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the road.

The horses ran even more wildly.

Just as a sharp turn was about to occur, Rong Yingluo was about to deliver a karate chop to the coachman to knock him unconscious so she could take control of the horse. However, the moment she raised her hand, the coachman jumped out of the carriage on his own.

If no one is controlling the horse from this position, the carriage will definitely overturn and be dragged by the horse for who knows how far.

Even if she and Yinghong don't die, they'll be crippled. If someone were to ambush and kill them, it would be effortless.