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

"My second brother is a gambler. I suspect that you guys led him astray. Otherwise, why would he go to the gambling den? My husband and I need to have a serious talk with your parents about this. You can't even control your own children, and now they're going to ruin other people's children. Are you trying to destroy our Duke's Mansion?" Rong Yingluo chimed in.

She wanted to see how these spoiled brats would manage to exonerate themselves.

It takes two to tango. Gu Xi couldn't have been born a gambler. If it weren't for these playboys tempting him, how could he have developed a gambling addiction?

Seeing how powerful Gu Ce and his wife were, the several spoiled young masters left in a huff, leaving behind harsh words.

"Second brother, Father wrote that he will be returning to the capital for the New Year this year. You should take care of yourself." Gu Ce coldly glanced at Gu Xi, who was still covering his face.

"What? Father is coming back?" Gu Xi's face turned pale when he heard that the Duke of Zhenguo was coming back.

His father was never kind to him and always had high expectations of him.

Over the past eighteen years, he has been beaten by his father countless times, and he has experienced almost every kind of punishment the Gu family has to offer.

Now that Grandmother has left Shousong Courtyard, Mother has lost face in front of her, making it even harder for her to protect him in the future.

Thinking of this, Gu Xi's expression became even more unpleasant.

Gu Ce ignored him, flicked his sleeves, and left with Rong Yingluo.

After walking a little further away, Rong Yingluo finally spoke: "When did the Duke send his letter?"

"I just received it this morning." Gu Ce wrote a letter specifically to ask him to come back. He hadn't expected his father to agree, but his father not only agreed, but also said that if there was no war, he would not leave the capital. In other words, his father would return to take charge of the entire Duke's Mansion.

It seems that the true heir of the Duke of Zhenguo is already fully in control of the Western Army, otherwise my father would not have said such a thing.

He was eagerly anticipating what would happen to the Duke's mansion after his father's return, or rather, what kind of upheaval would occur in the entire capital.

Will he reveal that he is not his biological son?

Will he allow him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to his clan?

The couple continued searching throughout the Zhao residence to see where Gu Qingya had gone.

By this time, there wasn't much time left before the banquet started, and many of the guests who had been visiting the Zhao family had already gone to the banquet area.

Only a few scattered guests were still chatting.

As Rong Yingluo and Gu Ce walked past a rockery, they heard someone talking behind it.

Two maids were keeping watch.

Because the voices were quite loud, both Gu Ce and Rong Yingluo recognized Gu Qingya's voice, and the other voice belonged to Princess Xiangyi.

Aren't they best friends? Why are they arguing?

While the two maids were unaware of them, Rong Yingluo pulled Gu Ce behind a tree and eavesdropped on their argument.

"Princess, we clearly agreed that you would help me marry your brother. How could you have designs on my brother?" Gu Qingya was heartbroken.

Just now, the princess actually asked her to help lead her sister-in-law to the Zhao family's waterside pavilion, because the princess wanted to teach her a lesson.

She asked why. The princess said that her elder brother's reputation for bringing misfortune to wives had been dispelled, and since she wanted to marry him, she wanted to get rid of her sister-in-law.

She was completely stunned.

If the princess marries her elder brother, how can she marry the heir of Prince Xuan?

Both families are prominent noble families in the capital, and it is absolutely impossible for them to arrange a marriage exchange.

If the princess marries her elder brother, she cannot marry the crown prince of Xuanwang.

Despite their long-standing friendship, she hadn't realized that the princess's love interest was her elder brother.

"My elder brother is the heir of a first-rank prince's mansion. You are just a legitimate daughter born to a second wife, how could you be worthy of him?" Princess Xiangyi said with disdain, thinking he was just daydreaming.

"How could you do this, Princess? I'm your best friend." Gu Qingya was even more heartbroken.

For so many years, in order to please Princess Xiangyi, she has always been her tool, bullying the noble ladies of the capital who Princess Xiangyi dislikes.

Now they're belittling her status like this.

"I accept you as my friend, of course, because of your older brother. I didn't dare to think about it before, since your older brother's reputation for being a 'wife-killer' has been dispelled. Now that it's been dispelled, I'm not afraid anymore."

"If it weren't for his curse of bringing misfortune to wives, I would have already asked my uncle, the Emperor, to issue an imperial decree to grant us a marriage. You would be my sister-in-law, and I'm only giving you face because of that. Don't be ungrateful." Princess Xiangyi, relying on her superior status, looked down at the heartbroken Gu Qingya with disdain.

Aside from a few princesses, she never paid any attention to any noblewoman.

If she wanted, plenty of noble ladies would be willing to befriend her.

"Waaah..." Gu Qingya cried out in sorrow.

"You better watch your tone, or people will say I'm bullying you. Do you agree to what I just said?" Princess Xiangyi's voice carried a hint of threat.

"I..." Gu Qingya hesitated to agree immediately.

"If you help me this time, I can help you marry into the Eastern Palace and become the woman of the Crown Prince's cousin. When the Crown Prince's cousin ascends the throne, you will be an imperial concubine in the palace. If you give birth to a son, you might even become the mother of the country." Princess Xiangyi promised her a rosy picture.

"The Crown Prince has so many women, I don't want to marry him." Gu Qingya knew that she was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and she wouldn't lower herself to become the Crown Prince's concubine.

The Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess, two Consorts, and several other Consorts. What noble status would she have if she entered the Eastern Palace?

"Apart from my brother, you can choose any young master in the capital. I will definitely help you achieve your wish," Princess Xiangyi promised.

Gu Qingya stopped crying: "Really?"

"It's true." Princess Xiangyi nodded affirmatively.

"Okay, I promise you. I'll only be responsible for leading them there; I won't worry about anything else." Gu Qingya wiped away her tears and agreed.

The two discussed their plan and left with their maid.

Rong Yingluo and Gu Cecai stepped out from behind the tree.

"They've really got some nerve." Gu Ce punched a tree.

"Don't be angry, they're just making a plan, it hasn't been implemented yet. I'm thinking of turning the tables on them. Help me pick a young master who's a 'good match' for Princess Xiangyi, I'm going to ruin her reputation."

As for my younger sister, she's been taken advantage of by me several times, but she still hasn't learned her lesson.

Out of consideration for her being a member of the Gu family, I'll give her one last chance today.

"If she aids and abets evil today, then don't blame me for being impolite." Rong Yingluo said with a compassionate tone, watching the departing figure.

Gu Ce's eyes lit up.

The lady is becoming more and more interesting. She is kind, yet she often reveals ruthlessness. She is ruthless, yet she saves countless people. Every time, she says she is doing good deeds.

Rong Yingluo waved to Yinghong behind her.

As Yinghong drew closer, Rong Yingluo whispered something in her ear.

Gu Ce heard it all clearly, and a strange expression appeared on his face.

When it was almost time, the couple arrived at the banquet area.

The banquet area is located in the main courtyard.

Men and women are separated, on the east and west sides, with men on the east and women on the west.

In the Southern Xia Kingdom, the separation of men and women in public is not strictly enforced.

The birthday celebrant was unable to attend due to illness.

Everyone knew what was going on, but no one dared to discuss it openly at the host's house.

As the head of the family, Zhao Xianshan said a few words of thanks and then announced the start of the banquet.

Rong Yingying sat with her three younger sisters.

"Sister-in-law, Princess Jinyang is such a kind person. You entrusted me and Qingling to her, and she didn't look down on us because of our lowly status. She always treated us well and even introduced us to her friends." Gu Qingyin was very happy.

This was their first time attending such a banquet, and they even met a distinguished person like Princess Jinyang.

He was also an approachable and friendly person who was willing to interact with them.

They were very grateful to their sister-in-law; if it weren't for her good relationship with Princess Jinyang, they would never have had this opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Rong Yingluo gave Princess Jinyang, who was not far away, a grateful smile.

She came with the Empress today, but the Empress was with Old Madam Zhao and did not attend the banquet, so Princess Jinyang could only sit at the same table as Princess Xiangyi.

Today, due to the incident where Madam Zhao fainted from anger, the banquet was not very lively.

To pique everyone's interest, Madam Zhao arranged for the hired acrobatic troupe to perform in the center of the courtyard while everyone ate.

This was the first time we'd used this method, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

Halfway through the meal, Gu Qingya gently tugged at Rong Yingluo's hem.

"Sister-in-law, I have something to tell you," Gu Qingya said quietly.