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

Rong Zhengqing had seen all kinds of people in the business world, but this was the first time he had encountered someone so shameless.

The dowry had been prepared long ago, and the eldest daughter, Liuli, was of marriageable age and had been betrothed. The wedding was scheduled for six months later, but an imperial decree disrupted everything.

"Master, let them take her away." Madam Rong said with a glimmer of hope. If her daughter could survive, then her dowry could not be reduced.

Seeing that his wife had said this, Rong Zhengqing couldn't bear to refuse. He waved his hand and told the steward to open the storeroom.

The dowry was carried in baskets, filling the courtyard, and the servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion carried it up without any ceremony.

Madam Rong wanted to put the veil on her daughter's head, but the girl took it from her and didn't cover it. She wanted to see whether the groom outside the door was a human or a ghost.

Rong Zhixiu carried Rong Yingluo on his back and steadily walked out of the Rong family gate.

"Little sister, you must survive. Your big brother will wait for you to come home." Rong Zhixiu wiped his eyes.

He hated himself for not being able to support his sister and for refusing the marriage proposal.

"Don't worry, brother. Just remember to prepare my favorite stir-fried seafood with vinegar in three days," Rong Yingluo said gently.

"You..." Rong Zhixiu was stunned for a moment. This was his second sister. Only his second sister liked to eat this dish. He thought his eldest sister had woken up.

But he quickly regained his senses. His second sister was much better than his eldest sister. If his second sister had married into the family, she would definitely have survived.

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Rong Zhixiu carried the person on his back to the bridal sedan chair and stopped, looking at his future brother-in-law who was expressionless on horseback.

Rong Yingluo also looked at the groom dressed in bright red.

He was exceptionally handsome, with piercing eyes, a high nose bridge, and distinct features; he was a rare beauty in the world.

Unfortunately, his face was cold and aloof, making him appear ruthless and cold-blooded.

Gu Ce also kept his gaze fixed on the bride's face.

The woman had fair skin and a beautiful face, like a celestial being descended to earth, yet the coldness in her eyes was palpable.

What a bold woman, daring to look him in the eye.

Their gazes met in mid-air, like two sharp swords locked in combat.

Gu Ce's lips curled up slightly.

Interesting, completely different from the previous four.

"Gu Ce, if you're a man with guts, you should protect your wife. If anything happens to my sister, I'll risk my life to storm into the Gu family and demand an explanation," Rong Zhixiu threatened.

Gu Ce coldly uttered a few words: "Let's see what she's capable of."

He received news that Miss Rong had attempted suicide by poisoning herself, but he was surprised that she could be saved and married on time. It seems that the Rong family has found a medical expert.

Rong Yingluo understood his unspoken meaning: a capable woman doesn't need a man to protect her, and a woman who needs a man to protect her is not worthy of being his wife.

Hmph, he caused my older sister to commit suicide; she will get her revenge.

Rong Yingluo tugged at her elder brother's clothes, and he withdrew his fierce gaze and gently placed her into the bridal sedan chair.

"Lift the sedan chair!"

The wedding procession slowly left the Rong family's gate.

"My son, you must live." Madam Rong cried, tears streaming down her face, leaning against the man's chest, heartbroken.

As soon as Rong Yingluo got into the bridal sedan chair, she began to inspect the inside.

Prince Gu married four brides, all of whom died.

A young girl like her wouldn't have gotten into trouble for no reason; someone must have been behind it.

The most likely candidates are people from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

From this moment on, she must be fully alert to face the demons and monsters from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Sure enough, she discovered something amiss.

There was an open box of face powder in a hidden compartment under the stool, continuously emitting a fragrance.

Most people would find the smell pleasant, but she detected a poison mixed in, which could induce drowsiness. If one smelled it for half an hour, they would fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again within a month, until they stopped breathing.

That's a brilliant tactic.

There was no water in the bridal sedan chair, so Rong Yingluo had to crush the apple she had been holding from the beginning, pour the juice onto the medicine powder, and then close the box so that the medicine powder wouldn't emit any smell.

They want her dead? Don't they know who she is?

She studied Taoist medicine with her master for thirteen years, traveling all over the country. She was invited by countless families to perform rituals, exorcise evil spirits, and prescribe medicine. She has seen countless different methods.

She has arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

"Stop the sedan chair, groom, please kick the sedan chair door."

This wasn't the first time Gu Ce had done this; he kicked three times with practiced ease.

According to custom, the bride in the sedan chair must also kick back three times.

However, there was no response from inside the bridal sedan chair.

Was the female shopkeeper so frightened that she lost her mind?

The group waited a while longer, but there was still no movement.

"Miss Rong, kick the sedan chair!" the matchmaker called softly.

There has been no response yet.

She urged him again.

Still no response.

The matchmaker couldn't wait any longer and went into the sedan chair to check. She found the bride leaning against the side of the chair, motionless.

"Miss Rong?"

no response.

The matchmaker was terrified when she thought about the four brides who had died before her.

She then looked at the area where the veil covered the nose, and there was no movement at all, indicating that the bride had stopped breathing.

Terrified, she scrambled out, then turned and shouted, "Oh no! The bride is dead!"

"What?" Everyone was shocked.

They married all four of the previous wives, so how come this one died before even entering the door?

"Since he's dead and hasn't even had a wedding ceremony, he can't be considered a member of the Gu family. So let's send him back to the Rong family the way we came." Gu Ce prepared to take off his wedding clothes, the coldness in his eyes was self-evident.

What a useless person, he died before even getting inside.

"A-Ce, no! This is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. Even if he's dead, he's still a member of the Gu family." At this moment, a woman in her forties, dressed in festive finery, walked out of the gate with the help of her maid.

She was none other than Su Jingyi, the matriarch of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the stepmother of the heir apparent.

"Does Mother mean for me to marry a dead person into the household?" Gu Ce's expression turned cold.

"A-Ce, I'm doing this for your own good. It's already difficult for you to find a wife. If we're heartless and ungrateful, people will laugh at us, and even if I'm shameless, it will be hard for me to find you a wife in the future."

Miss Rong can only enjoy the incense offerings of my Gu family's descendants if she enters my Gu family's ancestral tomb, so that she won't have nowhere to rest in peace.

"Once this storm passes, I'll find you a more suitable marriage. The Emperor has already given his word that you can inherit the title as long as you have a child," Su Jingyi earnestly advised, her words clearly showing she was thinking of Gu Ce's best interests.

However, only she knew that even if someone was dead, their dowry could only belong to the Gu family once they entered the Gu family mansion.

Even if the richest man in the capital is unwilling to marry off his daughter, the dowry will not be small.

Given the power and influence of the Duke's Mansion, the Rong family would absolutely not dare to cause trouble at their door.

The coldness in Gu Ce's eyes intensified as he stared at Su Jingyi for a few moments, her loving and concerned gaze as genuine as could be.

In the end, he turned around, got into the bridal sedan chair, and prepared to carry the body out.

But just as he placed his hand on the back of Rong Yingluo's neck, the bride suddenly sat up straight.

He's not dead?

"Who?" Rong Yingluo noticed someone approaching and was about to take action.

She suddenly remembered that she was in the bridal sedan chair, and immediately lowered her hand that was halfway raised.

Exhausted, she fell asleep as soon as the sedan chair swayed.

She knew she was safe until she reached the Gu residence, so she felt at ease taking a nap.

"If you're not dead, get out of the sedan chair." Gu Ce said this and stepped out of the sedan chair.

The matchmaker then realized she had made a big mistake and immediately helped the person out.

Su Jingyi's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly changed the subject: "So the bride was too happy and fell asleep." She then invited everyone into the mansion to witness the ceremony.

Rong Yingluo was given a red silk handkerchief and helped into the mansion by the matchmaker.

With her head covered by a veil, Rong Yingluo could only see the small area beneath her feet. She had no idea what lay beyond that step and could only rely on the matchmaker's support.

"Miss Rong, you're about to step over the fire basin. Be careful to take big steps," the matchmaker reminded her.

Rong Yingluo nodded slightly.

After taking three more steps, a wave of heat hit her face, and Rong Yingluo knew that the brazier had arrived.

"The bride steps over the fire basin to drive away evil and bad luck, so that her days may be prosperous and thriving," the matchmaker chanted.

Rong Yingluo lifted her left foot, preparing to take a big step.

Suddenly, a cannon blast startled the matchmaker, who pulled her hand away and stopped supporting the bride.

Having lost her support, Rong Yingluo could no longer see what lay on the other side of the brazier. Her foot had already stepped out, and it was too late to pull it back.