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

"Of course, we should make this matter public so that the people know what kind of person the Crown Prince is. When you return, the people will remember your kindness," Rong Yingluo said matter-of-factly.

"You don't need to worry about this. The purpose of this trip has been achieved."

When the opportunity arises, I will report this matter to the Emperor, but not now.

We've essentially provided the Crown Prince with another way to make money, so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

With the Prince of Beijun acquiring so much wealth, your caravan can accommodate even more people.

"At the same time, it also avenged your previous robbery and murder by bandits." Gu Ce had his own plans.

Some things cannot be rushed, nor can the emperor be made to think too much.

"Never mind, I don't understand your considerations." Rong Yingluo was ignorant of politics, let alone court intrigue.

"The matter is settled. Are you going back to Beijing now, or are you going to stay here and have some fun?" Gu Ce asked.

Since it was a rare opportunity to get out, he asked the Emperor for five days' leave, so he could spend an extra day with his wife without any problem.

"Sure. Are there any Taoist temples around here? I'd like to go and take a look." Rong Yingluo had been away from Qingyun Temple for too long and hadn't done her homework in a long time. She wanted to go and properly repent before Laozi.

"There is a Sanqing Temple outside the city. It is not big, and it enshrines Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, and Taiqing Daode Tianzun." Gu Ce had been here before and knew it quite well.

"Then let's go there." Upon hearing that Taiqing Daode Tianzun, also known as Taishang Laojun, was involved, Rong Yingluo immediately decided to go.

Seeing her smile so quickly, Gu Ce also put aside the heaviness of last night.

An Yi was sent to hire a carriage, and Gu Ce did not ride a horse, but sat with Rong Yingluo.

Gu Ce took the opportunity to get very close to her, and the two sat almost side by side.

Rong Yingluo tried to move away, but Gu Ce grabbed her waist.

"What are you doing?" Rong Yingluo instantly thought of the scenery she saw when she woke up.

The man's chest was slightly open, and his heartbeat was steady.

A faint warmth involuntarily rose to my face.

"You're my wife, isn't it only natural that we get closer?" Gu Ce said seriously. "You promised me you'd be my virtuous wife."

"Does being a virtuous wife include this?" Rong Yingluo poked the arm on her waist.

"Of course it does. If the wind blows open the curtains, people will see us here. That way, they'll know we're a loving couple," Gu Ce said seriously.

"What does being a virtuous wife have to do with being loving?" Rong Yingluo didn't quite understand Gu Ce's line of thinking.

"Of course there is a connection. Only in loving couples can the wife truly be virtuous," Gu Ce deliberately guided the conversation.

Rong Yingluo didn't know how to respond, nor could she push him away. She had promised to be a virtuous wife, and she couldn't break her promise.

Seeing that she didn't push his hands away, Gu Ce hugged her even tighter.

The Sanqing Temple is not far from Gong County, only about six or seven miles away.

In the Southern Xia Kingdom, Taoism and Buddhism flourished, and even slightly larger cities had Taoist temples or Buddhist monasteries.

Upon arriving at her destination, Rong Yingluo saw a gatehouse that was neither new nor old.

The three characters "Sanqing Temple" are engraved on the gate tower. The characters are already somewhat mottled, which shows that this Taoist temple has been around for a long time.

Stepping through the gate, I saw a young Taoist boy sweeping the courtyard.

There were only a few scattered tourists who had just finished offering incense and were coming out.

Rong Yingluo couldn't wait to enter the main hall.

The statue of Laozi sits majestically and serenely.

An old Taoist priest was holding a book and reading it.

Rong Yingluo knelt down in front of the statue with a thud, kowtowed several times, and when she raised her head, her eyes were filled with respect and longing.

After calming down, she lit incense, clasped her hands together in front of her abdomen, raised them to her lips, bowed, and then knelt down.

With his eyes slightly closed, he began to mutter incantations.

Seeing her so devout, the old Taoist priest who was reading put down his book and gently tapped the chime.

Gu Ce was a little puzzled when he saw Rong Yingluo being so devout for the first time. Such a young woman, believing so much in gods and Buddhas, was something usually only middle-aged or elderly women did.

However, he did not disturb her. Women like to go to Taoist temples or Buddhist temples to burn incense and worship gods and Buddhas.

He assumed that Rong Yingluo was more enthusiastic than others.

However, after Gu Ce had toured the entire Taoist temple from front to back and waited for another half hour, Rong Yingluo was still kneeling there, her posture unchanged.

He couldn't help but think more about it.

What is she asking for? Why is she so persistent?

He waited patiently outside.

Ling Feng and Ling Yun knew Rong Yingluo's true identity, so they weren't curious about why she could kneel like that.

I just don't quite understand Dark One.

"Master, should we remind Madam? She's been kneeling for over an hour," An Yi suggested.

"It's alright, just wait." Gu Ce respected Rong Yingluo's actions.

As a result, they waited until it was almost dark before Ling Feng went in and quietly reminded her, and Rong Yingluo finally realized what was happening.

She hadn't done her homework in so long, so this afternoon she recited all the scriptures she had memorized, satisfying her craving.

Back at the inn, Rong Yingluo slept soundly. She didn't even notice Gu Ce secretly kissing her.

The next day.

It was already evening when they returned to the Gu residence.

Yuwen Zhang had just arrived in the capital.

After having dinner, Rong Yingluo and Gu Ce went directly to the Prince of Beijun's residence.

Li Xuanye arrived before them.

The two were sitting in the flower hall drinking.

"Fourth Prince, have all the valuables been brought back?" Rong Yingluo asked excitedly.

"Of course I brought it back. Once it's in my hands, how could anyone steal it?" Yuwen Zhang poured a glass of wine for each of them.

He led more than 300 people to escort them back to the capital. On the surface, it was called escorting goods, since they were actually bodyguards who were registered with the government.

"What has the Prime Minister found out while staying in Gong County?" Li Xuanye knew that Gu Ce wouldn't have stayed behind for no reason.

"Sigh, we've wasted our time. That county magistrate is shameless. He took all the credit for the bandit suppression for himself. He carried those corpses back to the county government office, laid them out in front of the office, and then loudly proclaimed to the people that they were the ones who killed the bandits," Rong Yingluo said before Gu Ce could speak.

"What? There are still such shameless people?" Li Xuanye didn't expect this either.

"It's nothing, let them be smug for a few days." Gu Ce said unhurriedly, "The county magistrate and the county lieutenant are both the Crown Prince's men, and the bandits are also people who amass wealth for the Crown Prince."

They robbed passing merchants and travelers, splitting the loot 50/50 with the county magistrate. The magistrate would then hand over 40% of his share, keeping only 10%. This is the real reason why Gong County, so close to the capital, also had bandits.” Gu Ce explained the situation simply.

"No way? The Crown Prince really knows all sorts of ways to make money. He'll even make money like this. What is he afraid of? He's already the Crown Prince, and there's no one competing with him for the position." Li Xuanye could hardly believe his ears.

Gu Ce was startled upon hearing this.

Mingyue Tower is the Crown Prince's legitimate business. Although Tiandi Gambling House is registered under someone else's name, all the powerful and influential people in the capital can easily find out that it is the Crown Prince's business if they investigate carefully.

Gu Ce knew all of the Crown Prince's publicly known businesses.

Logically, he wasn't short of money, so why would he resort to banditry to make money?

This is abnormal, extremely abnormal.

Did he know the Second Prince would return to the palace? Was he in a hurry to ascend the throne?

This is the only possibility that could make him so anxious.

He was preparing to force the emperor to abdicate.

As he considered this possibility, Gu Ce's brows furrowed even more deeply.

But these are all just his guesses, without any evidence.